PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY: Merriman Road Livonia, Michigan Office: (734)

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1 AL-NOUR The Light of Christ October 19, 2014 Issue 440 FATHER GEORGE H. SHALHOUB PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY: THE ANTIOCHIAN ORTHODOX BASILICA OF ST. MARY Merriman Road Livonia, Michigan Office: (734) Sunday Services Confession: 8:30AM Matins: 9:00AM Divine Liturgy: 10:00AM St. Mary s Cultural and Banquet Center (734) And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. Acts 11:26 Daily Confession by Appointment - Call the Church Office October 19, 2014 L THE HOLY APOSTLE AND EVANGELIST LUKE (October 18) uke was born in Antioch. In his youth, he excelled in his studies of Greek philosophy, medicine and art. During the ministry of the Lord Jesus on earth, Luke came to Jerusalem, where he saw the Saviour face to face, heard His saving teaching and was witness to His miraculous works. Coming to belief in the Lord, St. Luke was numbered among the Seventy Apostles, and was sent out to preach. With Cleopas, he saw the resurrected Lord on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24). After the descent of the Holy Spirit, Luke returned to Antioch and there became a fellow worker of the Apostle Paul and traveled to Rome with him, converting Jews and pagans to the Christian Faith. Luke, the beloved physician greets you, writes the Apostle Paul to the Colossians (Colossians 4:14). At the request of Christians, he wrote his Gospel in about the year 60. Following the martyrdom of the great Apostle Paul, St. Luke preached the Gospel throughout Italy, Dalmatia, Macedonia and other regions. He painted icons of the Most-holy Theotokos - not just one, but three - and icons of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul. Hence, St. Luke is considered to be the founder of Christian iconography. In old age, he visited Libya and Upper Egypt. From Egypt, he returned to Greece, where he continued to preach and convert many with great zeal despite his old age. In addition to his Gospel, St. Luke wrote the Acts and dedicated both works to Theophilus, the governor of Achaia. Luke was eighty-four years old when the wicked idolaters tortured him for the sake of Christ and hanged him from an olive tree in the town of Thebes, in Boethia. The miracle-working relics of this wonderful saint were transported to Constantinople in the reign of Emperor Constantius, the son of Constantine. The Prologue of Ohrid The Antiochian Orthodox Basilica of St. Mary Fr. George Shalhoub - Pastor Fr. Jim King - Director of Youth & Pastoral Outreach Programs Archdeacon Issa Rizkallah Deacon Dr. Dennis Bojrab Deacon Samer Hanna Salem Samaan - Parish Council Chairman Linda Lawson - Choir Director Stacey Badeen - Church Administrator Christina Stavros - Pastoral Ministries Coordinator Richard Shebib/Sami Azzouz - Ushers Dr. Tom Saba - Young Adults- St. John Divine Irene Saba - Ladies Society President Gloria Sultani - Teen Soyo President Lina Nunu - Arabic School Keith Rowe - Cultural Center General Manager

2 Page 2 THE EPISTLE The Lord I my strength and my song. The Lord has chastened me severely. The Reading is from the Second Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians Chapter 11:31-12:9 B rethren, the God and Father of the Lord Jesus, He Who is blessed forever, knows that I do not lie. At Damascus, the governor under King Aretas guarded the city of Damascus in order to seize me, but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and escaped his hands. I must boast; there is nothing to be gained by it, but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. I know a man in Christ who 14 years ago was caught up to the third heaven whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. And I know that this man was caught up into Paradise whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses. Though if I wish to boast, I shall not be a fool, for I shall be speaking the truth. But I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me. And to keep me from being too elated by the abundance of revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to harass me, to keep me from being too elated. Three times I besought the Lord about this, that it should leave me; but He said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness. I will all the more gladly boast of my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. THE GOSPEL The Reading is from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke Chapter 7:11-16 A t that time, Jesus went to a city called Nain, and many of His disciples and a great crowd went with Him. As He drew near to the gate of the city, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow; and a large crowd from the city was with her. And when the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, Do not weep. And He came and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And Jesus said, Young man, I say to you: arise. And the dead man sat up, and began to speak. And Jesus gave him to his mother. Fear seized them all; and they glorified God, saying, A great prophet has arisen among us! and God has visited His people!

3 PRAYER CORNER L ord, you are the physician of our souls and body. We pray You grant the following parishioners good health and blessings: Metropolitan PAUL Yazigi, Archbishop Youhanna Ibrahim, Zaki Tams, Najla, Fr. John, Pheibi Musallam, Fr. Kamal, Fr. Joseph Purpura, HOLY BREAD OF OBLATION H oly Bread of Oblation is offered by the families, for the month of October, in loving memory of: Ibrahim Hanania Dr. James Kawwas Naim Kawwas Patricia Mason Zakiah Mitias Jerry Shauqi Mughannem Elias, Sandra & Eddie Salem Fahed, Zuhair, Nabiha and Badia Tuiameh Nahil Jalil Warra Jean York H oly Bread of Oblation is offered by the families, for the month of October, for the health and well being of: Mughannem family Ladies Society News St. Mary s annual Thanksgiving Dinner will be on Sunday, November 16th immediately following Liturgy. Cost is $12.00 adults, $8.00 ages 5-10 and under 5 is free. For reservations, please contact Irene Saba at or any member of the Ladies Society. Page 3 T Thank You he following parishioners and friends of the Basilica of St. Mary have given special donations to the Church in the past few weeks: Donation in loving memory of Zakiah Mitias, mother of Marie and Keith Sears, by church friends at St. Mary s, $50-In loving memory of Elias, Sandra and Eddie Salem and Jean York offered by George and Lorice Khoury, $100-For the health and well being of newly churched Sophia Ashley offered by parents Alex and Alexandra Al-Hin, $100-In loving memory of Issa Ajlouni offered by Dr. Alex and Carol Ajlouni, $100-In loving memory of Suad Saman offered by Khamis and Hala Ziadeh, $200-In loving memory of Issa Balat offered by David and Mary Khoury, $500-For the health and well being of newly baptized George Christopher offered by parents Christopher and Alison Khorey, $600-For the health and well being of newlyweds Samy and Taren Eid offered by parents Sameer and Leila Eid, $1000-For the health and well being of newlyweds Cody and Susan (Young) Hubbert, OUR NEW ARRIVALS C ongratulations and best wishes to Alex and Alexandra Al-Hin on the birth of their baby girl Sophia Ashley. Proud grandparents are Ablah and the late Andraos Al-Hin and Wadih and Sylvana Masy. May God bless parents, grandparents and child. memorials I am the Resurrection and the Life. He who believes in Me shall never die. (John 11:25) Oct. 19th - 9 day memorial in loving memory of Suad Khalil Saman offered by her brother Fuad and Afaf Saleh, Oct. 19th - 1 year memorial in loving memory of Evelyn Naser offered by her husband George Naser and family, Oct. 19th - 1 year memorial in loving memory of Nahil Jalil Warra offered by her husband Jalil Warra and family. Oct. 26th - 1 year memorial in loving memory of Gubran Moaikel offered by the family, A Vigil Light is Burning In Loving Devotion or The Health and Well Being F Of: I n Memory Of: Joseph Michael Mouaikel, George Abodeely, Nawal Fakhouri, T Condolences he clergy and parishioners at the Basilica of St. Mary extend their deepest sympathy to the Saman family, children Riyad, Marwan, Rawda and Randa and their families, Fuad and Afaf Saleh and family, and Deacon Issa and the late Afaf Rizkallah and their family on the passing of their beloved mother/sister Suad Saman, wife of the late Khalil Saman, in Florida. May her memory be eternal.

4 Page 4 the Basilica of Saint Mary Our neighbor s cross should be a sword that pierces our soul to co-participate, co-feel, co-suffer with our neighbor s destiny. This is Love.!!! UPCOMING EVENTS!!! + Saint Maria of Paris Every Wednesday at 10:00a: Every Wednesday at 7:00p: Every Sunday at 10:00a: MONTH OF OCTOBER: October October 24 October 31-Nov 2 November 1 MOTHER TODDLER GROUP TEEN SOYO MEETING CHURCH SCHOOL YOUTH MONTH! TEEN SOYO FALL RETREAT THREE CEDARS TEEN SOYO FALL GATHERING THE GRAND BANQUET + Saint Maria of Paris + Married three times with children and desiring to be a nun outside the monastery, Mother Maria is an example to us that God can use anyone, that through Him all circumstances can be overcome, and that through a willing heart God can work wonders. Confronting the horror of Nazi brutality, Mother Maria prayed to Christ and His Mother asking for help to know how to help the suffering Jewish people and devised an ingenious plan to save many children who were destined for extermination camps. Through her selfless rescue activities she perished in a gas chamber in Ravensbruck Germany in She is a canonized saint in the Orthodox Christian Church. Please visit for details about events and activities happening at the Basilica of Saint Mary. If you have any questions regarding Youth and Outreach Events, please contact Fr. Jim or Ms. Christina Stavros at (734)

5 Page 5 A Prayer for Those Who Live Alone I live alone, dear Lord, stay by my side, in all my daily needs be Thou my guide. Grant me good health, for that indeed, I pray to carry on my work from day to day. Keep pure my mind, my thoughts, my every deed, let me be kind, unselfish in my neighbor s need. Spare me from fire, from flood, malicious tongues, from thieves, from fear and evil ones. If sickness or an accident befall, then humbly, Lord, I pray, hear Thou my call. And when I m feeling low, or in despair, lift up my heart and help me in my prayer. I live alone, dear Lord, yet have no fear, because I feel Your Presence ever near. Amen visit our website: MERRIMAN ROAD LIVONIA, MICHIGAN Return service requested Dated Material NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID LIVONIA, MI PERMIT NO. 413