Sunday, February 16, 2020
Sunday of the Prodigal Son
Tone 2 and Eothinon 2
Martyr Pamphilos, Priest of Caesarea in Palestine and His Companions
We are pleased to welcome you to worship with us today. Please note that only Orthodox Christians who have prepared themselves with prayer, fasting and a recent confession may approach to receive Holy Communion. Everyone is welcome to reverence the cross and to partake of the blessed bread at the dismissal. Please introduce yourself to our pastor, and ask him about membership in the Orthodox Church.
Today’s Hymns and Readings
Apolytikion of the Resurrection – Tone 2
When thou, O immortal Life, didst humble thyself unto death, then didst thou destroy death by the brightness of thy Godhead; and when thou didst raise the bowels of the earth, then all the heavenly powers exclaimed, O Christ, thou art the Giver of life! Glory to thee, O our God!
Apolytikion of the Nativity of the Theotokos – Tone 4
Thy nativity, O Theotokos, hath proclaimed joy to the whole universe. For from thee did shine forth the Sun of justice, Christ our God, annulling the curse, and bestowing the blessing, abolishing death and granting us life everlasting.
Kontakion of the Prodigal Son – Tone 3
When I disobeyed in ignorance thy fatherly glory, I wasted in iniquities the riches that thou gavest me. Wherefore, I cry to thee with the voice of the prodigal son, saying, I have sinned before thee, O compassionate Father, receive me repentant, and make me as one of thy hired servants.
Epistle – I Corinthians 6:12-20 (Prodigal Son)
Prokeimenon. Psalm 32.22,1. Let your mercy, O Lord, be upon us.
Verse. Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous.
BRETHREN, “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be enslaved by anything. “Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food” – and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I therefore take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! Do you not know that he who joins himself to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, “The two shall become one flesh.” But he who is united to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. Shun immorality. Every other sin which a man commits is outside the body; but the immoral man sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God? You are not you own; you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body and in your spirit which belong to God.
Gospel – Luke 15:11-32 (Prodigal Son)
THE LORD SPOKE THIS PARABLE: “There was a man who had two sons; and the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that falls to me.’ And he divided his living between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took his journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in loose living. And when he had spent everything, a great famine arose in that country, and he began to be in want. So he went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would gladly have fed on the pods that the swine ate; and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, I and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired servants.” And he arose and came to his father. But while he was yet at a distance, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet; and bring the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and make merry; for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to make merry.
Now his elder son was in the field; and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what this meant. And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has received him safe and sound.’ But the son was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command; yet you never gave me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your living with harlots, you killed for him the fatted calf!’ And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to make merry and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost and is found.’”
Next week’s homework: I Corinthians 8:8-92 (Last Judgment)
Matthew 25:31-46 (Meat Fare)
FEBRUARY 16, 2020 – SUNDAY OF THE PRODIGAL SON
Mission Statement - The mission of St. Mary’s Antiochian Orthodox Church of Brooklyn, NY, is to love and worship God through participation in the liturgical life of the Church, and to live and teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We carry out this mission through education, outreach, fellowship, and works of mercy with love for each other, our neighbors, and our diverse world.
TODAY, SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 16 – We pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Mary Alexander, Charles Balady III, Dr. David Bittar, Gloria Fadel, George Ganim, Emily Nassoor, George Sabah, Eleanor E. Saleeby, and Alberta Samaha. Memory eternal!
Peter Elkas offers Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the soul of the handmaiden of God Emily Nassoor. Memory eternal!
NEXT SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23 - We will pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Thomas Abdallah, Almaza Allawh, Charles Assatly, Mary Samara D`Angelico, Margaret Fiani Dib, Wadie Jabbour, Rt. Rev. Ananias Kassab, George Kassab, Lillian Malouf, Albert Mesnooh, Melia Murad, Gabriel Murad, Renges Orfaly, Alice Puccarielli, and Olga Saba. Memory eternal!
POST-COMMUNION PRAYERS – As the faithful approach to reverence the cross, receive a blessing and a piece of antidoron (holy bread) at the dismissal, a reader will read the Post-Communion Prayers of Thanksgiving. Please greet each other quietly as we reverently hear these prayers.
HOLY BREAD – Karen and Matthew Spolar offer the Holy Bread of Oblation for the month of February. Many years! Gloria Darzi also offers the Holy Bread in loving memory of her departed husband Elias. Memory eternal! Donors are welcome for March and succeeding months. We ask for a donation of $50/week.
TODAY’S USHERS – Members of the Parish Council will serve as ushers and readers. Please allow the Church School students, teachers, and volunteers to receive Holy Communion first so that they can proceed to their classes in a timely fashion. The ushers will assist us in proceeding row by row so that we can distribute Holy Communion “decently and in order.”
PLEASE MAKE SURE all cell phones and electronic devices are turned off in church.
FOR THE INFIRM – Please remember our ailing brethren in your daily intercessions, especially, Clair Banat (Norwegian), Khalil Eid (Hamilton Park), Charlie Bryant, Albert Castley (FL), Nadim Dahdouh, Diana Finger, Robert Forcina, Mary Ganim, Susan Hadad, Louise Hamwi, Malak Karkenny, George Khoury, Jr., Victor Khoury, Loulou Malouf, Emily Maren (ME), Alfred Nahas, Elena Paris, Raymond Saleeby, Louis Savarese, Evelyn Shamoun, Leon Smatt, Claudette Teen, Jim Thompson (NJ), Marianne Trabulsi (NJ), Dr. Sam Zamaria (MD), and Rose Zrake (at home). If a member of your family is in the hospital or recuperating at home, please call the church office and let us know as soon as possible.
CHURCH SCHOOL – Please note that the Church School has returned to its previous class time. All students will receive Communion together, then proceed downstairs for classes. We have begun to discuss this year's Archdiocese Creative contests theme: "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the word, but that the world through Him might be saved." (John 3:17)
SATURDAY OF THE SOULS – We will celebrate the Divine Liturgy for the Saturday of the Souls at 10:30 AM on Saturday, February 22. Please submit the names of your departed loved ones by Friday afternoon.
MEAT FARE SUNDAY – The Parish Council will host a luncheon for the parish on Sunday, February 23, following the Divine Liturgy. If you would like to donate a raffle basket – wine, homegoods, children’s toys/games, baking goods, etc. - for this event, or to make reservations, please contact Diana Kaiami at (718) 216-4807 or Rima Alsifi Hazem at (347) 649-5794. The cost is $30 per adult and $15 for ages 5-12. Please see the flyer in this bulletin.
PARISH LIFE CONFERENCE 2020 – The website is now active to make room reservations for the 2020 Parish Life Conference at the Antiochian Village, June 24-28. Space is limited, so if you plan to attend, go to registration.antiochianvillage.org/PLCAV2020.
ANNUAL PARISH MEETING – We will hold our Annual Parish Meeting on Sunday, March 8, following the Divine Liturgy. Teen SOYO will provide a light lunch at a nominal cost. Copies of the parish’s financial report are available in advance by request. Please submit all nominations for the Parish Council to Vice Chairman Michael Regnier by Sunday, March 1, after receiving the nominee’s agreement to serve.
DATES TO REMEMBER
Saturday, February 22 Saturday of the Souls Divine Liturgy, 10:30 AM
Great Vespers, 5:00 PM
Sunday, February 23 Meat Fare Sunday Luncheon
Thursday, February 27 Brooklyn Clergy Brotherhood Lecture @ Kimisis, 7:00 PM
Saturday, February 29 Bay Ridge Cares Pancake Breakfast, 10:00 AM -12:30 PM
Young Adult Wine and Cheese Reception, 7:00 PM
Sunday, March 8 Annual Parish Meeting
FROM THE FATHERS – “Love every man in spite of his falling into sin. Never mind the sins, but remember that the foundation of the man is the same – the image of God.”
- St. John of Kronstadt
A Parish of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America
When Thou, O Lord, were baptized in the Jordan, worship of the Trinity was made manifest. For the voice of the Father bare witness unto thee, and called thee His beloved Son. And the Holy Spirit, in the form of a dove, confirmed these words. O Christ our God, who has appeared to us and has enlightened the world, glory to thee!
- Troparion of the Feast of Epiphany, Tone 1
EPIPHANY 2020
Blessing of Homes
The blessing of homes during the season of Theophany is a long-standing tradition of our Orthodox Church. Following the Great Blessing of Water, it is customary for the priest to visit the homes of the faithful, bringing with him the “blessings of the Jordan.” Through the solemn prayers, we rededicate our home to be a place where a family is guided by Jesus Christ. Since this is the time in our Church Year when we remember the coming of Christ and the beginning of His ministry, when He descended into the Jordan to be baptized by St. John the Forerunner, it is fitting that the Lord enter our homes and our hearts now. It reminds us that we must “Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand.” (Matthew 4:17) This is why our homes must be blessed and sanctified on a regular basis.
When the priest comes for the house blessing, please use these guidelines:
1. Have as many family members as possible present for the appointment.
2. Set up a place for prayer in the dining room or kitchen with an icon and candle.
3. Print a list of the first names of all family members, making a distinction between the living and the departed.
4. Turn off the television, radio, stereo, computer or any other distraction.
5. Make the priest aware of any special needs or issues you may have.
6. Tell the priest about any family members who are ill or in need of a visit.
Either complete the form below and return it to the office, or call the office at (718) 238-8008. The Church also blesses homes between Holy Pascha and Pentecost and between the Feast of the Cross and October 1.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Father Michael:
I/we would like to have you bless my/our home in 2020.
Name: _________________________________ Phone: _____________________________
Address: ____________________________________________________________________
Best Season: Between Epiphany (January 6) and Great Lent (March 2)
(Please circle one) Between Holy Pascha (April 19) and Pentecost (June 7)
Between the Feast of the Cross (September 14) and October 1
Best Day: Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun (Please circle)
Best Time: ________________ AM