Sunday, February 20, 2022
Sunday of the Prodigal Son
Tone 2 and Eothinon 2
Leo, Bishop of Catania in Sicily
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 your 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, and I 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 8:8-9:2 (Meat Fare Sunday)
Matthew 25:31-46 (Meat Fare)
FEBRUARY 20, 2022 – 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, FEBRUARY 20 - We 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, Albert Mesnooh, Melia Murad, Gabriel Murad, Renges Orfaly, Alice Puccarielli, and Olga Saba. Memory eternal!
Dianna Russo Kitchen offers Prayers of Oblation for the health of Scarlet Diviney, Audrey and Charlie Sahadi, and Bob Sabbagh. She also offers Prayers for the repose of the soul of the handmaiden of God Nouhad Massouh. Memory eternal!
Elise and Patrick Marano offer Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Victoria and Edgar Saadi. Memory eternal!
Rhonda Byrnes offers Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the souls of her parents, the servants of God Margaret and Charles Assatly. Memory eternal!
Irene Tashji offers Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the soul of the servant of God Thomas Abdallah. Memory eternal!
The Ladies of St. Mary’s and St. Mary’s Choir offer Prayers of Oblation for the repose of their dear departed sister in Christ Evelyn Shamoun. Memory eternal!
The Family of Louis Savarese will offer Prayers of Oblation and a 40-Day Memorial for the repose of his soul. A Coffee Hour in his memory will follow the Divine Liturgy. Memory eternal!
John Alexander and Family offers Prayers of Oblation and a 10-Year Memorial for the repose of the soul of the handmaiden of God Mary Alexander. Memory eternal!
NEXT SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 27 – We will pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Yvonne Absey, Najibi Anthony, Jodat Arida, Tamina Arida, Mary Assatly, Donald Farkouh, Regina and Alexander Ghazal, William Haddad Sr., Mounir Kaba, Malak Karkenny, Walter John Lattof, Dianna G. Lewis, Lilly Malouf, Isabel Massabni, Eugenie Morgan, Naaman Nehme, Wendy Sadaka, Amin Salem, George Senior, and George Shamyer. Memory eternal!
FOR THE INFIRM - Please remember our ailing brethren in your daily intercessions, especially, Patricia DeLuca (Helen Hayes), Khalil Eid (Hamilton Park), Robert Sabbagh (NYU Lutheran), Rouda Abboud, Albert Absey, Yvonne Allawh, Claudette Budai, Diana Finger, Mary Ganim, Gabe Golam, Lily Lang, Denise McBride, Alfred Nahas, Wanda Salloum, Leon Smatt, Jim Thompson (NJ), George Trisciuzzi, Dr. Samir Zamaria (MD), and Rose Zrake (at home).
FASTING DISICIPLINE – The traditional fasting discipline (no meat, poultry, eggs, dairy, fish, wine, olive oil or their byproducts) is observed on Wednesday and Friday this week. Meat Fare Sunday is next Sunday, February 27.
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 – Gloria Zain Darzi offers the Holy Bread of Oblation for the month of February in loving memory of her beloved husband, Elias Darzi. Memory eternal! Linda and George Salamy have also made an offering for the entire year. Many years! Additional donors are welcome for February and succeeding months. We ask for a donation of $50/week.
SATURDAY OF THE SOULS – We will celebrate the traditional Divine Liturgy for the Saturday of the Souls on Saturday, February 26, at 10:30 AM. Orthros will begin at 9:30 AM. Please give your list of commemorations for the departed to Fr. Michael in advance of those services. This service always precedes Meatfare Sunday which is February 27 this year.
COVID POLICY – Given last week’s announcement by the Governor concerning masks, we are returning to our previous policy whereby everyone wears masks coming into and moving around the church; however, we recommend that worshippers who are up to date with vaccinations and boosters can remove their masks when seated. We will continue to ask singers in the choir to wear masks, and we will ask everyone in Church School to continue masking. We will revisit these protocols on a weekly basis.
ANNUAL PARISH MEETING – Last Sunday the Annual Parish Meeting re-elected Aline Farkouh and Rima Alsaifi Hazem and elected Gary Gangone to three-year terms on the Parish Council. The pastor appointed Wade Saadi, Rob Sabbagh, and Dr. Yvonne Zrake to one-year terms. At Monday’s meeting the Parish Council then elected Aline Farkouh as Chair, Dianna Russo Kitchen as Vice Chair, Diana Kaiami as Treasurer, and Irene Tashji as Secretary. God bless all of their efforts!
MAN OF GOD – On Monday, March 21, at 7:00 PM the AMC Theater at Sheepshead Bay will present “Man of God,” the story of St. Nektarios of Aegina, a saint of the early 20th century. His story is very inspiring and is a welcome addition to a medium which often brings us unedifying content. We are organizing a group from our church and the Cathedral and have reserved 50 tickets. Please put your name on the sign-up sheet in the back of the church if you are interested. Go to https://www.fathomevents.com/events/Man-of-God for more information.
BYZANTINE CHANT CLASS – In an effort to cultivate additional chanters and readers for the divine services the pastor will offer a class on the rudiments of Byzantine chant at 4:30 on Saturday afternoons prior to the celebration of Great Vespers. Singers and readers of all ages, experience, and abilities are welcome to participate.
ANTIOCHIAN VILLAGE CAMP – If any of our campers who have received their acceptance notices from the camp are in need of scholarship assistance, please be in direct contact with Fr. Michael in confidence. We will make every attempt to meet everyone’s financial need. We want as many of our children as possible to have a wonderful camping experience.
LADIES OF ST. MARY’S - The Ladies of St. Mary’s invite all our parishioners (men too!) to participate in our humanitarian project this year. We once again request the preparation of hygiene kits to be distributed to the homeless during the Midnight Run each month. In a one gallon ZipLock bag please include: 1 washcloth, bar of soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, nail clipper, comb, 3 band-aids, disposable razor (optional). Feel free to prepare more than one kit! The kits can be given to Sandra Arida or any one of the Ladies. Thank you all for your support.
WINTER COAT DRIVE – The Teen SOYO Winter Coat Drive will continue for one more week. Coats, scarves, gloves, blankets, and other cold weather attire are welcome. Please place your offerings on the table in the vestibule. We will distribute all items to local charities and recipients, especially to the Holy Cross Brooklyn Outreach Center in Sunset Park.
WORD MAGAZINE – Every member of a parish in the Antiochian Archdiocese is entitled to receive the Word Magazine at their home. If you are not receiving the Word and wish to subscribe, go to https://forms.gle/sughatopgYmqJXXE7 to submit your address, or let Fr. Michael know. The Archdiocese also publishes the Word each month on its website www.antiochian.org.
PLEDGE GIVING – During these extraordinary times we ask everyone to maintain their pledge giving as much as possible. Please remember that St. Mary's Church now accepts donations online. Just visit https://smaoc.squarespace.com/donate and pay securely by credit card, debit card, or check. There is an option to indicate gifts made in honor of or in remembrance of someone.
PLEASE MAKE SURE all cell phones and electronic devices are turned off in church or at home.
DATES TO REMEMBER
Saturday, February 26 Matins 9:30 AM
Saturday of the Souls Divine Liturgy, 10:30 AM
Great Vespers, 5:00 PM
Sunday, February 27 Meatfare Sunday
Saturday, March 5 Great Vespers, 5:00 PM
Sunday, March 6 Forgiveness Sunday
Forgiveness Vespers following the Divine Liturgy
Monday, March 7 Clean Monday – Great Lent Begins
Great Compline, 7:00 PM
Wednesday, March 9 Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, 6:30 PM
Pot Luck Supper to follow
Friday, March 11 Community Dinner – Parish Council Hosts, 6:30 PM
First Madayeh/Akathist Hymn, 7:30 PM
All services will be live streamed via twitch.tv/smaoc.
FROM THE FATHERS – “Each person must bear the weaknesses of others. Who is perfect? Who can boast that he has kept his heart undefiled? Hence, we are all sick, and whoever condemns his brother does not perceive that he himself is sick, because a sick person does not condemn another sick person.”
- Elder Ephraim of the Holy Mountain