81st Street and Ridge Boulevard Website: www.smaoc.org
Brooklyn, NY 11209 Church Office: (718) 238-8008
Email: churchsecretary@smaoc.org Rectory: (718) 745-8481
Very Rev. Fr. Michael Ellias, Pastor Rev. Deacon Farid Farkouh
Email: pastor@smaoc.org farkouhfarid@gmail.com
Sunday, February 12, 2023
Sunday of the Prodigal Son
Tone 2 and Eothinon 2
Meletios, Archbishop of Antioch
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 receive the blessing and partake of the blessed bread at the dismissal. Please introduce yourself to our pastor during the coffee hour, 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 12, 2023 – 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 12 - We pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God David Bittar, George Ganim, Emileen Hanna, Malak Karkenny, Emily Nassour, George Sabah, and Alberta Samaha. Memory eternal!
Peter Elkas offers Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the soul of his aunt, the handmaiden of God Emily Nassour. Memory eternal!
NEXT SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19 – We will pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Thomas Abdallah, Mary Alexander, Almaza Allawh, Charles Assatly, Margaret Assatly, Margaret Fiani Dib, Rt. Rev. Ananias Kassab, George Kassab, Renges Orfaly, and Alice Puccarielli. Memory eternal!
Rhonda Byrnes will offer Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the souls of her parents, the servants of God Margaret and Charles Assatly. 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.
FOR THE INFIRM - Please remember our ailing brethren in your daily intercessions, especially, Khalil Eid (Hamilton Park), Nicholas Massab (Norwegian), Rose Zrake (Norwegian), Rouda Abboud, Yvonne Allawh, Diana Finger, Robert Forcina, Mary Ganim, Denise McBride, Alfred Nahas, Victoria Sleyman, Claudette Teen, Jim Thompson (NJ), George Trisciuzzi, Dr. Samir Zamaria (MD), and Nancy Zarouni (at home).
FASTING DISICIPLINE – Meatfare Sunday (February 19) is the last day we eat meat, poultry, and their by-products until Holy Pascha (April 16). The traditional fasting discipline during this Cheesefare Week (no red or white meat and poultry) is observed on all days meaning eggs, dairy, fish, wine, olive oil and their by-products may be consumed on all days. Sunday, February 26, is Cheesefare Sunday and the last day we eat eggs, cheese, dairy and their by-products until Holy Pascha. The Great Fast begins on February 27 and continues until our celebration of the Feast of Feasts, Pascha: Our Lord’s Resurrection. The traditional fasting discipline (no meat, poultry, dairy, eggs, fish, wine, olive oil, and their by-products) is observed on all weekdays. On Saturdays and Sundays, wine and olive oil are allowed.
SATURDAY OF THE SOULS – We will celebrate the traditional Divine Liturgy for the Saturday of the Souls on Saturday, February 18, 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 19 this year.
EARTHQUAKE RELIEF – We will receive a collection in support of the victims of the recent earthquake in southern Turkey and northern Syria each Sunday of this month. We will then send one check from our parish to the Antiochian Archdiocese which will distribute the funds through the Department of Ecumenical Affairs and Development (DERD) of the Patriarchate of Antioch. Please go to www.antiochian.org for additional ways to donate directly.
PARISH COUNCIL – The Parish Council will hold its regular monthly meeting tomorrow, February 13, at 7:30 PM
ESTATE PLANNING – Have I included St. Mary’s Church in my will or estate plan? We are blessed to announce that the Nassoor Family has donated a portion of the sale of their family house on Ridge Boulevard and 82nd Street to the St. Mary’s Church Endowment Fund. God grant rest and repose to the departed members of the Nassoor Family and long life and good health to their living descendants. May we all emulate their example.
OUR TIME – Our senior fellowship, “Our Time,” will meet this Wednesday, February 15, from 1-3 PM.
ANNUAL PARISH MEETING – We will hold our Annual Parish Meeting on Sunday, March 5, the first Sunday of Great Lent, following the Divine Liturgy. Please submit the names of candidates for the Parish Council to Dianna Russo Kitchen or Fr. Michael after receiving the nominee’s consent to run.
FAMILY NIGHT – There will be no Family Night this coming Friday, February 17. Rather, the group will hold a Super Bowl viewing party this evening here in the church hall. Please see the flyer in this bulletin for more information.
PLEASE MAKE SURE all cell phones and electronic devices are turned off in church or at home.
DATES TO REMEMBER
Sunday, February 12 Super Bowl Party, 6-10 PM
Monday, February 13 Parish Council, 7:30 PM
Wednesday, February 15 “Our Time” Senior Fellowship, 1-3 PM
Saturday, February 18 Saturday Orthros, 9:30 AM
Saturday of the Souls Divine Liturgy, 10:30 AM
Great Vespers, 5 PM
Sunday, February 19 Meatfare Sunday Luncheon
Monday, February 27 Great Lent Begins
Sunday, March 5 Annual Parish Meeting
Saturday, June 10 Spring Festival
All services will be live streamed via twitch.tv/smaoc.
FROM THE FATHERS – “Bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.”
- I Timothy 4:8
A Parish of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America