Sunday of the Prodigal Son
Meletios, archbishop of Antioch; New-martyr Christos of Constantinople
Thought for Today: “There is no possession more precious than prayer in the whole of human life. Never be parted from it; never abandon it. But, as our Lord said, let us pray that our toil may not be for nothing, -When you stand in prayer, forgive if you have anything against anyone, that your heavenly Father may forgive you your faults.”
+St. Ephraim the Syrian+
EPISTLE and GOSPEL READINGS
The Epistle
Let Thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us. Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous.
The Reading from the First Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians. (6:12-20)
Brethren, all things are lawful for me, but not all things are expedient. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the authority of anything. Foods are for the belly, and the belly for foods; but God will destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body; and God both raised up the Lord, and will also raise us up through His power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I therefore take away the members of Christ, and make them members of a harlot? God forbid! Or, do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For, “The two,” He says, “shall become one flesh.” But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit. Flee fornication! Every sin that a person commits is outside the body, but whoever commits fornication sins against his own body. Or, do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have received from God, and that you are not your own? For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.
The Gospel
The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke. (15:11-32)
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 he 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.’”
VARIABLE for CHOIR and PARISH
Resurrectional Apolytikion – Tone 2
When Thou didst submit Thyself unto death, O Thou deathless and immortal One, then Thou didst destroy hell with Thy Godly power. And when Thou didst raise the dead from beneath the earth, all the powers of Heaven did cry aloud unto Thee: O Christ, Thou giver of life, glory to Thee.
Kontakion for the Prodical son – Tone 3
Foolishly I sprang away * from Thy great fatherly glory, * and dispersed in wicked deeds * the riches that Thou didst give me. * With the Prodigal I therefore * cry unto Thee now: * I have sinned against Thee, O compassionate Father. * But receive me in repentance; * make me as one of * Thy hired servants, O Lord.
Receiving the Eucharist:We invite you to receive the Holy Eucharist if you are an Orthodox Christian who has prepared yourself through fasting, prayer, and recent confession. If you are not Orthodox, or are Orthodox but have not prepared, we invite you to receive a piece of the blessed bread in the wooden bowls held by the altar servers at the front of the church.
Earthquake Relief: Please see the attached letter from His Eminence, Metropolitan Antonios. Earthquake relief funds may be given in cash or check at the church or by credit/debit card through our church website. Thank you for helping to relieve the suffering of our brothers and sisters in Turkey and Syria.
House Blessings: Father Peter Jon continues to bless homes and will contact you in the coming weeks to schedule a date. If you prefer, you may also reach out to him by email.
Mark Your Calendars: Mary Koutrumanes-Barger, a founding member of our All Saints parish, is turning 100 years old this month. Together with her family, we look forward to celebrating her life from 1-3p.m. on Saturday, February 25.
Saturday of Souls Lists: Please get a list of your beloved departed to Father Peter Jon by noon on Friday (2/17) in order to have them commemorated at the Saturday of Souls Liturgy. It is helpful if your list is divided into columns of Orthodox and non-orthodox. The Liturgy begins at 9am Saturday.
THIS WEEK
Wednesday, February 15: Daily Vespers at 6:00 pm; followed by Orthodoxy 101.
Saturday, February 18: Saturday of Souls Liturgy at 9:00 am.
Saturday, February 18: Great Vespers at 5:00pm; Jr SOYO at 3:30pm; Teen SOYO at 6:00pm.
Sunday, February 19: Matins at 9:00 am, Divine Liturgy at 10:00 am. Sunday of the Last Judgement.
FAMILY NEWS
Names Day Celebration: Dnssa. Marcia Baldwin, St. Pricilla (13th).
Birthday Celebrations: Deb Dye (12th); Jan Gudaitis (13th); Alicia Barrett (16th); Ayris Finchum (18th).
Memory Eternal: David, Ruperto, Caren.
Prayer List: Michael, Olga, Eileen, Soren, Kathy; Toni;Jan; Don and Dee; those suffering the war of Ukraine; Peace talks; our nation and all nations’ leaders; schools: school children, youth and personnel across the nation; Mat. Raisa; Mary Ann; Emma (Mary Ann’s granddaughter);
Bob & Bonnie Thelen; Wes (infant with brittle bone disorder); Megan (lymphoma); Mark (CHF) and (caregiver) Barbara; Wes’s grandfather;Josiah; Vicki;Vicki’s granddaughter; Arianna; Linda; Steve Crandall; Fr. Athanasius; Fr. Gabriel;Jack;Christopher; Nancy; Fr. Jerome
Mother Nektaria; Catherine; Wadia; Jayci; Patricia, Marvin, Alice; Kitsa; Apthrodite and Angelos; Kim; Kristy, Dusty, Cari; Betsy, Josh; Allison; Andrew and Isaac (Korea/military);
Leanne; Heather; Nancy; Sharon Catherine; Lexi, Ross and Vivian; Theo; Doug; Jeremy; Marcia & Deacon; Elias; Waded; Seraphima; Lilly’s family; Jennifer; Christy; Megan; Rhea and John; Stanley; Anna with child (Coran’s friend); Malory with child (Reed’s sister);
Megan with child; Brigida and the child born of her; Paulina with child; Macrina with child, Ashley and infant Charlotte; Anne; Allen; Linda; Marilyn; Mary Barger; Norma; Allison and children.
Giving Opportunities:
The Benevolence Fund Thank you to all who generously responded to our plea for the benevolence fund. Donations may be made to this fund throughout the year, and are mainly used to support families in need of help with rent and utilities payments.
Our In-House Food Pantry needs canned vegetables, meats, tuna, salmon, smoked oysters, sardines, chicken, black and pinto beans, spaghetti sauce and peanut butter. We have an abundance of pasta.
Coffee Hour Host: Wendy Carter with Parishioners C-G
Next week Host: Nina Rogers with Parishioners H-R. (Meatfare Sunday)
Donations to the church are being made online at www.allsaintsbloomington.org and by U.S mail. Many thanks to all who continue supporting All Saints.
February 7, 2023
Beloved Brother Hierarchs, reverend Clergy, and Christ-loving Faithful,
Greetings to you in the Name of our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ.
This week we learned with heavy hearts of the devastation wrought by the powerful earthquake in Turkey and Syria. The toll of death and destruction is only slowly coming to light, but it is clear that thousands have died and the lives and livelihoods of many have been wrecked. In these moments, as our hearts break for our fellow man—especially for our brothers and sisters in the Faith—we feel acutely what St. Paul said about the Body of Christ: “When one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it” (1 Cor. 12:26).
Brethren, the same apostle teaches us to share what we have with those who are now in need, knowing that a time may come when they can help us. He writes, “It is not that you should be burdened so that others might have it easy. Rather, out of equality, your abundance should now go toward their need, so that their abundance might someday supply your need, so that there might be equality” (2 Cor. 8:13–14). This openhearted sharing is an affirmation of our bonds with those now suffering. It is also an expression of love, which always takes the burden of the beloved upon one’s own shoulders.
I call upon all our parishes to collect contributions each Sunday throughout the month of February for the relief of those suffering as a result of this earthquake. Immediately after each Sunday, each parish should mail a check for the funds collected that Sunday to our archdiocese headquarters and email the total amount to Mr. Daniel Nehme at our headquarters (dnehme@antiochian.org), which will allow us to distribute the funds more quickly. Individuals can also contribute online at antiochian.org/earthquake. We will forward the collected funds to His Beatitude Patriarch John X as they come in, as a demonstration of our love, to be distributed through our patriarchal relief agencies to those affected by this disaster.
With love and prayers for you as we approach the holy struggle of Great Lent, I remain,
Yours in Christ,
+Metropolitan ANTONIOS
Metropolitan of Zahle, Baalbek, and Dependencies
Patriarchal Vicar of New York and All North America