Sunday, February 28, 2016
Sunday of the Prodigal Son
Venerable Basil the Confessor, Companion of Prokopios of Decapolis; Hieromartyr Proterios, Archbishop of Alexandria; Righteous Kyra and Marana of Beroea in Syria; Apostles Nymphas and Euvoulos; New-martyr Kyranna of Thessalonica
We warmly welcome you to All Saints
in the Name of our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ!
Nourishment of the Soul: “Abba Pior used to walk a hundred paces while he was eating. Someone asked him why he ate like that, and he said, ‘I do not want to make eating an occupation, but something accessory.” The Sayings of the Desert Fathers
O101: Fr. Peter Jon’s topic for Orthodoxy 101 on Wednesday, March 2nd will be “Practical Orthodoxy Part 3”.
Students ages 12-18, remember to attend your New Class after Divine Liturgy with Adrian Polit as your teacher.
Next Sunday, March 6 Fundraiser Meal: Myrrh Bearers will prepare a tasty meal on Meatfare Sunday to raise funds for Metropolitan JOSEPH’s Antiochian Women’s Project — Hungry Children at Home and Abroad’. Please be as generous as you are able. We have such an abundance in our lives that, it is difficult to understand the statistics of little children who go hungry daily. Please read the attachment.
March 5th at 9:00 a.m. – Liturgy for Saturday of Souls: Plan now to forward your lists to Fr. Peter Jon by Friday, March 4th so he will have them as he prepares for Saturday’s liturgy. Divide your list into Orthodox and Non-Orthodox Departed. Sheets are available, but you may also e-mail Father.*
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.
THIS WEEK
Myrrh Bearers meet today during social hour today.
Wednesday, March 2: Daily Vespers at 6:00–Orthodoxy 101 follows.
Saturday, March 5: Saturday of Souls Liturgy: 9:00 a.m.
Saturday, March 5: Great Vespers at 5:00
Sunday, March 6: Matins at 9:00; Divine Liturgy at 10:00 – Fundraiser Meal
LOOKING AHEAD
… Handel’s Messiah, Next Sunday afternoon, March 6: Caleb Lewis invites you to the performance, 3pm. at the MAC. Admission is Free. “It will be a fully professional orchestra and chorus, and we’re doing the whole thing—most performances only do one part (Christmas or Easter). I’ve been assisting the chorus with this project, and I can honestly say that it’s the most exciting performance of Messiah that I’ve ever seen or been a part of. Messiah is all in English, and it tells the story of Christ’s birth, crucifixion, and resurrection all through scriptural passages. It was written as an alternative to opera during the Lenten season, at a time when it was illegal to perform opera during Lent. It should be a great primer as we enter Great and Holy Lent the following week.
…March 12 at Midnight: Daylight Savings Time starts. Spring Forward!
…March 13 – Cheesefare Sunday: Myrrh Bearers will serve a pizza meal as fundraiser to continue their charitable works and to benefit Metropolitan JOSEPH’s Antiochian Women’s Project — Hungry Children at Home and Abroad’. This project is different from ‘Feed the Hungry People’ during Great Lent.
Birthday Blessings: Mezzy A (28th); Mary B (28th); Nina G (March 1st); Deacon Lawrence (3rd); Polina Mullis (5th)
Memory Eternal: Jake (3rd); Virginia Rose (12th); Kh. Jedonne Rhudy (21st)
Prayer List : “For the suffering Christians of Syria, Palestine, Iraq, & all of the Middle East, and for those suffering in the Ukraine.” Archpriest Athanasius; Leslie (paralysis); Jasmine; David G. (surgery scheduled); Deborah & Thomas; Amal; Iva.; John G; Anastasiya Dudar’s family in Australia; James; Alex John; Jason; Steve D; Dee; Becky H.; Alexis T. ;Tom; Jake; Annie; Catherine; Janett; Jill; Kh. Kristina; Angie; Julian; Kh. Mary Sue Walker; Vicki; Hoppes in Albania, Jesse Brandow in Guatemala (OCMC Missionaries); Vivian; Natalie; Senior Saints; Patricia; Dee H; Nicetas; Barb; Shirley; Metropolitan Paul, Archbishop John; Kh. Loretta; Fr. John Koen; Archpriests George & Stephen; Adrian; Heather; Susan; Gabriella & Matt; Sara; Shelley; Geni; Those with child: Ashley, Rachel B, Jessica with twins, Anastasia Hope, and Anastasiya D; Emily D; Emma; Kim; Nancy; Neal; Lyuda; Bob R; Leanne; Beth; Lillian; Julie; Roger; Virginia; Marilyn; Eric; Cheryl; Lori; Pam; Debbie; Natasha; Michael & Shelley: Gabriel; Mary; Doug; Janet; Kelly; Matushka Raisa; John C; Marty; Charles; Eileen; Mary; Marvin, Alice; Katie; Deborah; Ruth; Steve; Kevin; Romaine; Derek, Claire & Micah; Tim; Preston; Sharon; Sherri; Dianna; Michael and Diane; Aaron; Brent; Jennifer; Brigid; Caleb; Dennis & Joyce; Ethan; Lena, Dean; Gayle; Thomas; Amy; Heidi; Gene & Connie
Today’s Epistle and Gospel Readings
Prokeimenon: “Let Thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us.”
Verse: ” Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous!” Psalm 32:22,1
Epistle: The Reading is from St. Paul’s First Epistle 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 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 by 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.
Gospel: The Reading is 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.’”
Divine Liturgy Variables
Resurrectional Apolytikion – Tone 6
When Mary stood at Thy grave, looking for Thy sacred body, angelic powers shone above Thy revered tomb; and the soldiers who were to keep guard became as dead men. Thou led Hades captive and wast not tempted thereby. Thou didst meet the Virgin and didst give life to the world, O Thou, Who art risen from the dead, O Lord, glory to Thee.
Kontakion for The Prodigal 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.
ANTIOCHIAN WOMEN PROJECT – HUNGRY CHILDREN at HOME and ABROAD
This project will leverage the hard work and determination of our Antiochian Women (Myrrh Bearers at All Saints) to address one of the most pressing global tragedies, one which is exacerbated by war and poverty, and which is felt most acutely by children.
His Eminence recognizes the fact that millions of children go hungry each day as a result of poverty, war and displacement. The future stability of societies is directly affected when the growth of bodies and minds of children are stunted and weakened by malnutrition.
In 2013, in America alone, 1.58 million children lived in food-insecure households (FeedAmerica.org); and globally 66 million primary school children attend classes hungry (worldhunger.org).
This year the Antiochian Women are tasked (His Metropolitan JOSEPH) with raising money to help feed hungry children here in North America and elsewhere in the world.
“Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and He will repay him for his deed.” (Proverbs 19:17)
It is good to be reminded that the sincerity of our Christian Faith will be measured by the LORD at the Last Day by how we respond to those who are in need in the world around us.
(portions from the official flyer)