Sunday, February 24, 2019
First and Second Discoveries of the Forerunner’s Honorable Head
& Sunday of the Prodigal Son
Welcome to All Saints!
Nourishment for the Soul: “And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you, so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.” – 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13
Nourishment for the Soul: “It is of great significance if there is a person who truly prays in a family. Prayer attracts God’s grace and all the members of the family feel it, even those whose hearts have grown cold. Pray always.” – Elder Thaddeus
Saturday of Souls is this Saturday, March 2: E-mail Father or fill out a paper from the memorial table. List the names you would like to be commemorated, separating the Orthodox from the Non-Orthodox. All will be remembered. Names must be submitted by 5pm Friday, March 1st, to be included.
Evening Retreat Tuesday featuring Father Seraphim Aldea, founder of All Celtic Saints monastery on Mull Island in Scotland. This promises to be a very special event, and all are encouraged to invite friends and neighbors! Great Vespers is at 5pm with Dinner at 6pm. Presentation begins at 6:30. There is NO COST for the evening, though a collection will be taken to help support the monastery.
Thursday, February 28th at 6:30: You are invited to a discussion group at the Webb’s. This is the first of a series of discussions on various topics (many to be supplied by those attending). The first discussion will be a history of philosophy leading up to Post-Modernism, drawing ideas from Franz Brentano and Francis Schaeffer. All are welcome. Contact Howard Webb for details.
Old Mother Hubbard found the cupboard is almost bare! We need everything in the pantry except corn and green beans! Suggestions along with your ideas include: peanut butter, jelly, tuna, canned chicken and beef, canned fruit, simple and fancy soup, applesauce cups, frozen ground beef and chicken, ravioli, marinara sauce, salsa, pasta.
Myrrh Bearers (All ladies who attend All Saints) meet today around noon.
THIS WEEK
Tuesday, February 26: See the detailed invitation above.
Wednesday, February 27: Daily Vespers at 6:00
Thursday, February 28: Bible Study at Becky’s home at 3:00
Thursday, February 28: Discussion Group at the Webb’s home at 6:30
Saturday, March 2: Saturday of Souls Liturgy at 9:00 a.m.
Saturday, March 2: Great Vespers at 5:00 – SOYO at 6:00
Sunday, March 3: Matins at 9:00; Divine Liturgy at 10:00 Meat Fare Sunday
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. Approach to the cup starts at the front rows; the choir and preschool go first.
Prayer List: Shirley; Rose; Lexi; Theo; Heather; Doug Barrett;Amber Smith;Jeremy P; Charles; Vicki; Alice & Marvin Grayson; Laura Sue and Elmo; Nancy; Nick;Bruce; Joanna Zaharako; Dee; Mary Ann;Alexanders; Emilija and her newborn daughter; Kristina (Weber) and newborn son; Hannah with child; Sharon Catherine; Lillian Purcell; Eileen; Leanne; Ashlee W; Kh. Kristina; Vivian; Paul; Cathy; Sitto; Elias; Waded; Neva; Bill; Lonnie; Fr. George; Fr. Basil; Iva Lee; Nancy & Shalayna; Seraphima; Lilly’s family; Jennifer & Regina; those suffering in the drug crisis, with fire devastation, with flood damage in the USA; those suffering in Syria and the Middle East; safety in public places, in our schools and on our southern border; Metropolitan Paul; Archbishop John; our church and our nation.
Divine Liturgy Variables for Choir and Parish
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.
Apolytikion for St. John the Baptist – Tone 4
The Forerunner’s sacred head, having dawned forth from the earth, * doth send incorruption’s rays unto the faithful, whereby they find healings of their ills. * From on high he gathereth the choirs of the Angels * and on earth he summoneth the whole race of mankind, * that they with one voice might send up glory to Christ our God.
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.
Today’s Epistle and Gospel Readings
Epistle: The Reading is from St. Paul’s Second Letter the Corinthians. (4:6-15)
(For the Discovery of the Forerunner’s Honorable Head)
Brethren, it is the God Who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” Who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. While we live we are always being given up to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you. Since we have the same spirit of faith as he had who wrote, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we too believe, and so we speak, knowing that He Who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into His presence. For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.
Gospel: The Reading is from the Holy Gospel according to St Luke. (15:11-32)
(For Sunday of the 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 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.’”
LOOKING AHEAD
March 1-3: Trip to Holy Dormition Monastery in Rives Junction on Meat Fare weekend. Check with Rhonda and Howard if you plan to ride in the church van.
March 10: Women’s fundraiser for outreach and summer camp donations on Cheese Fare Sunday.
March 11: Great Lent begins with the Canon of St. Andrew (M,T,TH), Presanctified Liturgy on Wednesday followed by Orthodoxy 101, and Akathist on Friday.
FAMILY NOTES
Happy Birthday: Christopher S (27th); Mezy A (28th); Mary B (28th); Nina G (March 1st)
Blessed Name Day: St. Photeini the Samaritan Woman – 26th: Mezy A; Hannah G; Shirley R
Coffee Hour: Scheduled contributors and cleaners for today are those with last names beginning R-Z.
Thanks to those who are staying to help clean up after the coffee hour!