Sunday of the Prodigal Son
Martyrs Eutropios, Kleonikos, and Basilikos of Amasea; Hieromartyr Theodoretos of Antioch
Thought for Today: “The mercy of God is limitless. It is immeasurably greater than an infinite ocean.It is in the divine mercy that one can easily drown all his mortal sins if he repents with all his heart.”+ St. Luke the Physician of Simferopol +
March is Women’s Month
The ladies of the parish will serve by reading the Epistle and ushering during the month of March.
EPISTLE and GOSPEL READINGS
The Epistle
O Lord, save Thy people, and bless Thine inheritance. Unto Thee will I cry, O Lord my God.
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 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 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.
OCF Donation Drive: Donations for ‘New Hope for Families’ may be brought to the church through March 24th. Items requested are listed on the Fellowship Hall door, in the electronic bulletin attachment, or by contacting Maria Greanias @ 219-508-6534.
Farewell, Michael: Michael Stolts, a long-time catechumen at All Saints, is relocating and today will be his final Sunday with us. May God protect Michael in his travels and establish him firmly in his new home.
THIS WEEK
Today, Sunday: Myrrh Bearers will meet following Divine Liturgy. For those interested in attending the annual Sugarbush Maple Festival; the Caravan will depart from All Saints shortly after the dismissal.
Monday, March 4: 6th Hour Prayers at 12 noon.
Tuesday, March 5: 3rd Hour Prayers; OCF dinner and discussion, 6:30 pm at the Webb’s home.
Wednesday, March 6: 6th Hour Prayers at 12 noon. Finding of the Precious Cross by St. Helen; Daily Vespers at 6:00 pm (followed by Orthodoxy 101).
Thursday, March 7: Divine Liturgy at 9:00 am.
Friday, March 8: Divine Liturgy for the 40 Holy Martyrs of Sebaste at 9:00 am.
Saturday, March 9: Saturday of Souls Liturgy 9:00 am; Great Vespers at 5:00 pm; (followed by Ask Abouna); Jr. SOYO at 3:30pm; SOYO at 6:30pm.
Sunday, March 10: Matins at9:00 am,Divine Liturgy at10:00 am. Sunday of the Last Judgement. (Meatfare).
Saturday of Souls – March 9: On the Saturday of Souls, we commemorate those who have fallen asleep, beginning with Adam and Eve, all the way to the most recently departed souls. With reverence, we ask God to forgive all their transgressions and to grant them rest “in a place of green pastures.” If you would like to include names of your departed loved ones to be remembered by name in the Liturgy, please divide the list into columns of “Orthodox” and “Non-Orthodox.” Lists may be emailed to Fr. Peter Jon or hardcopies may be placed on the memorial table before 3pm on Friday, March 8.
Building Committee Update
On February 7 the Monroe County Board of Zoning approved a variance allowing our future Temple to be built on the area directly north of our current building, which contains a 15-degree slope. The slope was created by us at the time of the construction of our current building. The variance also combined multiple lots of the property into a single lot. This variance is not time-bound but is a covenant running with the land. This is another important hurdle cleared for our building project.
FAMILY NEWS
Birthday Celebration: Dn. Lawrence Baldwin (3rd); Polina Mullis (5th); Alice Piercefield (6th);
Memory Eternal: Fr. Jorge.
Prayer List: Michael, Olga, Eileen, Soren, Kathy;Jan; Don and Dee; those suffering the war of Ukraine, and the Middle East; Peace talks; our nation and all nations’ leaders; schools: 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); Wes’s grandfather; Megan (lymphoma); Mark (CHF) and (caregiver) Barbara;Josiah; Vicki;Vicki’s granddaughter; Steve Crandall; Fr. Athanasius; Jack; Christopher; Fr. Jerome; Fr. Basil; Catherine; Wadia; Jayci; Patricia; Marvin; Alice; Kitsa; Apthrodite; Kim; Kristy; Dusty; Cari; Betsy; Josh; Allison; Andrew (Texas/military); Isaac (Germany/military); Leanne; Heather; Nancy; Sharon Catherine; Lexi, Ross and Vivian; Theo; Doug; Dee; Jeremy; Dn. Lawrence, Marcia; Elias; Waded; Seraphima; Lilly’s family; Jennifer; Christy; Megan; John; Stanley; Macrina;; Anne; Allen; Linda; Mary Barger; Allison and children; Nino with child, Kip, Taylor with child, Erica with child, Stephanie with child, Mary with child, Meaghan with child, Alexis with child.
Giving Opportunities:
Our In-House Food Pantry is in NEED: The Food Pantry is in need of marinara sauce, peanut butter, canned chicken and Tuna, canned vegetables, fruit and soups. The pantry is available to parish members as well as families and individuals in the greater Bloomington community. Thank you for your continued support
Mission Donations: We send monthly support to two missionary units in Albania, the Hoppe family and Hannah Valentine. We welcome and encourage you to contribute to their ongoing support.
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.
Coffee Hour Host: Melissa Barbarick with Parishioners A-B.
Next week Host: Wendy Elizabeth Carter with Parishioners C-G.
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.