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
His Eminence Metropolitan SABA
Archbishop of New York and Metropolitan of all North America
Very Rev. Fr. Michael Ellias, Pastor Rev. Deacon Farid Farkouh
Email: pastor@smaoc.org farkouhfarid@gmail.com
Sunday, March 3, 2024
Sunday of the Prodigal Son
Tone 6 and Eothinon 6
Martyrs Eutropios, Kleonikos, and Basilikos of Amasea
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 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 that art risen from the dead! O Lord, glory to thee.
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 (Last Judgment)
Matthew 25:31-46 (Meat Fare)
MARCH 3, 2024 – 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.
MARCH IS WOMEN’S MONTH IN THE ANTIOCHIAN ARCHDIOCESE!
SUNDAY, MARCH 3 - We pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Yvonne Absey, Najibi Anthony, Ronald J. Couri, Nicholas Ghiz, William Haddad, Sr., Mounir Kaba, Robert Sabbagh, Laurice Merhige Schuh, and Marie Zarr. Memory eternal!
Irene Tashji offers Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the soul of the servant of God Thomas Abdallah. Memory eternal!
Anita Absey and Robert Absey offer Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the soul of their mother, the handmaiden of God Yvonne Absey. Memory eternal!
The Couri Family offers Prayers of Oblation and a One-Year Memorial for the repose of the soul of the servant of God Ronald J. Couri. Memory Eternal!
The Zarr Family offers Prayers of Oblation and a One-Year Memorial for the repose of the soul of their beloved mother and grandmother, Marie Zarr. Memory Eternal!
NEXT SUNDAY, MARCH 10 – We will pray for the repose of the souls of the servants of God Eleanor Couri, Salwa Fauty, Laila Nassr, Mary Samara D’Angelico, Areff Samara, Vincent D’Angelico, Robert Samara and Rose Araktingi Samara, Gloria Sparsidis, and Robert William Thabit. Memory eternal!
Marie Bryant, Laura, James, Luke and Oliver Wallace will offer Prayers of Oblation for the repose of the soul of the handmaiden of God Laila Nassr. Memory eternal
MARCH IS LADIES MONTH! Our ushers today are Joan Bacon, Marianne Hindelly, Linda Mantia, and Marilyn Tulaney. The Epistle will be read by Karen Spolar in English and Sonia Abou-Naoum in Arabic.
HOLY BREAD – Linda and George Salamy have made an offering for the entire year. Many years! Donors are welcome for March and succeeding months. We ask for a donation of $50/week.
FOR THE INFIRM - Please remember our ailing brethren in your daily intercessions, especially, Dr. Robert Hadad (ME), Nicholas Massab (Norwegian), Vicky Nahas (MA), Howard Samara (Upper East Side Rehab), Richard Zogob (Norwegian), Rouda Abboud, Yvonne Allawh, Patti DeLuca, John Eyd, Alice Farkouh, Joyce Katen, George Khoury, Denise McBride, Alfred Nahas, Wade Saadi, Victoria Sleyman, Claudette Teen, Jim Thompson (NJ), George Trisciuzzi, and Rose Zrake (at home).
PLEASE MAKE SURE all cell phones and electronic devices are turned off in church or at home.
POST-COMMUNION PRAYERS – At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, a reader will read the Post-Communion Prayers of Thanksgiving. Please reverently hear these prayers before beginning to “chat.”
ANNUAL PARISH MEETING – The Annual Parish Meeting will take place today following the Divine Liturgy. Please register with the secretary in order to receive your ballot. Teen SOYO will offer a light lunch at a minimal cost underwritten by Gale Zarr in loving memory of her mother, Marie Zarr.
FASTING DISCIPLINE FOR MARCH – This week we fast on Wednesday and Friday. Next Sunday, Meat Fare, is the last day to eat meat and its by-products, and Sunday, March 17, is Cheese Fare, the last day we eat dairy. Great Lent begins on Monday, March 18.
SEMINARIANS – Our pledge envelopes for the month of March included a blue envelope marked “Seminarians.” Please use this envelope to support the Metropolitan’s annual appeal on behalf of our theological students. Our minimum contribution as a parish is $500. If anyone is currently not receiving pledge envelopes, please see Fr. Michael or Parish Council Chair Anthony Zrake.
BLESSING OF HOMES – Please see the flyer in this bulletin to request a home blessing prior to the beginning of Great Lent on Monday, March 18. The pastor will also bless homes following Holy Pascha.
PARKING – We ask our faithful parishioners to reserve the limited parking spaces directly in front of the church for our senior members and for those with mobility issues. Thank you for your cooperation!
ESTATE PLANNING – The Prodigal Son squandered his inheritance in loose living. Can I dedicate a portion of my inheritance to the church through my will or estate plan to promote righteous living?
DATES TO REMEMBER
Sunday, March 10 Meat Fare Sunday
Monday, March 11 Parish Council, 7:00 PM
Friday, March 15 Family Night, 7-9 PM, and Midnight Run
Saturday, March 16 Great Vespers, 5 PM
One-Year Memorial – Mary Ganim
Sunday, March 17 Cheese Fare/Forgiveness Sunday
All services will be live streamed via twitch.tv/smaoc.
FROM THE FATHERS – “For this is the work of the Father’s loving-kindness and goodness, that not only should He make him alive from the dead, but that He should render His grace illustrious through the Spirit. Therefore, instead of corruption, He clothes him with an incorruptible garment; instead of hunger, He kills the fatted calf; instead of far journeys, [the Father] watched for his return, providing shoes for his feet; and, what is most wonderful, placed a divine signet ring upon his hand; while by all these things He begot him afresh in the image of the glory of Christ. These are the gracious gifts of the Father, by which the Lord honors and nourishes those who abide with Him, and also those who return to Him and repent.”
- St, Athanasius the Great