The Liturgical Guide and Bulletin for Sunday, February 16th, 2025
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Sunday, February 16, 2025
Sunday of the Prodigal Son
Through the parable of today’s Gospel, our Saviour has set forth three things for us: the condition of the sinner, the rule of repentance, and the greatness of God’s compassion. The divine Fathers have put this reading the week after the parable of the Publican and Pharisee so that, seeing in the person of the Prodigal Son our own wretched condition — inasmuch as we are sunken in sin, far from God and His Mysteries — we might at last come to our senses and make haste to return to Him by repentance during these holy days of the Fast.
Furthermore, those who have wrought many great iniquities, and have persisted in them for a long time, oftentimes fall into despair, thinking that there can no longer be any forgiveness for them; and so being without hope, they fall every day into the same and even worse iniquities. Therefore, the divine Fathers, that they might root out the passion of despair from the hearts of such people, and rouse them to the deeds of virtue, have set the present parable at the forecourts of the Fast, to show them the surpassing goodness of God’s compassion, and to teach them that there is no sin — no matter how great it may be — that can overcome at any time His love for man.
Liturgical Guide
Resurrectional Apolytikion in the First Mode
Τοῦ λίθου σφραγισθέντος ὑπὸ τῶν Ἰουδαίων…
Although the stone was sealed by the Jews, and the soldiers guarded Your most pure body, You arose on the third day, O Savior, giving life to the world. For this reason, the heavenly powers cried out to you, O Giver of Life: Glory to Your resurrection, O Christ! Glory to Your kingdom! Glory to Your dispensation, only Lover of Mankind.
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Apolytikion of St. Demetrios in the Third Mode
Μέγαν εύρατο εv τοίς κιvδύvοις …
Greatness has been found in danger. You are champion of the world. A victor who could turn the nations back. You boldly encouraged Nestor to defeat Lyaeus in the arena. Therefore, holy great martyr Demetrios, intercede with Christ our God, to grant us His great mercy.
Seasonal Kontakion in the Third Mode
Τῆς πατρῴας, δόξης σου…
O Father, foolishly I ran away from Your glory, and in sin, squandered the riches You gave me. Wherefore, I cry out to You with the voice of the Prodigal, “I have sinned before You Compassionate Father. Receive me in repentance and take me as one of Your hired servants.”
Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by Narthex Press
Epistle Reading
Prokeimenon. First Mode. Psalm 32.22,1.
Let your mercy, O Lord, be upon us.
Verse: Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous.
The reading is from St. Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians 6:12-20
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 Reading
Luke 15:11-32
The Lord said 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 the 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 filled his belly with 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.'”
Memorial Prayer
Panayiotis Legatos (2 years) Survived by his wife Eleni Legatos.
Helen Gatsonis (3 years) Survived by her daughter Liz Gatsonis.
Neophytos Demetriou (5 years) Survived by his children Andreas, Victor, Georgia, and Tony, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Michael Homatas (5 years) Survived by his loving wife Stacy, nieces, nephews, cousins.
Baby Blessing
Yiannis and Hallie Neocleous present Alexia for the 40 day mother and baby blessing.
Announcements
Coffee Hour In loving memory of her mother Helen Gatsonis, Liz Gatsonis has sponsored today’s coffee hour.
Annual Festival
Filotimo & Filoxenia are the foundation of our Annual Ft Lauderdale Greek Festival. This year, over 300 of St Demetrios’ phenominal volunteers united to host over 9,000 guests in the span of three and a half days. Multiple generations worked diligently and with joy for weeks-months in advance, cooking, baking, rehearsing dances, preparing costumes, polishing Spartan armor, contacting news media, creating social media, crafting emails, decorating, wiring for power, clearing out closets, freezers and storage units, placing orders, setting up booths, entertainment and eating areas, participating in meetings after working all day at home and/or work…and best of all everyone took time to reconnect with friends and family and invited them to join in the celebration. Perhaps you will join us next year. Below is a link to our post festival survey. Please take a moment to share what you appreciate about the festival along with your recommendations, ideas on how to be even better. We continue to grow and improve every year. The success we have been blessed with was made possible thanks greatly to our dedicated volunteers! Here is the link to the festival survey: https://forms.office.com/r/U9D6xFwTQf
Altar Help Wanted
Father Peter needs help in the altar on Sundays and with Sacraments. Compensation is available subject to ability and time provided. If interested and for more information, please speak with Fr. Peter or a Parish Council member.
Agape
You and your friends are cordially invited to the Agape fellowship at 11:30 AM on Tuesday 2/18/25. As always, Chef Manos, sous chef Bessie Manos, salad specialist Eva Planakis and their crew will prepare a delectable meal. Snacks, refreshments coffee and dessert will complete this special culinary experience. Entrance $10.00
Pap Corps
Pap Corps Chapter meeting – Wednesday 2/19/25 at 3P
Philoptochos News
“STOP FALLS BEFORE THEY STOP YOU”! Losing your balance and falls are a leading cause of injury among adults, but they don’t have to be. Join us for a FREE informative talk on fall prevention, presented by Dr. Ryan Shipley, DPT, CSCS.
Dr. Shipley is a dedicated physical therapist with over 8 years of experience. He has worked with a diverse range of patients from post-operative individuals to professional athletes, focusing on functional movement and injury prevention.
Open to everyone. Thursday, February 20th promptly @ 7:00pm, doors open @ 6:30pm. Kandaras Hall. Q & A to follow with light refreshments. Bring a friend. No admission! Sponsored by Philoptochos. For questions see Athena Loucas or Juanita Antley.
Get 2 BINGO cards at the door for $7.00. Many gift prizes, 50/50 raffle, plus refreshments. Supporting Covenant House and other local charities. Invite your neighbors and friends. Join us for a relaxing afternoon of fun, family, friends, & food!! Sponsored by Philoptochos. See you on Saturday, February 22nd, at 11:30am.
The DAC/HDF will hold a 2026 planning meeting for Parents on Sunday, March 2nd after church.
This event is for all families who want to attend in 2026 or want to learn more about the 2026 HDF event.
We thank those who have pledged to St. Demetrios Church for year 2024!
Please take a look to see if you have paid your financial commitment.
You can make payments on your existing pledge here https://stdemetrios.org/make-a-donation/ by choosing “Stewardship” from the dropdown menu.We remind everyone to pledge for year 2025. Please send in the stewardship form you received in the mail or pledge here https://stdemetrios.org/our-parish/stewardship/stewardship-form/
Thank you!
Prosforo
Anyone who is able to bake prosforo please do so. Don’t forget to also bring the names of your living and deceased for the proskomidi prayer.
Calendar
8:45am/9:45am Orthros/Divine Liturgy
After Communion Sunday School
Monday 2/17
7:00pm Intermediate Greek-Online
Tuesday 2/18
11:30am Agape Luncheon
Wednesday 2/19
3:00pm Pap Corps meeting
Thursday 2/20
6:30pm Philoptochos “Stop Falls” Presentation. All are welcome
7:00pm-9:00pm Advanced Greek-Online
7:00pm AHEPA Comedy Night
Saturday 2/22 Saturday of Souls
9:00am/10:00am Orthros/Divine Liturgy
11:30am BINGO
4:30pm Hope and Joy Movie Night
8:45am/9:45am Orthros/Divine Liturgy
After Communion Sunday School