Weekly Sunday Bulletin – February 24th 2019
Sunday of the Prodigal Son – February 24, 2019
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.
Parish Council on Duty:
Harry Tangalakis, Marion Koliniatis, Mark Zaden, Bill Ypsilantis, Paul Fountas, Peter Kokkinos
Liturgical Guide
Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Plagal Second Mode
Ἀγγελικαὶ Δυνάμεις ἐπὶ τὸ μνῆμά σου…
Angelic powers were above Thy tomb, and they that guarded Thee became as dead. And Mary stood by the grave seeking Thine immaculate Body. Thou hast despoiled Hades and wast not tried thereby. Thou didst meet the Virgin and didst grant us life. O Thou Who didst arise from the dead, Lord, glory be to Thee.
Apolytikion for 1st and 2nd Finding of the Head of the Forerunner in the Fourth Mode
Εκ γής ανατείλασα η τού Προδρόμου κεφαλή…
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.
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.”
Epistle Reading ~ The reading is from St. Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians 4:6-15.
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. For 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 Reading ~ The Reading is from 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
Sofia Glantzis (40 days) survived by her husband Philipp, son Nikolaos (Tania) and granddaughter Stefania.
Georgia Retsinas (40 days) survived by her husband Johnny Kountouridis and her children Thalia and Matheo.
George Stringos (40 days) survived by his wife Angeliki, sons Emmanuel and George (Tracey) and grandson George.
Trisagion
Constantine Lycouris survived by Steve, Alexander and Constantine Lycouris.
Baby Blessings
We welcome Ioannis and Natasha Stathakis as they present Melina for the traditional 40 day blessing.
We welcome Elias and Peggy Zapantis and big brother Yiorgos as they present Theofilos for the traditional 40 day blessing.
Announcements
Fellowship Hour
The coffee hour is sponsored by Angeliki Stringos in loving memory of her husband George Stringos and by the students of the Greek School at St. Demetrios in loving support for their classmates Matheo and Thalia Kountouridis. May their mother’s memory be eternal.
EYCC News Post-Festival Attendance Policy: We will continue to take attendance after the festival to encourage families to participate in the Divine Liturgy and students to go regularly to Sunday school. Post-Festival attendance, however, will not count toward dancing in the 2020 festival. Instead we will recognize students who have superior attendance, and students who participate in other ways, such as Oratorical Festival, Epistle Reading, Choir, etc. at the Youth Sunday celebration on May 12. Adults in the community are encouraged to invite student participation and to let an EYCC member know about such participation. In September, 2019, we will revert to the Pre-Festival Attendance Policy, which connects attendance in church and Sunday school with the privilege of attending Dance Practice.
Bookstore News Now available at the bookstore, 2019 wall calendars featuring angels and angelic visitations. Also come and see the newest books in stock.
DOP The Daughters of Penelope would like to invite you to take on a challenge that is close to our heart as well as close to home. Our focus this year for philanthropy is to raise money for the University of Central Florida and their research team that assists young and old that are in need of prosthetic limbs. Saturday, March 23rd we will be having our annual Fashion Show luncheon at Lighthouse Point Yacht Club and you are all invited to attend. The cost is $55 for a delicious lunch, wonderful company and basket raffles to benefit the University of Central Florida and their dream team to build bionic limbs for children. If you or someone you know want to sponsor a raffle basket personally or with services from a business and would like to get involved in anyway please see Melissa Bakatselos, Tara Bakatselos or any officer from the Daughters of Penelope for more information. We will gladly accept donations of any amount to help UCF reach their goals and their organization “Limbitless Solutions”. Email: dop.fashionshow@gmail.com. Starting Sunday, February 17, tickets for the Fashion Show will be available for purchase in the hall during Sunday coffee hour.
* Philoptochos News
SAVE THE DATE: Thursday, March 7th @ 7pm.
Bring your family and friends to a Special Lecture: Dr. Cara Giusti, Physical Therapist and owner of B3 Physical Therapy, has helped thousands of patients regain mobility, strength, alleviate pain and move better with improved balance. Her treatment plans continue to evolve with new discoveries in brain science, movements, and understanding of pain. Her talk will include a complimentary movement health assessment to identify your risk of sustaining an injury. It’s a matter of movement, not aging! Philoptochos meeting promptly at 6pm will precede the lecture. Refreshments will be served. Please plan to attend this timely event. For more info, see Athena Loucas.
SAVE THE DATE: Saturday, March 16th @ 6:30pm.
Feather/BINGO Party is back! Doors open at 6:30pm; game time is 7:00pm; and tickets @ $7/person include 2 game cards. Ticket proceeds go to Feeding South Florida. For more info, see Sue Carmona or
Athena Loucas.
Calendar of Events for the Week
Sunday 02/24
9:00am/10:00am Orthros/Divine Liturgy
11:15am Sunday School
Monday 02/25
4:15pm-6:00pm Greek Classes A’, B’, G’, D’ & Adult Beginner
6:00pm-8:00pm Advanced Greek class
Tuesday 02/26
11:30am Loving Stitches
Thursday 02/28
6:00pm Cancer Chapter meeting
Sunday 03/03
9:00am/10:00am Orthros/Divine Liturgy
11:15am Sunday School
