Saints and Feasts

February 16

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.

February 16

Pamphilus the Martyr & his Companions

This Martyr contested during the reign of Maximian, in the year 290, in Caesarea of Palestine, and was put to death by command of Firmilian, the Governor of Palestine. His fellow contestants' names are Valens, Paul, Seleucus, Porphyrius, Julian, Theodulus, and five others from Egypt: Elias, Jeremias, Esaias, Samuel, and Daniel. Their martyrdom is recorded in Book VIII, ch. 11 of Eusebius's Ecclesiastical History, called The Martyrs of Palestine.

February 17

Theodore the Tyro, the Great Martyr

Saint Theodore who was from Amasia of Pontus, contested during the reign of Maximian (286-305). He was called Tyro, from the Latin Tiro, because he was a newly enlisted recruit. When it was reported that he was a Christian, he boldly confessed Christ; the ruler, hoping that he would repent, gave him time to consider the matter more completely and then give answer. Theodore gave answer by setting fire to the temple of Cybele, the "mother of the gods," and for this he suffered a martyr's death by fire. See also the First Saturday of the Fast.

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the First Mode

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!

Apolytikion of the Synaxis of John the Forerunner in the Second Mode

The memory of the just is celebrated with hymns of praise * but the Lord's testimony is sufficient for thee, O Forerunner, * for thou wast proved to be truly even more venerable than the Prophets * since thou wast granted to baptize in the running waters * Him Whom they proclaim. * Wherefore having contested for the Truth, * thou didst rejoice to announce the good tidings even to those in Hades * that God has appeared in the flesh * taking away the sin of the world * and granting us great mercy.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Third Mode

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."

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

First Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from Matthew 28:16-20

At that time, the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw Him they worshiped Him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age. Amen."

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

Sunday of the Prodigal Son
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.'"

Wisdom of the Fathers

Thank God every day with your whole heart for having given to you life according to His image and likeness - an intelligently free and immortal life...Thank Him also for again daily bestowing life upon you, who have fallen an innumerable multitude of times, by your own free will, through sins, from life unto death, and that He does so as soon as you only say from your whole heart: 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before Thee!' (Luke 15:18).

St. John of Kronstadt

My Life in Christ: Part 1; Holy Trinity Monastery pgs. 104-105, 19th century

But if he had despaired of his life, and, ... had remained in the foreign land, he would not have obtained what he did obtain, but would have been consumed with hunger, and so have undergone the most pitiable death: ...

St. John Chrysostom

AN EXHORTATION TO THEODORE AFTER HIS FALL, 4th Century

Parish Activities

TODAY

Special Service: 40 days blessing for Timothy Alexandrov

2025 STEWARDSHIP and financials as of 2/14/2025

Goal:                                        $550,000

Pledged:                                     $462,763

Pledges Submitted:                   133

Needed to be Pledged:             $87,237

DOME ICONOGRAPHY financials as of 2/14/2025

Total Project value: $411,000

Balance in the account at the beginning of the campaign: $110,898

Pledged (including grant): $239,872

Number of pledges: 62

Needed: $60,230

TODAY, AFTER SERVICE:
- Sunday School – What Christ did? His Resurrection
- Coffee Hour – Potluck (fast free)
- Philoptochos Meeting 12:00 pm in the conference room.
- Philoptochos Membership Drive begins
- Explore Orthodoxy Class 12:15 pm in the High School Class
- Living Word Bookstore: Philokalic Library Volume 1: The Lives of Saint Nikodemos of the Holy Mountain, Saint Makarios of Corinth, Saint Athanasios Parios
UPCOMING EVENTS:
- Tuesday, Feb. 18, 7 pm: Orthodox College Fellowship
- Wednesday, Feb. 19, 7 pm: Gladsome Light Dialogues
- Thursday, Feb. 20, 8:30 pm – GOYA Evening Prayers on Google Meet.
- Friday, Feb. 21, 11 am: Homeschool Co-op.
- Friday – Saturday, Feb. 21-22: The Illumined Heart Pre-Lenten Retreat with Archimandrite Maximos Constas. Registration is Free. Donations are welcome to offset the cost. Kindly register in advance and check-in at the entrance so we have a total number of guests for the food.
- Saturday, Feb. 22: Saturday of Souls. Bring a koliva and / or a commemoration list with your departed loved ones.
- Sunday, Feb. 23: Annual Chili Cookoff Fundraiser. Sign up to bring a pot of chili on Realm or email Les Hock [email protected]
- Monday, March 3^rd: Great Lent begins
- Friday, March 7, 7:00 pm – 1^st Soup Supper
- Saturday, March 8, 10:00 am: Trail Life Orientation/Q&A Parish kickoff meeting.
Great Lent Psalter Reading. Please register on Realm or contact Cristina Korzun if you want to be part of a Lenten Psalter Reading Group 972.821.6161 / [email protected]

Prayers Request

Prayer Request – February 16, 2024

(Use the baptismal name when commemorating. If not available, please use the first name. Kindly let us know if anybody else should be on this list)

Members of our parish who are in hospital or rehab:

Name: Baptismal name:

Leslie Hock

Members of our parish who are in assisted living or nursing home:

Name: Baptismal name:

Leo Alexander Panteleimon
Joyce Hofland
Rada & Valentin Teodoreanu Rada & Valentin
Velva Johnson Heleni

Members of our parish who are ill / in recovery:

Name: Baptismal name:

Wes Albaugh
Chrysanthi Andromalos Chrysanthi
Adrian Antonescu Adrian
Elias Bahou Elias
Michael Bogdos Michael
Kassandra Bogordos Kassandra
Robin Boomstra
Jason Caros Jason
Margaret Chokas Maria
Charlie Clark
Tim Cline Timothy
Edward Tex Collins Taxiarchon
Mariana Cuceu Maria
Helen Dieb Helen
David Dube
Orest & Refije Duka Anesti & Katherine
Tamara Eftimie Tamara
Timothy Elder Timothy
Michael & Kathy Fox Michael & Katherine
Awni & Maryan Haddad Rafael & Maryan
Jennifer Hock Zenobia
Steve Howton
Heather Olivia Gregoire Mary
Harry & Virginia Karegeannes Haralambos & Catherine
Filiratos & Alina Ionita Filiratos & Alina
Petar & Slavica Ivovic Petar & Slavica
Abraham Maayeh Abraham
Jude MacLead
George & Victoria Manos George & Victoria
Michael Mavias Michael
Themis & Zoe Mavrelli Euthymia & Zoe
Catherine Macdonald Catherine
Laura & Liliana Nicolescu Laura & Liliana Gabriela
Ruby Phillips
Cristina Popa Cristina
Candice & Annette Reyes
Ted Sarros John
Robert Steffaro Rodion
Elizabeth Strong Elizabeth
Dave & Shanna Trosko
Georgia Vratinina Georgia
Gary Winfrey
Helen Yu

Members of our parish who have chronic illnesses:

Name: Baptismal name:

Gabriel, Rita & Marina Abanoub Gabriel, Rita & Marina
Tami, Olivia & Nathaniel Brugman Dymphna, Theodora & Nathaniel
Andrew Lucas Burlacu
Ashley Choate Maria Magdalena
Elizabeth Cronin Elizabeth
Samiha Gayed Samiha
Michael Genovezos Michael
Mavra Grimm Mavra
Gregory Kerbow Gregory
John Koutsoufis Ioannis
Emilia Lueth Emilia
Constantinos & Marlen Pachou Constantinos & Marlen
Maria Lungu Post Maria
Emily & Michael MacLeod Emily & Michael
Maire Barachiel MacLeod Maire Barachiel
Erzsi Rafael MacLeod Erzsi Rafael
Brigid Seraphim MacLeod Brigid Seraphim
Michaela Miller Michaela
Andreas Mihalakeas Andreas
Gail Poriotis Evangelia
Georgia Souris Georgia
Ann, Jason Sullivan Ana, Jason
Madalina & Pipita Tache Madalina & Pipita
Sarah Varvaris Sara
Kristy, Ronald, Martha Warkentin Paraskeva, Ronald & Martha
George Vittas George, Reader

Members of our parish with limited mobility:

Name: Baptismal name:

Dr. Lucille Howton Lucille
Constantinos Katsikas Constantinos
Marika Shackelford Maria

Family members who fell asleep in the Lord in the last 40 days:

- Maximus Trosko - Ilina, deaconess - Bernard Peter Korzun

- Thomas Maloney - Carol Dunn - Lola Caros

- Anastasios, Archbishop - Tatiana, Presvytera

Church Calendar

STJB Calendar

February 16 to March 2, 2025

Sunday, February 16

8:15AM Orthros

9:30AM Divine Liturgy

10:45AM Sunday School

11:00AM Philoptochos Membership Drive begins

11:00AM Coffee Hour - Potluck

12:00PM Explore Orthodoxy Class

12:00PM Philoptochos Meeting

Tuesday, February 18

7:00PM OCF Meeting

Wednesday, February 19

6:00PM Paraklesis

7:00PM Gladsome Light Dialogues

Thursday, February 20

8:30PM GOYA Evening Prayers on Google Meet.

Friday, February 21

11:00AM Homeschool Co-op

7:00PM The Illumined Heart Pre-Lenten Retreat with Archimandrite Maximos Constas

Saturday, February 22

Saturday of Souls

8:00AM Orthros and Divine Liturgy and Memorial Services

10:00AM The Illumined Heart Pre-Lenten Retreat with Archimandrite Maximos Constas

4:00PM Confession

5:00PM Great Vespers

Sunday, February 23

Meatfare Sunday

8:15AM Orthros

9:30AM Divine Liturgy

10:45AM Sunday School

11:00AM Chili Cook-off Fundraiser

12:15PM Explore Orthodoxy Class

Monday, February 24

5:30AM Orthros and Divine Liturgy

Tuesday, February 25

7:00PM OCF Meeting

Wednesday, February 26

6:00PM Paraklesis

7:00PM Gladsome Light Dialogues

Thursday, February 27

8:30PM GOYA Evening Prayers on Google Meet.

Friday, February 28

11:00AM Homeschool Co-op

Saturday, March 1

8:30AM Orthros and Divine Liturgy

4:00PM Confession

5:00PM Great Vespers

Sunday, March 2

Cheesefare Sunday

8:15AM Orthros

9:30AM Divine Liturgy

11:00AM No Sunday School - Forgiveness Sunday

11:30AM Coffee Hour - Potluck

12:15PM Explore Orthodoxy Class

General Information

Contact Information

Services Schedule

Past Bulletins

Saints and Feasts

Sunday of the Prodigal Son

Pamphilus the Martyr & his Companions

Theodore the Tyro, the Great Martyr

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the First Mode

Apolytikion of the Synaxis of John the Forerunner in the Second Mode

Seasonal Kontakion in the Third Mode

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Epistle Reading

Gospel Reading

Wisdom of the Fathers

Parish Activities

Prayers Request

Church Calendar

STJB Calendar

February 16 to March 2, 2025