Saint John of Damascus Orthodox Church A parish of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America

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1 Saint John of Damascus Orthodox Church A parish of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America 300 West Street, Dedham, Massachusetts ; Pastoral Staff: Archpriest John K. Teebagy, Pastor pastor@stjohnd.org Rev. Deacon Christos Hatzopoulos Mark Haddad, Choir Director Anthony Hamwey, Chanter Church Office churchoffice@stjohnd.org Office Hours: Monday Friday: 9 am 2 pm Bulletin Deadline: Wednesday at 2 pm Regular Sunday Services: Confessions: 8:40 am - 9:40 am Matins: 9 am; Divine Liturgy: 10 am ST. JOHN OF DAMASCUS MISSION STATEMENT We worship and glorify God, by loving and caring for each other, providing a safe, thriving and life-long home, from which we spread the teaching and good works of our Orthodox Christian Faith. Being God s stewards, we celebrate our faith by: participating fully in the sacramental and liturgical life of the church. responding to the needs of all by living the message of the Gospel through outreach to each other and to the community at large. fostering our God-given talents as stewards to strengthen God's church. Welcome one another, therefore, as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. (Romans 15:7) A NOTE TO OUR VISITORS WELCOME! We are glad to have you worshipping with us today. We hope that you will complete one of our visitor cards and will introduce yourself to Fr. John after the service. Please also join us for coffee following the Liturgy. Since the Orthodox Church understands Communion to be a sign of our unity of faith, only Orthodox Christians who have prepared themselves through prayer, fasting and periodic confession are permitted to participate in Holy Communion. All present, however, are welcome to partake of the blessed bread and receive a blessing at the end of liturgy.

2 12 February 2017 Sunday of the Prodigal Son Troparion of the Resurrection Tone 1: While the stone was sealed by the Jews, and the soldiers were guarding Thy most pure body, Thou didst arise on the third day, O Savior, granting life to the world. For which cause the heavenly powers cried aloud unto Thee, O giver of life. Glory to Thy Resurrection O Christ, glory to Thy kingdom, glory to Thy providence, O Thou Who alone art the lover of mankind. Troparion of St. John of Damascus Tone 8: Thou hast shown thyself, O God-inspired John, as a guide to the Orthodox Faith, a teacher of true worship and purity, O star of the universe and companion of monastics, O wise one. Through thy light thou hast enlightened all, O harp of the Spirit. Therefore intercede with Christ God to save our souls. 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. Prokeimenon: Let your mercy, O Lord, be upon us. Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous. EPISTLE: The reading is from St. Paul s First Letter to the Corinthians (Chapter 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 the 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.

3 THE HOLY GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. LUKE (Chapter 15:11-32) The Lord told 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 rise 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 still 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 the servants, 'Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him and put a ring on his finger, 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 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.'" And the rest of the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom Christ is in our midst! He is and ever shall be! + The Offerings Holy Bread + Trisagion Prayers of Mercy are offered in beloved memory of Takla Calabro (40 day) by her family Trisagion Prayers of Mercy are offered in beloved memory of Richard Scott (1 yr.) by his family

4 Prayers of Oblation are offered in beloved memory of mother Leilah Steiger by Petah Steiger Prayers of Oblation are offered in beloved memory of Elizabeth Tawa by Carolyn Nashawaty and family Prayers of Oblation are offered in beloved memory of Albert Kurker by his family Memory Eternal Prayers of Oblation are offered for the health of son Stephen Zahka by Albert and Marion Zahka Prayers of Oblation are offered for the health of brother Stephen Zahka by Albert Zahka Many Years DONATION(S) TO THE CHURCH: Richard, Margaret, Julie, Nicole, and James Scott in beloved memory of father and grandfather Richard Scott Don Khouri, Sr. congratulating the New England Patriots on their 5 th Super Bowl win Fred and Marianne Abdelahad in beloved memory of Lillian Taksery Mary Abdelahad in beloved memory of Lillian Taksery Cheryl Scott in beloved memory of father Richard Scott Russ and Colleen Khouri in beloved memory of cousins Nicholas Penza, Lillian Taksery and our beloved aunt Gloria Matook Mitch Hallal in beloved memory of wife Mary, forever in my heart John Kurker in beloved memory of Lillian Taksery John and Don in beloved memory of father Albert Kurker; he is forever in our hearts Helen R. Gabriel Dennis and Lillian Rawan Jane Gabriel and Mike Guigli In beloved memory of Takla Calabro Gail Kurker Norman and Diane Beshere In beloved memory of Nicholas Penza Marwan and Ibtisam Samman Norman and Diane Beshere Chris and Helen Woodward & family DONATION(S) TO THE VIRGIN MARY SOCIETY: Ibtihaj Massabni Massouh in beloved memory of Nicholas Penza Diana, Nadine, Mitchell and Mark, in beloved memory of mother Mary Hallal; she is missed every day

5 In beloved memory of Lillian Taksery Christine and James Bezreh Arthur Khouri and family Bob and Gloria Sabbag DONATION(S) TO THE CHURCH SCHOOL: Petah Steiger in beloved memory of mother Leilah Steiger Dianne Mercado and family in beloved memory of Lillian Taksery Rosemary Sabby in beloved memory of Takla Calabro Mike and Leslie Tawa & family in beloved memory of father and grandfather Albert Kurker; precious are the memories Greg, Rachel, Olivia, Charlie, Sophie and Nick in beloved memory of Siti Mary Hallal, precious are the memories Violet and Richard Robbat & family in beloved memory of Nicholas Penza DONATION(S) TO THE CHOIR: In beloved memory of cousin Takla Calabro Gloria Razook George, Cheryl, Nicholas & Alexander Stu, Renee, Heather and Joseph Feldman Mardo Announcements Reminder Please remember to contact Fr. John at your earliest convenience if you or a loved one has a pastoral need. Thank you! Looking for a spiritual home? If you would like more information about joining the parish, please contact Fr. John or the church office. You are most welcome! Next Week Fr. John will be away from the parish from February inclusive. In case of a pastoral emergency, please call Fr. Joseph Kimmett at Thank you. Friendly Reminder If you haven't gotten around to it, please remember to return your 2017 pledge form as soon as possible. If you have returned it, a big THANK YOU to you. Can you help? If you recently made a donation to the church or an organization and have not yet paid it, please do so at your earliest convenience. Please check with the ushers in the vestibule. Reminder Please allow the church school teachers and students to go to communion first. Thanks for your anticipated cooperation. FYI Great Lent begins on Monday, February 27, 2017; Easter is April 16, 2017.

6 Choir The next rehearsal is Sunday, February 9 am. Please see Mark Haddad with any questions. New members are always welcome! Teen SOYO The teen s next meeting will be held on Sunday, February noon. All are welcome! Antiochian Village Financial aid is available for those sending their children to the Village this summer. Requests for aid MUST be made in writing (no , please) to Fr. John at the church office by Friday, February 24. If you have any questions, please contact Fr. John. This aid is made possible by the archdiocese through the Order of St. Ignatius of Antioch. Can you help? St. John's Dedham Food Pantry Committee is in NEED of volunteers for 3 hours only (8:00-11:00 am). Choose ANY Saturday in March (4th, 11th, 18th or 25th) to help out. Please contact Laurie Bradley ASAP at or clcpr@rcn.com for more information and to volunteer. Thank you. Scholarship The Syrian Lebanese Women s Club of Boston invites young women of Syrian or Lebanese descent who live in the greater Boston area to apply for their annual scholarship. Applications, which are due by March 31, can be obtained by ing St. John s church office (churchoffice@stjohnd.org) Parish Life Conference This year's Parish Life Conference is hosted by St. George Cathedral of Worcester. This year's PLC is filled with events for the whole family to enjoy. Some of the scheduled events include: Divine services, Teen SOYO baseball game outing, Young Adults Summer BBQ Bash, presentation on the conference theme by Fr. George Eber, Oratorical, Bible Bowl, Hafli, delicious food and much more... Event rates are very affordable so be sure to register your family today: Altar Servers: John Najjar, Dean of Altar Servers. Serving this week: St. Luke Team.

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