Holy Trinity Orthodox Church 1812 Watt St., Little Rock, AR 72227 + 224-3330 V. Rev. Fr. Joseph Bittle, Pastor February 12, 2017 Sunday of the Prodigal Son
Preparing to Worship the Thrice-Holy God Upon Entering the Church I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy; and in thy fear I will worship toward thy holy temple. (Ps. 5:7) A Prayer before Holy Communion O Sovereign Lord Jesus Christ, our God, who alone hast authority to forgive men their sins: overlook in thy goodness and love for mankind all my offences whether committed with knowledge or in ignorance; and make me worthy to receive without condemnation thy divine, glorious, spotless, and life-giving Mysteries, not for punishment, nor for an increase of sins, but for purification and sanctification and as a pledge of the life and the kingdom to come, as a protection and help, and for the destruction of enemies, and for the blotting out of my many transgressions. For thou art a God of mercy and compassion and love for mankind, and to thee we send up glory, to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. Amen. (St. John of Damascus) NEWCOMERS A warm welcome to all those worshiping with us at Holy Trinity! Please join us for coffee after the service; we look forward to getting to know you. If you are interested in learning more about Orthodox Christianity or in joining our parish, please contact Fr. Joseph at trinityorthodox@sbcglobal.net. Our parish website is orthodoxarkansas.com. About receiving Holy Communion: The Orthodox Church understands the Eucharist to be among other things the paramount expression of Christian unity. Since participation in the Eucharist expresses a formal unity with all the dogma, practice, and discipline of the Orthodox Church, non-orthodox guests do not receive Holy Communion; and Orthodox communicants are reminded that we approach the Chalice with due preparation including recent Confession, keeping the appointed fasts of the Church, and appropriate prayers of preparation for the reception of Holy Communion and thanksgiving after.
DIVINE LITURGY of ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM Variable Hymns and Readings FIRST ANTIPHON Verse: It is good to give praise unto the Lord, and to chant unto Thy name, O Most High. Refrain: Through the prayers of the Theotokos, O Savior, save us. Verse: To proclaim in the morning Thy mercy, and Thy truth by night. Verse: Upright is the Lord our God, and there is no unrighteousness in Him. Glory to the... Now and Ever... SECOND ANTIPHON Verse: The Lord is King, He is clothed with majesty; the Lord is clothed with strength and He hath girt Himself. Refrain: O Son of God, who arose from the dead, save us who sing to Thee. Alleluia. Verse: For He established the world which shall not be shaken. Verse: Holiness becometh Thy house, O Lord, unto length of days. Glory to the... Now and ever... Only begotten Son...
THIRD ANTIPHON The Beatitudes: In Thy kingdom remember us, O Lord, when thou comest in Thy kingdom. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when men shall revile you and shall persecute you and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake; Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven. AT THE LITTLE ENTRANCE Troparion for 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. Patronal Troparion of Holy Trinity (Pentecost - Tone 8) Blessed art Thou, O Christ our God, who hast revealed the fisherman as most wise, by sending down upon them the Holy Spirit; through them Thou didst draw the world into Thy net. O Lover of Man, glory to Thee!
Kontakion for Prodigal Son (Tone 3) Foolishly I sprang away from Thy great fatherly glory, and dispersed in wicked deeds the riches that Thou didst give me. With the Prodigal I therefore cry unto Thee now: I have sinned against Thee, O compassionate Father. But receive me in repentance; make me as one of Thy hired servants, O Lord. EPISTLE: First Corinthians 6:12-20 (Sun. of Prodigal Son) 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; but 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 are God s. GOSPEL: St. Luke 15:11-32 (Sun. of 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 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.
Meatfare Sunday is Next Week This year, our journey through the Lenten fast to Pascha begins at Forgiveness Vespers on Sunday, February 26. The Church, in her wisdom, has already begun preparing us, easing us in during these weeks that precede the full Great Fast. February 5 was the Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee and so this past week has been fast fast-free, lest we too easily fall prey to our inner Pharisee. Today, February 12, is the Sunday of the Prodigal Son and this week will be a normal week with fasting on Wednesday and Friday. Next Sunday, February 19, is Meatfare Sunday and on this day we say farewell to meat, having it for the last time until Pascha. During the week that follows (February 20 26) we fast from meat only. All dairy, cheese, eggs, wine, and oil are permitted during this week, even on Wednesday and Friday. February 26 is Cheesefare Sunday and on this day we say farewell to cheese, dairy, eggs, wine, oil, etc, beginning the full Great Fast the next day (Monday, February 27). Books to Bless Toddlers and Pre-Schoolers during Divine Liturgy Parenting younger children can often be a challenge during services. Sometimes the best answer is to use a child s book about holy things as a way of helping them. We are now making a few copies of the following books available in a basket found on the shelf of one of the console tables in the narthex: A Child s Guide to the Divine Liturgy What Do You See at Liturgy Upcoming Wedding The Sacrament of Holy Matrimony of Claira McManus and Andy Shows will be Saturday, February 18 th, at 3:00 pm. Come and support them by your presence and prayers.
THIS WEEK Wednesday and Friday Fast Monday, Feb. 13 Tuesday, Feb. 14 Wednesday, Feb. 15 Martinian of Palestine; Apostles and Martyrs Aquila and Priscilla; Eulogios, patriarch of Alexandria Auxentios the priest of Bithynia; Abraham, Maron of Syria and Damian; New-martyrs Nicholas of Corinth and George of Mitylene; repose of Venerable Cyril, equal-to-the-apostles and teacher of the Slavs; Isaac the Recluse of the Kiev Caves Apostle Onesimos of the Seventy; Eusebios of Syria; Martyr Major of Gaza; Dalmatos of Siberia 6:00 pm Vespers 6:45 pm Soup and Bible Study (Gospel of St. John) Thursday, Feb. 16 Martyr Pamphilos, priest of Caesarea in Palestine; Flavian the hermit; Venerable-martyr Romanos 6:00 pm Ladies Book Study (Mathewes-Green chapters 10-12) 7:00 pm Parish Council Friday, Feb. 17 Great-martyr Theodore the Soldier ('Tyro'); Marcian the emperor and Pulcheria the empress; New-martyrs Theodore and Michael; Finan, bishop of Lindisfarne Saturday, Feb. 18 SOUL SATURDAY -- Leo the Great, pope of Rome; Agapitos the Confessor, bishop of Synnada in Phrygia; Colman, bishop of Lindisfarne 9:00 am Divine Liturgy w/ Trisagion for Departed 3:00 pm Wedding (McManus & Shows) 6:00 pm Great Vespers 6:45 pm Confession Sunday, Feb. 19 LORD S DAY (MEATFARE) -- Apostles Archippos, Philemon and Apphias of the Seventy; Venerable-martyr Philothea of Athens; New-martyr Nikita the New of Epiros 8:50 am Church School 9:00 am Orthros 10:00 am Divine Liturgy 11:30 pm Coffee Hour 12:30 pm Inquirers & Catechumens Class