All Saints Weekly Bulletin

^{Sunday, March 3rd}

Sunday of the Prodigal Son

9:00am Orthros 10:00am Divine Liturgy

Memorials for Maria Bantcheva (1 year), Blajo Bantchev (18 years), Ruska Trifonova (2 years), Fr. Stephen Bithos (40 Days), & Anna Stavropoulos (40 Days)

Fellowship Hour sponsored by Svetla & Grigor Bantchev

*a tray will be offered to collect money for Fr. Stephen Bithos’ family following the Divine Liturgy*

Epistle Reading

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.'"

Weekly Calendar

Sun, Mar. 3: Sunday of the Prodigal Son (Fast Free)       

9:00am Orthros 10:00am Divine Liturgy

Mon, Mar. 4: St. Gerasimos of the Jordan (Fast Free)

Tues, Mar. 5: St. Konon the Gardener (Fast Free)

Wed, Mar. 6: 42 Martyrs of Amorion (Strict Fast)

         6:00pm The Way Catechism Class (via Zoom)

Thurs, Mar. 7: St. Paul the Simple (Fast Free)

Fri, Mar. 8: 40 Martyrs at Lake Sebaste (Wine & Oil Allowed)

Sat, Mar. 9: Saturday of Souls (Fast Free)

9:00am Orthros 10:00am Divine Liturgy (with Memorial Service)

5:00pm Great Vespers

6:00pm YAL Outing @ Olympia



Sun, Mar. 10: Judgment Sunday (Fast Free)

9:00am Orthros 10:00am Divine Liturgy

Parish Announcements

House Blessings

At this time of year, following the Great Blessing of the Waters on the Theophany of our Lord, it is tradition to have the priest come bless our homes with Holy Water. If you would like to schedule a house blessing, please contact Fr. Theofanis (219-310-9706/frtrauch@gmail.com) to set up a time and date.

Saturday of Souls – Sat. 3/9, 3/16, 3/23

Beginning on Sat. March 9^th we will be having Orthros, Divine Liturgy, and a Memorial service for the Saturday of Souls. It is tradition to write the names of your Orthodox loved ones who have passed away and bring them to the Church for commemoration. It is also tradition to bring kolyva if you are able. Commemoration forms will be available in the Narthex.

Committee Sign-Ups

Forms will be available in the Fellowship Hall to sign up for our different committees/ministries following Divine Liturgy.

Mailing List Update

In an effort to expand and update our current mailing list, there will be forms to add new contact information. Please take a form, fill it out, and return to the Church Office.

YAL (Young Adult League) Outing – Sat. Mar. 9^th following Vespers @ Olympia Bar & Grill

Our Young Adults are invited to go out for dinner & fellowship following Great Vespers on Sat. March 9^th. We will be going to Olympia Bar & Grill (1301 W Pioneer Pkwy, Peoria, IL 61615). Great Vespers begins at 5pm, and we will go together immediately after.

The Way Catechism Class – Wednesdays 6pm – 7pm (via Zoom)

The Way is a class for those seeking to enter the Orthodox Church and for those who are Orthodox looking to learn more about their Faith. The Zoom link is on the parish calendar, or contact Fr. Theofanis to learn more.

Sunday School – Sundays following Holy Communion

Sunday School is under way! Any children (Pre-school through High School) are welcome to attend class! We have introduced a 2nd class specifically for our Middle School and High School students that will meet at the same time. Sunday School children and teachers come to receive Holy Communion first, and then go downstairs for class.

Middle school and High school students come downstairs following Holy Communion and meet with George Sarraf in the Fellowship Hall for their lesson. For any questions, please reach out to Trisha Holton (trisha.meier@gmail.com)

Wisdom of the Fathers

Sinners that repent are still saved; both publicans and fornicators cleansed by repentance enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. The compassionate God still calls to Himself all that have turned away, and He awaits them and promises them mercy. The loving Father still receives His prodigal sons come back from a far country and He opens the doors of His house and clothes them in the best robe, and gives them each a ring on their hand and shoes on their feet and commands all the saints to rejoice in them.

St. Tikhon of Zadonsk

I have sinned, O Savior, yet I know that Thou art the Lover of men. Thou strikest compassionately and pitiest warmly. Thou seest me weeping and runnest towards me as the Father recalling the Prodigal.

Canon of St. Andrew