March 14

TOP STORY   

Sunday of the Prodigal Son

This third Sunday of Great Lent takes its lesson from the "Parable of the Prodigal Son"-arguably the most concise, profound, and beautiful of our Lord's statements on the nature of God's love. 

In a story of fewer than 600 words (related in Luke 15:11-32), Jesus depicts the follies of our fallen nature, the shame and self-loathing that lie at the heart of human vice, the tender love that can heal a fractured world, and the price such love exacts. And these grand ideas are all conveyed through characters one might find in an ordinary domestic comedy: "There once was a man who had two sons..."

Like all great works of storytelling, this parable invites the reader to approach it at different times in his or her life as a child, an adult, a sibling, or a parent to experience it anew and to discover new rewards, and new wisdom, with each encounter.

This Sunday in the church is the perfect opportunity to have that encounter, and perhaps to engage in the self-examination that is one hallmark of the Lenten season.

Please join us every Wednesday at 7:00 PM throughout Lent for Spiritual Journey To Prepare for Holy Resurrection: Lenten Worship Service, Spiritual Discussion, and Lenten Dinner. To see the 2025 Lenten Series flyer, Click Here.

March 16, 2025

SUNDAY

SCHEDULE

Sunrise Service 

10:00 AM

Holy Badarak 

10:30 AM

Celebrant

Rev. Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan

Usher

Ms. Sara Arabian

Parish Council Members on Duty

Vazrik Nishanian

Choir

Mrs. Edita Kalayjian

Organist

Mrs. Karine Muradyan

Bible Readings:

Isaiah 54.11-55.13

2 Corinthians 6.1-7.1

Luke 15: 1-32

HOKEHANKIST

REQUIEM SERVICE

For The Souls of:

 Nina Sarkissian (one year) and

Arik Mesrop

Requested by: 

Nellie Sarkissian

For The Souls of:

Julietta Martirosyan (3 years)

Requested by: 

Nelly Martirosyan and family

Prayer of the week

Accept with sweetness, almighty Lord, my bitter prayers. Look with pity upon my mournful face. Dispel, all-bestowing God, my shameful sadness. Lift, merciful God, my unbearable burden. For you are glorified by all creation, forever and ever.

   Keep watch, Lord, over your faithful people; strengthen those fleeing persecution, and protect the holy soil of Armenia. Preserve the spirit of Artsakh in our hearts; console those who grieve; deliver your faithful children from conflict, and bestow your peace on all mankind. Amen.

Please tune in to St. Mary YouTube channel for the upcoming services and Badaraks

Join Us for a Meaningful Lenten Journey

As we enter this sacred season of Lent, we invite you to take part in our special Sunday and Wednesday services, offering a time for spiritual renewal and preparation of the heart for Christ’s resurrection.

Each Sunday during Lent, experience the beauty of the Sunrise Service at 10:00 AM, followed by the Divine Liturgy—a time to reflect, pray, and grow together as a faith community.

In addition, join us on Wednesday evenings at 7:00 PM for our Lenten Vigil Service, discussions, and dinners, providing an opportunity for deeper reflection, fellowship, and nourishment. Click here for details.

Let us walk this Lenten journey together, strengthening our faith and drawing closer to God. We look forward to seeing you!

Lenten Journey: The Power of Almsgiving

On Wednesday, March 12, our parish gathered for the second session of the Lenten Journey series at St. Mary Armenian Church. The evening began with the Rest Hour service. Following the service, Nicolette Blackwell delivered a meditation on The Power of Almsgiving, emphasizing that true almsgiving is an act of self-giving love rooted in mercy. She highlighted how Christ, in the Sermon on the Mount, places almsgiving alongside prayer and fasting, showing its deep spiritual significance. She also connected the Armenian concept of voghormootyoon (mercy) with a call to active compassion, reminding us that acts of charity are not just about giving material aid but about embodying Christ’s love.

After the discussion, attendees proceeded to the church hall, where they enjoyed a delicious Lenten dinner sponsored by St. Mary's Women’s Guild. During the meal, Mariam Khaloyan, Director of Congressional Relations at the Armenian Assembly of America, provided an insightful briefing on the Assembly’s work and encouraged participation in the upcoming Advocacy Summit on April 16-17.

The evening was a meaningful opportunity for prayer, reflection, and fellowship, reminding us of the transformative power of almsgiving in our spiritual journey.

Acolyte Training Program at St. Mary Armenian Church

At St. Mary Armenian Church, a group of 13 dedicated altar servers are actively preparing for their ordination as acolytes under the guidance of Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan. This special program, held on Sundays after Badarak, provides young participants with an opportunity to deepen their understanding of the Armenian Church’s sacred traditions while growing in faith and service.

The Acolyte Training Program is designed with two primary goals in mind:

1. Education and Preparation – The altar servers receive hands-on instruction about the Armenian Church’s rich liturgical traditions. They learn about the sacred space of the church, proper etiquette, vestments, liturgical items, and their essential roles in the services, which equips them for their future ordination as acolytes and strengthens their participation in the Divine Liturgy.
2. Spiritual Growth and Commitment – Beyond teaching the liturgical functions, the program fosters a deep love for Christ, the Church, and the Armenian heritage. Through active participation in worship, the altar servers are encouraged to develop a lifelong commitment to their faith and community.

As these young altar servers continue their journey toward ordination, their enthusiasm and dedication serve as an inspiration to the parish, reinforcing the vibrant future of our church’s liturgical life.

For more information about the Acolyte Training Program, please contact St. Mary Armenian Church.

Teen Lenten Good Deed



On Sunday, March 9th, the ACYOA Juniors youth group gathered in the kitchen to prepare sack lunches for those in need through the Small Things Matter non-profit organization. With the generous donations of supplies from our parish families, the youth successfully assembled 100 lunches. These meals were delivered to a low-income housing community for the elderly in Montgomery County. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the parents, teens, and particularly to Greg and Katie Kumkumian for their efforts in organizing this event.

Supporting St. Vartan Cathedral – A Lenten Good Deed Project by Our Shnorhali Students

As we journey through the season of Lent, our Shnorhali School students are embracing the spirit of faith, generosity, and community through their annual Lenten Good Deed Project. This year, they are dedicating their efforts to support our Mother Cathedral, St. Vartan, which is in urgent need of restoration. Time and the elements have taken their toll, and it is now our turn to ensure that this cherished symbol of strength and hope remains a beacon for generations to come.

Each student has received a collection box to take home, encouraging them to practice almsgiving—a vital Lenten tradition—by making small contributions throughout the season. More than just a fundraiser, this project teaches our children the values of giving, compassion, and stewardship. By participating, they develop a deeper sense of belonging, ownership, and connection to our Mother Cathedral in New York, understanding that their support plays a role in preserving our spiritual heritage.

We invite our entire parish community to encourage and support our students in this meaningful endeavor. Collection boxes will be returned to the school by Sunday, April 13th. Let us come together in the true spirit of Lent, ensuring that our faith and traditions continue to thrive.

If you would like to make your own contribution to the St. Vartan Cathedral Renovation Fund, click on the following link: https://stvartan.org/

DIOCESAN & OTHER NEWS

Supreme Spiritual Council Appeals for Release of Armenian Captives

This week, the Armenian Church’s Supreme Spiritual Council convened at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. His Holiness Karekin II, the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, presided over the gathering of bishops and lay members.

At the inaugural meeting on March 11, Catholicos Karekin II conveyed blessings and good wishes to council members, noting with special appreciation the presence of His Beatitude Archbishop Sahak Mashalian, the Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople.

Participants included bishops and diocesan primates from throughout the church’s worldwide jurisdictions. Among them was Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan of the Eastern Diocese, who was in Armenia throughout this week to take part in sessions as a member of the council.

An important focus of the meeting concerned the status of Armenian detainees and prisoners of the Artsakh war, currently held in illegal captivity by Azerbaijan. On Wednesday, the Supreme Spiritual Council released a statement condemning the continuing detentions, and urging international bodies to help resolve the situation.

“The Supreme Spiritual Council declares that the acts perpetrated against the Armenian prisoners and hostages unlawfully detained in Azerbaijan are further manifestation of the ongoing enmity and aggression of the Azerbaijani authorities against the Armenian people and the Republic of Armenia,” said the statement. Read the entire message here.

Recently, the cause of freeing the Armenian detainees has also been taken up by the European Parliament, international ecumenical groups, and American church leaders. Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan has appealed on behalf of the prisoners in a letter to President Trump, and the entire body of clergy of the Eastern Diocese sent a plea to U.S. Secretary of State Rubio urging his help in releasing the captive Armenians.

Other items on the Supreme Spiritual Council’s agenda this week included reports on the work undertaken to convene a National Ecclesiastical Assembly of the worldwide church; questions about demographic developments in the Republic of Armenia; as well as various canonical, national, and administrative concerns of the church.

Click on the following links to view photos and read more.

Կոչ Գերագոյն Հոգեւոր Խորհուրդին

Այս շաբթուայ ընթացքին Հայաստանեայց Եկեղեցւոյ Գերագոյն Խորհուրդը նիստ գումարած է Մայր Աթոռ Սբ. Էջմիածնի մէջ: Ն. Ս. Օ. Տ. Տ. Գարեգին Բ, Ծայրագոյն Պատրիարք եւ Ամենայն Հայոց Կաթողիկոսը նախագահեց ժողովեալ եպիսկոպոսներուն եւ աշխարհական անդամներուն նիստերուն:

Ժողովին կարեւոր նիւթերէն մին կը կազմէր Արցախի պատերազմէն ի վեր ապօրինի կերպով Ազրպէյճանի մէջ գերի պահուած բանտարկեալներուն պարագան: Չորեքշաբթի օր Գերագոյն Խորհուրդը հրապարակեց հռչակագիր մը որով կը դատապարտէր այս արգելափակումը եւ կը դիմէր միջազգային իշխանութիւններուն միջամտութեան, որպէսզի սատարէին այս հարցին լուծման:

«Գերագոյն Հոգևոր Խորհուրդը կ’ արձանագրէ, որ Ադրբեջանի մէջ անազատութեան մէջ ապօրինաբար պահուող հայ գերիներու եւ պատանդներու նկատմամբ արարքները հայ ժողովուրդին եւ Հայաստանի Հանրապետութեան դէմ ադրբեջանական իշխանութիւններուն շարունակեալ թշնամանքի և յարձակման հերթական դրսեւորումներն են։”

Քառօրեայ ժողովին օրակարգը կ’ընդգրկէ յառաջիկայ Ազգային-եկեղեցական ժողովի կազմակերպական աշխատանքները, ինչպէս նաեւ Հայ Եկեղեցւոյ հովուական, կրթական, կանոնական, վարչական, կարգապահական, եւ ընկերային առաքելութեան արդիւնաւորման առնչուող այլ հարցեր: Քննարկման առարկա կը դառնան hայրենական կեանքի արտաքին եւ ներքին մարտահրաւէրները, Հայաստանի Հանրապետութեան ժողովրդագրական խնդիրներ:

Diocesan Scholarship Applications Available Online

Applications for Diocesan scholarships are now available online. The application deadline for the 2025-26 academic year is May 19, 2025.

 Each year the Diocese awards scholarships to promising youth who are headed to college. The Diocese seeks students who are active in their local parishes and have assumed leadership roles in their communities.

Click here to access the scholarship application. For information, contact Maria Barsoumian at (212) 686-0710, ext. 136, or e-mail mariab@armeniandiocese.org.

FAR NEWS

Making “A Seat on the Bus” for Armenia’s Tech Students

The Fund for Armenian Relief’s “Ayo!” platform is running a matching campaign for their project titled, “A Seat on the Bus.” The campaign—which is in honor of Women’s Month—is made possible thanks to support from a generous donor.

 This project aims to fund a minibus that will shuttle students to and from training courses in northern Armenia’s Shirak region. Rural public transportation in Armenia is often unreliable, taking up students’ precious time.

 The minibus will provide safe and efficient transport for women displaced from Artsakh, village youth, and others eager to participate in training at the new “Green Tech Hub” of FAR’s Gyumri Information Technologies Center (GITC), whose course offerings include social media, business, programming, and web design. (Some current GITC students are pictured here.)

 For this matching challenge, all donations up to $50 will be matched through April 7. Click the following link to contribute to the campaign—and help Armenia’s future tech workers find “A Seat on the Bus.”

ANNOUNCEMENTS

RECYCLING PROGRAM NEWS

Thanks to our Recycling Committee for their work in sorting and bringing home the recyclables every Sunday, especially during our recent Food Festival. What has been discouraging, though, is that people continue to throw half-full coffee cups and food into the container, which makes it very messy for us. Please put only the following in the container:

Empty plastic bottles

Empty aluminum cans

Empty glass bottles

Nothing else!!

No paper, no plastic silverware, no coffee cups, no paper plates, no food. We are trying to keep things simple.

If you have any questions or suggestions, please email Roxanne Paul at rangerrox@msn.com. Thank you for being so supportive in helping keep our planet cleaner!

UPCOMING EVENTS

Special Gift for St. Mary Gift Shop

St. Mary gift shop is offering limited numbers of imported bottles of medieval Armenian health elixirs formulated from ancient manuscripts deciphered at the Matendaran Museum of Ancient Armenian Manuscripts. These elixirs are made in Armenia by Armen Sahakyan, a pharmacologist and botanical scholar who has been working at the Matenadaran Museum for the last several decades. A trained medical doctor ordained a deacon in 1997, Sahakyan has dedicated his life to the maintenance of Armenia’s sacred botanical traditions.

The three different batches available at our gift shop (Royal Elixir, Arates Elixir and Arates Tonic) are made from a codified recipe of medieval Armenian medicine, using a special distillation process. They contain medicinal and aromatic plants, known for their healing properties. Through the distillation and aging process alcohol is created, so think of them as perhaps Armenia’s first (healthy) cognac! 

The supplies are limited and each bottle is numbered, including the batch and year of production. All of the bottles were donated to St Mary Church, so 100% of the proceeds will go to the St Mary Endowment Fund, with a portion also going to support Armenian clergy serving in Artsakh.

"Embrace the Future" Endowment Fund

Dear Parishioners and Friends, 

This year we celebrate the 90th Anniversary of the St. Mary Community and Church with the launch of the new "Embrace the Future" Endowment Fund to help ensure our church has the resources needed to continue serving our beloved community.  

Just as you plan for your future and that of your family, please join us in planning for the future of St. Mary Church. 

We are asking for your support so that St. Mary will be able to continue to fulfill her mission for future generations.  

The link below lists various opportunities for you to make a meaningful gift of lasting significance that will help support our church's long-term security, visibility, and vitality. Please consider making either a one-time gift or pledge, which would allow you to make payments over a five-year period.

Join St. Mary's Prayer Group

We are initiating a new form of ministry at St. Mary Armenian Church. For parishioners who would like to make an electronic prayer request, they can do so by Clicking Here

A group of volunteers will receive the request and pray at their earliest convenience. Additionally, a new physical prayer request box will be placed at the entrance of St. Mary Armenian Church with blank forms that anyone can fill out and drop in the box. These requests will be retrieved weekly and delivered to the members of the volunteer prayer group. If you would like to become one of the volunteers of the Prayer Group please email us. 

Please click on the link below to present your request. 

Buy a Brick and Leave Your Legacy at

St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church

Bricks can be ordered and purchased by clicking below and

filling out a simple online order form.

You can choose to have a 4" x 8" brick

which includes your preselected

3 lines of 20 characters per line of text.

Or you can choose to have the

Armenian Cross artwork on the 4" x 8" brick

which includes your preselected

3 lines of 15 characters per line of text.

Order Today While Quantities Last!

Payment can be made with PayPal or a Credit Card.

Legacy Brick Donations are Tax Deductible.

March 19 A Spiritual Journey- Lenten Worship Service and Dinner 7PM

March 26 A Spiritual Journey- Lenten Worship Service and Dinner 7PM

April 2 A Spiritual Journey- Lenten Worship Service and Dinner 7PM

April 9 A Spiritual Journey- Lenten Worship Service and Dinner 7PM

1Եւ բոլոր մաքսաւորներն ու մեղաւորները նրա մօտ էին, որպէսզի լսեն նրան: 2 Փարիսեցիներն ու օրէնսգէտները տրտնջում էին եւ ասում. «Ինչո՞ւ է նա ընդունում մեղաւորներին եւ ուտում նրանց հետ»: 3 Յիսուս նրանց այս առակն ասաց. 4 «Ձեզնից ո՞վ է այն մարդը, որ երբ հարիւր ոչխար ունենայ եւ կորցնի նրանցից մէկը, արօտավայրում չի թողնի իննսունիննին եւ չի գնայ կորածի յետեւից, մինչեւ որ այն գտնի: 5 Եւ երբ այն գտնի, կդնի այն իր ուսերի վրայ խնդութեամբ 6 եւ կգնայ տուն, կկանչի բարեկամներին ու հարեւաններին եւ նրանց կասի. ուրախացէ՛ք ինձ հետ, որովհետեւ գտայ իմ կորած ոչխարը: 7 Ասում եմ ձեզ, որ այսպէս ուրախութիւն կլինի երկնքում մի մեղաւորի համար, որն ապաշխարում է, քան իննսունինը արդարների համար, որոնց ապաշխարութիւն պէտք չէ: 8 Կամ ո՞վ է այն կինը, որ երբ տասը դրամ ունենայ եւ մի դրամ կորցնի, ճրագ չի վառի եւ չի աւլի տունը փութով ու չի փնտրի, մինչեւ որ գտնի: 9 Եւ երբ գտնի, կկանչի բարեկամներին ու հարեւաններին եւ կասի. «Ուրախացէ՛ք ինձ հետ, որովհետեւ գտայ իմ կորցրած դրամը»: 10 Ասում եմ ձեզ. Աստծոյ հրեշտակների առաջ այսպէս ուրախութիւն կլինի մէկ մեղաւորի համար, որն ապաշխարում է»: 11 Եւ ասաց. «Մի մարդ երկու որդի ունէր. 12 նրանցից կրտսերը հօրն ասաց. “Հա՛յր, տո՛ւր քո ունեցուածքից ինձ ընկնող բաժինը”: Եւ նա ունեցուածքը բաժանեց նրանց: 13 Քիչ օրեր յետոյ կրտսեր որդին, փողի վերածելով ամէն ինչ, գնաց հեռու աշխարհ եւ այնտեղ վատնեց իր ունեցուածքը, որովհետեւ անառակ կեանքով էր ապրում: 14 Եւ երբ ամէն ինչ սպառեց, այդ երկրում սաստիկ սով եղաւ, եւ նա սկսեց չքաւոր դառնալ: 15 Գնաց դիմեց այդ երկրի քաղաքացիներից մէկին, եւ սա ուղարկեց նրան իր ագարակը՝ խոզեր արածեցնելու: 16 Եւ նա ցանկանում էր իր որովայնը լցնել եղջերենու պտղով, որ խոզերն էին ուտում, բայց ոչ ոք այդ նրան չէր տալիս: 17 Ապա խելքի եկաւ եւ ասաց. “Քանի՜ վարձու աշխատաւորներ կան իմ հօր տանը, որ առատ հաց ունեն, եւ ես այստեղ սովամահ կորչում եմ: 18 Վեր կենամ գնամ իմ հօր մօտ եւ նրան ասեմ. հա՛յր, մեղանչեցի երկնքի դէմ ու քո առաջ 19 եւ այլեւս արժանի չեմ քո որդին կոչուելու, ինձ վերցրո՛ւ իբրեւ քո աշխատաւորներից մէկը”: 20 Եւ վեր կացաւ եկաւ իր հօր մօտ. եւ մինչդեռ հեռու էր, հայրը տեսաւ նրան եւ գթաց. վեր կացաւ ու վազեց նրան ընդառաջ, ընկաւ նրա պարանոցով եւ համբուրեց նրան: 21 Եւ որդին ասաց նրան. “Հա՛յր, մեղանչեցի երկնքի դէմ եւ քո առաջ, այլեւս արժանի չեմ քո որդին կոչուելու”: 22 Հայրն իր ծառաներին ասաց. “Անմիջապէս հանեցէ՛ք նրա նախկին պատմուճանը եւ հագցրէք նրան, մատանին նրա մատը դրէք եւ նրա ոտքերին՝ կօշիկներ. 23 բերէ՛ք պարարտ եզը, մորթեցէ՛ք, ուտենք եւ ուրախ լինենք, 24 որովհետեւ իմ այս որդին մեռած էր եւ կենդանացաւ, կորած էր եւ գտնուեց”. եւ սկսեցին ուրախանալ: 25 Իսկ նրա աւագ որդին ագարակում էր. եւ մինչ գալիս էր եւ տանը մօտեցաւ, լսեց երգերի եւ պարերի ձայնը. 26 եւ իր մօտ կանչելով ծառաներից մէկին՝ հարցրեց, թէ այդ ինչ է: 27 Եւ սա նրան ասաց. “Քո եղբայրը եկել է, եւ քո հայրը մորթեց պարարտ եզը, որովհետեւ ողջ-առողջ ընդունեց նրան”: 28 Նա բարկացաւ եւ չէր ուզում ներս մտնել. իսկ հայրը դուրս ելնելով աղաչում էր նրան: 29 Որդին պատասխանեց եւ ասաց հօրը. “Այս քանի՜ տարի է, որ ծառայում եմ քեզ եւ երբեք քո հրամանները զանց չեմ առել. ինձ երբեք մի ուլ չտուեցիր, որ բարեկամներիս հետ ուրախութիւն անեմ: 30 Երբ եկաւ քո այդ որդին, որը քո ունեցուածքը կերաւ պոռնիկների հետ, պարարտ եզը նրա համար մորթեցիր”: 31 Հայրը նրան ասաց. “Որդեա՛կ, դու միշտ ինձ հետ ես, եւ ամէն ինչ, որ իմն է, քոնն է. 32 բայց պէտք էր ուրախ լինել եւ ցնծալ, որովհետեւ քո այս եղբայրը մեռած էր եւ կենդանացաւ, կորած էր եւ գտնուեց”»:

Ղուկասի 15:1-32

15 Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, “This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.”3 So he told them this parable: 4 “Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? 5 When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ 7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.8 “Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? 9 When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ 10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”11 Then Jesus said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.’ So he divided his property between them. 13 A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. 14 When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. 16 He would gladly have filled himself with[c] the pods that the pigs were eating, and no one gave him anything. 17 But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! 18 I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.”’ 20 So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. 21 Then the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' 22 But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly, bring out a robe—the best one—and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; 24 for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ And they began to celebrate.25 “Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. 27 He replied, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf because he has got him back safe and sound.’ 28 Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command, yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!’ 31 Then the father said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and rejoice because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.’”

Luke 15:1-32

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The Gift Shop is open every Sunday after Church service and by appointment, call the church office at 202-363-1923 or send an e-mail to stmarychurchdc@gmail.com