FEBRUARY 12, 2016

EPISTLE: 1st Corinthians 6:12-20 (#135) GOSPEL: St. Luke 15:11 - 32 (#79)TONE: 1

St. Innocent Orthodox ChurchZ 50th Anniversary:1967-2017 Z Moscow Patriarchal Parishes Z23300 W. Chicago _ Redford, MI 48239 _ 313-538-1142 _ Fax: 313-538-8126

Church Website: www.stinnocentchurch.com _ E-Mail: frroman@firebirdvideos.comSt. Innocent Monastic Community: 9452 Hazelton, Redford, MI 48239 _ 313-535-9080

PASTOR: Rt. Rev. Mitered Archpriest ROMAN STAR _ Cell: 313-319-0590 Dean, Central States Deanery, Patriarchal Parishes

ASSISTANT PRIEST: Rev. DANEIL SHIRAK _ 313-295-3073DEACONS: Rev. Dn. Dr. Joshua GenigRev. Dn. Michael Comerford, Attached

ATTACHED: Sister IoannaCHOIR DIRECTOR: Elizabeth Star Hatfield

READER: George Hanoian

FOR THE REPOSE OF: Estelle & Joseph Star; Anna & John Witkowski; Michael Sr. & Margaret Rusko; Mary, Andrew, Daniel,Michael & Lottie Yakuber; Ross & Margaret Falsetti; Helen, John & Carole Andrayko; Peter & Theresa Harvilla; Betty Martell; Frances, Todd& John Smoly; Peter Glover; Irene Adams; Ethel Elizabeth & Wayne Joshua deVyver, David Horka; Michael Rusko; Anna Lichagina, Yelena& Zinaïda Korniyevskaya; Joseph Nossal; Michelle Tucker; Todd Comerford, John Manier, Jr.MEMORY Matushka Julianna Schmemann (newly reposed, 1/29/17, age 93), (wife of Fr. Alexander Schmemann)ETERNAL!

FOR THE HEALTH OF: Archimandrite Seraphim; Priest Daneil, Matushka Debra & Corrina Shirak; Deacon Michael, Matushka MaryEllen & Julius Comerford; Deacon Joshua, Matushka Abigail, Emma, Clare, Rose & Anna Genig; Matushka Mary Donahue; Reader RobertLatsko, Reader George & Betty Hanoian, Rose Nossal, Mary Glover, Nancy Cupp, Vasiliki Stamoulis, Gerald Martell, Azbehat, DonaldYakuber, Carl deVyver, Jo Anne Nicholas, Joan Rusko, Daria, Joseph Nossal, Ed Manier, Pat Harbut (recovering from auto accident).ALSO FOR: Sister Ioanna, who celebrates her birthday on Wednesday, 15 February

Rose Marie Genig, who celebrates her birthday on Wednesday, 15 February

� MAY GOD GRANT THEM MANY YEARS! �

SCHEDULE FOR THE COMING WEEK (Regular Wednesday and Friday Fasting)

Saturday 2/18 10am MEMORIAL DIVINE LITURGY FOR SOUL SATURDAY #1

4pm GREAT VESPERS & CONFESSIONS

Sunday 2/19 Last Judgment & Meatfare Sunday — Pre-Lenten Sunday #3

9:15am HOURS, AKATHIST &/or CANON; CONFESSIONS

10am DIVINE LITURGY; followed by Coffee Hour

PROSPHORA FOR TODAY IS OFFERED BY: Matushka Rose Marie & Fr. RomanIn Memory Eternal of: Joseph & Estelle Star; Paul & Alexandra; Basil & Ellen; John & Anna; Samuel & Mary; Thomas & Rose; Olga, Joseph, Marsha,Richard, Tom, Julia, George, Olga, Joseph, Ellen, and all departed family members & parishioners of St. Innocent; and For the Health of: Fr. Roman (B-day, 2/4), Mat. Rose Marie (B-day, 2/23), Elizabeth (B-day, 2/23), Larry, Caitlin, Zachary, Thomas (B-day, 3/12), Barbara,Harry, Gregory, Tamiko; all family members & parishioners of St. Innocent.

Z PRODIGAL SON SUNDAY Z 2nd

PRE-LENTEN SUNDAY Z

_ 9:15AM — HOURS, AKATHIST and/or CANON & CONFESSIONS __ 10am — DIVINE LITURGY OF ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM _

Return of the Prodigal Son

COMMEMORATED TODAY: Sunday of the Prodigal Son. St. Meletius, Archbishop of Antioch (381). St. Aleksy (Alexius), Metropolitan of Moscow and

Wonderworker of All Russia (1378). St. Meletius, Archbishop of Kharkov (1840). Ven. Mary (who was called Marinus), and her father, Ven. Eugene, at Alexandria(6th c.). St. Anthony, Patriarch of Constantinople (895). St. Kristo the Gardener (Albania—1752). The “IVERON” (IBERIAN) Icon of the Most-holy Theotokos.

Z CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! Z HE IS NOW & ALWAYS SHALL BE! Z

CANDLES FOR LAST SUNDAY, 5 FEBRUARYYEARLY CHURCH VIGIL LAMPS:Royal Doors Lamp: In Memory of Husband, Joseph; Son, Kenneth; parents, Michael & Margaret Rusko, & John & Martha Nossal, by Rose NossalAltar Candelabra: In Memory of Parents, Nicholas and Susan Yakuber, by son, Donald Yakuber Altar Candles (2): In Memory of Irene Adams, by Goddaughter, Rose Ann EverhardtIconostasis Lamps: In Memory of departed family & friends; & Health of family & friends, by Fr. Protodeacon Daniel & Mat. Irene SudolCandles on the Solea: In Memory of Peter & Theresa Harvilla, Norman & Monica Holst, & Ricky Ellis, by Jason & Debra Truskowski Table of Oblation Lamp: In Memory of Parents, Helen & John Andrayko, Sr. & sister, Carole Andrayko, by John Andrayko, Jr.

Reliquary-Icon Lamps: Sts. Innocent, Tikhon & Herman: Health of Joseph/Sue; Robert/Diane; Pat/John; Joseph B., Jared, Jay; Rachelle/Aaron, Gabriel; Tricia, Lindsey; & In Memory of sisters, Anna, Margaret, Theresa & Irene; & brothers, John, Edwin & Michael by Rose NossalReliquary-Icon Lamps: Sts. Elizabeth & Raphael: Health of the Genig and the Just Families, by Fr. Deacon Joshua & Abigail GenigReliquary-Icon Lamps: St. Seraphim & St. Alexis: In Memory of Ross & Margaret Falsetti, by daughters, Rose Ann Everhardt & Margie MartellReliquary-Icon Lamps: St. Hilarion & Sts. Alexandra & Martha: In Memory of Parents, Ethel Elizabeth & Wayne Joshua; Robert David H; // Reliquary-Icon Lamps: St. Nestor & St. Gerontius (AVAILABLE) //& Health of brother, Carl, by Sister Ioanna

IN MEMORY OF (MEMORY ETERNAL!)Joseph & Estelle Star, by son Father Roman and familyPaul & Alexandra Yupco, Basil & Ellen Starinshak, by grandson, Father Roman and familyJohn & Anna Witkowski, by daughter, Matushka Rose Marie and familySamuel & Mary Kupec, by granddaughter, Matushka Rose Marie and family Parents, Helen & John Andrayko, and sister, Carole Andrayko, by John Andrayko + + + My husband, Michael Rusko, by Joan Rusko My husband, Joe; my sisters, Margaret & Ross Falsetti, Anna & Mike Elaschat, Theresa & Pete Harvilla, Irene, & brothers, Michael, John & Edwin Rusko; niece, Rose Mary & Dean Hough; Joe’s brothers, Raymond & Walter Nossal, & sisters, Theresa, Florence & Helen Nossal, by Rose Nossal ++ + Pete & Theresa Harvilla, by Mary Ann Harvilla & Kay Truskowski + + + Jaimie Truskowski, by daughter Kay T. Parents, Ethel Elizabeth & Wayne Joshua; David H; Nina I; Marion P; Fr. Photius; Mo. Benedicta; Archm. Roman; Molly; Olive, by Sr Ioanna Thelma Ratcliff, Louis Pitts, Gloria Robinson, Reginald Bell. Lessie Favor, Lois Hamby, John Manier III, by Manier Family

Child Lana, Shirley, Betty, Marsha, Paul, by Becky Jurczyszyn FOR THE HEALTH OF: (MANY YEARS!)Elizabeth & Lawrence, Caitlin & Zachary, by parents & grandparents, Father Roman & Matushka Rose Marie Gregory & Tamiko Star, by parents, Father Roman & Matushka Rose MarieChildren, Grandchildren & Great-grandchildren; Monk Fr. Sdn. Tikhon (Dade); by Rose NossalFather Roman & Matushka & family; Sister Ioanna; John Andrayko; Nancy; Mary G; Jo Anne N; Grandson Joey (in the Navy Reserves) & all people in the Armed Forces; & all St. Innocent Church parishioners, by Rose Nossal + + + Family & Friends, by Mary Ann Harvilla & KayBrother, Greg & Donna; nephew, Gregory & Liz; & nephew, Alex, by Mary Ann Harvilla & Kay + + + Ed Manier, by Mary Ann Harvilla&Kay Archimandrites Nafanail, Gregory & Seraphim; Fr. Roman & Mat. Rose Marie; Fr. Lawrence & fam; Fr. Laurence & fam; Fr. Daneil & fam; Fr. Dcn. Michael & fam; Fr. Dcn. Joshua, Abigail & children; Mat. Mary D; Carl; Monk Fr. Tikhon; Sdn Andrew; Rdr Robert; Robert M; David Samuel/Sky & Avi; JoAnne/Nick; Athanasius; John A; Ed/Tiffany & fam; Kim & fam; Vasiliki; Rose; Emil; Billy/Fonda, by Sr IoannaFr. Roman (Birthday, 2/4), Matushka Mary Donahue (Birthday, 2/1), by Sister Ioanna + + + Rose Nossal, by John Andrayko John Andrayko (May God watch over him), by Rose Nossal + + + Leia, Mike, Reece & Wyatt Wilson; Bob/Joan Jurczyszyn; Toni /Richard Bussen; Pete, Krista, Jacob, Clair, Matt & Paul Stelmaszek; Damon Trestain, Levi Troyer, Briana Saylor, by Becky Jurczyszyn Health & Salvation: Children & grandchildren; Ed (still recuperating from stroke); Brittany Truitt (mental health issues), by Manier Family

ANNOUNCEMENTS

(1) WELCOME TO FR. JEROME SANDERSON, WHO IS SERVING WITH US TODAY. We welcome and are delighted to have Fr.Jerome Sanderson visiting with us today, and giving the sermon/homily. Hopefully his lovely wife is with us also, as she was last year. Fr. Jeromegave his annual presentation here yesterday, co-sponsored by the Detroit Chapter of the Brotherhood of St. Moses the Black and St. Innocent.

(2) PLEASE ORDER YOUR PIZZA KITS: Another fund-raising project for our 50th Anniversary expenses is our selling Little Caesar’s PizzaKits. There are a wide variety of choices. Please place orders by February 19th, for delivery in March. Contact Kim: 313-550-3222.

(3) VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR NEXT PIEROGI-MAKING DAY, SATURDAY, MARCH 4th. Please contact Mary Ann or Elizabeth(734-306-1486, voice or text). Many thanks to all those who helped in the Jan. 28th pierogi-making session.

(4) PLEASE PLACE AS MANY ORDERS FOR PIEROGI AS POSSIBLE FOR NEXT SESSION, MARCH 4th. Please place your ordersfor March 4th pierogi-making — plus, please get orders from your friends, family, neighbors, co-workers, etc. —for our very LARGE,DELICIOUS sauerkraut or potato & cheese pierogi, at just $7 per dozen. They freeze very well for future use. Sign up on the Pierogi Orderssheet on wall outside kitchen door, or contact Elizabeth or Mary Ann.

(5) 50th ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATIVE ICON-CARDS OF ST. INNOCENT AVAILABLE. Make sure you get your complimentary4 x 5½ icon-cards of our parish’s patron saint, on heavy glossy card-stock, in commemoration of our 50th Anniversary. Give to relatives & friends.

(6) “ST. INNOCENT ORTHODOX STUDY GROUP”: with Fr. Deacon Joshua; meets for 2 more weeks on Wednesdays, 6:30 – 7:30 PM

(7) NEW ISSUE OF GOOD WORKS AVAILABLE, the November-December issue. GOOD WORKS is the COCC's marvelous bi-monthlypublication that is available in FULL-COLOR on-line at: http://coccdetroit.com/files/Good%20Works/ COCCGoodWorks-2016NOV-DEC.pdf,and in a 2-color printed version, that are now available at church. Every bi-monthly issue is expertly and artistically done, (even though waybehind schedule), with many interesting articles on varied topics, with numerous photos. This issue features a large article on page 7 about Bp.John's visitation to St. Innocent and the Ordination of Fr. Deacon Joshua Genig, with a great photo, all taken from our own church website.

“I NEVER LEFT” NOT TRUE!

By Fr. Stavros Akrotirianakis

Source: pravoslavie.ru & Orthodox Christian Network, 2/26/16

[The Older Son] answered his father, “Lo, these many years I have served you, and I neverdisobeyed your command; yet you never gave me a kid, that I might make merry with myfriends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your living with harlots, you killedfor him the fatted calf!” And he said to him, “Son you are always with me, and all that ismine 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.” (Luke 15: 29-32, Gospel on the Sunday of the Prodigal Son)

In the Parable of the Prodigal Son, there are three main characters— the younger son,who made a mess of his life, but then returned and repented; the father, who acquiescedto the wishes of his younger son, gave him his share of the inheritance, and who wasready to forgive and restore his son when he came home; and the older son, the one“who never left.”

The Parable leads us to surmise that the father was a farmer, as the older son was working out in the field. Presumably, theyounger son was sharing the burden of the work prior to his leaving. The older son had plenty of reason to be angry at hisbrother—His brother had first and foremost, insulted their father. Secondly, he had cut his father’s wealth in half by takinghis inheritance early. Third, he had left the older brother to do the work of both brothers, so he had increased his labor. Asif this wasn’t enough, when the younger brother came home, the father not only forgave him, but threw a party in his honor.Yet, when we read the parable, it is the older son who we end up with a bad picture of, not the younger son.

So, what is the lesson here? First, when the older brother said to his father “I never disobeyed your command,” that was nota true statement. No child can ever say that he never disobeyed his father. I was a relatively good child, but I wasn’t perfect.I’m sure there were plenty of times I disobeyed my father. And if, in the Parable, the Father represents GOD our Father, thento say we never disobey God is not a true statement for any of us. In fact, it is the height of arrogance.

In some sense, we are all the Prodigal Son. We all “waste” our inheritance when we sin. We all “go away” to a “far country”when we sin because we estrange ourselves from God. Like the Prodigal Son, however, we hopefully have moments wherewe “come to ourselves” and repent, we come back to God. And God our Father forgives us and restores us when we comeback to Him.

So, when are we like the older son? There are two instances— first, when we are so arrogant as to think we never do wrong.This puts us in the same place as the Pharisee, in the Parable of the Publican and the Pharisee. It fails to show humility. And second, when we look on those “who come back” with contempt, rather than joy. This happens more than we think.When a person makes a mistake and owns up for it, we sometimes think about retribution and punishment before we thinkabout forgiveness. When we feel that a person has been too easily forgiven and hasn’t been thoroughly punished, we tendto become indignant with them. We fail to show mercy.

There is nothing wrong with the loyalty of the older son. The fact that he was obedient to his father, at least most of the time,was a good thing. But no one is obedient all the time. And when a lost soul has returned home, we should be rejoicing.

In practical terms, periodically we see someone come back to church after a long absence. What is our reaction? Are wecontemptuous, like “where have you been?” Or are welcoming, without interrogating? How many times in life does someonewho has wronged you try to make amends, perhaps even after a long time—it probably doesn’t happen often but it doeshappen. Are we easy to forgive and easy to entreat, like the Father in the story? Or are we filled with anger and contempt,like the older son?

If God our Father is ready and happy to restore us, we should be happy to restore one another. After all, no one has sinnedagainst me MORE than I have sinned against God. So, if I expect God to forgive ALL of my sins, then I should be willingto forgive the sins of others. And I should rejoice, rather than resent, when someone “comes back” and “makes it right.”

I have exhausted the wealth of my father’s holdings, and have consumed them; I have become destitute, dwellingin the land of wicked citizens. No longer able to bear their company, I return and cry to You, the compassionateFather, “I have sinned against heaven and before You, and I am not worthy to be called Your son. Treat me as oneof Your hirelings, O God, and have mercy on me. (From the Praises in Matins for Prodigal Son Sunday)

See the good in people today!

WHY I BELIEVE IN GOD, Part 2By Fr. Emmanuel Hatzidakis

Source: orthodoxwitness.org

“When I look at thy heavens, the work of thy fingers,the moon and the stars which thou hast established;

what is man that thou art mindful of him,Yet though hast made him little less than God…

You hast given him dominion over the works of thy hands.”(From the Eighth Psalm)

Dear Fr. Hatzidakis,Why did God make a huge vast universe, (that I personally doubt is empty of other civilizations) only to put abunch of humans in some tiny insignificant planet?…Why make a huge universe, assuming that God made thatuniverse somehow?…I am not about to answer these questions with faith. I need facts. Facts come only fromscience—although science cannot answer the above questions either… (FC)

By your admission, science cannot prove that God exists or that He created the universe or answer why Hewould place us humans on this planet and for what purpose. Besides the questions you raised, there are manyother questions for which science is in no position to provide answers, such as the existence of souls,resurrection, life after death, etc.

Since questions such as these cannot be answered by science, why can’t we rely upon the answers providedby the Church, which are based on divine revelation, which do not contradict science—as they should not,if both scientific and faith answers are true? Why can’t we let science continue to make advances, explainingto us the mysteries of the universe and of life, particularly as they pertain to human beings?

ENDLESS QUESTIONS

Our “whys” have no end. Our minds are programmed to require proof, evidence, verification, which oftenare not to be had. So we inquire, we probe, we test, and we search until we arrive at answers that satisfy ourbrains.

Most questions that start with “why” are more philosophical than scientific in nature. Why does the worldexist, why this way, this size, this shape; why is it composed the way it is, why is there life, intelligence,feelings, etc. etc. Some “whys” are answerable: why is life so brief? It’s a relativistic question, butanswerable, and in fact it was in the news this past week that the lifespan of humans can be extended. Whywe are born this or that way is also answerable.

Science is more equipped to answer questions that start with “how.” How did the world come about? Howdid life emerge? How were the elements surfaced? Although science has not answered these basic questionsin a definitive way yet, it is making great advances.

The “what” questions are also hard to answer: what is the purpose of the world? Does it need to have apurpose? What is the purpose of humans? Do we have a purpose? What is it? What happens after humansdie? Is there another form of existence? We have no “scientific” answers to such questions. That’s why somepeople believe and others don’t. Neither is right or wrong, scientifically speaking.

Is the universe infinite? Is there an end to it? What’s beyond it? I have answers that a non-believer doesn’thave. I say, the universe is finite, because only God is infinite, and God is not identified with the universe.You may believe it’s infinite, but you cannot prove it scientifically.

Also, as a believer I have an unshakable faith that the world had a beginning. Nearly all non-believers acceptthe same thing. The scientists call it “Big Bang,” while we call it a creative act of God. Personally, I believe

that the two coincide. Recently, certain scientists advanced the theory of self-creation. This is not science.It’s a cop-out.

JOB’S REFLECTIONS ON MAN

When I read your “whys” I thought of Job (his story is narrated in a book of the Bible carrying his name,which comes before the book of Psalms). Although his questions were moral in nature—Why is theresuffering? Why does God act the way He does? How is man justified before God? Does it make anydifference whether or not one believes in God? What good is there to believe in God? etc.—his reflectionsare also pertinent to your “scientific” queries. He says of man:

“His days are but a breath.” “His days are few, and full of trouble.”

“We are but of yesterday, and know nothing.” “He comes forth like a flower, and withers.”

“His days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle.”

Yet we think we are capable of knowing everything, and that everything should make sense to our small andpretentious brain. In our own conceit we think we are wise.

OUR ATTITUDE BEFORE GOD

As with Job, God addresses the same words to us: “Shall a fault-findercontend with the Almighty?…Will you put me in the wrong? Will youcondemn me that you may be justified?” Certainly we were not Hiscounselors when God created the world; He did not consult us about the wayHe should create it; He did not confide to us His inscrutable purposes.

We too, like Job, who considered himself to be righteous and thereforethought he deserved to be treated better by God, raise our minds high,challenging God to reveal Himself to us, to prove His existence. In absenceof proof we taunt God, and declare our self-sufficiency.

We’d better have the wisdom to realize our limitations and say with Job:

“I know that you can do all things…Therefore I have uttered what I did notunderstand, things too sublime for me, which I did not know…But now my eyessee You; therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.”

That’s what we, Christians, do—or are supposed to do. At least we are expected to exhibit some humility.

WHY I BELIEVE

There is an erroneous notion, on part of many, (believers and unbelievers alike), that one believes in Godout of fear, or to gain benefits. Both views miss the point. What is the point? That God alone exists, andeverything else perishes. He alone is perfect, and good, and loving; and we want to know Him, as much aswe can know Him, and thus love Him, and be with Him, to praise Him and glorify Him for His love, Hiswisdom, His beauty, His glory—and obey Him and serve Him, without asking any recompense.

God revealed Himself to us not in a vision, but in a human being, Jesus Christ, the second person of theTriune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. In full honesty, were it not for my firm and unshakable belief inJesus Christ, and in His Resurrection from the dead, like you I would not have enough proof to believe inGod. I would be a skeptic, or even an agnostic, despite Romans 1:18-20, Psalms 14:1, 19:1 and 53:1, Isaiahchapters 41 and 42, and Wisdom of Solomon, chapter 13, which I suggest you study with an open mind.