PARISH NEWS AND EVENTS
Weekday Service:
Tuesday, December 9th
Conception of The Theotokos by St. Anna
8:30 am - Orthros
9:30 am - Divine Liturgy
Friday, December 12th
Feast Day of St. Spyridon, the Wonderworker
8:30 am - Orthros
9:30 am - Divine Liturgy
Memorials:
40 Days ~ Beverly Cherimpes, Right Row 1
1 Year ~ Alice (Aliki) Gallios, Left Row 1
40 Day Baby Blessing:
The son of Nick and Jennifer Solomos will be churched today following the Divine Liturgy.
Coffee Fellowship:
Today's Coffee Fellowship is hosted by the Rodinos Family in celebration of their son Nicholas' names day. Please join us in Plato Hall for fellowship.
Sacrament:
The daughter of Andreas and Valerie Skoubis will be baptized today at 1:30 pm and given the name Georgia. Her Godparents are George and Lori Chiampas
Sunday Church School:
Divine Liturgy begins promptly at 9:45am in St. Catherine's Chapel. Classes will take place immediately following the Divine Liturgy in Plato School. If you have not, as yet, registered your child for the 2014-15 school year, please do so by contacting the Church Office, securing a registration form online at our Church’s Website (www.assumptionchicago.org), or by speaking with our SCS Director, Mrs. Christina Arvanites.
Stewardship Thought for the Week:
The God Who came to us at Bethlehem continues to come to us today. He comes through the Sacrament of Baptism to bestow upon us His love, to call us His very own. He comes through the Sacrament of Chrismation to fill us with His presence, to make our bodies temples of His Holy Spirit. He comes through repentance and the Sacrament of Confession to cleanse us of sin, to restore in our souls "the peace of God that passes all understanding.”
In every liturgy He comes to us as the Word of God, bringing words of eternal life through the Scripture readings and the sermon. Through the Sacrament of Communion He comes to be born again and again in the shabby stables of our hearts. He comes constantly through prayer. He blesses our marriages as He did that in Cana of Galilee. He stands by our sick bed, laying His healing hand upon us through the prayers of the priest. He comes again and again in so many, many ways through the many ministries of His Church. He comes with healing and forgiveness; He comes with strength and guidance. He comes and when He comes, as the Bible says, “the blind see, the lame walk, and the prisoners are set free."
It is by offering our blessings back to God that He will be able to continue His forgiving, healing, liberating, empowering, transfiguring, loving ministry through the Church. For God, Infinite though He be, has chosen to work through us, through our gifts, to continue His saving work in the world today. ---Fr. Anthony M. Coniaris
Outreach Thought for the Week:
Centering the Season on Christ
What can we do? Let us remember that the season celebrates the love of God revealed in the coming of Christ. For those with faith, the colored lights, the green trees, the wreaths and the flowers are the symbols of the joy of Christmas. Let us celebrate the joy of Christ’s coming!
Let us share the love of God with others. Christ has come to bear witness to the Father’s love for us. We too can share this love with others, especially with the poor and less fortunate among us. We can be sensitive to those who cannot easily celebrate because of a loss in their lives. Let us be the ambassadors of God who share His care and philanthropy. ---Father Thomas FitzGerald
2014 Stewardship:
We fast approach the end of the year 2014. We ask that our stewards who have not as yet completed their pledge commitment for the current year to please do so as soon as possible. 2015 Stewardship pledge packets have been sent to all faithful of this Parish, and we ask that you complete and return your “commitment of love” pledge card in the envelope that was provided as soon as possible. Your Parish of Panagia is forever grateful for your continued and ongoing support and love to Christ and His Church.
Dates to Remember:
Tuesday, December 9th
Feast Day of the Conception of The Theotokos by St. Anna
8:30 am - Orthros
9:30 am - Divine Liturgy
Thursday, December 11th
7:00 pm - Panagia Monthly Book Club will meet at the
Pan Arcadian House, Elmhurst, IL
Friday, December 12th
Feast Day of St. Spyridon The Wonderworker
8:30 am - Orthros
9:30 am - Divine Liturgy
Friday, December 12th
7:30 pm - Jr. GOYA Meeting will meet at the
Oak Brook Park District, 1450 Forest Gate Road
Oak Brook, IL
Sunday, December 14th
SCS Annual Christmas Pageant following the Divine Liturgy
Sunday, December 14th
The Assumption Philoptochos is having their Annual Christmas
Bake Sale in Plato Hall
Sunday, December 14th
5:00 pm - The Annual Christmas Open House at the Metropolis
Monday, December 15th
Feast Day of St. Eleftherios
8:30 am - Orthros
9:30 am - Divine Liturgy
Monday, December 15th
7:00 pm - Adult Bible Study will meet in
St. Catherine's Meeting Room
Friday, December 19th
7:30 pm - GOYA Meeting will meet at the
Oak Brook Park District, 1450 Forest Gate Road, Oak Brook, IL
Saturday, December 20th
Ice Skating at Rosemont, IL
Wednesday,December 24th
Christmas Eve
8:30 am - Orthros
9:30 am - Divine Liturgy
5:00 pm - Great Vespers
Thursday, December 25th
Christmas Day
8:30 am - Orthros
9:30 am - Divine Liturgy
Friday, December 26th
Synaxis of the Theotokos
8:30 am - Orthros
9:30 am - Divine Liturgy
Saturday, December 27th
Feast of St. Stephen the First Martyr
8:30 am - Orthros
9:30 am - Divine Liturgy
Ladies Philoptochos Membership Drive November and December:
During the months of November and December, the Ladies Philoptochos will be holding its “2015 Membership Drive”. All ladies of our Parish of Panagia are invited and encouraged to become a member and participate in the many good works and acts of philanthropy that this organization participates in. There will be a table set up in Plato Hall each Sunday during coffee fellowship hour, and Demetra Lakerdas and Pat Karabas will be available to answer any questions and to register you. In addition, all current members of Philoptochos are encouraged to pay their 2015 dues.
Parish Council Elections Sunday, December 7th:
Please be advised that today, Sunday, December 7th, our Parish will hold Parish Council elections for the 2015-16 term. The voting will take place in Plato Hall during Coffee Fellowship. Voting will close promptly at 1:30 pm.
Christmas Offering Appeal and Parish Christmas Card Signup:
The Annual Appeal for Christmas where our faithful and supporters are able to make their prayerful gift to our Panagia Parish and our Lord’s Ministries have been mailed this past week to all stewards. We ask that you please consider and remember your Spiritual Home with your gift of love.
In addition, the annual invitation to include your name and be part of our Parish Family Christmas Card has also been mailed to all steward’s homes as well. For your convenience, a form can also be found in this week’s bulletin. If you would like to have your name added to the Christmas Card, please complete the form and return it together with your check in the amount of $25.00 made payable to Assumption Greek Orthodox Church. Deadline for inclusion in the Parish Family Christmas Card is Monday, December 15th.
Annual Christmas Food Drive:
Our Parish again is collecting non-perishable and dry food items that will be part of food baskets for those individuals/families in special need this Christmas Season. Now, and through December 7th, we ask that you please bring your items and leave them in the Narthex of the main Church or in Saint Catherine's Chapel Narthex on Sundays. As an alternative, those individuals wishing to make a monetary donation towards perishable items that will be included in the food baskets are invited and encouraged to do so as well (you can make your check payable to the Assumption Church, indicating it for the Christmas Food Drive). We ask that you please be part of this effort and contribute what you can. The Sunday Church School high school students will help in the collection and transportation.
Sunday Church School 90 Acts of Kindness Challenge:
Our 90 Acts of Kindness Challenge continues to progress! Thank you to all our fellow parishioners for the continued support of our Sunday Church School and its events. Together we are making a positive difference one kind act at a time!
Act of Kindness #1-26 Completed – Please visit our website or our bulletin board to see who benefited from these Acts of Kindness
Act of Kindness #27 – Now through December 28th we will be collecting gently used clothes (children and adult sizes) & new, twin bed sheets for disabled residents of group homes in the Metropolis of Monemvasia & Sparta, Greece. Collection boxes in the Narthex
Act of Kindness #28 – We will be collecting lovingly and gently, used Icons to pack and mail to OCMC. Collection will take place 11/2- 1/18. Boxes are in the St. Catherine’s Narthex.
Act of Kindness #29 – Now thru December 21st we are collecting fuzzy socks, lip gloss and/or Chap Stick, nail files and polishes for Christmas Goody Bags for pediatric patients at Rush Hospital
Act of Kindness #30 – Now thru January 25 we will be collecting new children sized gloves or mittens for the children of Austin neighborhood.
Act of Kindness #31 – SCS Students will be creating get well cards for patients that our Parish Priests visit.
Act of Kindness #32 – SCS will be making Christmas Cards and mailing a Holiday goody basket to the retired priests of our parish that served as Proistamenos.
There’s so much more kindness to spread and our Sunday Church School is just the right group to do it!! Our goal is 90 by our Anniversary Dinner on October 18, 2015! You can watch our progress as we fill in a “thermometer” that is displayed in St. Catherine’s Meeting room. *Do you have a suggestion for an Act of Kindness or have an organization that you would like to see benefit? Please let Mrs. Christina Arvanites know.
Next Orthodox Adult Bible Study, Monday, December 15th:
Our Adult Bible Study will meet on Monday evening, December 15th, at 7:00 pm, in Saint Catherine’s Meeting Room. We have moved into study of another Epistle written by Saint Paul the Apostle, the Epistle to the Ephesians. This class is open to all, and it is hoped that you will avail yourself to the opportunity to study the Bible in-depth. All you need to bring along with you is your Bible. For further information and/or questions, please see Father Timothy.
Panagia’s Monthly Book Club:
Our Monthly Book Club has commenced for this fall. The next gathering will be Thursday, December 11th at the Pan Arcadian House, 880 North York Road, Elmhurst, IL. The discussion will center on the Everyday Saints. The Monthly Book Club will meet the 2nd Thursday of each month. If you would like to join the group or want further information, please contact Father Athanasios.
Establishment of Assumption Prayer Ministry:
The Assumption Adult Bible Study Group has developed an idea that may be of interest to parishioners and friends of our Panagia Parish. They are interested in being able to form a ministry comprised of individuals who would like to pray for the health of those individuals who may be ill or experiencing health issues. Our Orthodox Faith teaches us that the ‘power of prayer’ literally works miracles, and Jesus instructs us in the Bible that we should “always pray for one another in the fellowship of love and through the Holy Spirit”. As a Panagia Parish, we are united as brothers and sisters in Christ, and we are encouraged to pray for one another as any family would do. So, how do we plan to do it? It’s simple, easy, and spiritually uplifting and rewarding. Here is what we can all do:
- If you are interested in participating, you need only submit your name and email address to the Church Office or Fr. Timothy.
- When a name is submitted to be prayed for, you will be contacted by email, given the first name of the person to be prayed for, along with the prayer to be read by you, offering the prayer for the intercession of God upon that individual, and asking that the afflicted be healed by God’s abundant blessing.
- Your prayer, together along with the many others who are offering a prayer for the person who is ill, will bring comfort beyond comprehension.
Just think about that….our prayers collectively praying for a person who needs the loving and tender Hand of God during his/her special time of need. It’s that simple. Just provide us with your email address, and you can join this ministry team who will pray for the person who needs help the most. It costs nothing, takes only a few seconds to do, but will make us all part of a spiritual family that looks and cares for one another.
Assumption Choir:
Mrs. Marika Panton, our Choir Director, has again put out the call to any and all interested people who might like to become a part of the Church Choir. They are always looking for energetic voices to compliment the fine voices who are already a part of our Assumption Choir. If you are interested, you may contact Marika at 708.366.7435.
College Students -- Check Out OCF (Orthodox Christian Fellowship):
To our young people who are going away to college for the first time, or to those returning to school to continue their studies, Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF) is the organization which keeps you connected to your Church and your Orthodox Faith. OCF has 300 chapters in colleges and universities throughout North America. So be sure to check out their web site to locate and find out about your chapter -- WWW.OCF.NET. We also encourage our college young people to share their e-mail addresses with our Church so that we may keep them informed of their “Spiritual Home” while they are away. And always remember, your Assumption Church’s weekly Divine Liturgy Services are just a click away on your computer each Sunday as we now broadcast live each Sunday. Just access it by going to our website at: www.assumptionchicago.org
Bookstore:
Do you need gifts for your family or relatives? Then please visit the Bookstore in Plato Hall after the Divine Liturgy on Sundays. There you will find unique gifts for everyone, such as books for children and adults, icons of your or your children’s patron saints, crosses, key chains and other beautiful items, which will make much appreciated gifts this year. Please stop in and browse, you’ll be glad you did.
Coffee Fellowship Hosts Needed:
Have you considered selecting a day to host the Weekly Fellowship Hour following Worship Services on a specific Sunday in 2015? You might want to celebrate a family event, a memorial, or just want to share time with the Church family. Please call the Church Office (773.626.3114) to book a date and for more information.
Prosfora Bakers Needed:
One of the blessings of Stewardship that we are given is the ability to serve our Church in a number of ways. Our Church is in need of individuals who can offer the weekly Prosforo (Bread) for the Divine Liturgy. Should you be able to offer your service, please inform the Church office or see either Fr. Timothy or Mrs. Demetra Spyropoulos. With the help of each steward/member, we come together as a Church family to better offer our thanks to our Lord.
Cemetery Graves Update:
The Parish Council announces that effectively immediately, prices for graves at Elmwood Cemetery will be the following: $1,995.00 (members), and $2,295.00 (non-members). Our Parish has only forty-six (46) graves remaining in the Panagia section, and the Church pricing is about 50% less than the graves that are being sold at Elmwood. For more information, please call the Church office and speak with Gail (773.626.3114).
Proper Church Etiquette:
Worship Services are vital instruments and components to our prayer development. In order to help us achieve this, we need to be cognizant of our fellow parishioners and all those around us. Therefore, please make sure that cell phones are completely turned off during Services. In addition, while we most welcome children to participate in the liturgical life of the Church, it remains the responsibility of parents to make sure that children do not become a distraction to those around them. Therefore, if a child is crying, or in some way in need of attention, please feel free to take him/her to the Narthex or Cry Room. You are most welcome to enter and exit the Church proper as many times as necessary. By doing this, all who are in attendance will be afforded the opportunity to worship and pray together. (Please keep in mind that we are also privileged to have a complete Sunday School Liturgy celebrated in Saint Catherine’s Chapel each week for your use as well). We ask for your cooperation. Ushers will be available to help you, if needed.
Holy Communion Announcement:
While we pray and work for the reconciliation and unity of all the world’s Christians, the reality remains that there is still no intercommunion between our Orthodox Churches and the Churches of the West. This means that only baptized, chrismated, and observant Orthodox faithful are allowed to receive Holy Communion in our churches. At the same time, we warmly welcome all non-Orthodox to join us in prayer and celebration, and humbly offer to all present the Antidoro bread of fellowship at the end of the worship service. We offer this important symbol ‘instead of the Gifts’, in the words of the Apostle Paul, ‘Till we all come to the unity of the Faith’ (Eph. 4.13).
We Need Your E-mail Address:
Are you receiving the weekly bulletin online in your e-mail mailbox each week? How about our Assumption Church’s Newsletter and the Saint Catherine’s Newsletter? If not, please give the Church Office your e-mail address so that you can stay informed about the schedule of religious services, events, and news of our Community.
Website News: www.assumptionchicago.org
We are excited to announce that many additions/changes have been made to our Church’s Website. In addition to upcoming events in our Parish and throughout our Metropolis of Chicago, we are constantly updating information as well regarding our faith. You can find articles and resources for the Orthodox Church on our web site. They include the history of Orthodoxy, special Services and Blessings, Spirituality, Teachings of the Orthodox Church, how to become a member of the Orthodox Church, the meaning and celebration of The Holy Eucharist, the form and characteristics of Orthodox worship, the Sacrament of Confession, Holy Week Meditation and Study Guide, Fasting, and many others. We have up loaded the current editions of the Assumption Newsletter and the St. Catherine Newsletter, and are available for reading online. Through the help of Mr. Chris Panos, we have also uploaded all previous newsletters dating back to 2008. They are now available online. Just log on to our website www.assumptionchicago.org, and see the many changes we have made.
Our Sunday Church Services are broadcast live on the Internet each week:
A reminder to all, in April of last year, our Parish of Panagia began broadcasting live to the internet each Sunday. This is of particular benefit to our shut-ins, elderly, college students, and vacationers who are away from home, yet need to receive the benefit and blessing of the weekly Divine Liturgy experience. All you need to do is log on to our website www.assumptionchicago.org, and click the link to begin watching the Worship Service live. We have also archived our Services allowing anyone to click and watch the Service/sermon at their leisure. We encourage you to give it a try.
Ushers:
Ted Pappas, Rose Marie Stewart, James Lakerdas, Voula Spyropoulos, Tom Collis