Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

The Reading is from Acts of the Apostles 16:16-34

IN THOSE DAYS, as we apostles were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by soothsaying. She followed Paul and us, crying, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation." And this she did for many days. But Paul was annoyed, and turned and said to the spirit, "I charge you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." And it came out that very hour. But when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the market place before the rulers; and when they had brought them to the magistrates they said, "These men are Jews and they are disturbing our city. They advocate customs which it is not lawful for us Romans to accept or practice." The crowd joined in attacking them; and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods. And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely. Having received this charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and every one's fetters were unfastened. When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul cried with a loud voice, "Do not harm yourself, for we are all here." And he called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas, and brought them out and said, "Men, what must I do to be saved?" And they said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household." And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all that were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their wounds, and he was baptized at once, with all his family. Then he brought them up into his house, and set food before them; and he rejoiced with all his household that he had believed in God.

Gospel Reading

Sunday of the Blind Man
The Reading is from John 9:1-38

At that time, as Jesus passed by, he saw a man blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" Jesus answered, "It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be made manifest in him. We must work the works of him who sent me, while it is day; night comes, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." As he said this, he spat on the ground and made clay of the spittle and anointed the man's eyes with the clay, saying to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing. The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar, said, "Is not this the man who used to sit and beg?" Some said, "It is he"; others said, "No, but he is like him." He said, "I am the man." They said to him, "Then how were your eyes opened?" He answered, "The man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and said to me, 'Go to Siloam and wash'; so I went and washed and received my sight." They said to him, "Where is he?" He said, "I do not know."

They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. Now it was a sabbath day when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. The Pharisees again asked him how he had received his sight. And he said to them, "He put clay on my eyes and I washed, and I see." Some of the Pharisees said, "This man is not from God, for he does not keep the sabbath." But others said, "How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?" There was a division among them. So they again said to the blind man, "What do you say about him, since he has opened your eyes?" He said, "He is a prophet."

The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight, until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight, and asked them, "Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?" His parents answered, "We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; but how he now sees we do not know, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age, he will speak for himself." His parents said this because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone should confess him to be Christ he was to be put out of the synagogue. Therefore his parents said, "He is of age, ask him."

So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and said to him, "Give God the praise; we know that this man is a sinner." He answered, "Whether he is a sinner, I do not know; one thing I know, that though I was blind, now I see." They said to him, "What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?" He answered them, "I have told you already and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you too want to become his disciples?" And they reviled him, saying, "You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from." The man answered, "Why, this is a marvel! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him. Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing." They answered him, "You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?" And they cast him out.

Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, "Do you believe in the Son of man?" He answered, "And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?" Jesus said to him, "You have seen him, and it is he who speaks to you." He said, "Lord, I believe": and he worshiped him.

Hymns of the Day

Apolytikion of Great and Holy Pascha in the Plagal First Mode

Christ is risen from the dead, by death, trampling down upon death, and to those in the tombs He has granted life.

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Plagal First Mode

Let us worship the Word, O ye faithful, praising Him that with the Father and the Spirit is co-beginningless God, Who was born of a pure Virgin that we all be saved; for He was pleased to mount the Cross in the flesh that He assumed, accepting thus to endure death. And by His glorious rising, He also willed to resurrect the dead.

Apolytikion of Andronicus & Junia in the Third Tone

O Holy Apostles, intercede to our merciful God, that He may grant our souls forgiveness of sins.

Kontakion of Andronicus & Junia in the Second Tone

As notable companions of the Apostles and true ministers of Jesus, ye proved to be sacred heralds of His condescension; for having received the grace of the Spirit, O glorious Andronicus and Junia, ye shine like lamps unto the ends of the world.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Plagal Fourth Mode

Though You went down into the tomb, You destroyed Hades' power, and You rose the victor, Christ God, saying to the myrrh-bearing women, "Hail!" and granting peace to Your disciples, You who raise up the fallen.

Apolytikion of Great Martyr Catherine in the Plagal of the First Tone

Let us praise the most auspicious bride of Christ, the divine Catherine, protectress of Sinai, our aid and our help. For, she brilliantly silenced the eloquence of the impious by the sword of the spirit, and now, crowned as a martyr, she asks great mercy for all.

Kontakion of Great Martyr Catherine in the Second Tone

O friends of martyrs, now divinely raise up a renewed chorus, praising the all-wise Catherine. For, she proclaimed Christ in the arena, trampled on the serpent, and spat upon the knowledge of the orators.

Wisdom of the Fathers

What could equal these souls? These men had been scourged, had received many, stripes, they had been misused, were in peril of their lives, were thrust into the inner prison, and set fast in the stocks: and for all this they did not suffer themselves to sleep, but kept vigil all the night. Do you mark what a blessing tribulation is? ...That the earthquake should not seem to have come of itself, there was this concurrent circumstance, bearing witness to it: "the doors were opened, and all their bonds were loosed." And it appears in the night-time; for the Apostles did not work for display, but for men's salvation...Here, they did but show the doors standing open, and it opened the doors of his heart, it loosed two sorts of chains; that (prisoner) kindled the (true) light; for the light in his heart was shining. "And he sprang in, and fell before them;" and he does not ask, How is this? What is this? but straightway he says, "What must I do to be saved?" What then answers Paul? "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, thou and thine house." (v. 31.) For this above all, wins men: that one's house also should be saved ...

St. John Chrysostom

Homily 36 on Acts 16, 4th Century

But I assert that he even received benefit from his blindness: since he recovered the sight of the eyes within.

St. John Chrysostom

Homily 56 on John 9, 4th Century

When, then, have they taken place, save when the Word of God Himself came in the body? Or when did He come, if not when lame men walked, and stammerers were made to speak plain, and deaf men heard, and men blind from birth regained their sight? For this was the very thing the Jews said who then witnessed it, because they had not heard of these things having taken place at any other time.

St. Athanasius

Incarnation of the Word 38, 4th Century

The work of God is, after all, the forming of man. He did this by an outward action, as Scripture says, 'And the Lord took clay from earth, and formed man.' Notice here too how the Lord spit on the earth, and made clay and smeared it on his eyes, showing how the ancient creation was made. He was making clear to those who can understand, that this was the [same] hand of God through which man was formed from clay.

St. Irenaeus

Against Heresies. 5.15.2. Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture. Vol: John 1-10. Intervarsity Press, 2006, p. 324.

Saints and Feasts

May 17

Sunday of the Blind Man

The Lord Jesus was coming from the Temple on the Sabbath, when, while walking in the way, He saw the blind man mentioned in today's Gospel. This man had been born thus from his mother's womb, that is, he had been born without eyes (see Saint John Chrysostom, Homily LVI on Matthew; Saint Irenaeus, Against Heresies, Book V:15; and the second Exorcism of Saint Basil the Great). When the disciples saw this, they asked their Teacher, "Who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?" They asked this because when the Lord had healed the paralytic at the Sheep's Pool, He had told him, "Sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee" (John 5:14); so they wondered, if sickness was caused by sin, what sin could have been the cause of his being born without eyes. But the Lord answered that this was for the glory of God. Then the God-man spat on the ground and made clay with the spittle. He anointed the eyes of the blind man and said to him, "Go, wash in the Pool of Siloam." Siloam (which means "sent") was a well-known spring in Jerusalem used by the inhabitants for its waters, which flowed to the eastern side of the city and collected in a large pool called "the Pool of Siloam."

Therefore, the Saviour sent the blind man to this pool that he might wash his eyes, which had been anointed with the clay-not that the pool's water had such power, but that the faith and obedience of the one sent might be made manifest, and that the miracle might become more remarkable and known to all, and leave no room for doubt. Thus, the blind man believed in Jesus' words, obeyed His command, went and washed himself, and returned, no longer blind, but having eyes and seeing. This was the greatest miracle that our Lord had yet worked; as the man healed of his blindness himself testified, "Since time began, never was it heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind," although the Lord had already healed the blind eyes of many. Because he now had eyes, some even doubted that he was the same person (John 9:8-9); and it was still lively in their remembrance when Christ came to the tomb of Lazarus, for they said, "Could not this man, who opened the eyes of the blind man, have caused that even this man should not have died?" Saint John Chrysostom gives a thorough and brilliant exposition of our Lord's meeting with the woman of Samaria, the healing of the paralytic, and the miracle of the blind man in his commentaries on the Gospel of Saint John.

May 21

Holy Ascension

The Lord Jesus passed forty days on earth after His Resurrection from the dead, appearing continually in various places to His disciples, with whom He also spoke, ate, and drank, thereby further demonstrating His Resurrection. On this Thursday, the fortieth day after Pascha, He appeared again in Jerusalem. After He had first spoken to the disciples about many things, He gave them His last commandment, that is, that they go forth and proclaim His Name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. But He also commanded them that for the present, they were not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait there together until they receive power from on high, when the Holy Spirit would come upon them.

Saying these things, He led them to the Mount of Olives, and raising His hands, He blessed them; and saying again the words of the Father's blessing, He was parted from them and taken up. Immediately a cloud of light, a proof of His majesty, received Him. Sitting thereon as though on a royal chariot, He was taken up into Heaven, and after a short time was concealed from the sight of the disciples, who remained where they were with their eyes fixed on Him. At this point, two Angels in the form of men in white raiment appeared to them and said, "Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into Heaven? This same Jesus, Who is taken up from you into Heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into Heaven" (Acts 1:11). These words, in a complete and concise manner, declare what is taught in the Symbol of Faith concerning the Son and Word of God. Therefore, having so fulfilled all His dispensation for us, our Lord Jesus Christ ascended in glory into Heaven, and sat at the right hand of God the Father. As for His sacred disciples, they returned from the Mount of Olives to Jerusalem, rejoicing because Christ had promised to send them the Holy Spirit.

It should be noted that the Mount of Olives is a Sabbath's day journey from Jerusalem, that is, the distance a Jew was permitted to walk on the day of the Sabbath. Ecumenius writes, "A Sabbath day's journey is one mile in length, as Clement says in his fifth Stromatis; it is two thousand cubits, as the Interpretation of the Acts states." They draw this conclusion from the fact that, while they were in the wilderness, the Israelites of old kept within this distance from the Holy Tabernacle, whither they walked on the Sabbath day to worship God.

May 21

Constantine & Helen, Equal-to-the Apostles

This great and renowned sovereign of the Christians was the son of Constantius Chlorus (the ruler of the westernmost parts of the Roman empire), and of the blessed Helen. He was born in 272, in (according to some authorities) Naissus of Dardania, a city on the Hellespont. In 306, when his father died, he was proclaimed successor to his throne. In 312, on learning that Maxentius and Maximinus had joined forces against him, he marched into Italy, where, while at the head of his troops, he saw in the sky after midday, beneath the sun, a radiant pillar in the form of a cross with the words: "By this shalt thou conquer." The following night, our Lord Jesus Christ appeared to him in a dream and declared to him the power of the Cross and its significance. When he arose in the morning, he immediately ordered that a labarum be made (which is a banner or standard of victory over the enemy) in the form of a cross, and he inscribed on it the Name of Jesus Christ. On the 28th Of October, he attacked and mightily conquered Maxentius, who drowned in the Tiber River while fleeing. The following day, Constantine entered Rome in triumph and was proclaimed Emperor of the West by the Senate, while Licinius, his brother-in-law, ruled in the East. But out of malice, Licinius later persecuted the Christians. Constantine fought him once and again, and utterly destroyed him in 324, and in this manner he became monarch over the West and the East. Under him and because of him all the persecutions against the Church ceased. Christianity triumphed and idolatry was overthrown. In 325 he gathered the First Ecumenical Council in Nicaea, which he himself personally addressed. In 324, in the ancient city of Byzantium, he laid the foundations of the new capital of his realm, and solemnly inaugurated it on May 11, 330, naming it after himself, Constantinople. Since the throne of the imperial rule was transferred thither from Rome, it was named New Rome, the inhabitants of its domain were called Romans, and it was considered the continuation of the Roman Empire. Falling ill near Nicomedia, he requested to receive divine Baptism, according to Eusebius (The Life of Constantine. Book IV, 61-62), and also according to Socrates and Sozomen; and when he had been deemed worthy of the Holy Mysteries, he reposed in 337, on May 21 or 22, the day of Pentecost, having lived sixty-five years, of which he ruled for thirty-one years. His remains were transferred to Constantinople and were deposed in the Church of the Holy Apostles, which had been built by him (see Homily XXVI on Second Corinthians by Saint John Chrysostom).

As for his holy mother Helen, after her son had made the Faith of Christ triumphant throughout the Roman Empire, she undertook a journey to Jerusalem and found the Holy Cross on which our Lord was crucified (see Sept. 13 and 14). After this, Saint Helen, in her zeal to glorify Christ, erected churches in Jerusalem at the sites of the Crucifixion and Resurrection, in Bethlehem at the cave where our Saviour was born, another on the Mount of Olives whence He ascended into Heaven, and many others throughout the Holy Land, Cyprus, and elsewhere. She was proclaimed Augusta, her image was stamped upon golden coins, and two cities were named Helenopolis after her in Bithynia and in Palestine. Having been thus glorified for her piety, she departed to the Lord being about eighty years of age, according to some in the year 330, according to others, in 336.

Parish News and Events

PARISH NEWS AND EVENTS

Weekday Service:
Saturday, May 30th
Saturday of the Souls
8:30 am – Orthros
9:30 am – Divine Liturgy

Memorials:
1 Year ~ Angelo (Evangelos) Terovolas, Right Row 1
2 Years ~ Andriana Vasilatos, Left Row 1

Coffee Fellowship:
Today’s coffee fellowship is hosted by the Assumption Community. Please join us in Plato Hall to enjoy fellowship.

Birth Announcement:
Congratulations to Michael and Jessie Pullos on the birth of their baby Girl.

Outreach Thought for the Week:

What the world is seeking from Christians is consistency. The world is asking us to reveal the beauty of the Christian message by conscientiously living its principles, in the light of the Crucifixion and the Resurrection. The world is looking for us to reveal, in the course of our daily reality, the beauty, radiance, glory, and power in a life that has been made new in Christ. The world is calling upon us to radiate the presence of the Holy Spirit. It yearns for a living Christianity that bears witness to the mystery of the All-Holy Trinity’s Love. It longs for the virtual transformation of human existence and for a communion with the transcendent power of Love.

-Orthodox Christian Essays on Global Concerns
by His Beatitude Anastasios Yannoulatos
Archbishop of Tirana and all Albania

Have You Made Your 2015 Stewardship Pledge Yet?

We have come to the end of the first quarter of 2015. We thank and are appreciative to all stewards who have pledged and remained committed to our beloved Parish of Panagia. The Parish Council reminds all stewards and supporters of our beloved Panagia Parish to complete your stewardship pledge card for 2015 and return it to the church office. Pledge cards and info can be found at the Pangari in the Church Narthex. May our Lord continue to bless us abundantly.

Dates to Remember:
Monday, May 25th
9:00 to Noon Memorial Day at Elmwood Cemetery

Saturday, May 30th
Saturday of the Souls
8:30 a.m. Orthros
9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy

Sunday, May 31st
Feast of Pentecost

Monday, June 1st
Feast of the Holy Spirit
8:30 a.m. Orthros
9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy

Sunday, June 7th
Feast of All Saints

Outdoor Divine Liturgy in the Park and Picnic

Monday, June 8th
7:00 p.m. Adult Bible Study in St. Catherine's
Meeting Room

Thursday, June 11th
7:00 p.m. Assumption Book Club at the
Pan Arcandian House

Monday, June 15th
Assumption Philoptochos will be visiting the residents
at the Greek American Rehabilitation & Care Center.

7:00 p.m. Adult Bible Study in St. Catherine's
Meeting Room

Wednesday, June 24th
The Nativity of St. John the Baptist
8:30 a.m. Orthros
9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy

Monday, June 29th
Feast of Saints Peter and Paul
8:30 a.m. Orthros
9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy

Tuesday, June 30th
Synaxis of the Twelve Apostles
8:30 a.m. Orthros
9:30 am Divine Liturgy

Memorial Day Monday, May 25th - Blessing of the Graves:

Please remember that tomorrow, Monday May 25th Fr. Athanasios will be at Elmwood Cemetery between 9am and noon. Should you want Trisagion Prayers read at the graves of your loved ones, Father will be found in the Assumption sections of the cemetery.

Assumption’s Annual Divine Liturgy in the Park and Picnic:

On Sunday, June 7th, the Annual Parish Divine Liturgy in the Park and Picnic will take place at the Historic Log Cabin in Lombard, Illinois. The Divine Liturgy will begin promptly at 10:00 am, followed by the traditional picnic. All members and friends are certainly invited to join us for a fun-filled day of fellowship. A Flyer can be found in this Bulletin. Please R.S.V.P. to the Church Office (773-626-3114). Please note that Divine Liturgy will also be held at our Church as well on this Sunday.

Directions to Historic Log Cabin:

Historic Log Cabin, 1646 S. Main Street, Lombard, IL

Merge onto I-290 W, Keep Left to take I-88 W, Continue onto I-88 West. Take the HIGHLAND Ave Exit, turn Right on Highland Ave (N) and continue to follow Highland Ave. Turn LEFT onto 17th Avenue, then turn RIGHT onto Main Street.

Assumption Church Scholarship Fund:

Fr. Timothy, the members of the Parish Council, and the scholarship committee are pleased to announce that it will again award scholarship(s) for the 2015-16 academic year. “The Assumption Church Scholarship Fund” is available to a student entering college in the fall of 2015, or current college students. The parents of the applicants must be members (stewards) of the Assumption Church for four (4) consecutive years leading up to 2015. Applications and further details are available by calling the Church Office (773.626.3114). Deadline to submit an application is June 19th.

Annual Assumption Church Festival:

Greek Fest is 9 Weeks Away! Assumption’s annual Church Festival is set for Sat. & Sun., July 25 & 26 on Church grounds. Our Festival Committee is working hard to make this Festival a success. Chris Limperis and Eileen Szubert serve as Co-Chairmen for this year’s event. There are many ways you can help as well. To provide resources for Festival Supplies and/or volunteer your talents (students & adults), please fill out the form within this Bulletin and turn it in to the Church Office right away. Our volunteer coordinator for 2015 is Nick Mansour.

Early Bird Raffle – Congratulations to Sophia Spyridakos, winner of Early Bird Raffle #1 held on May 17th. Tickets are $20 each or 6 for $100. We encourage you to ask everyone you know (family, friends, neighbors, business associates and co-workers to name a few) as you run daily errands or go to social or business functions over the next few weeks. Carry extra tickets with you at all times! The next Early Bird Raffle will be held on Sunday, June 28th [$100 prize - winner need not be present.] Kindly return your paid* raffle tickets to the Church Office or see Eileen Szubert (708-610-5682) on Sundays to be eligible for drawing #2 on June 28. Requests for additional tickets may be made through the Church Office.

* payment can be in the form of cash, check or credit card (through the Church Office.)

The Commemoration Of The Fall Of Constantinople

Thursday, May 28, 2015

The Annual Commemoration of the ‘Fall of Constantinople’ presented by: The Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago, The Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and The Hellenic Society of Constantinople, will be held on Thursday, May 28, 2015 beginning at 7:00 p.m. in the The Damen Student Center at Loyola University, 6511 N. Sheridan Road.

This year’s observance will feature a talk by Professor Lou Ureneck, author of the newly released Harper Collins book “The Great Fire” that tells the harrowing story of an American Methodist minister who single-handedly saved 250,000 Greeks from death, during the tragic events of Smyrna in 1922. We are proud to introduce this new book for the first time to the Chicago community.

The event is held in simultaneous commemoration of the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide and will include a musical and dance tribute to Smyrna, Pontus and Constantinople by Chicago’s Perifania School of Hellenic Folk Dance, and musicians Dimitrios Dallas, Yannis Kousiounelos, and Christina Dallas; and the Chicago Byzantine Choir.

The faithful of all communities and their families will enjoy this unique opportunity for cultural and spiritual enrichment on the 28th of May.

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 #1-68 Completed – Please visit our website or our bulletin board to see who benefited from these Acts of Kindness

Act of Kindness #69 – We will be collecting children’s books (reading levels from birth-6th grade, no text books) for Bernie’s Book Bank. Bernie's Book Bank facilitates the collection, processing and redistribution of new and gently used children's books to significantly increase book ownership among at-risk infants, toddlers and school-age children throughout Chicagoland.

Act of Kindness #70 – We will be collecting new and expired manufacturer’s coupons (6 months or less expired) for our troops overseas though the Krazy Coupon Lady program. All SCS students will help sort, package and mail to Army Post and Navy Bases in Germany and Italy.

Act of Kindness #71 – We will be doing gardening for TLP at their Belfort Home residence on Saturday, June 6th from 10am-1pm. Volunteers needed please see Christina Arvanites to sign up and for more information.

Act of Kindness #72 – On Thursday, June 11th from 1:30-2:30 we will be volunteering at the Wheeling Township Food Pantry. Helping sort and stock shelves. Volunteers needed all ages welcome! Please see Lisa Lucas or Christina Arvanites to volunteer.

Act of Kindness #73 – On Saturday, June 20th we will be participating in the Greater Chicago Food Depository 30th Hunger Walk. The walk will take place at 8:30am at Soldier Field. There is no fee to participate and everyone signed up will get a t-shirt. Walkers needed, please see Christina Arvanites to sign up

Act of Kindness #74- On Saturday, June 27th from 10am-2pm we will be hosting a craft booth at the Helping Hand Family Picnic, Walker Park, Burr Ridge 7425 S. Wolf Road. Helping Hand Center serves children and adults with disabilities. Volunteers of all ages needed. Please see Christina Arvanites to sign up.

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.

SEWonderful Quilts

To our parishioners that have a quilt kit please complete it and return it to the collection box in the St. Catherine's Narthex at your earliest convenience. If you are unable to complete the quilt please return the kit.

Church School on FACEBOOK:

Our Sunday Church School has created a FACEBOOK page. Like our page: Assumption Sunday Church School! See our progress on our Acts of Kindness Challenge, keep up to date on upcoming events and view photos from recent events.

Next Orthodox Adult Bible Study Monday, June 8, 2015:

Our Adult Bible Study will meet on Monday evening, June 8, 2015, 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 Colossians. 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 will meet on Thursday, June 11, 2015, at 7:00 pm at the Pan Arcadian House, 880 North York Road, Elmhurst, IL. The discussion will center on the Man of God: The Life of St. John Maximovitch. The Monthly Book Club meets the 2nd Thursday of each month. If you would like to join the group or want further information, please contact Father Athanasios.

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.

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. Available dates for the first half of 2015 are:

May 31 July 12 Aug. 23 Oct. 4 Nov. 22

June 14 July 19 Aug. 30 Oct. 18 Nov. 29

June 21 Aug. 2 Sept. 6 Nov. 1 Dec. 13

June 28 Aug. 9 Sept. 13 Nov. 8 Dec. 20

July 5 Aug. 16 Sept. 20 Nov. 15 Dec. 27

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.

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

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:

In addition our Parish’s website, we encourage you to keep abreast on the latest news and happenings about Orthodoxy from our Metropolis of Chicago and our Holy Archdiocese.

Please use the links below to access any of the three sites:

Assumption Church: www.assumptionchicago.org

Metropolis of Chicago: www.metropolisofchicago.org

Archdiocese of America www.goarch.org

All three websites will provide you with articles and resources for the Orthodox Church. 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, the Orthodox Calendar, and much more. Specifically, on our Parish’s website, we have uploaded past and current editions of the Assumption Newsletter and the St. Catherine Newsletter, and are available for reading online.

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:

Chris Limperis, Bill J. Vranas, Demetra Lakerdas, Stacy Lynch, Dean Sarantos

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