Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

The Reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Romans 5:1-10

BRETHREN, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in our hope of sharing the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us. While we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Why, one will hardly die for a righteous man -- though perhaps for a good man one will dare even to die. But God shows his love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we are now justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.

Gospel Reading

3rd Sunday of Matthew
The Reading is from Matthew 6:22-33

The Lord said, "The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is sound, your whole body will be full of light; but if your eye is not sound, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink, nor about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O men of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear? For the Gentiles seek all these things; and your heavenly Father knows you need them all. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well."

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Second Mode

When Thou didst descend unto death, O Life Immortal, then didst Thou slay Hades with the lightning of Thy Divinity. And when Thou didst also raise the dead out of the nethermost depths, all the powers in the Heavens cried out: O Life-giver, Christ our God, glory be to Thee.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Second Mode

O Protection of Christians that cannot be put to shame, mediation unto the creator most constant: O despise not the voices of those who have sinned; but be quick, O good one, to come unto our aid, who in faith cry unto thee: Hasten to intercession and speed thou to make supplication, O thou who dost ever protect, O Theotokos, them that honor thee.

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

For God, He said, gave us understanding, that we might chase away all ignorance, and have the right judgment of things, and that using this as a kind of weapon and light against all that is grievous or hurtful, we might remain in safety. But we betray the gift for the sake of things superfluous and useless.

St. John Chrysostom

Homily 20 and 21 on Matthew 6, 4th Century

The truth is that people are frightened of being poor because they have no faith in Him who promised to provide all things needful to those who seek the kingdom of God (cf. Matt. 6:33). It is this fear that spurs them, even when they are endowed with all things, and it prevents them from ever freeing themselves from this sickly and baneful desire. They go on amassing wealth, loading themselves with a worthless burden or, rather, enclosing themselves while still living in a most absurd kind of tomb.

St. Gregory Palamas

To the Most Reverend Nun Xenia no. 32, Philokalia Vol. 4 edited by Palmer, Sherrard and Ware; Faber and Faber pg. 305, 14th century

We advance toward humility by means of trials. He who rests on his virtue without suffering tribulation has the door of pride open before him.

St. Isaac of Syria

Homily 57, in Ascetical Homilies, p. 283, 7th century

And let me beg you to consider how he everywhere sets down these two points;His part, and our part. On His part, however, there be things varied and numerous and diverse. For He died for us, and farther reconciled us, and brought us to Himself, and gave us grace unspeakable. But we brought faith only as our contribution. And so he says," "by faith, unto this grace"What grace is this? tell me. It is the being counted worthy of the knowledge of God, the being forced from error, the coming to a knowledge of the Truth, the obtaining of all the blessings that come through Baptism. For the end of His bringing us near was that we might receive these gifts. For it was not only that we might have simple remission of sins, that we were reconciled; but that we might receive also countless benefits...A person has acquired rule and glory and authority, yet he does not stand therein continuously, but is speedily cast out of it. Or if man take it not from him, death comes, and is sure to take it from him. But God's gifts are not of this kind; for neither man, nor occasion, nor crisis of affairs, nor even the Devil, nor death, can come and cast us. out of them. But when we are dead we then more strictly speaking have possession of them, and keep going on enjoying more and more.

St. John Chrysostom

Homily 9 on Romans 4, 4th Century

Unless the grace of God comes to the help of our frailty, to protect and defend it, no man can withstand the insidious onslaughts of the enemy nor can he damp down or hold in check the fevers which burn in our flesh with nature's fire.

St. John Cassian

Conferences, Conference Two: On Discernment, Paulist Press pg. 74, 5th century

A brother, more thrifty than covetous, ... left behind him at his death a hundred pieces of money which he had earned by weaving linen. ... a council was held as to what should be done [with the money] ... However, Macarius, Pambo, Isidore and the rest of those called fathers, speaking by the Spirit, decided that they should be interred with their owner, with the words: "Thy money perish with thee."

St. Jerome

Letter 22 to Eustochium

There is none who has tasted God's richness and does not regard money as dung; none who has enjoyed the company of angels, none who has gotten drunk with their rapture, none who has shared their secrets, who does not hate the world and its intrigues. There is none whom the love of Christ has pierced who can any longer bear the filth of abominable lust; none whose mind has been captivated by God's beauty who can be captivated by any passions of this world; none who has found God and known Him who has not proudly forgotten this world. These precious stones he collects and keeps in the treasure of his heart.

St. John of Dalyatha

Homily on the Greatness of the Rank of Angels, Unknown

Saints and Feasts

June 21

Julian the Martyr of Tarsus

This Martyr, who was born to a pagan father and a Christian mother, was from Cilicia, confessed the Christian Faith before the Proconsul Marcian, and was perfected in martyrdom at the age of eighteen, when he was put into a sack with sand and venomous serpents and cast into the sea. Saint John Chrysostom has a homily in his honour.

June 24

Nativity of the Forerunner John the Baptist

He that was greater than all who are born of women, the Prophet who received God's testimony that he surpassed all the Prophets, was born of the aged and barren Elizabeth (Luke 1: 7) and filled all his kinsmen, and those that lived round about, with gladness and wonder. But even more wondrous was that which followed on the eighth day when he was circumcised, that is, the day on which a male child receives his name. Those present called him Zacharias, the name of his father. But the mother said, "Not so, but he shall be called John." Since the child's father was unable to speak, he was asked, by means of a sign, to indicate the child's name. He then asked for a tablet and wrote, "His name is John." And immediately Zacharias' mouth was opened, his tongue was loosed from its silence of nine months, and filled with the Holy Spirit, he blessed the God of Israel, Who had fulfilled the promises made to their fathers, and had visited them that were sitting in darkness and the shadow of death, and had sent to them the light of salvation. Zacharias prophesied concerning the child also, saying that he would be a Prophet of the Most High and Forerunner of Jesus Christ. And the child John, who was filled with grace, grew and waxed strong in the Spirit; and he was in the wilderness until the day of his showing to Israel (Luke 1:57-80). His name is a variation of the Hebrew "Johanan," which means "Yah is gracious."

Parish News and Events

PARISH NEWS AND EVENTS

Summer Sunday Worship Hours:

Please make note that we have begun our summer schedule for Sunday Worship Services. Orthros begins at 8:00 am, followed by the Divine Liturgy at 9:30 am. We will return to our regular schedule on Sunday, September 13th.

Artoclasia:
The Artoclasia is offered for the Health and Welfare of the Kalogeresis Family.

Memorials:
40 Days ~ Lucas Politis, Right Rows 1 – 2
40 Days ~ Dolly (Anthoula) Makaris, Right Rows 3 – 4
1 Year ~ Georgia F. Argyris, Left Rows 1 - 2

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

Stewardship Thought for the Week:

“To find ourselves, we must offer ourselves.”
Archbishop Anastasios of Albania

In the early part of the 20th century, a generous man by the name of Harold Kitchings grew wealthy from oil and gave large sums to Baylor University to construct buildings and educate young Christians. He gave a great deal of money to his church and even sent his pastor, Dr. George W. Truett, to Europe to preach to the soldier boys during the First World War. Then, in the stock market crash of 1929, the man lost his fortune.

One day, a friend who saw how humbly he was living – and remembered how wealthy he had once been – asked, "When you think about all the money you gave away, do you ever wish you had it back?" He didn’t hesitate. "Friend," he said. "The only thing I have left is what I gave away."

‘Stewardship is not an obligation, it is a gift that our Lord asks us to share with everyone. Is that not what He, Himself, did’.

Have You Made Your 2015 Stewardship Pledge Yet?

We are approaching the end of the first half 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:

Sunday, June 28th
Oath of Office for the New
Philoptochos Board Members
following the 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

Saturday, July 11th
10:00 a.m. - Philoptochos baking in Plato Hall

Thursday, July 16th
11:00 a.m. - Philoptochos General Meeting
in St. Catherine’s Meeting Room

Friday, July 17th
Feast Day of St. Marina
8:30 a.m. Orthros
9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy

Saturday, July 18th
10:00 a.m. - Philoptochos baking in Plato Hall

Monday, July 20th
Feast Day of the Prophet Elias
8:30 a.m. Orthros
9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy

Friday, July 24th
10:00 a.m. - Philoptochos packing
sweets & setup for Festival

Saturday, July 25th
Annual Church Festival
3:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Sunday, July 26th
Annual Church Festival
Noon to 9:00 p.m.

Monday, July 27th
Feast Day of St. Panteleimon
8:30 a.m. Orthros
9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy

Annual Assumption Church Festival:

Our Greek Fest is only FOUR short weeks away!

The Festival will take place on Sat. & Sun., July 25 (3-10p) & July 26 (12-9p). See the Flyer in this Bulletin for more details!

Early Bird Raffle – The second and final Early Bird Raffle Drawing will be held today, June 28th[$100 - winner need not be present.] Kindly return your paid* raffle tickets to the Church Office or see Eileen Szubert (708-610-5682) to be eligible for Drawing #2. Tickets are $20 each or 6 for $100 – request additional tickets through the Church Office.

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

Volunteers & Donations – It takes a LOT of volunteers to plan and operate this Festival. Please see Nick Mansour (Volunteer Coordinator) to offer your time and talents. A form is available on the back of this bulletin for your use. This is a terrific opportunity to put in some community service hours for school or other organizational requirements. Individuals from middle school-age and up are welcome! Every hour you can commit is a valuable resource to the Fest.

Consider providing resources for Festival Supplies- your donations will help ensure the success of the Festival, which is one of our biggest fundraisers of the year. Any amount will help to defray costs and is truly appreciated.

You may also speak with Chris Limperis or Eileen Szubert, who serve as Co-Chairmen for this year’s event, about any other questions or suggestions you may have. We look forward to seeing and celebrating with you in July!

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 #1-74 Completed – Please visit our website or our bulletin board to see who benefited from these Acts of Kindness

Act of Kindness #75 – On Saturday, July 18th from 2pm-4pm we will be volunteering at Feed My Starving Children, Schaumburg. If you are interested in volunteering please contact the church office 773-626-3114. SPACE IS LIMITED!!

Act of Kindness #76 – On Sunday, August 2nd we will packing “homework kits” for students at VOCEL, a nonprofit early education center whose innovative approach is rooted in language development and an open, intentional teaching style.

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.

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:

July 12 Aug. 30 Oct. 4 Nov. 15 Dec. 27

Aug. 2 Sept. 6 Oct. 18 Nov. 22

Aug. 9 Sept. 13 Nov. 1 Dec. 13

Aug. 16 Sept. 20 Nov. 8 Dec. 20

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, 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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