Memorial
3 Years ~ George Syregelas
Coffee Fellowship
Today's coffee fellowship will be hosted by the Assumption Out Reach Ministry Team.
Dates to Remember
Saturday, December 7th
Light the Tree at Plato Hall
Thursday, December 12th
Feast of Saint Spyridon
8:30 am Orthros
9:30 am Divine Liturgy
Sunday, December 15th
SCS Christmas Pageant
Metropolis Open House at National Hellenic Museum
Tuesday, December 24th
Christmas Eve
4:00 pm Royal Hours
5:00 Vesperal Liturgy
Wednesday, December 25th
Christmas Day
8:45 am Orthros
10:00 am Divine Liturgy
Sermon Time Change
Please be advised that the sermon will be given immediately following the reading of the Gospel.
Parishoner In Need
We have a long time parishioner who lives at Cumberland and Lawrence who does not drive. If anyone is willing to bring them to church please let the office know, call 773.626.3114
Light the Tree
The 3rd annual Assumption Light the Tree fundraiser is now underway! $10 for five bulbs/$50 for a medium ornament/$100 for a large ornament. Your gift helps us light the community tree in front of our church and keep our parish's future bright by supporting our mission. The tree will be lit on December 7th at 4:30pm. All are welcome for food and merriment followed by hot chocolate and caroling as we light the tree.
Metropolis of Chicago Christmas Open House
Express your Christmas greetings to Metropolitan Nathanael and enjoy fellowship with fellow Orthodox Christians at the Metropolis of Chicago Christmas Open House. This year, the Open House will be held on Sunday, December 15th at the National Hellenic Museum (333 S. Halsted St., Chicago) from 3-7pm. Light appetizers and refreshments will be served.
New Metropolis Website
The Metropolis of Chicago has designed a new website that is more visually appealing, easier to navigate, carries more substance (including about what it means to be an Orthodox Christian), highlights our ministries and provides multiple ways for someone to get involved. Overall, we are pleased with the work product and hope you are too. Visit chicago.goarch.org to experience it for yourself!
Metropolis of Chicago Servant Leadership Awards Process
Purpose: The purpose of the Metropolis of Chicago Servant Leadership Award is to honor lay stewards from within the Metropolis who have demonstrated exceptional and innovative servant leadership and in so doing, inspire others to get involved in the life of the Church.
The Parish Awards:
Each parish from within the Metropolis shall select one lay steward who demonstrates the qualities of Service, Leadership and Innovation to receive the Bronze Cross of the Metropolis.
The criteria for receiving the Metropolis Bronze Cross are as follows:
- Outstanding service within the parish and/or in the greater community
- Exceptional leadership qualities
- Innovative manner of service
- Recipients must be stewards (or children of stewards) in good standing of the parish
- Parishes shall have broad discretion to apply the criteria in a manner they deem appropriate, provided that the process is evenly applied, fair and objective. Committee members must recuse themselves from considering any nominee to whom they are related through marriage, family (including koumbario) or business relationship.
- Each parish shall assemble a committee to select the recipient of the Metropolis Bronze Cross.
- The committee shall open a nomination period for parishioners to nominate stewards from the parish to receive the Bronze Cross. The nomination period shall be no less than four (4) weeks and shall be publicized through the parish Sunday Bulletin, the parish website (if applicable) and through all other reasonable means to ensure that parishioners become aware of the nomination opportunity.
- Each parish shall announce the winner of the Metropolis Bronze Cross and honor the achievements of the recipient.
If you would like to nominate someone, please see Fr. Peter or a member of the Parish Council.
Chicago Bulls Group Outing
Join your Assumption Family on Monday, December 30th for a night at the United Center as the Chicago Bulls take on the Milwaukee Bucks (and the Greek Freak!). Tip-off is at 7pm. Tickets are $60 and can be reserved by calling the church office or visiting tithe.ly/event-registration/#/1018054.
Assumption Toy Drive
Help us collect toys for Santa to give to children ages 7-9 living in the Austin community! Please wrap donations with a value of $10 and label them for either boy or girl. Collection will take place through December 8th.
One Warm Coat
Please help those in need by donating your clean and pre-loved coats. Collection boxes will be located in the narthex of St. Catherine Chapel. While all coats will be gratefully accepted, children's coats and new children's underwear is especially needed. Collections will go on throughout the winter.
Telos Project
Our Panagia parish is one of five local communities participating in the Telos Project, a process designed to help parishes reinvigorate young adult ministries and ingrain young adults into the fabric of parish life. The first mission of our Telos Team is to gather as much information as possible about the young adults connected to our parish, and we need your help! Please visit https://tinyurl.com/agocya to submit basic contact info for any young adult ages 21-35 with a connection to Assumption. The Telos Team thanks you!
Upcoming Panagia Projects
- We are looking to build a reliquary case for permanent display within the main Church for the newly gifted relics of Saint Catherine. The reliquary will be fashioned out of marble, similar to the 90th anniversary icon proskinitarion.
- Due to the age of some of the items in the altar upstairs, the silver and gold finish has worn off. We are looking to replace some of the liturgical appointments immediately behind the altar table in the main Church.
- We are looking to create a youth activity game room and are looking for donations of a foosball table, video gaming console, and other activity game tables or games. If you have any games that you are able to donate to this youth room.
If you are interested in donating toward the reliquary, altar items, or youth game room needs, please contact Father Peter directly.
Bible Study
Father Peter will be having bible study on December 18th at 7 p.m. at church. The meeting will also be broadcast via Zoom. Login credentials will be given soon. The Bible study will be on the Nativity of Christ in the gospels and in other texts that are used within our church.
Adult Education Program
The Adult Education Program will offer lectures on the theme, "Full of Grace: The Life of the Theotokos". Lectures will be held either once or twice a month. Dates ~ December 8th, January 12th & 26th, February 2nd.
Thinking of Converting to Orthodoxy?
If you, a family member, or friend who are not of the Orthodox Faith may be considering conversion to Orthodoxy, please contact the Church Office (773.626.3114) or speak with Fr. Peter or Fr. Dimitrios. If there is a need and interest, a Confirmation/Chrismation Class will be formed to prepare those who have expressing an interest to convert to Orthodoxy. This also includes couples who are planning to be married in the Orthodox Church in the near future, and where one of the couple is contemplating converting to the Orthodox Faith.
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 website 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 as we now broadcast live each Sunday. Just access it by going to our website at: www.assumptionchicago.org.
Also, our parish is starting a database of all college students in the community. If you have a college student in your family or if you are a college student, please send your name, school, area of study, address, and email address to Fr. Dimitri at frdimitrios@assumptionchicago.org.
Coffee Fellowship Hosts Needed
Have you considered selecting a day to host the Weekly Fellowship Hour following Worship Services on a specific Sunday in 2019or 2020? 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 2019 & 2020 Years:
December 22
January 5, 12, 19, 26
February 2, 9, 16, 23
March 1, 8, 15, 22
We are in the Loop!
Through a generous donation by Mr. and Mrs. Chris Maniates in memory of Mrs. Helen Maniates, we are delighted to announce that we are now part of a growing number of worship spaces with a hearing loop. If you need assistance, please see one of the Parish Council Ushers for assistance.
Assumption Prayer Ministry
Please be advised all prayer requests will be posted in the bulletin, it will no longer be emailed. If you wish to add a name please see Fr Peter directly.
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 Fr. Peter or Fr. Dimitrios. With the help of each steward/member, we come together as a Church family to better offer our thanks to our Lord.
Bookstore
Do you need gifts for your family or relatives? 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!
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, which are available for reading online.
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.
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.
NOTE: Please note that this morning’s Divine Liturgy, as well as prior Divine Liturgies, are available for rebroadcast. Simply log on to our parish’s website (www.assumptionchicago.org) and click on the “Watch Worship Services Online” link.
Ushers: Andrew Kanel, Mitch Celik, Peter Panton