Assumption Greek Orthodox Church - Chicago, IL : 2021-08-22 Bulletin

Sunday - August 22, 2021

8:30 a.m. Orthros followed by Divine Liturgy

* * * * * GIFT OF LIGHT * * * * *

This Week's Gift of Light (August 22, 2021)

In Memory

Joan Leakakos

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MEMORIALS

40 Day - Panagiota Kalasountas

3 Month - Demetra Spyropoulos

1 Year - Peter Spyropoulos

6 Years -Toula (Panagiota) Diamant

6 Years - Esther Polydoros

6 years - William Diamant

17 Years - James Diamant

May Their Memory Be Eternal.

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~ Congratulations! ~

Saturday, August 28

on the Marriage of

Mr. Peter Dedes to Miss Vasiliki Bilitsis

We Wish You All the Best & Everything Good!

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Wedding

Anniversary

Blessings

of 45 Years to

Ted & Kathy Pappas

August 22, 1976

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Coffee Hour Sunday, August 22

We Thank Our Gracious Hosts, the Spyropoulos Family and Assumption's YAL. Please see the flyer below to support their School Supply Drive as YAL will be collecting on that same day.

If you wish to sponsor a Coffee Hour Sunday, please contact the Church Office.

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Welcome Guests and Visitors If you are visiting with us today, we welcome you and hope that you will join us regularly for prayer and fellowship. If you would like to join our mailing list or would like more information about our Church, please see a Parish Council Member or Father Apostolos.

Attending Services In-Person Given recent updates to COVID-19 guidelines, we recommend all parishioners to wear face masks, regardless of vaccination status.

Live Streaming begins at 9:00 a.m. on Sundays and 9:30 a.m. on Weekdays and Saturday.

Church Order Please come to church prior to the start of the sermon, but remain in the back if the sermon has started. Please follow the direction of our Parish Council for procedures.

Reminders...

LET’S STAY CONNECTED - Help us to update our mailing lists. If you have moved, changed telephone numbers, or are not receiving our Church mailings, please call the Church Office. Also, our Church’s Listserv provides information and events related to the church, the weekly bulletins etc. Simply subscribe your email address through our Church’s website www.assumptionchicago.org under General Church Information link. Thank You!!

HOW TO RECEIVE HOLY COMMUNION—Orthodox Christians in good standing are encouraged to receive Holy Communion frequently, provided they have prepared themselves spiritually, mentally and physically. They must be on time for the Divine Liturgy, and be in a Christ-like, calm state of mind. They should be in a confession relationship with their priest or spiritual father, and they should have self -examined their conscience. On the day of receiving Holy Communion, it is not proper to eat or drink anything before coming to church. When you approach to receive Holy Communion, state your Christian (baptismal) name clearly, remove your mask and open wide. Do not hold or touch the red communion cloth and do not blot your lips. Please wait about 10 – 15 seconds before placing your mask on your face as to allow your lips to dry, if you are still wearing a mask.

A Few More Announcements....

UPCOMING SERVICES

MONDAY, AUGUST 23

APODOSIS OF THE DORMITION OF THE HOLY THEOTOKOS / ΑΠΟΔΟΣΙΣΤΗΣΕΟΡΤΗΣΤΗΣΚΟΙΜΗΣΕΩΣΤΗΣΤΗΕΟΤΟΚΟΥ

9:00 a.m. Orthros and Divine Liturgy 9:00 π.μ. Όρθρος και Θεία Λειτουργία

FRIDAY, AUGUST 27 9:00 a.m. Phanourios the Great Martyr - Orthros & Divine Liturgy followed by Blessing of Fanouropites

Upcoming Parish Events

August 28 - Liturgy in the Park II - St. Iakovos Retreat Center (Kansasville, WI) - Details below!

All of your generous donations are appreciatd. God bless you and thank you for your continued love and support of our beloved Church of Panagia!

Orthodox Catechism Classes

If you are interested in learning about the Orthodox Faith, join our catechism classes beginning in September 2021 (TBA). The program is made for people from various backgrounds, Christian or not, and is intended to familiarize you with the theology, traditions, and daily life of Orthodox Christians. The lessons usually take about an hour, but we might run over occasionally on some more challenging topics. Besides actually coming to classes, in order to get yourselves acquainted with the practical aspects of the faith, I strongly suggest that you participate in as many Church services (including weekday services) as possible moving forward. Check our website www.assumptionchicago.org for updates on the calendar. Worship is the most important aspect of our faith, and it is important that you get familiar with it. If you have any question about the class, please don’t hesitate to call. ~Father Apostolos

Philoptochos News

We were truly blessed to celebrate the Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos Vespers and Divine Liturgy with our large church family in person this year. It was wonderful to see the many candles lit, people streaming in to venerate the epitaphio and icons of the Virgin Mary and the many offerings of vasiliko and beautiful flowers.

Our Assumption Philoptochos came together to prepare and serve to-go refreshments after Vespers to about 250 people and a to-go lunch after Divine Liturgy on Sunday. We enjoyed greeting the many parishioners and visitors who came to worship together. Along with the Parish Council, our Philoptochos would like to thank John Kalyviaris from Concorde Banquets for providing the 250 to-go hot meals that were distributed after the Liturgy. He brought the meals individually packaged and ready to go which was so appreciated.

We would also like to thank all of the women of Assumption Philoptochos who donated their time both Saturday and Sunday to show warm hospitality to all our faithful. Thank you to Demetra Lakerdas and Melia Linardos for chairing and efficiently organizing the Feast Day receptions. May our Panagia continue to intercede for us!

Wedding Anniversary

Did you know that the Orthodox Church has a prayer service for Wedding Anniversaries?

While planning with your spouse what you will do on your day of remembrance, don’t forget to contact the Church Office to set-up an appointment for the prayer service with Father Apostolos. While it is suggested that the prayer be read on your Wedding Anniversary, it may also be read on Sundays after Church services.

Sunday School News

The Sunday Church School year begins on September 12--mark your calendars! Divine Liturgy will take place in St. Catherine's Chapel, followed by Open House for students and families in the classrooms. Back to school celebration during Coffee Fellowship Hour in Plato Hall. To register, go to: tinyurl.com/AssumptionSCS2021 or complete a registration form and drop off at the church office.

Liturgy in the Park II

Please join us Saturday, August 28th, at the Saint Iakavos Retreat Center (920 224th Ave, Kansasville, WI 53139) for our second Liturgy in the Park and community picnic beginning at 10 am. Come out and enjoy the day with your Panagia family! This is a great back-to-school event and open to all ages. Bring your backpack or work bags so Father Apostolos can bless it for your school year! Our space is limited so please do not hesitate to sign up, first.

You will be required to wear masks when indoors at the Retreat Center and the Retreat Center does require that food is pre-plated or pre-packaged. Lastly, we will email you the appropriate consent forms after sign up. Here is the link to the Liturgy in the Park II sign up form, https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E054BA5AB22A4FF2-liturgy1

Stewardship

Stewards 258

Amount Pledged $206,314.29

Average Pledge $802.78

Numbers reflected as of (8/13/2021)

If you have not received a Stewardship Packet, please contact the church office at stewardship@assumptionchicago.org or 773.626.3114. It may be that we do not have you in our records as a Steward, or do not have your current address on file. If you are moving, or have moved recently, please contact the church office with your new address.

Stewardship Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, Thou are the Good Steward, who redeemed Adam and Eve of their failed stewardship by offering Thyself for the life of the world. Thou didst teach us in the feeding of the multitudes that whatever we give to God is returned to us manifold. Thou didst praise those good and faithful servants in the parable of the talents who returned to the Master their gifts multiplied. So help us to learn the joy of stewardship, remembering that everything we have comes from Thee. For Thou art the Good Steward and to Thee we offer thanksgiving, praise and glory, together with Thy Father who is everlasting and Thine all-holy, good and life-giving Spirit now and ever and onto the ages of ages. Amen.

Memorials

Please contact our church office in advance if you wish to have a memorial for a loved one. We will do our best to accommodate you, but please be aware that sometimes it is difficult to reserve for large groups due to space limitations. If desired, you may inquire with the office about the alternative option of Father offering the memorial at the gravesite.

Weekly Offering

Please remember to make an offering this week to support the work of our parish in serving the needs of our many faithful! You may do this in person at the end of the Divine Liturgy (there will be an acrylic box on a stand in the narthex of the church), or if you are watching from home you may use the following link: www.assumptionchicago.org. Every little bit helps, and no gift is too small. We appreciate your support!

Other Notes

* Who May Receive Holy Communion? Because receiving Holy Communion or any other Sacrament is an expression of our acceptance of the dogmatic and moral teachings of the Orthodox Faith, only Orthodox Christians (by baptism or chrismation) in good standing may participate. For this reason, persons who do not agree with these teachings, or who are not in good standing (for example, married outside the church, or civilly divorced but not ecclesiastically divorced, etc.), must return to good standing in order to participate in Orthodox Sacraments such as Holy Communion and Unction; this also applies to those who have been asked to be a Godparent for a Baptism or a Sponsor for a Wedding. If you or another person(s) have fallen into any of these (or other) predicaments, please contact Father Apostolos and he will direct you with information needed to attain complete restoration in the Church.

* The Gift of Light Please give the “Gift of Light” to Assumption Panagia’s Church. We need a family or an individual, to sponsor, per week, the lighting of our vigil lamps and candles in both of our holy Altars of Panagia and Saint Catherine. This includes the daily lighting of both of our holy Altars throughout the week. Suggested donation for this ministry is $100.00. Sign up can be made through our Tithe.ly platform. Through our Church’s Website simply click on the big green GIVE button, request your week and make your donation. Reservations, with your donation to Assumption Church, can also be made through the church office. Simply, ask for the week you desire and remember to offer the names of your loved ones, both the living and those who have fallen asleep, so that they may be commemorated at the Prothesis Table of Oblation) during the Sunday Orthros of that week.

An acknowledgement in the weekly bulletin will be printed. Please specify if you would like your donation posted either in memory of… or for the health and wellbeing of…. Our Church is blessed to have two consecrated Altars. During the Consecration service, and forever after, the Lord entrusts to the angelic powers to keep the holy Altar pure and holy. As Saint Symeon of Thessaloniki reminds us, the Holy Altar is the border between heaven and earth, it is the throne of glory and the dwelling place of God and the workshop of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. We all need prayers, and your “Gift of Light” will help.

Donations and Stewardship may be sent via US mail or electronically through our Tithe.ly platform. Through our Church’s Website simply click on the big green GIVE button and scroll down to where you wish to give. You also have the option to set up recurring payments for your Stewardship through this page.

People Helping People A number of parishioners have made known their desire to help people who need assistance. The church office is keeping a list of volunteers. Call the office if you would like your name added to the list of volunteers. There can’t be too many. If you know of anyone who needs any sort of help call the church office 773-626-3114 to make the connection. Remember, many people are ashamed/afraid to ask for help. Keep your eyes and ears open and ask about needs with kind concern.

COMMUNITY PRAYER LIST (put this in your prayer corner at home)

O Lord our God, Who by word alone did heal all diseases, Who cured the mother in law of Peter, You Who chastise with pity and heal according to Your goodness; grant aid to these Your servants (Names) and heal them of every sickness of which they are grieved; lift them up from their pain, and send down upon them Your great mercy. For to you we send up Glory: to Father, and to Son, and to Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

PRAYERS FOR: Athanasia, Paul, Reem, Terry, Vic, Kyriakos, Becky, Salem, Mantia, Georgia, Vicki, Maria, Vasilios, Nektaria, John, Violet, Cynthis, Fr. Jon-Stephen Hedges, Evangelos, William, Momcilo, Jill, Panagiotis, Vasiliki, Elizabeth, Panagiota, Betty, Dimitri, Alexander, Vasiliki, Eleni, Panagiotis, George, Thomas, Nicholas, Sophia, Susan, Mary Lou, Mehmet. (Contact Assumption Business Office to add names at office@assumptionchicago.org or call Panagia office at 773.626.3114