CALENDAR FOR THE WEEK OF March 29, 2015
Sunday, March 29th
Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt
8:15am Orthros
9:15am 40 Day Blessing - Kaelyn Eleni Schaefer
9:30am Liturgy/NO SS Today
40 Day Memorial - Chris Grenias
40 Day Memorial - Eunice Stathis
1 Year Memorial - Sophia Deligiannis
11:40am Jr. Choir Practice
Family of Sophia Deligiannis hosts coffee hour
Monday, March 30th
NO Great Compline Service Today
Wednesday, April 1st
5:00pm Greek School
6:00pm Pre-Sanctified Liturgy
Thursday, April 2nd
NO Book Club TODAY
Friday, April 3rd
Parish Office Closed
Saturday, April 4th
Saturday of Lazarus
8:30am Orthros with Liturgy to follow
40 Day Blessing - Nikolas Griffin
Family Lenten Retreat: Aquire the Spirit of Peace
Junior Choir Rehearsal The Junior Choir has just two more practices in preparation for singing the full Liturgy on Holy Saturday morning: Today at 11:40am (meet in the 5th/6th grade classroom); and Holy Friday, April 10 at 1pm. We have a small, but committed group of amazing young singers - and it's not too late for students in grades 1-8 to join us! Please support our Junior Choir by encouraging your children to join us. Contact Kim Kaminski at kaminski2952@wowway.com or 630-877-2115 for more information.
PHILOPTOCHOS TEA With Easter 2 short weeks away and the Philoptochos Tea only 13 days later, we are asking you not to forget to make your reservations and also sign up as a hostess, if you are able. There are Philoptochos members anxiously awaiting to count you in for this fundraiser. Please consider stopping by today after liturgy, and remember, prepaid tickets are only $25.00. The day of the event they go up to $30.00. Please tell your friends and relations to attend this "English Tea Party" and Fashion Show, and don't forget all proceeds go to charity.
Sunday School note: We ask that no food, snacks or treats be brought into the Sunday School classrooms. Also, if your child is celebrating a birthday and you were wanting to bring in something for the class, we ask that it be a non food item such as birthday pencils, paper, etc. We have several students throughout the Sunday School program that have life threatening food allergies. We ask for your cooperation to ensure the safety of all our children. Thank you!
Family Lenten Retreat: Acquire the Spirit of Peace ~ Saturday, April 4th!
Please mark your calendars and be sure to join us for this year’s Family Lenten Retreat. This year’s retreat will focus on Saint Seraphim of Sarov. Saint Seraphim reminds us to “Acquire the Spirit of Peace and a thousand souls will be saved around you”.After the morning Saturday of Lazarus Service we will begin our retreat. Adults and children will separate for a 1 hour learning segment. After the learning segment, we will all meet together for a light lenten lunch. Finally, we will end the retreat by folding palms for Palm Sunday. This event is free, but registration is required in order to prepare materials. Registration will begin March 1st.
Assistance with Virtual Church setup in the Social Hall needed, April 4th after the Lenten Retreat. Those interested can contact the Parish Office or a Parish Council Member.
Saint Athanasios Youth Missions and Ministries News! Sunday, May 3rd ~ We will again be making Health Kits!
Everyone is invited to join us for the final Mission of this school year.
We will be assembling Health Kits to send to IOCC (International Orthodox Christian Charities)
Last year we made over 200 Health kits, we hope to meet or exceed this goal on May 3rd!
We will begin accepting donations in March. You can place items in our purple tote located by the food bin.
The following NEW items ONLY will be accepted:
* one-gallon plastic zip-lock bags
* hand towels
* washcloths
* combs
* metal nail files or nail clippers
* bars of individually wrapped hand-soap
* toothbrushes
* band-aids
(Please do not bring in travel soap, toothpaste, shampoo, or any other items not listed. They will not be accepted)
Save the Date : May 23rd & May 24th - Junior Olympics : Jr. Olympics registration will begin on March 29th in the church hall. Events are open to those ages 7-18 and the 10K is open to ages 13 - adult. There is no charge to participate and represent our parish, and is always a lot of fun! Contact Maria Lambrou (makokoslambrou@yahoo.com) or Chris Haralambopoulos (chrish14@me.com).
Save the Date: August 3rd-6th ~ Saint Athanasios Summer Camp 2015: The Unrivaled Protectress!
Registration will begin after Easter: $20 per camper
Those students going into 1st-5th grades are invited as campers. This year's summer camp will focus on Our Most Holy Theotokos. We will discuss the Life, Miracles, and Reverence due to the Blessed Panagia. The children will learn of several miraculous icons of the Holy Virgin. Those who attend will be anointed with myrrh received from the miraculously flowing Hawaiian icon! The children will take a “trip” to Mount Athos and find out how she discovered this now Holy Mountain. In addition, the children will become familiar with the Small Paraklesis which is sung during the first 15 days of August. Many wonderful crafts and activities are planned! She is truly our Unrivaled Protectress who protects, guards, and guides all those who reach out to her! Most Holy Theotokos, Save Us!
Front Pews Reserved: The front two pews on the right side of the Church will be reserved until after the Sermon is finished for the Altar boys, Chanters & the Families of Clergy. Please note, the reservation of the of the pews is for afternoon & evening Services as well.The left front pew will be reserved when there is a Memorial Service. Please note if you are scheduling a Memorial or have visitors from other communities attending a Memorial Service, please use the left front pew(s). The reservations of the front pews will be released after the Sermon is completed. Please observe this change and follow the direction of the Parish Council Members. If you have any questions please see Fr. Peter.
Greek School News: The St. Athanasios Greek School is a participant in the Box Tops 4 Education Program. Just clip the Box Top from any participating item and drop it off in the community room during coffee hour on Sunday's. There will be a box located near the coffee area. For every Box Top we send in, we get $.10 (ten cents). This can add up quickly. Our goal for the year is to collect 3000 Box Tops, earning our school $300.00. We are ready to start collecting, so start clipping! Thank you for your continuing support of our school!
Easter Donations: If you are interested in donating towards the purchase of various Easter items please see the list of needs below, thank you in advance for your generosity:
$75.00 for flowers for each Salutations Service (3/13, 3/20)
$225.00 - 12 Candles encircling the Crucifix Holy Thursday Eve.
500 Eggs dyed red (to have in Church by Good Fri. Morning)
We are asking again for people to bring in fresh flowers to decorate the Kouvouklion this year.
There is also a cost involved in getting the 'base' flowers for the Kouvouklion and the flowers that are handed out, monetary donations are also always appreciated to defray that cost as well.
Bookstore News: Available in the St. Athanasios Bookstore -
HOLY WEEK AND PASCHA By J. Euphemia Briere - This book takes us through the period in the life of Christ from the raising of Lazarus to the Resurrection as reflected in the Divine Services of the Holy Orthodox Church.
THE ENTRY OF OUR LORD INTO JERUSALEM -By Sister Elayne with illustrations by Bonnie Gillis - Perfect for preschool children and up.
PASCHA TRANSFORMS WOLFMAN TOM - St. Anthony’s Greek Orthodox Monastery - Wolfman Tom was a ruthless murderer in 19th century Russia. This is the true story of how God transformed this hardened criminal into a saint through fire of repentance. It is an example of repentance and salvation.
WE RETURN TO GOD - Department of Religious Education Orthodox Church in America - A manual for preparing children for the Sacrament of Penance
COME RECEIVE THE LIGHT - By Peter M. Kalellis - This simple guide is to help us explore the treasures of our Faith that we may joyfully arrive at the glory of Easter and beneficially receive the Unwaning Light.
LENTEN COOKBOOK - BY Arestedis Laftsidis - This cookbook is a short collection of vegan, vegetarian, and seafood recipe ideas for Orthodox Lent.
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America offers various Scholarships: 2015-16 Undergraduate and Graduate scholarships - applications can be accessed by visiting www.goarch.org (scholarships listed under the 'SPOTLIGHT' section) E-mail scholarships@goarch.org or call 212-774-0283, deadline is April 27, 2015.
Hellenic College Holy Cross Opportunities:
CrossRoad: 10 day summer experience on the campus visit www.hchc.edu/studentlife/vocation/crossroad/ for information
Semester of Faith: short term, college leve study at Hellenic College www.hchc.edu/admissions/semester_of_faith for more information.
Registration open for Ionian Village summer camp program visit www.ionianvillage.org
Theology Thursdays! St. Athanasios will begin Theology Thursdays in September! Book Club will meet the 1st Thursday of each month, Youth Groups (Jr. JOY, JOY, Jr. GOYA, GOYA) will meet the 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month, Bible Study will be the 3rd Thursday of the month at 7pm followed by Orthodoxy 101 at 8pm.
TOTS/INFANT PPROGRAM: Please note that TOTS, the program for children birth to 4 years and their parents, will meet with Fr. Peter on the 2nd Tuesday of each month.
CHURCH ETIQUETTE: Please note that the Narthex is a Quiet Zone, while Parish Council members are there to greet you they have been asked to refrain from conversing with Parishioners as they light their candles, etc. If you are in need of talking with a council member or another Parishioner, please do so outside of the Narthex in the foyer.
CANDLE SAFETY: Please do not put 7 Day candles on the carpet in the Church, always place them in the candle stand, this is a Fire Hazard.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED We are updating our volunteer database. Please consider signing up as a volunterr for upcoming Church events such as Holy Week, Spring/Fall Festival, Summer Picnic and other activities. There are forms in the Narthex for those who are interested. Thank you!
PLANNED GIVING: A charitable gift may give you substantial current tax benefits as well as estate tax benefits. For most people, the greatest financial gift we are able to give is what we leave behind when we fall asleep in the Lord. Planned giving can be very rewarding, allowing to you to see your gift at work while receiving tax benefits now.
“Come and See the works of God, Who is awesome” (Psalm 66:5). Please see the brochures in the brochure rack, if you have further questions please contact the Parish Office or Fr. Peter.
MESSAGE FROM FR. PETER regarding Communications: In efforts to better communicate and manage communications with the parish, and to properly, and in a proper time receive communications from the parish, I am asking that if you have informational questions, to please call the church office, or send me an email. If there is an emergency, please feel free to call my emergency number, for non emergency inquiries and scheduling, please email me at frpspiro999@gmail.com or call the church office at 630-851-6106. However, due to my schedule- liturgical and otherwise, as well as the immediate intrusion of text messaging, I am asking that you refrain from texting my cell phone, as I will no longer be communicating via text messaging. - Rev. Dr. Peter J. Spiro
PROSFORO
The Church is in need of Prosforo, if you are able to make some and bring it in it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
PRAYER LIST -
Ann Helopoulos, Marie, Jeff Kuwaja, Joann Maroutsos, Eugenia, Carla, Peter, John Nowobielski, Deborah, Eleni, Mary Ann Gavrilys, Philomena Bilder, Athena, Kalliope, Vicki Sore, Lamona Athens, Elsie Mishos, Ellen, Chris