Calendar for the week of May 7, 2017
Sunday, May 7th
Sunday of the Paralytic
8:15am Orthros
9:30am Liturgy/SS
Youth Missions & Ministries - Health Kits IOCC
Friday, May 12th
6:00pm Greek School
6:00pm Adult Friday Night Seminars
7:30pm FUN Night
Saturday, May 13th
11:00am Baptism: Evan Christakos
Sunday, May 14th
Sunday of the Samaritan Woman
8:15am Orthros
9:30am Liturgy/SS
40 Day Memorial - John Lampros
Today! Youth Missions and Ministries will be assembling Health Kits to send to IOCC. See you at the Mission!
Communion: Please allow the Sunday school teachers to receive holy communion first so that they are able to receive the children when they arrive in the Sunday school classrooms. Thank you.
Bakers Needed!: No experience necessary! Please join us at the Church this Monday, Tuesday and/or Wednesday during the day as we bake items for the Festival! The more the merrier, hope to see you there!
Philoptochos News: Scholarship: DUE Monday, May 8th!! Attention high school seniors and current college students! Philoptochos is sponsoring its annual college scholarship competition. Two scholarships will be awarded. First is for those students entering college for the first time ($1500), as well as current college students who are continuing their education ($750). Please contact the church office for forms that can be emailed to you.
Spring Food Fest: We will be preparing for the Spring Food Fest the week of May 15th as detailed below. Please come out and help us in this key preparation period and during the Festival weekend, too! Here is the prep schedule:
Monday, 5/15:
- Cutting of the pork for Souvlaki will begin at 5:00 PM in the kitchen
- Skewering of the pork will begin at 6:00 PM
Wednesday, 5/17:
- Preliminary set-up and food prep (chickens, Saganaki, etc.) will begin at 6:00 PM in the kitchen
Thursday, 5/18:
- Set up of the festival will begin at 6:00 PM in St. Matthew Hall
Friday, 5/19:
- Final set-up and prep will begin at 9:00 AM in St. Matthew Hall and the kitchen
- Festival opens at 5:00 PM … we will need help in food prep, food serving, carry-out and the bar … we’re open until 9:00 PM
Saturday and Sunday, 5/20 & 5/21:
- Festival opens at noon on Saturday and after Divine Liturgy on Sunday … we will need help in food prep, food serving, carry-out and the bar … we’re open until 9:00 PM on Saturday and 6:00 PM on Sunday
Please contact Frank Demas, Foti Georgopoulos, Pete Nassos or the church office with any questions. We look forward to your support in making the 2017 Spring Food Festival a success!
Attention: Graduates! Saint Athanasios will celebrate Graduation Sunday on May 21st immediately following the Liturgy. If you are graduating 8th grade, High School, College, or Graduate School and would like to be recognized, we need your information ASAP. Please email the office at: saintathanasiosoffice@gmail.com with the following information. 1) Your first and last name. 2) The grade and school that you are graduating. 3) For 8th grade and High School graduates: Please indicate what school, course of study, or other plans you may have (military, Peace Corp, Missionary work, etc.) 4) For College graduates: Please indicate where you will be continuing your education (if applicable). Father Peter will call you up to the solea to be recognized. Thank you and CONGRATULATIONS!
Metropolis of Chicago Junior Olympics: May 27-28, 2017. Events are open to those ages 7-18 and the 10K is open for ages 13 - adult. Register and sign up for specific events in the church hall. Adult volunteers and coaches are needed. For more information contact Maria Lambrou at makokoslambrou@yahoo.com or 708-269-9991.
Register NOW! Saint Athanasios Summer Camp ~ The INCREDIBLE Power of Prayer!!! June 12-15th 9-11:30am. $50 per student 1st - 6th grade. $60 per student for registrations made after May 21st. We are also in need of 7th grade - High School students to be camp counselors! Please contact the church office to register. Please submit your child’s name, current grade, and parent’s email. Credit card payments can be submitted to the church office and/or registration and payments will also be collected after church on Sundays.
St. Athanasios Golf Outing: The 2017 St. Athanasios Golf Outing will take place on Monday, June 12th at the Links of Carillon in Plainfield, IL. The event kicks off with lunch and opening of the driving range at 11:30 AM, followed by the shotgun start at 1:00 PM, and dinner (with prizes, raffles, etc) immediately following the golf (around 6:00 PM). Please plan on joining us for this day of fun and fellowship, and bring your friends, family and business colleagues, too!
The Golf Committee members will be in the St. Matthew Hall today following services to take your reservations for the participation in the Outing; we have a dinner-only option for non-golfers, too. We've reduced prices this year, and have further discount for 4-somes paying by May 28th. We also have hole sponsorships available, as well as other opportunities for donations and sponsorships. See the committee members today to reserve your spots in the Outing, and all other items for the Outing. All proceeds will benefit the ministries of our beloved St. Athanasios.
Sunday School Snacks Request: We are in need of more snacks for our Sunday School Snack table. Please consider bringing a non-perishable, NUT-FREE snack to our snack table and place in one of our purple totes. We thank you to everyone who continues to replenish our supplies…we have many hungry children who enjoy these treats every week! Thank you!
Sunday School Schedule for 2016-2017
May 21st: Graduation Sunday
June 12-15th: Summer Camp-Friends in the Faith!
Saint Athanasios Missions and Ministries Schedule for 2016-2017
May 7th: Health Kits for IOCC
FRIDAY NIGHT Seminars 2016-2017: 6-7:15pm
Weekly Pastoral Learning Segments will combine Bible Study, Discoveries in the Faith, and Book Club into fellowship and spiritual growth for Adult Parishioners! See the Champion for date specific topic information. Recommended text: Saint John Climacus~The Ladder of Divine Ascent
May 5, 12
FUN NIGHT Schedule 2016-2017: 7:30-8:30pm: Jr. JOY, JOY, & GOYA
May 12
Ionian Village 2017: Registration opened March 1st. For more information go to www.ionianvillage.org
Reminders: When coming up to recieve Andithoron please have your hands cupped in front of you and open to recieve. Please refrain from placing candles for Memorials of the 7-day candles on the Solea during Liturgy. If you are running late and Liturgy has begun please give them to a Parish Council member who can take care of them for you. Thank you.
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!
Seven Things Church Members Should Say to Guests in a Worship Service
1. “Thank you for being here.” It’s just that basic. I have heard from numerous church guests who returned because they were simply told “thank you.”
2. “Let me help you with that.” If you see someone struggling with umbrellas, young children, diaper bags, purses, and other items, a gesture to hold something for them is a huge positive. Of course, this comment is appropriate for member to member as well.
3. “Please take my seat.” I actually heard that comment twice in a church where I was speaking in the Nashville area. The first comment came from a member to a young family of five who were trying to find a place to sit together.
4. “Here is my email address. Please let me know if I can help in any way.” Of course, this comment must be used with discretion, but it can be a hugely positive message to a guest.
5. “Can I show you where you need to go?” Even in smaller churches, guests will not know where to find the nursery, restrooms, and small group meeting areas. You can usually tell when a guest does not know where he or she is to go.
6. “Let me introduce you to ___________.” The return rate of guests is always higher if they meet other people. A church member may have the opportunity to introduce the guest to the pastor, other church staff, and other members of the church.
7. “Would you join us for lunch?” I saved this question for last for two reasons. First, the situation must obviously be appropriate before you offer the invitation. Second, I have seen this approach have the highest guest return rate of any one factor. What if your church members sought to invite different guests 6 to 12 times a year? The burden would not be great; but the impact would be huge.
Let’s look at one example of breaking attendance barriers by saying the right things to guests. Presume your church has two first-time guests a week. Over the course of a year, the church would have 100 first-time guests. With most of the members being genuinely guest friendly, you could see half of those guests become active members. Attendance could thus increase by as much as 50 people every year.
Seven Things Church Members Should Say to Guests in a Worship Service appeared first on ThomRainer.com.
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, this is a fire hazard. Always place them in the candle stand.
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.
PRAYER LIST -
Ann Helopoulos, Marie, Jeff Kuwaja, Eugenia, Carla, Peter, John Nowobielski, Deborah, Eleni, Mary Ann Gavrilys, Philomena Bilder, Kalliope, Lamona Athens, Ellen, Chris, Suzana Cobo, Sophia, Rita, Marie Chialdikas, Denile, Christina, John, Steve, Jill, Loretta, Connie Alunni, John Scheuneman, Alexandra, Sandy, Panagiota, Niki, Raymond, Sophia P., Loraine, George Mishos, Dave S., Valerie Kincaid, Konstantinos, Athena Digrindakis, Ember, Selicija Baztkute, Marija Baztkute