PARISH NEWS AND EVENTS
Summer Sunday Worship Hours:
Please make note that we are in the midst of 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.
Coffee Fellowship:
Today’s Coffee Fellowship is hosted by the Assumption Community. Join us for fellowship in Plato Hall.
Have You Made Your 2015 Stewardship Pledge Yet?
We closed 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.
Annual Panagia Names Day Appeal:
Our Annual Panagia Appeal has been sent to all parishioners/stewards/supporters of our blessed Parish of Assumption. As we approach the Feast of the Dormition of the Panagia, we respectfully ask that you remember your Church and the Patron Saint of this Parish, the Blessed Theotokos, with your prayers and loving gift. It is because of your continued support and love that allows this Church, through the intercession of the Theotokos that allows us to minister and continue to spread the Grace, Love and Word of Jesus Christ. Prayer list forms for your departed souls and living loved ones can be found on the Pangari, as well as offering envelopes.
Panagia Feast Day Flowers:
We are forever grateful for the love and support of our parishioners and friends of Panagia who generously defray the expenses of the flowers that so beautifully adorn our Icons of our Patron Saint, the Blessed Theotokos, on Her Feast Day. If you are interested in making this gift specifically for the flowers decorating the Icons of the Panagia, please inform the Church Office (773.626.3114), or see Father Timothy.
Artoclasia Service for Panagia Feast Day Observance:
As is the tradition, our Parish honors the Feast Day of the Dormition of the Panagia with the Service of Artoclasia at BOTH the Great Vespers on Friday evening, August 14th, and the Divine Liturgy on Saturday morning, August 15th. Those individuals/families wishing to offer the bread (artos), oil, and wine for the health of their family are asked to call the Church Office (773.626.3114), or see Father Timothy.
Dates to Remember:
AUGUST RELIGIOUS CALENDAR
ABSTINENCE BEGINS
FOR THE FEAST OF THE DORMITION
OF THE VIRGIN MARY
Sunday, August 9
Apostle Matthias, Psoes of Egypt
Tenth Sunday of Matthew
8:00 a.m. Orthros
9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy
Monday, August 10
Archdeacon Laurentios, Sixtus of Rome
6:00 p.m. Holy Confession
* 7:00 p.m. Great Supplication to the Theotokos
Tuesday, August 11
Martyr Eupius the Deacon
5:00 p.m. Holy Confession
* 6:00 p.m. Great Supplication to the Theotokos
Wednesday, August 12
Martyrs Photios, Aniketos, Pamphile & Capiton
6:00 p.m. Holy Confession
* 7:00 p.m. Small Supplication to the Theotokos
Thursday, August 13
St. Maximos the Confessor
* 7:00 p.m. Akathist Hymn, Epitaphios and
Lamentations to the Virgin Mary
Friday, August 14
Fore Feast of the Falling Asleep of the Theotokos
8:00 a.m. Orthros
9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy
* 7:00 p.m. Hierarchical and Panegyric Great Feast Day Vespers
11:00 p.m. Small Supplication to the Theotokos
Saturday, August 15
ALL NIGHT VIGIL
THE FALLING ASLEEP OF OUR MOST HOLY LADY
THE THEOTOKOS AND EVER VIRGIN MARY
12:00 a.m. Akathist Hymn to the Theotokos
(Names of the living inaudibly commemorated.)
2:00 a.m. Sacrament of Holy Unction
First Divine Liturgy
4:30 a.m. Orthros
5:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy
Second Divine Liturgy
8:30 a.m. Hierarchical Orthros
** 10:00 a.m. Hierarchical Divine Liturgy
* These services will be Video Streamed beginning at 7:00 pm
** These services will be Video Streamed beginning at 9:45 am
Service Of The Akathistos And Lamentations /Epitaphios To The Repose of the Panagia Thursday, August 13th:
In addition to the traditional Great Vespers Service on August 14th and the Hierarchical Orthros and Divine Liturgy on the morning of August 15th, on Thursday evening, August 13th, at 7:00pm, we will also celebrate the Service of the Akathist Hymn, as well as the Epitaphios and Lamentations of the Panagia’s repose. This beautiful, but relatively little known tradition, is a Service very similar to the Service of the Epitaphios/Lamentations on Good Friday, complete with the hymns of the Lamentations. The only difference is that the words/hymns are dedicated specifically to the Mother of God. We hope that you will avail yourself of this opportunity to come together in prayer as we give prayerful song to the repose of our Blessed Theotokos.
Ordination of Deacon Dimitrios to the Holy Priesthood Sunday, August 23rd:
We have been informed by our Holy Metropolis that Deacon Dimitrios will be ordained to the Holy Priesthood on Sunday, August 23rd. His Grace Bishop Demetrios of Mokissos will celebrate the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy as well as the ordination of Deacon Athanasios to the rank of Holy Priesthood. We extend an invitation to all our faithful and friends to attend Worship Services on this day, and to witness Deacon Dimitrios as he is ordained to priest. Orthos on this day will begin at 8:30am, followed immediately by the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy.
The Call is Sent Out For Sunday Church School Teachers and Aides:
Our Church puts out the “call” for qualified and loving individuals (men and women) to join our Sunday Church School teaching staff for the 2015-16 school academic year. There is no more rewarding or fulfilling feeling, nor gift that we can give back to our Lord other than to impart to His children, the Word of God, and the blessed teachings of our Holy Orthodox Church. Helping to mold the formation of a child’s faith and belief in the Lord is a commission that each of us is bestowed with as baptized Orthodox Christians.
Therefore, we ask that you give thought and prayer to the enormous opportunity of becoming a Sunday Church School aide to assist the teacher and children, Please speak with Fr. Timothy, or the Sunday Church School Director, Mrs. Christina Arvanites. The SCS academic year begins on Sunday, September 13th.
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 #1-77 Completed – Please visit our website or our bulletin board to see who benefited from these Acts of Kindness
Act of Kindness #78 - On Sunday, August 9th we will pack “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.
Act of Kindness #79 – on Sunday, August 16th we will cook a dinner meal for children (ages 3-12) at Hephzibah Home, Oak Park. Hephzibah has short and long term group homes for children traumatized by neglect & abuse. They offer foster care and adoption services. For more information visit www.hephzibahhome.org. Volunteers HS and up needed to serve the meal from 4:30-6pm. To volunteer please see Christina Arvanites
Act of Kindness #80 – On Friday, August 28th at 8pm we will be having our own Assumption Light the Night Walk and balloon release. The Light the Night Walk is a fundraising campaign benefiting The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and their funding of research to find blood cancer cures. To volunteer please see Christina Arvanites.
Act of Kindness #81 – On Saturday, August 29th from 11am-2pm we will be hosting a “fun booth” at the Loretto Hospital health fair located in the hospital parking lot and our church parking lot. The fair will benefit low income families from the west side of Chicago. To volunteer or for more information please see Christina Arvanites.
Act of Kindness #82 – On Sunday, August 30thwe will make “play dough” for children at VOCEL to use during class time.
Act of Kindness #83 – On Sunday, August 30th we will be making “comfort cards” for Patients and families of patients staying at IMD Guest House. The IMD Guest House provides the comforts of home and the care to outpatients and the families of patients who must seek treatment away from home. For more information visit www.imdguesthouse.org
Act of Kindness #84 – On Saturday, September 12th from 10am –noon we will be baking and delivering cookies to patients and their families that are staying at IMD Guest House. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!!! Please see Christina Arvanites to volunteer!
Act of Kindness #85 – On Sunday, September 13thwe will make “party in a box” kits working with Humanitarian Service Project. HSP operates five programs to fulfill its mission of alleviating the burdens of poverty of children and seniors. For more information on HSP visit www.humanitarianservice.org Kits will be given to one of the low income families that HSP services.
Act of Kindness #86 – On Sunday, September 13thwe will make “Senior Personal Care” kits working with Humanitarian Service Project. HSP operates five programs to fulfill its mission of alleviating the burdens of poverty of children and seniors. For more information on HSP visit www.humanitarianservice.org Kits will be given to one of the low income families that HSP services.
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.
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.
Hellenic Link-Midwest Scholarship:
A number of scholarships, $2,000 or more each, will be awarded for the academic year 2015-16. Awards will be presented to the recipients during the Annual Dinner Dance and Scholarship Award celebration in January 2016. Only college level and university level students, undergraduate or, when need is show, graduate students, are considered. Applicants must be residents of a Midwestern state (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio or Wisconsin), must have completed at least one year (as of June 2015) full time study at an accredited college or university, have at least one parent of Greek descent and should not have received a Hellenic Link-Midwest scholarship in the past. Call the Church Office, 773-626-3114 to receive the Scholarship Application Form.
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:
Aug. 16 Sept. 20 Nov. 8 Dec. 6 Dec. 27
Sept. 6 Oct. 4 Nov. 15 Dec. 13
Sept. 13 Oct. 18 Nov. 22 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:
Individuals/Families interested in purchasing graves at Elmwood Cemetery, please be advised of the following prices: $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:
Andrew J. Kanel, Tom Poulos, Chris Caprio, Diane Berbas, Dr. Peter J. Panton