PARISH NEWS AND EVENTS
Coffee Fellowship:
Today's coffee fellowship is hosted by John Sandors in celebration of his names day. Please join us in Plato Hall to wish John a Happy Names day and for fellowship.
Sunday Church School:
Our Panagia Sunday Church School Divine Liturgy begins promptly at 9:45am. Sunday Church School classes takes place immediately following the Divine Liturgy in Plato School. If you have not, as yet, registered your child for the 2015-16 school year, please do so by contacting the Church Office, securing a registration form online at our Church’s Website (www.assumptionchicago.org), or by speaking with our SCS Director, Mrs. Christina Arvanites.
Supporting Parish Ministry
Orthodox Christian Stewardship is a way of life, which acknowledges accountability, reverence, and responsibility before God. A primary goal of Stewardship is to promote spiritual growth and strengthen faith. Becoming a Steward begins when we believe in God, to whom we give our love, loyalty and trust and act on those beliefs. As Stewards, we affirm that every aspect of our lives comes as a gift from Him. Stewardship calls on the faithful to cheerfully offer back to God a portion of the gifts with which they have been blessed.
An Orthodox Christian Steward is an active participant in the life of the Church. The parish encourages all who accept the Orthodox Faith to become practicing Stewards. And each year the Steward is expected to carefully review his or her personal circumstances and make a commitment of time, talent, and treasure to support the Parish and her Ministries, which in turn support the National Ministries of our Archdiocese, Metropolises, and institutions.
Effective stewardship ministry is not a single event or project. Rather, it is going out to our people wherever they are in their walk with Christ, listening to their concerns, helping them to realize their importance as branches of the True Vine, and encouraging them to offer their gifts in His service. We use various resources to support our efforts, but unless we meet with our people personally, sincerely listen to their ideas and concerns, and share a vision for the future of the parish, our efforts will not reach their full potential.
In ‘Oriented Leadership’, their book on Orthodox Christian leadership, Williams and McKibben define stewardship as the “call of the faithful to share willingly the gifts that God has bestowed on them, including sharing these gifts for God’s work”. Stewardship is devotion and service to God and His Church as persons, as families, as a Parish, as a Metropolis, as a National Church, and as the Church Universal. Stewardship is our active commitment to use ALL our time, talent, and treasure for the benefit of humankind in grateful acknowledgement of Christ’s redeeming love.
- Stewardship is caring for the needs of others.
- Stewardship is offering one's self to God as He offered Himself to us.
- Stewardship is what a person does after saying "I believe..." as proof of that belief.
Williams and McKibben in Oriented Leadership
In the words of the late Fr. William Chiganos, “…people do not give to need; they give to vision…. Church people do not stretch their giving because of need to meet the budget; they give more because they are able to see a vision of people being reached and God’s purposes being accomplished in the life of the church and its ministry.” Parishes with successful Orthodox Christian Stewardship Programs have found that incredible support is unleashed from Stewards who unselfishly and joyfully offer their time, talent, and treasures, which in turn enhances the spirituality and ministry of the local parish.
Annual Parish Cutting of the Vasilopita Sunday, January 10th:
Today following Worship Services, we will conduct the Annual Parish Cutting of the Vasilopita in Church. This annual event is sponsored by the Ladies Philoptochos Society, with the entire proceeds benefitting the Saint Basil’s Academy in Garrison, New York. After each Organization/Department Head receives a piece of Vasilopita, representing his/her co-workers, we will invite all parishioners to receive a piece of Saint Basil’s Bread that is a century’s old tradition of our Orthodox Christian Church. A member of the Ladies Philoptochos Society will be in the back of the Church as you exit where you can offer your gift to Saint Basil’s Academy.
Metropolis Vasilopita Celebration:
This evening, the Annual Metropolis Vasilopita Celebration will be held at St. Nicholas Church, Oak Lawn, IL. The Assumption Philoptochos have been given tickets to sell, and the ladies will have tickets available in Plato Hall. The proceeds from the sale of the tickets will benefit St. Basil Academy.
Dates to Remember:
Friday, January 15, 2016
7:30 pm – Youth Night at Oak Brook
Park District in Oak Brook
Sunday, January 17, 2016
Stewardship Brunch immediately
following Divine Liturgy
Monday, January 18, 2016
Feast Day of St. Athanasios
8:30 am – Orthros
9:30 am – Divine Liturgy
Monday, January 18, 2016
7:00 pm – Adult Bible Study in
St. Catherine’s Meeting Room
Thursday, January 21, 2016
10:30 am – General Meeting of the Philoptochos
in St. Catherine’s Meeting Room
Monday, January 25, 2016
Feast Day of St. Gregory
8:30 am – Orthros
9:30 am – Divine Liturgy
Saturday, January 30, 2016
Feast Day of the Three Hierarchs
8:30 am – Orthros
9:30 am – Divine Liturgy
Saturday, January 30, 2016
Ice Skating Outing in Rosemont,
more information to follow
The Next Orthodox Adult Bible Study Monday January 18 2016:
Our Adult Bible Study will meet Monday evening, January 18, 2016, at 7:00 pm, in Saint Catherine’s Meeting Room. We will continue our study of St. Paul’s Epistle to the Thessalonians. This class is open to all, and it is hoped that you will avail yourself to the opportunity to study the Bible in-depth. All you need to bring along with you is your Bible. For further information and/or questions, please see Father Timothy.
Metropolis of Chicago Family Synaxis Women's Retreat 2016
Friday, January 15 - Saturday, January 16, 2016
at the Saint Iakovos Retreat Center
The retreat leader will be Presvytera Vassi Haros from Transfiguration of our Savior Greek Orthodox Church in Florence, South Carolina. She is a graduate of Hellenic College/Holy Cross. She is currently program coordinator at Orthodox Christian Network. In addition to being a Presvytera and mother, Presvytera Vassi writes a blog called "In Service and Love."
She runs workshops on Orthodox topics including women’s concerns, practical expre-ssion of the Orthodox faith, and the church calendar.
Registration for the 2016 Women's Retreat is now open. Visit the website, www.gocfamilysynaxis.org for all the information and the link to register.
The retreat will begin Friday evening and continue through Saturday, 4 p.m. at the Saint Iakovos Retreat Center
Women, please consider joining us for this spiritual get-away!
Online registration will close on Monday January 4th, or when we reach 60 registrants.
The theme is: "God's Plan vs. God's Will"
There is a fine balance in our relationship with God which teeters between our will and God’s will, and the pivot point is love. With the perfect gift of free will, we have to find that balance where God’s will and our own align us into His plan. The retreat will look at this relationship and discuss its nuances.
Youth Ministries:
We are off to a great start to our ministry year and hope to continue growing as the year goes on. Our next youth night (Joy, Jr. GOYA and GOYA) will be Friday, January 15, 2016 at 7:30pm at the Oak Brook Park District. We look forward to seeing everyone there! If you have any questions regarding Assumption Youth Programs, please contact Fr. Dimitri at frdimitrios@assumptionchicago.org.
5th/6th Basketball Team – Practice Schedule
Our 5th/6th Basketball Team will playing in the division of the Greek Orthodox Athletic League. The following is the where and when the practices will be held. If you have any questions, please see either Fr. Dimitri or Tom Demos.
Sat Jan 16, 2016 4:15pm – 5:15pm
8th G.O.A.L. Game - St Haralambos Greek Orthodox, 7373 N Caldwell Ave, Niles, IL 60714
Sun Jan 24, 2016 4:15pm – 5:15pm
9th G.O.A.L. Game - Saint Spyridon's Hellenic Orthodox Church, Worth Township, 12307 S Ridgeland Ave, Palos Heights, IL 60463
Fri Jan 29, 2016 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Basketball Practice - Bulls/Sox Academy6200 River Bend Dr., Lisle, IL
Sat Jan 30, 2016 4:15pm – 5:15pm
10th G.O.A.L Game - 5649 N Sheridan Rd, Chicago, IL 60660
Fri Feb 5, 2016 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Basketball Practice - Bulls/Sox Academy6200 River Bend Dr., Lisle, IL
Sat Feb 6, 2016 4:15pm – 5:15pm
11th G.O.A.L. Game - 11025 S Roberts Rd, Palos Hills, IL 60465
The Greek Women’s University Club:
The Greek Women’s University Club (GWUC) was founded in 1931. It has been the mission of our organization to promote higher education and to support a variety of endeavors in the arts, literature, and sciences within our community. Since its inception, the GWUC has supported women of Greek descent by offering academic scholarships. The Greek Women’s University Club is pleased to offer two (2) scholarships of $2,500 each for the 2016-17 schoolyear.
Selection of Award Recipients is made by an independent selection committee appointed by the GWUC Board of Directors. This committee will work independently and make decisions based on the criteria set forth in the scholarship application, including academic achievement, a written statement of academic objectives, faculty recommendations, and extracurricular activities. The semi-finalists are then invited for a personal interview. All candidates are advised of their status after each step in the process. Final notifications will be made by mid-May, 2016.
Application forms are available to any eligible women in the Church Office. Please call 773-626-3114 if you wish to receive an application.
Application materials must be returned by March 31st, 2016, via email to:
Eleni Fosses
Email: elenifosses@gmail.com
773-617-2945
Outing to the Field Museum of Chicago, February 28, 2016:
THE GREEKS
Agamemnon to Alexander the Great
SUNDAY,
FEBRUARY 28, 2016
(Bus Leaving Directly following Divine Liturgy)
See more than 500 artifacts
From ancient Greece
At The Field Museum
Explore epic stories from the perspectives of the ancient Greeks
themselves, including men and women known to us through historical
accounts, mythological tales, and the archaeological record.
RESERVATIONS:
$27 per Adults: $20 for students: including bus and lunch (at the museum)
Please call the Church Office #773.626.3114 or email office@assumptionchicago.org to make your reservations.
RSVP: No Later than February 18, 2016
The Greeks is co-presented in Chicago by The Field Museum and the National Hellenic Museum, and made possible by the generous contribution of The John P. Calamos Foundation and John P. Calamos Sr., Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the National Hellenic Museum.
Church School on FACEBOOK:
Our Sunday Church School has created a FACEBOOK page. Like our page: Assumption Sunday Church School! Keep up to date on upcoming events and view photos from recent events.
Coffee Fellowship Hosts Needed:
Have you considered selecting a day to host the Weekly Fellowship Hour following Worship Services on a specific Sunday in 2016? 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 2016 are:
Feb. 21 April 3 May 22 June 26
Feb. 28 April 10 May 29 July 3
March 6 April 17 June 5 July 10
March 13 May 8 June 12 July 17
March 27 May 15 June 19 July 31
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.
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 rates: $1,995.00 (members), and $2,295.00 (non-members). Our Parish has only twenty-six (26) 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 Kanel, Tom Poulos, Chris Caprio, Diane Berbas, Dr. Peter J. Panton