PARISH NEWS AND EVENTS
Memorials:
7 Years ~ Peter (Panayioti) Ganios, Right Row 1
7 Years ~ Fotini Mansour, No Pews
9 Years ~ Christ Kamberos, No Pews
10 Years ~ Joan (Yanoula) Ganios, Right Row 1
Sacrament:
The son of Gus and Helen Vlamis will be Baptized today at 2:30 pm and given the name George. The sponsors are Peter and Kiriaki Stavrakis.
Coffee Fellowship:
The Coffee fellowship is hosted by Assumption Parishioners in celebration of St. Demetrios. All are invited to stay, and enjoy fellowship.
Ministry, Ministry, Ministry!
Every Christian who has accepted salvation has also accepted the responsibility of working in the ministry of the Church. The clergy have been called apart and given the grace and blessing to perform the specific sacramental functions of the church, but all Christians, clergy and laity alike, have been called to serve in our Lord’s ministry. If this is not what the Church is doing, then we have entered into serious error. Everything that we do as a Church should be in direct support of Christ’s ministry of salvation. If we build buildings, they should be to support ministry. Any event sponsored by the Church should be ministry or in support of ministry. The Church’s budget should be driven by its ministry, not the ministry to be limited by its budget.
Stewardship:
2017 Stewardship Pledge commitment are due. We ask that you please prayerfully consider your pledge commitment for 2017, complete the pledge card and mail it to the Church Office. We are forever grateful to the many loving stewards, supporters, and friends of this Parish who stand tall in their commitment to our Lord, the Blessed Panagia and this ministry.
Assumption Basketball Season:
Once again, it's basketball season! Assumption Church is now accepting registrations for the basketball team (or teams if we get enough interest) for athletes in 5th-8th grade. The season will run from late October into February, and games are mainly on Sundays with some Saturday games as well. There is no cost to the families to register. The deadline for registering is October 22nd, as we need to let the Metropolis know how many teams we will be entering this season in a timely fashion. If you have more questions about this program or if you would like to register, please contact Mr. Tom Demos at thomasdemos@gmail.com.
Philoptochos:
The Assumption Philoptochos is pleased to announce their Second Annual One Warm Coat Drive beginning Sunday, November 5th, and ending Sunday, March 4, 2018. We are collecting men’s, women’s and particularly children’s coats. Last year we collected 200 coats! This year, let’s break that record! Collection boxes will be located in the Narthex of St. Catherine’s Chapel. One Warm Coat, celebrating its 25th Anniversary, is a national non-profit organization that works to provide a free, warm coat to any person in need.
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
Also, our parish is starting a database of all college students in the community. If you have a college student in your family or if you are a college student, please send your name, school, area of study, address, and email address to Fr. Dimitri at frdimitrios@assumptionchicago.org..
This fall, our parish will be introducing a Byzantine Music class for all those interested in learning the art of Orthodox music. Classes will be led by Fr. Dimitri and are for students in middle school through college. If interested in registering or if you have any questions, please contact Fr. Dimitri at frdimitrios@assumptionchicago.org.
Byzantine Music Class:
This fall, our parish will be introducing a Byzantine Music class for all those interested in learning the art of Orthodox music. Classes will be led by Fr. Dimitri and are for students in middle school through college. If interested in registering or if you have any questions, please contact Fr. Dimitri at frdimitrios@assumptionchicago.org.
Dates to Remember:
Wednesday, November 1st
Feast of Sts. Cosmas & Damianos
8:30 am – Orthros
9:30 am – Divine Liturgy
Sunday, November 5th
The Adult Education Program for 2017-18 is
This Sunday following the Divine Liturgy in
St. Catherine’s Chapel
Monday, November 6th
7:00 pm – Adult Bible Study will be
held in St. Catherine’s Meeting Room
Wednesday, November 8th
Synaxis of Archangels
8:30 am – Orthros
9:30 am – Divine Liturgy
7:00 pm – SCS Staff Meeting
Will be held at the Pan Arcadian Building
Thursday, November 9th
Feast of St. Nectarios
8:30 am – Orthros
9:30 am – Divine Liturgy
Monday, November 13th
Feast of St. John Chrysostom
8:30 am – Orthros
9:30 am – Divine Liturgy
Wednesday, November 15th
Christmas Fast Begins
Thursday, November 16th
Feast of St. Matthew
8:30 am – Orthros
9:30 am – Divine Liturgy
10:30 am – Philoptochos General Meeting
Will meet in St. Catherine Meeting Room
Friday, November 17th
7:30 pm – Youth Night at Oak Brook
Park District
Monday, November 20th
7:00 pm – Adult Bible Study will be
held in St. Catherine’s Meeting Room
Tuesday, November 21st
Entrance of the Theotokos
8:30 am – Orthros
9:30 am – Divine Liturgy
Friday, November 24th
7:00 pm – St. Catherine Vespers
Coffee Fellowship to follow
Saturday, November 25th
Feast Day of St. Catherine
8:30 am – Orthros
10:00 am – Divine Liturgy
Feast Day Reception to follow
Thursday, November 30th
Feast of St. Andrew
8:30 am – Orthros
9:30 am – Divine Liturgy
Coffee Fellowship Hosts Needed:
Have you considered selecting a day to host the Weekly Fellowship Hour following Worship Services on a specific Sunday in 2017? 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 2017 Year:
Dec. 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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
NOTE: Please note that this morning’s Divine Liturgy, as well as prior Divine Liturgies, are available for rebroadcast. Simply log on to our Parish’s website (www.assumptionchicago.org), and click on the “Watch Worship Services Online” link.
Ushers:
Chris Limperis, Vincent Nicholas, Rose Marie Stewart, Bill J. Vranas, Mary Zouros