Sunday -MAIN CHURCH
8:30 am - Orthros
10:00 am - Divine Liturgy
Sunday Summer Hours - MAIN CHURCH
8:00 am - Orthros
9:30 am - Divine Liturgy
Sunday Church School
9:45 am - Divine Liturgy
Weekday Services
8:30 am - Orthros
9:30 am - Divine Liturgy
The Mission Statement of the Assumption Greek Orthodox Church
Is to lead the faithful into the Kingdom of God by:
Proclaiming and teaching the Gospel in accordance with the Orthodox Faith;
Sanctifying the faithful through God’s grace in worship, the Divine Liturgy and the sacraments;
Enhancing the spiritual life of the faithful;
Adding to the numbers of the faithful by receiving persons into the church through instruction, baptism and/or chrismation.
9th Sunday of Matthew
The Reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 3:9-17
Brethren, we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building. According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and another man is building upon it. Let each man take care how he builds upon it. For no other foundation can any one lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any one builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw - each man's work will become manifest; for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work which any man has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? If any one destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and that temple you are.
9th Sunday of Matthew
The Reading is from Matthew 14:22-34
At that time, Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat by this time was many furlongs distant from the land, beaten by the waves; for the wind was against them. And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out for fear. But immediately he spoke to them, saying "Take heart, it is I; have no fear."
And Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, bid me come to you on the water." He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus; but when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, "Lord, save me." Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, "O man of little faith, why did you doubt?" And when they entered the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God." And when they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret.
Saint Callinicus was from Cilicia. Because he preached Christ and turned many pagans away from the idols, he was seized by Sacerdon the Governor, who subjected him to many tortures, then had him shod with shoes in which nails had been fixed upright, and compelled him to run to the city of Gangra, where he was burned alive in a furnace.
Memorials
40 Days ~ Georgia Zaeske
40 Days ~ George Varvitsiotes
1 Year ~ Vasiliki Gangas
Sacraments
Baptism ~ Christos (Christian)
Parent ~ Jeanne Iskos
Sponsor ~ Vasilios Iskos
Coffee Fellowship
Coffee Fellowship is hosted by the Assumption Community.
Dates to Remember
2018 August Religious Calendar
Abstinence Begins
For The Feast Of The Dormition
Of The Virgin Mary
Wednesday, August 1
The Procession of the Precious Cross
8:30 a.m. – Orthros
9:30 a.m. – Divine Liturgy
6:00 p.m. – Holy Confession
7:00 p.m. – Small Paraklesis Service
Thursday, August 2
Removal of Relics of 1st Martyr, Deacon Stephen
6:00 p.m. – Holy Confession
7:00 p.m. – Great Paraklesis Service
Friday, August 3
Sts. Dalmatos, Faustos & Isaakios
6:00 p.m. – Holy Confession
7:00 p.m. – Small Paraklesis Service
Sunday, August 5
Forefeast of the Transfiguration
8:00 a.m. – Orthros
9:00 a.m. -Divine Liturgy
NO PARAKLESIS SERVICES – Vespers at
Holy Transfiguration
Monastery, Harvard, IL.
Monday, August 6
The Holy Transfiguration
Of Our Lord And Savior Jesus Christ
8:30 a.m. – Orthros
9:30 a.m. – Divine Liturgy
NO PARAKLESIS SERVICE
Tuesday, August 7
Dometios of Persia, Wonderworker Nikanor
6:00 p.m. – Great Paraklesis Service
(There is No Holy Confession)
Wednesday, August 8
Emilian, Bishop of Cyzikos, Myron the Wonderworker
Triandaphyllos the New Martyr
7:00 p.m. Small Paraklesis Service
(There is No Holy Confession)
Thursday, August 9
Apostle Matthias, Apostle of the 70
Anthony of Alexandria
6:00 p.m. – Holy Confession
7:00 p.m. – Small Paraklesis Service
Friday, August 10
Archdeacon Laurentios, Sixtus of Rome
6:00 p.m. – Holy Confession
7:00 p.m. – Small Paraklesis Service
Monday, August 13
Apodosis of Transfiguration, Maximos the Confessor
7:00 p.m. – Akathist Hymn, Epitaphios and
Lamentations to the Virgin Mary
Tuesday, August 14
Forefeast of the Falling Asleep of the Theotokos
8:30 a.m. – Orthros
9:30 a.m. – Divine Liturgy
7:00 p.m. – Hierarchical and Panegyric Great
Feast Day Vespers
ALL NIGHT VIGIL
11:00 p.m. – Small Supplication to the Theotokos
(Names of the living inaudibly commemorated.)
12:00 a.m. – Akathist Hymn to the Theotokos
Wednesday, August 15
ALL NIGHT VIGIL CONTINUES
THE FALLING ASLEEP OF OUR MOST HOLY LADY
THE THEOTOKOS AND EVER VIRGIN MARY
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
Stewardship
Have you pledged for the calendar year 2018 yet? If not, we kindly ask that you please prayerfully consider your pledge commitment for 2018, complete the pledge card that can be found at the Pangari in the Narthex, and return 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. If you need further information on becoming a steward, please see Dr. Voula Spyropoulos, Mary Zouras, or a member of the Parish Council.
Annual Panagia Names Day Appeal
The 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, to minister and continue to spread the Grace, Love and Word of Jesus Christ. Included in the packet being mailed will also include the complete schedule of Worship Services during the fifteen day Panagia period, as well as a form to write the names of your loved ones to be remembered/commemorated at these Services. Blank prayer list forms for your departed souls and living loved ones can also be found on the Pangari, as well as offering envelopes.
Annual Blessing of the Grapes on August 6th (Feast of The Transfiguration)
The Annual Blessing of the Grapes will take place at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy on Sunday, August 6th. This tradition occurs in our Orthodox Churches on August 6th each year, giving thanks to our Lord for the ‘first fruits of harvest’ given to us by our God. Should you wish to contribute to defray the expense of the grapes, please call the Church office at 773-626-3114.
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 Tuesday evening, August 14th, and the Divine Liturgy on Wednesday 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.
ARCHIEPISCOPAL ENCYCLICAL FOR THE RECENT FIRES IN GREECE
Fear not, for I am with you, be not dismayed, for I am your God; Yes, I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand (Is. 41:10).
To the Clergy and the Faithful of the Holy Archdiocese of America
Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
We all have learned of the devastating fires in Attica, Greece that have claimed the lives of dozens of people, injured many others, and destroyed countless homes and properties. We are filled with agony and pain as we watch the horrifying images and hear the tragic stories coming from Greece.
On behalf of the Holy Eparchial Synod of the Holy Archdiocese of America we share the sorrow of our beloved people of Greece and we offer our fervent prayers. May our merciful Lord grant eternal life to those who perished and courage to those who survived.
As Orthodox Christians we must offer hope and support. Therefore, on Sunday, July 29, 2018, we ask all of the parishes of our Holy Archdiocese to offer a special Memorial Service for those who have lost their lives to this tragedy. Additionally, we ask that our parishes take a special collection on this Sunday, July 29, dedicated to an effort to bring comfort, aid, and hope to those whose homes and communities have been destroyed. All collections, either from parishes or individuals, should be sent payable to the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese (8 East 79th Street, NY, NY 10075) and designated for the Attica fires Relief Fund. Our prayers and our gifts of love will assist those in need and will also be a witness of the strong bonds of Faith and heritage that we share with the people of Greece, especially in this time of tragedy.
Knowing the boundless generosity and love of you, the faithful of America, we are confident that you will respond most generously to this appeal to help heal the pain of the Greek people. They will need the assistance now and in the future to recover from this devastating tragedy.
With paternal love in Christ,
† DEMETRIOS Archbishop of America
Philoptochos
We will be baking for Panagia Vespers on Saturday, August 11th, at 9:30 a.m. in Plato Hall. All are welcome to participate.
If you are able to assist with the Panagia Vespers fellowship on Tuesday evening, August 14th or for the Panagia Feast Day fellowship on Wednesday, August 15th, please contact Melia Linardos – 630.660.4643, Sophia Vlahos – 630.975.0776, or Valerie Green – 847.337.5687. Your help would be most appreciated!
20K Challenge
Want to support our Church Ministries? Grab an envelope and support our 20K challenge!
Here's how it works. All throughout the summer, envelopes will be posted on the large bulletin board in Plato Hall Simply grab an envelope off of the board and give that amount. Write your name and address on the card provided in the envelope add your donation to the envelope and deposit it in the clear box next to the board.
So if you grab envelope #43, give $43. Envelope #156, give $156. Envelope #1, that's 1 more dollar towards our goal. If all envelopes are filled, we will raise over $20,000 for Assumption Church Ministries! You can also connect to https://form.jotform.com/81452636384158, and make donations.
FAQ
Q: Can I grab more than one envelope?
A: YES! So if you grab envelope #100 and envelope #50,
you would give $150 towards our goal.
Q: What if all of the amounts in my price range are taken? Can I still give?
A: YES! We will take any donations that you are willing and able to give. Later in the
fundraiser we will have envelopes labeled "Other Amount". Simply grab one of those
and write the amount you want to give on it.
Each of us can together make a difference for all of us. Thank you for your support!
Young Adult League
The Assumption Church is revitalizing their Young Adult ministries. In order to do so, we are asking young adults (ages 18-27 who are out of high school) and families with young adults to contact the church to provide contact information. All we need is a name, phone number, and email address to create a young adult database for our parish. Please email contact info to frdimitrios@assumptionchicago.org. Our hope is to periodically organize social events for the young adults and support the Metropolis of Chicago YAL events and programs.
Our first gathering of the year will be this Tuesday, July 24th at 7pm at Gulliver's Pizza and Pub in Oak Brook Terrace (17W517 Roosevelt Road) for Trivia Night and to plan out future events. All are welcome to join (bring a friend, too!).
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 website 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 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.
Coffee Fellowship Hosts Needed
Have you considered selecting a day to host the Weekly Fellowship Hour following Worship Services on a specific Sunday in 2018? 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 2018 Year:
August 19
September 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
October 7, 14, 21, 28
November 4, 11, 18
December 9, 16, 23, 30
We are in the Loop!
Through a generous donation by Mr. and Mrs. Chris Maniates in memory of Mrs. Helen Maniates, we are delighted to announce that we are now part of a growing number of places with a hearing loop. If you need assistance, please see one of the Parish Council Ushers for assistance.
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 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, spiritually uplifting and rewarding. Here is what we can all do:
Just think about that….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 Fr. Dimitrios. 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? 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, which 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: Andrew Kanel, Evelyn Maggos, Peter Panton, George Sefer, Stavroula Spyropoulos, Lynn Voulgarakis
Church Fundraiser