Memorials
1 Year ~ Kleanthis (Clarence) Dervis
18 Years ~ Magdalene Dervis
20 Years ~ Eugenia George
20 Years ~ Louis (Elias) W. Mitchell
33 Years ~ Alexandra Dervisis
52 Years ~ Vasilios Dervisis
64 Years ~ Mary Dervis-Sothras
Coffee Fellowship
Is being hosted by George & Ann Dervis to honor the memory of their loved ones.
Dates to Remember
Saturday, December 1
Community Fellowship Luncheon for Austin Community Lunch ~ 1-4 pm
Tree Lighting at 4:30 pm
Decorate the Hall at 5:00 pm
Sunday December 2
Elections
Tuesday, December 4
Feast of St. Barbara
8:30 am Orthros
9:30 am Divine Liturgy
Thursday, December 6
Feast of St. Nicholas
8:30 Orthros
9:30 Divine Liturgy
Philoptochos
We extend our sincere thanks to all who assisted with the St. Catherine Vespers and Feast Day fellowships. Your help with the preparations, serving and clean up was invaluable and most appreciated. We hosted approximately 65 guests on Saturday evening and over 200 on Sunday for St. Catherine’s Feast Day. Again, thank you so much!
Hope you can join in the festivities at the annual Philoptochos Christmas Luncheon and Sing-a-Long on Saturday, December 8th, at Greek Islands Restaurant, Lombard, 11:30 a.m. For response and meal selection information, please see the invitation online: assumptionchicago.org or at the Pangari. (contact Vi Skuteris 312.659.1064)
All are welcome to join in the holiday baking merriment on Saturday, December 15th, following the Divine Liturgy. We invite you to pick up homemade traditional Greek and American baked goods on Sunday, December 16th at our annual Holiday Bake Sale in Plato Hall following the Divine Liturgy and Christmas Pageant. We kindly ask that you bring your homemade baked good donations to Plato Hall on Saturday, December 15th . Flyers are available at the Pangari.
The 2019 Philoptochos Membership Drive continues for only two more Sundays this year, December 2nd and 9th. We encourage you to stop by our table in Plato Hall during the Coffee Fellowship Hour to learn about our activities and accomplishments. Please consider sharing your special talents with us!
Parish Council Elections Set For Sunday, December 2nd
Please be advised that on Sunday, December 2nd, our Parish will hold Parish Council elections for the 2019-20 term.
College Conference Midwest
Join us for the Midwest College Conference at the Iakovos Retreat Center December 27-30, 2018. It is a fantastic opportunity for Orthodox College students (age 18-25) from all different backgrounds to gather to learn about their faith, take a break, meet new people, and worship together in a beautiful new Orthodox retreat center, nestled in the beautiful woods of Wisconsin. Spots are filling fast. This conference is a BLAST and simply put can be life-changing. If you aren't a student and are a Parent, Godparent, Grandparent, or a friend I urge you to reach out to college students to attend this conference. Because the will not regret it. For more information and to register check out the website at http://www.ocf.net/events/college-conference-midwest-2018/ Or contact Peter Karos with ANY QUESTIONS @ ccmidweststudent@ocf.net.
December Youth Night
Our upcoming Youth Night will take place on December 15th from 6-8pm at the Addison Park District. We hope that everyone will be able to join us!
Adult Bible Study
The next gathering of our Adult Bible Study will take place on Monday, December 3rd, at 7:00 p.m., in Saint Catherine’s meeting room. You need only to bring your Bible. We continue with our study on the ‘Epistle of John’. All are welcome! Future Date: - December 17th
Adult Education Program
Fr. Dimitri will be conducting monthly religious education lectures for adults on the following dates after the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy in St. Catherine's Chapel. This year's theme is "Send down your Holy Spirit: The Sacraments of the Orthodox Church". The tentative dates for the lectures are:
December 9th - January 27th - February 17th - March 10th - April 7th - May 5th
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.
Food Drive
Our Parish will again collect non-perishable food items that will be part of food baskets for those families in need this Christmas Season. Beginning today, and through December 2nd, we ask that you please bring your items and leave them in the Narthex of the main Church or in Saint Catherine's Chapel Narthex. Also, if you prefer to make a monetary donation towards perishable items that will be included in the food baskets, you may do so as well (please make your check payable to Assumption Church, indicating it for the Christmas Food Drive). We ask that you please be part of this effort and contribute what you can. The SCS high school students will help with the packing.
Toy Drive
It's that wonderful time of year!! Our neighbor, Loretto Hospital has once again reached out to us for assistance in collecting toys for their Annual Visit with Santa/Toy Drive. Please see attached flyer for more information.
For those that are not familiar with Visit with Santa: For the last 28 years Loretto Hospital has hosted a Visit with Santa at the Columbus Park Refectory for children of the Austin area to visit with Santa and be given a gift that has been graciously donated by local area organizations. This year’s event will take place on Saturday, December 8th. Our parish as well as other local area businesses has stepped forward to assist by collecting gifts that will be given to these children. Thank you in advance for your generosity!
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:
December 9, 23, 30
January 13, 27
February 3, 17,
March 3, 10, 17, 24, 31
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:
- 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 with the many others who are offering a prayer for the person who is ill, will bring comfort beyond comprehension.
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: Ted Pappas, Christina Arvanites, Thomas Collis, James Lakerdas
PROPER CHURCH ETIOUETTE FOR WORSHIP
ENTERING THE CHURCH
When entering an Orthodox Church, reverently make the sign ofthe Cross. First, light your candle. Candles represent the light of Christ and the flame of the Holy Spirit. Candle-stands are in the narthex. You may then venerate the icons before you.
THE IMPORTANCE OF PUNCTUALITY
The Orthodox Divine Liturgy begins when the priest intones, "Blessed is the Kingdom of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit". We need to arrive early enough to receive this blessing. Arriving later causes a distraction for others who are praying. If an occasional problem occurs and you have to come in late, enter the Church reverently and quietly. Try not to interrupt the Liturgy by your entrance. The best way to avoid this situation is to arrive on time.
STANDING IN CHURCH
It is the custom of some Orthodox Christians to stand throughout the Divine Liturgy. If you choose to stand, please do so near the sides so that the view of the Altar is not blocked for those who are seated. If you are accustomed to sitting during the Divine Liturgy, remember to stand at these times:
When the Liturgy begins and the priest gives the blessing
During the Small and Great Entrances
- When the priest turns and faces the congregation, giving his blessing
- When the priest is censing the icons and congregation
- During the Gospel reading
- At the Anaphora
- For Holy Communion
- At the final blessing
RECITATION OF NICENE CREED AND LORD 'S PRA YER
We must remember that when the Orthodox Divine Liturgy is celebrated, it is 'interactive '. That means we are not merely spectators but participants. The Nicene Creed is the foundation and principle tenets of our Orthodox Faith. Therefore, we should recite it together, loudly and with conviction, as it defines us as 'believers' and 'Orthodox Christians'. Likewise, the Lord's Prayer is to be recited loudly and boldly. It is the one prayer that Jesus Christ authored and recited when preaching here on earth.
HOLY COMMUNION
Orthodox Christians are invited to approach and receive Holy Communion if they are properly prepared and ecclesiastically in order with the Church. The Church school students and their teachers should approach first. Once the children have communed, all others who are prepared to do so may then approach the Holy Chalice. Please come as close to the Chalice as possible to avoid accidents. The red cloth held by the priest and the altar servers is there to prevent any particles ofthe giftsfromfalling onto thefloor.
CHILDREN
If a baby or toddler needs a snack, please clear away any leftover pieces. However, the child should not have anything in his/her mouth when he/she comes to Holy Communion. It is not acceptable at any time to chew gum in Church (at any age). Plan to have your children use the restroom and get a drink before Liturgy begins, and don't allow them to come and go continually
RESPECTFUL BEHAVIORS
Remember that you are in Church to worship God, the Holy Trinity. The priest says, "With the fear of God, faith, and love draw near". Let this be the way you approach your worship:
- Refrain from socializing during the Divine Liturgy: save your greetings and conversations for the fellowship hall. We are in the Liturgy to pray and worship God, not to distract others. This especially applies to the Narthex where parishioners and Parish Council members gather.
- Mobile devices: The use of mobile phones is never proper during the Liturgy. If you have a professional reason to carry one for emergencies, keep it on mute or vibrate, and sit near the exit so that leaving for an emergency will not be a distraction to others. Otherwise, turn off your phone before entering the sanctuary.
- Lipstick: Do not wear lipstick when approaching to take Holy Communion or when kissing the cross, an icon, the priest's or bishop's hand, or any sacred object. It is best not to wear it at all in the Church.
- Leg crossing: One should not be too casual in the Divine Liturgy. In our North American culture, we tend to cross our legs to get comfortable when sitting. Crossing one's legs in Church is not permitted, not because it is "wrong", but rather because it is too casual and relaxed för being in Church. Keeping your feet on the ground also enables you to remain attentive and to stand when necessary.
- Church Dress: Respectful attire is also an important part of attending Orthodox services. You do not need to be dressed "fancy" but respectfully and modestly to present yourself to God. No shorts, short skirts, or revealing clothing please. Men and boys must remove their hats when entering the Church.
HANDLING THE HOLY BREAD (ANTIDORON)
At the end of the Divine Liturgy, it is customary to receive a piece of holy bread or antidoron. While antidoron is not Holy Communion, it is blessed bread and as such should be eaten carefully so that crumbs do not fall. Both adults and children should always remember to eat the antidoron with respect. Leaving Church without receiving antidoron and the final blessing from the priest is foreign to our Orthodox culture. This includes the chanters, choir, parish council members, and ushers as well.
LEAVING BEFORE DISMISSAL
Leaving Church before dismissal deprives us of a blessing. Worship has a beginning ("Blessed is the Kingdom... ") and an end ("Let us depart inpeace... 'Y). To leave immediately after Communion is to freat the Church with disrespect.
NOTE: Worship services are vital instruments and components to our prayer development. In order to do this, we need to be cognizant of our fellow parishioners and all those around us. For those parents with children, we encourage you to expose them to the worship experience. If a child is 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.