Sunday - December 13, 2020
8:30 a.m. Orthros followed by Divine Liturgy
* * * * * GIFT OF LIGHT * * * * *
This Week's Gift of Light (December 13, 2020)
is given
For the Health & Well-Being of Tom and Marina Demos & Family
From Father Apostolos ....
- In the Church all work together, all con-celebrate...The Liturgy is not just a sermon. It is not something to be listened to or watched. We should not go to church in the same way we go to the theater, but we should go in order to pray with the whole body of the Church and to be transfigured.
- When we hear the priest say “let us bow our heads unto the Lord,” we should bow reverently thus giving more meaning to the words and getting into more active participation in the Liturgy.
Reminders...
LET’S STAY CONNECTED - Help us to update our mailing lists. If you have moved, changed telephone numbers, or are not receiving our Church mailings, please call the Church Office. Also, our Church’s Listserv provides information and events related to the church, the weekly bulletins etc. Simply subscribe your email address through our Church’s website www.assumptionchicago.org under General Church Information link. Thank You!!
HOW TO RECEIVE HOLY COMMUNION—Orthodox Christians in good standing are encouraged to receive Holy Communion frequently, provided they have prepared themselves spiritually, mentally and physically. They must be on time for the Divine Liturgy, and be in a Christ-like, calm state of mind. They should be in a confession relationship with their priest or spiritual father, and they should have self -examined their conscience. On the day of receiving Holy Communion, it is not proper to eat or drink anything before coming to church. When you approach to receive Holy Communion, state your Christian (baptismal) name clearly, remove your mask and open wide. Do not hold or touch the red communion cloth and do not blot your lips. Please wait about 10 – 15 seconds before placing your mask on your face as to allow your lips to dry.
WORSHIPPING FROM HOME AT THIS TIME? Come to church when you feel comfortable doing so. We will be here for you. Thank you for your prayers during this trial and trying time. We will continue to pray for those suffering and those who help the suffering
Weekday Service
- Saturday, December 12 9 a.m.- 12 Noon Our Holy Godbearing Father Spyridon the Wonderworker - Orthros & Liturgy
Upcoming Weekday Services for December
- Thursday, December 24 9 a.m.- 11 a.m. Service of the Great Hours
- Thursday, December 24 6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Vesperal Liturgy of St. Basil the Great
- Friday, December 25 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.. The Nativity of Our Lord, Jesus Christ - Orthros-Liturgy
- Friday, January 1, 2021 9:30 a.m. - 12 Noon St. Basil the Great - Orthros-Liturgy
Reservation spots are available. Please go to https://tinyurl.com/sunday-assumption-services to register.
Church Order Please come into the church prior to the start of the sermon, but remain in the back if the sermon has started. Please follow the direction of our Parish Council for the new procedure for receiving Holy Communion.
~~~ ABOUT THE GIFT OF LIGHT ~~~
Please give the “Gift of Light” to Assumption Panagia’s Church. We need a family or an individual, to sponsor, per week, the lighting of our vigil lamps and candles in both of our holy Altars of Panagia and Saint Catherine. This includes the daily lighting of both of our holy Altars throughout the week. Suggested donation for this ministry is $100.00. Reservations, with your donation to Assumption Church, can be made through the church office. Simply, ask for the week you desire and remember to offer the names of your loved ones, both the living and those who have fallen asleep, so that they may be commemorated at the Prothesis Table of Oblation) during the Sunday Orthros of that week.
An acknowledgement in the weekly bulletin will be printed. Please specify if you would like your donation posted either in memory of… or for the health and wellbeing of…. Our Church is blessed to have two consecrated Altars. During the Consecration service, and forever after, the Lord entrusts to the angelic powers to keep the holy Altar pure and holy. As Saint Symeon of Thessaloniki reminds us, the Holy Altar is the border between heaven and earth, it is the throne of glory and the dwelling place of God and the workshop of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. We all need prayers, and your “Gift of Light” will help. -Father Apostolos
To Ponder….
The Theotokos does play the most important role in the Nativity story after Christ. Without her there would be no Virgin Birth, no incarnation, no redemption of humanity by which Christ took on flesh in the womb. She became the dwelling place of God Himself. Her womb held God and made a way for all flesh to become dwelling places of God through baptism, chrismation, Eucharist and ultimately the process of Theosis. So Saint Symeon the New Theologian calls all of us to become Theotokoi that is in Greek (Little Theotokos’) little dwelling places of God. Ponder on that high calling and gift of God this Nativity Fast. Challenge and ask yourself, what does that look like day to day, week to week? How does the Church help me become the dwelling place of God? How can I help myself begin? Are there things/ people in my life I need to walk away from? Are there things/people I need to walk towards?
A Few More Announcements....
Keeping Posted
- The Christmas appeal is scheduled to be mailed to your home in mid-December.
- 2021 Stewardship Cards and letter have been mailed this week and will arrive shortly. If you have not received your letter in the mail by the end of the third week in December, please contact the church office at assumptionorthodoxchurch@gmail.com or 773-626-3114. It may be that we do not have you in our records as a Steward, or do not have your current address on file. If you are moving, or have moved recently, please contact the church office with your new address.
Memorials
Please contact our church office in advance if you wish to have a memorial for a loved one. We will do our best to accommodate you, but please be aware that sometimes it is difficult to reserve for large groups due to space limitations. If desired, you may inquire with the office about the alternative option of Father offering the memorial at the gravesite.
Weekly Offering
Please remember to make an offering this week to support the work of our parish in serving the needs of our many faithful! You may do this in person at the end of the Divine Liturgy (there will be an acrylic box on a stand in the narthex of the church), or if you are watching from home you may use the following link: www.assumptionchicago.org. Every little bit helps, and no gift is too small. We appreciate your support!
Church Services
In order to give more people the chance to attend the Divine Liturgy, we ask that for the time being you sign up for a maximum of 2 Sundays per month. We will be sure to update you with any revisions to this guideline. We encourage you to also take advantage of our weekday services if your schedule permits. You may visit our website for information and for the link to reserve a spot for church. Schedule of upcoming services and sign up to attend a service can be made through our Church’s website: www.assumptionchicago.org. Please be aware that on-line signups will not be available on the day before the service; the list will be closed for administrative purposes.
Other Notes
• The Gift of Light - The oil lamps on both Altar Tables are lit daily through the weekly donations ($100) made by our Stewards and friends. This includes the oil lamps lit during church services and candles in the Altar. Sign up can be made through our Tithe.ly platform. Through our Church’s Website simply click on the big green GIVE button, request your week and make your donation.
• Donations and Stewardship may be sent via US mail or electronically through our Tithe.ly platform. Through our Church’s Website simply click on the big green GIVE button and scroll down to where you wish to give. You also have the option to set up recurring payments for your Stewardship through this page.
~Be sure to look for "Mid-Week Meds" in your email each week~
May God be with you and your families this week!
Welcome to Assumption….Welcome Home!
COMMUNITY PRAYER LIST (put this in your prayer corner at home)
O Lord our God, Who by word alone did heal all diseases, Who cured the mother in law of Peter, You Who chastise with pity and heal according to Your goodness; grant aid to these Your servants (Names) and heal them of every sickness of which they are grieved; lift them up from their pain, and send down upon them Your great mercy. For to you we send up Glory: to Father, and to Son, and to Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
PRAYERS FOR: Evangelos, Jenna, William, Momcilo, Jill, Panagiotis, Vasiliki, Elizabeth, Panagiota, Betty, Dimitri, Alexander, Vasiliki, Eleni, Panagiotis, George, Thomas, Nicholas, Sophia, Susan, Mary Lou, Mehmet. (Contact Assumption Business Office to add names at assumptionorthodoxchurch@gmail.com or call office at 773.626.3114