Agape News April 2011

Transcript

1 Agape News April 2011

2 PARISH LIFE TOP Sunday of Orthodoxy LEFT Friday Eve Pot Luck BOTTOM Kids reading at Salutations

3 PASTORAL MESSAGE Dear Parishioners, Greetings in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! We are now more than half way through our journey of Great Lent and soon we will be commemorating together the passion of our Lord. It is easy for us to go through the motions and to not truly experience with Him the Crucifixion and Resurrection. The difference between just being present and truly being with Him is in how we understand our relationship with Christ. Is He an impersonal god whom we grew up being taught to glorify? Or is He our Father, or as we would say emphatically in Greek «ο δικός μας Πατέρας» (our own Father)? If He is our own Father : How would we react to His hanging on the cross? Would we merely be solemn or would our eyes be full of tears? How would we celebrate His resurrection? Would we come get the light and leave (or not come at all) or would we receive of His Body and Blood and celebrate with our family in Christ? These questions are not a reflection of our faith, but more of our presence. Are we going through the motions or are we truly focused as though this is our first time experiencing Holy Week. For we not only commemorate these blessed events, we relive them with Him. Let this be the year that we all relive His Passion together with Him. Let this be the Year!!! Praying that you have a Blessed Holy Week, I remain, In Christ s Love, Rev. Father Jon Boukis Proistamenos

4 RELIGIOUS EDUCATION Way to go Spiritual Arrows!!! All children with attendance of 80% or better have hit the mark and will be listed monthly in the Agape News as based on cumulative attendance. Vasilia Boukis Shebah Chirackal Penny Constantinou Anthony Gorman Christina Lothrop Naina Biju Ninan Naveen Biju Ninan Peter Stopoulos Contact: Fr. Jon (309) Stephanie Theofilis Shannon Thodos Stephanie Thodos Your Name Here Are you behind on attendance? Get a 1/2 credit bonus for the 7:00 p.m. Services on April 1, 4, 6 & 8!!! New!!! Get 1/2 credit bonus for the 7:00 p.m. Services of Palm Sunday, Holy Monday & Holy Tuesday!!! ORTHODOX BIBLE STUDY The Orthodox Bible Study will meet on Monday Evenings from 6:00pm-6:50pm and on Thursday Mornings from 9:30am-11:00am to study St. Paul s Letter to the Romans. Bible Study is an opportunity for us to apply the Scriptures to our everyday lives. The Bible is the Good News that enriches our faith and deepens our understanding of every issue that we face. This can only be done through obtaining the mind of the Holy Fathers. Let the scripture come alive in your life today!!! Contact: Fr. Jon (309)

5 PHILOPTOCHOS NEWS Have you offered your 2011 Dues? It s that time of year again. Please offer your 2011 dues ($20 per member) to the Philoptochos so that we may support the national ministries. It is important that we have as many members as possible so that our witness at the national level is as bright as possible. Next Philoptochos Meeting is Sunday, April 10 th following the Divine Liturgy. Cookbook? RUMMAGE SALE NEWS It s never too early to donate to the rummage sale. We have made space in the garage to store your clean, gently used treasures until August. Please bring them in a closed box so they can be stacked in the garage. You may bring them on Sundays. Leave them in your car and you can unload them into the garage during coffee hour. Contact: Litsa Gregory (309)

6 CONSECRATION ALBUM LAST CHANCE!!!!!!! The Album is nearly completed. It will be sent to print on April 30th. This is the last chance to place a page of congratulations. If you wish to preorder a book, the cost is $75 - after April 30th - it will be $100. Name: Phone: Gold Page ($600, includes a free album) Silver Page ($500, includes a free album) Full Page ($300) Half Page ($200) Quarter Page ($150) Benefactor ($100) Patron ($50) I would like to preorder book(s) at $75 each ($100 after 4/30) Completed pages can be viewed at our Sunday Coffee Hours DONATIONS Most of our parish is aware that we have lost the Rooftop HVAC unit on the Church and currently have no heat. A grass roots effort has begun through the leadership of John Arvanitis asking for 22 families to donate $500 each to cover the new unit. 18 have committed - 4 more needed - Can you make this offering? Tarik Galijasevic, Mike Gorman, Tom Gregory, Greg Korovilas, Lee Korovilas, Greg Poulos, John Stopoulos, Mike Thiakos and Goran Veselinovic donated 15 new men s basketball jerseys for our Assumption future men s teams. God Bless you all! SACRAMENTS On Saturday, March 12th, the Servant of God John (Ryan) was baptized at the Assumption Church. Proud parents are John and Melodie Lothrop. Godparents are Kathy and Chris Panouses.

7 SATURDAY OF LAZARUS Celebrated April 16 Lazarus and his sisters Martha and Mary, the friends of the Lord Jesus, had given Him hospitality and served Him many times (Luke 10:38-4z; John 12:2-3). They were from Bethany, a village of Judea. This village is situated in the eastern parts by the foothills of the Mount of Olives, about two Roman miles from Jerusalem. When Lazarus - whose name is a Hellenized form of "Eleazar," which means "God has helped," became ill some days before the saving Passion, his sisters had this report taken to our Savior, Who was then in Galilee. Nonetheless, He tarried yet two more days until Lazarus died; then He said to His disciples, "Let us go into Judea that I might awake My friend who sleeps." By this, of course, He meant the deep sleep of death. On arriving at Bethany, He consoled the sisters of Lazarus, who was already four days dead. Jesus groaned in spirit and was troubled at the death of His beloved friend. He asked, "Where have ye laid his body?" and He wept over him. When He drew nigh to the tomb, He commanded that they remove the stone, and He lifted up His eyes, and giving thanks to God the Father, He cried out with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth." And he that had been dead four days came forth immediately, bound hand and foot with the grave clothes, and Jesus said to those standing there, "Loose him, and let him go." This is the supernatural wonder wrought by the Savior that we celebrate this day. According to an ancient tradition, it is said that Lazarus was thirty years old when the Lord raised him; then he lived another thirty years on Cyprus and there reposed in the Lord. It is furthermore related that after he was raised from the dead, he never laughed till the end of his life, but that once only, when he saw someone stealing a clay vessel, he smiled and said, "Clay stealing clay." His grave is situated in the city of Kition, having the inscription: "Lazarus the four days dead and friend of Christ." In 890 his sacred relics were transferred to Constantinople by Emperor Leo the Wise, at which time undoubtedly the Emperor composed his stichera for Vespers, "Wishing to behold the tomb of Lazarus..."

8 HOLY FRIDAY EPITAPHIOS Grant Eternal rest, O Lord, to these, Thy servants, and bestow upon them the Eternal Life! Ανάπαυσον, Κύριε, τας ψυχάς των δούλων Σου Και κατάταξων αυτάς όπου οι Δικαίοι αναπαύονται NAME LISTS for the Holy Friday Un-Nailing Service. List the names of your deceased loved one(s). Do not Fax

9 SERVICE SCHEDULE April 1 Friday 4th Salutations to the Theotokos (7:00 p.m.) April 3 Sunday Sunday of Saint John Climacus 9:00 a.m. Orthros 10:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy April 4 Monday Great Compline (7:00 p.m.) April 6 Wednesday Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts (7:00 p.m.) April 8 Friday Akathist Hymn (7:00 p.m.) April 10 Sunday Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt 9:00 a.m. Orthros 10:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy April 16 Saturday Saturday of Lazarus 9:30 a.m. Orthros 10:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy April 17 Sunday Palm Sunday 9:00 a.m. Orthros 10:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy 7:00 p.m. Bridegroom Service April 18 Monday Holy Monday 7:00 p.m. Bridegroom Service April 19 Tuesday Holy Tuesday 7:00 p.m. Bridegroom Service April 20 Wednesday Holy Wednesday 4:00 p.m. Holy Unction Service 7:00 p.m. Orthros of the Last Supper April 21 Thursday Holy Thursday 10:00 a.m. Vesperal Divine Liturgy of the Mystical Supper 7:00 p.m. Passion Service of the Twelve Holy Gospels April 22 Friday Holy Friday 3:00 p.m. Apokathelosis / Unnailing Service 7:00 p.m. Lamentations and Epitaphios Service April 23 Saturday Holy Saturday 10:00 a.m. Vesperal Divine Liturgy 11:30 p.m. Orthros of the Resurrection (Resurrection Service and Divine Liturgy immediately following) April 24 Sunday GREAT AND HOLY PASCHA 12:00 Noon Agape Vespers April 25 Friday Feast of St. George 9:00 a.m. Orthros 10:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy (at St. George in Rock Island)

10 A P CHURCH. Sunday Monday Tuesday Fasting Symbols Strict Fast Wine and Oil Allowed Fish Allowed Fast Free R I L 3 Sunday of St. John Climacus Orthros 9:00am Divine Liturgy 10:00am Sunday School Biggest Loser Weigh-In Coffee Hour 10 Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt Orthros 9:00am Divine Liturgy 10:00am Sunday School Philoptochos Meeting Biggest Loser Weigh-In Coffee Hour Great Compline 7:00pm 4 11 Prayer Service 9:00am at the East Moline Correctional Center Palm Sunday Orthros 9:00am Divine Liturgy 10:00am Family Worship Plaki Luncheon Biggest Loser Weigh-In 7:00pm Bridegroom Service GREAT AND HOLY PASCHA Agape Vespers 12:00 Noon Pascha Celebration with Lamb Roast and Easter Egg Hunt 18 HOLY MONDAY 7:00pm Bridegroom Service 25 Feast of St. George Feastday Divine Liturgy at St. George in Rock Island 19 HOLY TUESDAY 7:00pm Bridegroom Service 26

11 CALENDAR Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Lenten Potluck Dinner 6:00pm 1 4th Salutations to the Theotokos 7:00pm Assumption Garden Club Courtyard Clean-up 10:00am 2 6 Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts 7:00pm :30am-11:00am Orthodox Bible Study 6:30pm - Festival Chairs Meeting (all but food) 7:30pm - Food Chairs No Bible Study 14 Lenten Potluck Dinner 6:00pm Akathist Hymn 7:00pm Saturday of Lazarus Orthros 9:30am Divine Liturgy 10:00am 20 HOLY WEDNESDAY 4:00pm Holy Unction 7:00pm Orthros of the Last Supper 27 6:30pm - Parish Council Meeting 21 HOLY THURSDAY 10:00am Vesperal Divine Liturgy followed by Pascha Egg Dying 7:00pm Passion Service of the 12 Holy Gospels 28 No Bible Study 22 HOLY FRIDAY 9:00am Epitaphios Prep 3:00pm Apokathelosis (Unnailing) 7:00pm Lamentations Service (Epitaphios) 29 Church Decorating for Palm Sunday 23 HOLY SATURDAY 10:00am Vesperal Divine Liturgy 11:30pm Resurrection Orthros/Divine Liturgy 30 Ionian Village Reunion 2010 in Boston, MA Ionian Village Reunion 2010 in Boston, MA

12 ΠΡΟΓΡΑΜΜΑ ΙΕΡΩΝ ΑΚΟΛΟΥΘΙΩΝ 1 Απριλίου Παρασκευή Δ Χαιρετισμοί 7:00 μ.μ. 3 Απριλίου Κυριακή Δ Κυριακή των Νηστειών 9:00 π.μ. Όρθρος 10:00 π.μ. Θεία Λειτουργία 4 Απριλίου Δευτέρα Μέγα Απόδειπινο 7:00 μ.μ. 6 Απριλίου Τετάρτη Προηγιασμένη Θεία Λειτουργία 7:00 μ.μ. 8 Απριλίου Παρασκευή Ακάθιστος Ύμνος 7:00 μ.μ. 10 Απριλίου Κυριακή Ε Κυριακή των Νηστειών 9:00 π.μ. Όρθρος 10:00 π.μ. Θεία Λειτουργία 16 Απριλίου Σάββατο Σάββατο του Λαζάρου 9:30 π.μ. Όρθρος 10:00 π.μ. Θεία Λειτουργία 17 Απριλίου Κυριακή Κυριακή των Βαϊων 9:00 π.μ. Όρθρος 10:00 π.μ. Θεία Λειτουργία 7:00 μ.μ. Όρθρος του Νυμφίου 18 Απριλίου Δευτέρα Μεγάλη Δευτέρα 7:00 μ.μ. Όρθρος του Νυμφίου 19 Απριλίου Τρίτη Μεγάλη Τρίτη 7:00 μ.μ. Όρθρος του Νυμφίου 20 Απριλίου Τετάρτη Μεγάλη Τετάρτη 4:00 μ.μ. Μυστήριον Αγίου Ευχελαίου 7:00 μ.μ. Όρθρος τη Αγία Πέμπτη 21 Απριλίου Πέμπτη Μεγάλη Πεμπτη 10:00 π.μ. Εσπερινός και Θεία Λειτουργία 7:00 μ.μ. Ακολουθία των Αγίων Παθών του Κυρίου 22 Απριλίου Παρασκευή Μεγάλη Παρασκευή 3:00 π.μ. Η Αποκαθήλωσις 7:00 μ.μ. Ο Επιτάφιος Θρήνος 23 Απριλίου Σάββατο Μεγάλο Σάββατο 10:00 π.μ. Εσπερινός και Θεία Λειτουργία 11:30 μ.μ Ορθρός Αναστασέως 24 Απριλίου Κυριακή Πάσχα 12:00 μ.μ. Εσπερινός της Αγάπης 25 Απριλίου Παρασκευή Γεώργιος Μεγαλομάρτυς 9:00 π.μ. Όρθρος 10:00 π.μ. Θεία Λειτουργία

13 DIAKONIA Prosforo Schedule April 3 Ludmilla Cherevko April 10 Fresh Reserve Prosphoro April 17 Maria Kotrogiannis April 24 Litsa Gregory Coffee Hour April 3 Not Yet Reserved April 10 Not Yet Reserved April 17 Plaki Luncheon April 24 Pascha Celebration Sunday Gospel and Epistle Readings April 3 Gospel Mark 9:17-31 Epistle Hebrews 6:13-20 April 10 Gospel Mark 10:32-45 Epistle Hebrews 9:11-14 April 17 Gospel John 12:1-18 Epistle Philippians 4:4-9 April 24 Gospel John 1:1-17 Epistle Acts 1:18 Parish Council Ushering Teams & Schedule St. Matthew St. Mark St. Luke St. John 9:00 Celia Lubbers Cathy Diakogeorgiou Biju Ninan Deno Kandis 9:25 Nick Passini Michael Haney John Thodos Lambros Mihalopoulos 9:50 Diane Lamacki Abraham Chirackal Liz Haney Roger Lovejoy April 3 St. Mark April 10 St. Luke April 17 St. John April 24 St. Matthew (11:00 p.m.)

14 ΣΑΒΒΑΤΟ ΤΟΥ ΛΑΖΑΡΟΥ 16 Απριλίου Ο Λάζαρος είχε πατρίδα τη Βηθανία της Ιουδαίας και ήταν φίλος του Ιησού. Και μαζί με τις αδελφές του, πολλές φορές φιλοξένησαν και υπηρέτησαν τον Κύριο. Ο Λάζαρος λοιπόν, λίγες μέρες πρίν απο το Πάθος του Κυρίου, αρρώστησε και οι αδελφές του Μάρθα και Μαρία, έστειλαν να ειδοποιήσουν τον Ιησού, που έμενε τότε στη Γαλιλαία. Αλλ όταν έφθασε ο Ιησούς στην Ιουδαία, ο Λάζαρος ήδη είχε πεθάνει και ήταν θαμμένος τέσσερις ημέρες. Τότε ο Κύριος διέταξε να σηκώσουν την πέτρινα πλάκα που έφραζε τον τάφο και μετά απο προσευχή φώναξε δυνατά: «Λάζαρε δεύρο έξω». Ο τεσσάρων ημερών νεκρός Λάζαρος, αμέσως αναστήθηκε και σηκώθηκε τυλιγμένος στα σάβανα. Αυτό το υπερφυές θαύμα λοιπόν, γιορτάζουμε την ημέρα αυτή. Λέγεται, ότι ο Λάζαρος ήταν τότε 30 χρονών και αφού έζησε άλλα 30 χρόνια, τέλειωσε την επίγεια ζωή του στην Κύπρο το έτος 63. Το 890, ο αυτοκράτορας Λέων ο Σοφός, μετακόμισε το ιερό λείψανο του Λαζάρου στην Κωνσταντινούπολη. Απολυτίκιον του Λαζάρου Την κοινήν ανάστασιν προ του σου πάθους πιστούμενος, εκ νεκρών ήγειρας τον Λάζαρον Χριστέ ο Θεός όθεν και ημείς ως οι παίδες, τα της νίκης σύμβολα φέροντες, σοι τω νικητή του θανάτου βοώμεν Ωσαννά εν τοις υψίστοις, ευλογημένος ο ερχόμενος, εν ονόματι Κυρίου.

15 A THANK YOU TO HIS GRACE Assumption Greek Orthodox Church Rev. Father Jon S. Boukis Presbyter Your Grace Bishop Demetrios, March 14, 2011 Each year, we as Orthodox Christians have faced the challenge of having to elect to civil office individuals who we believe will best implement policies that reflect our Orthodox Faith. We, as clergy, do not endorse candidates, but we do take stances on issues, especially those that conflict with the Sanctity of Life. Consistently, the understanding of proxy has been preached at the Parish of the Assumption that when we vote for someone, we are partially responsible for their actions and this places us in a difficult position when we know that a candidate is pro-choice or an advocate of the death penalty. Thankfully, through your consistent and constant efforts on behalf of our Beloved Metropolis of Chicago, we are no longer faced with the moral dilemma of whether or not we should even cast a vote, knowing that Sanctity of Life may be in a position of compromise no matter for whom we vote. Your dedication to the abolishment of the death penalty in the State of Illinois will in fact cause Orthodox Christians to have less opportunity to have culpability for those whose lives could have been ended unnaturally by the state. On behalf of the Parish of the Assumption, I would like to express our congratulations and our most sincere gratitude for your efforts that resulted in the abolishment of capital punishment in the State of Illinois and for your continued efforts in the propagation of Orthodox ethics in our society. May the Lord multiply your efforts in our State, Country and throughout the world. Reverencing your right hand in respect, I remain, In His Service, Fr. Jon Boukis His Grace at the signing of the Bill abolishing capital punishment

16 GOYA PASCHA CARD ANNUAL PASCHA CARD Greet the entire Parish of the Assumption with Christ is Risen or Χριστός Ανέστη by filling out the form below. Your investment is only $20 to send your Paschal greetings to the entire Parish!!! The Deadline is April 17th. Please include my name (family) on the Pascha Card as follows: (Please Print) Twenty Dollars ($20) must accompany this form. Please make Checks payable to: Assumption GOYA PASCHA DONATIONS NEEDED Icon Wreaths ($50 each) 1st Salutations 2nd Salutations 3rd Salutations 4th Salutations Saturday of Lazarus Palm Sunday Holy Monday Bridegroom Holy Tuesday Bridegroom Holy Wednesday Last Supper Holy Friday Apocathelosis Holy Friday Crucifixion Easter Lilies (34 x $10) Pascha Eggs ($50) Candy and Plastic Eggs ($100) Charcoal (2 x $25 each) Styrofoam Icon Wreaths ($100) New CD Player for the Church ($150) Please call Fr. Jon and reserve the item for which you would like to donate. Donations will be offered in the following 2 formats: For the health of and In Memory of

17 PASCHA CELEBRATION Christ is Risen!!! Truly He is Risen!!! On the Great and Holy Day of Pascha, the entire Parish will come together in celebration of His victory over death!!! Following the Agape Vespers on Pascha, April 24th, a Pascha Feast will be held with Lamb and an Easter Egg Hunt for the kids. Make your favorite side dish or dessert, come and celebrate! (There will be a sign up sheet at the Church) PALM SUNDAY PLAKI LUΝCHEON On Sunday, April 17, 2011, there will be a Plaki Luncheon following the Divine Liturgy. Come and enjoy a Fellowship Luncheon as a great way to begin Holy Week. $12.00 for adults $5.00 children (10 and under)

18 Agape News SPONSORS The Agape News is made possible by the generous support of the following parishioners: Fr. Jon, Presbytera Doreece and Vasilia Boukis Fr. Basil Papanikolaou Anonymous Michael and Nancy Avgenackis George Bagatelas Family Theodore and Karen Bagatelas Kleo Caras The Constantinou Family Marcus and Barbara Paraskevi Georgiadis Couch George and Georgia Eleftheropoulos The Fotiadis George s Classic Cleaners George and Maria Georgiadis Mary Giovanis The Gorman Family Litsa Gregory Tom P. Gregory Pete and Arlene Gust Mike and Helen Haney James Jannes Frank, Ellen and Christa Kaldis Deno and Dr. Ann Kandis Family Mike and Terri Kandis Michael Evangelos Karfaridis George and Helen Kontos George, Sherry, Lexi and Nick Kontos Joyce Coughlin and JoAnn Kontos Alex, Diane and Jim Lamacki Tom Lingris and Judy Larson Sue and Pete Lingris Roger, Celia, Alex and Kristin Ninan Family Spiro and Carol Pappaspiros Christ and Helen Petaros Marina Pikis and Chris Pikis Ann Polillo George and Nancy Polios Steve and Nancy Pyevich David L. Ray Christina Reed St. Thomas Indian Orthodox Congregation In Memory of Nickolaus, Halina, Andrei and Nickolaus Jim and Kristel Stopoulos Tony and Joan Stopoulos Bill and Tracey Theofilis and Family John Thodos Family John and Mary Velon In Memory of George and Grace Vretis For an annual donation of $25, your name could appear as a supporter of this invaluable ministry. Support is offered for the Ecclesiastical Year (beginning and ending September 1st).

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20 Assumption Greek Orthodox Church 4900 Kennedy Drive East Moline, Illinois Return Service Requested Non-Profit Org. U.S. POSTAGE PAID E. Moline, IL. Permit No. 153