Agape News November 2008

Transcript

1 Agape News November 2008

2 PICTURES Metropolitan IAKOVOS Nameday Banquet Melomakarona Baking Men s Club at the Windmill

3 PASTORAL MESSAGE Dear Parishioners, Greetings in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! As we approach the holiday season, and we celebrate our American Heritage on Thanksgiving, and most importantly, the Blessed Nativity of Christ, we must not forget that this is the season of giving to those in need. This year, the Sunday School has added a program in which the children can offer gifts to others that are in need. We have also added a Mitten Tree for donations to those who perhaps are struggling this winter and need a bit of help to keep warm. We must embrace philanthropic programs! Each of us is truly Blessed and must never forget that it is the Lord who has given us so much. Let us also give to His people! I am also very happy to announce that the Greek Cultural Festival will continue in The general assembly voted to hold the Festival on the Church grounds and those in attendance committed their efforts to its success - when we work together, all is possible. This may appear to be a simple sentiment or perhaps even a mantra that we place before our labors, but we know that it is much more than that! When we truly worship and witness as one body with many members, we are the Church. We must tend to the Body of Christ, then all else will follow. Let us follow the example of our brothers and sisters in Christ who put themselves on the line for the good of our parish. God Bless your witness and labors of love and stewardship! In Christ s Love, Rev. Father Jon S. Boukis PROISTAMENOS

4 PHILOPTOCHOS NEWS Philoptochos Christmas Bake Sale Saturday, December 13, :00 am - 12:00 noon Baking Schedule Tiropites, Spanakopites, Koulouria, Finikia, Melomakarona Completed!!! Baklava November 1 Paximathia November 5 Kourambiethes & Koulourakia Packaging December 3 Assortment Packaging December 11 Cookbook Recipes Needed Do you have a recipe for which you are known? Did Yiayia have a great recipe for Bougatsa? Submit your recipes for the Philoptochos cookbook to info@assumptionem.org or to Helen Haney. Next Philoptochos Meeting is Sunday, November 16, following the Divine Liturgy. Contact: Yvonne Constantinou (563)

5 SUNDAY SCHOOL 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. Spiritual Arrows with 3 absences or less for the entire year will be recognized at the end of the year with a special gift to acknowledge their dedication to Religious Education. Attendance is Important!!! All you need is 80% Attendance!!! Congratulations to our Spiritual Arrows!!! Shebah Chirackal Penny Constantinou Alexia Kontos Nicholas Kontos Elianna Lovejoy Kristin Lubbers Naina Biju Ninan Naveen Biju Ninan Peter Stopoulos Tony Stopoulos Stephanie Theofilis Shannon Thodos Contact: Fr. Jon (309)

6 GALENA FELLOWSHIP EXCURSION Sunday, November 9 Road Trip!!! Come and enjoy an afternoon of fellowship as we take a bus to Galena to enjoy the beauty of the fall foliage, the atmosphere of the quaint shops and the company of our fellow parishioners. We will depart following the Divine Liturgy and will return 7 ish. Cost is $20 per person for the bus RSVP today!!! Contact: Fr. Jon (309) YOUTH NEWS In November, the JOY and GOYA will be going out for Pizza and Bowling. We will meet on Sunday, November 16 at 2 p.m. at Highland Park Bowl!!! (Cost $10 per person, GOYA to cover the rest.) The Christmas Fundraiser has begun. GOYA members are needed to offer the Christmas Card opportunity during the coffee hour. The Christmas Card is a great opportunity for our parishioners to express a Blessed Christmas to the entire Church. Please offer your time and talents to this project. Contact: Fr. Jon (309)

7 BLESSING OF THE ALTAR ROBES On Sunday, November 16, we will hold a special service just prior to the Divine Liturgy to bless the new Altarboy robes. Please come to Church on time so that we may honor our young men who serve as acolytes. ORTHODOX BIBLE STUDY One plants in you the seeds and another does the watering - but it is...only God, who gives the growth (1 Corinthians 3:6) The Orthodox Bible Study now has 2 different meetings: Monday evenings from 6:00-7:30pm and Thursday mornings from 10:00-11:30am. Both sessions will continue the study of St. Paul s 1 st Letter to the Corinthians. Now, there s no excuse to not study scripture and our Orthodox Faith!!! Contact: Fr. Jon (309)

8 NEW CHRISTMAS PROGRAMS Mitten Tree This year the parish of the Assumption will be helping to keep warm those in need. Please bring mittens, gloves, hats, socks and scarves to hang on our Mitten Tree in the hallway of the Church. Offerings should be for Children ages 12 and under and for women. God Bless your generosity! St. Nicholas Gifting On Sunday, December 7 th, please bring a gift (cost $5-$10) for a child of your same sex and age. The gift should be wrapped and labeled accordingly. Following HOLY COMMUNION, the children will place their special gift on the Solea next to the Icon of Saint Nicholas. The gifts will be distributed to children in need in the Quad City area. St. Nicholas the Cheerful Giver Breakfast with Santa Claus Note from Fr. Jon: Santa Claus let me know that he is excited that the kids of the Assumption are bringing gifts in for kids in need. He is planning on being here on December 7th to show you your gifts are very special to kids that may have nothing under their trees. Please come and meet Santa for breakfast, and just maybe he ll have a surprise for you. God Bless you all!!!

9 METROPOLIS OPEN HOUSE His Eminence Metropolitan IAKOVOS has extended to his Parishes an invitation to the Annual Christmas Open-House at the Metropolis. Let us take this opportunity to extend our love to our Spiritual Father. We will be departing the Church on a Luxury Bus at 12 Noon on Sunday, December 14th. Our 1st stop will be the Greek Islands Restaurant in Greek Town (Chicago) for Mezathakia and then we will proceed to the Metropolis, where His Eminence offers a wonderful display of hospitality and desserts. Cost is $40/person - please RSVP to the Church office ASAP. Contact: Fr. Jon (309) CHRISTMAS PAGEANT This Year s Sunday School Christmas Pageant will be held on Sunday, December 21st, following the Divine Liturgy. Parts will be handed out on Sunday, November 16. Practices will be held on Sundays, November 23 and 30, and the final dress rehearsal in the Church will be on Sunday, December 14. If you would like your child to participate, it is important that (s)he is present for the practices. It will not be possible for a child that does not attend practice to participate - as practice is necessary for a quality event.

10 SAINT CATHERINE. Commemorated November 25 The Holy Great Martyr Catherine was the daughter of Constus, the governor of Alexandrian Egypt during the reign of the emperor Maximian ( ). Living in the capital, the center of Hellenistic knowledge, and possessed of a rare beauty and intellect, Catherine received an excellent education, studying the works of the greatest philosophers and teachers of antiquity. Young men from the most worthy families of the empire sought her hand, but she was not interested in any of them. She told her parents that she would marry only someone who surpassed her in nobility, wealth, comeliness and wisdom. Catherine's mother, a secret Christian, sent her to her own spiritual Father, a saintly Elder living in a cave outside the city, for advice. After listening to Catherine, the Elder said that he knew of a Youth who surpassed her in everything. "His countenance is more radiant than the shining of the sun, and all of creation is governed by His wisdom. His riches are given to all the nations of the world, yet they never diminish. His compassion is unequaled." This description of the Heavenly Bridegroom produced in the soul of the holy maiden an ardent desire to see Him. "If you do as I tell you," said the monk, "you will gaze upon the countenance of this illustrious man." In parting, the Elder handed Catherine an icon of the Theotokos with the divine Child Jesus on Her arm and told her to pray with faith to the Queen of Heaven, the Mother of the Heavenly Bridegroom, and She would hear Catherine and grant her heart's desire. Catherine prayed all night and was permitted to see the Most Holy Virgin, Who said Her Divine Son, "Behold Thy handmaiden Catherine, how fair and virtuous she is." But the Child turned His face away from her saying, "No, she is ugly and unbelieving. She is a foolish pauper, and I cannot bear to look at her until she forsakes her impiety." Catherine returned again to the Elder deeply saddened, and told him what she had seen in the dream. He lovingly received her, instructed her in the faith of Christ, admonished her to preserve her purity and integrity and to pray unceasingly. She then received the Mystery of holy Baptism from him. Again St Catherine had a vision of the Most Holy Theotokos with Her Child. Now the Lord looked tenderly at her and gave her a beautiful ring, showing her betrothal to the Heavenly Bridegroom (This ring is still on her hand).

11 .THE GREAT MARTYR At that time the emperor Maximian was in Alexandria for a pagan festival. The cries of the sacrificial animals, the smoke and the smell of the sacrifices, the endless blazing of fires, and the bustling crowds at the arenas defiled the city of Alexandria. Human victims were brought, the confessors of Christ, who would not deny Him under torture, were condemned to death in the fire. The saint's love for the Christian martyrs and her desire to ease their sufferings compelled Catherine to speak to the pagan priest and the emperor Maximian. Introducing herself, the saint confessed her faith in the One True God and with wisdom exposed the errors of the pagans. The beauty of the maiden captivated the emperor. In order to convince her and to show the superiority of pagan wisdom, the emperor ordered fifty of the most learned philosophers and rhetoricians of the Empire to dispute with her, but the saint got the better of the wise men, so that they came to believe in Christ themselves. St Catherine made the Sign of the Cross over the martyrs, and they bravely accepted death for Christ and were burned alive by order of the emperor. Maximian, no longer hoping to convince the saint, tried to entice her with the promise of riches and fame. Receiving an angry refusal, the emperor gave orders to subject the saint to terrible tortures and then throw her in prison. The Empress Augusta, who had heard much about the saint, wanted to see her. She prevailed upon the military commander Porphyrius to accompany her to the prison with a detachment of soldiers. The empress was impressed by the strong spirit of St Catherine, whose face was radiant with divine grace. Catherine explained the Christian teaching to them, and they were converted. On the following day they again brought the martyr to the judgment court where, under the threat of being broken on the wheel, they urged that she renounce the Christian Faith and offer sacrifice to the gods. The saint steadfastly confessed Christ and she herself approached the wheels; but an angel smashed the instruments of execution, which shattered into pieces. Having beheld this wonder, the Empress Augusta and the imperial courtier Porphyrius with 200 soldiers confessed their faith in Christ in front of everyone, and they were beheaded. St Catherine firmly confessed her fidelity to the heavenly Bridegroom Christ, and with a prayer to Him she herself lay her head on the block beneath the executioner's sword. The relics of St Catherine were taken by the angels to Mount Sinai. In the sixth century, the venerable head and left hand of the holy martyr were found through a revelation and transferred with honor to a newly-constructed church of the Sinai monastery, built by the holy Emperor Justinian (November 14). St Catherine is called upon for relief of difficult childbirth. At her monastery on Mt Sinai, pilgrims are given souvenir rings as a remembrance of their visit.

12 PARAKLESIS The Small Paraklesis to the Theotokos is a service in which we offer our prayers to the Blessed Mother of God in which we ask her to pray on our behalf to the Lord. Our supplications are for health, guidance and deliverance from adversity. It is through her prayers that we are saved, for she is closer to the Lord than you or I, and we know through many miracles that her prayers are heard. Please take a moment and prepare a list of those for whom you would like to have prayers offered - bring the list to the Paraklesis and offer your prayers with the whole community. For those who cannot come, know that the Church is open and that prayers are being offered for all of us. Again we pray for mercy, life, health, peace, safety, salvation, visitation, forgiveness and remission of sins of the servants of God

13 SERVICE SCHEDULE November 2 Sunday 5th Sunday of Luke 9:00 a.m. Orthros 10:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy November 5 Wednesday Small Paraklesis Service (6:00 p.m.) November 9 Sunday 7th Sunday of Luke 9:00 a.m. Orthros 10:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy November 16 Sunday 3rd Sunday of Luke 9:00 a.m. Orthros 10:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy November 21 Friday Great Feast of the Entrance of the Theotokos 9:30 a.m. Orthros 10:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy November 23 Sunday 9th Sunday of Luke 9:00 a.m. Orthros 10:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy November 25 Tuesday Feast of St. Catherine the Great Martyr 9:30 a.m. Orthros 10:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy November 30 Sunday Feast of St. Andrew the First Called Apostle 9:00 a.m. Orthros 10:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy

14 N O V E M B E R Feast of the St. Matthew Orthros 9:00am Blessing of the Altarboy Robes Divine Liturgy 10:00am Sunday School Philoptochos Meeting Coffee Hour Youth Pizza and Bowling CHURCH. Sunday Monday Tuesday 5th Sunday of Luke Orthros 9:00am Divine Liturgy 10:00am Sunday School Coffee Hour 7th Sunday of Luke Orthros 9:00am Divine Liturgy 10:00am Sunday School Coffee Hour Galena Excursion :00pm-7:30pm Orthodox Bible Study 10 6:00pm-7:30pm Orthodox Bible Study th Sunday of Luke Orthros 9:00am Divine Liturgy 10:00am Blessing the Stewardship Cards Sunday School Coffee Hour GOYA Meeting Feast of St. Andrew Congregational Singing Orthros 9:00am Divine Liturgy 10:00am Family Worship Coffee Hour 30 6:00pm-7:30pm Orthodox Bible Study 24 6:00pm-7:30pm Orthodox Bible Study Prayer Service 9:00am at the East Moline Correctional Center Prayer Service 9:00am at the East Moline Correctional Center :30pm-7:30pm Youth Dance Practice 25 Feast of St. Catherine the Great Martyr Orthros 9:30am Divine Liturgy 10:00am Festival of Trees Demo 10:30am

15 CALENDAR Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 5 Paximathia Baking 9:00am 6:00pm Paraklesis 6 10:00am-11:30am Orthodox Bible Study :00am-11:30am Orthodox Bible Study 7 1 Baklava Baking 9:00am Restaurant Circle at Exotic Thai :00am-11:30am Orthodox Bible Study 7:00pm - Parish Council Meeting 21 Feast of the Entrance of the Theotokos Orthros 9:30am Divine Liturgy 10:00am Thanksgiving Day Church Office Closed Festival of Trees Demo 1:30pm Fasting Symbols Strict Fast Wine and Oil Allowed Fish Allowed Fast Free

16 ΠΡΟΓΡΑΜΜΑ ΙΕΡΩΝ ΑΚΟΛΟΥΘΙΩΝ 2 Νοεμβρίου Κυριακή Κυριακή Ε του Λουκά 9:00 π.μ. Όρθρος 10:00 π.μ. Θεία Λειτουργία 5 Νοεμβρίου Τετάρτη Μικρή Παράκλησις 6:00 μ.μ. 9 Νοεμβρίου Κυριακή Κυριακή Ζ του Λουκά 9:00 π.μ. Όρθρος 10:00 π.μ. Θεία Λειτουργία 16 Νοεμβρίου Κυριακή Απόστολος και Ευαγγελιστής Ματθαίος 9:00 π.μ. Όρθρος 10:00 π.μ. Θεία Λειτουργία 21 Νοεμβρίου Παρασκευή Είσοδος της Υπεραγίας Θεοτόκον 9:30 π.μ. Όρθρος 10:00 π.μ. Θεία Λειτουργία 23 Νοεμβρίου Κυριακή Κυριακή Θ του Λουκά 9:00 π.μ. Όρθρος 10:00 π.μ. Θεία Λειτουργία 25 Νοεμβρίου Τρίτη Αικατερίνη Μεγαλομάρτυς 9:30 π.μ. Όρθρος 10:00 π.μ. Θεία Λειτουργία 30 Νοεμβρίου Κυριακή Απόστολος Ανδρέας ο Πρωτόκλητος 9:00 π.μ. Όρθρος 10:00 π.μ. Θεία Λειτουργία

17 Prosforo Schedule November 2 Sophia Mihalopoulos November 9 Ludmilla Cherevko November 16 Maria Kotogiannis November 23 Helen Petaros November 30 Paraskevi Stamatoukos DIAKONIA Coffee Hour Sunday Gospel and Epistle Readings November 2 Gospel Luke 16:19-31 Epistle Galatians 1:11-19 November 9 Gospel Luke 8:41-56 Epistle Colossians 2:16-20 November 16 Gospel Matthew 9:9-13 Epistle I Corinthians 4:9-16 November 23 Gospel Luke 12:16-21 Epistle Ephesians 2:4-10 November 30 Gospel John 1:35-52 Epistle I Corinthians 4:9-16 Parish Council Ushering Teams & Schedule St. Matthew St. Mark St. Luke St. John 9:15 Celia Lubbers Cathy Diakogeorgiou Michael Weis Bill Theofilis 9:40 Victor Cherevko Michael Haney Michael Kandis Deno Kandis 9:55 Diane Lamacki Abraham Chirackal John Stopoulos Georgia Lovejoy November 2 St. Matthew November 9 St. Mark November 16 St. Luke November 23 St. John November 30 St. Matthew November 2 Georgia Photiades and Family November 9 Ludmilla Cherevko November 16 Constantinou, Haney and Kouris November 23 Chirackal and Ninan Families November 30 Philoptochos

18 ΣΥΝΑΞΗ ΑΡΧΑΓΓΕΛΩΝ Σύναξη Αρχάγγελων ΜΙΧΑΗΛ και ΓΑΒΡΙΗΛ και τών λοιπών Ασωμάτων και ουρανίων ταγμάτων 8 Νοεμβρίου Κατά την Αγία Γραφή οι άγγελοι στέλνονται από το Θεό με μορφή ορατή (οι άγγελοι είναι αόρατα αγαθά πνεύματα κοντά στο Θεό) σε σπουδαίες ιστορικές περιστάσεις, που πρόκειται να εκδηλωθεί ή να εκτελεσθεί κάποια μεγάλη θεία θέληση. Τη σχέση, τώρα, που έχουν οι άγγελοι με το Θεό και τους ανθρώπους, καθώς και την αποστολή τους, βλέπουμε επίσης μέσα στην Αγία Γραφή. Και ιδιαίτερα, αγαπητέ αναγνώστη, άν διαβάσεις τους Ψαλμούς 33, στίχ. 8 και 90, στίχ , στη δε Καινή Διαθήκη, Ματθ. ιη στίχ. 10, καθώς επίσης και στην προς Εβραίους επιστολή, κεγ. α στίχ. 14, όπου ο συγγραφέας αναφωνεί: "ουχί πάντες εισί λειτουργικά πνεύματα εις διακονίαν αποστελόμενα δια τους μέλλοντας κληρονομείν σωτηρίαν;". Δηλαδή, δεν είναι όλοι οι άγγελοι πνεύματα υπηρετικά, τα οποία ενεργούν όχι από δική τους πρωτοβουλία, αλλ αποστέλλονται απο το Θεό για να υπηρετήσουν εκείνους που μέλλουν να κληρονομήσουν την αιώνια ζωή; Επικεφαλής δε τών αγγελικών δυνάμεων είναι οι αρχάγγελοι Μιχαήλ και Γαβριήλ. Τον Μιχαήλ συναντάμε στην Παλαιά Διαθήκη. Π.χ. όταν ο Αβραάμ μέλλει να θυσιάσει τον Ισαάκ, στον Ιησού του Ναυή, στον Ηλία και αλλού. Τον Γαβριήλ συναντάμε στην Καινή Διαθήκη, όπως στον Ευαγγελισμό της Θεοτόκου και αλλού. Στη μνήμη, λοιπόν, τών αποστολών και του έργου που επιτελούν οι άγγελοι, η Εκκλησία μας όρισε τη γιορτή της 8ης Νοεμβρίου.

19 ΑΓΙΟΣ ΑΝΔΡΕΑΣ Ο Απόστολος ΑΝΔΡΕΑΣ ο Πρωτόκλητος 30 Νοεμβρίου Ο Ανδρέας, ψαράς στο επάγγελμα και αδελφός του Αποστόλου Πέτρου, ήταν από τη Βηθσαϊδά της Γαλιλαίας. Επειδή κλήθηκε απο τον Κύριο πρώτος στην ομάδα των μαθητών, ονομάστηκε πρωτόκλητος. Η ιστορία της ζωής του Ανδρέα μέχρι τη Σταύρωση, την Ανάσταση και την Ανάληψη του Κυρίου, υπήρξε σχεδόν ίδια με εκείνη των άλλων μαθητών. Μετά το σχηματισμό της πρώτης Εκκλησίας, ο Ανδρέας κήρυξε στη Βιθυνία, Εύξεινο Πόντο, Θράκη, Μακεδονία και Ήπειρο. Τελικά, κατέληξε στην Αχαϊα. Εκεί η διδασκαλία του καρποφόρησε και με τις προσευχές του θεράπευσε θαυματουργικά πολλούς ασθενείς. Έτσι, η χριστιανική αλήθεια είχε μεγάλες κατακτήσεις στο λαό της Πάτρας. Ακόμα και η Μαξιμίλλα, σύζυγος του ανθυπάτου Αχαϊας Αιγεάτου, αφού τη θεράπευσε ο Απόστολος απο τη βαρειά αρρώστια που είχε, πίστεψε στο Χριστό. Το γεγονός εκνεύρισε τον ανθύπατο, και με την παρότρυνση των ειδωλολατρών ιερών συνέλαβε τον Ανδρέα και τον σταύρωσε σε σχήμα Χ. Έτσι, ο Απόστολος Ανδρέας παρέστησε τον εαυτό του στο Θεό "δόκιμον εργάτην". Δηλαδή δοκιμασμένο και τέλειο εργάτη του Ευαγγελίου. Το λείψανό του έθαψε με ευλάβεια ο πρώτος επίσκοπος Πατρών Στρατοκλής.

20 DONATIONS Thank you to Lambros and Lisa Mihalopoulos; Angela, Marie and Alejandra Olvera; and Dr. George and Sherry Kontos for their donation toward the new Altarboy robes. Thank you also to all that contributed to the purchase of the new robes by supporting the benefit breakfast. May God Bless your offerings. Thank you to Litsa Gregory, Mike and Helen Haney and the Ladies Philoptochos for making donations toward the Metropolitan IAKOVOS Nameday Banquet expenses. God Bless you and your families. A special thank you to Judy Larson and Tom Lingris for putting the Agape News together for mailing each month. The Lord Blesses those who work in His vineyard. MAY GOD BLESS EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU!!! Please call Fr. Jon if you would like to donate a Poinsettia ($20), which will adorn our Church for Christmas. Daily Prayer The Orthodox Faith has different Liturgical cycles that are observed throughout the year: Annual Cycle, Monthly Cycle, Movable Feast Cycle (Pascha and Lent), Weekly Cycle and Daily Cycle. As you offer your daily morning and evening Prayers, remember what is celebrated on each day of the Week: Sunday The Resurrection of our Lord Monday The Angels Tuesday Saint John the Baptist Wednesday The Theotokos Thursday Apostles/St. Nicolas Friday The Cross and the Crucifixion Saturday The Martyrs, the Ascetics, and those who have fallen asleep Ask for intercession!

21 PARISH COUNCIL NOMINATION Qualifications to serve as a member of the Assumption Parish Council A parishioner must be a member in good standing in terms of sacramental life, canonical standing, and stewardship obligations. 1. Sacramental Life must attend church services regularly and participate in the sacraments; uphold the teachings and traditions of the Orthodox Church. 2. Canonical Standing if married, marriage must be blessed by the Church; if divorced, must have an ecclesiastical divorce; may not be living together outside of marriage or in any other relationship contrary to the teachings of the faith. 3. Stewardship must be a steward of the Assumption Parish for at least one year prior to the date of election Self-Nomination I wish to place my name in nomination for election to the Assumption Greek Orthodox Church Parish Council. As required by the Uniform Parish Regulations of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, I hereby declare that I have read and understand the qualifications expected of a member of the Parish Council listed above. Name (please print) Telephone # Date Signature (Please return to the church office no later than Sunday, November 23.)

22 FUNDRAISING OPPORTUNITY The Assumption can now benefit from YOU shopping at Up to 5% of your monthly spending will be automatically transferred to the Church. Worried about the cost of gas - Schnucks is at the Locust St. exit (2nd exit off I-74 in Iowa) - less than 4 miles away!!! Iowa has no tax on food - it s a wash!!! Call Fr. Jon and get signed up for an escrip card and begin shopping at Schnucks today! HOSPITAL VISITATION Hospital Visitation is a ministry that we as Orthodox take very seriously, because it is at times when our fallen humanity is failing that we often times also experience spiritual weakness. Just a reminder, hospital visitations and visitation to our homebound parishioners are of utmost importance, but will only occur when the request comes from the family directly. Please respect this policy and also the Church and the Clergy. With pastoral love, Rev. Father Jon S. Boukis PROISTAMENOS Fr. Jon s Contact Numbers Church: (309) Home: (309)

23 PARISH CHRISTMAS CARD ANNUAL CHRISTMAS CARD With the change of the color of the trees and the drop in temperature, there is not doubt that Christmas is on its way. Save time, energy and postage while supporting our GOYA Kids. Wish a Blessed Christmas to the entire Parish of the Assumption by filling out the form below or by visiting the GOYA table at the Coffee Hour after the Divine Liturgy. Your investment is only $20 to send your greetings to 200 families!!! The Deadline is December 7th. ASSUMPTION CHURCH CHRISTMAS CARD APPLICATION Please include my name (family) on the Christmas Card as follows: (Please Print) Twenty Dollars ($20) must accompany this form. Please make Checks payable to: Assumption GOYA Send to: 4900 Kennedy Drive, East Moline, Illinois Contact: Fr. Jon (309)

24 WEBSITE Have you visited the Assumption Parish Website yet - Come and Check it out!!! We have had 1096 visits to our website from 23 countries including Australia, Belarus, Canada, Ecuador, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Ivory Coast, Macedonia, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Poland, Portugal, Russian, Slovakia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, South Africa, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates and the Philippines!!! Church info@assumptionem.org

25 Agape News SPONSORSHIP Agape News Did you enjoy the 1 st year? It s time to renew your sponsorship for the 2008 Ecclesiastical Year!!! To keep this ministry alive, renew your sponsorship; or if you are not yet a sponsor, join the other 50 families and become a supporter. Your name will be listed each month for the entire Ecclesiastical Year (until September 1, 2009) on a special sponsors page. Enclosed is my sponsorship of $25. Please list the sponsor line as follows:

26 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 Michael and Nancy Avgenackis Paul and Christine Bagatelas Family George Bagatelas Theodore and Karen Bagatelas Andrew C. Boukis Ken and Packy Boukis Steve and Vaso Boukis and Family Kleo Caras Victor and Judy Cherevko Dr. and Mrs. Costas Constantinou and Family The Family of George and Georgia Eleftheropoulos Mary Giovanis Mike and Liz Gorman Litsa Gregory Tom P. Gregory Mike and Helen Haney Susan Holgersson James Jannes Deno and Dr. Ann Kandis Family Mike and Terri Kandis George and Helen Kontos George and Sherry Kontos Jo-Ann Kontos and Joyce Coughlin Alex, Diane and Jim Lamacki Thomas Lingris and Judy Larson Peter and Sue Lingris Roger, Georgia and Elianna Lovejoy Roger, Celia, Alex and Kristin Lubbers Chris, Susan, Alaina and Melissa Mekus Michael and Roseanne Monn Ninan Family Spiro and Carol Pappaspiros Christ and Helen Petaros Scott and Georgia Photiades In Memory of Nickolaus Sluz St. Thomas Indian Orthodox Congregation Tony and Joan Stopoulos John and Mary Velon Michael and Elizabeth Weis 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).

27 ADVERTISEMENTS Avenue of the Cities East Moline, IL Miltos Diakogeorgiou Jose Zepeda (309) The family restaurant where you feel like family. Let us share your special moments in our newly opened banquet room. Dale Melchin Painting Phone: dalemelchin@gmail.com Residential & Commercial Painting FULL COLOR ADVERTISEMENTS $400 per year for 2.5 x 3 $250 per year for 2.5 x 1.5 $150 per year for 1.25 x 1.5 (Ecclesiastical Year - Sept. 1 to Aug. 31) See Your Ad Here!!! Old & New Testament Orthodox Study Bible! 1st Shipment SOLD OUT List $ $9 S&H Your Price $42!!! Reserve a copy today!

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