Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church

Transcript

1 WHAT WOULD THE IDEAL MOTHER BE LIKE? It has been suggested that this is the most difficult assignment God ever gave an individual. However, in the Book of Proverbs we find in Chapter 31, seven powerful characteristics for measuring motherhood. 1. She seeks always the good of her husband which develops his trust in her. See vs She is industrious and therefore has not time to be a busybody. See vs , 19, She is constantly looking after the welfare of her family. See vs She has good judgment when it comes to the financial well-being of her family. Verse She spends time ministering to the needs of those outside of her own family. See vs She is honorable, wise, and kind. Vs She is one who firmly fears (reverences) the Lord. See vs. 30. The Bible indicates that such a mother will be rewarded, for both her children and her husband will rise up and call her blessed. See vs. 28. GREEKFEST HELP: We are in need of Volunteers. Please reach out to family and friends and ask for help in working our Greekfest. It is our largest fund raiser of the year. The more help we get the smoother everything will run. Mark your calendars for the dates and then take a moment to sign up in the Narthex. Sign up sheets have been placed by the Pangari. Thank you and let this be our best Greekfest yet! JUNIOR OLYMPICS MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND: This year s Junior Olympics competition is fast approaching. This event is held on Memorial Day weekend (May 26 th 28 th ) at Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church in Palos Hills. We are making an active push to get as many of our parishioners to join us on all three days to cheer on our kids during their individual and group events. We have a great group of kids and let us show our love and appreciation. Please join us and enjoy a wonderful weekend. FESTIVAL DONATIONS: Please watch for Greek Fest 2017 Alerts. We will are collecting donations. You all made it such a great success last year! Every donation in any amount helps the Church. May is Wine & Pop month! Please see the enclosed flyer for details. ADULT RELIGIOUS EDUCATION: Our Adult Religious Education classes have begun again. Classes are every Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. & 6:30 p.m., so that everyone who wants to partake can. We will be focusing on the Book of Acts this time around. So please join us as we journey through this wonderful book in the time following our Lord s Death and Resurrection. MEMORIAL DAY: On Monday, May 29 th, at 10:30 a.m. there will be a Joint Memorial Service at Evergreen Cemetery Graveside prayers will be read at the request of parishioners, from 8:00 a.m. until Noon. A NIGHT OF SOCCER AT TOYOTA PARK: We have been invited to join Assumption Parish in Homer Glen for their outing to see the Chicago Fire play on July 1 st. Will include a little tailgating before the game with a cooking of a lamb. This is a great opportunity and should be a wonderful Time. See enclosed flier for more details. Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church Very Reverend Archimandrite Christodoulos Margellos frchristos@gmail.com S Kolmar Ave. Oak Lawn, IL (708)

2 Sunday, May 14 th, 2017 Sunday of the Samaritan Woman HAPPY MOTHERS DAY! Saint Isidore the Martyr of Chios Readings: Epistle: Acts 11: Gospel: John 4: 5-42 Epistle Reader: Elaine Besbekos Coffee Fellowship Hour immediately follows the Divine Liturgy and is sponsored today by the Ladies Philoptochos in the Dr. Mary Dochios Kamberos Community Center Greek Fest Early Bird Raffle Today Memorial Nicholas Gellis 40 Days May his Memory be Eternal THIS WEEK AT SAINT NICHOLAS GREAT AND HOLY WEEK 2017 Monday, May 15 th, :30 p.m. Greek School Tuesday, May 16 th, :30 a.m. Philoptochos Baking Day Wednesday, May 17 th, 2017 Strict Fast 11:00 a.m. Adult Religious Education 4:30 p.m. Greek School 6:30 p.m. Adult Religious Education 6:30 p.m. Philoptochos How to Class Thursday, May 18 th, :00 p.m. Adult Greek Dance Group at Saint Nicholas Friday, May 19 th, 2017 Strict Fast Vigil Service for the Translation of the Relic of Saint Nicholas 6:00 p.m. Great Vespers followed by Orthros & Divine Liturgy Saturday, May20 th :00 p.m. Great Vespers for Ss. Constantine & Helen in Palos Hills & Hierarchical Great Vespers with His Eminence Metropolitan Iakovos in Merriville, IN TRANSLATION OF THE RELIC OF SAINT NICHOLAS: On Friday, May 19 th we will celebrate a vigil service for a secondary feast day of our parish. The Translation of the Relics of Saint Nicholas marks a time when the Holy remains of our beloved patron saint were saved from destruction by the Turks. In honor of this miracle we will celebrate beginning at 6:00 p.m. Great Vespers followed by Orthros & Divine Liturgy. Join us in lifting up our prayer to the Lord. PLEASE NOTE CHANGE: The Philoptochos Meeting & Elections will be held on Monday, May 22 nd : Board Meeting at 6:00 p.m. and General Meeting and Elections at 7:00 p.m. The meeting will be hosted by the ladies whose last names begin with N through Z. πολύς τε ἀριθμὸς πιστεύσας ἐπέστρεψεν ἐπὶ τὸν κύριον. Ἠκούσθη δὲ ὁ λόγος εἰς τὰ ὦτα τῆς ἐκκλησίας τῆς ἐν Ἱεροσολύμοις περὶ αὐτῶν καὶ ἐξαπέστειλαν Βαρνάβαν διελθεῖν ἕως Ἀντιοχείας ὃς παραγενόμενος καὶ ἰδὼν τὴν χάριν τοῦ θεοῦ ἐχάρη, καὶ παρεκάλει πάντας τῇ προθέσει τῆς καρδίας προσμένειν τῷ κυρίῳ ὅτι ἦν ἀνὴρ ἀγαθὸς καὶ πλήρης πνεύματος ἁγίου καὶ πίστεως καὶ προσετέθη ὄχλος ἱκανὸς τῷ κυρίῳ. Ἐξῆλθεν δὲ εἰς Ταρσὸν ὁ Βαρνάβας ἀναζητῆσαι Σαῦλον, καὶ εὑρὼν ἤγαγεν αὐτὸν εἰς Ἀντιόχειαν. Ἐγένετο δὲ αὐτοὺς ἐνιαυτὸν ὅλον συναχθῆναι τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ καὶ διδάξαι ὄχλον ἱκανόν, χρηματίσαι τε πρώτον ἐν Ἀντιοχείᾳ τοὺς μαθητὰς Χριστιανούς. Ἐν ταύταις δὲ ταῖς ἡμέραις κατῆλθον ἀπὸ Ἱεροσολύμων προφῆται εἰς Ἀντιόχειαν. Ἀναστὰς δὲ εἷς ἐξ αὐτῶν ὀνόματι Ἄγαβος, ἐσήμανεν διὰ τοῦ πνεύματος λιμὸν μέγαν μέλλειν ἔσεσθαι ἐφʼ ὅλην τὴν οἰκουμένην ὅστις καὶ ἐγένετο ἐπὶ Κλαυδίου Καίσαρος. Τῶν δὲ μαθητῶν καθὼς εὐπορεῖτό τις, ὥρισαν ἕκαστος αὐτῶν εἰς διακονίαν πέμψαι τοῖς κατοικοῦσιν ἐν τῇ Ἰουδαίᾳ ἀδελφοῖς ὃ καὶ ἐποίησαν, ἀποστείλαντες πρὸς τοὺς πρεσβυτέρους διὰ χειρὸς Βαρνάβα καὶ Σαύλου. Acts of the Apostles 11: IN THOSE DAYS, those apostles who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to none except Jews. But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Greeks also, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number that believed turned to the Lord. News of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad; and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose; for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a large company was added to the Lord. So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul; and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church, and taught a large company of people; and in Antioch the disciples were for the first time called Christians. Now in these days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. And one of them named Agabos stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world; and this took place in the days of Claudius. And the disciples determined, every one according to his ability, to send relief to the brethren who lived in Judea, and they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul. 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 receive 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 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). YOUR COOPERATION IS NEEDED: We remind our faithful that the Divine Liturgy begins at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday. Please be prompt and on time! Please turn off cell phones before entering church. No conversation should take place during worship. During the reading of the Gospel people in the narthex should not be purchasing or lighting candles but standing reverently and listen to the reading. If possible avoid using center aisle during high points of Divine Liturgy. Lipstick and lip-gloss should be removed before kissing icons, receiving Holy Communion and kissing the hand of the priest. When receiving antidoron, please use both hands and do not allow the crumbs to fall to the floor.

3 Resurrectional Apolotikion Ἦχος δ Τὸ φαιδρὸν τῆς Ἀναστάσεως κήρυγµα, ἐκ τοῦ Ἀγγέλου µαθοῦσαι αἱ τοῦ Κυρίου Μαθήτριαι, καὶ τὴν προγονικὴν ἀπόφασιν ἀπορρίψασαι, τοῖς Ἀποστόλοις καυχώµεναι ἔλεγον Ἐσκύλευται ὁ θάνατος, ἠγέρθη Χριστὸς ὁ Θεός, δωρούµενος τῷ κόσµῳ τὸ µέγα ἔλεος. Fourth Mode When the women Disciples of the Lord had learned from the Angel the joyful message of the Resurrection and had rejected the ancestral decision, they cried aloud to the Apostles triumphantly: Death has been despoiled, Christ God has risen, granting His great mercy to the world. Hymn for the Feast Ἦχος πλ δ Μεσούσης τῆς ἑορτῆς, διψῶσάν µου τὴν ψυχήν, εὐσεβείας πότισον νάµατα ὅτι πᾶσι Σωτὴρ ἐβόησας ὁ διψῶν, ἐρχέσθω πρός µε καὶ πινέτω Ἡ πηγὴ τῆς ζωῆς, Χριστὲ ὁ Θεὸς δόξα σοι. Mode Plagal of the Fourth O Lord, midway through the feast, give drink to my thirsty soul from the waters of true religion. For to all You the Savior cried aloud, Let whoever is thirsty come to Me and drink. As the fountain of life, O Christ our God, glory to You. Hymn of Saint Nicholas Ἠχος δ Κανόνα πίστεως καί εικόνα πραότητος, εγκρατείας Διδάσκαλον, ανέδειξέ σε τή ποίμνη σου, η τών πραγμάτων αλήθεια, διά τούτο εκτήσω τή ταπεινώσει τά υψηλά, τή πτωχεία τά πλούσια, Πάτερ Ιεράρχα Νικόλαε, πρέσβευε Χριστώ τώ Θεώ, σωθήναι τάς ψυχάς ημών. Fourth Mode A model of faith and the image of gentleness, the example of your life has shown you forth to your sheep-fold to be a master of temperance. You obtained thus through being lowly, gifts from on high, and riches through poverty. Nicholas, our father and priest of priests, intercede with Christ our God that He may save our souls. Memorial Hymn Μνήσθητι, Κύριε, ὡς ἀγαθὸς τῶν δούλων σου, καὶ ὅσα ἐν βίῳ ἥμαρτον, συγχώρησον οὐδεὶς γὰρ ἀναμάρτητος, εἰμὴ σὺ ὁ δυνάμενος, καὶ τοῖς μεταστᾶσι δοῦναι τήν ἀνάπαυσιν. Kontakion Ἠχος πλ δ Εἰ καὶ ἐν τάφῳ κατῆλθες Ἀθάνατε, ἀλλὰ τοῦ ᾅδου καθεῖλες τὴν δύναµιν καὶ ἀνέστης ὡς νικητής, Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός, γυναιξὶ Μυροφόροις φθεγξάµενος, Χαίρετε, καὶ τοῖς σοῖς Ἀποστόλοις εἰρήνην δωρούµενος, ὁ τοῖς πεσοῦσι παρέχων ἀνάστασιν. Mode Plagal of the Fourth Though You went down into the tomb, O Immortal One, yet You brought down the dominion of Hades; and You rose as the victor, O Christ our God; and You called out "Rejoice" to the Myrrh-bearing women, and gave peace to Your Apostles, O Lord who to the fallen grant resurrection. Πράξεις Ἀποστόλων 11: Ἐν ταῖς ἡμεραῖς ἐκείναις, διασπαρέντες οἱ Ἀπόστολοι ἀπὸ τῆς θλίψεως τῆς γενομένης ἐπὶ Στεφάνῳ διῆλθον ἕως Φοινίκης καὶ Κύπρου καὶ Ἀντιοχείας, μηδενὶ λαλοῦντες τὸν λόγον εἰ μὴ μόνον Ἰουδαίοις. Ἦσαν δέ τινες ἐξ αὐτῶν ἄνδρες Κύπριοι καὶ Κυρηναῖοι, οἵτινες εἰσελθόντες εἰς Ἀντιόχειαν, ἐλάλουν πρὸς τοὺς Ἑλληνιστάς, εὐαγγελιζόμενοι τὸν κύριον Ἰησοῦν. Καὶ ἦν χεὶρ κυρίου μετʼ αὐτῶν TODAY S GOSPEL LESSON: The Samaritan woman Jesus met at the well probably was not there because she wanted to be. She was doing her chores, one of which was drawing water. She and her family needed water: drinking, cooking, cleaning and bathing all depended on it. But getting it over and over perhaps several time a day, carrying heavy jugs that was work. We may have similar feelings about our relationship with God. No one would dispute the benefits of a healthy spiritual life; it is as basic as water. But we may believe that our relationship with God requires a lot of work. We may feel that our spiritual labors are heavy and tiresome. We may think that this burden rests entirely on our shoulders. When Jesus encounters the woman at the well, He speaks of a new sort of water: living water, water that quenches thirst permanently. The woman takes His words literally, hoping that this magical new water can spare her from one of her daily chores. She requests that Jesus give this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw (John 4:15). The water Jesus speaks of quenches a thirst far more profound than what the woman suggest. Like the Samaritan woman, we spend much time and energy searching for something essential to give our lives meaning. Often we make mistakes in the process. Our Lord invites us to a simpler, more fulfilling way of quenching our thirst. He bids us to come and drink the water He brings. This water is offered not at a well where we must labor to haul it up and carry it home. In fact, this living water comes to us as a gift. For at Baptism, God comes to dwell within us. The gift of Jesus to those who will receive it is in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life (John 4:14). EARLY BIRD FESTIVAL RAFFLE DRAWING: Run, don t walk, to your nearest Parish Council member or the Church Office to buy your Raffle Ticket for the Festival. Our Early Bird Drawing will take place TODAY (Mothers Day) during the Coffee Hour. The prize is $1,000! And your ticket goes back in for the Fest Drawing. Thank You!! HOLY LAND MEETING & DINNER: On Thursday, May 25 th at 7:00 p.m. there will be one more meeting for those planning on or thinking about joining the Holy Land Pilgrimage. Tom Lambros Bornstein from the company organizing our tour will be here to give a presentation and answer any questions. Dinner will be provided for at the meeting. Please take advantage and join us on this trip. We all have a tendency to put things off and before we know it, it is too late to do all we dreamed of. Live in today and join us for this Once in a Life time Opportunity. GRADUTE/SCHOLARSHIP SUNDAY: Will be held on Sunday, June 4 th, So we are asking all our parents and children to inform us of the kids of Saint Nicholas who will be graduating High school & College this year. We would like to honor you and will have a special gift for all graduates. Please call the office to let us know of any graduates. Deadline to submit names is Tuesday, May 30 th, SAVE THIS IMPORTANT DATE: Our Saint Nicholas Church will be turning 90 Years old this year and we are going to celebrate in a big way! Saint Nicholas 90 th Anniversary Dinner Dance is on Sunday, September 24 th, 2017 at Tuscany Falls in Mokena. The cost will be $125 per adult, and $25 for children 3 to 12 years of age. Children under 3 are free. The ticket includes hors d'oeuvres, a four hour open bar, a full four-course meal, music, dancing and other surprises.

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