Agape News January 2009

Transcript

1 Agape News January 2009

2 PICTURES Happy New Year!!! Christmas Pageant Breakfast with Santa Baklava Demo Happy New Year!!! Youth at the Wisconsin Dells

3 PASTORAL MESSAGE Dear Parishioners, Greetings in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! As we look upon the New Calendar Year of 2009, and dream about where we are headed as a parish, we have to first look at the last year and determine whether our current direction is one in which we are proud brought us new ministries: the youth Greek Dancers, Restaurant Circle, the combining of the Assumption St. George Men s club, It s Greek to Me tours and the St. Nicholas Gifting program; it also brought us an approximate growth of 50% in stewardship offerings; but most importantly, there was growth in many with respect to fasting, worship attendance and participation in the Mystery of Holy Confession. The internal growth we ve experienced in our worship and ministries combined with your love of His Church surely will attract many to our Beloved Parish in future years. Let us be lights that shine bright that are put on a lamp-stand so that people may see the light when they come in. (Luke 8:16) Looking forward, the Parish Council is putting in place a number of new ministries both for fundraising and for evangelism. It is truly exciting to work with this fantastic group of stewards, but, they must not be the few that carry the lamp-stand - we all must be lamp bearers. For as it says in the 1st Epistle of Peter But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. Let 2009 be the year that our stewardship of time and talents grows by 50%. Wishing you a Blessed and Prosperous New Calendar Year, I remain, In Christ s Love, Rev. Father Jon Boukis Proistamenos

4 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!!! Christos Andrios Eleni Andrios Shebah Chirackal Penny Constantinou Alexia Kontos Nicholas Kontos Elianna Lovejoy Kristin Lubbers Billy Mihalopoulos Naina Biju Ninan Naveen Biju Ninan Peter Stopoulos Tony Stopoulos Stephanie Theofilis Shannon Thodos Contact: Fr. Jon (309)

5 PHILOPTOCHOS NEWS Vasilopita Sunday Following the Divine Liturgy and the cutting of the Vasilopita on Sunday, January 18, 2009, the Philoptochos will auction Vasilopita for the benefit of St. Basil s Academy. Be ready with your checkbook to make a difference for these children!!! Urgent - We would like to have our cookbook available for sale at the 2009 Festival - please submit your recipes to Helen Haney today!!! Contact: Yvonne Constantinou (563) 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)

6 UPCOMING EVENTS Super Bowl Party Sunday, February 1, 2009 Assumption Trivia Night Fundraiser Friday, February 6, 2009 Godparent s Sunday Sunday, February 8, 2009 Metropolis Basketball Tournament in Milwaukee Friday, February 13, through Sunday, February 15, 2009 Pre-Lenten Glendi Saturday, February 21, 2009 Special Notice Donors Needed for Themed Baskets to be Raffled at the Pre-Lenten Party on Saturday, February 21, 2009!!! Value of the baskets should be $20 to $50. Themes can include: "Mom's night out" with restaurant gift certificates Movie Night" with microwave popcorn and gift card for a movie rental, Themes: Snowman, Sports, Bath gels/lotions, Chocoholic, etc. Be Creative!!! If you would like help but don t think you have the creativity to make a basket, the Philoptochos would be happy to take your monetary donation and make up a basket for you or just help you with a theme. Raffle tickets will sell for $1 each the night of the party.

7 YOUTH NEWS Basketball 2009 In the upcoming weeks we will begin practicing for the Milwaukee Tournament (Feb ). If you will be playing, please contact the Church ASAP. Contact: Fr. Jon (309) PARISH COUNCIL Victor Cherevko Abraham Chirackal Cathy Diakogeorgiou Michael Haney Deno Kandis Michael Kandis Youth Trips The Kalahari Trip was a blast!!! We had a lot of fun and new friendships were begun and old ones deepened. Most excitingly, the GOYA decided that 2010 would be the year for a trip to the Ionian Village. Wisconsin was great, but Greece will be awesome!!! Congratulations!!! Diane Lamacki Georgia Lovejoy Celia Lubbers John Stopoulos Bill Theofilis Michael Weis Rev. Father Jon S. Boukis, PROISTAMENOS Elections for the 2009 Parish Council Officers will take place immediately following the Divine Liturgy and the Affirmation of Office on Sunday, January 11, 2009.

8 ST. MAXIMOS THE CONFESSOR Commemorated January 21 The divine Maximos, who was from Constantinople, sprang from an illustrious family. He was a lover of wisdom and an eminent theologian. At first, he was the chief private secretary of the Emperor Heraclius and his grandson Constans. When the Monothelite heresy became predominant in the royal court, out of hatred for this error the Saint departed for the Monastery at Chrysopolis (Scutari), of which he later became the abbot. When Constans tried to constrain him either to accept the Monothelite teaching, or to stop speaking and writing against it - neither of which the Saint accepted to do - his tongue was uprooted and his right hand was cut off, and he was sent into exile where he reposed in 662. At the time only he and his few disciples were Orthodox in the East. Fr. Jon s favorite quote comes from St. Maximos the Confessor: The root of all evil is self-love All sin originates from placing ourselves and our wants and desires before the Will of the Lord. This is the result of pride!

9 THE THREE HIERARCHS. St. Basil the Great St. John Chrysostom St. Gregory the Theologian Commemorated January 30 This common feast of these three teachers was instituted a little before the year 1100, during the reign of the Emperor Alexis I Comnenus, because of a dispute and strife that arose among the notable and virtuous men of that time. Some of them preferred Basil, while others preferred Gregory, and yet others preferred John Chrysostom, quarreling among themselves over which of the three was the greatest. Furthermore, each party, in order to distinguish itself from the others, assumed the name of its preferred Saint; hence, they called themselves Basilians, Gregorians, or Johannites. Desiring to bring an end to the contention, the three Saints appeared together to the saintly John Mavropous, a monk who had been ordained Bishop of Euchaita, a city of Asia Minor, they revealed to him that the glory they have at the throne of God is equal, and told him to compose a common service for the three of them, which he did with great skill and beauty. Saint John of Euchaita (celebrated Oct. 5) is also the composer of the Canon to the Guardian Angel, the Protector of a Man's Life. In his old age, he retired from his episcopal see and again took up the monastic life in a monastery in Constantinople. He reposed during the reign of the aforementioned Emperor Alexis Comnenus ( ).

10 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

11 SERVICE SCHEDULE January 1 Thursday The Circumcision of the Lord Feastday of St. Basil the Great 9:30 a.m. Orthros 10:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy of St. Basil January 4 Sunday Sunday Before Theophany 9:00 a.m. Orthros 10:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy January 5 Monday Eve of Holy Theophany / Epiphany 10:00 a.m. Vesperal Divine Liturgy Lesser Blessing of the Water January 6 Tuesday Great and Holy Theophany / Epiphany 9:30 a.m. Orthros 10:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy Great Blessing of the Water January 7 Wednesday Feastday of St. John the Baptist 9:30 a.m. Orthros 10:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy January 11 Sunday Sunday After Theophany 9:00 a.m. Orthros 10:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy January 14 Wednesday Small Paraklesis Service (6:00 p.m.) January 18 Sunday 12th Sunday of Luke 9:00 a.m. Orthros 10:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy January 25 Sunday 15th Sunday of Luke 9:00 a.m. Orthros 10:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy January 30 Friday Feastday of the Three Hierarchs 9:30 a.m. Orthros 10:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy

12 J A N U A R Y CHURCH. Sunday Monday Tuesday Fasting Symbols Strict Fast Wine and Oil Allowed Fish Allowed Fast Free Sunday Before Theophany Orthros 9:00am Divine Liturgy 10:00am Sunday School Coffee Hour Philoptochos Meeting Sunday After Theophany Orthros 9:00am Divine Liturgy 10:00am Sunday School Parish Council Affirmation Coffee Hour PC Election of Officers 12th Sunday of Luke Orthros 9:00am Divine Liturgy 10:00am Sunday School Cutting of the Vasilopita Coffee Hour GOYA Meeting 15th Sunday of Luke Congregational Singing Orthros 9:00am Divine Liturgy 10:00am Sunday School Coffee Hour Eve of the Feastday of Holy Theophany 10:00am - Vesperal Divine Liturgy Blessing of the Water No Bible Study :00pm-7:30pm Orthodox Bible Study 19 6:00pm-7:30pm Orthodox Bible Study 26 6:00pm-7:30pm Orthodox Bible Study 6 Feastday of Holy Theophany Orthros 9:30am Divine Liturgy 10:00am Blessing of the Water Prayer Service 9:00am at the East Moline Correctional Center 27

13 CALENDAR Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 Circumcision of the Lord, Jesus Christ Feast of St. Basil Orthros 9:30am Divine Liturgy 10:00am Feastday of Saint John the Baptist Orthros 9:30am Divine Liturgy 10:00am Prayer Service 9:00am at the East Moline Correctional Center 8 10:00am-11:30am Orthodox Bible Study :00pm Paraklesis :00am-11:30am Orthodox Bible Study 7:00pm - Parish Council Meeting :00am Vasilopita Baking in the Fellowship Hall :00am-11:30am Orthodox Bible Study :00am-11:30am Orthodox Bible Study 30 Feastday of Three Hierarchs Orthros 9:30am Divine Liturgy 10:00am 31

14 ΠΡΟΓΡΑΜΜΑ ΙΕΡΩΝ ΑΚΟΛΟΥΘΙΩΝ 1 Ιανουαρίου Πέμπτη Περιτομή Ιησού Χρίστου Άγιος Βασίλειος ο Μέγας 9:30 π.μ. Όρθρος 10:00 π.μ. Θεία Λειτουργία 4 Ιανουαρίου Κυριακή Κυριακή πριν των Θεοφανείων 9:00 π.μ. Όρθρος 10:00 π.μ. Θεία Λειτουργία 5 Ιανουαρίου Δευτέρα Προεόρτια των Φώτων 10:00 π.μ. Εσπερηνό Θεία Λειτουργία/Αγιασμός 6 Ιανουαρίου Τρίτη Αγία Θεοφάνεια του Κυρίου 9:00 π.μ. Όρθρος 10:00 π.μ. Θεία Λειτουργία/Μέγας Αγιασμός 7 Ιανουαρίου Τετάρτη Άγιος Ιωάννης ο Προδρόμος 9:30 π.μ. Όρθρος 10:00 π.μ. Θεία Λειτουργία 11 Ιανουαρίου Κυριακή Κυριακή μετά των Θεοφανείων 9:00 π.μ. Όρθρος 10:00 π.μ. Θεία Λειτουργία 14 Ιανουαρίου Τετάρτη Μικρή Παράκλησις 6:00 μ.μ. 18 Ιανουαρίου Κυριακή Κυριακή ΙB του Λουκά 9:00 π.μ. Όρθρος 10:00 π.μ. Θεία Λειτουργία 25 Ιανουαρίου Κυριακή Κυριακή ΙE του Λουκά 9:00 π.μ. Όρθρος 10:00 π.μ. Θεία Λειτουργία 30 Ιανουαρίου Παρασκευή Οι Τρεις Ιεράρχες 9:30 π.μ. Όρθρος 10:00 π.μ. Θεία Λειτουργία

15 DIAKONIA Prosforo Schedule January 4 Toula Fotos January 11 Maria Georgiadis January 18 Georgia Eleftheropoulos January 25 Marena Panouses Coffee Hour January 4 January 11 January 18 Dokolas Family January 25 Sunday Gospel and Epistle Readings January 4 Gospel Mark 1:1-8 Epistle Timothy 4:5-8 January 11 Gospel Matthew 4:12-17 Epistle Hebrews 13:7-16 January 18 Gospel Luke 17:12-19 Epistle Hebrews 13:7-16 January 25 Gospel Luke 19:1-10 Epistle Hebrews 7:26-8:2 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 January 4 St. Mark January 11 St. Luke January 18 St. John January 25 St. Matthew

16 ΑΓΙΟΣ ΙΩΑΝΝΗΣ Ο ΠΡΟΔΡΟΜΟΣ Άγιος Ιωάννης 7 Ιανουαρίου Ήταν γιός του Ζαχαρία και της Ελισάβετ. Μέχρι τα τριάντα του χρόνια, ζεί ασκητική ζωή στην έρημο της Ιουδαίας, αφιερωμένη ολοκληρωτικά στην προσευχή, τη μελέτη και την πνευματική και ηθική τελειοποίηση, που είναι βασικοί παράγοντες για την εκτέλεση υψηλών και θείων υπουργημάτων. Το ρούχο του ήταν από τρίχες καμήλας, στη μέση του είχε δερμάτινη ζώνη και την τροφή του αποτελούσαν ακρίδες και άγριο μέλι. Με μορφή ηλιοκαμένη, σοβαρός, αξιοπρεπής και δυναμικός, ο Ιωάννης φανέρωνε αμέσως φυσιογνωμία έκτακτη και υπέροχη. Είχε όλα τα προσόντα μεγάλου και επιβλητικού κήρυκα του θείου λόγου. Έτσι με μεγάλη χάρη κήρυττε τα πλήθη. Κατακεραύνωνε και κτυπούσε σκληρά τη φαρισαϊκή αλαζονική έπαρση, που κάτω από το εξωτερικό ένδυμα της ψευτοαγιότητας έκρυβε τις πιο αηδιαστικές πληγές ψυχικής σκηρότητας και ακαθαρσίας. Γενικά η διδασκαλία του συνοψίζετε στη χαρακτηριστική φράση του: "Μετανοείτε ήγγικε γάρ η βασιλεία των ουρανών", προετοιμάζοντας, έτσι το δρόμο του Κυρίου μας Ιησού Χριστού γιά το σωτήριο έργο του. Όταν ο Χριστός άρχισε τη δημόσια δράση του, ο κόσμος άφηνε σιγά-σιγά τον Ιωάννη και ακολουθούσε αυτόν. Η αντιστροφή αυτή, βέβαια, θα προκαλούσε μεγάλη πίκρα και θα γεννούσε αγκάθια ζήλειας και φθόνου σ έναν εκτός χριστιανικού πνεύματος, διδάσκαλο ή φιλόσοφο. Αντίθετα, στον Ιωάννη προκάλεσε μεγάλη χαρά και ευφροσύνη. Η γιορτή αυτή του Ιωάννου του Προδρόμου, γιά τον οποίο ο Κύριος είπε ότι κανείς άνθρωπος δε στάθηκε μεγαλύτερός του, καθιερώθηκε τον 5ο μ.χ.αιώνα. Το δε μαρτυρικό του τέλος γιορτάζουμε σε άλλη ημερομηνία, όπου και θα αναφερθούμε.

17 ΑΓΙΟΣ ΑΝΤΩΝΙΟΣ Ο ΜΕΓΑΣ Άγιος Αντώνιος 17 Ιανουαρίου Γεννήθηκε το 251 στην άνω Αίγυπτο απο γονείς χριστιανούς, που κατείχαν μεγάλη περιουσία. Από την παιδική του ηλικία ο Αντώνιος έδειχνε με όλη του τη διαγωγή έκτακτη ανθρώπινη ύπαρξη. Σε ηλικία χρονών, χάνει τους δύο γονείς τους και δοκιμάζει πολύ θλίψη καί οδύνη. Όμως, συνέρχεται γρήγορα και συγκεντρώνει όλη την προσοχή του στη θεία θεωρία και στη φροντίδα της μικρής του αδελφής. Το βέλος του θείου έρωτα δεν αργεί να χτυπήσει την καρδιά του Αντωνίου. Καθώς μια Κυριακή άκουγε από το ευαγγέλιο την περικοπή σχετικά με τον πλούσιο νεανίσκο, στον οποίο ο Κύριος μας είπε: "Άν θέλεις να γίνεις τέλειος, πήγαινε, πώλησε τα υπάρχοντά σου και μοίρασέ τα στους φτωχούς, και θα έχεις θησαυρό στον ουρανό. Και έλα να με ακολουθήσεις", τόση εντύποση του δημιούργησε, που την εξέλαβε αμέσως σαν θεία υπόδειξη και πρόσκηση. Αφού πρώτα τακτοποίησε τη μικρότερη αδελφή του, έπειτα μοίρασε στους φτωχότερους οικογενειάρχες όλη τη μεγάλη πατρική του περιουσία και αναχώρησε στην έρημο για μεγαλύτερη πνευματική και ηθική τελειότητα. Πράγματι, ο αγώνας του μέσα στην έρημο αποδίδει πλούσιους πνευματικούς καρπούς. Γίνεται ο ασκητής των ασκητών και απ όλα τα μήκη και πλάτη της χριστιανικής γης έρχονται να τον ακούσουν και να τον συμβουλευθούν. Μεταξύ αυτών και δύο πολύφωτοι αστέρες της Εκκλησίας μας, ο Μ. Βασίλειος καί ο Μ. Αθανάσιος. Σε ηλικία περίπου 105 χρόνων, ο Μέγας Αντώνιος παραδίδει προς το Θεό την ψυχή του.

18 STEWARDSHIP 2009 Stewardship Pledges received as of December 26, 2008 Haline Akulow Orest Akulow Derek and Sophia Anderson John and Katie Andrios Steve and Aimee Arvanitis Fr. Jon and Presbytera Doreece Boukis Ludmilla Cherevko Victor and Judy Cherevko Abraham and Molly Chirackal George and Nancy Coin Stan and Kay Coin Dr. Costas and Yvonne Constantinou Angie Dokolas Dr. Konstantinos and Allison Dounoulis Shirley Eleopulos Nicholas and Mary Fotiadis Susan Fotiadis Paris Fotos Mike and Helen Haney Deno and Dr. Ann Kandis Francis Kandis Mike and Terri Kandis Connie Kappas Dr. George and Sherry Kontos Terry and Maria Kotrogiannis Helen Kouris Judy Larson Thomas Lingris Georgia and Roger Lovejoy Celia Lubbers Georgia Maess-Photiades Christ and Susan Mekus Demos Mekus Bill and Linda Minas Michael and Roseann Monn Gust Moraetes Katherine Moraetes Ilias and Stacy Nikolopoulos Biju and Sholly Ninan Daphne Olvera Stacy Olvera Victoria Olvera Saki Padazopoulos Helen Panouses Fr. Basil Papanikolaou Spiros and Carol Pappaspiros Christ and Helen Petaros George Polios Steve Pyevich Colette Spurgetis Frank Spurgetis Soc Spurgetis Paraskevi Stamatoukos Anthony and Joan Stopoulos Jim and Kristel Stopoulos Frank Vretis Michael and Elizabeth Weis DONATIONS Thank you to John and MaryBeth Stopoulos, and Kosta Dounoulis for their help with the Breakfast with Santa Claus...HO, HO, HO!!! Thank you to Helen Karas for remembering her beloved Assumption in her estate. May Her Memory Be Eternal! Thank you to Jimmy Pliakos for preparing the delicious meal we enjoyed at the New Year s Eve Party. May we have many returns - Χρόνια Πολλα!!! Thank you to Victor Cherevko for coming to the Church and offering his stewardship of talent in the repair of our office furniture. May God continue to Bless the work of your hands!!! Thank you to Presbytera Doreece, Sherry Kontos, Georgia Lovjoy and Lisa Mihalopoulos for chaperoning the youth to the Kalahari. God Bless You!!!

19 POINSETTIA DONATIONS Offered by Steve and Nancy Pyevich in memory of Todor and Danica Pyevich and Draginja Krajnovic Offered by Colette Spurgetis in memory of Theodore Spurgetis Offered by Tom Lingris and Judy Larson for the health of their families Offered by Deno and Ann Kandis for the health of Frances Kandis and Jim Minas Offered by Frances Kandis in memory of Bill Kandis Offered by the Lovejoy family in memory of Lee, Alyce and James Dokolas Offered by Scott and Georgia Photiadis in memory of the Bourboulas Family Offered by Scott and Georgia Photiades for the health of their family Offered by Tom Gregory in memory of Peter Gregory Offered by Litsa Gregory for the health of her family (2 poinsettias) Offered by Ludmilla Cherevko in memory of Nickolaus Sluz Offered by Victor and Judy Cherevko in memory of Halina and Andrei Offered by the St. Thomas Indian Orthodox Congregation for the Health of the Parishioners (3 poinsettias) Offered by the Chirackal family in memory of George and Kunjamma Kavadhiyil Offered by the Constantinou family for the health of their family Offered by George and Sherry Kontos for the health of George and Helen Kontos Offered by George and Sherry Kontos for the health of Agnes Reed Offered by Mary Giovanis in memory of Helen Karas (2 poinsettias) Offered by Mary Giovanis for the health of her family Offered by the Lubbers family for the health of their family Offered by Celia Lubbers in memory of her grandparents Offered by George Bagatelas for the health of the Bagatelas family Offered by Michael and Roseanne Monn for the health of their family (2 poinsettias) Offered by Michael and Roseanne Monn in memory of James, Anna, Angela, Helen and Peter (3 poinsettias) Offered by Mike and Helen Haney in memory of Arthur and Rita Mihalopoulos Offered by Mike and Liz Gorman in memory of Rita and Arthur Mihalopoulos Offered by Kathy and Chris Panouses in memory of Pete Panouses Offered by Chris and Helen Petaros in memory of Kathy Petaros Stamatis Offered by Stacy Olvera in memory of Bill Panouses Offered by Terry and Maria Kotrogiannis for the health of Elee Kotrogiannis Offered by Terry and Maria Kotrogiannis for the health of Mia Kotrogiannis Offered by Sophia Mihalopoulos for the health of her family Offered by Dr. Steve and Aimee Arvanitis for the health of their family Offered by Dr. Steve and Aimee Arvanitis for the health of John Arvanitis Offered by George and Nancy Polios for the health of their family Offered by Mike and Terri Kandis for the health of their family

20 ROOF DONATIONS DONATIONS HAVE PAID FOR HALF A ROOF!!! LET US NOW PAY FOR THE OTHER HALF!!! A few parishioners have mentioned that they have not yet been asked to contribute for the roof repair and that once asked they would make a contribution. And a verse from the Bible came to mind, "And I have also given you what you have not asked: both riches and honor, so that there shall not be anyone like you among the kings all your days. (1 Kings 3:13) We all have the riches of Kings bestowed upon us for death has been conquered and life bestowed. Let us not wait to be asked, but give freely, for: A fool will offer nothing but insult, and a grudging gift makes the eyes smart. (Sirach 18:18) Call Sherry Kontos or Celia Lubbers today!!! HOME BLESSINGS Following Epiphany Fr. Jon will be blessing the homes and business of the Parishioners who so request. If you would like your home or business blessed, please call the church ASAP to be put on the list. A schedule will be created after all requests have been received.

21 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)

22 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 Dr. Steve, Aimee, Nick and Zoe Arvanitis 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 Miltos, Cathy and Harikleia Diakogeorgiou The Family of George and Georgia Eleftheropoulos George and Maria Georgiadis 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 Sakis Padazopoulos Spiro and Carol Pappaspiros Christ and Helen Petaros Scott and Georgia Photiades Jimmy Pliakos Steve and Nancy Pyevich In Memory of Nickolaus Sluz St. Thomas Indian Orthodox Congregation Jim and Kristel Stopoulos 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).

23 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. Advantage Pest Control Servicing Assumption for 2 years Call Steve Today! See your ad here!!! June 12 and 13 at the Assumption Church 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) Old & New Testament Orthodox Study Bible! 1st Shipment SOLD OUT List $ $9 S&H Your Price $42!!!

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