The MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF THE HOLY TAXIARHAI AND SAINT HARALAMBOS GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH 7373 CALDWELL AVENUE, NILES, ILLINOIS 60714 PHONE (847) 647-8880 WWW.SAINTHARALASMBOSGOC.ORG PHASE 3 - - - On the Move! We are pleased to announce that a contract was signed on Friday, September 12, 2014 with Bill Kokalias of Axios Architects and Consultants, Ltd for the design of our new Phase 3 Gymnasium and the expansion of our Community Center! Pictured are Bill Kokalias, Architect, Fr. Dean Botsis, Fr. George Lamberis and Perry Giannopoulos, Parish Council President.
WORSHIP SCHEDULE November 2014 Sat. Nov 1 Ss. Cosmas and Damianos 8:30 am Orthros and Liturgy Sunday, November 2 9:30 am Sunday 9:45 am Divine Liturgy Friday, November 7 7:00 pm Great Vespers for the Holy Taxiarhai Saturday, November 8 The Holy Archangels 8:30 am Orthros, Divine Liturgy Sunday, November 9 St. Nectarios 9:30 am Sunday 9:45 am Divine Liturgy Thursday, Nov 13 St. John Chrysostom 8:30 am Orthros and Divine Liturgy Sunday, November 16 9:30 am Sunday 9:45 am Divine Liturgy Friday, November 21 Entrance of the Theotokos 8:30 am Orthros and Divine Liturgy Sunday, November 23 9:30 am Sunday 9:45 am Divine Liturgy Tuesday, November 25 St. Catherine 8:30 am Orthros and Divine Liturgy Thursday, morning, November 27 9:00 am Pan-Orthodox Divine Liturgy At Holy Virgin Protection Russian Orthodox Cathedral 1800 Lee Street in Des Plaines Sunday, November 30 St. Andrew Family Worship 9:45 am Divine Liturgy 2014 STEWARDSHIP As of OCTOBER 15, 658 stewards have committed $335,540.00 Have you become a 2014 Steward yet? OUR SISTER COMMUNITY OF ST NECTARIOS in Palatine invites you to Great Vespers at 7:00 pm on Saturday evening, November 8th in honor of the Feastday of St. Nectarios, and to Divine Liturgy the morning of Saturday, November 9. (Of course, Liturgy WILL be celebrated at St. Haralambos on Sunday, Nov 9.) THE MONASTIC COMMUNITY OF ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM in Pleasant Prairie, WI invites you to Great Vespers on Wednesday evening, Nov 12, in honor of the Feastday of St. John Chrysostom, and the Divine Liturgy on Thursday morning, Nov 13. (Liturgy WILL be celebrated on Wednesday, Nov 13 at St. Haralambos.) OUR SISTER COMMUNITY OF ST ANDREW in Chicago invites you to Great Vespers at 7:00 pm on Saturday evening, November 29th in honor of the Feastday of St. Andrew, and to Divine Liturgy the morning of Sunday, November 30. (Liturgy WILL be celebrated at St. Haralambos on Sunday, Nov 30.) SACRAMENTS AND BLESSINGS BLESSINGS OF INFANTS Forty days after birth, a child and its mother come to church to receive a 40 Day Blessing, imitating Christ who was presented in the Temple 40 days after He was born. Please call the church office to arrange this blessing. BAPTISMS Please call the church office to schedule Baptisms. Plan ahead! there are some days when Baptisms are not performed. Keep in mind that there should be only one Godparent and that a child is supposed to be given one name when he or she is baptized. WEDDINGS Please arrange an appointment with Fr. Dean at least eight months before the proposed wedding date to allow time for all necessary marriage preparation. CONFESSION Confessions are arranged by appointment. Please call the church office to schedule Confession. MINISTRY TO PERSONS WHO ARE SICK Orthodox Christians who would like to receive Holy Sacraments but are unable to attend church (hospitalized or at home) should contact the church office so Holy Sacraments can be administered to them. Please inform the church office if your loved one is hospitalized! Most hospitals no longer inform us when they receive patients from our parish. MEMORIAL SERVICES Memorial Services are offered for the eternal rest of persons who have fallen asleep in the Lord. Customarily, these services are offered at 40 days, at 6 months, at 1 year and at 3 years. When three years have passed, the departed are more properly remembered on the Saturdays of the Souls. DID YOU KNOW?... OUR CHURCH S TEACHING ABOUT CREMATION The New Testament teaches that the body is the Temple of the Holy Spirit. The body is further sanctified by the incarnation of Christ God becoming Man in the body. Consistent with this teaching, the body is an integral part of the whole person, and the Church teaches and expects the resurrection from the dead of the body and the soul, when God s Kingdom comes in its fullness. The Church considers cremation to be the deliberate desecration and destruction of what God has made, and insists that the body be buried for the natural process to take place. As the denial of the resurrection, in cases where there is intention for the body of a deceased person to be cremated, a church funeral is not allowed, either in the church, or the Funeral home or any other place. Additionally, memorial services with kolyva are not allowed, since the significance between the kernel of wheat and the body has been intentionally destroyed. 2
HOLY TAXIARHAI AND SAINT HARALAMBOS GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH 7373 CALDWELL AVENUE, NILES, ILLINOIS 60714 PHONE: 847/647-8880 From Father Dean November 2014 Dear Stewards and Friends, At our Consecration just over a year ago, we were consecrated to God along with our church. As we reflect on this event, do we find myself wondering if our Consecration, which is eternal, has worn off? Do we live and walk with the awareness that we BELONG to God? Do we pursue holiness not only as a goal but as a way of life? Do we love and forgive one another or hold on to hate and jealousy? I look around and see some things that worry me. I hope I m wrong but there seems to be a high level of indifference about our faith, our future and one another. When we don t bring our children to church and other faith and culture-related events, are we not guaranteeing their extinction? If we are indifferent about our own personal spiritual growth, are we not sending our children a signal that we think such things are not important? Our Church is a giant baptismal font where we repeatedly are cleansed and renewed. God gave us this because He knows our needs, and does not want our holiness to wear off. Church fathers consider the Church to be a hospital where we go for healing and recovery. It is a place of love. I know the human element of the hospital is not perfect and that we may have let each other down at times, but I want you also to know that we are always trying to do our best to serve the needs of all the faithful. Turn to the Church! Do not hesitate to call! An observation: When our relatives are in the hospital, why do we wait till they are near death before calling the priest? I have heard people say that they will be afraid if they see the priest. NONSENSE! They will be happy to see the priest! And if the priest is called when they are still clear-headed, the priest may actually be able to provide true comfort and peace. Why become stewards of the church if we do not turn to the church when we need it? Let us renew our understanding of the church, its meaning and its ministry, and of our role as laypeople and clergy. It is God s desire that every one be saved. We BELONG to Him! It is our honor to be His hands and eyes and mouth, that His love be expressed through us! And now it is November! Please keep these holidays and events in mind! The Feastday of the Holy Taxiarchs Michael and Gabriel with Great Vespers on Friday evening, November 7, and Divine Liturgy on Sat, November 8. Our Christmas Bazaar, November 21-22. The Philoptochos is hard at work Home made pastries, gifts, jewelry, lunch, dinner and a special visitor. Tell your friends! Our annual Men s Event on Wednesday evening, November 27 at the Fountain Blue. The Pan-Orthodox Thanksgiving Liturgy on Thanksgiving MORNING, at the Holy Virgin Protection Russian Orthodox Cathedral, 1800 Lee Street in Des Plaines. The actual Liturgy will begin at 9:00 am and we hope you will join in. This is truly the right way to begin celebrating Thanksgiving. (And the Russian Cathedral is nearby!) The Gift/Toy Drive for Foster children under the care of DCFS. We hope that you will support us again this year! The Christmas Fast begins November 15. Before we know it, the Holidays will be here, and we will all be saying, It came so fast! I m not ready! Fr. Dean 3 HOLY TAXIARHAI AND SAINT HARALAMBOS GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH NILES, ILLINOIS Proistamenos...Fr. Constantine P. Botsis Synefimerios....Fr. George Lamberis Pastoral Assistant...... Deacon John G. Suhayda Chanter........Nick Harisiadis Parish Council Officers President........ Perry Giannopoulos Vice President....... Nick Andrews Treasurer..... David Loomos Secretary...... Argy Koutsikos Strategic Planning... Perry Giannopoulos Stewardship.. Budget Committee Chairman...Perry Giannopoulos Building & Grounds Chairman.. Michael Pontikes and Theodoros Karabatsos Decor Committee Chairman...Stephan Aliferakis Finance Committee Chairman...George Kotsionis Outreach Committee....John :Pierce Phase III Chairman... Board Chairman......Tom Zavos Audit Committee Chairman...Evan Houpis.. Philoptochos President......Maria Dimitriou PTA Co-Presidents (Afternoon ).......Anna Sikoral and Kathy Ioannidis PTA President (Preschool)......Marianna Memmos and Natasha Palmisano PTA Co-Presidents (Saturday )......Angelo Mihalopoulos and Georgia Pipikios Greek Principal... Mrs. Anastasia Liapi Saturday Director...Mrs. Andrianna Panayiotou Preschool Director.......Mrs. Rita Petratos Sunday Director...Presvytera Georgia Botsis Athletic Director....... David Loomos Scoutmaster....... George Alpogianis Asst Scoutmaster.......Sam Parmakis Asst Cubmaster...... John Frake Little Angels... Mrs. Tasia Liapis YAL President......Christina Pappadis GOYA President... Vasiliki Karabatsos Jr. Goya Advisor.. Jolynn Ruggerio Bookstore Manager..... Jolynn Ruggerio Web Master............. George Houpis Office Staff..Barbara Skaouris and Alexandra Grivas Maintenance Staff.Juan Caro and Carolina Contreras IN THIS ISSUE: Letter from our Priest (pg 3) Announcements/Ανακοινώσεις (pp 4-5) Family Christmas Retreat (pg 6) Christmas Bazaar (pg 7) Pan Orthodox Thanksgiving (pg 8) Feed my Hungry Children photos (pg 9) Calendar (pg 10)
ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CHRISTMAS GIFT/TOY DRIVE FOR FOSTER CHIL- DREN Again this year, the Orthodox Christian parishes of Chicago are collecting new toys and gifts to be given to foster children under the DCFS of Cook County. St. Haralambos has volunteered to provide for 175 children this year! Pick up Gift Forms today! Gifts should be returned by NOVEMBER 30th. Plan to support this worthy cause! Family CHRISTMAS RETREAT Plan to come with your family to our Family Christmas Retreat on Saturday, November 15, beginning at 12:30 pm. There will be discussions for children and for adults, as well as crafts, projects and food. WE look forward to seeing you there! PAN-ORTHODOX THANKSGIVING DAY LITURGY will take place at the Protection of the Holy Theotokos Russian Orthodox Cathedral, 1800 Lee Street in Des Plaines at 9:00 am on THANKSGIVING MORNING, Thursday, November 27. This Divine Liturgy is sponsored by The Orthodox Christian Clergy Association of Chicago & by SYNERGY, giving all of us the opportunity to celebrate an "American" holiday in an Orthodox way, together with fellow Orthodox Christians from different backgrounds. The outstanding Cathedral choir will sing the responses, and we urge you to attend this beautiful service! All are welcomed! PHILOPTOCHOS HOLIDAY BAZAAR The St. Haralambos Philoptochos will be hosting its annual Holiday Bazaar this fall, on November 21-22. Take some time, if you can, to sew an apron, make some Christmas decorations, knit a baby blanket or do some needlepoint or crocheting. These are the kinds of things that are needed for our Bazaar! Lots of help will be needed! Please call the church office to offer your help. By working together, we can have a most successful Bazaar! PHILOPTOCHOS CHRISTMAS PARTY The ladies of our St. Haralambos Philoptochos will have their annual Christmas Dinner Party on Monday evening, December 8 at the Chateau Ritz. The reception hour will begin at 6:00 and Dinner will be a 7:00. Bring a friend! And don t forget to make reservations! MEN'S SOCIAL EVENT Our Annual Men's Social event will take place on Wednesday evening, the 26th of November. Watch for more information! THANKSGIVING RAFFLE is being sponsored by the St. Haralambos Morning PTA! 5 Grand Prize Thanksgiving Turkey Baskets will be given away! Tickets are only $1 (or 6 for $5), and the drawing will take place Sunday, November 23 after church services. Please support our PTA! HEAVEN ON EARTH The Art Institute of Chicago (111 S. Michigan Avenue in Chicago) is featuring an exhibit called Heaven and Earth: Art of Byzantium from Greek Collections, until February 15, 2015. More than 60 artworks icons, sculptures, textiles, glass and silver from museums throughout Greece! This is a special opportunity and we encourage you to visit the Art Institute. GEORGE DALARAS CONCERT to benefit our Metropolis Camp and Retreat Center will take place Sunday evening, Nov 30 at the Harris Theater (205 E. Randolph Drive) in Chicago! For tickets, call 312-334-7777 or visit harristheaterchicago.org PAN-HELLENIC SCHOLARSHIP The PanHellenic Scholarship Foundation is currently accepting applications from eligible Greek American undergraduate students. Scholarships are offered at two levels: Twenty (20) Awards of $10,000 each based on academic achievement and financial need Twenty (20) Awards of $2,500 each based solely on academic achievement Visit Panhellenicscholarships.org for application information! Application deadline is January 31, 2015. PRAY FOR Greek Orthodox Metropolitan Paul Yazigi and Syriac Orthodox Archbishop John Ibrahim, both of Aleppo, Syria, who were kidnapped April 22, 2013. Twenty months have passed, and their location and well-being remain unknown. STEWARDSHIP FOR 2014: LIKE THE THREE WISE MEN, WE OFFER OUR GIFTS TO THE LORD Through our Stewardship offering, we empower our Church to minister its sacred duty of forgiveness, healing and salvation. As the Three Magi offered their gifts to Christ, we are called to imitate them and to offer our own gifts to Him and His Church. At the same time, we become the beneficiaries of our own generosity! Did you know that we need every steward to increase their level of giving, even if it s only a few dollars, every year in order for Stewardship to be successful? Please set a level of giving that is a reflection of your love for God and of your appreciation for the blessings and benefits you derive from your Church. There is no minimum, but true stewardship means proportional giving giving in proportion to our resources and income. Let us become good stewards through our devotion, love and generosity. Your heartfelt Stewardship support is vital to the progress of our church and community. Have you become a 2014 steward yet? 4
ΕΝΟΡΙΑΚΕΣ ΑΝΑΚΟΙΝΩΣΕΙΣ ΩΡΑ ΓΙΑ ΘΕΤΑ ΠΑΙ ΙΑ Οι Ορθόδοξες Χριστιανικές ενορίες της περιφέρειας Σικάγο συγκεντρώνουν και πάλιν εφέτος Χριστουγεννιάτικα καινούργια δώρα για θετά παιδιά υπό την αιγίδα του OC- CA. Η ενορία του Αγίου Χαραλάµπους ανέλαβε να δώση δώρα σε 175 παιδιά! Για περισσότερες πληροφορίες επικοινωνείτε µε το γραφείο της εκκλησίας. Τα δώρα πρέπει να συγκεντρωθούν από 25-30 Νοεµβρίου! ΧΡIΣΤΟΥΓΕΝΝIΑΤIΚΟ ΠΑΖΑΡI ΤΗΣ ΦIΛΟΠΤΩΧΟΥ 16-17 ΝΟΕΜΒΡΙΟΥ Η Φιλόπτωχoς πρoετoιµάζει τo Χριστoυγεvvιάτικo Παζάρι δια τις 21-22 Νoεµβρίoυ 2014. Χρειάζεται µεγάλη βoήθεια! Παρακαλoύµε τηλεφωvήσατε στo γραφείο της εκκλησίας δια περισσότερες πληρoφoρίες και εαν θέλετε να προσφέρετε την βοήθειά σας. Οταv εργασθoύµε όλoι µαζί, θα έχoυµε έvα πoλύ επιτυχηµέvo Παζάρι! Ένας µήνας έµεινε! STEWARDSHIP 2014 ΌΠΩΣ ΟΙ ΤΡΕΙΣ ΜΑΓΟΙ, ΠΡΟΣΦΕΡΟΥΜΕ ΚΙ ΕΜΕΙΣ ΤΑ ΩΡΑ ΜΑΣ ΣΤΟΝ ΧΡΙΣΤΟΝ ια µέσω του stewardship µας, καθιστούµε ικανή την εκκλησία µας να εκτελέσει το ιερό έργο της συγχώρησης, της θεραπείας, και σωτηρίας. Όπως οι Τρεις Μάγοι προσέφεραν τα δώρα τους στο Χριστό, ηµείς καλούµεθα να µιµηθούµε τους Μάγους και να προσφέρουµε τα δικά µας δώρα στο Χριστό, να ενδυναµώσουµε την εκκλησία µας. Και συγχρόνως είµεθα εµείς που επωφελούµεθα από την γενναοδωρία µας! Ας γίνουµε καλοί stewards, µε την αφοσίωση µας, την αγάπη και την γενναοδωρία µας! Έχετε γραφτεί ακόµη δια τον 2014; ΠΕΡΙ ΕΚΚΛΗΣΙΑΤΙΚΩΝ ΕΥΧΩΝ ΚΑΙ ΜΥΣΤΗΡΙΩΝ ΕΥΧΕΣ ΝΕΟΓΕΝΝΗΤΩΝ ΤΕΚΝΩΝ--Κάθε µάνα και το παιδί της, σαράντα ηµέρες µετά την γέννησή του προσέρχονται στην εκκλησία για να λάβουν την Ευλογία των 40 Ηµερών, κατά µίµησην του Ιησού Χριστού ο οποίος παρουσιάσθηκε στον Ιερόν Ναόν σαράντα ηµέρες µετά την γέννησή του. Παρακαλούµε τηλεφωνείτε στο γραφείο της εκκλησίας για να κανονίσετε την ευλογία αυτή. ΒΑΠΤΙΣΕΙΣ Παρακαλούµε όπως τηλεφωνείτε στο γραφείο της εκκλησίας δια να προγραµµατίσετε Βαπτίσεις. Σχεδιάστε πολύ ενωρίτερα!-υπάρχουν µερικές µέρες που δεν γίνονται βαπτίσεις. ΓΑΜΟΙ-Παρακαλούµε όπως κανονίζετε συνάντηση µε τον π. Κωνσταντίνο τουλάχιστον οκτώ µήνες πριν την προτεινόµενη ηµεροµηνία του γάµου δια τις απαιτούµενες προετοιµασίες. ΕΞΟΜΟΛΟΓΗΣΗ Οι Εξοµολογήσεις κανονίζονται κατόπιν ραντεβού. ια να προγραµµατίσετε εξοµολογήσεις, παρακαλούµε τηλεφωνείτε στο γραφείο της εκκλησίας. ΜΕΡΙΜΝΑ ΑΡΡΩΣΤΩΝ Ορθόδοξοι Χριστιανοί που θα ήθελαν να λάβουν τα Άγια Μυστήρια και δεν µπορούν να έλθουν στην εκκλησία (βρίσκονται εις νοσοκοµεία ή ανήµποροι εις τα σπίτια τους) παρακαλούνται να επικοινωνούν µε το γραφείο της εκκλησίας δια να µπορέσουν να τα λάβουν. Παρακαλούµε να επικοινωνείτε µε το γραφείο της εκκλησίας εαν κάποιος συγγενής σας είναι στο νοσοκοµείο! Τα νοσοκοµεία πλέον δεν µας πληροφορούν όταν έχουν αρρώστους από την ενορία µας. ΜΝΗΜΟΣΥΝΑ Επιµνηµόσυνες δεήσεις γίνονται για την αιώνιον ανάπαυση των τεθνεώντων. Συνήθως, αυτές οι δεήσεις γίνονται κατά τις 40 ηµέρες, τους 6 µήνες, τον 1 ον χρόνο και τον 3 ον χρόνο. Όταν έχουν περάσει τρία χρόνια, είναι πιο αρµόζον να ενθυµούµεθα τους αποθανόντας κατά τα Ψυχοσάββατα. 5
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November 2014 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 ANARGYROI 8:30-Orthros and Liturgy 9:00 am-saturday Greek 1:00 Board Mtg 2 9:30 am Sunday 9:45 am Divine Liturgy 3 5:30 Fam Nite 7:30-Sr. GOYA 4 11:30 am Little Angels Playgroup 4:30 pm Greek 7:30-Bible Study 5 7:30 pm Philoptochos Mtg 6 7 4:30 pm Greek 7:00-Great Vespers 8 THE HOLY TAXIARCHS 8:30-Orthros and Liturgy 9 ST. NECTARIOS 9:30 am Sunday 9:45 am Divine Liturgy 10 THANKSGIVING BASKETS: 6:30-Jr. GOYA 7:30 Sr. GOYA 11 VETERANS DAY 11:30 am Little Angels Playgroup 4:30 pm Greek 12 13 ST JOHN CHRYSOSTOM 8:30 am-orthros and Liturgy 14 4:30 pm Greek Fall Dance Party 15 9:00 am-saturday Greek 1:00 -YOUTH CHRISTMAS RETREAT 16 9:30 am Sunday 9:45 am Divine Liturgy 17 18 11:30 am Little Angels Playgroup 4:30 pm Greek 7:30-Bible Study 19 7:30 pm Parish Council Mtg 20 21 EISODIA 8:30-Orthros/Liturgy 22 (No ) 23 9:30 am Sunday 9:45 am Divine Liturgy 24 25 ST CATHERINE 8:30 am-orthros and Liturgy 4:30 pm Greek 7:30-Bible Study 26 7:00 pm- Men s Event 27 THANKS- GIVING DAY Outreach Project 28 (No ) 29 (No ) 30 Saint ANDREW 9:30 am Sunday 9:45 am Divine Liturgy GENERAL ASSEMBLY 10
Saint Haralambos 2014 MEN S EVENT Wednesday, November 26 7:00pm Cocktails 8:00pm Dinner The Fountain Blue 2300 S Mannheim Road Des Plaines, IL Every 10th ticket is a winner! Grand prize is $3000! Join us for an evening of good food, good company, and a chance to win the BIG PRIZE! HOLY TAXIARHAI AND SAINT HARALAMBOS GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH 7373 CALDWELL AVENUE NILES, IL 60714-4503 Address Service Requested