Agape News August 2010

Agape News August 2010

PARISH LIFE IV 2 0 1 0

PASTORAL MESSAGE Dear Parishioners, When Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and she exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! This testament from the Gospel of Luke shows us that before St. John the Baptist s birth, he was already preparing the way of the Lord. Before he was taken from the womb, the womb became a place of worship for in the womb he bowed to the Lord. This witness was a proclamation for his mother that compelled her to recognize the Λόγος, Christ the Word, being brought before her. This moment was not only a moment of revelation of Christ in her womb, but a moment in which the Virgin Mary became the mother to Elizabeth, who raised the Virgin Mary when she lived in the temple, and in fact the mother of all. Mary, the betrothed one, who dedicated her life to virginity, through whose virgin womb brought forth the Savior, stood before the one whose womb was opened after 50 years of marriage to bring forth the forerunner, John the Baptist! Thus it is with this understanding that we proclaim the Apolytikion of the Dormition: In birth, you preserved your virginity; in death, you did not abandon the world, O Theotokos. As mother of life, you departed to the source of life, delivering our souls from death by your intercessions. Let this not be only the proclamation of the of the choir or the Priest, but your own personal proclamation. A proclamation of the heart and body through fasting and prayer for 14 days and feasting on the 15th of August. In His Service, Rev. Father Jon Boukis Proistamenos

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION Blessing of the Backpacks On September 19, we will hold a special Agiasmos Service (Blessing of the Water) for the Blessing of the classrooms and the school year. The children are invited to come up on the solea with their backpacks, school books or just themselves to be blessed for a healthy and prosperous year of education. Don t miss it!!! First Day of Sunday School Religious Education will begin on Sunday, September 19, 2010. 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. Religious Education and Spiritual Formation Announcing: Family Religious Education Retreats This year the Religious Education Program (Sunday School) of the Assumption Church will take the best of weekly classes and lunch and learning and will return to a more traditional approach of Sunday Classes following Holy Communion with a twist: 4 times during the year there will be Sunday Retreats with Fr. Jon for the whole family. It s the best of both programs! Watch the Agape News for further details. Contact: Fr. Jon (309)792-2912

PHILOPTOCHOS NEWS Philoptochos Luncheon On Saturday, September 18 th, our Philoptochos will go to Chicago for the Annual Philoptochos Metropolis Luncheon. If you would like to attend, please contact Litsa Gregory. 1 st Meeting of the Year!!! The Philoptochos will have its 1 st meeting of the year on Sunday, September 5 th, following the Coffee Hour. Please make this meeting a priority. ANNUAL RUMMAGE SALE Friday, August 13 th & Saturday, August 14 th 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Great Items from Over 50 Households! Kids Clothes Home Furnishings Knick Knacks Kitchen Items Seasonal Decor Books Toys and much, much more! Please bring your unwanted treasures (and all your extra shopping bags) to the Sunday School Rooms. Contact: Litsa Gregory (309)755-0164

FESTIVAL MEETING On Thursday, August 12, at 7pm a meeting will be held to discuss ideas to change and improve the Greek Cultural Festival. In addition, the group will discuss other events that may be held in addition to, or in place of the festival. Due to declining involvement by the membership in the planning and coordination of the festival, the Parish Council is actively considering discontinuing the event. Members in good standing with the church are welcome to attend. The meeting will be held in the church hall. Parish Council Festival Focus Committee YOUTH FELLOWSHIP Ionian Village Pizza & Picture Share On Sunday, August 15, at 5:00pm, all of us who went to IV will be getting together at the Lubbers home to share our pictures and have some pizza. The invitation to come and see is open to all youth - those who went and those who didn t. Come and see the beauty of Orthodoxy at work! Youth Mini-Golf On August 28, at 11:30am, all kids and their families are invited to come to River Valley Golf on John Deere road for a group game of Putt-Putt. Come one, come all, and enjoy each other s fellowship. (Cost will be actual cost at the course) Contact: Fr. Jon (309)792-2912

WHAT S STEWARDSHIP? Everything we have comes from God - our time, our talents and our treasures. This means that our gifts that we use in our daily lives all are from God, whether it be the gift of teaching or healing, motivating or counseling, or even just walking, listening or seeing. Stewardship is giving back to God a portion of what he has given to us. This means volunteering of our talents and time as well as our resources. According to the bible, the standard for the tithe is 10%. As in Genesis: Jacob then made this vow, 'If God remains with me and keeps me safe on this journey I am making, if he gives me food to eat and clothes to wear, and if I come home safe to my father's home, then Yahweh shall be my God. This stone I have set up as a pillar is to be a house of God, and I shall faithfully pay you a tenth part of everything you give me.' Genesis 28:20-22 Not all have the spiritual maturity to offer the full tithe, but with effort, we can build together by starting at a lesser offering. First, make a decision that is achievable, yet a true sacrifice. Second, make it official by stating your intentions with a pledge. Third, make your offering weekly so it isn t overwhelming. Inch by inch - it s a cinch; yard by yard - it s hard! If your annual family income is Then your annual pledge would be $20,000 $40,000 $60,000 $80,000 $100,000 2% $400 $800 $1,200 $1,600 $2,000 4% $800 $1,600 $2,400 $3,200 $4,000 6% $1,200 $2,400 $3,600 $4,800 $6,000 8% $1,600 $3,200 $4,800 $6,400 $8,000 10% $2,000 $4,000 $6,000 $8,000 $10,000 This may seem like a lot But it s not if you look at it as weekly It s really not... $20,000 $40,000 $60,000 $80,000 $100,000 2% $7.70 $15.40 $23.08 $30.77 $38.46 4% $15.40 $30.77 $46.15 $61.54 $76.92 6% $23.08 $46.15 $69.23 $92.31 $115.38 8% $30.77 $61.54 $92.31 $123.08 $153.85 10% $38.46 $76.92 $115.38 $153.85 $192.31

RESTAURANT CIRCLE Come experience what everyone s talking about! The Assumption Restaurant Circle will meet each month at a new restaurant with new and different food options. There will be no planned menus, no fixed costs and no obligations - just good food, good fun and great company! 6:30pm on Saturday, August 28 th Osaka Japanese Steakhouse 4707 16th Street Moline, Illinois All you have to do is RSVP to the Church by August 26 th so that we can make a reservation and then show up. ORTHODOX BIBLE STUDY ORTHODOX BIBLE STUDY The Orthodox Bible Study will begin again in September and will meet on Monday Evenings from 6:00pm-7:30pm 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!!!

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)792-2912 Home: (309)796-3734

THE HOLY TRANSFIGURATION Celebrated August 6 Our Lord had spoken to His disciples many times not only concerning His Passion, Cross, and Death, but also concerning the coming persecutions and afflictions that they themselves would endure. Since all these evils were near at hand, but the enjoyment of good things which they hoped to receive in their stead was yet to come, our Savior desired to give them full assurance, evidently and openly, concerning that glory which is prepared for those who endure to the end. Therefore, fulfilling that which He had promised shortly before, that "there be some standing here which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in His Kingdom" (Matt. 16:28), He took His three foremost disciples and ascended Mount Tabor, where He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became white as the light. Suddenly, together with this dread and marvelous effulgence of light, there appeared those pinnacles of the Prophets, Moses and Elias, who spoke with the Lord Jesus concerning His saving Passion which was about to take place. Standing before Him as reverent servants, they showed that He is the Lord of both the living and the dead, for Moses came forth from Hades, having died many centuries before, and Elias, as it were from heaven, whither he had been taken up while yet alive. After a little while a radiant cloud overshadowed them and out of the cloud they heard that same voice which had been heard at the Jordan at the Baptism of Christ, testifying to the Divinity of Jesus and saying: "This is My beloved Son, in Whom I am well-pleased; hear ye Him"(Mt. 17: 5). Such are the marvels, truly worthy of God, celebrated in this present feast, which is an image and prefiguring of the future state of the righteous, whose splendor the Lord spoke of, saying: "Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun" (Matt. 13:43). It is because of this that the Kontakion of this Feast is said daily (when there is not a great feast) in the Service of the Typica in perpetual commemoration of the glory that will be the lot of the Saints. According to tradition, the Lord's Transfiguration came to pass forty days before His Crucifixion; this is why the Transfiguration is celebrated forty days before the Exaltation of the Cross.

BEHEADING OF THE FORERUNNER Celebrated August 29 The divine St John the Baptist, who by many miracles was both conceived and born; who was filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother's womb: sealed with his own blood the truth of his words and was made a sacred victim for the divine Law at the hands of a transgressor. This was Herod Antipas, the Tetrarch of Galilee, the son of Herod the Great. This man had a lawful wife, the daughter of Arethas (or Aretas), the King of Arabia. Without any cause, and against every commandment of the Law, he put her away and took to himself Herodias, the wife of his deceased brother Philip, to whom Herodias had borne a daughter, Salome. He would not desist from this unlawful union even when John, the preacher of repentance, the bold and austere accuser of the lawless, censured him and told him, "It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife" (Mark 6: 18). Thus Herod, besides his other unholy acts, added yet this, that he apprehended John and shut him in prison; and perhaps he would have killed him straightway, had he not feared the people, who had extreme reverence for John. Certainly, in the beginning, he himself had great reverence for this just and holy man. But finally, being pierced with the sting of a mad lust for the woman Herodias, he laid his defiled hands on the teacher of purity on the very day he was celebrating his birthday. When Salome, Herodias' daughter, had danced in order to please him and those who were supping with him, he promised her -- with an oath more foolish than any foolishness -- that he would give her anything she asked, even unto the half of his kingdom. And she, consulting with her mother, straightway asked for the head of John the Baptist in a charger. Hence this transgressor of the Law, preferring his lawless oath above the precepts of the Law, fulfilled this godless promise and filled his loathsome banquet with the blood of the Prophet. So it was that that all-venerable head, revered by the Angels, was given as a prize for an abominable dance, and became the plaything of the dissolute daughter of a debauched mother. As for the body of the divine Baptist, it was taken up by his disciples and placed in a tomb (Mark 6: 21-29).

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

SERVICE SCHEDULE August 1 Sunday 10th Sunday of Matthew 9:00 a.m. Orthros 10:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy August 2 Monday Small Paraklesis Service (7:00 p.m.) August 4 Wednesday Small Paraklesis Service (7:00 p.m.) August 6 Friday Great Feast of the Holy Transfiguration 9:30 a.m. Orthros 10:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy (Blessing of the Grapes) August 8 Sunday 11th Sunday of Matthew 9:00 a.m. Orthros 10:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy August 9 Monday Small Paraklesis Service (7:00 p.m.) August 11 Wednesday Small Paraklesis Service (7:00 p.m.) August 13 Friday Small Paraklesis Service (7:00 p.m.) August 14 Saturday Eve of the Great Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos (Church Nameday) 7:00 p.m. Great Vespers, Artoklasia and Reception August 15 Sunday Great Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos (Church Nameday) 9:00 a.m. Orthros 10:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy (followed by Artoklasia) August 22 Sunday 13th Sunday of Matthew 9:00 a.m. Orthros 10:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy August 29 Sunday Beheading of St. John the Baptist 9:30 a.m. Orthros 10:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy

A U G U S T 2 0 1 0 CHURCH. Sunday Monday Tuesday 10th Sunday of Matthew Orthros 9:00am Divine Liturgy 10:00am Family Worship Coffee Hour 11th Sunday of Matthew Orthros 9:00am Divine Liturgy 10:00am Family Worship Coffee Hour 1 8 15 Dormition of the Theotokos Orthros 9:00am Divine Liturgy 10:00am Artoklasia Family Worship Feastday Luncheon 5:00pm - IV Picture Share 13th Sunday of Matthew Orthros 9:00am Divine Liturgy 10:00am Family Worship Coffee Hour Beheading of John the Baptist Orthros 9:00am Divine Liturgy 10:00am Family Worship Coffee Hour 22 29 Paraklesis Service 7:00pm 2 9 Rummage Setup 10am Paraklesis Service 7:00pm Greek Cultural Festival 4th Annual Golf Tournament at TPC Deere Run Prayer Service 9:00am at the East Moline Correctional Center 3 10 Rummage Setup 10am 16 17 23 24 Prayer Service 9:00am at the East Moline Correctional Center 30 31

CALENDAR Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Paraklesis Service 7:00pm 4 5 6 Great Feast of the Holy Transfiguration Orthros 9:30am Divine Liturgy 10:00am Blessing of the Grapes Assumption Garden Club Courtyard Clean-up Prep for Feastday 10:00am 7 11 Rummage Setup 10am 12 Rummage Setup 10am 13 Rummage Sale 9:00am - 2:00pm Rummage Sale 9:00am - 2:00pm 14 Paraklesis Service 7:00pm 7:00pm - Parish Council Festival Focus Meeting Paraklesis Service 7:00pm Church Feastday Great Vespers 7:00pm 18 19 6:00pm - Mandatory Presiding Priest and Parish Council President s Meeting at St. John the Baptist in Des Plaines, IL 20 21 Feastday Celebration Beginning at 5:00pm 25 26 27 28 Youth Mini-Golf River Valley Golf 11:30am 6:30pm - Parish Council Meeting Restaurant Circle Osaka Japan 6:30pm Fasting Symbols Strict Fast Wine and Oil Allowed Fish Allowed Fast Free

ΠΡΟΓΡΑΜΜΑ ΙΕΡΩΝ ΑΚΟΛΟΥΘΙΩΝ 1 Αυγούστου Κυριακή Κυριακή Ι του Ματθαίου 9:00 π.μ. Όρθρος 10:00 π.μ. Θεία Λειτουργία 2 Αυγούστου Δευτέρα Μικρή Παράκλησις 7:00 μ.μ. 4 Αυγούστου Τετάρτη Μικρή Παράκλησις 7:00 μ.μ. 6 Αυγούστου Παρασκευή Η Μεταμόρφωσις του Κυρίου 9:30 π.μ. Όρθρος 10:00 π.μ. Θεία Λειτουργία 8 Αυγούστου Κυριακή Κυριακή ΙΑ του Ματθαίου 9:00 π.μ. Όρθρος 10:00 π.μ. Θεία Λειτουργία 9 Αυγούστου Δευτέρα Μικρή Παράκλησις 7:00 μ.μ. 11 Αυγούστου Τετάρτη Μικρή Παράκλησις 7:00 μ.μ. 13 Αυγούστου Παρασκευή Μικρή Παράκλησις 7:00 μ.μ. 14 Αυγούστου Σάββατο Προεόρτια Κοιμήσεως Θεοτόκου 7:00 μ.μ. Μέγας Εσπερινός (και Αρτοκλασία) 15 Αυγούστου Κυριακή Η Κοίμησης της Θεοτόκου 9:00 π.μ. Όρθρος 10:00 π.μ. Θεία Λειτουργία (και Αρτοκλασία) 22 Αυγούστου Κυριακή Κυριακή ΙΓ του Ματθαίου 9:00 π.μ. Όρθρος 10:00 π.μ. Θεία Λειτουργία 29 Αυγούστου Κυριακή Αποτομή Κεφάλης Αγίου Προδρόμου 9:00 π.μ. Όρθρος 10:00 π.μ. Θεία Λειτουργία

Prosforo Schedule August 1 Maria Kotrogiannis August 8 Helen Petaros August 15 Paraskevi Stamatoukos August 22 Yvonne Constantinou August 29 Litsa Gregory DIAKONIA Coffee Hour Parish Council Ushering Teams & Schedule St. Matthew St. Mark St. Luke St. John 9:15 Celia Lubbers Cathy Diakogeorgiou Biju Ninan Bill Theofilis 9:40 Nick Passini Michael Haney John Thodos Deno Kandis 9:55 Diane Lamacki Abraham Chirackal John Stopoulos Georgia Lovejoy August 1 St. John August 8 St. Matthew August 15 St. Mark August 22 St. Luke August 29 St. John August 1 Nick Fotiadis and Family August 8 Panousis and Kouris Families August 15 Feastday Luncheon August 22 Not Yet Reserved August 29 Chirackal and Ninan Families Sunday Gospel and Epistle Readings August 1 Gospel Matthew 17:14-23 Epistle I Corinthians 4:9-16 August 8 Gospel Matthew 18:23-35 Epistle I Corinthians 9:2-12 August 15 Gospel Luke 10:38-42; 11:27-28 Epistle Philippians 2:5-11 August 22 Gospel Matthew 21:33-42 Epistle I Corinthians 16:13-24 August 29 Gospel Mark 6:14-30 Epistle Acts 13:25-33

Η ΜΕΤΑΜΟΡΦΩΣΙΣ ΤΟΥ ΚΥΡΙΟΥ 6 Αυγούστου Κ α τ ά τ η δ ι ή γ η σ η τ ω ν Ευαγγελιστών, ο Κύριός μας Ιησούς Χριστός πήρε απο τους μαθητές τον Πέτρο, τον Ιωάννη και τον Ιάκοβω και ανέβηκε στο όρος Θαβώρ για να προσευχηθεί. Οι τρείς μαθητές Του, όπως ήταν κουρασμένοι απο τη δύσκολη ανάβαση στο Θαβώρ και ενώ κάθησαν να ξεκουρασθούν, έπεσα ν σε βαθύ ύπνο. Όταν, όμως, ξύπνησαν, αντίκρυσαν απροσδόκητο και εξαίσιο θέαμα. Το πρόσωπο του Κυρίου άστραφτε σαν τον ήλιο, και τα φορέματά Του ήταν λευκά σαν το φώς. Τον περιστοίχιζαν δε και συνομιλούσαν μαζί Του δυό άνδρες, ο Μωϋσής και ο Ηλίας. Αφού οι μαθητές συνήλθαν κάπως απο την έκπληξη, ο πάντα ενθουσιώδης, Πέτρος, θέλοντας να διατηρηθεί αυτή η αγία μέθη που προκαλούσε η ακτινοβολία του Κυρίου, ικετευτικά είπε να στήσουν τρείς σκηνές. Μία για τον Κύριο, μία για το Μωϋσή και μία για τον Ηλία. Πρίν προλάβει, όμως, να τελειώσει τη φράση του, ήλθε σύννεφο που τους σκέπασε και μέσα απ αυτό ακούστηκε φωνή που έλεγε: "Ούτος έστιν ο υιός μου ο αγαπητός, αυτού ακούετε". Δηλαδή, Αυτός είναι ο Υιός μου ο αγαπητός, που τον έστειλα για να σωθεί ο κόσμος. Αυτόν να ακούτε. Οφείλουμε, λοιπόν, και εμείς όχι μόνο να Τον ακούμε, αλλά και να Τον υπακούμε. Σε οποιοδήποτε δρόμο μας φέρει, είμαστε υποχρεωμένοι να πειθαρχούμε.

Η ΚΟΙΜΗΣΗ ΤΗΣ ΘΕΟΤΟΚΟΥ 15 Αυγούστου Όπως είναι γνωστό, επάνω απο το Σταυρό ο Κύριός μας Ιησούς Χριστός, έδωσε εντολή και την Παναγία μητέρα του παρέλαβε ο Ιωάννης ο Ευαγγελιστής στο σπίτι του, όπου διέμενε μαζί με τον αδελφό του Ιάκωβο και τη μητέρα του Σαλώμη, συγγενή της Θεοτόκου. Όταν δε ήλθε η στιγμή να τελειώσει την επίγεια ζωή της, άγγελος Κυρίου της το έκανε γνωστό τρείς μέρες πρίν. Η χαρά της Θεοτόκου υπήρξε μεγάλη, διότι θα συναντούσε το μονογενή της Υιό και Θεό όλων των ανθρώπων. Πήγε, λοιπόν, και προσευχήθηκε στο όρος των Ελαιών, όπου συνήθιζε να προσεύχεται και ο Κύριος Ιησούς. Έπειτα, γύρισε στο σπίτι του Ιωάννη, όπου έκανε γνωστή την επικείμενη κοίμησή της. Η παράδοση αναφέρει ότι την τρίτη ημέρα απο την εμφάνιση του αγγέλου, λίγο πρίν κοιμηθεί η Θεοτόκος, οι Απόστολοι δεν ήταν όλοι στα Ιεροσόλυμα, αλλά σε μακρινούς τόπους όπου κήρυτταν το Ευαγγέλιο. Τότε, ξαφνικά νεφέλη τους άρπαξε και τους έφερε όλους μπροστά στο κρεβάτι, όπου ήταν ξαπλωμένη η Θεοτόκος και περίμενε την κοίμησή της. Όταν εκοιμήθη, με ψαλμούς και ύμνους την τοποθέτησαν στο μνήμα της Γεσθημανή. Μετά τρείς ημέρες, άνοιξαν τον τάφο και έκπληκτοι διαπίστωσαν ότι η Παναγία αναστήθηκε σωματικά και ανελήφθη στους ουρανούς. Και βέβαια, όλη η ανθρωπότητα, με ευγνωμοσύνη για τις πρεσβείες της στο Σωτήρα Χριστό, αναφωνεί: "Χαίρε, ώ Μήτερ της ζωής".

NAMEDAY CELEBRATION Assumption Nameday Celebration Appetizers, Chicken Dinners and More Saturday, August 21 st Please join us for a fun-filled day! Free Admission! Raffle Baskets! Great Food! Adults: $20 ($10 after 8:30p.m. - dancing only) Kids 12 and under: $10 Food Served from 5:00 p.m. till 8:30 p.m. Full Tables may be purchased in advance! Music provided until 11:00 p.m. by Steve Makropoulos

NAMEDAY CELEBRATION BASKETS Donors Needed for Themed Baskets to be Raffled at the Nameday Celebration on Saturday, August 21, 2010!!! 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!!! Kid s baskets are always a big hit!!! 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 event. DONATIONS Thank you to Litsa Gregory for donating a Greek Apostolos (Epistle Book) in Memory of her husband, Pete. May his memory be eternal Thank you to Sherry Kontos for offering here time, talents and treasures to make the Ionian Village trip as amazing as experience as it could be. May God continue to Bless you, your family and the work of your hands. Thank you to Janice Smirles for donating a piano for our ministries. God bless you. MAY GOD BLESS EACH & EVERY ONE OF YOU!!! SACRAMENTS The Servant of God Justin Harrison was Baptized on June 1, 2010. His Godmother is Angeliki Dokolas. The Handmaiden of God Magdaleni was Baptized on July 24, 2010. Her Godmother is Theodora Stamatoukos. Proud parents are Panayioti Dokolas and Megan Ward. The Servant of God Dimitrios was Baptized on July 24, 2010. His Godmother is Paraskevi Stamatoukos. Proud parents are Panayioti Dokolas and Megan Ward. THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST HAVE PUT ON CHRIST FOREVERMORE, ALLELUIA!

ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME TRIP An Orthodox Pilgrimage to The Holy Land September 30, 2010 - October 13, 2010 Tour Leader - The Very Rev. Father Peter Costarakis Assisted by - Rev. Father Jon S. Boukis Tour Includes: Round Trip Airfare between Boston, MA and Tel Aviv 7 Nights at the Regency Hotel in Jerusalem 1 Night at the Ron Beach Hotel in Tiberias 1 Night at the Plaza Hotel in Sinai, Egypt (St. Catherines) 2 Nights at the Intercontinental Hotel in Jericho Daily Breakfast and Dinner All Sightseeing and Entrance Fees Israeli Departure Tax Sinai Visa Fee Portage and Tips for Guide, Driver and Hotel Staff Rate: $2,799 per person including tax (based on double occupancy, Single Supplement: $500) (We are currently working on a rate for Chicago Round Trip Airfare) Deadline extended by British Air to August 15, 2010 Cosmopolitan Travel Services 3149 Ellington Circle Sacramento, California 95825 Attn: Presbytera Eleutheria Dogias

HOLY LAND TRIP ITINERARY Tiberias: to a Monastery where you may purchase, if you wish, a smock for the later Blessing in the Jordan. Sea of Galilee: a morning boat-ride Mount of Beatitudes: site of the Sermon on the Mount Tabgha: where the Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes took place Capernaum: where our Lord began His public ministry Jordan River: for the Service of the Blessing of the Waters, i.e. the Agiasmos Mount Tabor: where the Lord was Transfigured Nazareth: the Church of the Annunciation Cana: where our Lord performed His first miracle by changing water into wine Jericho: the Monastery of St. Gerasimos Iordanites by the Dead Sea; the Church of the Prophet Elisha; the sycamore tree of Zacchaeus; the Mount of Temptation, where our Lord fasted for forty days and nights. Bethany: the House of Sts. Martha and Mary and the Tomb of Lazarus Jerusalem: the Mount of Olives, the Garden of Gethsemane, the Church of All Nations, the Russian Orthodox Church, and the Garden of Agony. Also the Western Wall, the Temple Mount, the Mosques of Omar and El Aqsa; the Room of the Last Supper [i.e. the Mystical Supper ]; the Tomb of the Prophet/ King David; the Tomb of the Holy Theotokos the Virgin Mary in the Garden of Gesthemane; the Old City of Jerusalem; the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem (and be received in audience by His Beatitude the Patriarch); the Prison of St. Peter, the Church of St. Anna the Pool of Bethesda, the House of Sts. Joachim and Anna, and the Praetorium (where our Lord was imprisoned), from which we will walk the Way of the Cross to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher (where there will be an extensive tour). Bethlehem: the Shepherd s Field; the Church of the Nativity; the Monastery of the Prophet Elias; the Church and Tomb of St. Symeon the Just; the Monastery of the Holy Cross; and Ein Karem, the birthplace of St. John the Baptist. Mount Sinai: the Monastery of St. Catherine on Mount Sinai for Vespers ( Esperinos ), and to venerate the Holy Relics; the Holy Mountain of Moses; the resort city of Eilat; and the Dead Sea, in which we will have the opportunity to swim. Kendron Valley: Sanctified the Monasteries of St. Theodosius and St. Savvas the Lydda: the Church and Tomb of St. George the Great Martyr Joppa: the Church of the Archangels Haifa: Mount Carmel

INTERNET SERVICES Have you visited the Assumption Parish Website yet - www.assumptionem.org? Check it out!!! We have had 4127 visits to our website from 48 countries including Australia, Bahamas, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Brazil, Canada, China, Cote d Ivoire, Cyprus, Ecuador, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, India, Indonesia, Italy, Ivory Coast, Japan, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Oman, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates United Kingdom and Uruguay!!! Have you visited the Festival Website at www.qcgreekfest.com? Are you a Friend of the Parish or the Festival on Facebook?

Agape News SPONSORSHIP Agape News Did you enjoy the Agape News? It s time to renew your sponsorship for the 2010/11 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, 2011) on a special sponsors page. Enclosed is my sponsorship of $25. Please list the sponsor line as follows:

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 John Arvanitis Dr. Steve, Aimee, Nick and Zoe Arvanitis Michael and Nancy Avgenackis George Bagatelas Paul and Christine Bagatelas Family Theodore and Karen Bagatelas In Memory of Jimmy Boukis Steve, Vaso and Lynn Boukis Kleo Caras Victor and Judy Cherevko Marcus and Barbara Paraskevi Georgiadis Couch Miltos and Cathy Diakogeorgiou The Fotiadis George and Maria Georgiadis Mary Giovanis Litsa Gregory Tom P. Gregory Pete and Arlene Gust Mike and Helen Haney Michael Evangelos Karfaridis Helen Kouris Christina Iskos Reed James Jannes Frank and Ellen Kaldis Deno and Dr. Ann Kandis Family Mike and Terri Kandis Mr. and Mrs George J. Kontos Sherry and George Kontos Joyce Coughlin and JoAnn Kontos Alex, Diane and Jim Lamacki Tom Lingris and Judy Larson Bob and Bessie Lemen Peter and Sue Lingris Roger, Georgia and Elianna Lovejoy Roger, Celia, Alex and Kristin Sophia Mihalopoulos Michael and Roseanne Monn Ninan Family George and Nancy Polios Mrs. Helen Panouses and the Olvera Family Spiro and Carol Pappaspiros Christ and Helen Petaros Steve and Nancy Pyevich 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 Rick and Maria Krakos Thompson John and Mary Velon 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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