Agape News July 2010

Agape News July 2010

PARISH LIFE With the challenges that we faced on Friday evening of the Festival (as seen above), we thank the Lord that no one was injured and that He blessed us with a beautiful day on Saturday. Let us always remain thankful for all that He gives us, and through the example of our lives always display that we are people of faith. May the Lord continue to Bless the ministries of our Blessed Parish.

PASTORAL MESSAGE Dear Parishioners, We must always remember that in all things, we must respond, may it be blessed, or in Greek να ναι ευλογημένο. When we face hardship, we remember the crucifixion but always remembering the resurrection. In every challenge, there are also blessings. They are not always weighted equally, but they are always present. We as a parish faced challenges at this year s festival (as seen in the pictures on the previous page), but the way in which we handled them defined us to our many guests. We proceeded with love, integrity, dignity and hope and this did not go unnoticed. The Lord tells us It is by your love for one another, that everyone will recognize you as my disciples. (John 13:35) Let us not forget that first and foremost we are brothers and sisters in Christ and that everyone that comes in contact with us should recognize this. Through... our love, people will be attracted to the Church, attraction to the Church, they will receive the sacraments,...the sacraments, salvation becomes possible! We are one holy, catholic and apostolic Church. Christ gave us these attributes. By remaining in unity we are holy and catholic, but it is up to us to be apostolic. Let us continue to express His love for all. In His Service, Rev. Father Jon Boukis Proistamenos

A Cordial Invitation... On Sunday, July 25 th at the Divine Liturgy, Fr. Jon will be celebrating the 5th Anniversary of his Ordination to the Holy Priesthood. Let us honor the Priesthood & Fr. Jon with our attendance at the Divine Liturgy. A reception will follow. PHILOPTOCHOS NEWS 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 after July 11 th Contact: Litsa Gregory (309)755-0164

RESTAURANT CIRCLE Come experience what everyone s talking about! The Assumption Restaurant Circle will meet every few months 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, July 24 th In the Tapas Bar of... Le Figaro Restaurant 1708 2nd Avenue Rock Island, Illinois All you have to do is RSVP to the Church by July 22 nd so that we can make a reservation and then show up. ASSUMPTION TRIVIA NIGHT Trivia Night at the Assumption Fellowship Hall Saturday, July 10, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. DETAILS 6:00 p.m. Doors Open - 7:00 p.m. Start Time $10 Registration per person - Teams of 8 Cash Bar First and Second Place Cash Prizes Bring your own snacks or buy a Greek Pastry RSVP TO JOHN ASAP (309)314-0328

ST. PANTELEIMON Celebrated July 27 th This Saint, who had Nicomedia as his homeland, was the son of Eustorgius and Eubula. His father was an idolater, but his mother was a Christian from her ancestors. It was through her that he was instructed in piety, and still later, he was catechized in the Faith of Christ by Saint Hermolaus (see July 26) and baptized by him. Being proficient in the physician's vocation, he practiced it in a philanthropic manner, healing every illness more by the grace of Christ than by medicines. Thus, although his parents had named him Pantoleon ("in all things a lion"), because of the compassion he showed for the souls and bodies of all, he was worthily renamed Panteleimon, meaning "all-merciful." On one occasion, when he restored the sight of a certain blind man by calling on the Divine Name, he enlightened also the eyes of this man's soul to the knowledge of the truth. This also became the cause for the martyrdom of him who had been blind, since when he was asked by whom and in what manner his eyes had been opened, in imitation of that blind man of the Gospel he confessed with boldness both who the physician was and the manner of his healing. For this he was put to death immediately. Panteleimon was arrested also, and having endured many wounds, he was finally beheaded in the year 305, during the reign of Maximian. Saint Panteleimon is one of the Holy Unmercenaries, and is held in special honor among them, even as Saint George is among the Martyrs.

SERVICE SCHEDULE July 4 Sunday 6th Sunday of Matthew 9:00 a.m. Orthros 10:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy July 11 Sunday 7th Sunday of Matthew 9:00 a.m. Orthros 10:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy July 18 Sunday Sunday of the Holy Fathers 9:00 a.m. Orthros 10:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy July 25 Sunday 9th Sunday of Matthew 9:00 a.m. Orthros 10:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy July 27 Tuesday Feast of St. Panteleimon 9:30 a.m. Orthros 10:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy ΠΡΟΓΡΑΜΜΑ ΙΕΡΩΝ ΑΚΟΛΟΥΘΙΩΝ 4 Ιουλίου Κυριακή Κυριακή ΣΤ του Ματθαίου 9:00 π.μ. Όρθρος 10:00 π.μ. Θεία Λειτουργία 11 Ιουλίου Κυριακή Κυριακή Ζ του Ματθαίου 9:00 π.μ. Όρθρος 10:00 π.μ. Θεία Λειτουργία 18 Ιουλίου Κυριακή Κυριακή των Αγίων Πατέρων (Δ Οίκ. Ζυν.) 9:00 π.μ. Όρθρος 10:00 π.μ. Θεία Λειτουργία 25 Ιουλίου Κυριακή Κυριακή Θ του Ματθαίου 9:00 π.μ. Όρθρος 10:00 π.μ. Θεία Λειτουργία 27 Ιουλίου Τρίτη Μεγαλομάρτυς Παντελεήμων 9:30 π.μ. Όρθρος 10:00 π.μ. Θεία Λειτουργία

J U L CHURCH. Sunday Monday Tuesday Fasting Symbols Strict Fast Wine and Oil Allowed Fish Allowed Fast Free 6th Sunday of Matthew Orthros 9:00am Divine Liturgy 10:00am Family Worship Coffee Hour 4 5 6 Y 7th Sunday of Matthew Orthros 9:00am Divine Liturgy 10:00am Family Worship Coffee Hour 11 12 13 2 0 1 0 18 Sunday of the Holy Fathers Orthros 9:00am Divine Liturgy 10:00am Family Worship Coffee Hour 9th Sunday of Matthew Orthros 9:00am Divine Liturgy 10:00am Family Worship Coffee Hour 25 19 20 Fr. Jon at Ionian Village 26 27 Feast of Saint Panteleimon (His Relics are sealed in our Holy Altar Table) Orthros 9:30am Divine Liturgy 10:00am

CALENDAR Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 3 7 Fr. Jon at Ionian Village 8 9 10 Fr. Jon at Ionian Village 14 Fr. Jon at Ionian Village 21 15 Feast of Saint Kyrikos the Child Martyr (His Relics are sealed in our Holy Altar Table) Remember Him today in your prayers. 22 16 23 Assumption Trivia Night Fundraiser 7:00pm + Sacrament 17 24 Ionian Village Group Returns 28 6:30pm - Parish Council Meeting 29 30 Restaurant Circle Tapas Bar at LeFigaro 6:30pm 31

DIAKONIA Prosforo Schedule July 4 Dimitra Kotrogiannis July 11 Katherine Moraetes July 18 Sophia Mihalopoulos July 25 Ludmilla Cherevko Coffee Hour July 4 Deno and Ann Kandis July 11 Mike and Terri Kandis July 18 Chris and Helen Petaros July 25 Parish Council Sunday Gospel and Epistle Readings July 4 Gospel Matthew 9:1-8 Epistle Romans 12:6-14 July 11 Gospel Matthew 9:27-35 Epistle II Corinthians 6:1-10 July 18 Gospel Matthew 5:14-19 Epistle Titus 3:8-15 July 25 Gospel Matthew 14:22-34 Epistle Galatians 4:22-27 Parish Council Ushering Teams & Schedule St. Matthew St. Mark St. Luke St. John 9:15 Celia Lubbers Cathy Diakogeorgiou Bill Theofilis 9:40 Nick Passini Michael Haney John Thodos Deno Kandis 9:55 Diane Lamacki Abraham Chirackal John Stopoulos Georgia Lovejoy July 4 St. John July 11 St. Matthew July 18 St. Mark July 25 St. Luke

ΜΕΓΑΛΟΜΑΡΤΥΣ ΠΑΝΤΕΛΕΗΜΩΝ Ο Άγιος ΠΑΝΤΕΛΕΗΜΩΝ ο Μεγαλομάρτυς και Ιαματικός 27 Ιουλίου Έ ζ ησε σ τ α χ ρ ό νια τ ο υ αυτοκράτορα Διοκλητιανού και καταγόταν απο τη Νικομήδεια. Τον πατέρα του έλεγαν Ευστόργιο και τη μητέρα του, που ήταν ευσεβέστατη χριστιανή, Ευβούλη. Ο Παντελεήμων γρήγορα στερήθηκε τις φροντίδες της μητέρας του, διότι πέθανε πρόωρα. Αλλά ο Θεός τον αξίωσε να διδαχθεί τη χριστιανική πίστη απο ένα διακεκριμένο λειτουργικό της Εκκλησίας, τον Ιερέα Ερμόλαο. Τότε ο Παντελεήμων, είχε τελειώσει τις ιατρικές του σπουδές, κοντά στο φημισμένο γιατρό Ευφρόσυνο. Την επιστήμη του χρησιμοποίησε ιδιαίτερα για τους απόρους ασθενείς και έτρεχε με μοναδική προθυμία στις καλύβες τους, βοηθώντας τους όχι μόνο ιατρικά, αλλά και χρηματικά. Σε κάθε σπίτι που έμπαινε δίδασκε το Ευαγγέλιο και έφερνε σ αυτό πολλές ψυχές. Ήταν ευσπλαγχνικός σε ακρότατο βαθμό για όλους τους πάσχοντες, γι αυτό και ο Θεός του δώρησε το χάρισμα να θεραπεύει ασθενείς με μόνη την προσευχή του. Έτσι θεράπευσε πολλούς, μεταξύ αυτών και ένα τυφλό, που έγινε αφορμή να συλλάβει ο Διοκλητιανός και τον Άγιο. Τον τυφλό τον θανάτωσε διότι πίστεψε στο Χριστό και τον Παντελεήμονα υπέβαλε σε φρικτά βασανιστήρια, ώσπου στο τέλος τον αποκεφάλισε. Ο Παντελεήμων, όμως, ανήκει σ αυτούς, για τους οποίους ο Κύριος είπε: "μακάριοι οι ελεήμονες, ότι αυτοί ελεηθήσονται". Μακάριοι, δηλαδή, είναι, οι ευσπλαγχνικοί που συμπονούν στη δυστυχία του πλησίον, διότι αυτοί θα ελεηθούν απο το Θεό την ημέρα της Κρίσεως.

ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME TRIP An Orthodox Pilgrimage to The Holy Land October 1-13, 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) Non-Refundable Deposit of $350 due by July 15, 2010 to: 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

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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