This Christmas night bestowed peace on the whole world;

You Belong Here! The MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF THE HOLY TAXIARHAI AND SAINT HARALAMBOS GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH 7373 CALDWELL AVENUE, NILES, ILLINOIS 60714 PHONE (847) 647-8880 WWW.SAINTHARALAMBOSGOC.ORG Where there is no vision, the people perish. (Proverbs 29:18) CHRISTMAS 2015 This Christmas night bestowed peace on the whole world; let no one threaten. This is the night of the Most Gentle One; let no one be cruel. This is the night of the most Humble One; let no one be proud. Now is the day of joy; let us not revenge; Now is the day of good will; let us not be mean. In this day of peace let us not be conquered by anger. Today the Bountiful impoverished Himself for our sake; So whoever is rich, invite the poor to your table. Today we received a gift for which we did not ask; so let us give alms to those who implore us and beg. This present day cast open the heavenly door to our prayers; let us open our door to those who ask our forgiveness. Now the Divine Being took upon Himself the seal of humanity In order for humanity to be decorated by the seal of Divinity. St. Isaac of Syria Christmas Sermon from Tree of Life Vol 6 No 4, 1989

WORSHIP SCHEDULE December 2015/January 2016 Sunday, December 20 9:30 am Sunday Thursday, December 24 6:00 am Hours and Divine Thursday, Dec 24-Christmas Eve 8:00 pm Orthros 9:00 pm Divine Friday, Dec 25 CHRISTMAS DAY THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD 8:30 am Orthros 10:00 am Divine Sunday, December 27 St. Stephen Family Worship Friday, Jan 1 St Basil 8:30 am Orthros and Sunday, January 3 9:30 am Sunday Tuesday, January 5 Eve of Epiphany (Day of Fasting) 8:15 am Royal Hours of Epiphany 9:45 am Divine, The Great Blessing of the Waters Wednesday, January 6 THE GREAT FEAST OF THEOPHANY 8:30 am Orthros and Divine, followed by The Great Blessing of the Waters Sunday, January 10 9:30 am Sunday Sunday, January 17 St. Anthony 9:30 am Sunday OUR SISTER COMMUNITY OF ST BAS- IL in Chicago invites you to Great Vespers at 7:00 pm on Thursday evening, December 31st in honor of the Feastday of St. Basil, and to Divine the morning of Friday, January 1. ( WILL be celebrated at St. Haralambos on January 1st.) OUR SISTER COMMUNITY OF ST JOHN in Des Plaines invites you to Great Vespers at 7:00 pm on Wednesday evening, January 6th in honor of the Feastday of St. John, and to Divine the morning of Thursday, January 7. ( will NOT be celebrated at St. Haralambos on January 7.) YOU ARE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR MINISTRIES! We would like to welcome everyone back as we begin an exciting new year! You belong here, and there is so much going on! In addition to our youth activities, did you know about these St. Haralambos activities for us grown ups? THE PARISH COUNCIL The Council handles the everyday operation of the Church. New people are always needed. Elections take place in December! ST HARALAMBOS PHILOPTOCHOS is the official women s organization of the Greek Orthodox Church. It is a philanthropic, social and service sisterhood. Our Philoptochos is DYNAMITE! THE PTA (Afternoon, Saturday, Day ) The PTA is the most important partner and asset of every school. It is able to complete and round out school programs and activities and offer valuable assistance to the students and the teachers. It is important for each of the PTA s of our three school to be strong and active. We need you! OUTREACH COMMITTEE The Outreach Committee plays a key role in the church s mandate to serve. It provides an opportunity for our members to help the poor and lonely in a real, hands on way. New people are always welcome! (see page 9) BOOK AND BIBLE STUDY This study group meets weekly to dig into the deeper meaning of the Scriptures that we may implement them in our life. Our Bible Study will meet on Tuesday, beginning Oct 13. STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE Stewardship is the life and oxygen of our church. Every year, a Stewardship Program is designed and distributed to our members. Would you like to help? Call Fr. Dean! FOOD FEST COMMITTEE The St. Haralambos Big Greek Food Fest is a major event for us and for our patrons. It is a big project, and takes a lot of work! If you are willing to offer your help, let us know. Meetings will begin in early Spring. SACRAMENTS AND BLESSINGS 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. If your loved one is hospitalized please call us, even if the illness is not serious! In a holistic approach to healing and well-being, a visit from the priest can be very positive. Most hospitals do not inform us when they receive patients from our parish. We depend on you! 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. 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.

HOLY TAXIARHAI AND SAINT HARALAMBOS GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH From Father Dean Dear Stewards and Friends, December 2015 As the Great Feast of Christmas approaches, we have prepared this Christmas edition of Visions. We hope you will take the time to read the article on page 8: On the Nativity of the Lord, to help us focus on a deeper of Christmas. As Orthodox Christians, we observe the 40 day period before Christmas as a period of preparation for Christmas by fasting and prayer, and then we happily celebrate the period from Christmas Day through Epiphany as holidays. This is an excellent discipline for all of us, and an opportunity to teach and experience our faith to our children. Fasting gives us a sense of preparation and anticipation for this beautiful holiday! But all around us, everyone is having Christmas parties before Christmas even comes. We should be aware, then, that this is not consistent with our Orthodox Christian tradition. We are going to be invited to these parties, but we certainly can resist certain foods and try to stay faithful to our tradition, in order to celebrate more fully when Christmas actually comes. Let us make every effort to live and preserve our Orthodox Christian faith and traditions, and teach them to our children! Our warmest congratulations go to all the ladies of the St. Haralambos Philoptochos for a wonderful Christmas Bazaar! They did a terrific job; the food was excellent, the Christmas items were colorful and unique, and the pastries were delicious! We are very fortunate to have such a wonderful group of fine ladies who get tired (yet work tirelessly) for the good of our church and its mission! We also offer hearty congratulations to Jim Karalekas and Angelo Demeros for their energetic leadership that made our annual men s event a great success! We look forward to a wonderful Christmas Season! Our GOYA will be singing Christmas carols, we will all be invited to our Greek school Christmas programs and, of course, we will all be planning to receive Holy Communion during the Christmas holidays! Before we know it, it will be 2016! You should have received a 2016 Stewardship Commitment Card by now. Please think about your 2016 commitment and return the card as soon as you can certainly by St. Haralambos Day (Feb 10). Along with the ecclesiastical celebrations for the New Year, we will have our annual Vasilopita Luncheon after church services on Sunday, January 10. This is one of the many beautiful and meaningful traditions that we should make meaningful to our children, so that they will also observe this custom and pass it on to their children! Please plan to join us. PLEASE SAVE THE DATE OF SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 14 FOR OUR ANNUAL ST. HARALAMBOS DINNER DANCE, which will take place at the Empress in Addison. Mark your calendar! And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, full of Grace and of Truth. And we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only-begotten Son of the Father. (John 1: 14) On behalf of Fr. George, Deacon John, our staff, the Parish Council and all the St. Haralambos Family, we wish you a joyful and blessed Christmas and a Happy, Prosperous and Holy New Year! Christ is Born! Glorify Him! 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 Phase III Chairman... Stewardship.. Budget Committee Chairman...Perry Giannopoulos Building & Grounds Chairman.. Michael Pontikes and Theodoros Karabatsos Decor Committee Chairman...Stephan Aliferakis Finance Committee Chairman... Outreach Committee.....John Pierce Board Chairman......Olympia Bournias Audit Committee Chairman...Evan Houpis.. Food Fest Chairman. Philoptochos President......Maria Dimitriou PTA Co-Presidents (Afternoon ).......Anna Sikoral and Kathy Ioannidis PTA President (Preschool)...Marianna Memmos 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 Liapi YAL President......Christina Pappadis GOYA President...... Alex Anton 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 (pg 4-5) Christmas Services (pg 6) New Year s Eve Party (pg 7) On the Nativity of the Lord (pg 8) Outreach Committee Thanksgiving (pg 9) Calendar (pg 10)

HOLY COMMUNION----During the Christmas Season, all Orthodox Christians usually plan to receive Holy Communion. In order to receive Holy Communion properly, please plan to prepare yourself through prayer, Holy Confession, fasting and almsgiving. Let us think of our heart as the manger in which Christ will be born, and let us prepare our manger to receive Him! SHUT-INS--Please inform the church office about elderly or ill who would like to receive Holy Communion but are unable to come to church, so that our priests can bring the Sacrament to them. A SUPER THANK-YOU! to all who supported the toy drive for the foster children under DCFS this year. Toys were provided for 159 children, and we are grateful to all who offered their kindness for this worthwhile cause! NEW YEAR S EVE PARTY We invite you to our St. Haralambos New Year s Eve Party in our Community Center on December 31st! Cocktails will be at 9:30 and Dinner at 10:30 (see our flyer on Pg 7). Let s celebrate the New Year together! BLESSING OF HOMES--It is an annual custom in the Epiphany Season (Epiphany is Wednesday, January 6) to bless our homes with the Agiasmos of Epiphany. If you would like to have your home blessed by the priest, please call the church office (847-647-8880). ANNUAL VASILOPITA LUNCHEON - Our St. Haralambos Vasilopita Luncheon will take place on Sunday, January 10 th in our Community Center after Church services. Plan on coming, and bring your entire family. The donation is only $10. METROPOLIS OF CHICAGO VASILOPITA--Our Annual Metropolitan Vasilopita will take place Sunday evening, January 10th at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Oak Lawn, and all are invited to join Metropolitan Iakovos and the clergy and laypeople of our Metropolis at this annual event. The Vasilopita benefits St. Basil Academy. BE THE FUTURE! Reserve Sunday evening, February 14 for our annual Dinner Dance, called BE THE FUTURE! at Empress Banquets in Addison! We will be celebrating our community s 65th Anniversary, and anticipating the next big step in the life of our community! This is one of our important events, and we ask for your support. MARTHA AND MARY MATERNITY HOUSE is a Pan Orthodox ministry that offers practical, emotional and spiritual support for expectant mothers who are alone or without a safe home, through pregnancy and childbirth. Located in the northwest suburbs of Chicago, it provides housing, meals, access to medical care, privacy and confidentiality. Any woman in need of crisis pregnancy support can contact info@marthamarychicago.org COMMUNITY NEWS STEWARDSHIP 2016 Our Church s most important resource is our STEWARDSHIP. By now you should have received our 2016 Stewardship mailing. We urge you to read the information carefully, and to make a bold and faith-filled commitment to your church for 2016. We ask everyone to make their commitment by February 10 (even thought your commitment is not fully due until December), so that we can determine our church s needs. We rely on you! 2016 MISSION TEAMS ARE NOW FORMING! The Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC) is forming teams to serve the church s needs all around the world! You must be in good health and at least 18 years of age. For more info, visit http:/www.ocmc.org MARCH FOR LIFE-The Chicago March for Life will take place on Sunday afternoon, January 17 in downtown Chicago. Orthodox Christians for Life is participating, and we encourage you to be a part of it! The Sanctity of Life is the most important issue of our times! SANCTITY OF LIFE SERVICE The Annual Orthodox Christian Sanctity of Life Prayer Service will take place at 6:00 pm on Sunday evening, January 24 at the Saints Peter and Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Palos Park. All are welcomed. Mark your calendar!

ΑΝΑΚΟΙΝΩΣΕΙΣ ΑΝΗΚΕΤΕ ΕΔΩ -- ΑΝΗΚΟΥΜΕ ΣΤΟΝ ΘΕΟ! Δια 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 ενδυναμώ-σουμε 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 2015; ΕΣΩΚΛΕΙΣΤΑ ΑΤΟΜΑ-Παρακαλούμε όπως πληροφορείτε το γραφείο της εκκλησίας δια τους ηλικιωμένους ή αρρώστους που θέλουν να λάβουν την Θείαν Κοινωνίαν και δεν δύνανται να έλθουν στην εκκλησία, ούτως ώστε οι ιερείς να προγραμματίσουν να τους προσφέρουν την Θείαν Κοινωνίαν όπου διαμένουν. ΕΝΑ ΜΕΓΑΛΟ ΕΥΧΑΡΙΣΤΩ εις όλους όσους συμμετείχαν και εφέτος στην αγορά δώρων δια τα παιδιά του DCFS. Προμηθεύσαμε 170 παιδιά με δώρα και είμεθα ευγνώμονες σε όλους που είχαν την καλοσύνη να συμβάλουν στην επίτευξη αυτού του αξιόλογου σκοπού. ΑΓIΑΣΜΟΣ ΣΠIΤIΩΝ Τo έθιμo καλεί vα αγιάζoυμε τα σπίτια μας κατά τηv επoχή τωv Θεoφαvείωv (Ημέρα των Θεοφανείων είναι η Τετάρτη, 6 Ιανουαρίου). Εαν θέλετε ο ιερέας να έλθει σπίτι σας για αγιασμό παρακαλoύμε όπως τηλεφωvείτε στo γραφείo της εκκλησίας (847/647-8880). ΕΟΡΤΑΣΜΟΣ ΤΗΣ ΒΑΣIΛΟΠIΤΑΣ Η εκκλησία μας θα εoρτάσει τηv Βασιλόπιτα εις τις 10 Ιαvoυαρίoυ με γεύμα τo oπoίo θα πρoετoιμασθεί από τηv Φιλόπτωχo μετά την Θεία Λειτουργία στην Κοινοτική μας Αίθουσα. Σας περιμένουμε με την οικογένειά σας. Η δωρεά είναι μόνον $10. ΕΤΗΣΙΑ ΒΑΣΙΛΟΠΙΤΑ ΤΗΣ ΜΗΤΡΟ- ΠΟΛΗΣ - Η ετήσια Βασιλόπιτα της Μητρόπολης θα λάβει χώρα την Κυριακή, 10 Ιανουαρίου στον Άγιο Νικόλαον εις Oak Lawn, και προσκαλούνται όλοι να συνεορτάσουμε με τον σεβασμιώτατο Μητροπολίτη μας κ. κ. Ιάκωβο αυτό το σπουδαίο γεγονός. Τα έσoδα θα διατεθoύv δια τηv Ακαδημίαv τoυ Αγ. Βασιλείoυ. SAVE THE DATE! The Holy Taxiarhai and Saint Haralambos Greek Orthodox Community invites you to Be The Future 65th Anniversary Dinner Dance Sunday, February 14, 2016 6:00 pm Cocktails 7:00 pm Dinner Empress Banquets 200 East Lake Street Addison, Illinois 2015 STEWARDSHIP YOU BELONG HERE! 2015 STEWARDSHIP UPDATE As of Nov. 30, 2015: 664 families have committed $ 338,730.00 How about you?

Schedule Of Holiday Services- CHRISTMAS and EPIPHANY Thursday morning, December 24 Eve of Christmas 6:00 am Royal Hours 7:00 am-- Divine Thursday evening, December 24 8:00 pm Orthros 9:00 pm Divine Friday, December 25 THE BIRTH IN THE FLESH OF OUR LORD AND GOD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST 8:30 am Orthros 9:45 am Divine *Note: There is no fasting from Dec 25 through Jan. 4 Sunday, December 27 - St. Stephen the First Martyr Family Worship Sunday 8:30 am Orthros 9:45 am Divine HAPPY NEW YEAR!! Friday, January 1, 2016 Feastday of St. Basil the Great 8:30 am Orthros 9:45 am Divine (Family Worship) Sunday, January 3 Sunday before Epiphany 8:30 am Orthros 9:30 am Sunday Tuesday, January 5 Eve of Epiphany (Day of Fasting) 8:30 am Royal Hours of Epiphany 9:45 am Divine, The Great Blessing of the Waters Wednesday, January 6 THE GREAT FEAST OF THEOPHANY 8:30 am Orthros and Divine, followed by The Great Blessing of the Waters THIS YEAR S VASILOPITA LUNCHEON WILL TAKE PLACE ON SUNDAY, JANUARY 10, FOLLOWING THE DIVINE LITURGY. ΠΡΟΓΡΑΜΜΑ ΙΕΡΩΝ ΑΚΟΛΟΥΘΙΩΝ ΧΡΙΣΤΟΥΓΕΝΝΩΝ / ΘΕΟΦΑΝΕΙΩΝ Πέμπτη πρωϊ, 24 Δεκεμβρίου Παραμονή της του Χριστού Γεννήσεως 6.00 πμ Βασιλικές Ώρες των Χριστουγέννων 7.00 πμ - Θεία Λειτουργία Πέμτη βράδυ, 24 Δεκεμβρίου 8.00 μμ Ορθρος 9.00 μμ - Θεία Λειτουργία Παρασκευή, 25 Δεκεμβρίου Η ΚΑΤΑ ΣΑΡΚΑ ΓΕΝΝΗΣΙΣ ΤΟΥ ΚΥΡΙΟΥ ΚΑΙ ΘΕΟΥ ΚΑΙ ΣΩΤΗΡΟΣ ΗΜΩΝ ΙΗΣΟΥ ΧΡΙΣΤΟΥ 8.30 πμ Ορθρος 9.45 μμ Θεία Λειτουργία ΣΗΜ: Από την 25 ην Δεκ. μέχρι την 4 ην Ιαν. δεν νηστεύουμε. Κυριακή, 27 Δεκεμ-Αγ. Στεφάνου Πρωτομάρτυρος 8.30 πμ - Όρθρος 9.45 πμ - Θεία Λειτουργία ΕΥΤΥΧΕΣ ΤΟ ΝΕΟ ΕΤΟΣ! Παρασκευή, 1 Ιανουαρίου 2016 Αγ. Βασιλείου του Μεγάλου, Αρχιεπισκόπου Καισαρείας 8.30 πμ Ορθρος 9.45 πμ - Θεία Λειτουργία Κυριακή, 3 Ιανουαρίου Πρό των Θεοφανείων 8.30 πμ Όρθρος 9.30 πμ Κατηχητικό Σχολείο 9.30 πμ Θεία Λειτουργία, Τρίτη, 5 Ιανουαρίου (Ημέρα νηστείας) 8.30 πμ - Οι Βασιλικές Ώρες των Θεοφανείων 9.45 πμ Θεία Λειτουργία Τελετή του Μεγ. Αγιασμού Τετάρτη, 6 Ιανουαρίου -ΤΑ ΑΓΙΑ ΘΕΟΦΑΝΕΙΑ 8.30 πμ Ορθρος και Θεία Λειτουργία, Τελετή του Μεγ. Αγιασμού ΕΦΕΤΟΣ, ΘΑ ΕΟΡΤΆΣΟΥΜΕ ΤΗΝ ΒΑΣΙΛΟΠΙΤΑ ΣΤΗΝ ΚΟΙΝΟΤΙΚΗ ΜΑΣ ΑΙΘΟΥΣΑ ΤΗΝ ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗ, 10 ΙΑΝΟΥΑΡΙΟΥ, ΜΕΤΑ ΤΗΝ ΘΕΙΑ ΛΕΙΤΟΥΡΓΙΑ.

ON THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD What is a merciful heart? It is a heart that burns with love for the whole creation for men, for birds, for beasts, for demons and for every creature. St. Isaac the Syrian Christmas music is filling the air. In every home there is a Christmas tree; some are real and some are plastic. Lights of every color are glittering in windows, shops, bars and even the discos. Some people are selling, some are buying, some are eating, some are drinking and some are starving to death. I put a "Do Not Disturb" sign on my door because Christmas Eve is a very special and private time to me. Christmas Eve, to me, is a time for reflection. The year is slowly sinking into the ocean of eternity, and in my reflection there are painful questions: Did I love Him enough? Did I serve Him enough? Did I suffer enough? Did I forgive enough? How many tears did I dry? How many wounds did I bind? Was I faithful to Him who loved me beyond measure? How loving and compassionate is God, that despite my sinfulness and unworthiness, He "became flesh and dwelt amongst us." What an unfathomable condescension that He assumed our nature in order to make us partakers of His nature. Despite His Incarnation, He will always remain incognito in this world if we don't care for each other. But do we really care? Have we seen the starving children on our television screens? Have we ever seen so much despair, so much misery and so much helplessness? These are our brothers and sisters, His brothers and sisters. How sad it is that we do not see the tragedy unless it is projected for us on the screen! Tonight the Body and Blood of this tender Child will touch millions of lips throughout this troubled world. This divine touch will make us Christlike if we care and respond to His love. To be Christlike, we must be born with Him in the manger, crucified with Him on the Cross and resurrected with Him from the dead. The manger, the Cross, and the empty tomb these are one single event which sums up the entire history of salvation. It is Christmas Eve, and another year is about to dawn on us. Lord, let Your light shine upon us so that we may see a new vision, sing a new song and dream a new dream. And if we live to celebrate another Christmas, give us courage to love You more, serve You more and worship You more "in spirit and in truth." Metropolitan Philip s Christmas Sermon 1994 Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America CHRIST IS BORN! GLORIFY HIM!

OUTREACH COMMITTEE THANKSGIVING LUNCHEON On Thursday, November 26, 2015, the Outreach Committee held its second annual Thanksgiving Luncheon at the St. Haralambos Community Center from 11:00 am 1:00 pm. Approximately 50 guests from the Niles community attended, and several dinners were delivered to the Leaning Tower YMCA residents who were unable to attend in person. In all, 98 meals were served. The Outreach Committee would like to thank the 45 volunteers who contributed to the success of the luncheon. St. Haralambos parishioners cooked or served the meals and generously gave of their time to make this Thanksgiving special for others who might not have had as blessed a holiday. We also thank the families and youth who attended the Christmas Retreat in November for the donations they prepared, consisting of laundry baskets full of staples and canned goods. These baskets were offered to our guests as they went home. The Outreach Committee invites parishioners to join our committee and help our group increase its activities and contribute to our community! Future meetings will be posted in the Church Sunday announcements. Please join us!

Dec 2015-Jan 2016 20 9:30 am Sunday 9:30 am Divine CHRISTMAS PAGEANT 21 1:30 -Jr GOYA 5:30 Sr GOYA 22 5:30 Christmas Program 7:30-Bible Study 23 24 CHRISTMAS EVE MORNING: 6:00 am-hours and Evening Services 8 pm Orthos 9 pm 25 CHRISTMAS DAY 8:30 Orthros and 26 27 St Stephen the First Martyr 8:30 am Orthros 9:45 am Divine 28 5 pm Bessie s Table 29 30 31 ST HARALAMBOS NEW YEAR S EVE PARTY! 1 ST BASIL NEW YEAR S DAY 8:30-Orthros and 3 9:30 am Sunday 9:30 am Divine 10 9:30 am Sunday 9:30 am Divine VASILOPITA LUNCHEON 4 5 EVE OF THEOPHANY 8:30 Hours 10:00 and Agismos 11 5:30 pm Family Night 7:00 pm GOYA 12 11:30 am Little Angels Playgroup 4:30 pm PTA 7:30-Bible Study 6 EPIPHANY 8:30-Orthros 9:45- and Agismos 13 7:30 pm Philoptochos mtg 7 8 14 15 6:30 Greek New Year Party 9 9:00 a-m- Saturday Greek 16 9:00 a-m- Saturday Greek 17 ST ANTHONY 9:30 am Sunday 9:30 am Divine 18 ST ATHANASIOS and M LUTHER KING DAY (no school) 19 11:30 am Little Angels Playgroup 7:30-Bible Study 20 7:30 pm Parish Council Mtg 21 22 23 9:00 a-m- Saturday Greek 24 SUNDAY SERVICES 6:00 pm-sanctity of Life Service 31 9:30 am Sunday 9:430 am Divine 25 26 11:30 am Little Angels Playgroup 7:30-Bible Study 27 28 29 12:00-Preschool 3 Hierrachs Program 30 The Three Hierarchs 8:30-Orthros and 9:00 a-m- Saturday Greek

HOLY TAXIARHAI AND SAINT HARALAMBOS GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH 7373 CALDWELL AVENUE NILES, IL 60714-4503 Address Service Requested On behalf of the Parish Council, our parish organizations and the entire St. Haralambos Family, we wish you a blessed and joyful Christmas, and a wonderful, prosperous and Holy New Year!