Agape News July 2007

Agape News July 2007

PICTURES Golden Circle Monastery Visit Ladies Dessert and Appetizers Vacation Bible School Vacation Bible School GOYA at Rainforest Cafe GOYA at Six Flags

PASTORAL MESSAGE Dear Parishioners, The Greek Cultural Festival is behind us and finally, we are rested. Soon we will be preparing for an action packed Autumn with many events: the Metropolis Christmas Open-House, a visit from Basile, the comedian and the Golf Tournament and many other fellowship events. As we reflect on the Festival and prepare to discuss its merits and areas of improvement in the upcoming meeting on July 15th, I encourage each and every one of us to remember that we are here to serve the Church and that we are called at all times to approach in obedience and humility. We are to be a family, one body the Body of Christ. Let us not allow our egos to cause unnecessary separation and animosity. St. Maximus the Confessor states, the root of all evil is self-love. Ponder on this!!! When we miss the mark, it is always because we place our desires first - before the will of the Lord. Let us put ourselves aside and place Christ in the forefront of our lives. As we chant during the Divine Liturgy, Let us set aside all worldly cares that we may receive the King of all. In Christ s Love, Rev. Father Jon Boukis Proistamenos

HOW OLD IS THE ORTHODOX FAITH? By Rev. Dr. Miltiades Efthimiou If you are a Lutheran, your religion was founded by Martin Luther, an exmonk of the Catholic Church, in the year 1517. If you belong to the church of England, your religion was founded by King Henry VIII in the year 1534 because the Pope would not grant him a divorce with the right to re-marry. If you are Presbyterian, your religion was founded by John Knox in Scotland in the year 1560. If you are a Congregationalist, your religion was originated by Robert Brown in Holland in 1582. If you are a Protestant Episcopalian, your religion was an offshoot of the Church of England, founded by Samuel Senbury in the American Colonies in the 17th century. If you are Baptist, you owe the tenets of your religion to John Smyth, who launched it in Amsterdam in 1606. If you are of the Dutch Reform Church, you recognize Michelis Jones as founder because he originated your religion in New York in 1628. If you are Methodist, your religion was founded by John and Charles Wesley in England in 1774. If you are Mormon (Latter Day Saints), Joseph Smith started your religion in Palmyra, New York in 1829. If you worship with the Salvation Army, your sect began with William Booth in London in 1865. If you are Christian Scientist, you look to 1879 as the year which your religion was born and to Mary Baker Eddy as the founder. If you belong to one of the religious organizations known as Church of the Nazarene, Pentecostal Gospel, Holiness Church or Jehovah s Witnesses, your religion is one of hundreds of new sects founded by men within the past hundred years. If you are Roman Catholic, your church shared the same rich apostolic and doctrinal heritage as the Orthodox Church for the first thousand years of its history since during the first millennium they were one and the same Church. Lamentably, in 1054, the Pope of Rome broke away from the other four Apostolic Patriarchates (which included Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch and Jerusalem), by tampering with the Original Creed of the Church, and considering himself to be infallible. Thus your church is 1,000 years old. If you are Orthodox Christian, your religion was founded in the year 33 by Jesus Christ the Son of God. It has not changed since that time. Our church is now almost 2,000 years old. And it is for this reason, that Orthodoxy, the Church of the Apostles and the Fathers if considered the true one Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. This is the greatest legacy that we can pass on to the young people of the new millennium!

SUNDAY SCHOOL Introducing the 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!!! Hit the Mark!!! The Sundays School Classes are on Summer Break and will resume on September 9 th. Watch your Agape News for more new programs that will be introduced in September!!! Contact: Fr. Jon (309)792-2912

PHILOPTOCHOS NEWS Annual RUMMAGE SALE Friday, August 3 rd Saturday, August 4 th 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 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: Yvonne Constantinou (563)355-2204 FOOD PANTRY Philanthropy!!! Bring Canned and Dry Goods to the new collection bin in the hallway by the Church Entrance. This is a time to bring staples to those in need, not clean out our pantries!!! DONATIONS Thank you to the Ladies that donated a delicious chicken luncheon on the Festival Pastry Packaging Day: Litsa Gregory, C e l i a L u b b e r s, S o p h i a Mihalopoulos, Helen Panouses and Kathy Panouses. Thank you to Ken Maess and Sons who donated the freezer for the Baklava Sundae Ice Cream. God Bless your gifting!

CANA MARRIED FELLOWSHIP We have a Men s Fellowship!!! We have a Ladies Fellowship!!! Now we have a fellowship for Married Couples. Please contact Fr. Jon at the Church Office, (309)792-2912, or at FrJon@assumptionem.org with ideas for potential events. A few suggestions have been: a shopping trip to Chicago, a concert in the park and a Christmas Party. What do you think? What would get you involved? Contact: Fr. Jon (309)792-2912 GOYA NEWS Contact: John Haney (309)235-4461 ALTAR BOYS On Friday, July 20th, the Altarboys are going to see our Quad City Steamwheelers take on Cincinnati!!! RSVP ASAP!!! On Thursday, July 19 th, the GOYA is off to Magic Waters Waterpark in Rockford for Fellowship & Fun in the Sun!!! We will depart the Church at 8:00am sharp!!! RSPV to Fr. Jon at (309)792-2912 or at FrJon@assumptionem.org before July15 th. Contact: Fr. Jon (309)792-2912

ADULT GREEK CLASSES Fr. Basil Papanikolaou will be teaching 2 Adult Greek Classes this Fall at the Assumption Church. This is a wonderful opportunity for our parishioners to begin learning the Greek Language or to brush up the old vocabulary. Beginning Greek No precious knowledge required (only a high degree of motivation). This class will introduce spoken and written Modern Greek including the Alphabet, grammatical sentence structure, declension of nouns, conjugation of verbs, conversational drilling and reading simple texts. 10 classes beginning Thursday, Sept. 20, 7:00pm-8:30pm. Minimum 5 students. Advanced This class is designed for the individual who knows some Greek and wants to improve reading and conversational skills, vocabulary and conversational fluency. The focus will be on greater variety of styles and levels of discourse and usage with an increased study in the written language and more formal grammar and syntax. 10 classes beginning Tuesday, Sept. 18, 7:00pm-8:30pm. Minimum 5 students. The cost of each course is $100 per student. Please contact the Church to register. 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) Beginning September 17, 2007 the Bible Study will meet every Monday evening from 6:00pm-7:30 to study St. Paul s 1 st Letter to the Corinthians. This book is filled with application that is not only applicable at the time of Christ, but to us today. Come and learn about the role of the Clergy, clicks in the church, pride, spiritual discernment, proper attire, marriage, marital relations, divorce and much more!!! Make Bible Study a priority!!! Keep your Monday evenings open!!! Contact: Fr. Jon (309)792-2912

DIAKONIA Prosforo Schedule July 1 Kathy Panouses July 8 Sophia Mihalopoulos July 15 Katherine Moraetes July 22 Anna Fotos July 29 Helen Petaros Coffee Hour July 1 Lubbers and Panouses Families July 8 Chirackal and Ninan Families July 15 Petaros and Minas Families July 22 No Coffee Hour July 29 Milani Family Sunday Gospel and Epistle Readings July 1 Gospel Matthew 8:28-9:1 Epistle I Corinthians 12:27-13:8 July 8 Gospel Matthew 9:1-8 Epistle Romans 12:6-16 July 15 Gospel Matthew 5:14-19 Epistle Titus 3:8-15 July 22 Gospel Matthew 14:14-22 Epistle II Corinthians 9:2-12 July 29 Gospel Matthew 14:22-34 Epistle I Corinthians 3:9-17 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 George Bagatelas Michael Haney Michael Kandis Deno Kandis 9:55 Lee Dokolas Abraham Chirackal John Stopoulos Lambros Mihalopoulos July 1 St. Matthew July 8 St. Mark July 15 St. Luke July 22 St. John July 29 St. Matthew

SAINT PARASKEVI Celebrated July 26th Saint Paraskevi was born on a Friday (in Greek, Paraskevi), and was given this name, w h i c h m eans " p r e p a r a t i o n " o r "preparedness" (see Matt. 27:62, Mark 15:42, Luke 23:54, and John 19:31, where 'Friday' is called "the day of the preparation"). From childhood she was instructed in the sacred letters and devoted herself to the study of the divine Scriptures, while leading a monastic life and guiding many to the Faith of Christ. During the reign of the Emperor Antoninus Pius, she was apprehended because she was a Christian and was urged to worship the idols, but she answered with the words of Jeremias: "Let the gods that have not made heaven and the earth perish from off the earth" (Jer. 10:11). Because of this she endured exceedingly painful torments, and was beheaded in the year 140. The faithful pray to her for the healing of eye ailments. DORMITION OF ST. ANNA The Mother of the Theotokos July 25 According to tradition, Anna, the ancestor of God, lived for sixtynine years, and her spouse Joachim, for eighty; according to one account, Saint Joachim died two years before Saint Anna. The Theotokos had been orphaned of both her parents already when she was eleven years of age, when she was living in the Temple. Saint Anna is invoked for conceiving children, and for help in difficult childbirth.

SERVICE SCHEDULE July 1 Sunday 5TH SUNDAY OF SAINT MATTHEW Orthros 9:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy 10:00 a.m. July 8 Sunday 6TH SUNDAY OF SAINT MATTHEW Orthros 9:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy 10:00 a.m. July 15 Sunday SUNDAY OF THE HOLY FATHERS Orthros 9:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy 10:00 a.m. July 22 Sunday 8TH SUNDAY OF SAINT MATTHEW Orthros 9:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy 10:00 a.m. July 26 Thursday FEASTDAY OF ST. PARASKEVI Orthros 9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy 10:00 a.m. July 27 Friday FEASTDAY OF ST. PANDELEIMON Orthros 9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy 10:00 a.m. July 29 Sunday 9TH SUNDAY OF SAINT MATTHEW Orthros 9:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy 10:00 a.m.

CHURCH. J Sunday Monday Tuesday 5th Sunday of Matthew Orthros 9:00am Divine Liturgy 10:00am Coffee Hour 1 2 3 U L Y +Sacrament 6th Sunday of Matthew Orthros 9:00am Divine Liturgy 10:00am Coffee Hour 6:00pm - Golf Committee Meeting 8 15 Sunday of the Holy Fathers Orthros 9:00am Divine Liturgy 10:00am Coffee Hour 2:00pm - Festival Wrap-up Meeting 9 10 16 17 2 0 0 7 8th Sunday of Matthew Orthros 9:00am Divine Liturgy 10:00am Coffee Hour 9th Sunday of Matthew Orthros 9:00am Divine Liturgy 10:00am Coffee Hour 22 29 23 24 30 31

CALENDAR Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Church Office Closed 4 5 6 7 11 12 13 14 18 19 20 21 GOYA Outing to Magic Waters Waterpark in Rockford Altarboy Outing to the Steamwheelers Game 25 26 Feast of Saint Paraskevi Orthros 9:30am Divine Liturgy 10:00am 7:00pm Parish Council Meeting 27 Feast of Saint Panteleimon Orthros 9:30am Divine Liturgy 10:00am August Agape News Assembly Day 28 Fasting Symbols Strict Fast Wine and Oil Allowed Fish Allowed Fast Free

ΠΡΟΓΡΑΜΑ ΛΕΙΤΟΥΡΓΙΩΝ 1 Ιουλίου Κυριακή Κυριακή Ε Ματθαίου Όρθρος 9:00 π.μ. Θεία Λειτουργία 10:00 π.μ. 8 Ιουλίου Κυριακή Κυριακή ΣΤ Ματθαίου Όρθρος 9:00 π.μ. Θεία Λειτουργία 10:00 π.μ. 15 Ιουλίου Κυριακή Κυριακή των Αγίων Πατέρων Όρθρος 9:00 π.μ. Θεία Λειτουργία 10:00 π.μ. 22 Ιουλίου Κυριακή Κυριακή Η Ματθαίου Όρθρος 9:00 π.μ. Θεία Λειτουργία 10:00 π.μ. 26 Ιουλίου Πέμπτη Παρασκευή Οσιομάρτυς Όρθρος 9:30 π.μ. Θεία Λειτουργία 10:00 π.μ. 27 Ιουλίου Παρασκευή Μεγαλομάρτυς Παντελεήμων Όρθρος 9:30 π.μ. Θεία Λειτουργία 10:00 π.μ. 29 Ιουλίου Κυριακή Κυριακή Θ Ματθαίου Όρθρος 9:00 π.μ. Θεία Λειτουργία 10:00 π.μ.

ΜΕΓΑΛΟΜΑΡΤΥΣ ΠΑΝΤΕΛΕΗΜΩΝ Ο Άγιος ΠΑΝΤΕΛΕΗΜΩΝ ο Μεγαλομάρτυς και Ιαματικός 27 Ιουλίου Έ ζ η σ ε σ τ α χ ρ ό ν ι α 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 Παντ ε λε ήμων γρήγο ρα 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.

ANNUAL GOLF OUTING The 1st Annual Greek Cultural Festival Golf Tournament Monday, September 10, 2007 at the TPC at Deere Run 12 Noon Lunch 1:00 p.m. Shotgun Start $125 per golfer includes Greens Fees, Practice Range, Cart, Locker Room and Shower Facilities, Lunch, On Course Soft Drinks, Hors d oeuvres, On Course Proximity Events Sponsorship Opportunities: Presenting Sponsor ($2500) Hole Sponsor ($500) Hors d oeuvres Sponsor ($1500) Beverage Cart Sponsor ($500) Lunch Sponsor ($1000)

GOLF OUTING REGISTRATION Name: Company: Address: City/State/Zip: Phone: Email: I am reserving a Foursome w/hole sponsorship, attached is a check(s) For foursome(s) x $900 = I am organizing a Foursome, attached is a check(s) For foursome(s) x $500 = I am golfing as an individual; please place me in a foursome or with: Attached is my $125 payment. I can t golf, but wish to sponsor a hole for $500. Company/Individual Name: I can t golf, but please accept my donation of $ Please Make Check Payable To: Greek Cultural Festival And Return Prior To Friday, September 1 st, 2007 Golfer #2 Golfer #3 Golfer #4 Additional Golfers for Foursome Reservations

Growing Up Greek in America Saturday, November 10, 2007 1 night only at the Assumption Cultural Center This is a limited engagement!!! Tickets are $50 per person All seating is reserved - tables of 10 may be reserved - but hurry, seating is limited!!! Mezathakia will be served!!! Return the reservation form and secure your table today!!!

Basile Growing Up Greek in America Reservations Tables are reserved on a 1st Come 1st Served Basis - Those who reply 1st, get the best seating!!! So reserve your table today!!! This Event will be open to the public August 1st!!! Reservation Name I would like to reserve a table of 10. Attached is a check for $500 I would like to reserve a table of 10. I will come to the Church Office in the next 14 days and pay with MasterCard / Visa. I would like to reserve tickets at $50 each. Attached is a check for $ I would like to reserve tickets at $50 each. I will come to the Church Office in the next 14 days and pay with MasterCard / Visa. For Office Use Only Date Reserved Date Paid Mastercard Visa Check #

PANAGIA S DANCE Assumption Nameday Dinner Dance Hors d oeuvres Dinner Dessert Dancing Cash Bar Saturday, August 18 th 5:00-11:30 p.m. Please join us for a fun-filled evening! Hors d oeuvres 5:00 p.m. Dinner served at 6:30 p.m. Adults $15 in advance (by noon 8/15/07) $20 at the door Children (under 12) $6.00 For reservations, please call the Church Office at (309) 792-2912

GREEK CULTURAL FESTIVAL Diamond Sponsor American Bank & Trust Anchor Lumber Katz, Huntoon, Fieweger, P.C. Midland Information Resources Katie Andrios / Four Seasons Atwell Heating & Air Conditioning Barboutis Financial J. Patrick Brorby 2-C Auto Service Carpetland George & Nancy Coin John and Shan Corelis Davenport Family Restaurant Dr. Gyros Esterdahl Mortuary Ben Farrar & Co. Jim Flick, Flick s Inc. GCO Flooring Platinum Sponsor City of Moline Gold Sponsors Assumption Philoptochos Society Hematology & Oncology Care Denny, Mike and DJ Jacobs Lujack's Auto Plaza Mayor John Thodos Van Hoe Funeral Home Silver Sponsors Bronze Sponsors George's Classic Cleaners GraphixOne Marketing and Design Gulliver's Travel Mike & Helen Haney Hickory Garden Highland Park Bowl/Serbo Corp Hill & Valley, Inc. Imperial Builders Jim Jannes Deno and Dr. Ann Kandis Kelly's Irish Pub & Eatery Key Auto Mall The Law Center LCV Foods Representative Mike Boland Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home McClure Engineering Mel Foster Co. Sophie Minas Christ Panousis Spahn and Rose Lumber Dr. Muna Strasser, DDS Uncle Pete s QC USA Restaurant Reynolds Motor Strawberry Fields Pat Verschoore Wells Fargo Bank The Windmill Restaurant Zeglin's Home T.V. & Appliance Paul & Christine Bagatelas Herb & Diane Dennis CJ Duffy Company Thomas Hammar CPA Fest Friends Frank's Pizzeria Gastroenterology Consultants Halligan-McCabe Funeral Home James Minas Media Sponsors: KWQC-TV 6, Mediacom, QC Radio Group, The Dispatch, R.I Argus, The Leader In-Kind Sponsors: Dimitri Wine and Spirits, Johnny s Italian Steakhouse, Hy-Vee, Roger and Georgia Lovejoy, The Steamwheelers

INAUGUARAL SPONSORS The Agape News is made possible by the generous support of the following parishioners: Fr. Jon, Presbytera Doreece and Vasilia Fr. Basil Papanikolaou Michael and Nancy Avgenackis George Bagatelas Theodore and Karen Bagatelas Steve and Vaso Boukis and Family Abraham and Molly Chirackal and Family Dr. and Mrs. Costas Constantinou and Family Miltos and Cathy Diakogeorgiou George and Georgia Eleftheropoulos Mary Giovanis Mike and Helen Haney James Jannes George and Sherry Kontos Georgia Maess and Family Alex, Diane and Jim Lamacki Peter and Sue Lingris Tom Lingris and Judy Larson Dr. Roger, Celia, Alex and Kristin Lubbers Chris, Susan, Alaina and Melissa Mekus Michael and Roseanne Monn Spiro and Carol Pappaspiros Christ and Helen Petaros George and Nancy Polios St. Thomas Indian (Malankara) Orthodox Church Tony and Joan Stopoulos Bill, Tracey, Christopher and Stephanie Theofilis John and Mary Velon Michael and Elizabeth Weis The Windmill Family Restaurant 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).

GREEK CULTURAL FESTIVAL 2007

Assumption Greek Orthodox Church 4900 Kennedy Drive East Moline, Illinois 61244 Non-Profit Org. U.S. POSTAGE PAID E. Moline, IL. Permit No. 153