Agape News October 2010

Agape News October 2010

PARISH LIFE Restaurant Circle at Osaka 92 Visitors for It s Greek to Me Youth Outing for Mini-Golf Golden Circle at Olympic Gyros Sunday School Blessing of the Backpacks

PASTORAL MESSAGE Dear Parishioners, It is truly with great excitement that I write to you as I prepare to leave for the Holy Land. Although I go on this pilgrimage without you, it is for you that I go. I am going so that I may return to you with experiential knowledge that will enhance the ministries of our parish. I humbly ask that you keep me in your prayers and that the Lord will allow His providence to direct this journey. Many have told me that this pilgrimage is one that changes you I pray that in a few years, we may all return together to walk where Christ walked and to worship in the most holy of places so that together we may all be changed. I also would like to express congratulations to our sister parish of St. George on the celebration of 100 years. Upon my return, we will be celebrating together on October 17 th the Divine Liturgy which will be presided over by His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America and His Eminence Metropolitan Iakovos of Chicago. It is not often that we are visited by a bishop, let alone two. Let us make this celebration a priority in our schedules. This month s Agape News has a number of new upcoming events. Please read the entire Agape News so that all may be aware of the many ministries and events. In His Service, Rev. Father Jon Boukis Proistamenos

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION 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. 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. Contact: Fr. Jon (309)792-2912 YOUTH FELLOWSHIP Are you ready for our 1st Youth event of the Year!!! It s a Great one!!! On October 16th, we will be going to Country Corner (5333 U.S. Highway 150-2 mi. North of Alpha, Illinois )!!! For $10 each child will get to go on a hayride, pick a pumpkin, go through the Corn Maze, shoot the pumpkin cannon, pet many farm animals and much more!!! What a deal!!! We will meet at 10:00am sharp at Country Corner. If you are interested in carpooling, please indicate that to Presbytera when you RSVP. Please RSVP to Presbytera Doreece by October 14th. Contact: Presbytera Doreece (309)796-3734

PHILOPTOCHOS NEWS Philoptochos Christmas Bake Sale Saturday, December 11, 2010 9:00 am - 12:00 noon Baking Schedule Spanakopites To Be Announced Tiropites To Be Announced Melomakarona To Be Announced Baklava To Be Announced Packaging December 8 Kourambiethes & Koulourakia To Be Announced Contact: Litsa Gregory (309)755-0164 ORTHODOX BIBLE STUDY The Orthodox Bible Study 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!!! Contact: Fr. Jon (309)792-2912

SAINT JAMES, BROTHER OF OUR LORD Celebrated October 23 According to some, this Saint was a son of Joseph the Betrothed, born of the wife that the latter had before he was betrothed to the Ever-virgin. Hence he was the brother of the Lord, Who was also thought to be the son of Joseph (Matt. 13: 55). But some say that he was a nephew of Joseph, and the son of his brother Cleopas, who was also called Alphaeus and Mary his wife, who was the first cousin of the Theotokos. But even according to this genealogy, he was still called, according to the idiom of the Scriptures, the Lord's brother because of their kinship. This James is called the Less (Mark 15:4) by the Evangelists to distinguish him from James, the son of Zebedee, who was called the Great. He became the first Bishop of Jerusalem, elevated to this Episcopal rank by the Apostles, according to Eusebius (Eccl. Hist., Book II: 23), and was called Obliah, that is, the Just, because of his great holiness and righteousness. Having ascended the crest of the Temple on the day of the Passover at the prompting of all, he bore testimony from there concerning his belief in Jesus, and he proclaimed with a great voice that Jesus sits at the right hand of the great power of God and shall come again upon the clouds of heaven. On hearing this testimony, many of those present cried, "Hosanna to the Son of David." But the Scribes and Pharisees cried, "So, even the just one hath been led astray," and at the command of Ananias the high priest, the Apostle was cast down headlong from thence, then was stoned, and while he prayed for his slayers, his head was crushed by the wooden club wielded by a certain scribe. The first of the Catholic (General) Epistles written to the Jews in the Diaspora who believed in Christ was written by this James.

SAINT DEMETRIOS THE MYRRHBEARER Celebrated October 26 S a i n t D e m e t r i o s w a s a Thessalonian, a most pious son of pious and noble parents, and a teacher of the Faith of Christ. When Maximian first came to Thessalonica in 290, he raised the Saint to the rank of Duke of Thessaly. But when it was discovered that the Saint was a Christian, he was arrested and kept bound in a bath-house. While the games were under way in the city, Maximian was a spectator there. A certain friend of his, a barbarian who was a notable wrestler, Lyaeus by name, waxing haughty because of the height and strength of his body, boasted in the stadium and challenged the citizens to a contest with him. All that fought with him were defeated. Seeing this, a certain youth named Nestor, acquaintance of Demetriοs', came to the Saint in the bath-house and asked his blessing to fight Lyaeus single-handed. Receiving this blessing and sealing himself with the sign of the precious Cross, he presented himself in the stadium, and said, "O God of Demetriοs, help me!" and straightway he engaged Lyaeus in combat and smote him with a mortal blow to the heart, leaving the former boaster lifeless upon the earth. Maximian was sorely grieved over this, and when he learned who was the cause of this defeat, he commanded straightway and Demetriοs was pierced with lances while he was yet in the bath-house, As for Nestor, Maximian commanded that he be slain with his own sword.

ASSUMPTION TRIVIA NIGHT Trivia Night at the Assumption Fellowship Hall Saturday, October 30, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. LOUKOUMADES LOUKOUMADES SUNDAY They re Doughy and Delicious... They re Irresistible and Now They re Here!!! Sunday, October 24 th, following Divine Liturgy. $5 per dozen $3 for 6 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 New!!! Prize for the Best Costume Themed Table Bring your own snacks or buy a Greek Pastry RSVP TO JOHN ASAP (309)314-0328 Sponsored by the Golden Circle.

ΠΡΟΓΡΑΜΜΑ ΙΕΡΩΝ ΑΚΟΛΟΥΘΙΩΝ 3 Οκτωβρίου Κυριακή Κυριακή Β του Λουκά 9:00 π.μ. Όρθρος 10:00 π.μ. Θεία Λειτουργία 10 Οκτωβρίου Κυριακή Κυριακή Γ του Λουκά 9:00 π.μ. Όρθρος 10:00 π.μ. Θεία Λειτουργία 17 Οκτωβρίου Κυριακή Κυριακή των Αγίων Πατέρων (Ζ Οίκ. Συν) Θεία Λειτουργία στο Άγιο Γεώργιο (Νησί Πέτρου) 23 Οκτωβρίου Σάββατο Άγιος Ιάκωβος ο Αδελφόθεος Θεία Λειτουργία στο Σικάγο 24 Οκτωβρίου Κυριακή Κυριακή ΣΤ του Λουκά 9:00 π.μ. Όρθρος 10:00 π.μ. Θεία Λειτουργία 26 Οκτωβρίου Τρίτη Άγιος Δημήτριος ο Μυροβξύτης 9:30 π.μ. Όρθρος 10:00 π.μ. Θεία Λειτουργία 31 Οκτωβρίου Κυριακή Κυριακή Ε του Λουκά 9:00 π.μ. Όρθρος SERVICE SCHEDULE October 3 Sunday 2nd Sunday of Luke 9:00 a.m. Orthros 10:00 a.m. Consecration Service / Divine Liturgy October 10 Sunday 3rd Sunday of Luke 9:00 a.m. Orthros 10:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy October 17 Sunday Sunday of the 7th Ecumenical Council Divine Liturgy at St. George in Rock Island October 23 Saturday Feast of St. Iakovos Divine Liturgy in Chicago October 24 Sunday 6th Sunday of Luke 9:00 a.m. Orthros 10:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy October 26 Tuesday Feast of St. Demetrios 9:30 a.m. Orthros 10:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy October 31 Sunday 5th Sunday of Luke 9:00 a.m. Orthros 10:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy

O C T O B E R 2 0 1 0 CHURCH. Sunday Monday Tuesday 2nd Sunday of Luke Orthros 9:00am Divine Liturgy 10:00am Sunday School Coffee Hour 3rd Sunday of Luke Orthros 9:00am Divine Liturgy 10:00am Sunday School Philoptochos Meeting Coffee Hour 100 TH Anniversary of the Parish of St. George Hierarchical Divine Liturgy 10:00am with His Eminence Archbishop DEMETRIOS and His Eminence Metropolitan IAKOVOS at St. George 6th Sunday of Luke Orthros 9:00am Divine Liturgy 10:00am Sunday School Loukoumades Sunday 5th Sunday of Luke Orthros 9:00am Divine Liturgy 10:00am Sunday School Coffee Hour 3 10 17 24 31 It s Greek to Me Church Tour 4 5 11 18 6:00pm-7:30pm Orthodox Bible Study 25 6:00pm-7:30pm Orthodox Bible Study 12 19 Prayer Service 9:00am at the East Moline Correctional Center 26 Feast of St Demetrios Orthros 9:30am Divine Liturgy 10:00am

CALENDAR Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 6 7 1 2 Fr. Jon Away 8 9 13 It s Greek to Me Church Tour 14 15 Youth Pumpkin Picking 10:00am 16 Fr. Jon Away St. George 100 TH Anniversary Banquet 20 21 9:30am-11:00am Orthodox Bible Study 6:30pm - Parish Council Meeting (2011 Budget Meeting) 22 23 Feast of St Iakovos Divine Liturgy of St. Iakovos in Chicago Assumption Dinner Fundraiser 27 28 9:30am-11:00am Orthodox Bible Study 29 30 Metropolitan Iakovos Nameday Banquet in Chicago Assumption Trivia Night Fundraiser (Costume Themed) 7:00pm Fasting Symbols Strict Fast Wine and Oil Allowed Fish Allowed Fast Free

DIAKONIA Prosforo Schedule October 3 Maria Georgiadis October 10 Georgia Elertheropoulos October 17 Divine Liturgy at St. George October 24 Marena Panousis October 31 Georgia Kouris Coffee Hour October 3 Family of John Yigas October 10 Georgia Photiades October 17 Divine Liturgy at St. George October 24 Loukoumades Sunday October 31 Dokolas / Stamatoukos Sunday Gospel and Epistle Readings October 3 Gospel Luke 6:31-36 Epistle II Corinthians 11:31-12:19 October 10 Gospel Luke 7:11-16 Epistle Galatians 1:11-19 October 17 Gospel Luke 8:5-15 Epistle Titus 3:8-15 October 24 Gospel Luke 8:26-39 Epistle Galatians 6:11-18 October 31 Gospel Luke 16:19-31 Epistle Ephesians 2:4-10 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 October 3 St. Matthew October 10 St. Mark October 17 Divine Liturgy at St. George October 24 St. Luke October 31 St. John

DONATIONS Thank you to Dimitri Papageorgiou for donating M avrodaphe communion wine. May the Lord continue to grant you health. Thank you to Van Hoe Funeral Home for donating the Parish Calendars for 2011. Your dedication to our parish is greatly appreciated. SACRAMENTS The Servants of God Justin Harrison and Andromahi Korovilas were united in marriage on September 5, 2010. The Koumbara was Katherine Gliarmis. NEW STEWARDSHIP CARDS RECEIVED Deno Kouris Tom and Georgia Kouris Matt Miller Ann Polillo MAY GOD BLESS EACH OF YOU!!! 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

ΑΓΙΟΣ ΙΑΚΩΒΟΣ Ο ΑΔΕΛΦΟΘΕΟΣ 23 Οκτωβρίου Η παράδοση αναφέρει ότι ήταν ένας από τους γιούς του Ιωσήφ από άλλη γυναίκα, γι αυτό ονομαζόταν αδελφός του Κυρίου. Η συγγενική του, όμως, σχέση με τον Κύριο δεν είναι ομόφωνα καθορισμένη. Αλλά το γεγονός είναι ότι ο Ιάκωβος ο αδελφόθεος έγινε πρώτος επίσκοπος Ιεροσολύμων και είναι αυτός που έγραψε την πρώτη Θεία Λειτουργία της χριστιανικής Εκκλησίας. Ο Ιάκωβος, λοιπόν, ποίμανε την Εκκλησία τών Ιεροσολύμων με δικαιοσύνη, με γενναία στοργή και στερεότητα στην πίστη. Αυτό όμως, εξήγειρε τη μοχθηρία και την κακουργία των Ιουδαίων. Αφού τον έπιασαν, τον έριξαν πάνω από το πτερύγιο του Ναού, και ενώ ακόμα ήταν ζωντανός, τον αποτελείωσαν με άγριο κτύπημα ροπάλου στο κεφάλι. Έργο του Ιακώβου είναι και η Καθολική Επιστολή του στην Καινή Διαθήκη, στην οποία να τί μας συμβουλεύει, σχετικά με το πώς πρέπει να χειριζόμαστε το λόγο του Θεού: "Γίνεσθε ποιηταί λόγου και μή μόνον ακροαταί, παραλογιζόμενοι εαυτούς". Δηλαδή να γίνεσθε εκτελεστές και τηρητές του λόγου του Θεού και όχι μόνο ακροατές. Και να μή ξεγελάτε τον εαυτό σας, με την ιδέα ότι είναι αρκετό και μόνον να ακούει κανείς το λόγο.

ΑΓΙΟΣ ΔΗΜΗΤΡΙΟΣ Ο ΜΥΡΟΒΛΥΤΗΣ 26 Οκτωβρίου Ο Μεγαλομάρτυς Δημήτριος, γόνος της ένδοξης πόλης Θεσσαλονίκης, ήταν στρατιωτικός στα χρόνια του Διοκλητιανού. Γ ε ν ν α ί ο ς κ α ι α τ ρ ό μ ητ ο ς στρατιώτης του Χριστού και κήρυκας της χριστιανικής πίστης, είναι παράδειγμα χριστιανού μάρτυρος. Θα λέγαμε ότι υπήρξε ο πρώτος κατηχητής της Εκκλησίας μας. Διότι χωρίς τον παραμικρό φόβο κατηχούσε τους νέους της πόλης, εμπνέοντας σ αυτούς τη χριστιανική πίστη. Η δραστηριότητα του Δημητρίου καταγγέλθηκε στο Διοκλητιανό, ο οποίος τον κάλεσε στα ανάκτορα. Ο Δημήτριος δήλωσε στο Διοκλητιανό ότι πράγματι είναι χριστιανός, διότι μόνο η θρησκεία του Χριστού παρέχει ηθική λύτρωση και αιώνια ζωή. Τότε ο Διοκλητιανός διέταξε και τον έκλεισαν στη φυλακή. Αλλά τις ημέρες εκείνες γίνονταν στη Θεσσαλονίκη αγώνες. Οι ειδωλολάτρες, εκμεταλλευόμενοι τη δύναμη κάποιου Λυαίου, προκαλούσαν τους χριστιανούς να τον αντιμετωπίσουν. Τότε ένας νεαρός χριστιανός, ο Νέστωρ, αφού πήρε την ευχή του Δημητρίου μέσα από τη φυλακή, μπήκε στο στάδιο και νίκησε το σωματώδη Λυαίο. Οδιοκλητιανός έμαθε την αιτία της ήττας του Λυαίου. Πήγε στη φυλακή και με τη λόγχη σκότωσε το Δημήτριο και το Νέστορα. Η δε μητέρα Εκκλησία περιβάλλεται "ώς πορφύραν και βύσσον τα αίματα τών μαρτύρων της", διότι αυτά τα τέκνα της αποτελούν το καύχημά της.

ASSUMPTION DINNER Invite your friends and neighbors and come and join us for an evening of dining and fellowship at the Assumption Fellowship Hall. Pasta Bar An assortment of pasta dishes served as a buffet so that you may try as many as you wish and go back for seconds! October 23, 2010 Served from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Adults $10 - Children 12 and under $7 The Menu was designed and prepared by: The Windmill FAMILY RESTAURANT Miltos Diakogeorgiou, Parishioner Owners Jose Zepeda, Chef The First Assumption Dinner is being sponsored by: Nick and Daryn Passini & John and Tricia Thodos In anticipation and honor of the arrival of their first child and grandchild. The sponsorship for each dinner is $500 and can be donated by an individual, a business, a family or any combination. Future Dinners are scheduled for November 13th and December 31st. If you would like to sponsor a dinner for these or any future dates, please contact the Church Office.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY NOTICE OF PARISH ASSEMBLY TO BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 14, 2010 An assembly of all the stewards* of the parish will occur on Sunday, November 14, following the DIVINE LITURGY. The agenda will be as follows: 1. Opening Prayer / Attendance 2. Election of Assembly Chairperson 3. Minutes of Previous Assembly 4. Reports (President s Report, Treasurer s Report, Stewardship, Foundation, 2010 Cultural Festival) 5. Proposal of 2011 Parish Budget 6. Parish Bylaws 7. Nomination of Candidates for Parish Council, Election / Auditing Committees 8. Property Renovations (Masonry, roof, etc.) 9. Unfinished and New Business affecting the life of the Parish 10. Adjournment / Closing Prayer *A steward is any person baptized according to the rites of the Church, or was received into the church through CHRISMATION, who lives according to the faith and canons of the Church, and who has met his or her stewardship obligations to the parish for the current year. A list of current stewards will be available at the Parish Assembly. Please contact the church office to determine if you are currently a steward or if we can be of assistance in any aspect of living as an Orthodox Christian. A Parish Assembly consists of parishioners in good standing of the Parish who have met their stewardship obligations to the Parish in accordance with the Parish Bylaws. A person whose name appears on the Stewardship rolls but who is in arrears in the payment of his/her stewardship obligations may take part in the Parish Assembly by meeting such stewardship obligations on or before the date of the meeting. If a Parishioner is delinquent for more than the current calendar year, he or she may vote at the Parish Assembly only after that parishioner has met the unfulfilled stewardship financial obligations at least thirty (30) days before the Parish Assembly. New members may exercise their vote at Parish Assemblies if they have been parishioners in good standing for at least three months. The Priest shall be non-voting participant of the Parish Assembly. Uniform Parish Regulations, Article 31, Section 3 THIS MEETING IS VERY IMPORTANT AS WE WILL ADOPT NEW PARISH BYLAWS. PLEASE PLAN ON ATTENDING.

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 Anonymous Michael and Nancy Avgenackis George Bagatelas Family Theodore and Karen Bagatelas George and Georgia Eleftheropoulos The Fotiadis George and Maria Georgiadis Mary Giovanis The Gorman Family Litsa Gregory Tom P. Gregory Pete and Arlene Gust Mike and Helen Haney James Jannes Frank, Ellen and Christa Kaldis Deno and Dr. Ann Kandis Family George and Helen Kontos George, Sherry, Lexi and Nick Kontos Joyce Coughlin and JoAnn Kontos Tom Lingris and Judy Larson Sue and Pete Lingris Roger, Celia, Alex and Kristin Ninan Family Spiro and Carol Pappaspiros Christ and Helen Petaros Marina Pikis and Chris Pikis Ann Polillo George and Nancy Polios David L. Ray Christina Reed 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 John Thodos Family John and Mary Velon In Memory of George and Grace Vretis 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).

ADVERTISEMENTS The Windmill FAMILY RESTAURANT Reserve our banquet room today for your next celebration. Let us help create a special memory for you with our award-winning dishes. 1190 - Avenue of the Cities East Moline, IL 61244 (309)796-0030 COME SEE US AT OUR NEW LOCATION Miltos Diakogeorgiou, Parishioner Jose Zepeda, Chef Owners Owned by Parishioners Chris and Kathy Panouses 3629 Avenue of the Cities Moline, IL Service and Quality Workmanship for over 80 Years 1500 Fourth Avenue Rock Island, Illinois (309)788-4014 Advantage Pest Control 309-788-1584 Servicing Assumption for 3 years Call Steve Today! Greek American D.J. Steve Makropoulos 312-485-4353 708-598-4353 SMakropoulos@sbcglobal.net Gulliver's Travel Southpark Mall 762-8800 Northpark Mall 386-4400 Duck Creek Plaza 359-6500 Todd Bagatelas, President FULL COLOR ADVERTISEMENTS $400 for 2.5 x 3 $250 for 2.5 x 1.5 $150 for 1.25 x 1.5 Ecclesiastical Year Sept. 1 to Aug. 31 Old & New Testament Orthodox Study Bible! 1st and 2nd Shipments SOLD OUT List $49.95 + $9 S&H Your Price $40!!!

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