Weekly Bulletin
Assumption Greek Orthodox Church
15625 S. Bell Road - Homer Glen, Il 60448 - 708-645-0652
Fr. Sotirios Dimitriou, Pastor
May 26, 2019 - Sunday of The Samaritan Woman
SS. Carpos and Alphaeus, Apostles of the 70; St. Alexandros the New Martyr of Thessaloniki
St. George the New of Sofia and St. Augustine, Archbishop of Canterbury
Epistle Lesson: Acts 11:19-30 Gospel Lesson: John: 4:5-43
Memorial:
40 Days – Antonios Seretis
When receiving Holy Communion, we ask that you kindly come up, row by row and follow the direction of the Parish Council Member.
WHO CAN RECEIVE HOLY COMMUNION
Receiving Holy Communion and any other Sacraments is an expression of our acceptance of the dogmatic and moral teachings of the Orthodox Church. Only Orthodox Christians (by Baptism or Chrismation) in good standing may participate. For this reason, persons who do not agree with these teachings, or are not in good standing (for example, married outside the Church, or civilly divorced but not ecclesiastically divorced), must return to good standing in order to participate in the Sacramental life of the Church. For the same reasons, Orthodox Christians cannot receive sacraments in non-Orthodox
Apolytikion of Great and Holy Pascha - Plagal of the First Tone
Χριστὸς ἀνέστη ἐκ νεκρῶν, θανάτῳ θάνατον πατήσας, καὶ τοῖς ἐν τοῖς μνήμασι, ζωὴν χαρισάμενος.
Christ is risen from the dead, by death, trampling down upon death, and to those in the tombs He has granted life.
Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone - Τὸ φαιδρὸν τῆς Ἀναστάσεως κήρυγμα, ἐκ τοῦ Ἀγγέλου μαθοῦσαι αἱ τοῦ Κυρίου Μαθήτριαι, καὶ τὴν προγονικὴν ἀπόφασιν ἀπορρίψασαι, τοῖς Ἀποστόλοις καυχώμεναι ἔλεγον· Ἐσκύλευται ὁ θάνατος, ἠγέρθη Χριστὸς ὁ Θεός, δωρούμενος τῷ κόσμῳ τὸ μέγα ἔλεος.
Having learned the joyful proclamation of the Resurrection from the Angel, and having cast off the ancestral condemnation, the women disciples of the Lord spake to the Apostles exultantly: Death is despoiled and Christ God is risen, granting great mercy to the world.
Apolytikion of Mid-Pentecost in Plagal of the Fourth Tone - Μεσούσης τῆς ἑορτῆς, διψῶσάν μου τὴν ψυχήν, εὐσεβείας πότισον νάματα ὅτι πᾶσι Σωτὴρ ἐβόησας· ὁ διψῶν, ἐρχέσθω πρός με καὶ πινέτω· Ἡ πηγὴ τῆς ζωῆς, Χριστὲ ὁ Θεὸς δόξα σοι.
Mid-way in the feast, refresh my thirsty soul with the flowing waters of piety. For You cried out to all, O Savior, "Let him who thirsts come to me and drink." You, O Christ our God, are the Fountain of Life, glory to You.
Apolytikion of Synaxis of John the Forerunner in the Second Tone
Μνήμη δικαίου μέτ' ἐγκωμίων, σοὶ δὲ ἀρκέσει ἡ μαρτυρία τοῦ Κυρίου Πρόδρομε, ἀνεδείχθης γὰρ ὄντως καὶ Προφητῶν σεβασμιώτερος, ὅτι καὶ ἐν ῥείθροις βαπτίσαι κατηξιώθης τὸν κηρυττόμενον. Ὅθεν τῆς ἀληθείας ὑπεραθλήσας, χαίρων εὐηγγελίσω καὶ τοὶς ἐν ἅδῃ, Θεὸν φανερωθέντα ἐν σαρκί, τὸν αἴροντα τὴν ἁμαρτίαν τοῦ κόσμου, καὶ παρέχοντα ἡμῖν τὸ μέγα ἔλεος.
The memory of the just is celebrated with hymns of praise, but the Lord's testimony is sufficient for thee, O Forerunner; for thou hast proved to be truly even more venerable than the Prophets, since thou was granted to baptize in the running waters Him Whom they proclaimed. Wherefore, having contested for the truth, thou didst rejoice to announce the good tidings even to those in Hades: that God hath appeared in the flesh, taking away the sin of the world and granting us great mercy.
Apolytikion of Dormition of the Theotokos in the First Tone Εν τή Γεννήσει τήν παρθενίαν εφύλαξας, έν τή Κοιμήσει τόν κόσμον ού κατέλιπες Θεοτόκε, Μετέστης πρός τήν ζωήν, μήτηρ υπάρχουσα τής ζωής, καί ταίς πρεσβείαις ταίς σαίς λυτρουμένη, εκ θανάτου τάς ψυχάς ημών.
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.
Seasnon Kontakion - Plagal of the Fourth Tone
Εἰ καὶ ἐν τάφῳ κατῆλθες ἀθάνατε, ἀλλὰ τοῦ ᾍδου καθεῖλες τὴν δύναμιν, καὶ ἀνέστης ὡς νικητής, Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός, γυναιξὶ Μυροφόροις φθεγξάμενος. Χαίρετε, καὶ τοῖς σοῖς Ἀποστόλοις εἰρήνην δωρούμενος ὁ τοῖς πεσοῦσι παρέχων ἀνάστασιν.
Acts of the Apostles 11:19-30 - IN THOSE DAYS, those apostles who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to none except Jews. But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Greeks also, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number that believed turned to the Lord. News of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad; and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose; for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a large company was added to the Lord. So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul; and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church, and taught a large company of people; and in Antioch the disciples were for the first time called Christians. Now in these days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. And one of them named Agabos stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world; and this took place in the days of Claudius. And the disciples determined, every one according to his ability, to send relief to the brethren who lived in Judea, and they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.
The Gospel according to John 4:5-42 - At that time, Jesus came to a city of Samaria, called Sychar, near the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Jacob's well was there, and so Jesus, wearied as he was with his journey, sat down beside the well. It was about the sixth hour.
There came a woman of Samaria to draw water. Jesus said to her, "Give me a drink." For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food. The Samaritan woman said to him, "How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?" For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans. Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, 'Give me a drink,' you would have asked him and he would have given you living water." The woman said to him, "Sir, you have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep; where do you get that living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, and his sons, and his cattle?" Jesus said to her, "Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst; the water that I shall give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw."
Jesus said to her, "Go, call your husband, and come here." The woman answered him, "I have no husband." Jesus said to her, "You are right in saying, 'I have no husband'; for you have had five husbands, and he whom you now have is not your husband; this you said truly." The woman said to him, "Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped on this mountain; and you say that Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship." Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for such the Father seeks to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth." The woman said to him, "I know that the Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ); when he comes, he will show us all things." Jesus said to her, "I who speak to you am he."
Just then his disciples came. They marveled that he was talking with a woman, but none said, "What do you wish?" or, "Why are you talking with her?" So the woman left her water jar, and went away into the city and said to the people, "Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?" They went out of the city and were coming to him.
Meanwhile the disciples besought him, saying "Rabbi, eat." But he said to them, "I have food to eat of which you do not know." So the disciples said to one another, "Has anyone brought him food?" Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of him who sent me, and to accomplish his work. Do you not say, 'There are yet four months, then comes the harvest'? I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see how the fields are already white for harvest. He who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. For here the saying holds true, 'One sows and another reaps.' I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor; others have labored, and you have entered into their labor."
Many Samaritans from that city believed in him because of the woman's testimony. "He told me all that I ever did." So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them; and he stayed there two days. And many more believed because of his word. They said to the woman, "It is no longer because of your words that we believe, for we have heard ourselves, and we know that this is indeed Christ the Savior of the world."
Sunday of the Samaritan Woman
One of the most ancient cities of the Promised Land was Shechem, also called Sikima, located at the foot of Mount Gerazim. There the Israelites had heard the blessings in the days of Moses and Jesus of Navi. Near to this town, Jacob, who had come from Mesopotamia in the nineteenth century before Christ, bought a piece of land where there was a well. This well, preserved even until the time of Christ, was known as Jacob's Well. Later, before he died in Egypt, he left that piece of land as a special inheritance to his son Joseph (Gen. 49:22). This town, before it was taken into possession by Samaria, was also the leading city of the kingdom of the ten tribes. In the time of the Romans it was called Neapolis, and at present Nablus. It was the first city in Canaan visited by the Patriarch Abraham. Here also, Jesus of Navi (Joshua) addressed the tribes of Israel for the last time. Almost three hundred years later, all Israel assembled there to make Roboam (Rehoboam) king.
When our Lord Jesus Christ, then, came at midday to this city, which is also called Sychar (John 4:5), He was wearied from the journey and the heat, and He sat down at this well. After a little while the Samaritan woman mentioned in today's Gospel passage came to draw water. As she conversed at some length with the Lord and heard from Him secret things concerning herself, she believed in Him; through her many other Samaritans also believed.
Concerning the Samaritans we know the following: In the year 721 before Christ, Salmanasar (Shalmaneser), King of the Assyrians, took the ten tribes of the kingdom of Israel into captivity, and relocated all these people to Babylon and the land of the Medes. From there he gathered various nations and sent them to Samaria. These nations had been idolaters from before. Although they were later instructed in the Jewish faith and believed in the one God, they worshipped the idols also. Furthermore, they accepted only the Pentateuch of Moses, and rejected the other books of Holy Scripture. Nonetheless, they thought themselves to be descendants of Abraham and Jacob. Therefore, the pious Jews named these Judaizing and idolatrous peoples Samaritans, since they lived in Samaria, the former leading city of the Israelites, as well as in the other towns thereabout. The Jews rejected them as heathen and foreigners, and had no communion with them at all, as the Samaritan woman observed, "the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans" (John 4:9). Therefore, the name Samaritan is used derisively many times in the Gospel narrations. After the Ascension of the Lord, and the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, the woman of Samaria was baptized by the holy Apostles and became a great preacher and Martyr of Christ; she was called Photine, and her feast is kept on February 26.
Community News
Memorial Day Observation … As you know, it has become customary for memorial prayers to be read over our loved ones at the cemetery. This year, Father Sam will be at Stegar Cemetery today, May 26th immediately following the Divine Liturgy and at Dignity Cemetery in Evergreen Park on Monday, May 27th beginning at 8:00 a.m.
2019 Stewardship … The Pledge Form for 2019 have been mailed to your homes. At this time, we kindly ask that you complete your pledge to the best of your God given ability and return it to the Church. If you have not received or are in need of a Pledge Form, they are available in the Narthex. If you would like to pay your Stewardship with a Credit Card, you may do so. Please see Father Sam if you have any questions.
Going Green Collection Program! Our parish will be participating in a recyclable program, but we are not going to be collecting plastic bottles and papers. Instead the recyclables we are collecting are clothing, blankets and shoes. A GOIN’ GREEN Drop of box is placed on the Church grounds that will be visible to not only our parishioners, but also to the general public. This is an opportunity for our parish to give back to the community at large and to participate at recycling goods that will help those who are less fortunate than us. So now, when we have clothes, blankets, coats or shoes that we don’t need anymore, we can bring them to Church and drop them off in the GOIN’ GREEN Drop box. For more information about this program, please see Fr. Sam.
IN THE HOSPITAL, LET FATHER KNOW! In order to assist Father in his pastoral duties, please inform him if you or a family member has been hospitalized. Our hospitals DO NOT have a policy of informing the church if they have a parishioner as their patient.
ADDRESS CHANGED? Please help us keep our membership and mailings as accurate as possible by notifying Father of address, name or phone number changes. Thank you for your assistance.
Southside Senior Citizens Ministry – Our Sister Parish of St. Spyridon will be hosting the Southside Senior Citizen’ Ministry on Monday, June 3, 2019. Orthros begins at 8:15 a.m, followed by the Divine Liturgy. Immediately at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, on behalf of the Philoptochos Society of St. Spyridon, they invite you to join them for a fellowship meal in the hall.
Metropolitan Nathanael’s Feast Day Celebration - The Faithful Stewards and Friends fo the Holy Metropolis of Chicago are cordially invited to an Open House on the occasion of the Feast Day of the Holy Apostle Bartholomew, the Patron Saint of His Eminence, Metropolitan Nathanael of Chicago, on Monday, June 10th with Great Vespers at 7:00 p.m. and reception immediately following at St. Nectarios in Palatine, IL.
On Tuesday, June 11th the Feast Day of His Eminence, the services will be held at the Annunciation Cathedral in Chicago, with the Orthros is at 8:30 a.m., Divine Liturgy 9:30 a.m. with a Luncheon to follow.
Annual Be Greek For A Day Festival - This year, our Annual Festival will be held Friday, Saturday and Sunday, July 19th, 20th, & 21st. In order for this year’s festival to be a success, we need the help of the entire parish. Our Festival Chairpersons, Fr. Sam and , Mike Bradaric are seeking volunteers for our three day fest, whether it be setting up, cooking, serving, or even cleaning. In the weeks to come, we will be having a festival meeting to plan and coordinate this year’s fest.
Below is a list of items that need to be donated toward
Items Donated
1,800 Pork shish-kabobs - donated
300 Whole Chickens - donated
35 – 30 pd. Gyro cones - donated
900 Gyro pitas - donated
20 pans Pastitchio - donated
8 Gallons of Olive Oil - donated
10 cases of French Fries - donated
5 Containers of Garlic powder - donated
2 Gallons of Honey - donated
5 Containers of Oregano - donated
8 cases of cucumbers - donated
30 Gallons Corn oil - Donated
2 Rolls of Aluminum Foil - donated
2 Rolls of Plastic Wrap – donated
1,500 Plastic Silverware packets - donated30 cases sprite – donated
50 cases of water - donated
30 cases regular cola - donated
30 cases diet - donated
15 cases of Greek Wine - donated
1 container feta - donated
Food Items Needed
100 lbs. of rice
300 dozen Dinner Rolls
50 lbs. of white onions
25 lbs. of red onions
5 cases of green peppers
200 lbs. of flour
1 case of butter
2 Large container of Greek olives
2 containers of Feta cheese
5 cases of ice berg lettuce
12 cases tomatoes
7 cases Romaine lettuce
2 container of Tzatziki sauce
750 Spinach Pies
5 Gallons of lemon juice
3 cases of Italian Salad Dressing
5 Containers of Salt
Paper Goods Needed
1,500 Plastic Silverware packets
3,000 single carryout container
1 case of 16 oz. cups
4 cases of Large Aluminum foil pans
1 case clear 9 in. carryout container
1 case of Garbage Liners
2 cases of 8 oz. hot cups
1 case of Napkins
2 cases of paper towels
1 Gallon of Dishwashing Soap
1 case of To-go bags
Beverages Needed
10 kegs of beer
Ice & ice machine $300.00
Donations Needed for Tents & Miscellaneous
Tent, chairs & tables - $11,000.00
Bounces Houses - $1,300.00
15625 S. Bell Road - Homer Glen, Il 60448 - 708-645-0652
Fr. Sotirios Dimitriou, Pastor
May 26, 2019 - Sunday of The Samaritan Woman
SS. Carpos and Alphaeus, Apostles of the 70; St. Alexandros the New Martyr of Thessaloniki
St. George the New of Sofia and St. Augustine, Archbishop of Canterbury
Epistle Lesson: Acts 11:19-30 Gospel Lesson: John: 4:5-43
Memorial:
40 Days – Antonios Seretis
When receiving Holy Communion, we ask that you kindly come up, row by row and follow the direction of the Parish Council Member.
WHO CAN RECEIVE HOLY COMMUNION
Receiving Holy Communion and any other Sacraments is an expression of our acceptance of the dogmatic and moral teachings of the Orthodox Church. Only Orthodox Christians (by Baptism or Chrismation) in good standing may participate. For this reason, persons who do not agree with these teachings, or are not in good standing (for example, married outside the Church, or civilly divorced but not ecclesiastically divorced), must return to good standing in order to participate in the Sacramental life of the Church. For the same reasons, Orthodox Christians cannot receive sacraments in non-Orthodox
Apolytikion of Great and Holy Pascha - Plagal of the First Tone
Χριστὸς ἀνέστη ἐκ νεκρῶν, θανάτῳ θάνατον πατήσας, καὶ τοῖς ἐν τοῖς μνήμασι, ζωὴν χαρισάμενος.
Christ is risen from the dead, by death, trampling down upon death, and to those in the tombs He has granted life.
Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone - Τὸ φαιδρὸν τῆς Ἀναστάσεως κήρυγμα, ἐκ τοῦ Ἀγγέλου μαθοῦσαι αἱ τοῦ Κυρίου Μαθήτριαι, καὶ τὴν προγονικὴν ἀπόφασιν ἀπορρίψασαι, τοῖς Ἀποστόλοις καυχώμεναι ἔλεγον· Ἐσκύλευται ὁ θάνατος, ἠγέρθη Χριστὸς ὁ Θεός, δωρούμενος τῷ κόσμῳ τὸ μέγα ἔλεος.
Having learned the joyful proclamation of the Resurrection from the Angel, and having cast off the ancestral condemnation, the women disciples of the Lord spake to the Apostles exultantly: Death is despoiled and Christ God is risen, granting great mercy to the world.
Apolytikion of Mid-Pentecost in Plagal of the Fourth Tone - Μεσούσης τῆς ἑορτῆς, διψῶσάν μου τὴν ψυχήν, εὐσεβείας πότισον νάματα ὅτι πᾶσι Σωτὴρ ἐβόησας· ὁ διψῶν, ἐρχέσθω πρός με καὶ πινέτω· Ἡ πηγὴ τῆς ζωῆς, Χριστὲ ὁ Θεὸς δόξα σοι.
Mid-way in the feast, refresh my thirsty soul with the flowing waters of piety. For You cried out to all, O Savior, "Let him who thirsts come to me and drink." You, O Christ our God, are the Fountain of Life, glory to You.
Apolytikion of Synaxis of John the Forerunner in the Second Tone
Μνήμη δικαίου μέτ' ἐγκωμίων, σοὶ δὲ ἀρκέσει ἡ μαρτυρία τοῦ Κυρίου Πρόδρομε, ἀνεδείχθης γὰρ ὄντως καὶ Προφητῶν σεβασμιώτερος, ὅτι καὶ ἐν ῥείθροις βαπτίσαι κατηξιώθης τὸν κηρυττόμενον. Ὅθεν τῆς ἀληθείας ὑπεραθλήσας, χαίρων εὐηγγελίσω καὶ τοὶς ἐν ἅδῃ, Θεὸν φανερωθέντα ἐν σαρκί, τὸν αἴροντα τὴν ἁμαρτίαν τοῦ κόσμου, καὶ παρέχοντα ἡμῖν τὸ μέγα ἔλεος.
The memory of the just is celebrated with hymns of praise, but the Lord's testimony is sufficient for thee, O Forerunner; for thou hast proved to be truly even more venerable than the Prophets, since thou was granted to baptize in the running waters Him Whom they proclaimed. Wherefore, having contested for the truth, thou didst rejoice to announce the good tidings even to those in Hades: that God hath appeared in the flesh, taking away the sin of the world and granting us great mercy.
Apolytikion of Dormition of the Theotokos in the First Tone Εν τή Γεννήσει τήν παρθενίαν εφύλαξας, έν τή Κοιμήσει τόν κόσμον ού κατέλιπες Θεοτόκε, Μετέστης πρός τήν ζωήν, μήτηρ υπάρχουσα τής ζωής, καί ταίς πρεσβείαις ταίς σαίς λυτρουμένη, εκ θανάτου τάς ψυχάς ημών.
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.
Seasnon Kontakion - Plagal of the Fourth Tone
Εἰ καὶ ἐν τάφῳ κατῆλθες ἀθάνατε, ἀλλὰ τοῦ ᾍδου καθεῖλες τὴν δύναμιν, καὶ ἀνέστης ὡς νικητής, Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός, γυναιξὶ Μυροφόροις φθεγξάμενος. Χαίρετε, καὶ τοῖς σοῖς Ἀποστόλοις εἰρήνην δωρούμενος ὁ τοῖς πεσοῦσι παρέχων ἀνάστασιν.
Acts of the Apostles 11:19-30 - IN THOSE DAYS, those apostles who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to none except Jews. But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Greeks also, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number that believed turned to the Lord. News of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad; and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose; for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a large company was added to the Lord. So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul; and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church, and taught a large company of people; and in Antioch the disciples were for the first time called Christians. Now in these days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. And one of them named Agabos stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world; and this took place in the days of Claudius. And the disciples determined, every one according to his ability, to send relief to the brethren who lived in Judea, and they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.
The Gospel according to John 4:5-42 - At that time, Jesus came to a city of Samaria, called Sychar, near the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Jacob's well was there, and so Jesus, wearied as he was with his journey, sat down beside the well. It was about the sixth hour.
There came a woman of Samaria to draw water. Jesus said to her, "Give me a drink." For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food. The Samaritan woman said to him, "How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?" For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans. Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, 'Give me a drink,' you would have asked him and he would have given you living water." The woman said to him, "Sir, you have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep; where do you get that living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, and his sons, and his cattle?" Jesus said to her, "Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst; the water that I shall give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw."
Jesus said to her, "Go, call your husband, and come here." The woman answered him, "I have no husband." Jesus said to her, "You are right in saying, 'I have no husband'; for you have had five husbands, and he whom you now have is not your husband; this you said truly." The woman said to him, "Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped on this mountain; and you say that Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship." Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for such the Father seeks to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth." The woman said to him, "I know that the Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ); when he comes, he will show us all things." Jesus said to her, "I who speak to you am he."
Just then his disciples came. They marveled that he was talking with a woman, but none said, "What do you wish?" or, "Why are you talking with her?" So the woman left her water jar, and went away into the city and said to the people, "Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?" They went out of the city and were coming to him.
Meanwhile the disciples besought him, saying "Rabbi, eat." But he said to them, "I have food to eat of which you do not know." So the disciples said to one another, "Has anyone brought him food?" Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of him who sent me, and to accomplish his work. Do you not say, 'There are yet four months, then comes the harvest'? I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see how the fields are already white for harvest. He who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. For here the saying holds true, 'One sows and another reaps.' I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor; others have labored, and you have entered into their labor."
Many Samaritans from that city believed in him because of the woman's testimony. "He told me all that I ever did." So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them; and he stayed there two days. And many more believed because of his word. They said to the woman, "It is no longer because of your words that we believe, for we have heard ourselves, and we know that this is indeed Christ the Savior of the world."
Sunday of the Samaritan Woman
One of the most ancient cities of the Promised Land was Shechem, also called Sikima, located at the foot of Mount Gerazim. There the Israelites had heard the blessings in the days of Moses and Jesus of Navi. Near to this town, Jacob, who had come from Mesopotamia in the nineteenth century before Christ, bought a piece of land where there was a well. This well, preserved even until the time of Christ, was known as Jacob's Well. Later, before he died in Egypt, he left that piece of land as a special inheritance to his son Joseph (Gen. 49:22). This town, before it was taken into possession by Samaria, was also the leading city of the kingdom of the ten tribes. In the time of the Romans it was called Neapolis, and at present Nablus. It was the first city in Canaan visited by the Patriarch Abraham. Here also, Jesus of Navi (Joshua) addressed the tribes of Israel for the last time. Almost three hundred years later, all Israel assembled there to make Roboam (Rehoboam) king.
When our Lord Jesus Christ, then, came at midday to this city, which is also called Sychar (John 4:5), He was wearied from the journey and the heat, and He sat down at this well. After a little while the Samaritan woman mentioned in today's Gospel passage came to draw water. As she conversed at some length with the Lord and heard from Him secret things concerning herself, she believed in Him; through her many other Samaritans also believed.
Concerning the Samaritans we know the following: In the year 721 before Christ, Salmanasar (Shalmaneser), King of the Assyrians, took the ten tribes of the kingdom of Israel into captivity, and relocated all these people to Babylon and the land of the Medes. From there he gathered various nations and sent them to Samaria. These nations had been idolaters from before. Although they were later instructed in the Jewish faith and believed in the one God, they worshipped the idols also. Furthermore, they accepted only the Pentateuch of Moses, and rejected the other books of Holy Scripture. Nonetheless, they thought themselves to be descendants of Abraham and Jacob. Therefore, the pious Jews named these Judaizing and idolatrous peoples Samaritans, since they lived in Samaria, the former leading city of the Israelites, as well as in the other towns thereabout. The Jews rejected them as heathen and foreigners, and had no communion with them at all, as the Samaritan woman observed, "the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans" (John 4:9). Therefore, the name Samaritan is used derisively many times in the Gospel narrations. After the Ascension of the Lord, and the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, the woman of Samaria was baptized by the holy Apostles and became a great preacher and Martyr of Christ; she was called Photine, and her feast is kept on February 26.
Community News
Memorial Day Observation … As you know, it has become customary for memorial prayers to be read over our loved ones at the cemetery. This year, Father Sam will be at Stegar Cemetery today, May 26th immediately following the Divine Liturgy and at Dignity Cemetery in Evergreen Park on Monday, May 27th beginning at 8:00 a.m.
2019 Stewardship … The Pledge Form for 2019 have been mailed to your homes. At this time, we kindly ask that you complete your pledge to the best of your God given ability and return it to the Church. If you have not received or are in need of a Pledge Form, they are available in the Narthex. If you would like to pay your Stewardship with a Credit Card, you may do so. Please see Father Sam if you have any questions.
Going Green Collection Program! Our parish will be participating in a recyclable program, but we are not going to be collecting plastic bottles and papers. Instead the recyclables we are collecting are clothing, blankets and shoes. A GOIN’ GREEN Drop of box is placed on the Church grounds that will be visible to not only our parishioners, but also to the general public. This is an opportunity for our parish to give back to the community at large and to participate at recycling goods that will help those who are less fortunate than us. So now, when we have clothes, blankets, coats or shoes that we don’t need anymore, we can bring them to Church and drop them off in the GOIN’ GREEN Drop box. For more information about this program, please see Fr. Sam.
IN THE HOSPITAL, LET FATHER KNOW! In order to assist Father in his pastoral duties, please inform him if you or a family member has been hospitalized. Our hospitals DO NOT have a policy of informing the church if they have a parishioner as their patient.
ADDRESS CHANGED? Please help us keep our membership and mailings as accurate as possible by notifying Father of address, name or phone number changes. Thank you for your assistance.
Southside Senior Citizens Ministry – Our Sister Parish of St. Spyridon will be hosting the Southside Senior Citizen’ Ministry on Monday, June 3, 2019. Orthros begins at 8:15 a.m, followed by the Divine Liturgy. Immediately at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, on behalf of the Philoptochos Society of St. Spyridon, they invite you to join them for a fellowship meal in the hall.
Metropolitan Nathanael’s Feast Day Celebration - The Faithful Stewards and Friends fo the Holy Metropolis of Chicago are cordially invited to an Open House on the occasion of the Feast Day of the Holy Apostle Bartholomew, the Patron Saint of His Eminence, Metropolitan Nathanael of Chicago, on Monday, June 10th with Great Vespers at 7:00 p.m. and reception immediately following at St. Nectarios in Palatine, IL.
On Tuesday, June 11th the Feast Day of His Eminence, the services will be held at the Annunciation Cathedral in Chicago, with the Orthros is at 8:30 a.m., Divine Liturgy 9:30 a.m. with a Luncheon to follow.
Annual Be Greek For A Day Festival - This year, our Annual Festival will be held Friday, Saturday and Sunday, July 19th, 20th, & 21st. In order for this year’s festival to be a success, we need the help of the entire parish. Our Festival Chairpersons, Fr. Sam and , Mike Bradaric are seeking volunteers for our three day fest, whether it be setting up, cooking, serving, or even cleaning. In the weeks to come, we will be having a festival meeting to plan and coordinate this year’s fest.
Below is a list of items that need to be donated toward
Items Donated
1,800 Pork shish-kabobs - donated
300 Whole Chickens - donated
35 – 30 pd. Gyro cones - donated
900 Gyro pitas - donated
20 pans Pastitchio - donated
8 Gallons of Olive Oil - donated
10 cases of French Fries - donated
5 Containers of Garlic powder - donated
2 Gallons of Honey - donated
5 Containers of Oregano - donated
8 cases of cucumbers - donated
30 Gallons Corn oil - Donated
2 Rolls of Aluminum Foil - donated
2 Rolls of Plastic Wrap – donated
1,500 Plastic Silverware packets - donated30 cases sprite – donated
50 cases of water - donated
30 cases regular cola - donated
30 cases diet - donated
15 cases of Greek Wine - donated
1 container feta - donated
Food Items Needed
100 lbs. of rice
300 dozen Dinner Rolls
50 lbs. of white onions
25 lbs. of red onions
5 cases of green peppers
200 lbs. of flour
1 case of butter
2 Large container of Greek olives
2 containers of Feta cheese
5 cases of ice berg lettuce
12 cases tomatoes
7 cases Romaine lettuce
2 container of Tzatziki sauce
750 Spinach Pies
5 Gallons of lemon juice
3 cases of Italian Salad Dressing
5 Containers of Salt
Paper Goods Needed
1,500 Plastic Silverware packets
3,000 single carryout container
1 case of 16 oz. cups
4 cases of Large Aluminum foil pans
1 case clear 9 in. carryout container
1 case of Garbage Liners
2 cases of 8 oz. hot cups
1 case of Napkins
2 cases of paper towels
1 Gallon of Dishwashing Soap
1 case of To-go bags
Beverages Needed
10 kegs of beer
Ice & ice machine $300.00
Donations Needed for Tents & Miscellaneous
Tent, chairs & tables - $11,000.00
Bounces Houses - $1,300.00
