Weekly Bulletin
Assumption Greek Orthodox Church
15625 S. Bell Road - Homer Glen, Il 60491 - 708-645-0652
Fr. Sotirios Dimitriou, Pastor
March 10, 2019 – Sunday Bulletin Sunday – Forgiveness (Cheese-Fare Sunday)
St. Quadratus the Martyr & his Companions, St. Anastasia of Alexandria and St. Michael Mauroudes the New-Martyr
Epistle Reading: Romans 13:11-14; 14:1-4 Gospel Reading: Matthew 6:14-21
Services this Week: Monday, March 11th - Kathera Deftera – Compline 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday, March 13th - Pre-Sanctified Liturgy 9:00 a.m.
Friday, March 15th – 1st Salutation to the Virgin Mary 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, March 16th - 3rd Saturday of the Souls, Orthros 8:30 a.m., Liturgy 9:30 a.m.
We Would Like to Welcome All Visitors to Our Community Today!
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.
Resurrectional Apolytikion Plagal of the Plagal of the Fourth Tone
Ἐξ ὕψους κατῆλθες ὁ εὔσπλαγχνος, ταφὴν καταδέξω τριήμερον, ἵνα ἡμᾶς ἐλευθερώσῃς τῶν παθῶν. Ἡ ζωὴ καὶ ἡ Ἀνάστασις ἡμῶν, Κύριε δόξα σοι
From on high didst Thou descend, O Compassionate One; to burial of three days hast Thou submitted that Thou mightest free us from our passions. O our Life and Resurrection, Lord, glory be to Thee
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.
Kontakion of Forgiveness (Cheesefare) Sunday - Plagal of the Second Tone
Τῆς σοφίας ὁδηγέ, φρονήσεως χορηγέ, τῶν ἀφρόνων παιδευτά, καὶ πτωχῶν ὑπερασπιστά, στήριξον, συνέτισον τὴν καρδίαν μου Δέσποτα. Σὺ δίδου μοι λόγον, ὁ τοῦ Πατρός Λόγος· ἰδοὺ γὰρ τὰ χείλη μου, οὐ μὴ κωλύσω ἐν τῷ κράζειν σοι· Ἐλεῆμον, ἐλέησόν με τὸν παραπεσόντα.
O Master, Prudence, Guide of Wisdom, Instruction to the foolish and Defender of the poor, strengthen my heart and grant it discernment. Give me words, Word of the Father, for behold, I shall not keep my lips from crying out to You, "O Merciful One, have mercy on me who has fallen."
St. Paul's First Letter to the Romans 13:11-14; 14:1-4 - Brethren, salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed; the night is far gone, the day is at hand. Let us then cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us conduct ourselves becomingly as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
As for the man who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not for disputes over opinions. One believes he may eat anything, while the weak man eats only vegetables. Let not him who eats despise him who abstains, and let not him who abstains pass judgment on him who eats; for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for God is able to make him stand.
The Gospel of Matthew 6:14-21 - The Lord said, "If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father also will forgive you; but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
"And when you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by men but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."
Cheese Fare Sunday
Biblical Story
The Sunday of Forgiveness, the last of the preparatory Sundays before Great Lent, has two themes: it commemorates Adam’s expulsion from Paradise, and it accentuates our need for forgiveness. There are obvious reasons why these two things should be brought to our attention as we stand on the threshold of Great Lent. One of the primary images in the Triodion is that of the return to Paradise. Lent is a time when we weep with Adam and Eve before the closed gate of Eden, repenting with them for the sins that have deprived us of our free communion with God. But Lent is also a time when we are preparing to celebrate the saving event of Christ’s death and rising, which has reopened Paradise to us once more (Luke 23:43). So sorrow for our exile in sin is tempered by hope of our re-entry into Paradise.
The second theme, that of forgiveness, is emphasized in the Gospel reading for this Sunday (Matthew 6:14-21) and in the special ceremony of mutual forgiveness at the end of the Vespers on Sunday evening. Before we enter the Lenten fast, we are reminded that there can be no true fast, no genuine repentance, no reconciliation with God, unless we are at the same time reconciled with one another. A fast without mutual love is the fast of demons. We do not travel the road of Lent as isolated individuals but as members of a family. Our asceticism and fasting should not separate us from others, but should link us to them with ever-stronger bonds.
The Sunday of Forgiveness also directs us to see that Great Lent is a journey of liberation from our enslavement to sin. The Gospel lesson sets the conditions for this liberation. The first one is fasting—the refusal to accept the desires and urges of our fallen nature as normal, the effort to free ourselves from the dictatorship of the flesh and matter over the spirit. To be effective, however, our fast must not be hypocritical, a “showing off.” We must “appear not unto men to fast but to our Father who is in secret” (vv. 16-18).
The second condition is forgiveness—“If you forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you” (vv. 14-15). The triumph of sin, the main sign of its rule over the world, is division, opposition, separation, hatred. Therefore, the first break through this fortress of sin is forgiveness—the return to unity, solidarity, love. To forgive is to put between me and my “enemy” the radiant forgiveness of God Himself. To forgive is to reject the hopeless “dead-ends” of human relations and to refer them to Christ. Forgiveness is truly a “breakthrough” of the Kingdom into this sinful and fallen world.
A BRIEF MEDITATION ON LENT
All of us lead lives so filled with the demands of work and family that little time is left to us to cultivate the garden of our soul. In our preoccupation with the ceaseless business of life, our spirit, if not completely forgotten, is often sadly neglected. When we do find the time to look at ourselves honestly, we soon discover that the spirit of the world has gradually and imperceptibly eaten away at our good intentions; we have become shopworn by the cares and self-centered spirit of the world.
Fortunately for us, the church recognized from its earliest days that we would need regular periods of reflection and renewed effort if we were to free ourselves from the relentless grip of worldly cares, to once again imitate the example of Christ and reflect it in our lives. It did so by developing the season of Lent, a season which invites us to renew our concentration on prayer, fasting, and almsgiving which lie at the very heart of Christian living.
Through the discipline of quiet prayer, we acknowledge and affirm the sovereignty of almighty God in our lives. In doing so, we surrender the notion of living according to the principle of power; we accept that we are not the measure of all things. In the practice of fasting, we seek to overcome the power that material things have gained over us; we strive to be servants of the sacred and not merely masters of the material and profane. Finally, we are called to almsgiving, through which we share the fruits of our labor with those in need, and thus surrender our natural tendency to be self-seeking. Prayer which unites us to God, fasting which curbs our ceaseless desires, almsgiving which allows us to actively love our neighbor as ourselves --- these are the transforming gifts of Lent.
If they are to convey their wonderful grace, however, we must make them the tools by which we deepen and enrich our faith and relationship to Jesus Christ. That, truly, is what it means to be a Christian. The wisdom of the ages invites us once again to this marvelous opportunity to find God in our lives; let us take care that we not waste it.
Community News
Fellowship Hour - Each week, we all enjoy the fellowship hour immediately following the Divine Liturgy. In order for us to continue enjoying each other’s company every Sunday, we are in need of hostesses or even hosts to sponsor the fellowship. Also, the free will offering tray which is placed on the table for coffee has been neglected. All are asked, or rather, encouraged to make a small donation for the coffee. If you were to go to Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts or even a restaurant for a cup of coffee, it would cost you at least $1.50 to $2.00. Thus, we are kindly asking you to donated at least a $1 to the basket. Money that is collected each week is used to buy coffee and the paper supplies.
Philoptochos Outing … On Friday, March 15th, our Ladies Philoptochos Society invites you to join them at the Marcus Theater in Orland Park to see the movie Faith, Hope and Love, which was written and produce by Robert Krantz (Christmas with the Karountzoses). The movie begins at 12:50 p.m. If you are interested please call Mary Liontakis and let her know. We will be meeting at the theater at 12:30 p.m.
KATHARA DEFTERA – CLEAN MONDAY … On Monday, March 11th, the Orthodox Church enter into the Great Lenten Period. A Compline Service will be chanted at 6:00 p.m. followed by a Strict Fast Lenten Pot-Luck Dinner (dinner is free!). The entire family of the Assumption Church is asked to come to the service that evening in order that we may properly prepare ourselves for the Great Lenten Journey that lies ahead of us. In other words, please don’t make any excuses why you cannot come, but rather, make it a point to be there and offer prayers for strength and guidance from our Lord. During the meal, a discussion of how one should prepare oneself for Great Lent will be the topic of reflection.
*As we draw near to Great & Holy Lent, please note that there are certain days which Memorial are not permitted. (March 31st, April 21st , April 28th .) If you wish to schedule a Memorial Service, please contact Father Sam before making any arrangements.
Donations Needed For Great Lent & Holy Week... As Great Lent approaches, March 11th, we are in need of various items that are required during the Lenten period. The following items are needed:
Flowers for the Epitaphio - $800.00
Flowers for the 5 Salutation Service Icon @ $75
2 Stefania for Holy Thursday evening - $135 each
4 dozen Rose Pedals
200 eggs
15 dozen Yellow Flowers (Jonquils) for the 3rd Sunday of Lent
Flowers for the Nymphio Icon - $125
Bay Leaves for Palm Sunday - $300
Palms for Palm Sunday - $300
100 Chocolate Easter Bunnies for Sunday of Agape.
Easter Lilies
Items Donated
Flowers for the Large Resurrection Icon $125 - Donated
Last Supper Icon $100 - Donated
Flowers for the Small Resurrection Icon $100 - Donated
Palm Sunday Icon - $75 – Donated
2 Bottles Rose Water- Donated
1 Stefani - Donated
If you would like to donate one of the items listed above, please see Father Sam.
Sunday School Fundraiser … The children of our Sunday School will be selling Easter Lambades (candles) during the Lenten Season. The candles will be on display in the Narthex and in the Fellowship Hall. The cost is $15.
We are also selling Luminaries in memory of our loved ones who have fallen asleep in the Lord. These Luminaries will light up the sidewalk leading up to the Church on Good Friday Evening. If you are interested please see Fr. Sam or Dorothy Michalarias.
Fish & Skordolia Luncheon … On Sunday, March 24th, the Ladies Philoptochos Society will be having their Annual Fish & Skordolia Luncheon immediately following the Greek Independence Day Program. The cost of the Luncheon is $18 per adult and $7 per child. Reservations can be made by calling Mary Liontakis at 708-525-6170 or email them to assumptionchurchofhomerglen@gmail.com.
The Philoptochos Next General Meeting will be on Monday, March 18th beginning at 5:00 p.m. Please R.S.V.P. to Mary Liontakis at 708-525-6170.
The Metropolis Philoptochos Retreat will take place on Saturday, March 23rd, at St. Spyridon in Palos Heights at 9:00 a.m.
Metropolis Sunday School Teachers Retreat - On Saturday, March 16th, our Parish will be hosting the Metropolis Annual Sunday School Teachers Lenten Retreat, 9:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. We are in need of volunteers to help serve lunch at 12:00 p.m. If you are available and would like to volunteer, please see Father Sam or Mary Liontakis.
Triumph of Orthodoxy Pan– Orthodox Vespers - On Sunday, March 17th, you are invited to attend the Pan Orthodox Sunday of Orthodox Vespers at St. Andrew Greek Orthodox Church, 5649 N. Sheridan Rd, Chicago, Il. at 6:30 p.m. His Eminence, Metropolitan Nathanael of Chicago will be the Homilist.
Holy Land Trip … Next June, Father Sam has begun plans for a pilgrimage to the Holy Lands. The dates to travel to the Holy Lands are June 11 to June 21, 2019. This trip is not just for our community, but is open to anyone who would like travel and see these Holy sights. If you are interested or have any question, please see or call Father Sam.
The cost is $3,580.00 which includes, airfare, five star hotel, transportation to and from the hotel to all the sites, and all your meals. We will be using Cloud Tours from New York. An itinerary is available.
Assumption Greek Orthodox Church
15625 S. Bell Road - Homer Glen, Il 60491 - 708-645-0652
Fr. Sotirios Dimitriou, Pastor
March 10, 2019 – Sunday Bulletin Sunday – Forgiveness (Cheese-Fare Sunday)
St. Quadratus the Martyr & his Companions, St. Anastasia of Alexandria and St. Michael Mauroudes the New-Martyr
Epistle Reading: Romans 13:11-14; 14:1-4 Gospel Reading: Matthew 6:14-21
Services this Week: Monday, March 11th - Kathera Deftera – Compline 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday, March 13th - Pre-Sanctified Liturgy 9:00 a.m.
Friday, March 15th – 1st Salutation to the Virgin Mary 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, March 16th - 3rd Saturday of the Souls, Orthros 8:30 a.m., Liturgy 9:30 a.m.
We Would Like to Welcome All Visitors to Our Community Today!
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.
Resurrectional Apolytikion Plagal of the Plagal of the Fourth Tone
Ἐξ ὕψους κατῆλθες ὁ εὔσπλαγχνος, ταφὴν καταδέξω τριήμερον, ἵνα ἡμᾶς ἐλευθερώσῃς τῶν παθῶν. Ἡ ζωὴ καὶ ἡ Ἀνάστασις ἡμῶν, Κύριε δόξα σοι
From on high didst Thou descend, O Compassionate One; to burial of three days hast Thou submitted that Thou mightest free us from our passions. O our Life and Resurrection, Lord, glory be to Thee
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.
Kontakion of Forgiveness (Cheesefare) Sunday - Plagal of the Second Tone
Τῆς σοφίας ὁδηγέ, φρονήσεως χορηγέ, τῶν ἀφρόνων παιδευτά, καὶ πτωχῶν ὑπερασπιστά, στήριξον, συνέτισον τὴν καρδίαν μου Δέσποτα. Σὺ δίδου μοι λόγον, ὁ τοῦ Πατρός Λόγος· ἰδοὺ γὰρ τὰ χείλη μου, οὐ μὴ κωλύσω ἐν τῷ κράζειν σοι· Ἐλεῆμον, ἐλέησόν με τὸν παραπεσόντα.
O Master, Prudence, Guide of Wisdom, Instruction to the foolish and Defender of the poor, strengthen my heart and grant it discernment. Give me words, Word of the Father, for behold, I shall not keep my lips from crying out to You, "O Merciful One, have mercy on me who has fallen."
St. Paul's First Letter to the Romans 13:11-14; 14:1-4 - Brethren, salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed; the night is far gone, the day is at hand. Let us then cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us conduct ourselves becomingly as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
As for the man who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not for disputes over opinions. One believes he may eat anything, while the weak man eats only vegetables. Let not him who eats despise him who abstains, and let not him who abstains pass judgment on him who eats; for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for God is able to make him stand.
The Gospel of Matthew 6:14-21 - The Lord said, "If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father also will forgive you; but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
"And when you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by men but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."
Cheese Fare Sunday
Biblical Story
The Sunday of Forgiveness, the last of the preparatory Sundays before Great Lent, has two themes: it commemorates Adam’s expulsion from Paradise, and it accentuates our need for forgiveness. There are obvious reasons why these two things should be brought to our attention as we stand on the threshold of Great Lent. One of the primary images in the Triodion is that of the return to Paradise. Lent is a time when we weep with Adam and Eve before the closed gate of Eden, repenting with them for the sins that have deprived us of our free communion with God. But Lent is also a time when we are preparing to celebrate the saving event of Christ’s death and rising, which has reopened Paradise to us once more (Luke 23:43). So sorrow for our exile in sin is tempered by hope of our re-entry into Paradise.
The second theme, that of forgiveness, is emphasized in the Gospel reading for this Sunday (Matthew 6:14-21) and in the special ceremony of mutual forgiveness at the end of the Vespers on Sunday evening. Before we enter the Lenten fast, we are reminded that there can be no true fast, no genuine repentance, no reconciliation with God, unless we are at the same time reconciled with one another. A fast without mutual love is the fast of demons. We do not travel the road of Lent as isolated individuals but as members of a family. Our asceticism and fasting should not separate us from others, but should link us to them with ever-stronger bonds.
The Sunday of Forgiveness also directs us to see that Great Lent is a journey of liberation from our enslavement to sin. The Gospel lesson sets the conditions for this liberation. The first one is fasting—the refusal to accept the desires and urges of our fallen nature as normal, the effort to free ourselves from the dictatorship of the flesh and matter over the spirit. To be effective, however, our fast must not be hypocritical, a “showing off.” We must “appear not unto men to fast but to our Father who is in secret” (vv. 16-18).
The second condition is forgiveness—“If you forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you” (vv. 14-15). The triumph of sin, the main sign of its rule over the world, is division, opposition, separation, hatred. Therefore, the first break through this fortress of sin is forgiveness—the return to unity, solidarity, love. To forgive is to put between me and my “enemy” the radiant forgiveness of God Himself. To forgive is to reject the hopeless “dead-ends” of human relations and to refer them to Christ. Forgiveness is truly a “breakthrough” of the Kingdom into this sinful and fallen world.
A BRIEF MEDITATION ON LENT
All of us lead lives so filled with the demands of work and family that little time is left to us to cultivate the garden of our soul. In our preoccupation with the ceaseless business of life, our spirit, if not completely forgotten, is often sadly neglected. When we do find the time to look at ourselves honestly, we soon discover that the spirit of the world has gradually and imperceptibly eaten away at our good intentions; we have become shopworn by the cares and self-centered spirit of the world.
Fortunately for us, the church recognized from its earliest days that we would need regular periods of reflection and renewed effort if we were to free ourselves from the relentless grip of worldly cares, to once again imitate the example of Christ and reflect it in our lives. It did so by developing the season of Lent, a season which invites us to renew our concentration on prayer, fasting, and almsgiving which lie at the very heart of Christian living.
Through the discipline of quiet prayer, we acknowledge and affirm the sovereignty of almighty God in our lives. In doing so, we surrender the notion of living according to the principle of power; we accept that we are not the measure of all things. In the practice of fasting, we seek to overcome the power that material things have gained over us; we strive to be servants of the sacred and not merely masters of the material and profane. Finally, we are called to almsgiving, through which we share the fruits of our labor with those in need, and thus surrender our natural tendency to be self-seeking. Prayer which unites us to God, fasting which curbs our ceaseless desires, almsgiving which allows us to actively love our neighbor as ourselves --- these are the transforming gifts of Lent.
If they are to convey their wonderful grace, however, we must make them the tools by which we deepen and enrich our faith and relationship to Jesus Christ. That, truly, is what it means to be a Christian. The wisdom of the ages invites us once again to this marvelous opportunity to find God in our lives; let us take care that we not waste it.
Community News
Fellowship Hour - Each week, we all enjoy the fellowship hour immediately following the Divine Liturgy. In order for us to continue enjoying each other’s company every Sunday, we are in need of hostesses or even hosts to sponsor the fellowship. Also, the free will offering tray which is placed on the table for coffee has been neglected. All are asked, or rather, encouraged to make a small donation for the coffee. If you were to go to Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts or even a restaurant for a cup of coffee, it would cost you at least $1.50 to $2.00. Thus, we are kindly asking you to donated at least a $1 to the basket. Money that is collected each week is used to buy coffee and the paper supplies.
Philoptochos Outing … On Friday, March 15th, our Ladies Philoptochos Society invites you to join them at the Marcus Theater in Orland Park to see the movie Faith, Hope and Love, which was written and produce by Robert Krantz (Christmas with the Karountzoses). The movie begins at 12:50 p.m. If you are interested please call Mary Liontakis and let her know. We will be meeting at the theater at 12:30 p.m.
KATHARA DEFTERA – CLEAN MONDAY … On Monday, March 11th, the Orthodox Church enter into the Great Lenten Period. A Compline Service will be chanted at 6:00 p.m. followed by a Strict Fast Lenten Pot-Luck Dinner (dinner is free!). The entire family of the Assumption Church is asked to come to the service that evening in order that we may properly prepare ourselves for the Great Lenten Journey that lies ahead of us. In other words, please don’t make any excuses why you cannot come, but rather, make it a point to be there and offer prayers for strength and guidance from our Lord. During the meal, a discussion of how one should prepare oneself for Great Lent will be the topic of reflection.
*As we draw near to Great & Holy Lent, please note that there are certain days which Memorial are not permitted. (March 31st, April 21st , April 28th .) If you wish to schedule a Memorial Service, please contact Father Sam before making any arrangements.
Donations Needed For Great Lent & Holy Week... As Great Lent approaches, March 11th, we are in need of various items that are required during the Lenten period. The following items are needed:
Flowers for the Epitaphio - $800.00
Flowers for the 5 Salutation Service Icon @ $75
2 Stefania for Holy Thursday evening - $135 each
4 dozen Rose Pedals
200 eggs
15 dozen Yellow Flowers (Jonquils) for the 3rd Sunday of Lent
Flowers for the Nymphio Icon - $125
Bay Leaves for Palm Sunday - $300
Palms for Palm Sunday - $300
100 Chocolate Easter Bunnies for Sunday of Agape.
Easter Lilies
Items Donated
Flowers for the Large Resurrection Icon $125 - Donated
Last Supper Icon $100 - Donated
Flowers for the Small Resurrection Icon $100 - Donated
Palm Sunday Icon - $75 – Donated
2 Bottles Rose Water- Donated
1 Stefani - Donated
If you would like to donate one of the items listed above, please see Father Sam.
Sunday School Fundraiser … The children of our Sunday School will be selling Easter Lambades (candles) during the Lenten Season. The candles will be on display in the Narthex and in the Fellowship Hall. The cost is $15.
We are also selling Luminaries in memory of our loved ones who have fallen asleep in the Lord. These Luminaries will light up the sidewalk leading up to the Church on Good Friday Evening. If you are interested please see Fr. Sam or Dorothy Michalarias.
Fish & Skordolia Luncheon … On Sunday, March 24th, the Ladies Philoptochos Society will be having their Annual Fish & Skordolia Luncheon immediately following the Greek Independence Day Program. The cost of the Luncheon is $18 per adult and $7 per child. Reservations can be made by calling Mary Liontakis at 708-525-6170 or email them to assumptionchurchofhomerglen@gmail.com.
The Philoptochos Next General Meeting will be on Monday, March 18th beginning at 5:00 p.m. Please R.S.V.P. to Mary Liontakis at 708-525-6170.
The Metropolis Philoptochos Retreat will take place on Saturday, March 23rd, at St. Spyridon in Palos Heights at 9:00 a.m.
Metropolis Sunday School Teachers Retreat - On Saturday, March 16th, our Parish will be hosting the Metropolis Annual Sunday School Teachers Lenten Retreat, 9:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. We are in need of volunteers to help serve lunch at 12:00 p.m. If you are available and would like to volunteer, please see Father Sam or Mary Liontakis.
Triumph of Orthodoxy Pan– Orthodox Vespers - On Sunday, March 17th, you are invited to attend the Pan Orthodox Sunday of Orthodox Vespers at St. Andrew Greek Orthodox Church, 5649 N. Sheridan Rd, Chicago, Il. at 6:30 p.m. His Eminence, Metropolitan Nathanael of Chicago will be the Homilist.
Holy Land Trip … Next June, Father Sam has begun plans for a pilgrimage to the Holy Lands. The dates to travel to the Holy Lands are June 11 to June 21, 2019. This trip is not just for our community, but is open to anyone who would like travel and see these Holy sights. If you are interested or have any question, please see or call Father Sam.
The cost is $3,580.00 which includes, airfare, five star hotel, transportation to and from the hotel to all the sites, and all your meals. We will be using Cloud Tours from New York. An itinerary is available.
