Weekday Services: Monday, March 7, 2011
Clean Monday - Great Lent Begins
STRICT FAST DAY
5:30pm - Great Compline
7:00pm - Lentin Dinner

Wednesday, March 9, 2011
6:00pm - Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts

Friday, March 11, 2011
7:00pm - First Salutations to the Theotokos

Saturday, March 12, 2011
Third Saturday of the Souls
Feas of the Miracle of St. Theodore
8:30am - Orthros
9:30am - Divine Liturgy

Loukoumades Sunday/Fellowship: This Sunday, the ladies of the Philoptochos Society will be selling delicious, hot Loukoumades. It’s a long way until festival time and this will be your chance to get a favorite sweet to enjoy with a cup of coffee. Proceeds to benefit the philanthropic charities of the Philoptochos Sisterhood. Everyone is invited to Plato Hall to enjoy Fellowship.

Philoptochos Meeting: On Thursday, March 17th, there will be a general meeting of our chapter at 10:30 am in St. Catherine’s Meeting Room. The agenda for this meeting includes: Voting on the 2011 budget; Palm Sunday Bake Sale; Metropolis Lenten Retreat; Future Fundraisers. A light lunch will be served. We encourage your attendance at this important meeting and welcome new members to join us.

Sacrament: The Daughter of Nicholas and Amie Panagakos will be Baptized today at 1:00 pm and given the name of Aubrey (Rose) by her Godfather Anthony Panagakos.

Weekly Sunday Evening Solemn Lenten Vespers Schedule: The Metropolis of Chicago has released the schedule of Weekly Sunday Evening Solemn Vespers for Great Lent. The dates/locations/time can be found in this Weekly Bulletin.

Their Only Oxen: Someone tells of a Christian businessman who traveled in Korea. In a field by the side of the road was a young man pulling a crude plow while an old man held the handles. The businessman was amused and took a snapshot of the scene. "That is curious! I suppose these people are very poor," he said to the missionary who was interpreter and guide to the party. "Yes," was the quiet reply, "those two men happen to be Christians. When their Church was being built, they were eager to give something toward it; but they had no money. So they decided to sell their one and only ox and give the proceeds to the Church. This Spring they are pulling the plow themselves." The businessman was silent for some moments. Then he said, "That must have been a real sacrifice." "They did not call it that," said the missionary. "They rather thought it was fortunate that they had an ox to sell."

2011 Stewardship: We are grateful to all who have already pledged for 2011. If you have not done so yet, please make every effort to fulfill your Stewardship pledge at your earliest convenience. To assure that we have correct information in the system, ie: name(s), address, phone number(s), email address, your children’s name(s), if applicable, birth dates, pledge amount and frequency of payment, please complete both cards that were mailed to your home. For your convenience, if you should wish to pay by credit card, we are able to accommodate this payment method. We thank you for your continued support of the Assumption Church.

Be part of a Family Mission Team This year the Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC) is proud to announce in collaboration with the Center for Family Care (of the Greek Archdiocese) by offering a Family Mission Team. Families from North America, along with Albanian families, will participate in this outreach assisted by OCMC missionaries and Albanian church leaders. The primary focus is to offer a "family witness" while sharing the faith and growing as a family in Christ. Consider being part of this first OCMC and Center for Family Care collaboration and family mission witness! Visit http://teams.ocmc.org, or e-mail teams@ocmc.org, for more information or to apply.

Annual Lenten Dinner in Plato Hall, Monday, March 7th: With Kathara Deftera (Clean Monday) on MONDAY, MARCH 7TH, our Church begins its journey through this solemn Season of Great Lent. And as is the tradition, Church Services will be held on this first evening of Lent beginning at 5:30pm, with the Great Compline Service. Following the Service, the traditional Lenten Meal will be served in Plato Hall. The proceeds this year will be donated to the Metropolis of Chicago Saint Iakovos Retreat Center in Wisconsin. Donation is $10.00, and reservations can be made by calling the Church Office (773.626.3114). A Flier can be found in this Weekly Bulletin.

Assumption Parish to host Annual Metropolis Youth Choir Conference: The Choir Federation of Chicago is pleased to announce that this year`s Youth Conference will be hosted by our Assumption Parish on the weekend of April 2nd and 3rd. The Annual Conference gives Orthodox youth throughout our entire Metropolis of Chicago between the ages of 10-17, an opportunity to come together to meet new friends, get reacquainted with old friends, and sing together in preparing for the Hierachical Divine Liturgy that will take place on Sunday, April 3rd. The choir will be lead by our own director, Marika Panton. Diana Ott will be leading the Communion Hymn, and the guest organist will be Georgia Mitchell. Events are planned for the entire weekend, including the Sunday luncheon in Plato Hall following the Divine Liturgy. More information will become available in the next few weeks. You may also call Marika Panton (708.366.7435) for further info, or if you are interested in attending the luncheon.

The Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago St. John Chrysostom Oratorical and Fine Arts Festival: The Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago St. John Chrysostom Oratorical and Fine Arts Festival for Grades 7-High School will be held on Saturday, April 30, 2011, Bright Saturday, at St. Nectarios Greek Orthodox Church in Palatine. The deadline for all submittals is March 27th.

Judging of the Oral essays from our Parish will take place on Sunday, March 20th following the Divine Liturgy. Please encourage your children to participate and represent our Beloved Parish of Panagia. If you have any questions regarding the St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival, please see Mrs. Christine Arvanites, our Sunday Church School Director during the Coffee Fellowship hour following the Divine Liturgy.


Dates to Remember: Monday, March 7th Great Lent Begins
5:30pm-Great Compline
Service
7:00pm-Lenten Dinner
in Plato Hall
Wed., March 9th 6:00pm-Liturgy of
the Presanctified
Gifts
Fri., March 11th 7:00pm-First
Salutations to the
Theotokos
Sat., March 12th Third Saturday of
the Souls
Feast of the Miracle
of St. Theodore
8:30am-Orthros
9:30am-Divine Liturgy
Thurs.,March 17th 10:30am – General
meeting of
Philoptochos
Sat., March 19th Youth Lenten
Retreat

Orthodox Adult Bible Study: The Adult Bible Study education class will meet on Monday, March 14th at 7:00 pm in St. Catherine's Meeting Room. This year’s Bible Study centers on the New Testament Book of Acts. The class is open to all and it is hoped that you will avail yourself of the opportunity to study the Bible in-depth. All you need to bring is your Bible. For further question, please see Father Timothy. In the future, the class will meet on the second and fourth Mondays of each month.

Proper Church Etiquette: Worship Services are vital instruments and components to our prayer development. In order to help us achieve this, we need to be cognizant of our fellow parishioners and all those around us. Therefore, please make sure that cell phones are completely turned off during Services. In addition, while we most welcome children to participate in the liturgical life of the Church, it remains the responsibility of parents to make sure that children do not become a distraction to those around them. Therefore, if a child is crying, or in some way in need of attention, please feel free to take him/her to the Narthex or Cry Room. You are most welcome to enter and exit the Church proper as many times as necessary. By doing this, all who are in attendance will be afforded the opportunity to worship and pray together. (Please keep in mind that we are also privileged to have a complete Sunday School Liturgy celebrated in Saint Catherine’s Chapel each week for your use as well). We ask for your cooperation. Ushers will be available to help you, if needed.

Please Note: The Sacraments of the Orthodox Church, including the reception of Holy Communion, are reserved for those of the Orthodox Faith only, and who are also in Good Standing Ecclesiastically with the Church. If you are a visitor from another Denomination/Faith, we welcome you as an observer and guest.

We Need Your E-mail Address: Are you receiving the weekly bulletin online in your e-mail mailbox each week? How about our Assumption Church’s Newsletter and the Saint Catherine’s Newsletter? If not, please give the Church Office your e-mail address so that you can stay informed to the schedule of religious services, events, and news of our Community.

Website News www.AssumptionChicago.org Did you know that you can find Articles and Resources for the Orthodox Church on our web site. They include the history of Orthodoxy, special Services and Blessings, Spirituality, Teachings of the Orthodox Church, how to become a member of the Orthodox Church, the meaning and celebration of The Holy Eucahrist, the form and characteristics of Orthodox worship, the Sacrament of Confession, Holy Week Meditation and Study Guide, Fasting, and many others. Just go to our website and click on the heading Faith, read, learn, and enjoy. The latest editions of the Assumption Newsletter and the St. Catherine Newsletter are now available online.

Ushers: James Lakerdas, Voula Spyropoulos, Ted Pappas, Dean Sarantos, Rose Marie Stewart