Weekday Service: Monday, March 19th
5:30pm – Great Compline Service
7:00 pm – Adult Bible Study in St. Catherine’s Meeting Room

Wednesday, March 21st
9:00am – Presanctified Liturgy

Friday, March 23rd
7:00 pm – 4th Salutations to the Virgin Mary



Memorials: 1 Year ~ Athanasios Velis, Left Rows 1 – 2
3 Years ~ Demitrios Kouimelis, Right Rows 1 – 2
8 Years ~ Maria Dallas, No Pews


40 Day Blessing: The son of Daniel and Effie Kickert will be churched today, following the Divine Liturgy.

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.

Stewardship Message: Check Your Check Book
One of the best ways to find out who is your God in life is to look back at your check stubs for the past three years and find out what or whom you spend the most money on.


2012 Stewardship: We thank and are appreciative to all stewards who have pledged to our beloved Parish of Panagia. Through your continued and loving support, the Parish Council has been able to serve as caretakers and deal with the needs and priorities that face our Church. We ask that you complete the Stewardship Pledge card and return it to the church office as soon as possible. In addition, any remaining balances of 2011 Pledges are also due.

Dates to Remember: Monday, March 19th 5:30pm – Great Compline Service

Monday, March 19th 7:00 pm – Adult Bible Study in St. Catherine’s Meeting Room

Wednesday, March 21st 9:00 am – Presanctified Liturgy

Friday, March 23rd 7:00 pm – 4th Salutations to the Virgin Mary

Monday, March 26th 5:30pm – Great Compline Service

Wednesday, March 28th 6:00pm – Presanctified Liturgy

Friday, March 30th 7:00 pm – Akathistos Service


Lenten & Easter Needs We are in need of donors for the following:

Icon for Salutations to the Virgin Mary (5 Friday’s) - $150 per week

Jonquils for March 18, 2012 Veneration of the Cross - $200

Icon for Bridegroom Services, April 8th, 9th 10th & 11th - $165

2 Wreaths for Holy Thursday, April 12, 2012 - $225 each

Carnations, Friday, April 13, 2012 - $400

Lavaro, April 14th & 15th, 2012 - $200

Easter Lilies for Holy Pascha, April 14th & 15th, 2012 - $500


Coffee Fellowship Hosts Needed: Have you considered selecting a day to host the Weekly Fellowship Hour following Worship Services on a specific Sunday? You might want to celebrate a family event, a memorial, or just want to share time with the Church family. The following dates are available:

April 1
April 22
April 29
May 13
May 27
June 3
June 10
June 17
July 1
July 8
July 15
July 29
August 12
August 19
September 9

Please call the Church Office (773.626.3114) to book a date and for more information.


Schedule of Dates/Locations of Solemn Lenten Vespers Each year at this time, the Metropolis of Chicago acquaints the faithful as to the Lenten period worship offerings so that all may participate fully in this Holiest of seasons. “Solemn Vespers” began on Sunday, February 27, 2012 on the Eve of Great Lent, and are celebrated on each Sunday evening throughout Lent. The following dates/locations are listed below where these Vespers will take place throughout the Chicagoland area:


FESTIVAL OF ORTHODOX BOOKS WEEK
“THESE THINGS WE BELIEVE IN”

ALL PROGRAMS AT HOLY APOSTLES GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH OF WESTCHESTER, ILLINOIS

· Sunday, March 18 (Veneration of the Holy Cross)Solemn Vespers beginning at 7.00PM. Ascension of our Lord Church, Lincolnshire, IL. Mr. Alex Magdalinos, M.Div., preacher.

· Sunday, March 25 (St. John of the Ladder)Great Vespers for The Leavetaking of the Feast of the Annunciation, beginning at 7.00PM. Holy Taxiarchai-St. Haralambos Church, Niles, IL. Rev. Athanasios Papagiannis, preacher.

· Sunday, April 1 (St. Mary of Egypt)
Solemn Vespers beginning at 7.00PM. All Saints Church, Joliet, IL. Rev. Jason Dickey, preacher.



Orthodox Adult Bible Study the New Testament: The next Adult Bible Study class will be on Monday, March 19th, at 7:00 pm in St. Catherine’s meeting room. We will next study St. Paul’s Epistle to the Romans. The class is open to all and it is hoped that you will avail yourself the opportunity to study the Bible in-depth. All you need to bring is your Bible. For further information and/or questions, please see Father Timothy.

Annual Palm Sunday Luncheon: Please join us at the Annual Palm Sunday Luncheon on Sunday, April 8th immediately following Divine Liturgy. Tickets: Adults $12.00 and children 12 and under $6.00. Reservations can be made by calling Mrs. Demetra Spyropoulos at 630-789-4559 or 630-833-1773, stop by the bookstore or call the Church Office 773-626-3114 NO LATER THAN April 1st. Flyer can be found in this bulletin for more information.

Easter Bake Sale - Palm Sunday: Our Philoptochos ladies will be holding a bake sale of traditional Greek Easter Breads and Sweets. Orders can be placed after Divine Liturgy in Plato Hall through Sunday, April 1st, or by completing the order form in this weekly bulletin. Orders will be ready for pickup on Palm Sunday, April 8th. Proceeds will to benefit the philanthropic charities of the Philoptochos Sisterhood.

Saint Catherine Consecration: With the news of the Consecration of our Saint Catherine Chapel on Sunday, May, 6th, we remind parishioners and friends who desire to have the names of stewards placed along with the holy relics in the Altar to please complete the form found in the weekly bulletin. In addition to having the names of your loved ones permanently placed in the reliquary along with the holy relics on the day of the Consecration, your donation will list you in the Patron Book. Deadline for listing is APRIL 10th.

Pictures Needed: The St. Catherine’s Consecration Committee would like to get pictures of what our Chapel looked liked before it became a Chapel. If you were married or baptized your child at Panagia’s and held your reception here and have any pictures, please bring them to the church office so that we could make copies of them for the day of the Consecration on May 6, 2012. All pictures will be return to you. We ask that you place them into an envelope with you name and address.

Prosfora Bakers Needed: One of the blessings of Stewardship that we are given is the ability to serve our Church in a number of ways. Our Church is in need of individuals who can offer the weekly Prosforo (Bread) for the Divine Liturgy. Should you be able to offer your service, please inform the Church office or see either Fr. Timothy or Mrs. Demetra Spyropoulos. With the help of each steward/member, we come together as a Church family to better offer our thanks to our Lord.



Second Tray: Collections from the second tray each Sunday benefit various specific ministries, as determined by the Clergy and Parish Council. Until noted, collections from the second tray each Sunday will continue to be earmarked for the benefit of Youth Ministry in this Parish.

Volunteer Opportunity: Our Parish of Panagia has a new volunteer opportunity related to coordinating the production of the Assumption Church Newsletter. The Newsletter is produced six times a year. Computer knowledge is a requisite, and requires coordination for the submission of articles, layout of the newsletter in Microsoft Publisher (a standard Microsoft application), and submission to the printer via email. If you are a steward looking for a way to increase your involvement in our Church Community and would like to learn more about this opportunity, please contact Tina Sarantos, (708) 660-0154.

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.

Holy Communion Announcement: While we pray and work for the reconciliation and unity of all the world's Christians, the reality remains that there is still no intercommunion between our Orthodox Churches and the Churches of the West. This means that only baptized, chrismated, and observant Orthodox faithful are allowed to receive Holy Communion in our churches. At the same time, we warmly welcome all non-Orthodox to join us in prayer and celebration, and humbly offer to all present the Antidoro bread of fellowship at the end of the worship service. We offer this important symbol 'instead of the Gifts', in the words of the Apostle Paul, 'Till we all come to the unity of the Faith' (Eph. 4.13).

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 about 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: Dean Bastounes, Dean Maggos, Thomas Demos, JoAnn Stavropoulos, Bill J. Vranas