1. religion and spirituality
2. christianity
3. catholicism

ORTHODOX AWARENESS
METROPOLIS COMING EVENTS
 Τuesday, January 6th Great Vespers at St. John the
Baptist Church in Des Plaines @ 7p.m.
 Friday, January 9th Joint GOYA Lock-In @ SS. Peter &
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Paul Church in Glenview @ 6p.m. (Grades 9-12)
Sunday, January 11th Metropolis Vasilopita Celebration at
St. Demetrios in Elmhurst @ 6 p.m.
Friday, January 16th Great Vespers at the Metropolis of
Chicago St. Anthony Chapel @ 7p.m.
(40 East Burton Place in Chicago)
Saturday, January 17th Great Vespers at St. Athanasios
Church in Chicago and Aurora @ 7p.m.
Saturday, January 24th Hellenic Letters Πανσχολική
Εορτή at SS. Peter & Paul Church in Glenview @ 3p.m.
Sunday, January 25th Hellenic Letters Luncheon at
Chateau Ritz Banquet Hall in Niles @ 2p.m.
Thursday, January 29th Great Vespers for the Feast of
Three Hierarchs at SS. Constantine & Helen Church in
Palos Hills @ 7p.m.
Friday, January 30th Hierarchical Divine Liturgy for the
Feast of the Three Hierarchs @ St. John the Baptist
Church in Des Plaines.
Monday, February 9th Great Vespers at St. Haralambos
Church in Niles @ 7p.m.
Sunday, February 22nd Solemn Vespers at St. Dionysios
Chapel at Holy Trinity Church in Chicago @ 7p.m.
March 6th-8th Winter Camp at St. Iakovos Retreat Center
in WI for Grades 6th thru 12th.
Bright Saturday, April 18th St. John Chrysostom
Oratorical & Arts Festival at St. Spyridon Church in
Palos Heights.
May 22nd-24th Jr. Olympics at SS. Constantine & Helen
Church in Palos Hills.
Sanctity of Life Prayer Service
Sunday, January 25th
St. Haralambos Church in Niles
Sunday of Orthodoxy Vespers
March 1st
St. George Antiochian Church in Cicero
Pan-Orthodox Akathist Hymn
March 31, 2015 TBA
I.O.C.C. Grand Banquet
Thursday, April 30th
Café La Cave
2777 Mannheim Rd, Des Plaines, IL 60016
COMPASSIONATE FRIENDS
OUTREACH & EVANGELISM
MEALS ON WHEELS
(One Saturday a month)
2015: January 17, February 20,
March 14, April 18, & May 16
2015 SANCTITY OF LIFE SUNDAY
BLOOD DRIVE
January 25, 2015
P.A.D.S.
(Public Action to Deliver Shelter)
January 31, 2015 & March 28
MISSION SUNDAY
SUNDAY BEFORE THEOPHANY
THE GIFTS OF BAPTISM
A Church School teacher brought a large poster to class
one day. The picture was covered with newspaper. She
took scissors and cut the covered poster into fifteen pieces.
She then gave each student a piece of the puzzle. “Take
your piece home,” the teacher said, “but don’t look at it.”
“And,” she added, “remember to bring your piece to class
next week.”
The following week, the teacher had the students gathered
around a table to put the pieces back together. Excitedly,
they fit them together to see what the poster looked like.
When all the students had placed their pieces together,
they discovered that the poster had two gaping holes.
Two pieces of the puzzle were missing because two
students forgot their pieces of the poster puzzle at home.
The teacher was inspirited to find a valuable lesson on this occasion and said, “Jesus told us to
be His disciples. When one of us forgets to do his or her part, Jesus’ work in this world will be
incomplete, just like this poster with two of its parts missing.”
At the time of our Lord’s baptism, His life of public ministry began. At the time of our Baptism
and Chrismation, we, too, were given an opportunity and an obligation to share Christ’s work.
In a sense, we were each given a piece of a puzzle. Let us ask ourselves: What have we done
with our piece? Is some good work gone undone or remained incomplete because of us?
Without our piece of the puzzle, and our contribution, there will be a gaping hole in the
Kingdom of God on earth!
February 15, 2015
WELCOME HOME!
Fanari Summer Camp 2015
St. Iakovos Retreat Center
Session #1
Session #2
Session #3
Session #4
June 15th-21st
June 22nd-28th
July 6th-12th
July 13th-19th
(Dates may be subject to change)
FEED MY STARVING CHILDREN
Friday, May 8, 2015
(Interested in helping out? Contact Helen
O’Sullivan at [email protected]
Hellenic Heritage
Greek Independence Day Parade
Sunday, April 19th
Greektown-Chicago
O Christ our Master, how shall we Your servants give You worthy honor?
For You have renewed us all in the waters. You, O our Saviour,
were baptized in Jordan and have sanctified the waters:
accepting a servant’s hand upon Your head; You heal the passions of the world.
Great is the mystery of Your dispensation: O Lord who love mankind, glory to You.
The true Light has appeared and bestows enlightenment on all. Christ who is above all purity is
baptized with us; He brings sanctification to the water and it becomes a cleansing for our souls.
That which is outward and visible is earthly, that which inwardly understood is higher than the
heaven. Salvation comes through washing, and through water the Spirit: by descending into the
water we ascend to God. Wonderful are Your works, O Lord: glory to You.
+St. Germanis. Katavasia for Theophany Matins.
Sacraments This Week
Wedding
We congratulate the following who have joined their
lives together, and we pray that God grant them many
years Of Christian happiness and love!
Saturday, January 3rd
Bride— Angela McKenzie
Groom— Michael Tiu
Sponsors-Tanya Iovino
Youth and Young Adult Ministries
Happy New Year to all our youth ministry families!
We hope you all had a great time ice skating this past
Tuesday. We thank our youth ministry and office staff for
all their help with the event.
2015 KICK-OFF DATES
SR. GOYA
Friday, Jan. 9th (6:30 p.m.) - Saturday, Jan. 10th (8:30a.m.)
Joint GOYA Lock-In @ SS. Peter and Paul Church in
Glenview (Grades 9-12).
Join the Goyans of FIVE other churches for this awesome
event! Forms were due last week, but if you would like to
attend please speak with Mr. Alex.
JR. GOYA - Saturday, January 10th, 5p.m.-7:30p.m.
JOY & THE WAY– Friday, January 23rd
YOUNG ADULT MINISTRIES
Next Sunday, January 11th-Breakfast after Divine Liturgy
We invite all our college students/young adults to join us for
worship, followed by breakfast. We wish those returning to
school a great semester and safe travels.
Join our Youth Ministries Facebook Group for updates,
pictures, etc...www.facebook.com/groups/SDEyouth.
If you have any questions or feedback for us,
please speak with Mr. Alex
(708-567-8864 or [email protected]).
2014 PARISH REGISTRY
(As of December 31st)
Weddings 22
Baptisms 65
Chrismations 1
Funerals 26
Clergy Hospital Visitations 268
Clergy Shut-In Visitations 77
This week at
Saint Demetrios...
th
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Sunday, January 4
GOAL Basketball
St. Demetrios AT St. Nectarios in Palatine
2:15p.m., 3:15p.m., 4:15p.m. & 5:15p.m.
th
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Monday, January 5
Προεόρτια των Φώτων
Βασιλικών Ωρων, 7π.μ.
Όρθρος 8π.μ. & Θεία Λειτουργία & Αγιασμός, 9π.μ.
Eve of Theophany
Reading of the Royal Hours, 7a.m.
Orthros 8a.m. & Divine Liturgy & Agiasmos, 9:00a.m.
Pythagoras Children’s Academy, 8:40a.m.-3p.m.
Pythagoras Greek School (PGS), 4:30p.m.-6:30p.m.
Biddy Basketball, 6:45p.m.-8p.m.
(4th, 5th & 6th Grades)
Men’s Basketball, 8p.m.
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Tuesday, January 6th
ΤΑ ΑΓΙΑ ΘΕΟΦΑΝΕΙΑ ΤΟΥ ΧΡΙΣΤΟΥ
Όρθρος 8π.μ. & Θεία Λειτουργία & Αγιασμός, 9π.μ.
HOLY THEOPHANY
Orthros 8a.m. & Divine Liturgy & Agiasmos, 9a.m.
Pythagoras Children’s Academy, 8:40a.m.-3p.m.
7th & 8th Grade Boy’s Basketball, 6p.m.-8p.m.
School Board Meeting, 6:30p.m.
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Wednesday, January 7th
Σύναξις Ιωάννου του Προδρόμου
Ορθρος 8π.μ. & Θεία Λειτουργία 9π.μ.
Synaxis of John the Forerunner
Orthros 8a.m. & Divine Liturgy 9a.m.
Pythagoras Children’s Academy 8:40a.m. – 3p.m.
Pythagoras Greek School (PGS) 4:30p.m. – 6:30p.m.
Religious Ed. Staff Meeting 6:45p.m.
Dionysos Dance Troupe 7:30p.m. – 10p.m.
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Thursday, January 8th
Pythagoras Children’s Academy 8:40a.m. – 3p.m.
Girl’s Basketball 5p.m. – 7p.m.
High School Boy’s Basketball 7p.m. – 9:30p.m.
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Friday, January 9th
Pythagoras Children’s Academy 8:40a.m. – 3p.m.
Sr. GOYA Combined Lock-In at SS. Peter & Paul 6:30p.m.
(9th, 10th, 11th, 12th Grades)
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Saturday, January 10th
Pythagoras Greek School (PSGS) 9a.m. – 1p.m.
Dionysos Jr. Dance Troupe, 1:15p.m.-2:15p.m.
Dionysos Inter. Dance Troupe, 2:30p.m.-3:30p.m.
Jr. Goya Outing, 5p.m.-7:30p.m.
“The rich man is not one who has much,
but one who gives much.
For what he gives away remains his forever.”
St. John Chrysostom
2014 Stewards To date 535 (As of December 31ST)
“O faithful, seeing the Master of all coming divinely to baptism, let us sing
to Him and prepare with love the paths of our hearts, wiping away the dirt
of deadly sin. Behold, He is coming to save the human race in the
streams of the Jordan” - Orthros service of January 4th.
WHAT CAN WE GIVE BACK?
Meditation...Light Has Dawned
It has been said that in the hymns and prayers of the Orthodox
Church, God is praised more often as light than He is as love or
wisdom. Nowhere is this more evident than in the Feast of
Theophany (Epiphany) where the symbolism of light is used
most extensively. The troparion of the Feast proclaims that
Christ has appeared and enlightened the world. Besides being known as
Theophany, Jan. 6th, is also known as the Feast of Lights. The theme of
the Feast is the illumination of the world by the light of Christ. Listen to the
hymns and prayers of the Feast as they extol this theme:
“Today we have escaped from darkness, and by the light of the knowledge
of God we have been illuminated” (Patriarch Sophronius).
“Light from Light, Christ our God has shone upon the world, God made
manifest. Thou broughtest light to all things by Thine Epiphany” (Matins).
“You who lie in darkness, leap for joy, for a great light has now appeared to
you” (Matins on January 5th).
The symbol of light became such an integral part of Theophany, the Feast of
Christ’s Baptism, because Jesus is revealed as the Light that dispels the
darkness of sin and death.
From Daily Meditations-Christmas Advent Fast And Epiphany, by
Presbytera Emily Harakas & Fr. Anthony Coniaris
2015 Liturgical Dates of Importance
Τα Άγια Θεοφάνεια ημέρα Τρίτη
Holy Theophany on a Tuesday
Τριώδιον άρχεται -1 Φεβρουαρίου
Triodion Begins -February 1st
Απόκρεως-15 Φεβρουαρίου
Meat Fare-February 15th
Ψυχοσάββατα-14, 21 & 28 Φεβρουαρίου
Saturday of Souls-February 14, 21 & 28
Ο Ευαγγελισμός ημέρα Τετάρτη
Feast of Annunciation on a Wednesday
Λατίνων Πάσχα–5 Απριλίου
Latin Easter-April 5th
ΤΟ ΑΓΙΟΝ ΠΑΣΧΑ–12 Απριλίου HOLY PASCHA–April 12th
Ανάληψις –21 Μαϊου
Ascension-May 21st
Πεντηκοστή-31 Μαϊου
Pentecost–May 31st
PARISH DATES TO REMEMBER
Sunday, January 18th
Godparent / Godchild Sunday
Saturday, January 31st
PCA GALA 2015
Friday, February 6th
Philoptochos Fashion Show
Saturday, February 7th
PTO APOKREATIKO Dinner Dance
Monday, February 23rd
ΚΟΥΛΟΥΜΑ
Clean Monday Community Dinner
Sunday, March 15th
Greek Islands Fundraising Luncheon in Lombard
(Proceeds to benefit Outdoor Security System)
Sunday, March 22nd
Greek Islands Fundraising Luncheon in Lombard
(Proceeds to benefit Outdoor Security System)
Sunday, May 3rd
Spring General Assembly/Τακτική Γενική Συνέλευση
Saturday, May 9th
PPO Annual Dinner Dance
Tuesday, May 19th
Golf Outing
June 19th, 20th & 21st
“Taste of Greece” Parish Festival
June 29th-July 3rd
Vacation Church School
December 6th
Parish Council Elections
55th Annual
Vasilopita Celebration
Sunday, January 11, 2015 at 6p.m.
Hosted by The Greek Orthodox Church
of Saint Demetrios, Elmhurst and
offered by the Philoptochos of the Metropolis of Chicago
Everyone is Welcome!
The Greek Orthodox Church of Saint Demetrios
893 N. Church Road, Elmhurst, IL 60126
Office-630-834-7010
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.saintdemetrioselmhurst.org
Office Hours : Monday & Wednesday: 8a.m.-7p.m.
Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 9a.m.-5p.m.
Saturday: 8a.m.-2p.m.