MONTHLY SERVICE SCHEDULE: CHRIST THE SAVIOR ORTHODOX SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT July 22, 2018 July 22 Car Blessings 23 24 25 26 27 28 1802 Pershing Ave. Rockford, Illinois 61108 - Father Jonathan Bannon Father’s Cell Phone: 815-721-4952 www.CTSRockford.org Fr. Jonathan 10AM Vacation

Sisterhood Meeting Three Week Parish Bulletin August 29 Fr Mark 30 31 1 2 3 4 CONFESSION: Consider attending Holy Confession Ask Sisterhood President Nancy Grewe and Paraklesis Taste of Paraklesis serving Fr. Jonathan every Fasting Season of the Church Year. August 1st orSisterhood Vice President Nadya Opri if you would Divine Liturgy Returns home 6PM Chicago 6PM through 15th is a special season dedicated to Christ’s like to learn more about this! 10AM Fast Begins Event Mother the Virgin Mary as we honor her life and when Class to follow (see details) she falls asleep in the Lord (Her Dormition) Fr. MEN’S BOOK-STUDY GROUP: Blessing Fruit Jonathan will be hearing Confessions Mondays and Book: The Forgotten Faith by LeMasters 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Fridays after the Paraklesis Services as Wednesday there August 6th following Paraklesis service. Divine Liturgy Parish Feast Paraklesis Paraklesis is classes to follow. Liturgy 9AM What do you bring to confession? Your Sins. What 10AM 6PM 6PM weighs on your heart? Where could we have loved God 2018 SCIENCE AND NATURE CAMP Paraklesis Class to follow more? PROGRAM 6PM AUGUST 5 - 12, 2018 (AGES 8 - 18) Sisterhood Meeting Today! CAMP NAZARETH - MERCER, PA 12 13 14 15 9AM 16 17 18 Presentations will be offered by officials from the Divine Liturgy Paraklesis Divine Liturgy SEMI-ANNUAL PARISH MEETING Carnegie Science Center and more. 10AM 6PM Parish Board Feast: August 26th Following Divine Liturgy registration : campnazareth.org/science-camp Meeting Dormition of 6:30PM UPCOMING FASTING PERIODS: Class to follow Banns of Marriage: Bans of Marriage are hereby announced for the first time for AUGUST 1 - 15 DORMITION OF MARY FAST John Horowy and Linda Thrasher. The marriage is scheduled to take This Fast is 15 Days of Strict Fasting similar to Great PROSFORA MINISTRY: This week’s Prosfora is offered by Pani Marianna. place here at Christ the Saviour Orthodox Church on Saturday, Lent refraining from Meat, Dairy, Oil and Wine. To Catechumens: Please speak with Fr. Jonathan before THIS WEEK: September 2nd. If anyone is aware of any canonical impediment that ONLINE RESOURCES FROM would preclude this couple from entering the of Marriage, attempting any fasting. Sunday: July 22nd: Divine Liturgy 10AM Car Blessings to follow, July Sisterhood Meeting to follow DIOCESE: let them notify the parish . Car Blessings and Coffee Hour. Rockford New Parish Website: To All Parishioners:

www.CTSRockford.org JULY THIRD STEWARDSHIP BASKET INFO: Please see your Spiritual Father for all questions and Monday: July 23rd: 6:00PM Diocesan Website: http:// Our parish covers the costs for all Altar Boys and Young concerns regarding your fasting. Do your best and www.acrod.org Women attending the Retreats 10hours away in remember fasting is only effective if you are praying. August 24th - 31st Fr. Jonathan will be attending the American Association of Physics Teachers Summer Windber and Johnstown, PA including travel and a Fasting is not about “giving up things” but “replacing” Meeting in Washington DC with Pani Marianna. Please our family in your prayers for safe travels and I Camp Nazareth: http:// www.campnazareth.org priest to cover while Fr. Jonathan is driving and We pray more and confess our sins to prepare for the look forward to returning home to be with you again. - Fr. Jonathan :) attending. We give 200 dollars to Fr. Mark for his time feasts. Facebook: https:// www.facebook.com/acroddiocese with us serving the Divine Liturgy in Fr. Jonathan’s place SERVICES IN AUGUST: and with three young people attending, this year’s FAMILY FRIENDLY EVENT OPEN TO ALL: WHAT IS PARAKLESIS? This is a Service where we ask the Theotokos to pray for us! Twitter: https://twitter.com/acrodnews You Tube: https://youtube.com/ registrations is $100 per person at 300 dollars year. Taste of Orthodoxy Around the World Thurs. Aug. 2nd We also offer names of the Living and those in sickness. Thank you for helping these young people attend Come explore the diverse expressions of Orthodoxy in acroddiocese without any concern of needing funds. Russian, Serbian, Romanian, Greek, Antiochian and Parish Feast Day AUGUST 6th Feast of the Transfiguration of our Lord and Saviour Christ. American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Divine Liturgy August 6th 9:00PM Blessing of Fruit. Diocese of North America OCA cathedrals and parishes meeting , seeing ECUMENICAL OF architecture and iconography and hearing the chant that Why Fruit? On the Feast of the Transfiguration we offer the first fruits of the harvest to the Lord. It is CONSTANTINOPLE GOING ON VACATION? Nothing is more important than worshiping God on the makes the beautiful mosaic of Orthodox communities in around this time tomatoes start showing up and the fruits on many bushes. So we bring them to the Chicago. We will end our day with a service to the Lord asking that he bless the entire crop / year. day He resurrected from the dead. Explore canonical churches in America on this website if you are going Theotokos at the new chapel of the Guardian Angel with of bright colors and some modern with **Dormition Fast: August 1st through 15th honoring the death (falling asleep) of the Theotokos. away on Vacation: http://www.assemblyofbishops.org/directories/parishes a special speaker to follow. Always ask your spiritual father about your fasting when preparing for fasting seasons. A WAY TO SERVE OUR PARISH: A LOOK AHEAD! Please consider helping with coffee hour / clean up! STEWARDSHIP MONTH: SEPTEMBER!

VICE: SUMMER SLOTH

END OF SUMMER PARISH RETREAT Thursday August 2nd.

Why are you downcast, O my soul?“ Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God. for I will“ yet praise Him, my Saviour and my God. Psalm 42:5 TASTE OF ORTHODOXY

Above: A Victorian engraving called the “Sluggard” Notice the weeds growing around AROUND THE WORLD him and his relaxed pose far from the church in the background. Don't forget your guardian angel assigned to you at SERBIAN, ROMANIAN, We are tempted to be indifferent towards the your baptism and your patron . You do’nt Lord in every season of our lives however in the have one? We will talk about patrons another day summer Christ often takes a back seat in place but for now stop thinking about where you think GREEK, RUSSIAN, OCA of recreation. Even when surrounded by His you need to be spiritually and just pray. Pray as beautiful creation that we enjoy from the rising you know how. Stand or sit before an and Come explore the rich mosaic that makes up Orthodoxy in the Sun, the gentle showers of rain to the night sky say the with a . Don't over United States in Iconography, Chanting, Architecture and more on filled with stars, we see praying to God can be think anything. Be still and set aside at least 5 difficult to become habitual. minutes a day to being still, leaving your cell phone this family friendly retreat to Chicago. RSVP to Pani Marianna. in another room (more on that later.) Simply be f a i t h f u l w i t h If left unattended, that is to say if we simply stop honoring a set time 10:00 - 11:00AM St. George in Cicero - Meeting with Fr. Dahdal from Jerusalem) praying daily or talking with Christ, it is like you spend with the 11:30 - 12:30 Holy OCA Cathedral in Chicago with Fr. Alexander Koranda leaving a lawn un-mowed after a big storm… it Lord and never miss Lunch 12:30 - 1:30 (Bagged Lunch - Bring Your Own - Oriole Park Chicago becomes overgrown with weeds and appears a Liturgy if are able. hard to manage and that lawn is our heart and 2:00 - 3:00 Saints Constantine and Helen Romanian Orthodox Cathedral in Chicago minds… both are thirsting daily for the Lord, Go for quality over 3:15 - 4:15 Holy Resurrection Serbian Orthodox Cathedral in Chicago His Spirit and His Peace. quantity and never 4:30 - 5:30 Holy Protection (Pokrov) Russian Orthodox Cathedral in Des Plaines give up… remember Dinner (On your own on Miner Street in Des Plaines - many to pick from) It may seem daunting to begin a life of prayer Jesus destroyed 6:30 - 8:00PM Small Vespers and Paraklesis at Guardian Angel Day Chapel Greek Orthodox in but remember you are not alone. You have a death by His death. Spiritual Father / Parish Priest praying for you He is the victor! Des Plaines with special guest speaker. and available to offer guidance and direction. The Christ the Saviour PARENTING PRAYERFULY Spiritual Weather Report

Elder and now Saint Porphyrios (See image below) guides parents to remember that children model themselves on the sanctity of parents. Children are EVERYDAY sponges and will learn about the world around them without pause, they are constantly taking in everything. Being examples to them in living our faith will do more than any lecture they could ever hear. SUN = God is always Present. CLOUDS = Temptation to lose hope is always present. Struggling through the clouds is how we “What saves and makes for good children is the life of the parents in the grow and prove to be God’s sons or daughters. home. The parents need to devote themselves to the love of God. They It is challenging to put the words of saints need to become saints in their relation to their children through their into practice. For example, in the image mildness, patience and love. They need to make a new start everyday, above we see St. Agathon tells us “A man with fresh outlook, renewed enthusiasm and love for their children. And the joy that will who is angry, even if he were to raise the come from them, the holiness that will visit them, will shower grace on their children.” - St. dead, is not acceptable to God.” But working what to do with our mad feelings is difficult. Porphyrios How do acquire a peaceful heart or solution? Rather than asking God to take our passions Does this sound like a tall order and perhaps we feel without strength… consider the words from us, the Saints tell us to ask God for the of a desert father who writes so simply about prayer and never forget to approach God Strength/Grace to overcome them, like a strong warrior overcoming an enemy. simply and ask Him for what is needed… even a simple cry for help. St. Theophan the Recluse writes during a moment of peace we can write down how we “Abba Macarius was asked, “How should one would like to react during the times we know we are angry (or name the passion we are pray?” The old man said, “There is no need at all to working on.) Then we are already prepared make long discourses; it is enough to stretch out for the moment our anger is stirred. one’s hands and say, ‘Lord, as you will, and as you know, have mercy.’ And if the conflict grows fiercer Keeping a prayer rope close by is helpful, it is say, ‘Lord, help!’ He knows very well what we need a shield and a sword as saying the name of Jesus has power, it can calm our hearts and and He shows us His mercy.” minds. Be bold in your love for God and your children. Anger causes us to lose sight of God in other They are not little forever and they are a gift of God. people. Consider the love God has for us when we are sinning. Overcome anger with daily prayer asking for grace and peace. + “Lord Jesus Christ, Have Mercy upon me.” Amen. PARAKLESIS SERVICES ORTHODOX TRADITIONS: SEMI ANNUAL PARISH MEETING ANNOUNCEMENT AUGUST 26th - SUNDAY - AUGUST 6th BLESSING OF FRUIT ASKING OUR MOTHER MARY FOR HELP All Members in Good Standing Sacramentally and Financially (Stewardship) have a vote and a voice. Minimum Confession and Holy Communion Once per year - Diocesan Bylaw. Financial (Stewardship): A pledge to offer all we can to God for His glory in Time, Talent, Treasure.

This meeting is a time to review the past 6 months and explore the future goals.

What to expect: We will hear about how the building committee has been exploring and will continue to explore many options for our parish from building a new church on a plot of land to finding an existing building. Accessibility updates regarding a chair-lift, a ramp to the front and other items to help make our current location more accessible.

Please plan to stay for the entire meeting. Bring in any fruit to be blessed on August 6th Why August? with Divine Liturgy 9AM. There is a special season dedicated to We thank you in advance and we thank our parish board for their hard work helping our parish run honoring the Virgin Mary and calling her well and stay in good order. This is our parish’s feast day with blessed. August 1st - 15th we fast and Transfiguration of our Lord on Mount Tabor. increase our prayers as she fell asleep in the Lord on August 15th. With love, Fr. Jonathan Why is this Feast Important? This is the first time Christ reveals His Divinity Why Ask Mary for Help? Left: Parish LIBRARY LECTURES COMING SOON! in the flesh by shining the uncreated Light of President In the New Testament we see Mary has a Paula Grady A few years ago we reached out to friends in Chicago to speak on God. He was so bright the Apostles fell over special relationship with Jesus her Son. She has a student Bioethics - Fr. Radovan, Life on Mount Athos - Hieromonk Fr. Seraphim, and hid their faces, Christ became brighter is His mother and at the wedding at Cana she whose brother Comparative Theology- Fr. Andrew, Life of Prayer Hieromonk Fr. Mark, than the sun. is working on Growing Up in Palestine- Fr. Dahdal. interceded for those who ran out of wine. h i s E a g l e Christ did not ignore His mother but humbly Scout Project. How does the Transfiguration affect me? Let’s help him We enjoyed reaching out to the community to educate our city about interceded. We do not receive salvation from out! Christ was not showing Peter, James and Mary but we do receive great blessings and Orthodoxy and offering wholesome mini-retreats here in our own town John a neat trick, that he could glow with an aid in someone who hears our prayers and for our own parishioners. Students from local colleges attended for uncreated Light. Christ was strengthening the extra credit, Visitors from different faith groups attended and they were is so close to God in Heaven. The Virgin Pan-Orthodox with parishioners from every Orthodox Church in town faith of these three Apostles for the crucifixion Mary was chosen by God to play a special was approaching and here they saw He was came together at the East Branch Library on a Thursday night to hear role in His incarnation. We are all invited to about a topic. truly God if his miracles were not enough. that same relationship with God dwelling in us ALSO we see that human flesh can become and bringing new life to our lives and the This is what we want to bring back! If you would like to sponsor a lecture Light-bearing, that is to say we can become world. there is a 100 dollar gift for the speaker and 25 dollars to rent the space. like God by grace and His Grace is part of Who He is like the rays of the Sun are not What is a Paraklesis? PARISH PRAYER LIST: divided from the Sun itself. So you also can (Greek: Παράκλησις, Slavonic: молебенъ) shine the uncreated Light This is a supplicatory service / prayer and in REQUESTS: For Single Mothers, For those losing hope to have renewed strength, for those seeking the Truth and the fullness. For this case we are supplicating the Virgin Mary children in orphanages and separated from families and healthy homes.

WHY ARE WE BLESSING FRUIT? (NOT Worshiping her) The service is filled Around this time of the year we collect the first LIVING: His All Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople, His Grace Bishop , our Spiritual Fathers, with , petitions for the the living and Mary Andrews, Rev. Janke and Nina, Fr. Mark Lowery, Jacob, Yvonne, Lamont, Lidia, Jamie, Sarah Sherry’s 33rd Military Police fruits of the harvest. In bringing some of the sick and also many poems/prayers written by Battalion, Father Daniel Mathewson and Matushka Gail, Kira Wiederholtz, Tony, Victor, Roger, John, Amy Stokes, Lawrence, (Colleen: “first” fruits to Church we offer them to the the monk Theosterictus, but ascribed by young person with cancer for 2nd time) Glen and Kevin (Cancer) , Weira, Maria, Lidia, Mark(Fr. Jonathan’s brother), Simon + Family in Lord asking that He bless the fruit and the rest others to Theophanes. Lebanon and Shawn, Kostas and Katina, Kirk. Pani Cyndi Ellis’s mother Cindy King, Pearlean, Mary and their families, Fr. George S of the harvest as well. Grapes were common Zervos, Matushka Miriam Nelson, Fr. Luke Nelson, Ksenia, Edward and Carol. in parishes in Mediterranean areas, Apples When are Services? were common in the Slavic regions. Any fruit Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday For the Souls of the Reposed: Larry Koss (Laura Warmke’s Grandfather), Stephen Harbachuk / Very Rev. Protopresbyter Fr. Ronald can be brought to be blessed! What fruit are evening from Aug. 1 - 14th with Liturgy on the Hazuda, Fr. William George, Danny, Nicholas, Maria. Lawrence, Valerie, Scott, Mary, Pearlene, Gary, Anne, Please pray! you bringing this year? 15th celebrating the feast of the Dormition.