SAINT GEORGE GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH

CHURCH STAFF

• Parish Priest: Fr. Constantinides The Trophybearer

• Chanter: Deacon Paul VOLUME 7 ISSUE 8 SEPTEMBER 2017 Speed • Caretaker: Jason Leon PASTORAL MESSAGE • GOYA Advisors: Dr. Vicky Pyevich/Anne “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.” This mes- Kirpatrick sage was given by Christ to the people and to the disciples. The Disciples lead people, yet the disciples are

• HOPE/JOY Advisors: part of the people of God. There are no special rules for leaders versus those who are led. What should Pres. Maria Constanti- they deny? Not the good things, but sin, the predisposition towards evil and the evil passions and desires that nides/Candice Elias sometimes govern us. In other words, they need to put to death the old man. The old man is separated from God and from his fellow man and thus paradoxically lives in death. The old man died in baptism, yet we • After Church Club: resurrect him when we sin. We must get rid of him. Loukia Constantinides This must be a voluntary action. God does not force us but calls us to good things and not evil, to rewards • Outreach and Evangelism and not punishment. Man is free to choose yet there are ramifications to his choices. Brethren, the Christian Chair: Angela Spurgetis life is not a bowl of cherries. St. tells us: “for although it be in my power, as Son of God, to • Parish Council President: hinder you from having any trial at all of those hardships, yet such is not my will for your sake, that you may Mary Rankin yourself contribute something and be more approved.’ God does not smooth everything over for us He

• Philoptochos President: does not remove trials and tribulations, but rather He explains costs of discipleship which are self-denial, car- Susan Coin rying one’s cross (that is suffering) and obedience to Christ. “If it becomes evident that we ourselves are sinners, does that mean that Christ promotes sin? St. Paul here • Prayer Ministry: Gus Pappas talks about repentance. Repentance is a change of mind. We need this change because we fall short. Man is called to grow in the image and likeness of God, that is, to imitate God’s life. In fact C. S. Lewis tells us in his • Sunday School Director: book the Screwtape Letters , “He (God) really wants to fill the universe with a lot of…little replicas of Him- Deacon Paul Speed self—creatures whose life, on a miniature scale will be like…His…(He)…really wants a world of beings • Senior Ministry: Kay Coin united to Him but still distinct.” Unfortunately we decided to do things our way yet we need to do things God’s way. We should not wait to repent since we do not know the time of our death and because after death will be too late. In this life Christ grants mercy and grace to those who repent, in next life simply judg- INSIDE THIS ment. Christ offers forgiveness freely because He is the Son of God and thus has the authority to forgive I S S U E : sins, but also because He is the Son of Man and was tempted like us. There are tools that we can use to achieve our goals. First is prayer. Prayer is communication with God September 2 and links us to Church and fellow man through God. It is an important element to Christians because it Calendar makes us realize that there are others besides us. Second is fasting. Fasting restores the relationship be- President’s 3 tween body and soul. It restores our relationship with God, our fellow man, and nature. Fasting makes us Corner realize we are not the most important things in the universe. Finally there is Holy Communion. Holy Com- Community 5 munion brings us into union with God and the and makes us part of Christ. In fact it is the defining News characteristic of Christians. Stewardship 8 So we can see then that Christ calls us to follow Him. To truly follow Him we must deny ourselves. More Update accurately, we must deny the part of ourselves that was added on, that is sin. Having severed our evil dispo- sitions we may approach the great mercy seat of Christ and be cleansed of our stains. This becomes easier Greek Fest 9 knowing that Christ is indeed one of us and underwent temptation. He lived the life that He calls us to live News and for that reason He can be merciful, because He knows how tough that life is. We approach the seat of Lives of the 12- mercy by using the tools that He provided us. These tools are prayer, fasting and Holy Communion. Let us Saints 14 then not overlook this great mercy that is given us to approach the mercy seat of Christ. For we know not the day or the hour of our death. Let us then take up our cross and follow Him. Let us not rebuild what we tore down. Let us rather persevere in the struggle so that we may join Paul in saying, “It is not I who lives, but Christ who lives in me”. Amen September 2017

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 2 Fast Day + Sacrament Beginning of the Ecclesiastical Year

3 4 5 6 7 8 9 13th Sunday of Labor Day 9:00 a.m. Packaging Fast Day Nativity of the Greek Fest Matthew Office Closed of Pastries 10:30 a.m. Senior 11:00a.m.— 8:00a.m. Orthros 9:30 a.m. Rock Island Parade Outing Fish, Wine and oil 11:00 p.m. Divine Liturgy allowed 9:00 a.m. Orthros Sunday School/ followed by the HOPE JOY/GOYA Divine Liturgy at registration Assumption Church

Fast Day Greek Fest 3:00p.m.— Festival set up and preparation all Week! 11:00 p.m.

10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Sunday before the Fast Day The Universal Elevation of the Exaltation of the Cross Holy Cross 8:00a.m. Orthros Strict Fast Day 9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy 8:30 a.m. Orthros Sunday School/ followed by the HOPE JOY/GOYA Divine Liturgy registration

17 18 19 20 21 23 24 Sunday after the Fast Day Fast Day Elevation of the 10:00 a.m. Ortho- Cross dox Study Forum 8:30a.m. Orthros

10:00 a.m.

Divine Liturgy

Sunday School Class 6:00 p.m. Orthodox begin with an 7:00 p.m. Study Forum Agiasmos Service Parish Council 7:15 p.m. Chanting Meeting Class

24 25 26 27 28 29 30 1st Sunday of Falling Asleep of Fast Day Fast Day Luke Saint John the 10:00 a.m. Ortho- Theologian 8:30a.m. Orthros dox Study Forum 10:00 a.m. 9:00 a.m. Orthros followed by the Divine Liturgy Divine Liturgy at the Sunday School Class Church of the As- following sumption Holy Communion

6:00 p.m. Orthodox Study Forum

VOLUME 7 ISSUE 8 P A G E 3

P A G E 4 THE TROPHYBEARER Evening Meal Volunteers Epistle Readers September 27-Kathy December 4-Father Mi- Sunday, Sunday, Farrell and Adrian John- chael, Presbytera Maria September 3, 2017 September 17, 2017 son and family 13th Sunday of Sunday after the Cross October 28-Mary and Anyone interested in Matthew Ethan Kirpatrick Bill Rankin participating in this Alexa Florence Sunday, November 8-Dena worthwhile ministry Sunday, September 24, 2017 Manta and Alexa Flor- should contact Dena September 10, 2017 1st Sunday of Luke ence Manta at 332-1684. Sunday before the Scot Johnson Cross Loukia Constantinides Parish Registry Baptisms Gena Coin and Eric Voss The Sophia, were united in the Sacra- daughter of and ment of Holy Marriage on Parish Council Sunday Duty Melissa Tumbarello was Bap- August 19, 2017 and the tized into the Orthodox sponsor was Anne Sunday, Sunday, Kirkpatrick. September 3, 2017 September 17, 2017 Faith on August 19, 2017 and the sponsor was Patricia An- Funeral Joe Burmeister, John Mekus, drews. The servant of God, Mary Mary Kay Eckert, Dennis Spurgetis, Ted Pitsoulakis, Weddings Spurgetis, fell asleep in the Diana Spurgetis, Lord and was buried on July Ken Stiegel Sara Knaack and Jaymes Mary Rankin 25, 2017 Eckert were united in the Sunday, Sunday, Sacrament of Holy Marriage The servant of God, Steve September 10, 2017 September 24, 2017 on July 8, 2017 and the spon- Morgan, fell asleep in the Nick Coin, Joe Burmeister, sor was Marguerite Nelson. Lord and was buried on Brad Crosson, August 1, 2017 Mary Kay Eckert, Jessica Stratton and Mariellen Crosson, Ted Pitsoulakis, Sheridan were united in the The servant of God, Gary Mike Patramanis Ken Stiegel Sacrament of Holy Marriage Coin, fell asleep in the Lord on July 30, 2017 and the and was buried on August 3, sponsor was John Stratton. 2017

Coffee Hour Hosts for September 2017 Memorials September Sunday, September 3, Sunday, September 17, 2017 hosted by: 2017 hosted by: September 3, 2017 Family of Mary Spurgetis Families of Gary Coin and Mary Spurgetis: 40 Days Sunday, September 10, Steve Morgan Cleo Mallires: 1 Year 2017 hosted by: Sunday, September 24, September 17, 2017 Open 2017 hosted by: Steve Morgan: 40 Days Angela Spurgetis Gary Coin: 40 Days

VOLUME 7 ISSUE 8 P A G E 5 Community News SUNDAY SCHOOL teachings of the Fathers, the year. NEWS Tradition of the Church and •We need as many volun- Our Sunday School classes with our lives today. Join us teers (adults and kids) as PRAYERS FOR also as we examine the tra- will begin on Sunday Sep- possible to hand out Free OUR SHUT-INS tember 17th with an Agias- ditions of the Church and Admission tickets and candy. mos following the Divine compare them with what This parade is a blast. Its Helen Corelis Liturgy. Sunday school be- our parents taught us. We great fun being in a parade! Stella Cudworth gins following communion meet every Wednesday Wear your festival tee-shirt and last for about 45 min- Morning at 10:00 a.m. begin- and comfortable walking Elaine Froumis utes. It is important to ning on Wednesday Septem- shoes. ber 20, 2017 and Thursday Pat Grevas bring your children so they •Time and staging location evenings beginning on Sep- can learn about our faith. to be announced. Contact Judy Pappas tember 21, 2017 at 6:00 VASILIKO (BASIL) Joe Burmeister at burmeis- p.m. so bring your Bibles, Jim Patton WANTED [email protected] your questions and your m or Gus Pappas at 563-370 Xenia Patton We are in need of Vasiliko friends as we begin our Or- -6252 or plants for the celebration of thodox Study Forum. Effie Skafidas the Litany of the Holy [email protected] FESTIVAL DATES TO Janice Smirles Cross, which will take place •The week of Greek Fes- REMEMBER on Thursday, September tival , we need two teams: Gordon Smith • 14 th , the Feast of the Eleva- Volunteers, St George 1. Venue set up team Helen Smith tion of the Holy Cross. If Church needs You! Please Tuesday thru Thursday at contact Mary Rankin to vol- you can be of assistance, 8:30am. Contact Brad Cros- Jim Tsagaris please bring them to the unteer for Our Big Fat son 563-349-9910 or brad- church on Sunday Septem- Greek Festival . She can be [email protected] ber 10, 2017. reached at 563-263-2341 or m 2. Kitchen & Gyros [email protected] You ALTAR BOY NEWS prep on Thursday at can also register on-line at 8:30am. Contact Gus Pappas Calling all young men of the goo.gl/GBpmEo and click 563-370-6252 or Parish from the ages of 6 register! [email protected] and up. You are all invited •Pastries will be packaging • and encouraged to serve as Irene Mekus to present on baklava will be on Tuesday, Altar Boys in the Holy Altar. Saturday, September 9th, at September 5 th at 9:00 a.m. It is both an honor and a 2:30 p.m. a short presenta- Contact Jenny Bakeris at blessing to serve the Lord in tion, her Honors Capstone [email protected] such a special way. Project, Augustana College, •Labor Day Parade is a "Greek Identity Past and ORTHODOX STUDY Our Saint wonderful opportunity for Present in the Quad Cities" FORUM St George’s Big Fat Greek in one of the Sunday School George Parish Come and join us as we Festival to be recognized rooms. A book will be do- Community look into the inner meaning within the city of Rock Is- nated to St. George. All are of the Scriptural texts and land. We will have a vintage welcome to attend see how they apply with the Pontiac and a SUV again this

P A G E 6 THE TROPHYBEARER

Sunday School News HOPE/JOY EVENTS Sunday School starts for the year's popular 'Sundae Sun- our children grow in our September 8th new church year on Septem- day'; students and teachers Orthodox faith. and 9th-Festival ber 17. September 10 we will have a free ice cream In addition to putting a call Help will have registration; please sundae if they are in class out to all of our children, register anyone young per- that date, served by the dea- grandchildren, and great- October 1st - son through the senior of con. grandchildren, nieces, neph- Hot dogs, chips high school that may come. It is important that children ews and so on, we also wel- and s'mores af- This gives us an idea of what attend as much as humanly come adults who would like ter church to plan for in the way of cur- possible to have a continuity to teach, to assist the teach- riculum, plus contact infor- of lessons. Our teachers put ers, or to substitute teach. November 26th mation for coming events in hard work getting ready Please contact Father and I if - Pioneer Village and special things. We will and preparing lessons to help you would be interested. Christmas Walk open with a repeat of last December 10th HOPE/JOY NEWS - Christmas We hope everyone had a become active in this group. Presbytera Maria at pres- store & hat/ wonderful summer. As we This is a great opportunity [email protected] or Can- glove collection are getting ready for back to to make friends within our dace Elias at eli- school, we are also getting church, learn about our faith [email protected] with ready to get our Hope/Joy and have fellowship with any questions. group going again! their peers. We plan on We will have a registration having many fun activities table after the Divine Liturgy throughout the year. for the next few weeks. Remember, all kids between Please stop by and fill out a the ages of 3-12 are encour- profile form. We want all aged to join in the fun. the kids in our church to Please feel free to contact After Church Club Hi! I’m Loukia Constanti- and look directly to your younger children can run nides, and I want to wel- right, there will be a door around and draw on the come you to the After with a sign that says, chalkboard. Each Sunday Church Club. “After Church Club.” we will talk about a differ- In this club, I watch the Children of all ages can ent subject in our religion. children of our church so come to the club after Each child leaves with a that their parents can re- Sunday school. prize, such as a pencil or lax, go to church meet- In the club we have differ- small toy. I hope your ings, and talk to their ent activities for all ages. children will come and friends. If you walk Older children can color join us! straight down the hallway and do crafts, while

VOLUME 7 ISSUE 8 P A G E 7 Prosphora Baking Senior Ministry Schedule September The September outing for most eager to give us a joy a “dutch-treat” lunch at our Senior Citizen Group tour. We will meet at the store’s deli and/or Sunday, will be on Thursday, Sep- church at 10:00 a.m. and their soup/salad bar. tember 28th. We will be arrive at the market at Please RSVP to Kay Coin September going to the Fresh Thyme 10:30 a.m. Those wishing at 309-786-0240 if you plan 3, 2017 Farmers Market at 2130 to meet us at the market to attend! East Kimberly Road, Dav- may do so at that time. enport where the store is After the tour we will en- Collette Spurgetis Stavro Logo Bookstore

Sunday, September 10, 2017

Open

Sunday, September 17, 2017

Nancy N. Coin

Sunday, September 24, 2017

Presbytera Maria

P A G E 8 THE TROPHYBEARER

VOLUME 7 ISSUE 8 P A G E 9

P A G E 1 0 THE TROPHYBEARER

VOLUME 7 ISSUE 8 P A G E 1 1

P A G E 1 2 THE TROPHYBEARER Parish Happenings

VOLUME 7 ISSUE 8 P A G E 1 3 The Conception of Saint (September 23) The Conception of the took his turn as priest at because you did not believe Venerable Prophet, Fore- the Temple of Jerusalem, he my words....” runner and Baptist of the went into the Sanctuary to Meanwhile, the people Lord, John: The holy offer incense. Going behind were waiting for Zachariah Prophet prophesied the veil of the Sanctuary, he and they were astonished that before the Messiah’s beheld an angel of God that he had not come out birth His Forerunner would standing at the right side of from the Sanctuary after so appear, and would indicate the altar of incense. long a time. And when he His coming. The Jews St Zachariah was astonished did come out, he was sup- therefore in awaiting the and halted in fear, but the posed to pronounce a Messiah also awaited the angel said to him, “Fear not, blessing upon the people, appearance of His Forerun- Zachariah, for your prayer but could not do so be- The Conception ner. is heard; and your wife cause he had been struck of Saint John the In a city of the hills of Judea Elizabeth will bear you a speechless. When Zacha- Baptist in the land of Palestine lived son, and you shall call his riah explained by gestures the righteous priest St name John.” But Zachariah that he was unable to Zachariah and his wife St did not believe the words speak, the people then un- Elizabeth, zealously observ- of the heavenly messenger, derstood that he had ex- ing the commandments of and then the angel said to perienced a vision. The the Lord. The couple, how- him, “I am , who prophecy of the ever, had a misfortune: they stand in the presence of was fulfilled, and Righteous remained childless in their God; and I was sent to Elizabeth was delivered old age, and they prayed speak to you, and to bring from her barrenness, and unceasingly to God to grant you the good news. Behold, gave birth to John, the them a child. you will be silent and unable Forerunner and Baptist of Once, when St Zachariah to speak until the day that the Lord. these things come to pass, Venerable Chariton the Confessor the Abbot of Palestine (September 28) Saint Chariton the Confes- St Chariton bravely de- Journeying to Jerusalem on sor suffered at Iconium dur- nounced the pagan gods and pilgrimage to the holy places, ing one of the persecutions staunchly confessed faith in he fell into the hands of rob- against Christians under the the One True God, Christ bers. They tied him up and emperor Aurelian. The grace the Savior. The holy Confes- threw him in a cave, intend- -bearing example of the holy sor underwent fierce tor- ing to kill him later, and they Protomartyr Thekla tures but, through the Provi- hastened away on business. (September 24) encouraged dence of God, he remained The saint prayed fervently in him in his confessor’s deed. alive. When the persecution expectation of death. He Venerable Chariton She being a native of his city, abated, the saint was set free gave thanks to God and en- the Confessor the whose memory he in par- from prison and he dedi- treated him to do with him Abbot of Palestine ticular deeply venerated. cated all his life to the ser- according to His will. vice of the Lord.

P A G E 1 4 THE TROPHYBEARER Venerable Chariton the Confessor the Abbot of Palestine (Continued)

At this time a snake crawled Palestine. According to Tradition, St Cha- into the cave and began to drink St Chariton compiled a strict riton compiled the office of tak- wine from a vessel setting there, rule for his monastery. Yearning ing monastic vows. St Chariton poisoning it with its deadly for solitude, the monk went far- the Confessor died in extreme venom. Returning to the cave, ther into the desert, but there old age and was buried, in ac- the robbers drank the poisoned also he did not reject those who cord with his last wishes, in the wine and they all perished. St sought his spiritual guidance, and Pharan monastery in the church, Chariton gave thanks to God he founded two more monaster- built on the site of the robbers’ and began his ascetic struggles at ies: the and the Souka, cave. the place of his miraculous res- named the “Old .” At the cue. He distributed the plun- end of his life, St Chariton strug- dered gold of the robbers to the gled in a cave on a hill near the poor, and in the robbers cave he Souka monastery, but he did not built a church, around which in cease to provide guidance for all time there formed a monastery, three of the monasteries he the renowned Pharan Lavra in founded.

Hieromartyr Gregory the Bishop of Greater Armenia, Equal of the Apostles and Enlightener of Armenia (September 30)

A certain kinsman saved Greg- The steadfastness of the saint ory: he carried off the infant embittered Tiridates, and he from Armenia to Caesarea in gave his faithful servant over to

Cappadocia and raised him in cruel tortures: they suspended the Christian Faith. At maturity, the sufferer head downwards Gregory married, had two sons, with a stone about his neck, for but soon was left a widower. several days they choked him

Gregory raised his sons in piety. with a stinking smoke, they beat One of them -- Orthanes, after- and ridiculed him, and forced Hieromartyr Gregory the wards became a priest, and the him to walk in iron sandals inset with nails. Bishop of Greater Arme- other -- Arostanes, accepted monasticism and went off into nia At the time of these sufferings the wilderness. Saint Gregory sang . In The Hieromartyr Gregory, In order to atone for the sin of prison the Lord healed all his Enlightener of Greater Armenia, his father, who had murdered wounds. When Gregory again was born in the year 257. He the father of Tiridates, Gregory stood before the emperor was descended from the line of entered into the service of the cheerful and unharmed, he was the Parthian Arsakid emperors. latter and was a faithful servant astonished and gave orders to The father of Saint Gregory, to him. Tiridates loved Gregory repeat the torments. Saint Greg- Anak, in striving after the Arme- like a friend, but he was intoler- ory endured them, not waver- nian throne, had murdered his ant of the Christian confession ing, with all his former determi- kinsman, the emperor Kursar, in of faith. After ascending the Ar- nation and bearing. They then consequence of which all the menian throne, he began to de- poured hot tin over him and line of Anak was marked for mand that Saint Gregory re- threw him into a pit filled with destruction. nounce the Christian Faith. vipers. The Lord, however,

VOLUME 7 ISSUE 8 P A G E 1 5 Thoughts to Ponder saved His chosen one: the snakes the pit, and buried the relics of the to Christ. The temples of the idols did him no harm. holy virgins with honor. Then he were destroyed, and churches for Some pious women fed him with began to preach to the people, urg- the worship of the true God were bread, secretly lowering it into the ing them to turn away from the built. Saint Gregory ordained pit. A holy angel, appeared to the darkness of idolatry and toward priests, established schools, martyr, strengthening and encour- Christ. The people came to believe founded monasteries, and provided aging him. Saint Gregory remained in Christ, and wished to build a for the good order of the Church. in the pit for fourteen years. Dur- large church. When it was com- Saint Gregory went into the wilder- ing this time the emperor Tiridates pleted, Saint Gregory had the relics ness, where he departed to the executed the holy Saint of the holy nuns brought into it. Lord. His son Aristanes was made a Rhipsime, the aged abbess Gaiana Then he brought King Tiridates bishop in Cappadocia, and was one and another 35 virgins from one of there before the bodies of the of the 318 holy Fathers at the the monasteries of Asia Minor. As saints whom he had slain. He re- Council of Nicea. punishment for this horrible deed, pented, and immediately his face the king’s face became disfigured. was made whole once more. Saint Gregory was released from Soon all of Armenia was converted Answers To Last Month’s Test Your Faith...

New Testament Books The Church’s Services Down Thessalonians John Across 1. The prayer taught by Christ in the Ser- mon on the Mount, which begins with the Corinthians Mark 4. A special service held in the Ortho- phrase “Our Father…” dox Church for the repose of the souls Philippians Luke 2. This is another name for the service of the dead. Colossians Jude that precedes the Divine Liturgy. 6. The Morning Service, which is com- Revelation Acts bined with the Liturgy. 3. A service held in the evening , which is mainly a Thanksgiving prayer for the closing Galatians James 9. The closing prayers and benediction, g day and a welcome of the new one to Ephesians Titus including the Apolytikia in Church Ser- come vice. Philemon Peter 5. The main form of worship for the cele- 10. This hymn is sung after the Gospel Timothy bration of the Holy Eucharist. reading and during the Great Entrance. Hebrews 7. “Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immor-

tal, have mercy upon us.” Matthew

8. This service is celebrated in the evening. Romans

Test Your Faith... The Church’s Services Down read before the reading of Across 2. This is a short verse the Epistle 1. The twenty stanzas from the scriptures, espe- 9. These special hymns are into which the Orthodox cially the psalms, sung or sung during the Service of Psalter is divided. recited in the Divine Lit- Matins. urgy and other services. 6. The Service of the Liturgical Items preparation of the ele- 3. A hymn of praise in Blessing Cross Candles honor of the Mother of ments of bread and wine Deacons Doors Crozier before the Divine Liturgy God. In Greek it is called Antimension Censer is known as the Megalynarion. ______. 4. A hymn which refers to Iconostasis Orlets 10. A hymn of praise con- or praises the Theotokos is Tabernacle Diskos sisting of 24 stanzas sung known as a ______. Royal Doors Spear at the Salutations ser- 5. A prayer sung by the Exapteriga vices. chanter or choir in honor Prosphora Spoon of the celebrant bishop or Prothesis Altar presbyter. Trikirion Aer 7. Another name for the

Akathyst Hymn is Antidoron Chalice ______. Asterisk 8. A liturgical verse or Cathedra scriptural passage sung or Dikiron