S EPTEMPER 2018 - V OLUME N O . 332. The New Ecclesiastical Year TABLE OF CONTENTS By the time you receive this issue of the Voice, the Church will have cele- Father’s Article ........................... 1 brated in a very quiet and subtle way the start of the New Year. For Archangels .................................. 3 many centuries, the Orthodox Church has chosen to mark the beginning Stewardship ................................ 3 of the year on September 1st, at which time its faithful offer thanksgiving Ministries ................................. 4,5 Philoptochos ............................... 6 and prayers to the Creator of time. It is characteristic of our Orthodox Sunday School ............................ 7 faith to do things differently than the rest of the world. The Church ini- Raffle ........................................ 8,9 tially based this new year’s day on the agricultural cycle. Furthermore, it Festival .................................. 10,11 is on this day that we read of Jesus beginning His ministry in the syna- Restoration ............................... 12 gogue of Nazareth (Luke 4:16-18). Most notably, September 1st marks the P.T.A. .......................................... 13 renewal of the Church’s liturgical cycle in that the lists of saints as well as Parish News .............................. 14 many of the liturgical books and hymns of the church are arranged to Liturgical Schedule ................. 15 begin on this date. Activities Calendar .................. 16 Parish Registry ........................ 17 By this action, the Orthodox Church stays true to its nature in that she does not leave any aspect of life untouched by the grace of God. At a ST. SPYRIDON time when the secular New Year’s Day is commonly celebrated with HELLENIC ORTHODOX CHURCH much revelry, the Church offers a more solemn day exclusively for its st faithful. Unknown to the world, September 1 , can very easily be our 12307 S. RIDGELAND AVE. own day for resolutions, our very own celebration of prayer and hope for PALOS HEIGHTS, IL 60463 the future. This day can be our day to place the past behind us and start WWW. SAINT- SPYRIDON.ORG anew. Furthermore, the concept of an Ecclesiastical New Year reminds us that The Voice - H ΦΩNH our time belongs to God. He is the Creator of time, and the days that we Official Monthly spend on this earth are simply His. Thus, our time is purely and primari- Community Publication of ly liturgical, meaning that we are called to spend our time doing the St. Spyridon work of the people of God. By celebrating the Ecclesiastical New Year, Hellenic Orthodox Church we confess that our life is one of liturgy and worship, one continuous 12307 S. Ridgeland Avenue dedication of our self, our family, and our vocation back to our Savior. Palos Heights, IL 60463 Therefore, this celebration presupposes that our new year’s resolution be REV. FR. TILEMAHOS nothing else than our full participation in the Divine Liturgy, which is, ALIKAKOS after all, the main work of the Church. This resolution calls all of us to be PROTOPRESBYTER Church Office full and active participants in this central and life-giving activity of the Hours: ................ Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Church. Praying together, singing the words of the liturgy, and finally Phone: ............................... 708-385-2311 or 2313 Fax: .................................................. 708-385-0166 partaking of the Precious Body and Blood of our Lord regularly, all this E-mail: [email protected] constitutes the liturgical person that we are called to become. Web: www.Saint-Spyridon.org Parish Council Officers As we celebrate once more the beginning of the New Ecclesiastical year, James Korbakes ..................................President let us make the resolution to place worship and prayer at the center of Konstantine Labraκis ................ Vice-President George Papadopoulos ............... Vice President our lives. Let no obstacle stand in the way of our full participation in the Frank Kopanis .................................... Secretary liturgical and sacramental life of the Church, so that with prayer and James Xeros ........................ Assistant Secretary Gus Kolyvas ........................................ Treasurer worship we may approach our Lord and Savior, today and forever. Nicholas Chibucos ............ Assistant Treasurer In Christ’s love, Fr. Tilemahos Auxiliary Officers Angelo Angelos .................................... Chanter Toula Georgiopoulos .................. Philoptochos Tessie Jones ............................................... P.T.A. Kiki Kazazakis ......................................... Kentro St. Spyridon Hellenic Orthodox Church Lambrini Stavrou .....Plutarchos Greek School Jan Prible ....................... Archangels Academy Zoe Kopanis ................ Sunday School Director Nicky Glikis ................................ Choir Director Presvytera Georgia ..... G.O.Y.A. & Jr. G.O.Y.A. 101st Anniversary Debbie Petrakos .................................... Cherubs Demetria Papadopoulos .......................... HOPE Fr. Tilemahos .......................... Byzantine Music Community Dinner Dance Panagiotis Mihalopoulos .............. Iconography Fr. Tilemahos ................................... Bible Study St. Spyridon Hellenic Orthodox Church of Palos Heights, Tammy Stamus .......................... Handmaidens Cordially invites you to the celebration of our Nick Chibucos & Labros Malfas ..... Altar Boys Angelo Angelos ............................. Greek Dance 101st Annual Dinner Dance John Farsatis & Zachary Bousies ....... Athletics Angelo Angelos ................ Floga Dance Troupe Effie Papadopoulos ..................... Church Office Soteria Simantirakis .......................... Custodian Sunday, October 21st, 2018 Cocktails: 5:30 p.m. • Dinner: 6:30 p.m. • Open Bar Dinner catered by Chef Dean Eliacostas, Music & Fellowship Donation: $50 adults • $20 children under 12 Church Community Hall “And what does the Lord require of Call the Church Office (708) 385-2311 or e-mail at you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” [email protected] for Reservations by October 13th 2 The Voice CHERUBS Under the wing of the Archangels Academy, Cherubs is a toddler- WELCOME BACK TO SCHOOL!!! caregiver program that welcomes our young children from 6 months We would like to officially welcome all the Archangels’ students back to school. We are excited to be back in session with a full class. This will be to 4 years old, along with caregiv- Archangels Academy’s 14th year! ers. The group meets every Our staff Ms. Jan, kyria Katerina, and Mrs. Sofea are looking forward to Wednesday, 10:30a.m.—12noon. another great year. On September 4th, we will be welcoming our stu- The program runs September dents and parents with an Agiasmo service and the blessing of our class- through May and it is offered free room. Afterwards, Ms. Jan will read a story and the children will do a of charge to all area Orthodox fam- fun project. It will be a wonderful opportunity for the students, parents ilies. and staff to enjoy a great morning get-together. Our first class will be held on The following week we will be planting vasiliko as we prepare for the Wednesday, September 19th. Elevation of the Holy Cross. The week of September 17th we will begin our After School Activities program. The program offers ten different Debbie Petrakos, Cherubs Advisor classes ranging from Art to Planting and Life cycles. Registration is on a first come, first served basis. DATES TO REMEMBER: Wednesday, September 19th—Cherubs class begins Thursday, September 27th—Open House 6 p.m.—7:30 p.m. for students and parents STEWARDSHIP 2018 PROGRESS REPORT The Stewardship Committee thanks our 293 Stewards who have fulfilled their pledge for the 2018 year. We wish to express our gratitude for your commitment to the Lord’s Stewardship Goal: work through our Church of Saint Spyridon. And to you who have not yet pledged, we 400 Stewards ask of you to commit yourself and your family so that the Word of God may continue in His glorious name. STEWARDSHIP GOAL: 400 STEWARDS Invite your family and friends to become Stewards of our parish. 300 293 Year AVERAGE STEWARDSHIP GOAL: $50/month or $600/year to date Our current average Stewardship is $430, ranging from $250 to $3,600 annually. Please help us reach our stewardship goal! New Stewards 200 Mr. & Mrs. Larry Avtzis Mrs. Koula Kintonis Ms. Penny Poninski Mr. & Mrs. Konst. Demakis Mr. & Mrs. Vasilios Les Mr. & Mrs. E. Rousonelos Mr. & Mrs. John Eliacostas Mrs. Mary Limparis Mr. Nick Skiadopoulos 100 Dr. Alex Haralampoloulos Mr. & Mrs. Th. Manikas Mr. Vasilis Stavropoulos Dr. & Mrs. Elias Hohlastos Mrs. Alexandra Manolitsis Mr. Paul Thiakos Mr. & Mrs. Peter Hristakos Mr. John Mazarakos Mr. & Mrs. Ari Valavanidis Mr. & Mrs. Nicholas Iovino Mr. & Mrs. Deno Mihas Mrs. Patricia Vardalos Mr. & Mrs. Kyr. Kalpakidis Mrs. Marie Nicholson Mr. & Mrs. Niko Kattos Mr. & Mrs. K. Spatharakis St. Spyridon Hellenic Orthodox Church 3 SAINT SPYRIDON MINISTRIES Sunday School Cherubs HOPE Sunday School is held during the Under the wing of the Archangels HOPE is a youth program for chil- regular school year (September Academy, Cherubs is a toddler- dren 3 to 6 years old, where they thru May). Grade levels are from caregiver program that welcomes learn about the lives of the saints Pre-School through 12th grade our young children from 6 months and do a small craft. Meeting dates and registration