Good Afternoon, to You, the Parish
The Greek Orthodox Church of St. Demetrios!
4th Sunday of Matthew
The Centurion:
The Gospel According to St. Matthew 8:5-13
Today we read a most beautiful, inspiring and enlightening story in the life of Jesus. It is a story of a meeting between kindred spirits, an awakened soul and the One who awakens all. They meet and recognize each other. They share in a communion of Divine Love that only those who are enlightened know and what comes of it is healing and transformation - not only for the young man who is the Centurion's beloved servant, but for the Centurion himself and for all the witnesses there who have ears to hear and eyes to see.
And who of us doesn't? Even those who are blind and deaf have spiritual eyes and ears. Only those who are sleeping, who either refuse to see or are kept from seeing by fear and desire, have "no eyes and ears" with which to see and hear.
The Centurion is awake. Jesus is drawn to him. He is drawn to Jesus. Why? Because both are filled with compassion.
The Centurion loved this particular servant so deeply that he risked public humiliation by begging publicly for his life. He, a Roman soldier, in the streets of Judea, before a Jewish crowd who are more likely to hate him more than anything, comes and begs to an itinerant rabbi. Only those who are empty of self attain such heights of humility.
Jesus is like this. That is why they connect so deeply. They are alike. The image of God shines brightly in the Centurion on this day. Jesus, being the perfect image of the Father, sees the soldier as if he were looking into a mirror. The Lord looks at this soldier and sees Himself. The deep calls out to the deep.
We do not know anything at all about the Centurion except that he was a man capable of deep and utterly selfless acts of love and compassion. In this most amazing and intimate encounter, the Centurion and Christ bonded in a way all of us in our heart of hearts hopes to do someday - with God, with one another.
The real message in this Gospel today is that if we want to draw near to God and want Him to draw near to us, there is one sure way to make that happen. Become full of compassion. That is, become like God. One's background, career, religion, and race, not one of the accidentals of life we think are so important really matter.
The one thing that matters and Frank Schaeffer puts it well, "...the whole point of life is to create beauty, give love and to be at peace."
Excerpted from sermon by Fr. Antony Hughes, St. Mary Orthodox Church, Cambridge, MA.
*********************************
Epistle Reading (7/5/2020): Galatians 5:22-26; 6:1-2
Gospel Reading (7/5/2020): The Gospel According to Matthew 8:5-13
*********************************
It is a blessing to have our Church open for worship, even
with
limited capacity!
WELCOME IN!
St. Demetrios Parish
Information & Updates
This Week at St. Demetrios...
*
As a courtesy reminder, it is necessary to call the Church Office to register for an upcoming service. Please
Read Letter!
Church Office Closed
Saturday, July 4th
Εθνική Εορτή: Αμερικανική Ημέρα Ανεξαρτησίας
National Holiday: American Independence Day
Church Office Closed
*Note:
Capacity for worship on Sunday, July 5th is full. Please call on Monday, July 6th to make reservations for additional services this month. Thank you!
Sunday, July 5th
Κυριακή Δ' Ματθαίου
Όρθρος, 8π.μ. & Θεία Λειτουργία, 9:30π.μ.
4th Sunday of Matthew
Orthros, 8a.m. & Divine Liturgy, 9:30a.m.
Sunday, July 12th
Όρθρος, 8π.μ. & Θεία Λειτουργία, 9:30π.μ.
Orthros, 8a.m. & Divine Liturgy, 9:30a.m.
The services will continue to be LIVE-STREAMED on our:
1. Our Church
Website (Live-Stream Feed)
*********************************
A New
Way of Giving
at
St. Demetrios
Click on the link below to go directly to our website for the
online giving page:
*********************************
"THE ORTHODOX STORE"
I
t is with great delight that we inform you that
"The Orthodox Store" is now under new management.
Stay tune for details of an upcoming campaign event!
To date, this is what has been collected:
17 Care Kits
6 COVID Kits
10 Dinner Kits
We are on our way....
THANK YOU to those who have donated to this ministry
of compassion & love.
Click on the link provided for information on how you can help.
Just outside the Church Office door are 3 bins in which your donations can be dropped off.
Donation drop-off during Church Office hours, Monday-Friday, 9a.m. - 4p.m..
*********************************
Parish Registry as of July 5th:
Baptisms 11 Chrismations 2
Weddings 1 Funerals 21
Shut-Ins 18
Hospital & Home Visitations 414
*********************************
2020 Stewardship of The Greek Orthodox Church of
St. Demetrios
Stewardship as of Friday, July 3rd - 411
*********************************
BLESSED INDEPENDENCE DAY!
On this weekend of the 4th of July, may you and your families
remain safe and healthy!
*********************************
"You cannot be too gentle, too kind. Shun even to appear harsh in your treatment of each other. Joy, radiant joy, streams from the face of one who gives and kindles joy in the heart of one who receives. All condemnation is from the devil. Never condemn each other, not even those whom you catch committing an evil deed. We condemn others only because we shun knowing ourselves. When we gaze at our own failings, we see such a morass of filth that nothing in another can equal it. That is why we turn away, and make much of the faults of others. Keep away from the spilling of speech. Instead of condemning others, strive to reach inner peace. Keep silent, refrain from judgement. This will raise you above the deadly arrows of slander, insult, outrage, and will shield your glowing hearts against the evil that creeps around."
*********************************
Please don't forget to visit our Church's Website where you can find all our updated information - from service schedules, live-stream links, Metropolis news, social media links and more...
*********************************
Y
ou
may NOW register ONLINE!
It is very simple!
Just fill out the online application &
make your deposit via paypal!
Fall Registration 2020
*********************************
Fr. Panagiotis will be Temporarily Filling-In
Fr. Panagiotis will be filling-in as a substitute priest at the parish of St. Athanasios &
St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church on Keeler Avenue in Chicago.
The parish of St. Athanasios & St. John the Baptist are in the process of securing a priest for their parish. Fr. George, as agreed upon before his arrival to the parish, left to go back to Greece at the end of May 2020 signifying the end of his tenure. We wish Fr. George the Lord's abundant blessings in his transition back home.
The parish of St. Athanasios and St. John the Baptist approached Fr. Panagiotis to assist liturgically in the interim. Fr. Panagiotis discussed this opportunity with Fr. Andreas, the Chancellor of our Metropolis - The Very Rev. Fr. Timothy Bakakos, and at Fr. Panagiotis' request, specifically with the Executive Members of the Parish Council. Fr. Panagiotis agreed to help our neighboring parish out in their time of need.
However, when Fr. Panagiotis will not be assisting at the parish of St. Athanasios &
St. John the Baptist he will be with us at St. Demetrios during this same time frame. It has been agreed and understood by all parties that when our parish returns to regular capacity and attendance, that Fr. Panagiotis will return to his usual role in the life of our parish.
We wish the parish of St. Athanasios & St. John the Baptist the very best in the search of finding a new priest to lead their community. Likewise, we look forward to Fr. Panagiotis' full return to St. Demetrios.
If you have any comments, questions or concerns, please contact Fr. Andreas directly.
O Π. Παναγιώτης Μαλαμής θα συμπληρώσει ως αναπληρωτής Ιερέας στην Ελληνική Ορθόδοξη Εκκλησία του Αγίου Αθανασίου & του Αγίου Ιωάννου του Βαπτιστού στη λεωφόρο Keeler στο Σικάγο.
H ενορία του Αγίου Αθανασίου και του Αγίου Ιωάννου του Βαπτιστού βρίσκεται στη διαδικασία εξασφάλισης ενός ιερέα για την ενορία τους.
Ο Π. Γεώργιος, όπως συμφωνήθηκε πριν από την άφιξη του στην ενορία, έφυγε για να επιστρέψει στην Ελλάδα στα τέλη Μαϊου 2020 σηματοδώντας το τέλος της θητείας του. Ευχόμαστε στον Π. Γεώργιο ευλογίες Κυρίου στη μετάβασή του!
Η ενορία, στη συνέχεια, πλησίασε τον Π. Παναγιώτη , για να τους βοηθήσει λειτουργικά στο ενδιάμεσο διάστημα.
Ο Π. Παναγιώτης συζήτησε αυτή την ευκαιρία με τον Π. Ανδρέα, τον Πρωτοσύγκελο της Μητρόπολης μας, Παν. Αρχιμανδρίτης Π. Τιμόθεος Μπακάκος, και αφού εξετάστηκε το αίτημα του Π. Παναγιώτη απο τα μέλη του διοικητικού συμβουλίου της Ενορίας μας, ο
Π. Παναγιώτης συμφωνήθηκε να βοηθήσει τη γειτονική Ενορία.
Ωστόσο, όταν δεν θα απαιτείται η παρουσία του Π. Παναγιώτη στην ενορία του Αγίου Αθανασίου και του Αγίου Ιωάννου του Βαπτιστού, τότε θα βρίσκεται κοντά μας στον Αγιο Δημήτριο.
Έχει συμφωνηθεί και κατανοηθεί από όλα τα ενδιαφερόμενα μέλη, ότι όταν η ενορία μας επιστρέψει στην κανονική χωρητικότητα και συμμετοχή της ο Π. Παναγιώτης θα επιστρέψει στο γνώριμο ρόλο του στη ζωή της Ενορίας μας.
Ευχόμαστε στην ενορία του Αγίου Αθανασίου και του Αγίου Ιωάννου του Βαπτιστού το καλύτερο στην αναζήτηση του νέου Ιερέα για να ηγηθεί της κοινότητάς τους.
Παρομοιώς ανυπομονούμε ο Π. Παναγιώτης να επιστρέψει στα καθήκοντά του στον Αγιο Δημήτριο.
Αν έχετε σχόλια, ερωτήσεις ή όποιες ανησυχίες, μη διστάσετε να επικοινωνήσετε άμεσα με τον ΠαπΑνδρέα.
*********************************
Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago
Communications & Events
*********************************
A Partnership With Those Who Have Lost Their
Jobs
Due to Covid-19
The Metropolis of Chicago is partnering with
Medix
, a national workforce solutions firm, to help displaced workers belonging to the Metropolis find work during the pandemic.
*********************************
Though the current times have separated us from family, friends & neighbors, we remain united to each other as members of the Body of Christ.
As Orthodox Christians, there are few greater truths present in our faith.
In this spirit, the Metropolis of Chicago will share with the faithful sermonettes, prayers, reflection or stories from the clergy members and others of the Metropolis on a daily basis.
Please visit this webpage every day and share the pastoral messages with your family, friends and neighbors. The Metropolis asks the faithful for their continued prayers for our first responders, doctors, nurses and for the people under their care.
Your Church Office of
The Greek Orthodox Church of St. Demetrios Elmhurst, IL.
630.834.7010
|
