**Dear Parish Family of The Greek Orthodox Church of St. Demetrios!**
At this time all our services are being LIVE-STREAMED on our
CHURCH FACEBOOK PAGE (Facebook Live), but the Church will NOT be opened. Please join us in prayer from your homes.
A Facebook account is not needed - just click pass the sign-up for an account pop-up.
Liturgical Services for the week of March 29th - April 4th:
Sunday, March 29th - Orthros, 8a.m. and Divine Liturgy, 9a.m.
Monday, March 30th - Great Compline @ 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, April 1st - Presanctified Liturgy @ 6:30pm
Friday, April 3rd - Akathist Hymn @ 6:30 pm
In addition, we have suspended all parish ministries (events and activities). W
e encourage everyone to stay home, healthy and safe. If you are in need of anything from our parish during this time, please do not hesitate to contact the Church Office at 630.834.7010.
From the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago
COVID-19 Resources
(Liturgical Live-Streaming Links, Public Health Notifications & more)
ALSO, from our Metropolis...
Though the current times have separated us from family, friends and 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.
We hope you 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.
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St. John of the Ladder (Feast Day-March 30th)
The great ascetic St. John of the Ladder offers an example of both the spiritual struggle and the spiritual humility we must engage in on the way toward salvation. His best-known work, The Ladder of Divine Ascent, depicts the effort needed on that path.
St. John saw clearly, by God's grace, that the Christian life is a journey; we take steps to mute the distractions of this world in order to cling more closely to cling more closely to God alone. This happens with steps, never in a sudden accomplishment. Fasting, prayer, and almsgiving are lifelong disciplines. They also help keep us from pride; like St. John, we too must pursue humility before Almighty God.
During Great Lent we are asked to course-correct, coming back to the true path: the Church reminds us to direct our attention away from the things that weigh us down, placing our focus deliberately, once again, on the goal of serving our merciful and holy God.
(Rev. Fr. Louis J. Noplos, St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Baltimore, MD.)
From "The Journey to Pascha: Reflections for the Lenten Season" by IOCC.
St. John Climacus:
"The man who really loves the Lord, who has made a real effort to find the coming Kingdom, who has really begun to be troubled by his sins, who is really mindful of eternal torment and judgment, who really lives in fear of his own departure, will not love, care or worry about money, or possessions, or parents, or worldly glory, or friends, or brothers or anything at all on earth.
But having shaken off all ties with earthly things and having stripped himself of all his cares, and having come to hate even his own flesh, and having stripped himself of everything, he will follow Christ without anxiety or hesitation, always looking heavenward and expecting help from there..."
Prayer
"Help us dear God, to use the measurements of life which Jesus used, and to choose things, and to do things in our daily lives which meet Your approval. Teach us always, Lord, to look upon Your Saints with deep admiration and inspiration, so that we too may live with You in Your Kingdom to come. Amen"
Above two items from:
Daily Lenten Meditations for Orthodox Christians, by Presbytera Emily Harakas.
Want to learn more about Great Lent?
Please visit the website of Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
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2020 Stewardship
The Greek Orthodox Church of St. Demetrios
Stewardship & the Friendly Gardener
Some years ago a tourist was travelling along the shore of Lake Como in Northern Italy. When he reached the castle Villa Asconati, a friendly old gardener opened the gate and showed him the grounds which the old man kept in perfect order. The tourist asked when the owner of the castle had last been there.
"Twelve years ago."
"Does he ever write to you?"
"No."
From whom do you get your instructions?
"From his agent in Milan."
"Does he come?"
"Never."
"Who, then come here?"
"I am almost always alone; only once in a while a tourist comes."
"But you keep this garden in such fine condition, just as though you expected your master to come tomorrow."
The only gardener promptly replied, "Today, sir, today!"
Is not that gardener the personification of a good steward? He owns nothing, yet he treats the property entrusted to him with the utmost care, expecting his master to return momentarily.
Let us be good Stewards as was the gardener. Let us tend to God's house-His Church-expecting Our Lord's return momentarily. For indeed we are His Stewards of His house and all the blessings that dwell there!
From "The Vine", the newsletter from St. Demetrios Church in Weston, MA
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Additional Links of Connection
Provided below for you are links to help keep you informed with directives and changes to protocol in our Church and community at large:
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