WEEKLY UPDATE
St. Andrew Greek Orthodox Church, Chicago – Vol. 42
Blessed are You, Christ our God, who has Revealed the fisherman as most wise by Sending down upon them the Holy Spirit. Through Them You drew the world into Your net, O Lover of Humanity, glory to You! (APOLYTIKION OF THE FEAST OF PENTECOST)
WEEK OF JUNE 20—26
- HOLY PENTECOST, June 20: Orthros @ 7:30 AM; Divine Liturgy @ 9:00 AM; Matins Gospel Reading: John 20:19-23; Epistle Reading: Acts of the Apostles 2:1-11; Gospel Reading: John 7:37-52; 8:12
- THE BIRTH OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST, Thursday, June 24: Orthros @ 9:00 AM; Divine Liturgy @ 10:00 AM
COVID PROTOCOL FOR CHURCH ATTENDANCE
Click here for attendance through Eventbrite.
Even though we are fully open, we are required by the Metropolis Covid Team, who follow the CDC guidelines, to register online if planning to attend a Divine Service for contact tracing reasons. Also, if you have been vaccinated you don’t need to wear a mask, but if you wish to still wear one, by all means do so. Only those not vaccinated have to wear a mask.
For those who wish to still social distance, the last 4 pews in the back have been properly roped off for social distancing.
As always use common sense and respect for others as we come forth from this pandemic.
ALTAR BOY SCHEDULE FOR SUMMER
Cpt. Billy Blathras, George Blathras
Co-Cpt.William McCullen, James McCullen, Konstantine Hatzopoulos, Mateo Hatzopoulos, Joachim Hatzopoulos, Co Cpt.Luke Christopoulos
TEAM B
Cpt. Adam Rudofski, Co Cpt. Michael Bloom, Dimitri Nicolaou, Lukas Bloom, Co Cpt. Michael Vlamis, Constantine Vlamis, Tommy Poulakidis, Isaiah Turk, Spiro Lazos Nicholas Kotsinis
ALUMNI
Nicholas Kalomas, Nick Stapenovich, George Hatzopoulos
Conner Hatzopoulos, Christopher Hatzopoulos, Jeffery Chrones
June:
20th–TEAM A
27th–TEAM B
July:
4th–TEAM A
11th–TEAM B
18th–TEAM A
25th–TEAM B
August:
1st–TEAM A
8th–TEAM B
15th–TEAM A
22nd–TEAM B
29th–TEAM A
SCRIPTURE READINGS FOR THIS SUNDAY
GOSPEL READING AT MATINS
John 20: 19-23:
On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were gathered, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you." When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you." And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."
EPISTLE READING AT LITURGY
Acts of the Apostles 2: 1-11:
When the Day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly a sound came from heaven like the rush of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire, distributed and resting on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. And they were amazed and wondered, saying, "Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontos and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians, we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God."
GOSPEL READING AT LITURGY
John 7:37-52; 8:12:
On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and proclaimed, "If any one thirst, let him come to me and drink. He who believes in me, as the scripture has said, 'Out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water.'" Now this he said about the Spirit, which those who believed in him were to receive; for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
When they heard these words, some of the people said, "This is really the prophet." Others said, "This is the Christ." But some said, "Is the Christ to come from Galilee? Has not the scripture said that the Christ is descended from David, and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David was?" So there was a division among the people over him. Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him.
The officers then went back to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, "Why did you not bring him?" The officers answered, "No man ever spoke like this man!" The Pharisees answered them, "Are you led astray, you also? Have any of the authorities or of the Pharisees believed in him? But this crowd, who do not know the law, are accursed." Nikodemos, who had gone to him before, and who was one of them, said to them, "Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?" They replied, "Are you from Galilee too? Search and you will see that no prophet is to rise from Galilee." Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
ANNOUNCEMENTS
VIRTUAL COOKING SERIES presented by the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago Philoptochos Society. MIB–Men in Black, Priests Who Cook. Launch date: June 20.
You won’t want to miss out on this great event. You’ll see many priests who you know who will be participating; our own Fr. John is participating! There is also a raffle. You won’t want to miss out on these amazing prizes we’ve chosen. Proceeds of this event will benefit The Metropolis of Chicago Philoptochos Philanthropy Fund, helping those in need. Please be a part of this worthy mission. For more info please visit: The Metropolis of Chicago Philoptochos Website.
ST. ANDREW'S SUNDAY SCHOOL is now enrolling students for Fall 2021, grades K - 12. Please download and fill-out the registration form below.
ST. ANDREW GOLF OUTING IS BACK! Thursday, July 29, 2021 (see flyer below). Sign up here.
ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE NATIONAL FORUM OF GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH MUSICIANS, August 27, August 28 & Sunday August 29: Details will be forthcoming as the Annual Meeting committee makes those determinations. Please reserve these dates on your calendar. We have a great number of accomplishments which we are eager to share with you and we will have a number of projects which will require your input and approval to complete, as well.
WELCOME BACK CHOIRS RECEPTION of the Federation of Greek Orthodox Church Musicians of the Chicago Metropolis, October 7: The reception is being held in conjunction with the annual conference of the National Forum of Greek Orthodox Church Musicians on October 8, 9 and 10 at St. Andrew's Greek Orthodox Church in South Bend, Indiana. Everyone is more than welcome to register to attend the conference, as well. This may very well be the first opportunity we all have to sing together at a conference in large numbers!
FROM THE PULPIT & THE PEW...
Homily for Holy Pentecost
The great feast of Holy Pentecost, coming 50 days after Christ’s glorious Resurrection and 10 days after the Ascension, is one of the most important days of the Christian calendar. Among the 12 Great Feasts of Church’s liturgical year, Pentecost and Theophany rival each other for first place after Pascha, the Resurrection which is above all feasts. It is one of the ancient Baptismal feasts along with Pascha, the Nativity of Christ, and Theophany. For the Hebrews Pentecost was the celebration of the reception of the Ten Commandments by Moses. With the death and Resurrection of Christ, Pentecost is the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Disciples of the Lord and the birth of the Church. The importance of Holy Pentecost is underscored and emphasized of the fast-free week that follows it. Its importance is both in the actual event, and in the ongoing life of the Church and each member.
Pentecost completes and fulfills the Lord’s plan of salvation through His life and ministry, death, and Resurrection Moving beyond the forgiveness of sins and destruction of death, Pentecost opens the path to human holiness and Deification through the descent of the Holy Spirit on the entire Church and each individual. When He ascended Christ promised to send the Comforter, the Holy Spirit who proceeds from the Father to be with His followers, to guide them, grant them understanding and empower them to present His and the fulness of the Truth to a world in darkness and sin. After the Ascension, the Disciples and the small community of Christ’s followers were sent back to Jerusalem where they waited to the fulfillment of His promise. They had witnessed His three-year ministry and miracles, seen him heal the sick, raise the dead, heard his preaching and teaching, and been with Him for His Passion, Death and Resurrection, but did not understand it. They were fearful for their lives from both their fellow Jews and Roman authority. And, then, the Lord fulfilled His promise by sending the Holy Spirit on them ten days after His Ascension.
The actual story of Pentecost, the Descent of the Holy Spirit, is recorded in the second chapter of St. Luke’s Acts of the Apostles. We read: “When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly a sound came from heaven like the rush of a mighty wind, and filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues of fire, distributed and resting on each of them. And they were filled with the Holy Spirit, and they began to speak in tongues (languages), as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:1-4). With this spectacular event, the small fearful confused community and each individual was transformed, and the Church was born. Rather than the inability to communicate described in the story of the Tower of Babel with the confusion of speech, they understood the Savior’s work of salvation and were able to express it in all languages. On Pentecost the revelation of the Holy Trinity was complete with the Son revealing the Father, the Holy Spirit revealing Christ and Holy Spirit granting us understanding and holiness. This was demonstrated on that very day as multitudes of people, speaking may different languages were in Jerusalem for the Hebrew Pentecost. They all received the same identical Good News of Salvation and revelation of Jesus as the Messiah in their own language from those who had received the Holy Spirit. Each individual was empowered by the Holy Spirit and, collectively, the Church was born. On the day of Pentecost, over 3,000 individuals were added to the Church.
The reality of Pentecost did not end on that day almost 2,000 years ago but continues in the life of the Church and in us as individuals. We receive that same descent of the Holy Spirit in the Sacrament of Chrismation when the priest anoints us with the Chrism oil which has been blessed by the bishop (in our case the Ecumenical Patriarch). As he anoints us the priest says “The seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit”. This empowers us to proclaim the Good News to all in accord with the Baptismal Gospel: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you (Matthew 28:19-20)”. Every member of the Church receives this command directly from Christ at their Baptism and is called to accomplish it their own way.
The icon of Pentecost emphasizes the continuing, ongoing nature and understanding of the Great Feast. The icon shows an arch with the 12 Apostles, six on either side. Over each of their head is a flame of fire representing the Descent of the Holy Spirit. Within the arch there is darkness and in the very center of the darkness a man wearing a crown. He is named or labelled ‘O Kosmos’ which means ‘the world”. His arms are outstretched and covered with a cloth. On that cloth, there are a number of scrolls. The icon is evangelical in the fullest sense of the word and calls for action. The icon tells us that the world lies in darkness waiting to be penetrated by the light and knowledge of Christ that will come from the Apostles who are filled with understanding and empowered by the Descent of the Holy Spirit. This work and process is not complete as the world still is in darkness waiting for the light of Christ. It is now our work to proclaim the Good News of Christ to all.
One of the unique features of Pentecost is the return of kneeling in our lives as Christians. In the 50 days following the Resurrection, there has been no kneeling as we are elevated by the saving work of Christ. We have celebrated, but now we return to normal. For 50 days we have rejoiced the incorporation of new members into the Body of Christ through Baptism and now we are sent out to bring people to Christ by sharing the Good News. We will return to the norm of fasting, after a week of celebrating Pentecost, with the Apostles’ Fast. We return to penitence and kneeling with the celebration of Vespers immediately after the Divine Liturgy. Within the Vespers, we read seven kneeling prayers, combined into three sections, read by the priest. While joyously celebrating Pentecost, we return to normal with proclamation, fasting and kneeling after the joyous Resurrection season.
Fr. Simeon Johnson
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