The Trophybearer WHAT IS PRAYER! Department of Religious Education. Source My Orthodox Prayer book

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1 C H U R C H S T A F F The Trophybearer Parish Priest/Editor: Fr. Christodoulos Margellos Parish Council President: Mary Rankin WHAT IS PRAYER! M A Y Office Secretary: Candice Kalman Philoptochos President: Susan Matos Sunday School Director: Dn Paul Speed Prayer is doxology, praise, thanksgiving, confession, supplication and intercession to God. "When I prayed I was new," wrote a great theologian of Christian antiquity, "but when I stopped praying I became old." Prayer is the way to renewal and spiritual life. Prayer is aliveness to God. Prayer is strength, refreshment, and joy. Through the grace of God and our disciplined efforts prayer lifts us up from our isolation to a conscious, loving communion with God in which everything is experienced in a new light. Prayer becomes a personal dialogue with God, a spiritual breathing of the soul, a foretaste of the bliss of God's kingdom. How is one to pray? Only the Holy Spirit can guide us to pray as we should. Just I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E : Holy Friday 2 Pictures May Calendar 3 as a child learns to walk by walking, one can best learn to pray by praying, trusting in the help of God. Put your whole soul into your prayer. Think about the meaning of every word you pray. Make it your own personal prayer. Be persistent in prayer. Do not yield to carelessness or neglect. Strengthen your prayer through a lively faith in the Lord, a spirit of forgiveness toward others, and genuine Christian living. Stewardship Update May Service Schedule Memorial Day Flier Community News Pascha Vigil Pictures As we pray deeply within our hearts we grow in prayer. By the grace of God we suddenly catch a glimpse of the miracle of the presence of the Holy Spirit working within us. At first it is only a spark but later it becomes a flame freeing and energizing our whole being, provided we do nothing to grieve the Holy Spirit; and if we do sin we repent of our sin immediately and ask for God's forgiveness. To experience the fire of God's holy love, to give it space within us to do its cleansing and healing work as a breath of the Holy Spirit, and to use it as light and power for daily living -- such are the goals as well as the fruits of true prayer. Department of Religious Education Source My Orthodox Prayer book 1

2 HOLY FRIDAY NIGHT

3 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 4 Sunday of the Myrrhbearing Women Orthros: 8:30 a.m. 11 Sunday of the Paralytic Orthros: 8:30 a.m. Welcome Bishop Demetrios 18 Sunday of the Samaritian Women Orthros: 8:30 a.m. 25 Sunday of the Blind Man Orthros: 8:30 a.m. Jr. Olympics Parish Council Meeting 7:00 p.m. Green Room Religious Education 9:30 a.m. & 6:30 p.m Riverside Cemetery, Moline: 8:00-9:00 a.m. Memorial Park Cemetery, Moline: 9:30-10:30 a.m. Memorial Park Cemetery, Rock 27 Philoptochos Meeting 10:00 a.m. May 2014 Mid-Pentecost Orthros: 8:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy: 9:00 a.m. Religious Education 10:30 a.m. & 6:30 p.m. Sts. Constantine & Helen Orthros: 8:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy: 9:30 a.m. Senior Luncheon following Liturgy 28 Apodosis of Pascha Orthros: 8:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy: 9:00 a.m. Religious Education 10:30 a.m. & 6:30 p.m Ascension of our Lord Orthros: 8:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy: 9:00 a.m. Rock Island, Arsenal Cemetery: 10:00-11:00 a.m. Jr. Olympics Great Vespers: 5:00 p.m Jr. Olympics Great Vespers: 5:00 p.m.

4 The Council Connection 4 May 2014 Christ is Risen! Thank you to all of the parishioners of St. George who contributed their time, talent and treasure to the parish during the 2014 Easter Season. From donating for flowers to dying eggs, from providing flashlights to read the service books at evening services to being flower girls at the Lamentation Service, all efforts of our members contributed to a glorious Pascha! We are also very grateful for the many prayers for Father Christodoulos as he recovers from his recent surgery and resumes his duties serving the parish. If you have passed the back parking lot on a weekday, you will have noticed that Unity Point Health Systems/Trinity Hospital employees are utilizing every space while the Rock Island facility undergoes construction. We are glad to have been given the opportunity to help out an institution that serves the community as well as the opportunity to earn revenue through leasing the property for three months on weekdays. As mentioned in last month s newsletter, the parish council is beginning a ministry of parish renewal through an Ambassador program that will seek to increase participation of current members, seek out former parishioners to invite them to participate in the life of the Church as well as develop an outreach program to the community at large. There will be a Sunday Evening Supper on June 8 th, at 5:30 p.m. p.m. for anyone who is interested in this ministry. Please contact me if you would like more information on this project (mbarton83@aol.com or ). Yours in Christ, Mary Rankin Parish Council President 4

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6 May 2014 Parish Council Sunday Duty List -Names in Parenthesis indicate team member to arrive by 9:30 a.m. On Sunday, May 4th, 2014 members on duty: (Tom Bakeris, Mike Patramanis), Harry G. Coin, Brad Crosson. On Sunday, May 11th, 2014 members on duty: (Harry S. Coin, Steve Eckert), Mary Rankin, Mary Kay Eckert. On Sunday, May 18th, 2014 members on duty: (Angela Spurgetis, Peter Matos), Joe Burmeister, Gus Pappas. On Sunday, May 25th, 2014 members on duty: (Harry, G. Coin, Brad Crosson), Tom Bakeris, Mike Patramanis. On Sunday, June 1st, 2014 members on duty: (Mary Rankin, Mary Kay Eckert), Harry S. Coin, Steve Eckert. On Sunday, May 4th, 2014: Colleen Matos. On Sunday, May 11th, 2014: Alexa Florence. On Sunday, May 18th, 2014: Kay Coin. On Sunday, May 25th, 2014: Bill Johnson. On Sunday, June 1st, 2014: Alexa Florence. ALTAR BOY SERVICE SCHEDULE FOR MAY 2014 On Sunday, May 4th, 2014: Team 1 Gabriel Florence, Ethan Kirkpatrick, Andrew Leon, George Elias, Zach Elias, Gabriel Elias, Tomas Elias. On Sunday, May 11th, 2014: Team 2 Nikolas Jacobs, Alek Jacobs, John T. Jones, John Mott, Michael Pyevich, Ben Florence, Peter Matos, Ian Matos. On Sunday, May 18th, 2014: Team 1 Gabriel Florence, Ethan Kirkpatrick, Andrew Leon, George Elias, Zach Elias, Gabriel Elias, Tomas Elias. On Sunday, May 25th 2014: Team 2 Nikolas Jacobs, Alek Jacobs, John T. Jones, John Mott, Michael Pyevich, Ben Florence, Peter Matos, Ian Matos. On Sunday, June 1st, 2014: Team 1 Gabriel Florence, Ethan Kirkpatrick, Andrew Leon, George Elias, Zach Elias, Gabriel Elias, Tomas Elias. READERS FOR MAY 2014 Coffee Hour Hosts for May 2014 On Sunday, May 4th, 2014 Coffee hour will be hosted by: JP & Andrea Jacobs. On Sunday, May 11th, 2014 Coffee hour will be hosted by: Susan & Colleen Matos. On Sunday, May 18th, 2014 Coffee hour will be hosted by: Fr. Christodoulos Margellos. On Sunday, May 25th 2014 Coffee hour will be hosted by: Niki Lebessis & Georgia Kalomas. On Sunday, June 1st, 2014 Coffee hour will be hosted by: Volunteers Needed 6

7 MAY 2014 SERVICE SCHEDULE Sunday, May 4th Sunday of the Myrrh Bearing Women Orthros: 8:30 a.m. Sunday, May 11th Sunday of the Paralytic Orthros: 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 14th Mid-Pentecost Orthros: 8:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy: 9:00 a.m. Saturday, May 17th Great Vespers Vespers: 5:00 p.m. Sunday, May 18th Sunday of the Samaritan Woman Orthros: 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 21st Saints Constantine & Helen Orthros: 8:30 a.m. Equal to the Apostles Divine Liturgy: 9:30 a.m. Sunday, May 25th Sunday of the Blind Man Orthros: 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 28th Apodosis of Pascha Orthros: 8:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy: 9:00 a.m. Thursday, May 29th Holy Ascension of our Lord Orthros: 8:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy: 9:00 a.m. Saturday, May 31st Great Vespers Vespers: 5:00 p.m. Sunday, June 1st Fathers of the 1st Ecumenical Council Orthros: 8:30 a.m. PRAYERS FOR THE SICK I have been approached by some who would like to have a section set aside within our bulletin to notify our parishioners of those in our community who are sick or in need of prayers. If you know of somebody who should be on this list please contact Fr. Christodoulos at the church office God Bless! Ted Bagatelas Helen Spurgetis Steve Spurgetis Deborah Kutsunis Mary Gianulis Anne Allen Katherine Karoules Elaine Froumis Dianne Elaine Boardman Janice Smirles Judy Pappas Pascal Booras 7

8 Memorial Day 2014 Cemetery Visit Schedule Once again this year Fr. Christodoulos will be available to visit the gravesites of loved ones on Memorial Day. I will start things off On Friday, May 23rd at The Rock Island Arsenal National Cemetery from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. Then On Memorial Day, Monday May 26th at Riverside Cemetery in Moline, IL from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. Then from 9:30 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. I will be at Memorial Park Cemetery in Moline, IL. Then from 11:00 a.m. until noon I will be at Memorial Park in Rock Island on 30th street. Anyone who would like to have a small Trisagion service should meet Fr. Christodoulos at the cemeteries at the time designated. If you would like me to visit a different cemetery not on the list, please contact me at the Church office. 8

9 2014 Saint George Ladies Philoptochos Senior Citizens Luncheon On Wednesday, May 21st 2014 we will be celebrating the Feast day of Saints Constantine & Helen with Liturgy at 9:30 a.m. Following Liturgy our Ladies Philoptochos will be offering our Senior Citizens Luncheon. Our Ladies will be serving a wonderful meal which we will enjoy together. It is a wonderful chance for us to get together with the breaking of bread and share some wonderful fellowship and good stories together. Please join us for this exciting day. This will serve as a kick off to our new church ministry of the Saint George Senior s Group. We will be meeting on the fourth Thursday of each month from June until October. On June 26th we will be meeting at the church at 10:00 a.m. and traveling to the Hauberg Indian Museum in Blackhawk Park. Following the Museum tour we will be enjoying lunch together in Blackhawk park. The cost of this outing will be $5.00 for the meal. More information coming in next month Trophybearer. Please join us 9

10 Community News MEMORIAL DAY: Fr. Christodoulos will be available to visit the gravesites of loved ones on Memorial Day. I will start things off On Friday, May 23rd at The Rock Island Arsenal National Cemetery from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. Then On Memorial Day, Monday May 26th at Riverside Cemetery in Moline, IL from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. Then from 9:30 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. I will be at Memorial Park Cemetery in Moline, IL. Then from 11:00 a.m. until noon I will be at Memorial Park in Rock Island on 30th street. Anyone who would like to have a small Trisagion service should meet Fr. Christodoulos at the cemeteries at the time designated. If you would like me to visit a different cemetery not on the list, please contact me at the Church office. PARISH COUNCIL MEETING: Will be on Tuesday, May 13th at 7:00 p.m. in the Green room. RELIGIOUS EDUCATION: We will be continuing our classes on Wednesday, May 7th, 14th, 21st evening class only & 28th. Morning classes meet at 9:30 a.m. or following Divine Liturgy & Evening classes meet at 6:30 p.m. We are still working on Saint Prophyrios book Wounded by Love All are welcome to join us. Come learn about our faith together. SENIOR LUNCHEON: On Wednesday, May 21st 2014 we will be celebrating the Feast day of Saints Constantine & Helen with Liturgy at 9:30 a.m. Following Liturgy our Ladies Philoptochos will be offering our Senior Luncheon and will be serving a wonderful meal which we will enjoy together. It is a wonderful chance for us to get together with the breaking of bread and share some wonderful fellowship and good stories together. Please join us for this exciting day. NEW SENIOR CITIZEN GROUP: We will be kicking off our new church ministry of the Saint George Senior Citizen s Group. We will be meeting on the fourth Thursday of each month from June until October. On June 26th we will be meeting at the church at 10:00 a.m. and traveling to the Hauberg Indian Museum in Blackhawk Park. Following the Museum tour we will be enjoying lunch together in Blackhawk park. The cost of this outing will be $5.00 for the meal. More information coming in next month Trophybearer. Please join us FANARI CAMP: The time has come once again to register for Fanari Camp. Fanari this year will be held on June 15th to the 21st at Green Lake Wisconsin. This is open for kids going into 6th grade to 11th grade. This is an opportunity for our children to get to know children from all around the Metropolis of Chicago. As usual Fr. Christodoulos will be one of the priests in attendance. Please see Fr. Christodoulos for the application. Early registration is May 1st. PHILOPTOCHOS MEETING: Will be held on Tuesday, May 27th at 10:00 a.m. in the Library. This will be the final meeting until the fall. So please join us on May 27th. SAINT GEORGE LADIES PHILOPTOCHOS 2014 MEMBERSHIP DRIVE: It is again time to recruit membership to our St. George Philoptochos Society. Joining Philoptochos really means actively living and practicing our Orthodox faith. It also means being an important part of a truly dynamic force of humanitarian outreach in our community. There can be no better response to the question of why join Philoptochos than to say your membership and participation is the manifestation and witness of your faith as an Orthodox Christian. All women and men in the St. George parish are invited to be members. All prospective members are welcome to attend our meetings and learn what we are all about! See enclosed sign up form for more information, KOLYVA FOR MEMORIALS: As many of us know in order to have a memorial in the Orthodox Church we need to have Kolyva. Because of this we have started offering to make Kolyva for anyone who needs to have one and either does not have time or does not know how to make them. We will charge $ for a tray and it will be ready for Sundays. Families are welcome to help with the making of the Kolyva as well. For more information on ordering Kolyva contact the church office. REACHING OUT: In an attempt to reach out to former parishioners of St. George we are asking all members to please call the church office with any former members who have fallen away from the church. Fr. Christodoulos will then reach out to them. Please if you have anybody in mind please call the church office or speak with Fr. Christodoulos HOSPITAL VISITS: If you or a family member are in the hospital, please call the office. Ever since the change in the privacy laws, hospitals are reluctant to call churches. Please call us so that we can avoid missing our parishioners in their time of need. EVENING MEAL: The May Evening meal will be hosted by Angela Spurgetis & Paula Coin on Wednesday, May 28th 10

11 PASCHA 11

12 St. George Greek Orthodox Church st Ave Rock Island, IL Phone: Fax: Priest Office SAINTS CONSTANTINE & HELEN: 12 This great and renowned sovereign of the Christians was the son of Constantius Chlorus (the ruler of the westernmost parts of the Roman empire), and of the blessed Helen. He was born in 272, in (according to some authorities) Naissus of Dardania, a city on the Hellespont. In 306, when his father died, he was proclaimed successor to his throne. In 312, on learning that Maxentius and Maximinus had joined forces against him, he marched into Italy, where, while at the head of his troops, he saw in the sky after midday, beneath the sun, a radiant pillar in the form of a cross with the words: "By this shalt thou conquer." The following night, our Lord Jesus Christ appeared to him in a dream and declared to him the power of the Cross and its significance. When he arose in the morning, he immediately ordered that a labarum be made (which is a banner or standard of victory over the enemy) in the form of a cross, and he inscribed on it the Name of Jesus Christ. On the 28th Of October, he attacked and mightily conquered Maxentius, who drowned in the Tiber River while fleeing. The following day, Constantine entered Rome in triumph and was proclaimed Emperor of the West by the Senate, while Licinius, his brother-in-law, ruled in the East. But out of malice, Licinius later persecuted the Christians. Constantine fought him once and again, and utterly destroyed him in 324, and in this manner he became monarch over the West and the East. Under him and because of him all the persecutions against the Church ceased. Christianity triumphed and idolatry was overthrown. In 325 he gathered the First Ecumenical Council in Nicaea, which he himself personally addressed. In 324, in the ancient city of Byzantium, he laid the foundations of the new capital of his realm, and solemnly inaugurated it on May 11, 330, naming it after himself, Constantinople. Since the throne of the imperial rule was transferred thither from Rome, it was named New Rome, the inhabitants of its domain were called Romans, and it was considered the continuation of the Roman Empire. Falling ill near Nicomedia, he requested to receive divine Baptism, according to Eusebius (The Life of Constantine. Book IV, 61-62), and also according to Socrates and Sozomen; and when he had been deemed worthy of the Holy Mysteries, he reposed in 337, on May 21 or 22, the day of Pentecost, having lived sixty-five years, of which he ruled for thirty-one years. His remains were transferred to Constantinople and were deposed in the Church of the Holy Apostles, which had been built by him (see Homily XXVI on Second Corinthians by Saint John Chrysostom). As for his holy mother Helen, after her son had made the Faith of Christ triumphant throughout the Roman Empire, she undertook a journey to Jerusalem and found the Holy Cross on which our Lord was crucified (see Sept. 13 and 14). After this, Saint Helen, in her zeal to glorify Christ, erected churches in Jerusalem at the sites of the Crucifixion and Resurrection, in Bethlehem at the cave where our Savior was born, another on the Mount of Olives whence He ascended into Heaven, and many others throughout the Holy Land, Cyprus, and elsewhere. She was proclaimed Augusta, her image was stamped upon golden coins, and two cities were named Helenopolis after her in Bithynia and in Palestine. Having been thus glorified for her piety, she departed to the Lord being about eighty years of age, according to some in the year 330, according to others, in 336.