Saint Luke Orthodox Church - Events - Events Archives - 2002

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March 2009

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Venturing Program ponsors 100 Hours Of Astronomy

Venturing Program Sponsors 100 Hours Of Astronomy

Our newly formed Venturing Program will sponsor a site for the upcoming 100 Hours of Astronomy Program.

The 100 Hours of Astronomy IYA2009 Cornerstone Project is a four-day event designed to bring astronomy to the public around the world. Whether it’s a few hours on one day or a 100-hour marathon event, how groups choose to participate is up to them. Plans should fit the resources and enthusiasm that’s available. All activities and events during 100HA will bring astronomy to a new audience. 100 Hours Of Astronomy - Visit this site for more information.

Marion Kowalski will come out with his scope complete with Solar filter on Sunday April 5 to celebrate Sunday 100 Hours of Astronomy from 11:30 AM to 3:00 PM. South side of 107th Street, east of LaGrange (Route 45) and west of Kean Avenue at the back of the parking lot at the top of the overlook.

Sunday Of The Cross

The third Sunday of Lent is the half way point of Great Lent. On this Sunday a flower decorated cross is displayed in the center of the sanctuary during the Liturgy. At the point in the Liturgy when normally "Holy God" is sung it is replaced with "Before Your Cross we bow down and worship You." During this hymn three prostrations are made. They signify our devotion to God and that we have accepted His cross. It is also given as a help to fight off the attacks of the Devil who during Lent wants us to fail in our fast and it helps us to keep our heart pointed toward the Cross and Christ's victory over death at Pascha.

We invite all to join us at St. Luke's on our lenten journey to Pascha. If you are unable to attend in person please visit "Journey To Pascha" on our website to follow along and for more information on the faith and services. Each year we try to update this part of our site with new pictures so you can look ahead or follow along as we progress towards Pascha.

Sts. Constantine and Helen Parish Hosts Presanctified Liturgy

As has been our custom, St. Luke Parish and Sts. Constantine and Helen Parish take turns hosting a Presanctified Liturgy during lent. This week it was St. Lukes turn to visit.

Following Liturgy we were treated to a lenten meal. We thank Sts. Constantine and Helen Parish for its hospitality.

Venturing Program Begins

We are proud to announce that the newly-formed Venturing Crew 2635 is now an officially chartered unit of the Boy Scouts of America. Venturing is a coed program open to all high-school-age teens. Some members of the crew kicked off the program on March 15th with a demo of outdoor cooking. Here they are grilling breadsticks and marinara sauce while a fruit cobbler bakes in a cast iron Dutch oven. The crew also practiced setting up a tent. The crew is looking forward to its first camping trip! New Venturers are welcome anytime.

Choir Retreat

The weekend St. Luke Choir held a retreat. It was led by one of the most prominent Orthodox Choir directors of our time. Professor David Drillock has taught at St. Vladimir's Seminary for 40 years and he has directed 6 St. Vladimir's Choir CDs. He also directed the choir on National television. Friday evening concentrated on vespers and chanting.

Choir Retreat

On Saturday we concentrated on the choir at large and singing in the Liturgy. As this was an all day affair, a lenten luch was served.

Choir Retreat

Sunday following the Liturgy, Professor Drillock spoke to the parish concerning congressional singing and the role of singing in worship.

Presantified Liturgy

Parishioners prostrate before the Light Of Christ.

On Wednesdays during Lent the Presanctified Liturgy is celebrated. The word Presanctified refers to Holy Communion which has been consecrated on the Sunday before and distributed at the Presanctified Liturgy. One of the special features of this liturgy is the solemn blessing with a single lighted candle by the Priest who announces "The Light of Christ illumines all!" The faithful make a prostration. The scriptural readings are from Genesis, Exodus, Isaiah and Proverbs signifying the preparatory nature of this service.

Fr. Andrew will be teaching from the Lenten Synaxarion , which is a volume of sermons written by the Church Fathers that describe the significance of each Presantified Liturgy and its role in our Lenten preparations for Pascha

Following the service all are invited to join in a pot luck lenten meal.

Akathist Service

Father Harrison reads prayers in front of the Icon of the Virgin.

In some Orthodox Churches of the Russian Tradition the Presanctified Liturgy is celebrated both on Wednesday and Friday. Churches of the Greek Tradition celebrate the Akathist (salutations) to the Virgin Mary of Friday. An Akathist Hymn is a liturgical prayer of praise written about Christ, a certain saint or a need such as thanksgiving. The Akathist Hymn to the Virgin Mary portrays her as a compassionate mother who cares for us through her prayers. During Lent this is necessary because of the spiritual battle which we have undertaken.

St. Lukes Hosts Clergy Meeting

St. Luke hosted a Priests conference with 30 Chicago area clergy attending. Bishop Peter of the Russian Orthodox Church in America spoke about his experiences teaching children the Orthodox faith in America. Fr. Alexander Golitzin was the main speaker who lectured on meaning of the Liturgy and the role of the priest.

Lunch was served by our dedicated fellowship ministry.

Pan Orthodox Service at Saint Demetrios Greek Orthodox on Orthodoxy Sunday

Fr. Andrew in the Procession of Icons for Sunday of Orthodoxy held at St. Dimitrios Greek Orthodox Church in Libertyville.IL This is a new church building which is now being painted with frescos.

A photo of the church before the service began. There were 9 bishops and 40 priests and over 500 faithful attending.

Sunday Of Orthodoxy

On the first Sunday of Lent, Orthodox Christians celebrate the official declaration of the 7th Ecumenical Council 787AD that the veneration of Icons is not the worship of images as the 2nd commandment describes. To celebrate the event, the parishioners of St. Luke held a procession of Icons, ( See Iconography) which circled the interior of the sanctuary while the choir sang the hymn of the event.

Scene from the procession.

At its conclusion the proclamation of Orthodoxy and Creed were recited.

Proclamation of Orthodoxy:

As the Prophets beheld, as the Apostles have taught, as the Church has received, as the Teachers have dogmatized, as the Universe has agreed, as grace has shown forth, as Truth has revealed, as Falsehood has been dissolved, as Wisdom has presented, as Christ awarded; Thus we declare, thus we assert, thus we preach Christ Our True God, and honor His Saints in words, in writings, in thoughts, in sacrifices, in Churches, in Holy Icons; On the one hand worshipping and reverencing Christ as God and Lord, and on the other, honoring the Saints as true servants of the same Lord of All, and offering them proper veneration.

This is the Faith of the Apostles,
This is the Faith of the Fathers,
This is the Faith of the Orthodox,
This is the Faith which has established the Universe.

Canon Of St. Andrew Of Crete

A canon is a liturgical poem divided into verses with a refrain. The Canon of St. Andrew, written in the 7th century, is divided into four sections, which are read on Monday through Thursday during Compline of the first week of Lent. St. Andrew, in composing the canon, traces the lives of people in the Bible who lived according to God's commandments with those who failed. By doing this, St. Andrew reminds us of our failings and need of repentance. An example of a verse with refrain is the following:

Solomon was carried away by gratification of his lust. Alas, he who loved wisdom now makes love to prostitutes and finds himself estranged from God. But in your every thought you have imitated him, O my soul, through your disgraceful love of luxury.

Refrain: Have mercy on me O God, have mercy on me.

During the reading the faithful make prostrations (a bow with the head to the floor)

Sunday Of Forgiveness

The first service of Great Lent is called Forgiveness Sunday Vespers. It is a standard Lenten weekday evening service. The verses sung refer to beginning Lenten fasting (Parish Info: Fasting) overcoming sin and of spiritual growth. The service ends with the prayer of St. Ephriam the Syrian that asks God to take away various passions and give various virues with a special emphasis on forgiveness. At the dismissal Father Andrew spoke about his own personal failings and asked for forgiveness and the parishioners asked each other for forgiveness while the choir sang the Paschal hymns.

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