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SAINT SPYRIDON
Hellenic Orthodox Church
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Reflection on the 13th Sunday of Matthew
By St. John Chrysostom
Brethren, in this parable I show you my God's boundless care for His vineyard — planted, hedged, and given to husbandmen who repaid Him only with the blood of the prophets, and at last with the murder of His own Son. Yet even in their malice they unwittingly pronounced their own sentence, fulfilling what was written of the rejected stone. Let this be a warning to you: be not idle husbandmen, but flee the vanities of this world for a life of prayer and purity, and delay not — for delay opens the door to the devil. Seek first the kingdom of God, and all else shall be given you.
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EPISTLE READING
St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 16:13-24
Brethren, be watchful, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love. Now, brethren, you know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints; I urge you to be subject to such men and to every fellow worker and laborer. I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicos, because they have made up for your absence; for they refreshed my spirit as well as yours. Give recognition to such men. The churches of Asia send greetings. Aquila and Prisca, together with the church in their house, send you hearty greetings in the Lord. All the brethren send greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss. I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. If any one has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. Our Lord, come! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.
GOSPEL READING
Matthew 21:33-42
The Lord said this parable, "There was a householder who planted a vineyard, and set a hedge around it, and dug a wine press in it, and built a tower, and let it out to tenants, and went into another country. When the season of fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants, to get his fruit; and the tenants took his servants and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. Again he sent other servants, more than the first; and they did the same to them. Afterward he sent his son to them, saying 'They will respect my son.' But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, 'This is the heir; come, let us kill him and have his inheritance.' And they took him and cast him out of the vineyard and killed him. When therefore the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?" They said to him, "He will put those wretches to a miserable death, and let out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their seasons." Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the scriptures: 'The very stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner; this was the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes?'"
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WORSHIP SERVICE SCHEDULE
Sunday, August 30th
Orthros & Divine Liturgy - 8:00 a.m.— 11:15 a.m.
Tuesday, September 1st
New Ecclesiastical Year
Orthros & Divine Liturgy—8:00 a.m.—11:00 a.m.
Sunday, September 6th
Orthros & Divine Liturgy—8:00 a.m.—11:15 a.m.
COMMUNITY SCHEDULE
Tuesday, September 1st
Parish Council Meeting—7:00 p.m.—9:00 p.m.
Wednesday, September 2nd
Archangels Academy Parent Orientation
6:00 p.m.—7:30 p.m.
Thursday, September 3rd
Food Distribution—1:00 p.m.—2:00 p.m.
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BACK TO SCHOOL BACKPACK BLESSING
FOR ALL STUDENTS
HOSTED BY THE PTA
| | ARCHANGEL ACADEMY PRESCHOOL | | FEDERATION OF CHURCH MUSICIANS CONFERENCE | | |
Consider the Following Info...
Drawing on Nehemiah’s call to “Rise up and build” (Neh. 2:18), we are reminded that stewardship is not simply about money or meeting a budget, but a grateful, spiritual response to God’s gifts. Just as Nehemiah saw the broken walls of Jerusalem and, moved by compassion, prayer, and faith, inspired the people to rebuild together, we too are called to rebuild both the physical life of our parish and the spiritual walls of our own souls. Stewardship invites us to pray, to worship faithfully, to give generously of our time, talents, and treasures, and to act intentionally in love and service. When we rise up together with dedication and trust in God, He blesses our efforts and builds up the Body of Christ in our parish, our community, and the world.
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We wish to thank the 273 Stewards who have made a stewardship commitment for 2026.
Stewardship materials for 2026 are available at the church office and on our website.
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As a steward of Saint Spyridon Parish, and with gratitude to God, let's together strive to improve in each area of stewardship:
· Time: I will increase my time in prayer, worship, and service by about 10%.
· Talent: I will offer one new gift or ministry to strengthen our Saint Spyridon family.
· Treasure: I will increase my financial giving by 1–2% of my income this year.
“Let all that you do be done in love.” — 1 Corinthians 16:14
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We are excited to share the 2025 Annual Impact Report for the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago! This year's report stands as a powerful testament to what is possible when our six states, fifty-eight parishes, and two monastic communities walk together in faith, generosity, and purpose. From record-breaking sacramental growth to our fifth consecutive year of clean financial audits, the report showcases a vibrant spiritual family guided by a clear vision.
Inside the report, you will find inspiring stories from across our parishes. Read about how our youth and Philoptochos chapters mobilized to serve over 800,000 meals to neighbors in need. See how our new regional vicariate system is strengthening parish leadership. And learn how a transformational $2.9 million legacy gift is securing our mission for generations to come.
The report was designed to allow you to dive deep into our milestones or skim the highlights, so we invite you to explore the incredible impact your stewardship and support has made!
| | JULY - AUGUST VOICE NEWSLETTER | | |
Saint Spyridon Hellenic Orthodox Church
12307 S. Ridgeland Avenue, Palos Heights, IL 60463
708.385.2311
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