2100 W. Frontage Rd. • Palatine, IL. 60067

Volume 13 - NO. 11/12 - Nov./Dec. 1998

NOVEMBER 19 9 8

November 2nd marks the end ofthe secondyear since the start ofthe service in St. Mary's

new church. Thisyear we can really call it "The Year of The Youth". Throughout theyear,

the church has dedicated its efforts to address the needs oftheyounggeneration. It

offers them different services and holds various activities that are apt to strengthen their

relation with the church. The goal is to make themfeel that they belong to it and that they

are notjust members, but active participants in all the church activities. They will learn

from early on that it is their responsibility to take care ofthe church, and eventually they

will hand it to their children as pure and untarnished as they themselves have received it.

Thefollowing pictures showjust afew examples of these activities:

* 0/

Two Bishops standing with some ofour

youth infront of the building where the

convention was held.

Some ofouryouth participating in the

"Panel Discussion " about the importance

of "Confession" which helped them

realize that it should not be overlooked.

Three ofouryoung

ladies servefood to

the bazaar visitors

which was held in the

church basement on

November 20-22

1998.

A group ofpre-teens listening to a spiritual

lesson given by Emad Girgis, a Sunday School

teacher, during the Camp onJune 206r21 1998.

A group of ouryouth playing theirfavorite

sport, Basketball, during their trip

on August 7-9 1998.

The Nativity fast

It started on November 25th 1998. It lasts for 43 days, of these:

• 3 days are to commemorate the miracle of moving El Moukatam Mountain.

Following Moses' example w *^i the nativity fast to prepare ourselves spiritually to receive God the

Word Incarnate, our Lord an Ibr Jesus Christ.

The Christmas Liturgy

The liturgy service Wednesday

January 6th 1999.

7:30p.m.-11:00 p.m.,

andfiapp "^

On Sunday October 25th, 1998 our church

held its annual fundraising banquet at the Hyatt

Regency Hotel in Schaumburg. It started at 5:00

p.m. After the opening prayer, Rev. Fr. SamuelT.

Samuel delivered a spiritual word.

Our youth's participation this year was

remarkable. They showed a video prepared by

Jenny Sedrak, about the miracle of "Moving El

Moukattam Mountain and the life of St. Simon

theTanner. Dr. Emad Rizk gave a brief account

of the miracle. The youth choral, directed by

Marcelle El-Gindi, sang a beautiful song called

"Always BeA Child". The children, directed by

deacon George Boctor, sang the Coptic Hymn

"Okirios Metasu". At 7:00 p.m.dinnerwas served.

Those who attended enjoyed a wonderful

evening which ended by a prayer.

We wholeheartedly thank those who were

keen to come and share with us that joyous

evening.Also ourthanks forthoseworked diligently

to make this event a success. God bless all.

The Annual Bazaar

3Hhe 8th Annual Bazaar was held from XNovember 20 -22,1998. Our thanks and

appreciation for the collective efforts of

the participants.

I, I, h11 SIii11li III On His 11H Anniversary

xJ2/ n the 14th of November, our Church

celebrates the 27th anniversary of H. H. Pope

Shenouda Ill's enthronement as Pope and

Patriarch of the See of Saint Mark. As we celebrate

this blessed occasion, we would like to express

our gratitude for all the strenuous efforts his

Holiness exerts to shepherd his people

everywhere. His trip last September is just an

example of these efforts. One of his great

achievements of that trip was the Seminar held in

Boston on September 8 -10 for the priests of U.S.

and Canada. One ofthe topics which H.H. handled

l|\ was about "The Youth". What really got my

attention was what H.H. said in reference to the £

youth:"... if the youth feel that they have a role to

play in the church, they will have a sense of

belonging and this will make them hold on to

their church". H.H's words about the youth are

backed by years of experience and solid principals

which he has been following since his early years I

as a dedicated servant of the church.

Such words brought back to my memory a

picture which dates back to the late forties, more

than fifty years ago. The picture is self explanatory. \

It depicts the young man"Nazeer Gayed" standing \

in the midst ofthe young people he used to serve ~

at St.Antonios Church in Shoubra, Cairo, Egypt.

H.H. has always been successful in targeting the

youth and this made them hang on to the church.

Many of them dedicated their life to its service.

Some of them are now Bishops, priests, monks,

and servants in all the fields of service in the

Coptic Church ...Their service has been blessed

and it has yielded the desired fruits. Thus realizing

the Lord's words: "By this my Father is glorified ;

that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be my :

disciples ...You did not choose me but I chose

you and appointed you that you should go and

bear fruit and that your fruit should abide.

(John 15:8,16) i

ITiank you, your Holiness we are deeply [

grateful to you, and Congratulations on the 27th

Anniversary of your enthronement as Pope and ,

Patriarch of the See of St. Mark. |

Congratulations To:

>♦Aymen Esaac &Julie Nabil ♦ Wqftb Kamel & Sherry Girgis

For becoming one in Christ. May the Lord bless their life and make their

marriage honorable and blameless.

♦ Dr. Samir Yassa for passing "TheAmerican Board ofInternal Medicine Exam"

♦ Dr. Rasha Yousseffor passing "The U.S. Medical Iiscence Exam".

Congratulations and our best wishes for a continued success.

♦ Emad & Nihal Isaac for the birth of their daughter/*wfe.

Maythe Lord bless the rr^Qorn to growin grace and stature before God and Men.

♦ Mr. Kameel Halim for the passing away

of his niece the late Saliva Milad Halim.

♦ The Sedrak family for the passing away

oitht hitAtefSedrak.

May the Lord repose the souls of the

deceased and console t^'^^rieving families.