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St. Anna Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2024-03-03
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St. Anna Greek Orthodox Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • (908) 968-4004
  • Fax:
  • (908) 968-4002
  • Street Address:

  • 85 Voorhees Corner Road,

  • Flemington, NJ 08822


Contact Information






Services Schedule

Sunday Services:  Orthros 8:30 am; Divine Liturgy 9:30  am.  

Weekday Services:  See parish website calendar link for updates.

 


Past Bulletins


Parish News

Memorial Service today: One year for Despina Coutros, beloved wife of Peter, mother of George and Kathy, mother-in-law of Lana and Robert, and grandmother of Peter, Julianna, and Elena.  May her memory be eternal!  The Coutros family is hosting fellowship hour in memory of Despina. 

Trivia Night was a lot of fun on Friday, March 1.  Thanks to Arge Mardakis and Nick Balios (TriviaQuest) along with the Parish Council, Ladies Philoptochos, and all on the committee for a fun evening!

Our GOYA participated in the Westfield Sights and Sounds talent exhibition on Saturday, March 2.  Please see our FaceBook page for photos of the annual event.

The Parish Oratorical Festival is scheduled for Saturday, March 16 from 11 AM to 1 PM!  Please see the Oratorical Festival note below.

March 17: Forgiveness Vespers at 6 PM at the St. George Church in Piscataway, presided by His Eminence Metropolitan Apostolos of NJ.  All are encouraged to attend as we embark on the Lenten journey together with forgiveness. Reception to follow.

March 23 Lenten Retreat  Registration for parishioners is now open. A link was sent to the e-bulletin list. Maria Tattoli will also be taking registrations on Sunday during the Fellowship Hour.  Please register now as space is limited. The price is $30. (On Monday, Feb. 12, registration was also opened to the entire public.)

Online Information & Registration:  
Contact Diana Grina with event questions: Dianakg2003@yahoo.dom

Camp Good Shepherd: Ages 8 to 18!   June 23-29, 2024. The registration is now opened. Please see the bulletin insert flyer. The link to register is here: http://app.campdoc.com/register/cgsn 

2024 Philadelphia Greek Independence Day Parade
The annual Greek Independence Day Parade in Philadelphia is scheduled for Sunday, April 7, 2024. Our community has been well represented at the Philadelphia Parade for the past few years and it would be a huge blessing to continue this proud tradition. Please complete the survey below no later than Sunday, March 10 if you would like to participate this year. Please see event chair Bill Johnson or any PC member with any additional questions. 

YOUTH MINISTRY CONTACTS:

Sunday School Director: Nikol Toulatos nikoltoulatos44@gmail.com
Greek School Director: Maria Sfondouris msfondouris@gmail.com
GOYA Head Advisor: Larisa Trumpy larisatrumpy@gmail.com
Hope & Joy Advisor: Kristen Diagelakis kdiagelakis@gmail.com
Greek Dance Lead: Larisa Trumpy larisatrumpy@gmail.com
Young Adult League (YAL): Kali Vaporakis rangerkali@gmail.com
College Care Package Ministry: Maria Tattoli mtattoli@gmail.com
Parent Advisory Council (PAC) Chair: Lisa Soteropoulos lisasoteropoulos@gmail.com

SUNDAY SCHOOL:  
Upcoming Events:
MAR. 16: Parish Oratorical Festival
MAR. 24: Sunday of Orthodoxy- Please bring your icons to church for the procession.

The Oratorical Festival topics are now online!  Please encourage all youth from grades 7 to 12 to pick out a topic as we prepare for a March 16, 2024, Parish Oratorical Festival.  (The District Level will be on Sat, April 6 at our neighboring parish of St. George in Trenton, NJ.) Please see the Bulletin Insert for a list of topics.

Camp Good Shepherd: Ages 8 to 18!   June 23-29, 2024. The registration for Camp Good Shepherd has opened. Please see the bulletin insert flyer. The link to register is here: http://app.campdoc.com/register/cgsn 

GOYA:
TODAY (MAR 3) is Youth Leadership Sunday. Congratulations to our youth that participated in Sights & Sounds over the weekend.  

YOUNG ADULT LEAGUE (YAL):

Virtual Blood Drive: 

When: Through March 10

How to Get Involved: Every 2 seconds a person in the United States needs blood. As Orthodox Christians, we are called to "Love your neighbor as yourself" Mark 12:31. What is a greater act of love than selflessly giving your neighbor the gift of life? Pledge your support and make your donation by going to: https://sleevesup.redcrossblood.org/campaign/nnj-yal/ #NNJYALSleevesUp

Beefsteak Fundraiser:

All are welcome to join us for a night of feasting on unlimited filet mignon, pasta, ice cream, and more! Explore enticing raffle baskets with gift certificates, designer handbags, and local business goodies. Get ready for a night of dancing with our live DJ, then quench your thirst at the full cash bar, featuring “The Mediterranean” our special drink of the night.

When: Saturday, March 9th 6:30pm – 11pm

Where: The Metropolitan Cathedral of St. John the Theologian, 353 E. Clinton Ave., Tenafly, NJ 07670

Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/nnjyal-beefsteak-fundraiser-tickets-797288490337

 
LADIES PHILOPTOCHOS CORNER: 
The period of January, February, and March is reserved for the annual Philoptochos stewardship/membership drive!! Please see Maria Gimbel or Carrie Kafalas, our membership chairs for the application to renew your membership and or become a new member! Your membership donation is essential for our Philoptochos chapter to continue growing and thriving, allowing us to better help our community.
 
KOLIVA CLASS THIS SUNDAY, MARCH 3
Would you like to learn how to make memorial koliva? Now is your chance!! 
Join in on Sunday, March 3rd, at 8:30am sharp, as we explain how and why we make Koliva for a loved ones memorial! RSVP to Denise Coutsouridis at cdc3@comcast.net  if you plan on attending! 
 
EASTER BAKE SALE-  
Pre-order forms are now available at the Philoptochos table! Pick up of your order is on Palm Sunday. Or please use this Bake Sale Link to pre-order: 

Baklava $12 - 6 pieces 
Variety Box $18 - 6 of each, Kourabiedes, Melomakarona, and Koulourakia
Walnut Roll $10 - each
Payment can be made by cash, check or Zelle. 
 
 
To help volunteer with baking, packaging and selling  please contact Popi Missios -  kalliopi@aol.com or Aimee Douvris -  aimeedouvris@gmail.com 
 
Next Board Meeting: March 10, 2024 - 11:30 after Liturgy
Next General Meeting: March 17, 2024 - 11:30 after Liturgy
 
HOLY PROTECTION MONASTERY TRIP:
We are planning an outing to Holy Protection Monastery on Saturday, April 20th. Please arrive by 11:00 am sharp! We will have a tour, eat lunch, go to the bookstore, enjoy the peaceful grounds, and attend Vespers.  Carpooling may be available. Also, if you would like to stay overnight please let Aimee know by April 10th.  The address is 1 St Joseph Way, White Haven PA  18661  Please RSVP By April 10th if you would like to come. aimeedouvris@gmail.com 
 
ST. ANNA BOOKSTORE NEWS. ST. ANNA BOOKSTORE NEWS.  Let's read a spiritual book and grow in our faith together. 

BOOKSTORE RECOMMENDATIONS February/March:
----In anticipation of our upcoming St. Anna Lenten Retreat with Dr. Eugenia Constantinou (Saturday, March 23rd), we are recommending her books: "THINKING ORTHODOX" and "THE CRUCIFIXION OF THE KING OF GLORY".
----For Adults: "Making God Real in the Orthodox Christian Home".
----For Kids: various saint mini-books by Paterikon for Kids, matching games, and first prayer books.

If there is something in particular you are looking for, we can assist. Contact Angela Ferreira (angelaferreira37@gmail.com) or Aimee Douvris (aimeedouvris@gmail.com). 
 
 
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STEWARDSHIP 2024: 

STEWARDSHIP:  Stewardship is the sharing of the talents and treasures that God has provided for us.  An Orthodox Christian Steward is an active participant in the life of the Church. The parish encourages all who accept the Orthodox Faith to become practicing Stewards. 
2024 Stewardship Status: we have 62 Pledges totaling $119,400 and $60,488 received to date.  We also have 7 families who have contributed $1,035 to date but have not submitted a stewardship card.  It is important that all families complete a stewardship card to be considered a steward.  Current Stewardship List and other stewardship information is posted in bulletin board by water cooler.
 
If you have not done so already, we ask that you prayerfully consider your stewardship commitment and submit a 2024 pledge card as soon as you can.
…Remember a rich man is not one who has much, but one who gives much…..

2024 Stewardship List
* Contributed but have not submitted stewardship card Report Date: Feb 6, 2024
1 Agelopoulos, Catherine and Alex 69 Zanidakis, Charlotte 137  
2 Archimedes, Alexander & Debbie 70   138  
3 Argiropoulos, Anthony & Amy 71   139  
4 Collett, Martin & Adriane 72   140  
5 Connell, William & Nikki 73   141  
6 Costalas, Paul & Josephine 74   142  
7 Coutros, George & Lana 75   143  
8 Diamantis, Ioannis & Gerasimoula 76   144  
9 Diver, Sean & Joanne 77   145  
10 Doty, James & Kathy 78   146  
11 Douvris, John & Aimee 79   147  
12 Ferreira, Jorge & Angela 80   148  
13 Finley, Thomas & Antoinette 81   149  
14 Georgeles, George & Maria 82   150  
15 Giambrone, Charles J * 83   151  
16 Gianakos, Michael & Dianne 84   152  
17 Gianakos, Phillip & Arianna 85   153  
18 Giannouris, John & Tracey 86   154  
19 Gianos, Irene * 87   155  
20 Gimbel, Benjamin & Maria 88   156  
21 Iliopoulos, Christos & Anna 89   157  
22 Janulis, Paul and Joan 90   158  
23 Johnson, Bill 91   159  
24 Kaldes, John & Zoi 92   160  
25 Kamnitsis, Constantine & Nancy 93   161  
26 Kanterakis, Anthony & Maria 94   162  
27 Karabasis, Efstratios 95   163  
28 Karazoupis, Vasilios & Panayiota 96   164  
29 Kazantzis, Sava & Nancy 97   165  
30 Kosoglou, Arianna * 98   166  
31 Kosoglou, Teddy and Roula * 99   167  
32 Kousoulas, Constantine 100   168  
33 Kousoulas, Evangelos * 101   169  
34 Kousoulas, Fr. Anastasios & Presv. Nektaria 102   170  
35 Kousoulas, Panayiotis 103   171  
36 Kubu, James & Evangeline 104   172  
37 Kypridakes, Michael & Asimina 105   173  
38 Logothetis, Nikita & Sophia 106   174  
39 Lutkus, Anthony & Vasiliki * 107   175  
40 Manoussakis, Stamati & Sofia 108   176  
41 Manteo, Michael & Gramatiki 109   177  
42 Mardakis, Arge 110   178  
43 Mariani, Anthony & Kristen 111   179  
44 McElroy, Stephanie 112   180  
45 Missios, Michael & Popi 113   181  
46 Peppe, George & Demetra 114   182  
47 Petromelis, Christopher 115   183  
48 Petromelis, Phyllis 116   184  
49 Procyk, Eugenia 117   185  
50 Rentoulis, Nikolaos 118   186  
51 Sakellos, Alexandra 119   187  
52 Sakellos, Evan & Catherine 120   188  
53 Sakellos, George 121   189  
54 Samouhos, Evan&Melanie 122   190  
55 Seigler, Ryan & Elefteria Lambrou * 123   191  
56 Sideris, Leonidas & Elizabeth 124   192  
57 Soteropoulos, Dean & Elizabeth 125   193  
58 Staikos, George & Christi 126   194  
59 Steubing, Michael & Maria Katsamani 127   195  
60 Toulatos, Nikoleta 128   196  
61 Tsistinas, Theodora 129   197  
62 Tsokas, Lorraine 130   198  
63 Vaporakis, John & Kim 131   199  
64 Vaporakis, Kaliope 132   200  
65 Vaporakis, Mihail 133   201  
66 Vespa, Paul & Fay 134   202  
67 Vlahakes, Louis & Anastasia 135   203  
68 Wolf, Chad and Jennifer 136   204

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Other Information:
 
Walking with Christ - Seminarian Fundraiser on Sat., March 16 at St. Luke GOC, Broomall, PA.  Please see the Bulletin Insert section for more information. Thank you.

 

 
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Saints and Feasts

Allsaint
March 03

The Holy Martyrs Eutropius, Cleonicus, and Basiliscus

The Martyrs, who were from Amasia, were fellow soldiers and kinsmen of Saint Theodore the Tyro (see Feb. 17). They were betrayed to the Governor Asclepiodotus as Christians, during the reign of Diocletian (284-305). After many torments, Eutropius and Cleonicus were crucified; Basiliscus was not slain together with them, but was shut up in prison, in the hope that with time he might change his mind and sacrifice to the idols. He was beheaded on May 22; see also the account on that day.


Allsaint
March 03

Theodoretos the Holy Martyr of Antioch


Allsaint
March 03

Nonnita, mother of Saint David


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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Plagal 2nd Tone. Psalm 27.9,1.
O Lord, save your people and bless your inheritance.
Verse: To you, O Lord, I have cried, O my God.

The reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 6:12-20.

Brethren, "all things are lawful for me," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful for me," but I will not be enslaved by anything. "Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food" -- and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I therefore take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! Do you not know that he who joins himself to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, "The two shall become one flesh." But he who is united to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. Shun immorality. Every other sin which a man commits is outside the body; but the immoral man sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God? You are not your own; you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body and in your spirit which belong to God.


Gospel Reading

Sunday of the Prodigal Son
The Reading is from Luke 15:11-32

The Lord said this parable: "There was a man who had two sons; and the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of the property that falls to me.' And he divided his living between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took his journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in loose living. And when he had spent everything, a great famine arose in that country, and he began to be in want. So he went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would gladly have filled his belly with the pods that the swine ate; and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired servants.' And he arose and came to his father. But while he was yet at a distance, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' But the father said to his servants, 'Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet; and bring the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and make merry; for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.' And they began to make merry. Now his elder son was in the field; and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what this meant. And he said to him, 'Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has received him safe and sound.' But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, 'Lo, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command; yet you never gave me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your living with harlots, you killed for him the fatted calf!' And he said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to make merry and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.'"


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Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Plagal 2nd Tone

Angelic powers were above Thy tomb, and they that guarded Thee became as dead. And Mary stood by the grave seeking Thine immaculate Body. Thou hast despoiled Hades and wast not tried thereby. Thou didst meet the Virgin and didst grant us life. O Thou Who didst arise from the dead, Lord, glory be to Thee.

Apolytikion for St. Anna (Dec. 9) in the 4th Tone

Today the bonds of childlessness are loosed; for God hearkened to Joachim and Anna. And though it was beyond hope, He clearly promised them that they should bear a divine child, from whom was born the Uncircumscribable One Himself Who became a mortal, and through an Angel commanded them to cry unto her: Rejoice, thou who art full of grace, the Lord is with thee."

Seasonal Kontakion in the 3rd Tone

O Father, foolishly I ran away from Your glory, and in sin, squandered the riches You gave me. Wherefore, I cry out to You with the voice of the Prodigal, "I have sinned before You Compassionate Father. Receive me in repentance and take me as one of Your hired servants."
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Wisdom of the Fathers

Thank God every day with your whole heart for having given to you life according to His image and likeness - an intelligently free and immortal life...Thank Him also for again daily bestowing life upon you, who have fallen an innumerable multitude of times, by your own free will, through sins, from life unto death, and that He does so as soon as you only say from your whole heart: 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before Thee!' (Luke 15:18).
St. John of Kronstadt
My Life in Christ: Part 1; Holy Trinity Monastery pgs. 104-105, 19th century

But if he had despaired of his life, and, ... had remained in the foreign land, he would not have obtained what he did obtain, but would have been consumed with hunger, and so have undergone the most pitiable death: ...
St. John Chrysostom
AN EXHORTATION TO THEODORE AFTER HIS FALL, 4th Century

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Bulletin inserts

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