OUR MISSION is to proclaim the Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, sanctify the faithful through the liturgy and the Holy Sacraments, grow the church by receiving new members, live the Orthodox Christian Faith, and serve humanity through Christ-centered ministries.

OUR VISION is to be a loving, caring, and welcoming Christian community where all belong and grow in the Orthodox Christian Faith through worship, witness, fellowship, and service to others.

HOLY COMMUNION is offered to those baptized and confirmed in the Eastern Orthodox Christian Faith who have prepared according to the Orthodox Tradition. Guests and visitors are welcome to worship with us and receive the antidoron (“instead of the gifts”) blessed bread at the dismissal.
Please allow Catechism School children to receive Holy Communion first, followed by the newly baptized infants. When you approach the chalice, please give your baptismal name to the priest.

GUESTS AND VISITORS: Enter your contact information in the Guest Book at the narthex if you want us to contact you and join us for fellowship hour in our church hall following the liturgy.

14th Sunday of Luke, December 3, 2023
Κυριακή ΙΔ΄ Λουκᾶ, 3 Δεκεμβρίου, 2023 Το κήρυγμα της Κυριακής εδώ

• 8:30 am MATINS, 9:30 am DIVINE LITURGY
• Stewardship Sunday. Please check your postal mail for your 2024 Pledge Card and return it this Sunday, December 3.
• Catechism classes following Holy Communion.
• 40-day mother and child blessing: Konstantinos, son of Kalliope and Michael Triantafellou and Effie’s little brother. Congratulations!
• "Ask Father" (5-7 Grades).
• The Parish Council invites all to our annual Stewardship Appreciation Luncheon.
• 1 pm Youth Nativity Pageant Rehearsal.

Monday, December 4, 2023
Barbara the Great Martyr ~ Βαρβάρας Μεγαλομάρτυρος

• 8:30 am MATINS, 9:30 am DIVINE LITURGY
• We will offer memorial prayers for the peaceful repose of the souls of Athanasios Dafsios (3 years), and Fotini Dafsios (6 months) of blessed memory.
• 10:30 am Christmas mailing preparation. Any help is appreciated!

Tuesday, December 5, 2023

• 5 pm Greek School classes.
• 7 pm Philoptochos Board meeting.

Wednesday, December 6, 2023
Nicholas the Wonderworker, Archbishop of Myra
Νικολάου, Ἀρχιεπισκόπου Μύρων τῆς Λυκίας, τοῦ Θαυματουργοῦ

• 9:30 am MATINS, 10:30 am DIVINE LITURGY
• Artoklasia-blessing of the five loaves, wine, and oil- will be offered for the health and well-being of the Economopoulos and LePage families.
• 11:30 Young @ Heart Christmas Luncheon.

Friday, December 8, 2023

• 5 pm Greek School classes.
• 7:30 GOYA dance practice

11th Sunday of Luke, December 10, 2023
Κυριακή Ι΄ Λουκᾶ, 10 Δεκεμβρίου, 2023

• 8:30 am MATINS, 9:30 am DIVINE LITURGY
• Catechism classes following Holy Communion.
• 40-day mother and child blessing: Stamatios Francesco, son of Melissa and Ioannis Haviaras. Congratulations!
• Parish Council Elections.
• Greek School Kalanda & Loukoumades Fundraiser.
• 4 pm Delaware Valley Ambassador Awards Banquet.

Pastoral Care: If you or someone you know is sick, homebound elderly, or scheduled for surgery, please call the church office to let us know so Fr. John can make a pastoral visit or add someone to the prayer list.

In Our Prayers: “Pray for one another that you might be healed.” (James 5:16): Noel, Kyriaki, Maria, John, Philip, Donna, Lucy, John, Smaragdi, Josephine, Emma, Paulette, Virginia, Effie, James, Grace, Hollie, George, Magda, Emmalia, Anastasia.

Dear Annunciation Parishioners,

We held our Fall Parish General Assembly on October 23, 2023, and are happy to give you the materials presented: The 2023 Fall General Assembly Presentation and the 2023 Fall General Assembly Minutes.

We had just over 30 stewards attending, so we are distributing these materials to all, as we want all Parishioners to have a good understanding of the operation of our community.  Key points of the meeting:

• Our community remains very active, with a busy calendar of Ministry, Outreach, and social activities.
• Financially, we are projecting a $30,000 - $35,000 deficit this year.  The Fall OPA Festival did not do as well as expected due to bad weather on the second day, and we still have many Stewardship pledges that need to be fulfilled this year.  Please continue your generosity and complete your 2023 Stewardship Pledge!  Also, please consider an additional Christmas Gift to help us close this shortfall.
• We presented the preliminary budget for 2024 and have included only one May 2024 OPA Festival in the budget.  We are asking all Stewards to increase their Stewardship pledge for 2024 to complete the budget.  On average, if all Stewards increase their pledge by $1 per day, we will not need any festivals to cover the budget, and the May OPA would fund new Ministry activities and facilities improvements.  Some Stewards may not be able to increase by $1 per day, but others may be able to do more, so we average $1 per day overall.  When your 2024 Stewardship Pledge Card arrives in the mail this week, please increase your generosity to help us meet the goal of an additional $1 per day on average.
• Please join us every Sunday in December as we enter the Advent season and have additional events each Sunday:  December 3 is Stewardship Sunday, December 10 is Parish Council elections, and December 17 is the Youth Christmas Pageant and PTO Holiday Bake Sale.  Our Choir has added new minor key hymns and responses to their repertoire, which adds beautifully to the Liturgy.

Thank you to those who attended the Assembly and everyone in the community for your Time, Talent, and Treasure contributions.  As always, don't hesitate to contact either of us if you have any questions or comments.

Father John L. Johns, Presiding Priest

Dean Dalson, Parish Council President