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Annunciation/Evangelismos Church, Elkins Park, PA
Publish Date: 2018-09-09
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Joachann
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Annunciation/Evangelismos Church, Elkins Park, PA

General Information

  • Phone:
  • (215) 635-0316
  • Fax:
  • (215) 635-8301
  • Street Address:

  • 7921 Old York Road

  • Elkins Park, PA 19027


Contact Information




Services Schedule

We meet for divine worship every Sunday morning starting with Orthros (Matins) 7:30, Divine Liturgy 8:30-10AM, followed by a fellowship hour in our community center. All are invited!

Please see Community Calendar for a complete listing of all weekday feast-days and worship services.


Past Bulletins


Weekend Update

Saturday, September 8, 2018

The Nativity of Our Most Holy Lady the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary
  • 8:30 am MATINS, 9:30 am DIVINE LITURGY.
  • Artoklasia - the blessing of the five loaves, wine & oil - will be offered by the Papadopoulos family.

Sunday Before the Elevation of the Cross / Κυριακὴ πρὸ τῆς Ὑψώσεως, September 9, 2018

On September 9 is the Synaxis in honor of righteous Joachim and Anna. The holy martyr Severian died when he was hung from a wall with a stone tied to his feet; our devout father Theophanes the Confessor who led an ascetic life before Diocletian’s reign; St. Chariton died by the sword. On this day we remember the holy 200 God-bearing fathers of the Third Ecumenical Council. By the intercessions of Your saints, O God, have mercy on us. Amen.

  • 8:30 am MATINS, 9:30 am DIVINE LITURGY.
  • Start of Sunday school and the blessing of the students and classrooms.
  • “Invite a Friend” luncheon hosted by the parish council.
  • 2 pm Holy Baptism: Sklikas family.

Tuesday, September 11, 2018

  • 5 pm Greek School agiasmos (blessing) & back to school night.
  • 7 pm Philoptochos Board meeting.

Wednesday, September 12, 2018

  • 7:30 pm Delaware Valley Youth Commission meeting (here).

Thursday, September 13, 2018

  • 6:30 pm Stewardship Committee meeting.

Friday, September 14, 2018. The Elevation of the Venerable and Life-Giving Cross

  • 8:30 am MATINS, 9:30 am DIVINE LITURGY
Participate in the feast of the Elevation of the Holy Cross by bringing your basil (vasiliko) plants or branches of fresh basil to church! Let's fill our church with the sweet aroma of basil as we celebrate the feast of the Elevation of The Life-giving Holy Cross of Christ.
  • 6 pm GOYA Friday with Father John.
  • 6:30 pm JOY dance practice.
  • 7:30 pm GOYA dance practice.

Sunday after Holy Cross, September 16, 2018

  • 8:30 am MATINS, 9:30 am DIVINE LITURGY
  • Memorial prayers will be offered for the repose of the soul of Peter Steffa of blessed memory (40-years).
  • 40-day mother & child blessing: Penelope, the daughter of Nicole & Sean Matraszek.
  • Philoptochos tray collection to benefit Hellenic College/Holy Cross Scholarship Fund.
  • Fellowship hour hosted by PTO.
  • Council of Ministries meeting.
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Saints and Feasts

Joachann
September 09

The Holy & Righteous Ancestors of God, Joachim and Anna

Today, the day following the Nativity of the most holy Theotokos, we celebrate the synaxis of Saints Joachim and Anna, honouring them as her parents.


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Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Plagal Second Mode

O Christ, the angelic powers appeared at Your tomb, the guards were as dead, and Mary stood by the sepulcher, seeking Your sacred body. You destroyed Hades yet remained untouched by it. You encountered the Virgin and through her, bestowed Life. Glory to You who has risen from the dead!
Ἀγγελικαὶ Δυνάμεις ἐπὶ τὸ μνῆμά σου, καὶ οἱ φυλάσσοντες ἀπενεκρώθησαν, καὶ ἵστατο Μαρία ἐν τῷ τάφῳ, ζητοῦσα τὸ ἄχραντόν σου σῶμα. Ἐσκύλευσας τὸν ᾍδην, μὴ πειρασθεὶς ὑπ' αὐτοῦ, ὑπήντησας τῇ Παρθένῳ, δωρούμενος τὴν ζωήν, ὁ ἀναστὰς ἐκ των νεκρῶν, Κύριε δόξα σοι.

Apolytikion for Afterfeast of the Nativity of the Theotokos in the Fourth Mode

Your birth, O Theotokos, brought joy to the whole world, for from you dawned the sun of righteousness, Christ our God. Freeing us from the curse, He gave us His blessings. Abolishing death, He granted us eternal life.
Η γέννησίς σου Θεοτόκε, χαράν εμήνυσε πάση τή οικουμένη, εκ σού γάρ ανέτειλεν ο ήλιος τής δικαιοσύνης, Χριστός ο Θεός ημών, καί λύσας τήν κατάραν, έδωκε τήν ευλογίαν, καί καταργήσας τόν θάνατον, εδωρήσατο ημίν ζωήν τήν αιώνιον.

Apolytikion for Synaxis of the Holy Ancestors of God in the Second Mode

As we celebrate the memory of Thy righteous ancestors, O Lord, through them we beseech Thee to save our souls.
Τών δικαίων Θεοπατόρων σου Κύριε, τήν μνήμην εορτάζοντες, δι' αυτών σε δυσωπούμεν, Σώσον τάς ψυχάς ημών.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Fourth Mode

In your holy birth, Immaculate One, Joachim and Anna were rid of the shame of childlessness; Adam and Eve of the corruption of death. And so your people, free of the guilt of their sins, celebrate crying: "The barren one gives birth to the Theotokos, who nourishes our life."
Ιωακείμ καί Άννα όνειδισμού ατεκνίας, καί Αδάμ καί Εύα, εκ τής φθοράς τού θανάτου, ηλευθερώθησαν, Άχραντε, εν τή αγία γεννήσει σου, αυτήν εορτάζει καί ο λαός σου, ενοχής τών πταισμάτων, λυτρωθείς εν τώ κράζειν σοι, Η στείρα τίκτει τήν Θεοτόκον, καί τροφόν τής ζωής ημών.
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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Fourth Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from Luke 24:1-12

On the first day of the week, at early dawn, the women went to the tomb, taking the spices which they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel; and as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead? Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of man must be delivered in to the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise." And they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told this to the apostles; but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them.

But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home wondering at what had happened.

Fourth Orthros Gospel
Κατὰ Λουκᾶν 24:1-12

Καὶ τὸ μὲν σάββατον ἡσύχασαν κατὰ τὴν ἐντολήν, Τῇ δὲ μιᾷ τῶν σαββάτων ὄρθρου βαθέος ἦλθον ἐπὶ τὸ μνῆμα φέρουσαι ἃ ἡτοίμασαν ἀρώματα, καί τινες σὺν αὐταῖς. εὗρον δὲ τὸν λίθον ἀποκεκυλισμένον ἀπὸ τοῦ μνημείου, καὶ εἰσελθοῦσαι οὐχ εὗρον τὸ σῶμα τοῦ Κυρίου ᾿Ιησοῦ. καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν τῷ διαπορεῖσθαι αὐτὰς περὶ τούτου καὶ ἰδοὺ ἄνδρες δύο ἐπέστησαν αὐταῖς ἐν ἐσθήσεσιν ἀστραπτούσαις. ἐμφόβων δὲ γενομένων αὐτῶν καὶ κλινουσῶν τὸ πρόσωπον εἰς τὴν γῆν εἶπον πρὸς αὐτάς· τί ζητεῖτε τὸν ζῶντα μετὰ τῶν νεκρῶν; οὐκ ἔστιν ὧδε, ἀλλ᾿ ἠγέρθη· μνήσθητε ὡς ἐλάλησεν ὑμῖν ἔτι ὢν ἐν τῇ Γαλιλαίᾳ, λέγων ὅτι δεῖ τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου παραδοθῆναι εἰς χεῖρας ἀνθρώπων ἁμαρτωλῶν καὶ σταυρωθῆναι, καὶ τῇ τρίτῃ ἡμέρᾳ ἀναστῆναι. καὶ ἐμνήσθησαν τῶν ῥημάτων αὐτοῦ, καὶ ὑποστρέψασαι ἀπὸ τοῦ μνημείου ἀπήγγειλαν ταῦτα πάντα τοῖς ἕνδεκα καὶ πᾶσι τοῖς λοιποῖς. ἦσαν δὲ ἡ Μαγδαληνὴ Μαρία καὶ ᾿Ιωάννα καὶ Μαρία ᾿Ιακώβου καὶ οἱ λοιπαὶ σὺν αὐταῖς, αἳ ἔλεγον πρὸς τοὺς ἀποστόλους ταῦτα. καὶ ἐφάνησαν ἐνώπιον αὐτῶν ὡσεὶ λῆρος τὰ ῥήματα αὐτῶν, καὶ ἠπίστουν αὐταῖς. ὁ δὲ Πέτρος ἀναστὰς ἔδραμεν ἐπὶ τὸ μνημεῖον, καὶ παρακύψας βλέπει τὰ ὀθόνια κείμενα μόνα, καὶ ἀπῆλθε πρὸς ἑαυτόν, θαυμάζων τὸ γεγονός.


Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Plagal Second Mode. 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 Letter to the Galatians 6:11-18.

Brethren, see with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh that would compel you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. For even those who receive circumcision do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may glory in your flesh. But far be it from me to glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. Peace and mercy be upon all who walk by this rule, upon the Israel of God. Henceforth let no man trouble me; for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen.

Προκείμενον. Plagal Second Mode. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 27.9,1.
Σῶσον, Κύριε τὸν λαὸν σου καὶ εὐλόγησον τὴν κληρονομίαν σου.
Στίχ. Πρὸς σἐ, Κύριε, κεκράξομαι ὁ Θεός μου.

τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς Γαλάτας 6:11-18.

Ἀδελφοί, ἴδετε πηλίκοις ὑμῖν γράμμασιν ἔγραψα τῇ ἐμῇ χειρί. Ὅσοι θέλουσιν εὐπροσωπῆσαι ἐν σαρκί, οὗτοι ἀναγκάζουσιν ὑμᾶς περιτέμνεσθαι, μόνον ἵνα μὴ τῷ σταυρῷ τοῦ Χριστοῦ διώκωνται. Οὐδὲ γὰρ οἱ περιτετμημένοι αὐτοὶ νόμον φυλάσσουσιν, ἀλλὰ θέλουσιν ὑμᾶς περιτέμνεσθαι, ἵνα ἐν τῇ ὑμετέρᾳ σαρκὶ καυχήσωνται. Ἐμοὶ δὲ μὴ γένοιτο καυχᾶσθαι εἰ μὴ ἐν τῷ σταυρῷ τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ· διʼ οὗ ἐμοὶ κόσμος ἐσταύρωται, κἀγὼ τῷ κόσμῳ. Ἐν γὰρ Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ οὔτε περιτομή τι ἰσχύει, οὔτε ἀκροβυστία, ἀλλὰ καινὴ κτίσις. Καὶ ὅσοι τῷ κανόνι τούτῳ στοιχήσουσιν, εἰρήνη ἐπʼ αὐτούς, καὶ ἔλεος, καὶ ἐπὶ τὸν Ἰσραὴλ τοῦ θεοῦ. Τοῦ λοιποῦ, κόπους μοι μηδεὶς παρεχέτω· ἐγὼ γὰρ τὰ στίγματα τοῦ κυρίου Ἰησοῦ ἐν τῷ σώματί μου βαστάζω. Ἡ χάρις τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ μετὰ τοῦ πνεύματος ὑμῶν, ἀδελφοί. Ἀμήν.


Gospel Reading

Sunday before Holy Cross
The Reading is from John 3:13-17

The Lord said, "No one has ascended into heaven but he who descended from heaven, the Son of man who is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him."

Sunday before Holy Cross
Κατὰ Ἰωάννην 3:13-17

Εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος· καὶ οὐδεὶς ἀναβέβηκεν εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν εἰ μὴ ὁ ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ καταβάς, ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ὁ ὤν ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ. καὶ καθὼς Μωϋσῆς ὕψωσε τὸν ὄφιν ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ, οὕτως ὑψωθῆναι δεῖ τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου, ἵνα πᾶς ὁ πιστεύων εἰς αὐτὸν μὴ ἀπόληται ἀλλ' ἔχῃ ζωὴν αἰώνιον. Οὕτω γὰρ ἠγάπησεν ὁ Θεὸς τὸν κόσμον, ὥστε τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ τὸν μονογενῆ ἔδωκεν, ἵνα πᾶς ὁ πιστεύων εἰς αὐτὸν μὴ ἀπόληται ἀλλ' ἔχῃ ζωὴν αἰώνιον. οὐ γὰρ ἀπέστειλεν ὁ Θεὸς τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ εἰς τὸν κόσμον ἵνα κρίνῃ τὸν κόσμον, ἀλλ' ἵνα σωθῇ ὁ κόσμος δι' αὐτοῦ.


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Focus on Our Church Family

Celebrations, Milestones, Gratitude, Comfort & Support

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 to add someone to the prayer list.

Let us pray to the Lord for the health and salvation of: Suffering and persecuted Christians in the Middle East and the non-Christian world, Polly, Debra, Konstantinos, Antonios, Angela, Sophia, Stephen, Gina, Demetrius, Anastasios, Anthony, George, Chryssie, Sandra.

Names will be kept on this list for approximately 3 months. Please resubmit Names if needed. Fr. John will include the submitted names at the Psokomide “Offering of Gifts” during the first part of the liturgy when he prepares the mystical gifts of bread & wine. Please lift these names up to the Lord in your personal prayer life as well.

Prayer for healing: Heavenly Father, physician of our souls and bodies, who have sent our Lord to heal every sickness. Visit and heal us. Grant patience in this sickness, strength of body and spirit, and recovery of health. Lord, You have taught us to pray for each other that we may be healed. We pray that You heal, guide and protect your servant (s) (pray by name for those who are sick) and grant them the gift of complete health. For You are the source of healing and to You we give glory, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen

Χρόνια πολλα!  Happy birthday!   God grant you many years!  To those celebrating this week: Rosalie Elenitsas-Gilliland, Evangelia Mackrides, Mary O'Hara, John Topakas, Christopher Tsinontides, Linda Valenzano, Ana Cosmatos, Roman Justice, Alexandra Kyriakatos, Anna Pagano, Demetrius Pashos, Matthew Stolarczyk, Randy Cunningham, Peter Gabriel,      Sofia Dinneen,  Gregory Mariani, Lemonia Paidas, Amanda Gutchigian, Dimitria Trula Sfarnas, Emmanouil Villanueva, Stefanie Gutchigian, Penelope Pappas, Evangelos Vassilakis, Alba Couppas, Irene Halkias, Anna Marie Loizos, Barbara Louridas, Christopher Matarangas.

Happy wedding anniversary to those celebrating this week: Fournaris, Christina & Constantine; Nikolopoulos, Stella & Peter; Psihogios, Constance & Pavlos; Devincent, Alexis & Robert; Arniotis, Kristin & John; Petronis, Jennifer & Frank; Sarver, Theodora & Joseph.

Congratulations! To Ada & George Voutsinos on the birth of their son, Lucas, on 8/17/2018.

To Penelope McClintock and Joshua Tait on their wedding on 9/2/2018. Kristin Metropoulos is the sponsor.

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Community News & Events

Online Youth Ministries Registration Now Open

Online Youth Ministries Registration

We are blessed here at Annunciation/Evangelismos Church with many Christ-centered Youth Ministries, headed by faithful and caring parishioners who have completed background clearances based on Pennsylvania state laws.

We invite you to visit our website and learn more about each Annunciation Youth Ministry: PTO, Catechism School, Little Apostles, JOY/HOPE, GOYA,  Greek School, Greek Folk Dance.

You will see that the following goals are at the core of every Youth Ministry:

  • Reach out to young people to help them grow in God’s love.
  • Assist our youth in understanding and deepening their faith.
  • Provide a place of Christian acceptance and Christian role models.
  • Help our youth to build a community with their peers in our church.
  • Provide opportunities for young people to share in the ministry of the church and develop a willingness to serve the needs of others.

Why Youth Registration?

We request every young person participating in youth ministry (regardless of how much or how little) to be registered through the parish office. The information allows us to have home / emergency information on hand as well as birth dates and interests of each youth involved.

We kindly ask you to register now to give us time to organize our volunteers and be ready to welcome our youth in September.

The online 2018-2019 Youth Ministries Registration Form takes just a few moments to complete from any computer or mobile device. Most Youth Ministry events are already planned for 2018-2019 and you can see them on our web calendar.

Annunciation Youth Ministries are led by parent volunteers and we encourage you to get involved in Youth Ministry with your child.  Please review the various Youth Ministries on our website and don’t hesitate to reach out to Fr. John if you are able to assist.


Coming Up in September

  • Tuesday, September 11: Greek School agiasmos & back to school night.
  • Sunday, September 16: Council of Ministries meeting.
  • Tuesday, September 18: Start of Greek School classes.
  • Wednesday, September 19, 7 pm: Start of fall Bible study series.
  • Thursday, September 20, 7 pm: Philoptochos general meeting and career wardrobe event.
  • Tuesday, September 25, 11:30 am: Young at Heart luncheon & speaker.
  • 50th Anniversary Campaign kickoff dinner. Details and date to follow soon.

Philoptochos News and Events

Philoptochos General Meeting and Career Wardrobe Event

All current and prospective Philoptochos members are invited to attend our General Meeting on Thursday, September 20, 2018, at 7:00 pm in our Cultural Center.

We will also be supporting the Career Wardrobe organization in Philadelphia by collecting clean, contemporary, stylish, & suitable for today’s workplace clothing. Career Wardrobe provides interview appropriate clothing for individuals in transition at the start of their job search, as well as services to help support education and skill building to increase confidence and promote self-sufficiency.

Please see meeting notice for details. Contact Diane Saphos at 215-208-5832 or dsaphos@msn.com with any questions.

Save the Date - Philoptochos Annual Bid n Buy

The Ladies Philoptochos 'Nausica' annual Bid n Buy will be on Wednesday, November 14, 2018, at 6:30 pm. It will be held again this year at St. Cyril of Jerusalem Church, 1410 Almshouse Road, Jamison, PA.

Please contact Bid n Buy Co-Chairs Cathy Avgiris and Stella Fisfis with any questions.

 


Matthew 25 Ministry News

It feels like summer but Matthew 25 is preparing for a very busy fall.  We will begin collections once again for our September 25th delivery.   As a reminder, we deliver to Seeds of Hope, a food pantry in Dresher. We accept all non-perishable food items.  Among some of the pantry favorites are soups, pasta, pasta sauce, peanut butter, cereal, feminine hygiene products, and paper towels.  

These are just suggestions.  If there is something you like at the market, a family in need will love it!  Donations are welcome in any quantity. Our ministry feeds and impacts so many families for the better.  We will ask for your support throughout the year. If you haven’t donated in the past, start now.  We need everyone’s help in order to minimize the number of people who struggle with hunger. Look for Sign Up Genius as another way to donate and get ideas on the types of foods the pantry is looking for each month.

Matthew 25 at a glance:

  • 9/25/18 Meeting from 10:00-10:30 (discuss Aid for Friends) and delivery immediately following.
  • 10/10/18 Aid for friends cooking at the church from 10:00 am until we finish. All are welcome.
  • 10/23/18 Delivery 10:00 am

Acts 20:35-In all things, I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, How He Himself said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”


Liturgical Items Needed

  • Basil (vasiliko) plants and branches for the feast of the Elevation of The Life-giving Holy Cross of Christ, Friday, September 14.
  • Prosforo (Offertory Bread for Holy Communion). Please see Altar Guild Coordinators Diane Tzouras, or Lina Paidas, if you can offer your baking talents in this ministry.
  • Wine for Holy Communion. The required wine is  Keo St John Commandaria Cyprus NV PLCB #46169. If you cannot find it in the wine store, you may make a donation toward its purchase.
  • Charcoal & Incense.  Donations are preferred since we purchase a specific kind of charcoal & incense.

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Bulletin Inserts

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Your Stewardship Gifts

Friendly Reminder

We are grateful to the 281 parishioners who have already pledged for 2018. We look forward to receiving everyone’s 2018 Commitment Card of Time, Talent, and Treasure soon!

As in the past few years, you have two options for registering your pledge:

1. Use the paper 2018 Commitment of Time, Talent, & Treasure that you have received in the mail and also located in the narthex.

2. Save yourself postage & time by filling out the online 2018 Commitment of Time, Talent, & Treasure, with just a few clicks on our website.

For those who are making regular donations through Parish Giving, or their bank’s Bill Payer, please remember to:

  • Ensure your recurring donation schedule has rolled over to 2018.
  • Adjust the amount to reflect your 2018 commitment.

Stewards of the Gospel
2018 Stewardship Campaign

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Beyond Annunciation

  • Grecian Festival. St. Sophia Church, Jeffersonville, PA. September 6-9.
  • OPA Festival. St. Anna Church. Flemington, NJ. September 7-9.
  • Serb Fest. St. Nicholas Church, Elkins Park, PA. September 8-9.
  • Greek Affair. St. Luke Church. Broomall, PA. September 19-23.
  • International Food Festival. St. Philip Church, Souderton, PA. September 21-22.
  • Romanian Food Fest. The Descent of the Holy Spirit Church, Elkins Park, PA. September 22-23.
  • Greek Festival. St. George Church, Media PA. September 27-30.
  • Bustleton Ave Greek Festival. Evangelismos Church, Philadelphia, PA. September 28-30.
  • Regional IOCC Banquet. Adelphia Restaurant. Sunday, October 21, 2018.
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