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Annunciation/Evangelismos Church, Elkins Park, PA
Publish Date: 2019-01-06
Bulletin Contents
Weekend Update
Saints and Feasts
Hymns of the Day
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Community News & Events
Bulletin Inserts
Focus on Our Church Family
ΟΠΑ 2019 Greek Food Fest
Greek Orthodox Metropolis of New Jersey
06_epiphany
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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

Presiding Priest: Rev. Fr. John L. Johns


frjohn@anngoc.org | (215) 635-0316

Services Schedule

We meet for divine worship every Sunday morning starting with Orthros (Matins) 8:30, Divine Liturgy 9:30-11AM, 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

Theophany Eve, Friday, January 4, 2019

  • 9 am ROYAL HOURS OF THEOPHANY.
  • 5 pm Youth Greek School classes.
  • 6 pm VESPERAL DIVINE LITURGY with AGIASMOS-BLESSING OF THE WATERS.

Saturday, January 5, 2019

  • 8:30 am Visitation, followed by funeral at 10 am for Katina Chokas of blessed memory

Sunday, January 6, 2019 Theophany of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ

  • 8:30 am MATINS, 9:30 am DIVINE LITURGY with AGIASMOS-BLESSING OF THE WATERS.
  • Fellowship hour hosted by Philoptochos.

Monday, January 7, 2019 Synaxis of John the Holy Glorious Prophet, Baptist, & Forerunner

  • 8:30 am MATINS, 9:30 am DIVINE LITURGY.
Tuesday, January 8, 2019
  • 5 pm Youth Greek School classes.
  • 7 pm Adult Greek language class.
  • 7 pm Philoptochos Board meeting.

Wednesday, January 9, 2019

  • 7 pm Bible study reconvenes!
Thursday, January 10, 2019
  • 7 pm Choir rehearsal.
  • 7:30 pm Del Val Youth Commission meeting at St. Thomas, Cherry Hill.
Friday, January 11, 2019
  • 5 pm Youth Greek School classes.
  • 6:30 pm JOY dance practice.
  • 6:30 pm Friday w/Father John.
  • 7:30 pm GOYA dance practice.

Sunday after Theophany, January 13, 2019

  • 8:30 am MATINS, 9:30 am DIVINE LITURGY.
  • Philoptochos annual vasilopita celebration & tray collection to benefit St. Basil's Academy– All ministry leaders are invited to attend.
  • Fellowship hour hosted by GOYA.
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Saints and Feasts

06_epiphany
January 06

The Theophany of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ

About the beginning of our Lord's thirtieth year, John the Forerunner, who was some six months older than Our Saviour according to the flesh, and had lived in the wilderness since his childhood, received a command from God and came into the parts of the Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance unto the remission of sins. Then our Saviour also came from Galilee to the Jordan, and sought and received baptism though He was the Master and John was but a servant. Whereupon, there came to pass those marvellous deeds, great and beyond nature: the Heavens were opened, the Spirit descended in the form of a dove upon Him that was being baptized and the voice was heard from the Heavens hearing witness that this was the beloved Son of God, now baptized as a man (Matt. 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:1-22). From these events the Divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ and the great mystery of the Trinity were demonstrated. It is also from this that the present feast is called "Theophany," that is, the divine manifestation, God's appearance among men. On this venerable day the sacred mystery of Christian baptism was inaugurated; henceforth also began the saving preaching of the Kingdom of the Heavens.

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Hymns of the Day

Apolytikion for Holy Epiphany in the First Mode

Lord, when You were baptized in the Jordan, the veneration of the Trinity was revealed. For the voice of the Father gave witness to You, calling You Beloved, and the Spirit, in the guise of a dove, confirmed the certainty of His words. Glory to You, Christ our God, who appeared and enlightened the world.
Ἐν Ἰορδάνῃ βαπτιζομένου σου Κύριε, ἡ τῆς Τριάδος ἐφανερώθη προσκύνησις, τοῦ γὰρ Γεννήτορος ἡ φωνὴ προσεμαρτύρει σοί, ἀγαπητὸν σὲ Υἱὸν ὀνομάζουσα, καὶ τὸ Πνεῦμα ἐν εἴδει περιστεράς, ἐβεβαίου τοῦ λόγου τὸ ἀσφαλές. Ὁ ἐπιφανεῖς Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός, καὶ τὸν κόσμον φωτίσας δόξα σοί.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Fourth Mode

You appeared to the world today, and Your light, O Lord, has left its mark upon us. With fuller understanding we sing to You: "You came, You were made manifest, the unapproachable light."
Ἐπεφάνης σήμερον τὴ οἰκουμένη, καὶ τὸ φῶς σου Κύριε, ἐσημειώθη ἐφ' ἡμᾶς, ἓν ἐπιγνώσει ὑμνούντάς σε. Ἦλθες ἐφάνης τὸ Φῶς τὸ ἀπρόσιτον.
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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

The Theophany of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ
The Reading is from Mark 1:9-11

At that time, Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens opened and the Spirit descending upon him like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, "You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased."

The Theophany of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ
Κατὰ Μᾶρκον 1:9-11

Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, ἦλθεν ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς ἀπὸ Ναζαρὲτ τῆς Γαλιλαίας καὶ ἐβαπτίσθη ὑπὸ ᾿Ιωάννου εἰς τὸν ᾿Ιορδάνην. καὶ εὐθέως ἀναβαίνων ἀπὸ τοῦ ὕδατος εἶδε σχιζομένους τοὺς οὐρανοὺς καὶ τὸ Πνεῦμα ὡς περιστερὰν καταβαῖνον ἐπ᾿ αὐτόν· καὶ φωνὴ ἐγένετο ἐκ τῶν οὐρανῶν· σὺ εἶ ὁ υἱός μου ὁ ἀγαπητός, ἐν σοὶ ηὐδόκησα.

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Fourth Mode. Psalm 117.26,1.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Verse: Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His mercy endures forever.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to Titus 2:11-14; 3:4-7.

TITUS, my son, the grace of God has appeared for the salvation of all men, training us to renounce irreligion and worldly passions, and to live sober, upright, and godly lives in this world, awaiting our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of the great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all iniquity and to purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds.

But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of deeds done by us in righteousness, but in virtue of his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal in the Holy Spirit, which he poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that we might be justified by his grace and become heirs in hope of eternal life.

Προκείμενον. Fourth Mode. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 117.26,1.
Εὐλογημένος ὁ ἐρχόμενος ἐν ὀνόματι Κυρίου.
Στίχ. Στίχ. Ἐξομολογεῖσθε τῷ Κυρίῳ ὅτι ἀγαθὸς, ὅτι εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα τὸ ἔλεος αὐτοῦ.

τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Τίτον 2:11-14, 3:4-7.

Τέκνον Τίτε, ἐπεφάνη γὰρ ἡ χάρις τοῦ Θεοῦ ἡ σωτήριος πᾶσιν ἀνθρώποις, παιδεύουσα ἡμᾶς ἵνα ἀρνησάμενοι τὴν ἀσέβειαν καὶ τὰς κοσμικὰς ἐπιθυμίας σωφρόνως καὶ δικαίως καὶ εὐσεβῶς ζήσωμεν ἐν τῷ νῦν αἰῶνι, προσδεχόμενοι τὴν μακαρίαν ἐλπίδα καὶ ἐπιφάνειαν τῆς δόξης τοῦ μεγάλου Θεοῦ καὶ σωτῆρος ἡμῶν ᾿Ιησοῦ Χριστοῦ, ὃς ἔδωκεν ἑαυτὸν ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν, ἵνα λυτρώσηται ἡμᾶς ἀπὸ πάσης ἀνομίας καὶ καθαρίσῃ ἑαυτῷ λαὸν περιούσιον, ζηλωτὴν καλῶν ἔργων.

ὅτε δὲ ἡ χρηστότης καὶ ἡ φιλανθρωπία ἐπεφάνη τοῦ σωτῆρος ἡμῶν Θεοῦ, οὐκ ἐξ ἔργων τῶν ἐν δικαιοσύνῃ ὧν ἐποιήσαμεν ἡμεῖς, ἀλλὰ κατὰ τὸν αὐτοῦ ἔλεον ἔσωσεν ἡμᾶς διὰ λουτροῦ παλιγγενεσίας καὶ ἀνακαινώσεως Πνεύματος ῾Αγίου, οὗ ἐξέχεεν ἐφ᾽ ἡμᾶς πλουσίως διὰ ᾿Ιησοῦ Χριστοῦ τοῦ σωτῆρος ἡμῶν, ἵνα δικαιωθέντες τῇ ἐκείνου χάριτι κληρονόμοι γενώμεθα κατ᾽ ἐλπίδα ζωῆς αἰωνίου.

Gospel Reading

The Theophany of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ
The Reading is from Matthew 3:13-17

At that time, Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" But Jesus answered him, "Let it be so now; for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he consented. And when Jesus was baptized, he went up immediately from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and alighting on him; and lo, a voice from heaven, saying, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."

The Theophany of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ
Κατὰ Ματθαῖον 3:13-17

Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, παραγίνεται ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς ἀπὸ τῆς Γαλιλαίας ἐπὶ τὸν ᾿Ιορδάνην πρὸς τὸν ᾿Ιωάννην τοῦ βαπτισθῆναι ὑπ᾿ αὐτοῦ. ὁ δὲ ᾿Ιωάννης διεκώλυεν αὐτὸν λέγων· ἐγὼ χρείαν ἔχω ὑπὸ σοῦ βαπτισθῆναι, καὶ σὺ ἔρχῃ πρός με; ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς εἶπε πρὸς αὐτόν· ἄφες ἄρτι· οὕτω γὰρ πρέπον ἐστὶν ἡμῖν πληρῶσαι πᾶσαν δικαιοσύνην· τότε ἀφίησιν αὐτόν· καὶ βαπτισθεὶς ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς ἀνέβη εὐθὺς ἀπὸ τοῦ ὕδατος· καὶ ἰδοὺ ἀνεῴχθησαν αὐτῷ οἱ οὐρανοί, καὶ εἶδε τὸ Πνεῦμα τοῦ Θεοῦ καταβαῖνον ὡσεὶ περιστερὰν καὶ ἐρχόμενον ἐπ᾿ αὐτόν· καὶ ἰδοὺ φωνὴ ἐκ τῶν οὐρανῶν λέγουσα· οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ υἱός μου ὁ ἀγαπητός, ἐν ᾧ εὐδόκησα.

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Community News & Events

Philoptochos News & Events

Philoptochos & PTO Holiday Dinner - Please join us at our annual Holiday Dinner on Monday, January 14, 2019, at KC Prime Restaurant, 1580 Easton Road, Warrington, PA. Please RSVP by January 8, 2019, 2019 to Stella Nikolopoulos 215-850-4066 or Anna Dalson 215-260-8251.


Thank You!

On behalf of the PTO, we would like to thank the Annunciation community for supporting our youth ministry through our Vasilopita and annual baked goods sale. A special thank you goes to our bakers who presented us with a variety of delicious sweets: Maria Mountis, Venetia Voutsinos, Anastasia Niamontios, Dea Papadopoulos, Dimitra Ganas, Angela Gaugler, Maria Frangetis, Vrisida Nanos, and Fotini Tsikoudis.
Happy New Year to All!

GOYA News

Thank You!

On behalf of John B. Stetson Middle School, I would like to thank our GOYANS for their generosity. You brought smiles and joy to our students who might not have gotten anything this Christmas. One student was overheard saying to another, "...see, we prayed and God heard us." 

Sincerely,  Eugenia Giannoumis


Mathew 25 Ministry News

A Heartfelt Thank You from Matthew 25 

We would like to wish everyone a very Happy & Healthy New Year! Matthew 25 would also like to express their gratitude to all of you who participated in our Angel Tree this holiday season. As a church family, we brought so much joy to so many families. We have received notes of thanks from individuals who couldn’t believe the kindness and generosity given to them from complete strangers. One particular family suggested “paying it forward” one day. The gift cards received will continue to provide people in need with items necessary to make life more comfortable.
We love the enthusiasm that comes with the spirit of giving during Christmas. We hope that this spirit of giving will continue throughout the year.
January and February are generally very difficult months for the food pantry. People assume that their donations will carry the pantry over for months. Unfortunately, shelves become bare by next week. We will be making our monthly delivery on 1/15/19. Consider items like peanut butter, cereal, pasta sauce, pasta, soup, and anything else that can fill up bellies and warm you up and sustain you on a cold day. We are so thankful to all of you for all that you do! Thank you for giving Annunciation the opportunity to change lives and fight hunger throughout the year. God bless you this New Year and always!


Please Mark Your Calendars for Godparents Sunday- February 10th, 2019

Serving as a godparent is a great blessing and spiritual responsibility. And if we allow Him to, God nurtures special spiritual relationships between godchildren and godparents and with their families as well.
Celebrating Godparents Sunday is one way of renewing and reaffirming our relationship with God and the special relationships we enjoy with our godparents and godchildren. Please make plans to participate in the Divine Liturgy with your godchild/godparent on Sunday, Feb 10, 2019.
Reception to follow sponsored by Annunciation PTO.

Help Wanted: Church Sexton/Caretaker

Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Elkins Park, PA is seeking a full or part-time Sexton/Caretaker.

The qualified applicant will have a demonstrated knowledge of building cleaning, building maintenance, basic repairs, grounds care, and kitchen and banquet hall setup and cleanup. He/She must be trustworthy, reliable, willing to follow instructions, and be able to work flexible working hours with minimal supervision.

For further information and consideration, please contact Parish Council President Mrs. Cathy Avgiris, 215-635-0316.

H Ελληνική Ορθόδοξη Εκκλησία Ευαγγελισμός της Θεοτόκου στο Elkins Park, PA, ζητά να προσλάβει Νεωκόρο/ Eπιστάτη, πλήρους ή μερικής απασχόλησης.

Ο/Η κατάλληλος/η υποψήφιος/α πρέπει να κατέχει βασικές γνώσεις καθαρισμού και συντήρησης οικοδομής, γνώσεις βασικών επισκευών, και προετοιμασίας και καθαρισμού κουζίνας και αίθουσας. Πρέπει να είναι ειλικρινής, αξιόπιστος/η, να ακολουθεί οδηγίες πρόθυμα, να μπορεί να εργάζεται με ελάχιστη επίβλεψη και να είναι προσαρμόσιμος/η σε ευέλικτο ωράριο.

Για περαιτέρω πληροφορίες  και ραντεβού για συνέντευξη, παρακαλώ απευθυνθείτε στην πρόεδρο του Κοινοτικού Συμβουλίου κ. Αικατερίνη Αυγήρη, 215-635-0316


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Bulletin Inserts

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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, Antonios, Sophia, Stephen, Gina, Anthony, George, Chryssie, Sandra, Donna, Anthony, Alice, Eugene, George, Patrick, Anne, Virginia, Irene, Konstantinos, Efthimios, Sophia.

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, the 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. 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: Gregory Costa, Margo Konugres, Fotis Malitas, Haralambos Matraszek, Theofanis Skarvelis, Douglas Heinze, Anthony Malamas, Mary Gilliland, Markos Mavrakis, Ella Petronis, Anthony Poulos, Giorgo Koulouris, Susan Lagakos, Christina Staurinos, Despina Twyman, George Wrigley, Joann Samios, Leonidas Bavas, Eleni Costa, Charles Millili, Penelope Otto.

Happy wedding anniversary to those celebrating this week: Kytzidis, Demetra & Christos; Economou, Sanja & William.

Congratulations! to Kathryn and Anthony Limberakis on the baptism of their daughter, Evangeline, on December 22, 2018. Andrea Tsatalis and Jonathan Limberakis are the godparents.

Our deepest sympathy:

  1. To the Mikedis and Fentross families for the repose of Efthimios Mikedis, 89, who died in Greece on December 23, 2018. The funeral was held in Chios, Greece.
  2. To the Halkias family for the repose of Nicholas Halkias, 89, on December 23, 2018. The funeral was held at Annunciation Church on Thursday, January 3, 2019.
  3. To the Chokas, Levendis, and Hirst families for the repose of Katina Chokas, 72, on December 31, 2018. The funeral will be at Annunciation Church on Saturday, January 5, 2019. May their memory be eternal
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ΟΠΑ 2019 Greek Food Fest

Yes, it is time to start planning for OPA 2019!

The OPA Organizing Team is holding the first OPA 2019 planning meeting on Tuesday, January 15, 6 pm at the church.

The meeting is open to all who are interested in being part of our OPA Organizing Team and offering their time and talent to help organize this event.

We will be focusing on these items:

  1. Review the overall structure of the event and identify areas that need improvement.
  2. Identify a co-chair of OPA who will work closely and assist OPA chairman, Peter Gouris.
  3. Identify a chair & co-chair for the 2019 OPA Journal.
  4. Identify a donations chairman who will work with the OPA Team to help us maximize our food donations and tent sponsorships.
  5. Identify and assign chairs for:
      • Supplies
      • Baking
      • Kitchen
      • Restaurant
      • Grill/ Souvlaki
      • Bar/Beer Garden
      • Volunteers/Labor
      • Advertising
      • Entertainment
      • Vendors

Peter Gouris will be delighted to hear you are interested in being a part of the OPA Team!

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Greek Orthodox Metropolis of New Jersey

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