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Annunciation/Evangelismos Church, Elkins Park, PA
Publish Date: 2019-02-10
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Healcanaanitedaughter
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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) 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

Sunday of the Canaanite Woman/Κυριακή της Χαναναίας, February 10, 2019

On February 10, we commemorate the holy Hieromartyr Haralambos; the holy Martyrs Baptos and Porphyrios, who had tortured St. Haralambos and died by the sword; the three holy women who believed [through St. Haralambos] died by the sword; the holy Martyrs and virgins Ennatha, Valentina, and Paul; our father Anastasios, Archbishop of Constantinople; and our devout father Zeno the courier. By the intercessions of Your saints, O God, have mercy on us. Amen.
8:30 am MATINS, 9:30 am DIVINE LITURGY
  • Godparents Sunday
  • Memorial prayers are offered today for the repose of the souls of Hrisoula Gkika (6-months) and Fotina Moller (3-year) of blessed memory. Family and friends are invited to attend
  • Fellowship hour hosted by PTO
Tuesday, February 12, 2019
  • 10 am Matthew 25 Ministry food delivery to Seeds of Hope
  • 5 pm Youth Greek School classes
  • 7 pm Adult Greek language class
Wednesday, February 13, 2019
  • 7 pm Bible study
Thursday, February 14, 2019
  • 7 pm Choir rehearsal
Friday, February 15, 2019
  • 5 pm (No Greek School classes)
  • 6:30 pm JOY dance practice
  • 7:30 pm GOYA dance practice
Saturday, February 16, 2019
  • 10 am Philoptochos OPA baking
  • 3 pm Wedding: Fentross/Dimitriou
Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee, February 17, 2019: Triodion Begins Today
  • 8:30 am MATINS, 9:30 am DIVINE LITURGY
  • Philoptochos Go Red for women and tray collection for heart health
  • Fellowship hour hosted by Greek School
  • Council of Ministries meetings
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Saints and Feasts

Healcanaanitedaughter
February 10

Sunday of the Canaanite


10_charalambos1
February 10

Hieromartyr Haralambos

This Saint was a priest of the Christians in Magnesia, the foremost city of Thessaly, in the diocese having the same name. He contested during the reign of Alexander Severus (222-235), when Lucian was Proconsul of Magnesia. At the time of his martyrdom the Saint was 103 years of age.

St. Haralampus is commemorated on February 10th, with the exception when this date falls on the Saturday of the Souls preceding Lent or on Clean Monday (the first day of Lent), in which case the feast is celebrated on February 9th.


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Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Fourth Mode

The women disciples of the Lord heard from the angel, the joyful news of the Resurrection and the repeal of the sentence imposed upon our forefathers. With pride they said to the Apostles, "Death is vanquished, Christ our God is risen bestowing upon the world His great mercy."
Τὸ φαιδρὸν τῆς Ἀναστάσεως κήρυγμα, ἐκ τοῦ Ἀγγέλου μαθοῦσαι αἱ τοῦ Κυρίου Μαθήτριαι, καὶ τὴν προγονικὴν ἀπόφασιν ἀπορρίψασαι, τοῖς Ἀποστόλοις καυχώμεναι ἔλεγον· Ἐσκύλευται ὁ θάνατος, ἠγέρθη Χριστὸς ὁ Θεός, δωρούμενος τῷ κόσμῳ τὸ μέγα ἔλεος.

Apolytikion for Hieromartyr Haralambos in the Fourth Mode

O wise Haralambos, you were proven an unshakable pillar of the Church of Christ; an ever-shining lamp of the universe. You shone in the world by your martyrdom. You delivered us from the moonless night of idolatry O blessed one. Wherefore, boldly intercede to Christ that we may be saved.
Ως στύλος ακλόνητος, τής Εκκλησίας Χριστού, καί λύχνος αείφωτος τής οικουμένης σοφέ, εδείχθης Χαράλαμπες, έλαμψας εν τώ κόσμω, διά τού μαρτυρίου, έλυσας τών ειδώλων, τήν σκοτόμαιναν μάκαρ, διό εν παρρησία Χριστώ, πρέσβευε σωθήναι ημας.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Second Mode

O Protection of Christians that cannot be put to shame, mediation unto the creator most constant: O despise not the voices of those who have sinned; but be quick, O good one, to come unto our aid, who in faith cry unto thee: Hasten to intercession and speed thou to make supplication, O thou who dost ever protect, O Theotokos, them that honor thee.
Προστασία τῶν Χριστιανῶν ἀκαταίσχυντε, μεσιτεία πρὸς τὸν Ποιητὴν ἀμετάθετε. Μὴ παρίδῃς ἁμαρτωλῶν δεήσεων φωνάς, ἀλλὰ πρόφθασον, ὡς ἀγαθή, εἰς τὴν βοήθειαν ἡμῶν, τῶν πιστῶς κραυγαζόντων σοι· Τάχυνον εἰς πρεσβείαν, καὶ σπεῦσον εἰς ἱκεσίαν, ἡ προστατεύουσα ἀεί, Θεοτόκε, τῶν τιμώντων σε.
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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. Grave Mode. Psalm 63.11,1.
The righteous shall rejoice in the Lord.
Verse: Oh God, hear my cry.

The reading is from St. Paul's Second Letter to Timothy 2:1-10.

Timothy, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me before many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier on service gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to satisfy the one who enlisted him. An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. It is the hardworking farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. Think over what I say, for the Lord will grant you understanding in everything.

Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descended from David, as preached in my gospel, the gospel for which I am suffering and wearing fetters like a criminal. But the word of God is not fettered. Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain salvation in Christ Jesus with its eternal glory.

Προκείμενον. Grave Mode. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 63.11,1.
Εὐφρανθήσεται δίκαιος ἐν Κυρίῳ.
Στίχ. Εἰσάκουσον, ὁ Θεός, τῆς φωνῆς μου.

τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς Τιμόθεον β' 2:1-10.

Τέκνον Τιμόθεε, ἐνδυναμοῦ ἐν τῇ χάριτι τῇ ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ. Καὶ ἃ ἤκουσας παρʼ ἐμοῦ διὰ πολλῶν μαρτύρων, ταῦτα παράθου πιστοῖς ἀνθρώποις, οἵτινες ἱκανοὶ ἔσονται καὶ ἑτέρους διδάξαι. Σὺ οὖν κακοπάθησον ὡς καλὸς στρατιώτης Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ. Οὐδεὶς στρατευόμενος ἐμπλέκεται ταῖς τοῦ βίου πραγματείαις, ἵνα τῷ στρατολογήσαντι ἀρέσῃ. Ἐὰν δὲ καὶ ἀθλῇ τις, οὐ στεφανοῦται ἐὰν μὴ νομίμως ἀθλήσῃ. Τὸν κοπιῶντα γεωργὸν δεῖ πρῶτον τῶν καρπῶν μεταλαμβάνειν. Νόει ἃ λέγω· δῴη γάρ σοι ὁ κύριος σύνεσιν ἐν πᾶσιν. Μνημόνευε Ἰησοῦν Χριστὸν ἐγηγερμένον ἐκ νεκρῶν, ἐκ σπέρματος Δαυίδ, κατὰ τὸ εὐαγγέλιόν μου· ἐν ᾧ κακοπαθῶ μέχρι δεσμῶν, ὡς κακοῦργος· ἀλλʼ ὁ λόγος τοῦ θεοῦ οὐ δέδεται. Διὰ τοῦτο πάντα ὑπομένω διὰ τοὺς ἐκλεκτούς, ἵνα καὶ αὐτοὶ σωτηρίας τύχωσιν τῆς ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ, μετὰ δόξης αἰωνίου.


Gospel Reading

Sunday of the Canaanite
The Reading is from Matthew 15:21-28

At that time, Jesus went to the district of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and cried, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely possessed by a demon." But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, "Send her away, for she is crying after us." He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." But she came and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, help me." And he answered, "It is not fair to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs." She said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master's table." Then Jesus answered her, "O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire." And her daughter was healed instantly.

Sunday of the Canaanite
Κατὰ Ματθαῖον 15:21-28

Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, ἐξελθὼν ἐκεῖθεν ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς ἀνεχώρησεν εἰς τὰ μέρη Τύρου καὶ Σιδῶνος. καὶ ἰδοὺ γυνὴ Χαναναία ἀπὸ τῶν ὁρίων ἐκείνων ἐξελθοῦσα ἐκραύγαζεν αὐτῷ λέγουσα· ἐλέησόν με, Κύριε, υἱὲ Δαυΐδ· ἡ θυγάτηρ μου κακῶς δαιμονίζεται. ὁ δὲ οὐκ ἀπεκρίθη αὐτῇ λόγον. καὶ προσελθόντες οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ ἠρώτων αὐτὸν λέγοντες· ἀπόλυσον αὐτήν, ὅτι κράζει ὄπισθεν ἡμῶν. ὁ δὲ ἀποκριθεὶς εἶπεν· οὐκ ἀπεστάλην εἰ μὴ εἰς τὰ πρόβατα τὰ ἀπολωλότα οἴκου ᾿Ισραήλ. ἡ δὲ ἐλθοῦσα προσεκύνησεν αὐτῷ λέγουσα· Κύριε, βοήθει μοι. ὁ δὲ ἀποκριθεὶς εἶπεν· οὐκ ἔστι καλὸν λαβεῖν τὸν ἄρτον τῶν τέκνων καὶ βαλεῖν τοῖς κυναρίοις. ἡ δὲ εἶπε· ναί, Κύριε· καὶ γὰρ τὰ κυνάρια ἐσθίει ἀπὸ τῶν ψυχίων τῶν πιπτόντων ἀπὸ τῆς τραπέζης τῶν κυρίων αὐτῶν. τότε ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτῇ· ὦ γύναι, μεγάλη σου ἡ πίστις! γενηθήτω σοι ὡς θέλεις. καὶ ἰάθη ἡ θυγάτηρ αὐτῆς ἀπὸ τῆς ὥρας ἐκείνης.


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Community News & Events

Looking Ahead Beyond Next Week...

  • Triodion (pre-Lenten preparation): Starts on Sunday, February 17.
  • Young at Heart Pre-lenten Luncheon & Speaker: Wednesday, February 20.
  • Greek Education Seminar: Saturday, February 23, at St. Thomas, Cherry Hill.
  • Del Val JOY Bible Bowl: Saturday, February 23, at St. Luke, Broomall.
  • Spring General Assembly of Our Parishioners: Monday, February 25. Invitation here. 2018 Annual Report here.
  • Saturdays of Souls: March 2, 9, 16.
  • Annual March 25th Dinner Dance: Saturday, March 2, in our community center. Look for your invitation in the mail.
  • Lenten Retreat (with Dr. Papanikolaou, from Fordham U): Saturday, March 9.
  • Holy and Great Lent: Starts on Clean Monday, March 11.
  • Regional Sights & Sounds Youth Arts Festival: Saturday, March 23, at Holy Trinity Church, Egg Harbor, NJ.
  • Greek School March 25th Greek Independence Day Program: Sunday, March 24.
  • Annunciation/Evangelismos Feast Day & Greek Independence Day: Monday, March 25.
  • Philadelphia Greek Independence Day Parade: Sunday, April 7.
  • Holy Week-Pascha: April 21-28.

Philoptochos News & Events

Go Red Sunday – February 17, 2019

The Ladies Philoptochos ‘Nausica’ continues its commitment to Go Red for Women, the American Heart Association’s national call to increase awareness and help prevent heart disease, the number one killer of American women. This is a call for women, by women, to take charge of their well-being and live stronger, healthier lives.

We invite all of our parishioners to show support for this important mission to increase awareness and help prevent heart disease in women by wearing red, the color of our hearts, on Go Red Sunday, February 17, 2019, when attending church services. We will also be taking a collection that day to benefit the American Heart Association.

Our Heartfelt Thanks

We are grateful and extend our heartfelt thanks to all of our parishioners who so generously supported our Homemade Pita sale on February 3rd. 

A special thanks to Olga Econome, Chair, Dea Papadopoulos, Maria Mountis, Dora Mikroulis, Kiki Malitas, Vaso Trifonidis, Noula Spyrou, Panagoula Economou and Vaso Vagelaras who devoted their time and talent to prepare the homemade filo and pita - may God bless your hands! 

Many thanks to the following Philoptochos women who worked in the kitchen and served the day of the Pita sale - Olga Econome, Maria Mountis, Dea Papadopoulos, Diane Saphos, Stella Fisfis, Stella Nikolopoulos. Maria Grigorakakis, Kiki Malitas, and Angela Vlahos.

We appreciate the generosity of Ari Mountis, Dea Papadopoulos, Magda Bougioukas and George Stathopoulos who donated food supplies for the pita and salad. 

Thank you to all for supporting our endeavors.

2019 Membership Drive

The Ladies Philoptochos 'Nausica' annual Membership Drive has begun and we ask that you submit your 2019 Membership Dues. If you are not currently a member we kindly invite you to become a member of our Philoptochos chapter this year. It is our sincere hope that all female stewards of our parish will join us as we seek to fulfill the mission of Philoptochos.  Male stewards are invited to support our Philoptochos chapter as an Associate Member.

We hope that you will consider supporting us with your membership in Philoptochos ‘Nausica’ this year as we continue our Philanthropic endeavors and outreach to those in need.

Membership letters are being mailed and Philoptochos members will be available during the Kalisorisma/Fellowship hour. Please contact Stella Nikolopoulos or Dora Mikroulis, Membership Co-Chairs with any questions.


Mathew 25 Ministry News

Dear parishioners and ministry leaders of Annunciation: 
We sincerely thank all your efforts to spread the word as well as your generous contributions to support IOCC’s campaign against hunger. The non-perishable canned goods collected on Super Bowl Sunday, as well as your monetary donations, made this endeavor a success yet another year. 
All canned goods collected, will be delivered by or diligent “Matthew 25” ministry team, to Seeds of Hope food pantry, on February 12th (please follow the link below for their signup genius page for more information on how you can help). In addition to the food collection, we were able to raise $450 from your generous contributions which will directly go to support IOCC and their food drive campaign against hunger.
 
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!    
 
Learn more at iocc.org/souperbowl
 
MATTHEW 25 SIGNUP GENIUS:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c054ba5a729a20-matthew

 


"Young At Heart" (65+ parishioners) News

Prelenten Luncheon & Speaker, February 20

On Wednesday, February 20, 2019, our Young At Heart Ministry once again is hosting a speaker from Rothman Institute Abington Jefferson Healthcare.
Dr. Daniel Kraft, Orthopedic Surgeon, will speak on issues of interest to us all. Our program will begin promptly at 12 noon. Please arrive by 11:30 AM. Pizza and dessert will be served.
Your response will be appreciated by Sunday, February 17, to ensure an accurate account of attendees.
Agnes Louridas, (215) 947-2992, Helen Papanicolaou, (215) 646-8752.
We look forward to seeing you!

“Offering a social and supportive network and fostering relationships among our 65 and older members”

Annual Feast Day and March 25 Celebration Dinner

Saturday, March 2, 2019.
Join us for dinner, music, and dancing!
Look for your invitation in the mail.


Saturday of Souls — March 2nd, 9th, 16th.

Please submit, in person, names to be commemorated on the specific Saturday of Souls you are attending. Matins begins at 8:30 am, and we kindly ask that kolyva (memorial wheat) and/or names be brought to church no later than 9 am on Saturday morning.   The ushers on duty will be there to assist you.

Memorial Prayer Card here. Please clearly print or type the baptismal name to be commemorated.

Fr. John will be offering graveside Trisagion prayers at Lawnview Cemetery after the divine liturgy only on the first Saturday, March 2nd.


New Sunday Inclement Weather Policy

In our ongoing efforts to serve our community as best as we can, in the event of a snowfall we are implementing an OPENING ONE HOUR LATE option for Sunday liturgy to give everyone extra time to drive to church safely.

What this means for you:

  1. Sunday services will start an hour later: Matins at 9:30, liturgy at 10:30 am.
  2. Based on the weather forecast, a decision will be made by Fr. John and the Parish Council by Saturday noon if there is a need to go to OPENING ONE HOUR LATE for Sunday.
  3. If the snowfall is such that the roads are dangerous, Sunday services may be CANCELLED all together.
  4. You will be notified by email Saturday afternoon if we are OPENING ONE HOUR LATE, or if Sunday services are CANCELLED all together.
  5. A message will also be posted on our webpage, Facebook page, and church voice mail.
  6. The time change and message will apply to all Sunday activities. 
  7. If you do not receive a message from church on Saturday, it means that liturgy times are normal on Sunday.
  8. As always, please use your best judgment when you choose to drive in snow, drive safely and remember: the ‘turtle’ wins this race!

We are also pleased to inform you that we have a new snow plowing company that takes care of our parking lot, sidewalks, pathways, and entrances to our church building. In the event of snowfall, everything will be cleaned and properly salted prior to Sunday’s liturgy and every weekday liturgy and church activity.


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, George, Chryssie, Sandra, Donna, Anthony, Alice, Eugene, George, Patrick, Anne, Virginia, Irene, Konstantinos, Sophia, Dimitrios, Yianni.

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

Happy wedding anniversary to those celebrating this week: Hatzigeorgiou, Ioannis & Ashley; Cardenas, Geovanny & Maria; Avrich, Michael & Evangelia; Romano, James & Katerina; Rokos, James & Maria.

Χρόνια πολλα!  Happy birthday!   God grant you many years!  To those celebrating this week: Maria Frangetis, Maria Kanakis, Fotios Malliaris, Eugenia Spyrou, Michael Browne, Anna Dalson, Angelo Horatagis, Krystin Avgiris, Soteria Douris, Maria Karidas, John Koutsouros, Isabelle Lambrou, John Metzger, Alexandra Siokos, Christos Angelis, Nicole Oquendo, Renee Pahides-Zissios, Evan Pappas, Leontios Bougioukas, Ioannis Hatzigeorgiou, Kiriakos Zanikos, John Anagnostakos, Harry Bandy, Chrisanthi Hatzopoulos, Kimberly Koutsouradis, Eleftherios Malitas, Frank James Petronis, Efstathia Siokos, Michael Sjostedt, Dana Vellios, Ioannis Zoubroulis, Lawrence Damian, Erica Koutsouros, Despina Zanikos.

We offer our deepest sympathy to the Markos family for the loss of their beloved father and grandfather, Efthimios Athanas,  87, who reposed in the Lord on February 5, 2019. Please see obituary here. Services will be at St. Luke Church in Broomall this Saturday, February 9. May his memory be everlasting. 

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Greek Orthodox Metropolis of New Jersey

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Spiritual Wisdom

 

The Generous Soul (part 4 of 4)

by Mark R. McMinn

Insights and articles to help us develop a mindset of generosity, and the true meaning of Stewardship

Spiritually-Rooted Generosity

If science reminds us that gratitude and generosity are good for our health, faith reminds us that good health is not the main point of either. We are called into this loop of abundant living where we celebrate God’s grace, revealed most fully in Jesus. This is a rooted generosity, a deeply relational experience emerging from the incarnation where we encounter God as the source and sustainer of all good gifts. Our only reasonable response is the sort of gratefulness that leads to loving God and neighbor.

True generosity cannot be measured by the amount of money spent on Christmas gifts. One might even argue that overspending at Christmastime creates a foothold for the miser to take control the rest of the year as credit card bills start rolling in. Rather, this is a full-life generosity authored by a God who goes to unfathomable extremes to be in a relationship with us.

A generous soul emerges from the grateful part of us, mindful of the gifts of every day, immersed in the grace of Jesus.

Mark R. McMinn is a professor of psychology at George Fox University and author of The Science of Virtue: Why Positive Psychology Matters to the Church (Brazos Press, 2017).

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Capital Improvement Projects and 50th Anniversary Campaign Update

As we begin the new year, we want to update you about the progress of our 50th Anniversary Campaign. Our campaign is about the future of our community at Annunciation/Evangelismos. Together, we are ensuring that current and future generations will continue to count on our Parish to enrich our faith, our lives, and provide a welcoming Orthodox home to all of us. This campaign is not only about today but also about planting seeds that will sprout and flourish in the future.

The Campaign has two fundamental objectives.  The obvious one is to raise the financial resources to address the needs of our Church and community, both in terms of the facilities as well as Ministries and programs. The other is to strengthen the ties within our community by engaging as many parishioners as possible in discussions of what the Church means to us all, and how we want to develop it for future generations.  Our goal is to have 100% parishioner participation in the campaign.

2018 saw our campaign off to an incredible start. We outlined our initial critical needs, namely repair of leaks to the roof, and replacement of the 50-year old HVAC system. Through the generous support of our initial donors, and some short-term financing, we are happy to say that both the roof has been repaired and the HVAC replaced. To the generous members who have supported our 50th Anniversary Campaign thus far with over $700,000 in pledges through the end of January, we offer a heartfelt thank you. You have helped build momentum for our campaign and done even more for the future of our sacred home.  Additionally, we began the work of creating a dedicated Endowment Fund which has just been legally formalized.  You will be hearing more about the Endowment Fund over the next few weeks.

We are grateful to our initial donors for taking the lead in ensuring our future and we also want to thank the many volunteers that have been hard at work in our Marketing Committee, the Endowment Creation Committee, and others.  Over the next few months, we will update you more about the progress of the Campaign, about our plans for the future and will also provide interesting highlights about the work of the committees.

Sincerely,

Dean Dalson

50th Anniversary Campaign Chair

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