Meatfare Sunday. March 3, 2019

Κυριακή της Απόκρεω. Το κήρυγμα της Κυριακής εδώ

On March 3 we commemorate the holy Martyrs Eftropios, Kleonikos, and Vasiliskos; the holy Hieromartyr Theodoritos, Presbyter of Antioch; Saints Zeno and Zoilos who died in peace; he devout Saint Piamon the virgin who died in peace.

From the Triodion: On this day, we also remember the second and impartial coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
In Your ineffable love for humanity, O Christ our God, make us worthy of Your auspicious voice, number us among those at Your right hand, and have mercy on us. Amen.

• 8:30 am MATINS, 9:30 am DIVINE LITURGY (Youth serving)
• Memorial prayers will be offered for the repose of the soul of Alexandros Ververeli of blessed memory (40-day).
• The congregation is invited to join in prayer with the family of the departed
• Fellowship hour hosted by Philoptochos.
• A follow-up Spring General Assembly will be held today during the fellowship hour. This is a follow-up assembly to our Monday, February 25 scheduled Spring General Assembly which could not complete all the items on the agenda due to the lack of quorum. All are asked to stay and participate. Invitation here. 2018 Annual Report here.

Tuesday, March 5, 2019

• 5 pm Youth Greek School classes.
• 7 pm Adult Greek language class.
• 7 pm Philoptochos Board meeting.

Wednesday, March 6, 2019

• 7 pm Bible study.

Thursday, March 7, 2019

• 7 pm Choir rehearsal.

Friday, March 8, 2019

• 5 pm Youth Greek School classes.
• 6:30 pm JOY dance practice.
• 6:35 pm GOYA Friday w/Father John.
• 7:30 pm GOYA dance practice.

Saturday, March 9, 2019. The Holy Forty Martyrs of Sebastia

• 8:30 am MATINS 9:30, am DIVINE LITURGY
• 10:30 am Annunciation Lenten Retreat.

Sunday, March 10, 2019. Forgiveness Sunday

• 8:30 am MATINS, 9:30 am DIVINE LITURGY
• Fellowship hour hosted by Greek School.
• Matthew 25 Ministry Lenten Project Starts.
• Council of Youth Ministries.

Who Contributes More than All

"Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in long robes, love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts, who devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation.’ And he looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, and he saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites. So he said, ‘Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had.’” (Lk 20: 46 – 21: 4)

So, our “standing” in our church-community might be one thing in the eyes of people, and quite another thing in the eyes of God. Those of us who, like the scribes, “desire to go around in long robes,” and love getting “the best seats” at church gatherings; and those of us who are wealthy and hence appear to donate “more” to the Church’s “treasury” than do the poorer folks, are not necessarily offering “more,” as far as God is concerned. This also goes for the amount of time and energy we are able/willing to spend at church services and on church-related activities. I might, for example, sing or even conduct in the church-choir, and/or organize the coffee hours after Liturgy, and be active in the parish school. But do I contribute “more” than the single mother who works two jobs, but finds the time to pop into church occasionally, just to put up a candle? Do I contribute “more” than the middle-aged man who suffers from severe depression, ever since his divorce, and yet suits up and shows up at church every now and then, and sits in the back?

I don’t know. God knows, though, because He sees our hearts, and what it takes for some of us to offer of ourselves “out of our poverty.” So if I’m one of these really active, “contributing” members of a church parish, let me abstain from evaluating what others do, or don’t do, in the community. God can see who “has put in more than all,” and that person might go entirely unnoticed by the rest of us.

Sister Vassa
Daily Reflections

e.

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, Matina, George, Madison.

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: Fisfis, Apostolos & Stella; Rivera, Oscar & Fotini.

Χρόνια πολλα!  Happy birthday!   God grant you many years!  To those celebrating this week: Alexandros Fishman Joanna Gonzales, Christopher George, Konstantina Stathis, Magda Hatzis, Lambrini Econome, Nikoleta Kontogeorgos, Eleni Nikolopoulos, Anthony Kanakis, Stacy Lagakos, Anna Makris, Michael Oratis, Penelopi Zografakis, Konstantinos Niamonitos, James Rokos, Maria Rokos, Demetrios Skoutelas, Nicholas Economopoulos, Melina Lucarini.

Great Compline / Απόδειπνο

• Mondays March  11, 18, 25, and April 1, & 8, at 6 pm. 

Great Compline is prayed in monasteries on a daily basis before one retires for sleep. It is prayed in our churches during the Great Lent.  This 45 minute-long service consists mostly of Psalm readings and prayers and ends with the very powerful hymn, “Lord of the Powers, be with us” The service  allows us an opportunity to pray and reflect, seek God’s mercy and forgiveness, and to acknowledge that all our hopes and salvation must be placed in God’s hands. (Bilingual booklets will be available for congregational reading & singing. Please see George Dalagelis if you would like to participate as a reader/singer at the cantor’s stand).

Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts / Λειτουργία των Προηγιασμέμων Δώρων

• Five consecutive Wednesdays starting March 13 and alternating 6 pm, and 9 am every other week. 

Since the Divine Liturgy is a festive and joyous celebration, it is not celebrated on weekdays during Lent, except on the Saturdays of the Souls and the Feast of the Annunciation. However, because Lent is a period of fasting, it should also be a period of more frequent reception of Holy Communion. There is no consecration of the Gifts at this Liturgy (hence the name Pre-sanctified). They have been consecrated on the preceding Sunday at a regular Divine Liturgy. It lasts just over an hour and contains the service of the Ninth Hour and the Vespers, with Holy Communion added at the end. Those who choose to keep the entire fast are encouraged to attend this service and to receive Holy Communion as a way of sustaining the fast by receiving the Body and Blood of Christ even more frequently during this period of spiritual discipline.

The Akathist Hymn to the Mother of God / Ο Ακάθιστος Υμνος εις την Υπεραγία Θεοτόκο

• Five consecutive Fridays beginning March 15, at 6:30 pm.

This service consists of hymns and prayers addressed to Christ and the Theotokos. It is a beautiful poem of praise and devotion to the Mother of our Lord. It was sung in the year 626 in the Church of the Theotokos in Constantinople on the occasion of the deliverance and freedom of the City from the barbarians. It is comprised of 24 stanzas, each beginning with a letter of the Greek alphabet from Alpha to Omega. It is divided into four parts, one part sung on each of the Fridays of Lent (Salutations) and on the fifth Friday, the Hymn is sung in its entirety. It is called "Akathist" because the people, out of love, devotion and gratefulness to the Theotokos, stood during the entire Hymn.

Dear Parishioners, the 50th Anniversary Campaign continues to progress.  A key objective is to use the Campaign as a way to increase engagement among Parishioners and to have 100% participation in the Campaign, so we want to have personal, face to face meetings with families to discuss the history of the Church, what the Church means to each family and to discuss the needs of the Church.  These meetings are a great way to get to know each other better and having done many of them, I have to say they are very enjoyable and informative.  I am pleased to say that we have had over 20 family meetings and have pledges from over 40 families or just over 10% of the Community families.  These pledges total over $800,000 towards our goal of $1,500,000.  I want to thank all the families that have generously pledged thus far.

At the February General Assembly meeting, we informed everyone that the Annunciation/Evangelismos Endowment Fund is now formally established.  Pledges in the 50th Anniversary Campaign can be directed towards the Endowment Fund for long term Missions and Programs or to Current Giving for facilities improvements and expansion of Missions.  Pledges can also be allocated across the Endowment and Current Giving, but payments of pledges are made separately as the Endowment is a separate entity.

We are reaching out to more families to schedule visits to discuss the Campaign if you would like to schedule a visit please feel free to contact me or George Dalagelis in the office.  We will also have an information table set up at the Annunciation Dinner Dance this Saturday where you can get more information and schedule a visit.

Thank you for your support in building the future of our Church!

Dean Dalson

50^th Anniversary Campaign Chairperson

• Greek Orthodox Metropolis of New Jersey
• New York Abortion Law Encyclical