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.
As I have updated you, we have an architectural firm working on a Master Plan for the facility to find ways to address our needs for an elevator, larger bathrooms, storage space and updates to the Social Hall, Kitchen, and Classrooms.
The architects have interviewed various ministry leaders and have been developing concepts. On Saturday, June 8, we will hold a design workshop and are asking for your participation in the workshop.
The purpose of the workshop is to help review the design concepts and to provide input on what you like or don’t like about the designs and to help prioritize what should be included or left out as we continue to develop the concepts. The details of the meeting are:
11:00 AM– 4:00 PM in the Church Hall
Agenda
This is a great opportunity to directly influence the design concepts in creating the future of our Church and facilities. Please join us and participate in developing the designs and creating our future! Feel free to contact me if you have any questions, you can reach me at cdalson@comcast.net or 408-421-4921.
Thanks
Dean Dalson
50th Anniversary Campaign Chairperson
On June 9 we commemorate our Father among the Saints Cyril, Archbishop of Alexandria.
From the Pentecostarion: On this day, the seventh Sunday of Pascha, we celebrate the First Ecumenical Synod in Nicaea of the three hundred eighteen God-bearing Fathers. By the intercession of the three hundred and eighteen God-bearing Fathers, O Christ our God, have mercy on us. Amen.
On this day we commemorate Saint Cyril's falling asleep. On January 18 we commemorate the occasion of the Saint's restoration to his see in Alexandria after he had suffered a brief exile because of the machinations of the Nestorians. Shortly thereafter the Third Ecumenical Council was convoked in Ephesus and the blasphemous doctrine of Nestorius was condemned. See January 18 for Saint Cyril's life and works.
Prokeimenon. Fourth Mode. Daniel 3.26,27.
Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers.
Verse: For you are just in all you have done.
The reading is from Acts of the Apostles 20:16-18, 28-36.
IN THOSE DAYS, Paul had decided to sail past Ephesos, so that he might not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hastening to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost. And from Miletos he sent to Ephesos and called to him the elders of the church. And when they came to him, he said to them: "Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God which he obtained with the blood of his own Son. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears. And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. I coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel. You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities, and to those who were with me. In all things I have shown you that by so toiling one must help the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, 'it is more blessed to give than to receive.' " And when he had spoken thus, he knelt down and prayed with them all.
Προκείμενον. Fourth Mode. Δανιήλ 3.26-27.
Εὐλογητὸς εἶ, Κύριε, ὁ Θεὸς τῶν Πατέρων ἡμῶν.
Στίχ. Ὅτι δίκαιος εἶ ἐπὶ πᾶσιν, οἷς ἐποίησας ἡμῖν.
τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πράξεις Ἀποστόλων 20:16-18, 28-36.
Ἐν ταῖς ἡμεραῖς ἐκείναις, ἔκρινεν ὁ Παῦλος παραπλεῦσαι τὴν Ἔφεσον, ὅπως μὴ γένηται αὐτῷ χρονοτριβῆσαι ἐν τῇ Ἀσίᾳ· ἔσπευδεν γάρ, εἰ δυνατὸν ἦν αὐτῷ, τὴν ἡμέραν τῆς Πεντηκοστῆς γενέσθαι εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα. Ἀπὸ δὲ τῆς Μιλήτου πέμψας εἰς Ἔφεσον μετεκαλέσατο τοὺς πρεσβυτέρους τῆς ἐκκλησίας. Ὡς δὲ παρεγένοντο πρὸς αὐτόν, εἶπεν αὐτοῖς, προσέχετε οὖν ἑαυτοῖς καὶ παντὶ τῷ ποιμνίῳ, ἐν ᾧ ὑμᾶς τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον ἔθετο ἐπισκόπους, ποιμαίνειν τὴν ἐκκλησίαν τοῦ κυρίου καὶ θεοῦ, ἣν περιεποιήσατο διὰ τοῦ ἰδίου αἵματος. Ἐγὼ γὰρ οἶδα τοῦτο, ὅτι εἰσελεύσονται μετὰ τὴν ἄφιξίν μου λύκοι βαρεῖς εἰς ὑμᾶς, μὴ φειδόμενοι τοῦ ποιμνίου· καὶ ἐξ ὑμῶν αὐτῶν ἀναστήσονται ἄνδρες λαλοῦντες διεστραμμένα, τοῦ ἀποσπᾷν τοὺς μαθητὰς ὀπίσω αὐτῶν. Διὸ γρηγορεῖτε, μνημονεύοντες ὅτι τριετίαν νύκτα καὶ ἡμέραν οὐκ ἐπαυσάμην μετὰ δακρύων νουθετῶν ἕνα ἕκαστον. Καὶ τὰ νῦν παρατίθεμαι ὑμᾶς, ἀδελφοί, τῷ θεῷ καὶ τῷ λόγῳ τῆς χάριτος αὐτοῦ, τῷ δυναμένῳ ἐποικοδομῆσαι, καὶ δοῦναι ὑμῖν κληρονομίαν ἐν τοῖς ἡγιασμένοις πᾶσιν. Ἀργυρίου ἢ χρυσίου ἢ ἱματισμοῦ οὐδενὸς ἐπεθύμησα. Αὐτοὶ γινώσκετε ὅτι ταῖς χρείαις μου καὶ τοῖς οὖσιν μετʼ ἐμοῦ ὑπηρέτησαν αἱ χεῖρες αὗται. Πάντα ὑπέδειξα ὑμῖν, ὅτι οὕτως κοπιῶντας δεῖ ἀντιλαμβάνεσθαι τῶν ἀσθενούντων, μνημονεύειν τε τῶν λόγων τοῦ κυρίου Ἰησοῦ, ὅτι αὐτὸς εἶπεν, Μακάριόν ἐστιν μᾶλλον διδόναι ἢ λαμβάνειν. Καὶ ταῦτα εἰπών, θεὶς τὰ γόνατα αὐτοῦ, σὺν πᾶσιν αὐτοῖς προσηύξατο.
Fathers of the 1st Council
The Reading is from John 17:1-13
At that time, Jesus lifted up his eyes to heaven and said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him power over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work which you gave me to do; and now, Father, you glorify me in your own presence with the glory which I had with you before the world was made.
"I have manifested your name to the men whom you gave me out of the world; yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you; for I have given them the words which you gave me, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you did send me. I am praying for them; I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are mine; all mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. And now I am no more in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me; I have guarded them, and none of them is lost but the son of perdition, that the scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you; and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves."
Fathers of the 1st Council
Κατὰ Ἰωάννην 17:1-13
Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς, καὶ ἐπῆρε τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς αὐτοῦ εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν καὶ εἶπε· πάτερ, ἐλήλυθεν ἡ ὥρα· δόξασόν σου τὸν υἱόν, ἵνα καὶ ὁ υἱός σου δοξάσῃ σε, καθὼς ἔδωκας αὐτῷ ἐξουσίαν πάσης σαρκός, ἵνα πᾶν ὃ δέδωκας αὐτῷ δώσῃ αὐτοῖς ζωὴν αἰώνιον. αὕτη δέ ἐστιν ἡ αἰώνιος ζωή, ἵνα γινώσκωσί σε τὸν μόνον ἀληθινὸν Θεὸν καὶ ὃν ἀπέστειλας ᾿Ιησοῦν Χριστόν. ἐγώ σε ἐδόξασα ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, τὸ ἔργον ἐτελείωσα ὃ δέδωκάς μοι ἵνα ποιήσω· καὶ νῦν δόξασόν με σύ, πάτερ, παρὰ σεαυτῷ τῇ δόξῃ ᾗ εἶχον πρὸ τοῦ τὸν κόσμον εἶναι παρὰ σοί. ᾿Εφανέρωσά σου τὸ ὄνομα τοῖς ἀνθρώποις οὓς δέδωκάς μοι ἐκ τοῦ κόσμου. σοὶ ἦσαν καὶ ἐμοὶ αὐτοὺς δέδωκας, καὶ τὸν λόγον σου τετηρήκασι. νῦν ἔγνωκαν ὅτι πάντα ὅσα δέδωκάς μοι παρὰ σοῦ ἐστιν· ὅτι τὰ ῥήματα ἃ δέδωκάς μοι δέδωκα αὐτοῖς, καὶ αὐτοὶ ἔλαβον, καὶ ἔγνωσαν ἀληθῶς ὅτι παρὰ σοῦ ἐξῆλθον, καὶ ἐπίστευσαν ὅτι σύ με ἀπέστειλας. ᾿Εγὼ περὶ αὐτῶν ἐρωτῶ· οὐ περὶ τοῦ κόσμου ἐρωτῶ, ἀλλὰ περὶ ὧν δέδωκάς μοι, ὅτι σοί εἰσι, καὶ τὰ ἐμὰ πάντα σά ἐστι καὶ τὰ σὰ ἐμά, καὶ δεδόξασμαι ἐν αὐτοῖς. καὶ οὐκέτι εἰμὶ ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ, καὶ οὗτοι ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ εἰσί, καὶ ἐγὼ πρὸς σὲ ἔρχομαι. πάτερ ἅγιε, τήρησον αὐτοὺς ἐν τῷ ὀνόματί σου ᾧ δέδωκάς μοι, ἵνα ὦσιν ἓν καθὼς ἡμεῖς. ὅτε ἤμην μετ᾽ αὐτῶν ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ, ἐγὼ ἐτήρουν αὐτοὺς ἐν τῷ ὀνόματί σου· οὓς δέδωκάς μοι ἐφύλαξα, καὶ οὐδεὶς ἐξ αὐτῶν ἀπώλετο εἰ μὴ ὁ υἱὸς τῆς ἀπωλείας, ἵνα ἡ γραφὴ πληρωθῇ. νῦν δὲ πρὸς σὲ ἔρχομαι, καὶ ταῦτα λαλῶ ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ ἵνα ἔχωσι τὴν χαρὰν τὴν ἐμὴν πεπληρωμένην ἐν αὐτοῖς.
ANNUNCIATION ELKINS PARK CLASS OF ’19 TECHNICAL SCHOOL, COLLEGE & UNIVERSITY GRADUATES:
1. Ioanna Botsaris, daughter of Maria & Christos Botsaris, graduated from Temple University’s College of Public Health with a Bachelor of Science in kinesiology. Ioanna will be attending Gwynedd Mercy University's accelerated BSN program in the fall.
2. Stephen Theodore Kolokithias, son of Maria & Demitrios Kolokithias, graduated from Albright College with a Bachelor of Science in business administration.
3. Catherine Sophia McNally, daughter of Maria & James McNally, graduated Cum Laude as a Benjamin Franklin Scholar from the University of Pennsylvania in the College of Arts & Sciences. She was a classics major with a minor in the history of art, a joint minor from Wharton in legal studies, and a proficiency certificate in Arabic. In the summer of 2018, she received a Benjamin Franklin Research Award to conduct studies in Europe for her thesis on Baroque Master Peter Paul Rubens and his Judgment of Paris compositions. Recently awarded the Gordon Junior Fellowship, she will be spending the upcoming year teaching at Winchester College in Winchester, United Kingdom.
4. Georgianna Sandilos, daughter of Maria & Charles Sandilos, graduated from Drexel University College of Medicine with a Doctor of Medicine (MD). Georgianna will begin her residency in General Surgery at Cooper University Medical Center this summer.
5. Olga Stylianou, daughter of Nicky Econome & Loukas Stylianou, graduated Summa Cum Laude from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Science in management information systems. Olga was in the IUP Math Club, Phi Eta Sigma Honors Society, Dean’s list, Provost Scholar.
6. Christopher Tsinontides, son of Laurie and Stelios Tsinontides, graduated from Lehigh University with a Bachelor of Science in marketing. Christopher will be working in the fashion design industry.
7. Ioanna Yiantsos, daughter of Ekaterini and Ioannis Yiantsos, graduated from Drexel University with a Master in Neuroscience. She received third place in the scientific research presentation award at Drexel University’s Discovery Day with her thesis research. Ioanna is currently looking for a job as an industrial scientist.
8. Chris Zoubroulis, son of Zaffie and Theodore Zoubroulis, graduated from Steven's Institute of Technology with a major in mechanical engineering and a minor in economics. He will be working at Trane Industries as an account manager handling HVAC new product sales for new buildings.
ANNUNCIATION ELKINS PARK CATECHISM SCHOOL CLASS OF ‘19 HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES:
1. Ekaterini Maria Nanos, daughter of Vrisida and Philip Nanos, graduated from Lower Moreland High School. Katerina will be attending Thomas Jefferson University pursuing a health sciences major and a career in dentistry.
2. Panagiotis Daniel Pithis, son of Demetra and Daniel Pithis, graduated from Council Rock High School – South. Peter will be attending Penn State this fall pursuing a degree in architectural engineering.
3. Anna Maria Stylianou, daughter of Nicky Econome & Loukas Stylianou, graduated from Upper Moreland High School. National Honors Society and varsity swimming. Anna Maria will be studying veterinary nursing at Harcum College.
4. Steven Zoubroulis, Son of Zaffie and Theodore Zoubroulis, graduated from Council Rock High School - South. He served our church as an acolyte, Goya president, Greek dance, and every area where volunteering was needed. Steven will be attending New Jersey Institute of Technology pursuing a degree in electrical engineering.
ANNUNCIATION ELKINS PARK GREEK SCHOOL CLASS OF ‘19 GRADUATES:
1. Αλέξανδρος Ντάλσον
2. Ειρήνη Σκαρβέλη
3. Αλέξανδρος Τσικούδης
ANNUNCIATION ELKINS PARK GREEK SCHOOL ADULT GRADUATION (OR PROMOTION, IF APPLIES). THE BELOW STUDENTS ARE PROMOTED:
1. Konstantinos Vrontis
2. Daria Kollias
3. Jeanette Madianos
4. Mary O’Hara
5. John O’Hara
6. Aris Pasles
7. Helen Soultoukis
8. Dianne Tzouras
9. Dr. Jonathan Needham
10. Peter Grina
CATECHISM SCHOOL & GREEK SCHOOL PROMOTION:
1. The 9th -11th Grade High School Catechism School Class with Mitch Papakirk
2. The 7th - 8th Grade Catechism School Class with Patra Karidas
3. The 6th Grade Catechism School Class with Debbie Sourias
4. The 5th Grade Catechism School Class with Zaffie Zoubroulis & Rosie Gilliland
5. The 5th Level Greek School Class with Dimitra Afthinou
6. The 3rd - 4th Grade Catechism School Class with Alexsandra Wrigley
7. The 4th Level Greek School Class with Effie Pollatou
8. The 1st -2nd Grade Catechism School Class with Andrea Falbo
9. The 1st Level Greek School Class with Maria Sandilos
10. The 2nd Level Greek School Class with Evelina Routsi
11. The Pre-K & K Catechism School Class with Athena & Neil Douris
12. The Pre-K & K Greek School Class with Gina Giannoumis, Anna Botsaris, & Katerina Nanos
13. The Little Apostles Catechism School Class with Jacinda Ojeda, & Toula Pithis
You are invited to attend this Divine Liturgy and bring the names of your departed loved ones to be remembered at the Memorial.
Also, Fr. John will visit Lawnview Cemetery after the D. Liturgy to offer the graveside Trisagion prayer for all who are resting there.
The church teaches us that those who have fallen asleep are not dead but still alive in Christ Jesus! Therefore, in its very essence, prayer for the dead is a proclamation of the Resurrection of Christ. This is a major reoccurring theme for the Saturday of the Souls. It is therefore imperative for us, the living, to remember our loved ones who have passed on and to pray that the Lord accepts them into His heavenly kingdom.
Memorial Prayer Card here. Please clearly print or type the baptismal names to be commemorated.
A Gift that Keeps On Giving
Dear Annunciation Family,
We are happy to report that thanks to your generosity and monetary donations over the past year, we were able to purchase 150 dozen eggs, along with other key food items, for the Seeds of Hope food pantry. They were gratefully accepted on May 20th. Please keep this food pantry in mind over the summer, remembering that hunger doesn’t take a vacation.
Matthew 25 will happily deliver any non-perishable food items that accumulate in our bins during the summer months to the food pantry. We will also continue to use the funds you have provided us over the course of the year to purchase eggs and other essentials but as each month passes our reserve decreases. Your continued support through monetary donations is always greatly appreciated and accepted!
Enjoy this wonderful weather and the summer months ahead!
Thank You!
The Matthew 25 Ministry
On Memorial Day, we delivered the remaining food from OPA to residents currently participating in the New Life Program at the Whosoever Gospel Mission.
The residents were extremely grateful and happy for the food and it was a blessing and humbling experience for those of us who made the delivery on behalf of our Annunciation church family!
Glory to God!
The Goyans attended their last event of the year, an escape room in Huntingdon Valley. They were split into two teams – boys against the girls. The boys finished their room approximately two minutes before the girls! Then, they all went out to eat at Maggio’s to enjoy some fellowship. A good time was had by all!! The Goyans would like to wish everyone a relaxing and safe summer!!
Congratulations to our outgoing seniors, Katerina Nanos, Steven Zoubroulis and Peter Pithis! We wish them much success in their future endeavors!
Annunciation pilgrims filled two full vans and a car and enjoyed a day trip to Holy Protection Monastery on Tuesday, May 28.
We had a wonderful time traveling to and from the monastery, and an uplifting experience with the sisters who guided us to the chapels, grounds, and gift shop. They also treated us to a delicious lunch!
We are grateful to all who made our trip possible!
Helen Papanicolaou
& Agnes Louridas
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:
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 2019-2020 Youth Ministries Registration Form takes just a few moments to complete from any computer or mobile device. Youth Ministry events will be included as soon as they are scheduled 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.
Colombia, Ghana, and Alaska have been added to the list of OCMC Mission Teams in 2019. These new openings offer you an opportunity to follow in the apostolic footsteps of Orthodox missionaries throughout the ages who have answered the call to spread the Good News to the world.
Visit www.ocmc.org to find the complete list and dates of all the 2019 Orthodox Mission Team opportunities. Apply today!
Celebrations, Milestones, Gratitude, Comfort & Support
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.
Suffering and persecuted Christians in the Middle East and the non-Christian world, Yianni, Matina, George, Madison, Stephen, Tom, Athena, Joe, Chryssie, Anthony, Debora, Despina
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
Hadgimallis, Christina & Peter; Klebanoff, Michele & Marc; McCulloch, Angela & David; Stakias, Despina & John; Sjostedt, Constantina & Michael; Vaganos, Tina & Steve; Avgiris, Catherine & John.
Evangelos Dounoulis, Maximos Bentz, Rachel Brown, Dino Calliagas, Rachel Colle, Elise Comerota, Eleni Contoudis, Angela Ganas, Elena Giannoumis, Angela Godshall, Andreas Hagiandreu, Eleni Ioannidis, Kenneth Justice, Kara Kalogrias, Nikos Karidas, Kevin Kelly, Samantha Kelly, Apostolos Koutsouros, Alexandros Malitas, Katherine Pantazopoulos, Afthentia Papadopoulos, Vicky Papanikolaou, Dimitrios Pavlou, Isabela Rivera, Diane Saphos, Maria Sideris, Samantha Telegadis, Byron Warner.
NEW YORK – Metropolitan Methodios of Boston, the Archiepiscopal Vicar, announces that the Enthronement Ceremony for His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America will take place at the Holy Trinity Archdiocesan Cathedral, 337 East 74th Street, New York, NY, on Saturday June 22, 2019 at 11:00 am. The Ceremony of Enthronement will be followed by an Enthronement Luncheon at 1:30 pm at the New York Hilton Midtown (1335 Avenue of the Americas).
