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Annunciation/Evangelismos Church, Elkins Park, PA
Publish Date: 2019-08-04
Bulletin Contents
Weekend Update
Saints and Feasts
Hymns of the Day
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Community News & Events
Greek School News
Bulletin Inserts
Focus on Our Church Family
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese News
Beyond Annunciation
Allsaint
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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

Seventh Sunday of Matthew, August 4, 2019

Κυριακή Z' Ματθαίου. Το κήρυγμα ΕΔΩ

  • 8:30 am MATINS, 9:30 am DIVINE LITURGY.
  • The fellowship hour is hosted by Philoptochos.
Monday, August 5, 2019
  • 6:30 pm GREAT VESPERS for the feat of the Transfiguration/Metamorphosis.
Tuesday, August 6, 2019 – The Transfiguration /Metamorphosis of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
  • 8:30 am MATINS, 9:30 am DIVINE LITURGY. The annual blessing of the grapes and fruit will follow the divine liturgy. Please bring your favorite fruit to be blessed and shared.
Wednesday, August 7, 2019
  • 6:30 pm SMALL PARAKLESIS/SUPPLICATION TO THE MOTHER OF GOD. Greek, English
Thursday, August 8, 2019
  • 10 am SMALL PARAKLESIS/SUPPLICATION TO THE MOTHER OF GOD.
Friday, August 9, 2019
  • 6:30 pm SMALL PARAKLESIS/SUPPLICATION TO THE MOTHER OF GOD.
Next Sunday, August 11, 2019
  • 8:30 am MATINS, 9:30 am DIVINE LITURGY
  • 40-day mother & child blessing: The Pitsakis family.
  • The fellowship hour will be hosted by the Greek School.
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Saints and Feasts

Allsaint
August 04

Seven Holy Youths of Ephesus

The Seven Youths hid themselves in a certain cave near Ephesus in the year 250, to escape the persecution of Decius. By divine grace, a sleep came upon them and they slept for 184 years, until the reign of Saint Theodosius the Younger, when the doctrine of the resurrection was being assailed by heretics. They then awoke, that is, were resurrected, confirming in the sight of all the bodily resurrection; and again after a short time, by divine command, they reposed in the Lord in the year 434.

Transfiguration
August 06

Transfiguration of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

Our Lord had spoken to His disciples many times not only concerning His Passion, Cross, and Death, but also concerning the coming persecutions and afflictions that they themselves would endure. Since all these evils were near at hand, but the enjoyment of good things which they hoped to receive in their stead was yet to come, our Savior desired to give them full assurance, evidently and openly, concerning that glory which is prepared for those who endure to the end. Therefore, fulfilling that which He had promised shortly before, that "there be some standing here which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in His Kingdom" (Matt. 16:28), He took His three foremost disciples and ascended Mount Tabor, where He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became white as the light. Suddenly, together with this dread and marvelous effulgence of light, there appeared those pinnacles of the Prophets, Moses and Elias, who spoke with the Lord Jesus concerning His saving Passion which was about to take place. Standing before Him as reverent servants, they showed that He is the Lord of both the living and the dead, for Moses came forth from Hades, having died many centuries before, and Elias, as it were from heaven, whither he had been taken up while yet alive. After a little while a radiant cloud overshadowed them and out of the cloud they heard that same voice which had been heard at the Jordan at the Baptism of Christ, testifying to the Divinity of Jesus and saying: "This is My beloved Son, in Whom I am well-pleased; hear ye Him" (Matt. 17: 5).

Such are the marvels, truly worthy of God, celebrated in this present feast, which is an image and prefiguring of the future state of the righteous, whose splendor the Lord spoke of, saying: "Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun" (Matt. 13:43). It is because of this that the Kontakion of this Feast is said daily (when there is not a great feast) in the Service of the Typica in perpetual commemoration of the glory that will be the lot of the Saints. According to tradition, the Lord's Transfiguration came to pass forty days before His Crucifixion; this is why the Transfiguration is celebrated forty days before the Exaltation of the Cross.

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Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Plagal Second Mode

Angelic powers were above Thy tomb, and they that guarded Thee became as dead. And Mary stood by the grave seeking Thine immaculate Body. Thou hast despoiled Hades and wast not tried thereby. Thou didst meet the Virgin and didst grant us life. O Thou Who didst arise from the dead, Lord, glory be to Thee.
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.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Grave Mode

You were transfigured upon the mount, O Christ our God, and Your disciples, in so far as they could bear, beheld Your glory. Thus, when they see You crucified, they may understand Your voluntary passion, and proclaim to the world that You are truly the effulgence of the Father.
Επί τού όρους μετεμορφώθης, καί ως εχώρουν οι Μαθηταί σου τήν δόξαν σου, Χριστέ ο Θεός εθεάσαντο, ίνα όταν σε ίδωσι σταυρούμενον, τό μέν πάθος νοήσωσιν εκούσιον, τώ δέ κόσμω κηρύξωσιν, ότι σύ υπάρχεις αληθώς, τού Πατρός τό απαύγασμα.
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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

7th Sunday of Matthew
The Reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Romans 15:1-7

Brethren, we who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves; let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to edify him. For Christ did not please himself; but, as it is written, "The reproaches of those who reproached thee fell on me." For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope. May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Welcome one another, therefore, as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.

7th Sunday of Matthew
Πρὸς ῾Ρωμαίους 15:1-7

Ἀδελφοί, ὀφείλομεν δὲ ἡμεῖς οἱ δυνατοὶ τὰ ἀσθενήματα τῶν ἀδυνάτων βαστάζειν, καὶ μὴ ἑαυτοῖς ἀρέσκειν. Ἕκαστος ἡμῶν τῷ πλησίον ἀρεσκέτω εἰς τὸ ἀγαθὸν πρὸς οἰκοδομήν. Καὶ γὰρ ὁ Χριστὸς οὐχ ἑαυτῷ ἤρεσεν, ἀλλά, καθὼς γέγραπται, Οἱ ὀνειδισμοὶ τῶν ὀνειδιζόντων σε ἐπέπεσον ἐπʼ ἐμέ. Ὅσα γὰρ προεγράφη, εἰς τὴν ἡμετέραν διδασκαλίαν προεγράφη, ἵνα διὰ τῆς ὑπομονῆς καὶ διὰ τῆς παρακλήσεως τῶν γραφῶν τὴν ἐλπίδα ἔχωμεν. Ὁ δὲ θεὸς τῆς ὑπομονῆς καὶ τῆς παρακλήσεως δῴη ὑμῖν τὸ αὐτὸ φρονεῖν ἐν ἀλλήλοις κατὰ Χριστὸν Ἰησοῦν· ἵνα ὁμοθυμαδὸν ἐν ἑνὶ στόματι δοξάζητε τὸν θεὸν καὶ πατέρα τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ. Διὸ προσλαμβάνεσθε ἀλλήλους, καθὼς καὶ ὁ Χριστὸς προσελάβετο ὑμᾶς, εἰς δόξαν θεοῦ.

Gospel Reading

7th Sunday of Matthew
The Reading is from Matthew 9:27-35

At that time, as Jesus passed by, two blind men followed him, crying aloud, "Have mercy on us, Son of David." When he entered the house, the blind men came to him; and Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" They said to him, "Yes, Lord." Then he touched their eyes, saying, "According to your faith be it done to you." And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly charged them, "See that no one knows it." But they went away and spread his fame through all that district.

As they were going away, behold, a dumb demoniac was brought to him. And when the demon had been cast out, the dumb man spoke; and the crowds marveled, saying, "Never was anything like this seen in Israel." But the Pharisees said, "He casts out demons by the prince of demons."

And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every infirmity among the people.

7th Sunday of Matthew
Κατὰ Ματθαῖον 9:27-35

Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, παράγοντι ἐκεῖθεν τῷ ᾿Ιησοῦ ἠκολούθησαν αὐτῷ δύο τυφλοὶ κράζοντες καὶ λέγοντες· ἐλέησον ἡμᾶς, υἱὲ Δαυΐδ. ἐλθόντι δὲ εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν προσῆλθον αὐτῷ οἱ τυφλοί, καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς· πιστεύετε ὅτι δύναμαι τοῦτο ποιῆσαι; λέγουσιν αὐτῷ· ναί, Κύριε. τότε ἥψατο τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν αὐτῶν λέγων· κατὰ τὴν πίστιν ὑμῶν γενηθήτω ὑμῖν. καὶ ἀνεῴχθησαν αὐτῶν οἱ ὀφθαλμοί· καὶ ἐνεβριμήσατο αὐτοῖς ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς λέγων· ὁρᾶτε μηδεὶς γινωσκέτω. οἱ δὲ ἐξελθόντες διεφήμισαν αὐτὸν ἐν ὅλῃ τῇ γῇ ἐκείνῃ.

Αὐτῶν δὲ ἐξερχομένων ἰδοὺ προσήνεγκαν αὐτῷ ἄνθρωπον κωφὸν δαιμονιζόμενον· καὶ ἐκβληθέντος τοῦ δαιμονίου ἐλάλησεν ὁ κωφός, καὶ ἐθαύμασαν οἱ ὄχλοι λέγοντες ὅτι οὐδέποτε ἐφάνη οὕτως ἐν τῷ ᾿Ισραήλ. οἱ δὲ Φαρισαῖοι ἔλεγον· ἐν τῷ ἄρχοντι τῶν δαιμονίων ἐκβάλλει τὰ δαιμόνια.

Καὶ περιῆγεν ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς τὰς πόλεις πάσας καὶ τὰς κώμας διδάσκων ἐν ταῖς συναγωγαῖς αὐτῶν καὶ κηρύσσων τὸ εὐαγγέλιον τῆς βασιλείας καὶ θεραπεύων πᾶσαν νόσον καὶ πᾶσαν μαλακίαν ἐν τῷ λαῷ.

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Community News & Events

Volunteers Needed to Paint Our Clasrooms

Our classrooms are in need of a fresh coat of paint to be ready for our Sunday School and Greek School students in September!

Members of the Greek School board, along with our caretaker Vasili,  have been busy over the summer cleaning out the classrooms and preparing them for painting. Please stop by and check out the progress after the liturgy today!

The painting will start this Monday, August 5, and we would appreciate any help you can offer! Many hands make light work!  Please contact the parish office for a schedule and more details, 2015-635-0316.


In Honor of the Dormition of the Mother of God, August 15*

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Paraklesis/Supplication Prayers to the Mother of God are offered on:
  • Thursday, August 1, 6:30 pm.
  • Friday, August 2, 10 am.
  • Monday, August 5, 6:30 pm, vespers of Transfiguration.
  • Wednesday, August 7, 6:30 pm.
  • Thursday, August 8, 10 am.
  • Friday, August 9, 6:30 pm.
  • Monday, August 12, 6:30 pm.
  • Tuesday, August 13, 10 am.

Please bring the names of your loved ones (living) to be lifted up in prayer during these services. Bilingual booklets are available so we can sing/pray these services together.

Great Vespers will be prayed on Wednesday, August 14, at 6:30 pm. Please let us know in advance of you would like to offer artoklasia -the blessing of the bread, wine & oil- for health and salvation of your family in honor of the Dormition Feast.

The Feast Day Orthros & Divine Liturgy will be celebrated on Thursday, August 15th starting at 8:30 am. Join us for a  luncheon afterward offered by Philoptochos.

 *The Fast of the Dormition of the Theotokos begins on August 1st and follows the fasting guidelines of Great Lent.
 

Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF)

The First Forty Days: High School to College Transition

Research has shown that many college students form the habits and social groups that they will maintain for the entirety of their college career in the first six weeks of their freshman year.

If you have a freshman going to college this August, be sure to connect them with the local OCF chapter HERE.


Preparing for Your Summer Get-Away?


2019-2020 Youth Ministries Registration Now Open

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 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.


Join the Choir!

Our choir will be starting rehearsals again on Thursday, August 29th at 7 pm.
Now is the time for all interested to come and join in the singing of our beautiful hymns and praises – Come on Thursday and see what we’re all about – how we make learning the hymns we sing easy!
Our first Sunday singing will be September 8. We hope many more of you will join us!
Stacy Lagakos, Choir Director
(856) 816-0116 or swl@mayerpollock.com


Looking Ahead in September...

Tuesday, September 3, 2019

  • 7 pm Philoptochos board meeting.

Friday, September 6, 2019

  • Start of JOY & GOYA dance practice.

Sunday, September 8, 2019

  • Start of Sunday school. Youth Sunday. Invite a friend Sunday (parish council hosted luncheon), agiasmos/ blessing of catechism school classrooms, and youth ministry kick-off.

Wednesday, September 11, 2019

  • 10 am ‘Young at Heart’ breakfast and Q & A with Fr. John.

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

  • 5 pm Greek School agiasmos and the first day of classes for Greek School.

Sunday, September 22, 2019

  • GOYA advisors and officers installation.

2019 Summer Volunteer Opportunity

Office volunteers are needed to cover the parish office for a few days during the summer.

Light office work such as answering the phone, assisting Fr. John, greeting visitors, sorting mail, and small projects as assigned.

Please review the available days HERE and sign up. The 9-3 time slot is flexible.

Thank you!


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Greek School News

Greeek_school_emblem

Greek School Registration

Registration is OPEN for Greek School for the year 2019-20

Children Pre-K to 6th Grade & Adult Classes

Sign up HERE

ALL REGISTRANTS MUST BE PAID IN FULL BY SEPTEMBER

*NEW* Offering Beginner Adult Classes

Every Friday from 7 pm to 9 pm

 

Οι εγγραφές είναι ΑΝΟΙΧΤΕΣ για το Ελληνικό Σχολείο για το έτος 2019-20

Παιδικές Τάξεις Προ-Κ έως 6ης & Μαθήματα Ενηλίκων

Εγγραφείτε ΕΔΩ

Τα δίδακτρα πρέπει να καταβληθούν πλήρως τον Σεπτέμβριο

 

*Προσφέρουμε Μαθήματα Ενηλίκων Beginner Greek

κάθε Παρασκευή από τις 19:00 έως τις 21:00

Help Needed

Our Greek School is looking for a music/vocal instructor who would be interested in volunteering twice a month with our 4th to 6th grade Greek School students. Please contact Debbie Sourias for more information debbie.thomadi@gmail.com or 215.407.1872.

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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 health and salvation:

Suffering and persecuted Christians in the Middle East and the non-Christian world, George, Yiannis, Antonios, Anthony, Debora, Despina, Nikolaos.

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 next week:

Pelagia Koutsouros Nunez, Eleni Tsakiris, Eleni Gardner, Gregory Kaldes, Nick Tsoflias, Rizos Vagelaras, Maia Kloufetos, Patra Konugres, Elpida Mavrakis, Panayiotis Zografakis, Mary Hadgimallis, Vassilike Kopsinis, Benjamin Litvinas, Despina Papadeas, George Pappas, Philip Pappas, Despina Sourias, George Armentani, Joy Gabriel, Konstantinos Petsos, Athanasios Verros, Andrea Falbo, Helena Fournaris, Anthe Valais, Antonios Vlahos.

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Greek Orthodox Archdiocese News

Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America Announces Financial Results for 2018

07/31/2019

The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America is pleased to announce that the audit of the financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2018 has been completed. (See financial statements here). The completion of these financial statements confirms that progress in financial accountability is improving as this is the earliest after a year end in over 15 years that audited financial statements have been made available.
https://www.goarch.org/-/greek-orthodox-archdiocese-of-america-announces-financial-results-for-2018

Archbishop Elpidophoros Co-Hosts New Episode of “Be the Bee”

07/25/2019

NEW YORK – The Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America (Y2AM) released a new episode of “Be the Bee” featuring His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America.
https://www.goarch.org/-/archbishop-elpidophoros-co-hosts-new-episode-of-be-the-bee-
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Beyond Annunciation

  • Delaware Valley Greek Festivals Guide
  • Saturday, September 7, 2019, 8:00 pm:  A Night With Stelios Dionisiou,  at St Luke's Community  Center. Sponsored by  The Federation of Hellenic American Societies of Philadelphia and Greater Delaware. Details and tickets HERE
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