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Annunciation/Evangelismos Church, Elkins Park, PA
Publish Date: 2020-02-16
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Prodson
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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 Prodigal Son, February 16, 2020
Κυριακή τοῦ Ἀσώτου, 16 Φεβρουαρίου, 2020. Το κήρυγμα της Κυριακής ΕΔΩ 
  • 8:30 am MATINS, 9:30 am DIVINE LITURGY
  • 40-day mother & child blessing: Zoe, the daughter of Elena & Christopher LePage, and Athanasios’s little sister.
  • Memorial prayers are offered today for the repose of the souls of Constantine Giovetsis (40-days), and Andigoni Ticco Steffa (3-years) of blessed memory.
  • The Greek School is hosting the fellowship hour.
  • Sights & Sounds practice.
Tuesday, February 18, 2020
  • 5 pm Greek School classes.
  • 7 pm Intermediate/Advanced adult Greek class.
  • 7 pm Parish Council meeting.
Wednesday, February 19, 2020
  • 12 pm Matthew 25 Ministry delivery to Seeds of Hope.
  • 7 pm Bible Study.
  • 7:30 pm Del Val Youth Commission meeting, St. Thomas Church, Cherry Hill.
Thursday, February 20, 2020
  • 7 pm Choir rehearsal.
Friday, February 21, 2020
  • 5 pm Greek School classes.
  • 6:30 pm Beginners adult Greek class.
  • 6:30 pm GOYA Sights & Sounds practice.
  • 6:30 pm HOPE & JOY dance practice.
Saturday of Souls, February 22, 2020
  • 8:30 am MATINS, 9:30 am DIVINE LITURGY, followed by graveside trisagion prayers at Lawnview Cemetery.
  • 12:30 pm Baptism: The Pitsakis family.
  • 6:30 pm Apokreatiko/Taverna event.
Judgment Sunday (Meatfare Sunday), February 23, 2020
  • 8:30 am MATINS, 9:30 am DIVINE LITURGY.
  • The fellowship hour will be hosted by GOYA.
  • Spring General Assembly of our parishioners. Invitation & Agenda HERE. 2019 Annual Report HERE
  • GOYA Sights & Sounds practice
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Saints and Feasts

Prodson
February 16

Sunday of the Prodigal Son

Through the parable of today's Gospel, our Saviour has set forth three things for us: the condition of the sinner, the rule of repentance, and the greatness of God's compassion. The divine Fathers have put this reading the week after the parable of the Publican and Pharisee so that, seeing in the person of the Prodigal Son our own wretched condition -- inasmuch as we are sunken in sin, far from God and His Mysteries -- we might at last come to our senses and make haste to return to Him by repentance during these holy days of the Fast.

Furthermore, those who have wrought many great iniquities, and have persisted in them for a long time, oftentimes fall into despair, thinking that there can no longer be any forgiveness for them; and so being without hope, they fall every day into the same and even worse iniquities. Therefore, the divine Fathers, that they might root out the passion of despair from the hearts of such people, and rouse them to the deeds of virtue, have set the present parable at the forecourts of the Fast, to show them the surpassing goodness of God's compassion, and to teach them that there is no sin -- no matter how great it may be -- that can overcome at any time His love for man.


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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Second Mode. Psalm 117.14,18.
The Lord is my strength and my song.
Verse: The Lord has chastened me sorely.

The reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 6:12-20.

Brethren, "all things are lawful for me," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful for me," but I will not be enslaved by anything. "Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food" -- and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I therefore take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! Do you not know that he who joins himself to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, "The two shall become one flesh." But he who is united to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. Shun immorality. Every other sin which a man commits is outside the body; but the immoral man sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God? You are not your own; you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body and in your spirit which belong to God.

Προκείμενον. Second Mode. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 117.14,18.
Ἰσχύς μου καὶ ὕμνησίς μου ὁ Κύριος.
Στίχ. Παιδεύων ἐπαίδευσέ με ὁ Κύριος.

τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς Κορινθίους α' 6:12-20.

Ἀδελφοί, πάντα μοι ἔξεστιν, ἀλλʼ οὐ πάντα συμφέρει· πάντα μοι ἔξεστιν, ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἐγὼ ἐξουσιασθήσομαι ὑπό τινος. Τὰ βρώματα τῇ κοιλίᾳ, καὶ ἡ κοιλία τοῖς βρώμασιν· ὁ δὲ θεὸς καὶ ταύτην καὶ ταῦτα καταργήσει. Τὸ δὲ σῶμα οὐ τῇ πορνείᾳ, ἀλλὰ τῷ κυρίῳ, καὶ ὁ κύριος τῷ σώματι· ὁ δὲ θεὸς καὶ τὸν κύριον ἤγειρεν καὶ ἡμᾶς ἐξεγερεῖ διὰ τῆς δυνάμεως αὐτοῦ. Οὐκ οἴδατε ὅτι τὰ σώματα ὑμῶν μέλη Χριστοῦ ἐστιν; Ἄρας οὖν τὰ μέλη τοῦ Χριστοῦ ποιήσω πόρνης μέλη; Μὴ γένοιτο. Οὐκ οἴδατε ὅτι ὁ κολλώμενος τῇ πόρνῃ ἓν σῶμά ἐστιν; Ἔσονται γάρ, φησίν, οἱ δύο εἰς σάρκα μίαν. Ὁ δὲ κολλώμενος τῷ κυρίῳ ἓν πνεῦμά ἐστιν. Φεύγετε τὴν πορνείαν. Πᾶν ἁμάρτημα ὃ ἐὰν ποιήσῃ ἄνθρωπος ἐκτὸς τοῦ σώματός ἐστιν· ὁ δὲ πορνεύων εἰς τὸ ἴδιον σῶμα ἁμαρτάνει. Ἢ οὐκ οἴδατε ὅτι τὸ σῶμα ὑμῶν ναὸς τοῦ ἐν ὑμῖν ἁγίου πνεύματός ἐστιν, οὗ ἔχετε ἀπὸ θεοῦ; Καὶ οὐκ ἐστὲ ἑαυτῶν, ἠγοράσθητε γὰρ τιμῆς· δοξάσατε δὴ τὸν θεὸν ἐν τῷ σώματι ὑμῶν, καὶ ἐν τῷ πνεύματι ὑμῶν, ἅτινά ἐστιν τοῦ θεοῦ.


Gospel Reading

Sunday of the Prodigal Son
The Reading is from Luke 15:11-32

The Lord said this parable: "There was a man who had two sons; and the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of the property that falls to me.' And he divided his living between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took his journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in loose living. And when he had spent everything, a great famine arose in that country, and he began to be in want. So he went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would gladly have filled his belly with the pods that the swine ate; and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired servants.' And he arose and came to his father. But while he was yet at a distance, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' But the father said to his servants, 'Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet; and bring the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and make merry; for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.' And they began to make merry. Now his elder son was in the field; and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what this meant. And he said to him, 'Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has received him safe and sound.' But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, 'Lo, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command; yet you never gave me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your living with harlots, you killed for him the fatted calf!' And he said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to make merry and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.'"

Sunday of the Prodigal Son
Κατὰ Λουκᾶν 15:11-32

Εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος τήν παραβολὴν ταύτην· Ἄνθρωπός τις εἶχε δύο υἱούς. καὶ εἶπεν ὁ νεώτερος αὐτῶν τῷ πατρί· πάτερ, δός μοι τὸ ἐπιβάλλον μέρος τῆς οὐσίας. καὶ διεῖλεν αὐτοῖς τὸν βίον. καὶ μετ᾿ οὐ πολλὰς ἡμέρας συναγαγὼν ἅπαντα ὁ νεώτερος υἱὸς ἀπεδήμησεν εἰς χώραν μακράν, καὶ ἐκεῖ διεσκόρπισε τὴν οὐσίαν αὐτοῦ ζῶν ἀσώτως. δαπανήσαντος δὲ αὐτοῦ πάντα ἐγένετο λιμὸς ἰσχυρὸς κατὰ τὴν χώραν ἐκείνην, καὶ αὐτὸς ἤρξατο ὑστερεῖσθαι. καὶ πορευθεὶς ἐκολλήθη ἑνὶ τῶν πολιτῶν τῆς χώρας ἐκείνης, καὶ ἔπεμψεν αὐτὸν εἰς τοὺς ἀγροὺς αὐτοῦ βόσκειν χοίρους. καὶ ἐπεθύμει γεμίσαι τὴν κοιλίαν αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ τῶν κερατίων ὧν ἤσθιον οἱ χοῖροι, καὶ οὐδεὶς ἐδίδου αὐτῷ. εἰς ἑαυτὸν δὲ ἐλθὼν εἶπε· πόσοι μίσθιοι τοῦ πατρός μου περισσεύουσιν ἄρτων, ἐγὼ δὲ λιμῷ ἀπόλλυμαι! ἀναστὰς πορεύσομαι πρὸς τὸν πατέρα μου καὶ ἐρῶ αὐτῷ· πάτερ, ἥμαρτον εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν καὶ ἐνώπιόν σου. οὐκέτι εἰμὶ ἄξιος κληθῆναι υἱός σου· ποίησόν με ὡς ἕνα τῶν μισθίων σου. καὶ ἀναστὰς ἦλθε πρὸς τὸν πατέρα αὐτοῦ. ἔτι δὲ αὐτοῦ μακρὰν ἀπέχοντος εἶδεν αὐτὸν ὁ πατὴρ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐσπλαγχνίσθη, καὶ δραμὼν ἐπέπεσεν ἐπὶ τὸν τράχηλον αὐτοῦ καὶ κατεφίλησεν αὐτόν. εἶπε δὲ αὐτῷ ὁ υἱός· πάτερ, ἥμαρτον εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν καὶ ἐνώπιόν σου, καὶ οὐκέτι εἰμὶ ἄξιος κληθῆναι υἱός σου. εἶπε δὲ ὁ πατὴρ πρὸς τοὺς δούλους αὐτοῦ· ἐξενέγκατε τὴν στολὴν τὴν πρώτην καὶ ἐνδύσατε αὐτόν, καὶ δότε δακτύλιον εἰς τὴν χεῖρα αὐτοῦ καὶ ὑποδήματα εἰς τοὺς πόδας, καὶ ἐνέγκαντες τὸν μόσχον τὸν σιτευτὸν θύσατε, καὶ φαγόντες εὐφρανθῶμεν, ὅτι οὗτος ὁ υἱός μου νεκρὸς ἦν καὶ ἀνέζησε, καὶ ἀπολωλὼς ἦν καὶ εὑρέθη. καὶ ἤρξαντο εὐφραίνεσθαι. ῏Ην δὲ ὁ υἱὸς αὐτοῦ ὁ πρεσβύτερος ἐν ἀγρῷ· καὶ ὡς ἐρχόμενος ἤγγισε τῇ οἰκίᾳ, ἤκουσε συμφωνίας καὶ χορῶν, καὶ προσκαλεσάμενος ἕνα τῶν παίδων ἐπυνθάνετο τί εἴη ταῦτα. ὁ δὲ εἶπεν αὐτῷ ὅτι ὁ ἀδελφός σου ἥκει καὶ ἔθυσεν ὁ πατήρ σου τὸν μόσχον τὸν σιτευτόν, ὅτι ὑγιαίνοντα αὐτὸν ἀπέλαβεν. ὠργίσθη δὲ καὶ οὐκ ἤθελεν εἰσελθεῖν. ὁ οὖν πατὴρ αὐτοῦ ἐξελθὼν παρεκάλει αὐτόν. ὁ δὲ ἀποκριθεὶς εἶπε τῷ πατρί· ἰδοὺ τοσαῦτα ἔτη δουλεύω σοι καὶ οὐδέποτε ἐντολήν σου παρῆλθον, καὶ ἐμοὶ οὐδέποτε ἔδωκας ἔριφον ἵνα μετὰ τῶν φίλων μου εὐφρανθῶ· ὅτε δὲ ὁ υἱός σου οὗτος, ὁ καταφαγών σου τὸν βίον μετὰ πορνῶν, ἦλθεν, ἔθυσας αὐτῷ τὸν μόσχον τὸν σιτευτόν. ὁ δὲ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· τέκνον, σὺ πάντοτε μετ᾿ ἐμοῦ εἶ, καὶ πάντα τὰ ἐμὰ σά ἐστιν· εὐφρανθῆναι δὲ καὶ χαρῆναι ἔδει, ὅτι ὁ ἀδελφός σου οὗτος νεκρὸς ἦν καὶ ἀνέζησε, καὶ ἀπολωλὼς ἦν καὶ εὑρέθη.


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Wisdom of the Fathers

... but since he repented, and did not despair, he was restored, even after such great corruption, to the same splendour as before, and was arrayed in the most beautiful robe, and enjoyed greater honours than his brother who had not fallen.
St. John Chrysostom
AN EXHORTATION TO THEODORE AFTER HIS FALL, 4th Century

Thank God every day with your whole heart for having given to you life according to His image and likeness - an intelligently free and immortal life...Thank Him also for again daily bestowing life upon you, who have fallen an innumerable multitude of times, by your own free will, through sins, from life unto death, and that He does so as soon as you only say from your whole heart: 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before Thee!' (Luke 15:18).
St. John of Kronstadt
My Life in Christ: Part 1; Holy Trinity Monastery pgs. 104-105, 19th century

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Community News and Events

Congratulations to our Newly Elected & Installed 2020 Parish Council

Executive Board:

Constantine Dalson, President.
Mary O’Hara, Vice President.
Christine Ferello, Secretary.
Demetrios Papakirk, Treasurer.
Peter Nikolopoulos, Assistant Treasurer.

Members:

Catherine Avgiris, Craig Godshall, Peter Gouris, Demetrios Hatzopoulos, Leonidas Koletas, Russell Penning, Theodosios Sourias, Antonios Vlahos.

May God grant you strength and wisdom to do His work


Philoptochos News & Events

Save the Date - Homemade Pita Sale

The Ladies Philoptochos Society' Nausica' will hold a Homemade Pita Sale during kalosorisma/coffee hour on Sunday, March 1, 2020. The platter will include Hortopita with Homemade filo (Pita with feta, greens, and herbs), tomatoes, cucumbers, feta, dolma, olives, and a soft drink.

A $10.00 minimum donation is requested. Proceeds benefit the pledge of The Ladies Philoptochos Society' Nausica' to our Parish 50th Anniversary Campaign. 

NATIONAL PHILOPTOCHOS TELEPHONE CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUP

The National Philoptochos Department of Social Services is mounting a "Telephone Caregiver Support Group" beginning at the end of February specifically for Orthodox Christians who are caring for a loved one who is elderly or suffers from a chronic or life-threatening illness, or who is disabled.  We are fully aware that many organizations sponsor caregiver support groups; however, ours is faith-based and thus, unique.  It will incorporate and recognize our community's cultural characteristics, attitudes, perceptions, and beliefs that can influence how caregivers address the challenges they face. 

For seven consecutive Thursday evenings from February 27 to April 9, 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm, EST, we will "meet" over the telephone, thus allowing caregivers throughout the Archdiocese to participate.  

Please click HERE for details and how to register to attend.


Saturday of Souls - Ψυχοσάββατα

February, 22, 29, March 7

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.

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 koliva (memorial wheat) and names be brought to church no later than 9 am on Saturday. The ushers on duty will be there to assist you.

Please print this form and print or type the baptismal name to be commemorated.

Fr. John will be offering graveside Trisagion prayers at Lawnview Cemetery after the divine liturgy on the first Saturday, February 22.


Looking Ahead Beyond Next Week...

  • Monday, March 2, 2020- Clean Monday, Start of Holy and Great Lent
  • Saturday, March 14, 2020- Regional Sights and Sounds Youth Arts Festival. St. Luke Church, Broomall, PA
  • Sunday, March 15, 2020, Council of Ministries Meeting

  • Tuesday, March 17, 2020, Young @ Heart Speaker & Refreshments

  • Sunday, March 22, 2020 - Greek School Independence Day Program

  • Tuesday, March 24, 2020, Great Vespers for the Feast of Annunciation/Evangelismos

  • Wednesday, March 25, 2020, Feast Day of Annunciation/Evangelismos

  • Sunday, March 29, 2020- Philadelphia Greek Independence Day Parade
  • Sunday, April 13, 2020- Palm Sunday, Start of Holy Week

Liturgical Items Needed

Prosforo for the Eucharist. We use 2 –3 loaves on Sunday plus a few more for weekday liturgies.  There will never be too much prosforo in stock.  Please do not hesitate to bring any amount at any time!

Charcoal briquettes & incense. Donations are appreciated as we purchase specific king of charcoal & incense.

Thank you!


Friendly Reminders

Sunday Extra Services

Please contact the parish office at least two weeks in advance if you would like to have a 40-day mother & child blessing, memorial, trisagion, or artoklasia (the blessing of the five loaves-wine & oil).

 Requests are considered based on the ecclesiastical calendar.

Bulletin Announcements

Please submit your material by Wednesday noon for the upcoming Sunday bulletin. Send your submission to office@anngoc.org, and always Cc Fr. John at frjohn@anngoc.org for his review and approval.

All submissions will be placed on a first-come, first-served, space-available basis and are subject to editing and review.


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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, 

Antonios, Anthony, Debora, Despina, Nikolaos, George, Yiannis, Eugene, Mary, Maria, Noel, Pavlos, Vincent, Alexandros, Constantino, Janet, Dionysios, Elizabeth, Peter, Athanasia, Earnest, Virginia, Sandra, Tom, Stephen, Betty, Chryssie, Stacey, Athena, Konstantinos.

Names will be kept on this list for approximately three 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 to the Lord in your personal prayer life also.

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:  Lawrence Damian, Erica Koutsouros, Kaliopi Rose, Despina Zanikos, Evangelos Fellenz, Peter Georgiou, Yiannis Giannopoulos, George Mamas, Calista Quigley, Christina Sandilos, Carly Vlahos, Nicholas Kalogrias, Christa Weggel, Stamatia Apessos, Constantine Charokopos, Sondra Douris, Patricia Gouris, Erin Kambouris, Peter Mitchell, Zafero Angelikas, Ryan Kiscaden, Philip Mantas, Maria Sourovelis, Amanda Costa, George Heinze, Elizabeth Karras, Karissa Koutsouradis.

 

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Bulletin Inserts

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Beyond Annunciation

2020-2021 HUC SCHOLARSHIPS

The Hellenic University Club of Philadelphia is pleased to announce its Scholarships for the 2020-2021 Academic Year.  This year we are offering 17 Scholarships (8 Undergraduate, 6 Graduate and 3 Undergraduate/Graduate) totaling $57,500 to worthy students in the greater Philadelphia area of Greek descent and to students who are declared majors in Greek Studies, regardless of their heritage.

Descriptions of our scholarships and applications can be found on our website at www.hucphiladelphia.org. We encourage eligible students to apply for one of our scholarships. 

Please note applications and all supporting documents must be received no later than Wednesday, April 1, 2020.

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