Weekend Update

Saturday of Souls, February 29, 2020

8 am MATINS, 9 am DIVINE LITURGY
10:30 am Lenten Retreat: “Behold The Bridegroom: Preparing for Lent with The Parables of Jesus.”

Cheesefare – Forgiveness Sunday, March 1, 2020

Κυριακὴ τῆς Τυρινῆς, 1 Μαρτίου, 2020. Το Κήρυγμα ΕΔΩ

8:30 am MATINS, 9:30 am DIVINE LITURGY.
Our Philoptochos invites everyone to the homemade pita sale during the fellowship hour.
Matthew 25 Ministry lenten community service project starts today.
GOYA Sights & Sounds practice.
3 pm Philoptochos trip to the Philadelphia Flower Show. Please RSVP to Philoptochos.anngoc@gmail.com

Clean Monday, March 2, 2020. Start of Holy and Great Lent

6 pm GREAT COMPLINE.

Tuesday, March 3, 2020

5 pm Greek School classes.
7 pm Intermediate/Advanced adult Greek class.
7 pm Philoptochos board meeting.

Wednesday, March 4, 2020

6 pm LITURGY OF THE PRESANCTIFIED GIFTS.

Thursday, March 5, 2020

7 pm Choir rehearsal.

Friday, March 6, 2020

5 pm Greek School classes.
5:30 pm GOYA "Friday with Father John."
6 pm GOYA Sights & Sounds practice.
6:30 pm I STANZA OF THE AKATHIST TO THE MOTHER OF GOD.
6:30 pm Beginners adult Greek class.
7:30 pm GOYA dance practice.

First Saturday of Lent March 7, 2020. The Commemoration of the Miracle of Kollyva wrought by Saint Theodore the Tyro

8:30 am MATINS, 9:30 am DIVINE LITURGY.
Memorial prayers will be offered for the repose of the soul of Alexandros Samios of blessed memory (1-year).
Our Philoptochos invites everyone to a community breakfast.
12:30 pm Baptism: Ganas family.

Sunday of Orthodoxy March 8, 2020

8:30 am MATINS, 9:30 am DIVINE LITURGY Sunday school students procession with holy icons.
Philoptochos collection to benefit the Metropolis of New Jersey Social Services.
Fellowship hour hosted by Greek School.
GOYA Sights & Sounds dress rehearsal.

Saints and Feasts

March 01

Forgiveness Sunday

The Holy Fathers have appointed the commemoration of Adam's exile from the Paradise of delight here, on the eve of the holy Forty-day Fast, demonstrating to us not by simple words, but by actual deeds, how beneficial fasting is for man, and how harmful and destructive are insatiety and the transgressing of the divine commandments. For the first commandment that God gave to man was that of fasting, which the first-fashioned received but did not keep; and not only did they not become gods, as they had imagined, but they lost even that blessed life which they had, and they fell into corruption and death, and transmitted these and innumerable other evils to all of mankind. The God-bearing Fathers set these things before us today, that by bringing to mind what we have fallen from, and what we have suffered because of the insatiety and disobedience of the first-fashioned, we might be diligent to return again to that ancient bliss and glory by means of fasting and obedience to all the divine commands. Taking occasion from today's Gospel (Matt. 6:14-21) to begin the Fast unencumbered by enmity, we also ask forgiveness this day, first from God, then from one another and all creation.

March 02

Our Holy Father Nicholas Planas

Saint Nicholas Planas was born in 1851 A.D. on the island of Naxos in Greece. He was married as a teenager and soon after ordained to the diaconate and then the priesthood. His wife reposed soon after and so he assumed the burden of being a widowed father and a parish priest. He was known for his zeal in serving the liturgy, especially his habit of serving the Divine Liturgy every day for 50 years. Many altar boys would see him radiating light or raised off the ground while serving the liturgy. Being so revered by his parishioners, he became known as “Papa,” which is an affectionate term for a parish priest. Papa Nicholas reposed in 1932 and was formally canonized as a saint in 1992.

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Plagal Fourth Mode. Psalm 75.11,1.
Make your vows to the Lord our God and perform them.
Verse: God is known in Judah; his name is great in Israel.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Romans 13:11-14; 14:1-4.

Brethren, salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed; the night is far gone, the day is at hand. Let us then cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us conduct ourselves becomingly as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

As for the man who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not for disputes over opinions. One believes he may eat anything, while the weak man eats only vegetables. Let not him who eats despise him who abstains, and let not him who abstains pass judgment on him who eats; for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for God is able to make him stand.

Προκείμενον. Plagal Fourth Mode. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 75.11,1.
Εὔξασθε καὶ ἀπόδοτε Κυρίῳ τῷ Θεῷ ἡμῶν.
Στίχ. Γνωστὸς ἐν τῇ Ἰουδαίᾳ ὁ Θεός, ἐν τῷ Ἰσραὴλ μέγα τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ.

τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς ῾Ρωμαίους 13:11-14, 14:1-4.

Ἀδελφοί, νῦν ἐγγύτερον ἡμῶν ἡ σωτηρία ἢ ὅτε ἐπιστεύσαμεν. Ἡ νὺξ προέκοψεν, ἡ δὲ ἡμέρα ἤγγικεν· ἀποθώμεθα οὖν τὰ ἔργα τοῦ σκότους, καί ἐνδυσώμεθα τὰ ὅπλα τοῦ φωτός. Ὡς ἐν ἡμέρᾳ, εὐσχημόνως περιπατήσωμεν, μὴ κώμοις καὶ μέθαις, μὴ κοίταις καὶ ἀσελγείαις, μὴ ἔριδι καὶ ζήλῳ. Ἀλλʼ ἐνδύσασθε τὸν κύριον Ἰησοῦν Χριστόν, καὶ τῆς σαρκὸς πρόνοιαν μὴ ποιεῖσθε, εἰς ἐπιθυμίας. Τὸν δὲ ἀσθενοῦντα τῇ πίστει προσλαμβάνεσθε, μὴ εἰς διακρίσεις διαλογισμῶν. Ὃς μὲν πιστεύει φαγεῖν πάντα, ὁ δὲ ἀσθενῶν λάχανα ἐσθίει. Ὁ ἐσθίων τὸν μὴ ἐσθίοντα μὴ ἐξουθενείτω, καὶ ὁ μὴ ἐσθίων τὸν ἐσθίοντα μὴ κρινέτω· ὁ θεὸς γὰρ αὐτὸν προσελάβετο. Σὺ τίς εἶ ὁ κρίνων ἀλλότριον οἰκέτην; Τῷ ἰδίῳ κυρίῳ στήκει ἢ πίπτει. Σταθήσεται δέ· δυνατὸς γάρ ἐστιν ὁ θεὸς στῆσαι αὐτόν.

Gospel Reading

Forgiveness Sunday
The Reading is from Matthew 6:14-21

The Lord said, "If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father also will forgive you; but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

"And when you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by men but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

Forgiveness Sunday
Κατὰ Ματθαῖον 6:14-21

Εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος· ᾿Εὰν γὰρ ἀφῆτε τοῖς ἀνθρώποις τὰ παραπτώματα αὐτῶν, ἀφήσει καὶ ὑμῖν ὁ πατὴρ ὑμῶν ὁ οὐράνιος· ἐὰν δὲ μὴ ἀφῆτε τοῖς ἀνθρώποις τὰ παραπτώματα αὐτῶν, οὐδὲ ὁ πατὴρ ὑμῶν ἀφήσει τὰ παραπτώματα ὑμῶν. ῞Οταν δὲ νηστεύητε, μὴ γίνεσθε ὥσπερ οἱ ὑποκριταὶ σκυθρωποί· ἀφανίζουσι γὰρ τὰ πρόσωπα αὐτῶν ὅπως φανῶσι τοῖς ἀνθρώποις νηστεύοντες· ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι ἀπέχουσι τὸν μισθὸν αὐτῶν. σὺ δὲ νηστεύων ἄλειψαί σου τὴν κεφαλὴν καὶ τὸ πρόσωπόν σου νίψαι,ὅπως μὴ φανῇς τοῖς ἀνθρώποις νηστεύων, ἀλλὰ τῷ πατρί σου τῷ ἐν τῷ κρυπτῷ, καὶ ὁ πατήρ σου ὁ βλέπων ἐν τῷ κρυπτῷ ἀποδώσει σοι ἐν τῷ φανερῷ. Μὴ θησαυρίζετε ὑμῖν θησαυροὺς ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, ὅπου σὴς καὶ βρῶσις ἀφανίζει, καὶ ὅπου κλέπται διορύσσουσι καὶ κλέπτουσι· θησαυρίζετε δὲ ὑμῖν θησαυροὺς ἐν οὐρανῷ, ὅπου οὔτε σὴς οὔτε βρῶσις ἀφανίζει, καὶ ὅπου κλέπται οὐ διορύσσουσιν οὐδὲ κλέπτουσιν· ὅπου γάρ ἐστιν ὁ θησαυρὸς ὑμῶν, ἐκεῖ ἔσται καὶ ἡ καρδία ὑμῶν.

Wisdom of the Fathers

Before we enter the Lenten fast, we are reminded that there can be no true fast, no genuine repentance, no reconciliation with God, unless we are at the same time reconciled with one another. A fast without mutual love is the fast of demons. . . We do not travel the road of Lent as isolated individuals but as members of a family.

His Grace Bishop Kallistos of Diokleia

20th Century

Here it were well to sigh aloud, and to wail bitterly: for not only do we imitate the hypocrites, but we have even surpassed them.

St. John Chrysostom

Homily 20 on Matthew 6, 4th Century

Spiritual delight is not enjoyment found in things that exists outside the soul.

St. Isaac of Syria

Unknown, 7th century

0ne must in every way flee from judging, and pray in secret for those who have sinned. "This form of love is pleasing to God." Judging is bound up with impudence and is incompatible with true repentance: "To judge is to impudently appropriate to oneself the rank of God."

St. John Climacus

Community News and Events

Saturday of Souls - Ψυχοσάββατα

February 22, 29, and 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 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.

Sunday School News

Dear Sunday School Families,

Glory to Jesus Christ!

Christians have been sharing the Faith with others for nearly 2000 years. They have offered a living witness to the love, hope, and salvation of Jesus Christ to people everywhere and even to those who live in the most remote corners of the world. Some of those who dedicated their lives to this important work are recognized as great saints in the Church. Even today there are people who are hard at work sharing Christ with the world. Not just priests or monks, these people may stand next to you every Sunday during Liturgy.

On March 1st - Mission Sunday, we will be distributing the OCMC coin boxes to all Sunday School students. Funds raised through the Mission coin boxes will help the OCMC fulfill Christ's teaching to "make disciples of all nations". Students will bring their coin boxes home and are asked to place spare coins in their boxes each day, and pray for their brothers and sisters serving Christ's Church around the world in mission countries. Please consider "seeding" your child's box, placing money in the box to get it started. Students should return their coin boxes to any of the Sunday School teachers at church by Holy Friday.

Pray, Fast, Do Good, Learn - Great Lent is a time to work on developing these four basic disciplines of Christian living. We pray that you will help your child participate in the Mission Coin Box Program this Lenten season.

In Christ's Service,

The Sunday School Teachers

Philoptochos News & Events

Homemade Pita Sale this Sunday!

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.

Matthew 25 Outreach

The Time Has Come! 40 Day Lenten Project

Monday, March 2^nd is the first day of our lenten spiritual journey to Pascha. As Archbishop Elpidophoros stated in his Meatfare Sunday homily*, “We are called to think about how we treat our fellow human beings, how we respond to their needs and their cries for help, because how we treat them, reveals what grace and identity with Christ are inside of us.” We are given many opportunities during this season to pray, worship, gain insight into our own behaviors, and intensify our efforts to serve the needs of others.

With this in mind, we ask you to consider selecting non-perishable food items from your home pantry or local grocery store and putting them into the bag that we have provided to you over the 40 days of Great Lent. You can place your lovingly filled bag into one of the bins labeled Matthew 25 in the church hall. These goods will be delivered to the Seeds of Hope Food Pantry.

Food items to be collected can be anything from a box of pasta, a jar of pasta sauce, a container of peanut butter or jelly, a package of flour or sugar, or as simple as a can of soup, vegetables, beans, or tuna or a bag of dried beans, a package of crackers, a granola bar, etc.

If you are more comfortable purchasing in bulk from warehouses, feel free to donate food items that way. It is up to you to choose how and what you would like to share. Any non-perishable food item is welcome as long as it is commercially pre-packaged and individually wrapped.

Collect any amount that you are comfortable donating. All donations are happily accepted no matter how big or small. Items can be delivered to the bins at church at any time during Great Lent. Matthew 25 will be delivering your items to Seeds of Hope on the following dates during Great Lent: March 16 and April 8. We will also be delivering on April 22, after Pascha. Please reach out to the Matthew 25 Ministry for additional bags, if needed.

A big THANK YOU to all in advance for your participation and donations.

The Matthew 25 Ministry

*https://www.goarch.org/-/homily-sunday-of-meatfare-boca-raton-fl

Great Lent Resources

Young @ Heart News

Coffee, Refreshments, & Speaker

Tuesday, March 17, 2020, 12:30-2:30 pm
Dr. Mensch, a pharmacist from Abington-Jefferson Health, will speak about prescription drugs.

Come and socialize with old friends & meet new ones!
Please RSVP by March 10:
Agnes Louridas, (215) 947-2992
Helen Papanicolaou, (215) 646-8752
We look forward to seeing you!

Looking Ahead Beyond Next Week...

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 -

Sunday of Holy Cross
Visit by His Eminence Metropolitan Evangelos
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

In Honor of the Feast Day of Annunciation/ Evangelismos of the Mother of God, March 25

Great Vespers * will be prayed on Tuesday, March 24, at 7:00 pm.

Our Philoptochos will host a reception afterward.

The Feast Day Orthros & Divine Liturgy * will be celebrated on Wednesday, March 25, starting at 8:30 am. A thanksgiving doxology for the liberation of Greece will also be offered at the conclusion of the liturgy.

Join us for a luncheon afterward offered by Philoptochos.

* Please let the church office know in advance of you would like to offer Artoklasia—Blessing of the Bread, Wine & Oil- for health and salvation of your family in honor of the Annunciation Feast.

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!

Thank You! Ευχαριστούμε!

We extend a warm 'thank-you' to all those who were able to attend and make our Apokreatiki Taverna Night on Saturday, February 22 a very enjoyable event! It was wonderful to have our Annunciation Family, young, younger, and youngest :), celebrate together with lively music and dancing, specialty beverages, and tasty cuisine. Particular appreciation to our benefactors, sponsors, donors, JOY, GOYA, Greek School students, and all those who donated time and support behind the scenes.

See you next year! Kali Sarakosti!

Mary O’Hara & Christine Ferello

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.

2020 Guide to Lenten Weekday Services

Great Compline / Απόδειπνο

Five consecutive Mondays starting March 2, at 6 pm.

Great Compline is prayed in monasteries daily 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. It 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 Lenten services 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 4 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 starting March 6, 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.

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, Matina, Stella.

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: Gabriel Gonzales, Argie Draganis, Tasia Mullock, Alexandros Fishman, Joanna Gonzales, Konstantina Stathis, Magda Hatzis, Lambrini Econome, Nikoleta Kontogeorgos, Eleni Nikolopoulos, Stacy Lagakos, Anna Makris, Michael Oratis, Panagiotis Sourovelis, Penelopi Zografakis.

Bulletin Inserts

Beyond Annunciation

GREEK INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATIONS
RECOLLECTING GLORY: ORTHODOX EDUCATION FOR WISDOM, VIRTUE, AND JOY. Saturday, March 28, 2020, at St. Philip's Church in Souderton.
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.

General Information

Contact Information

Services Schedule

Past Bulletins