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.
Dear Annunciation Community,
This week I’d like to give you updates on several topics:
Thank you again for your commitment to and generosity towards our Faith and Community.
Respectfully,
Dean Dalson
Parish Council President
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Let us know if you would like for us to light a votive candle for you HERE
Friday, September 25, 2020
Next Sunday, II Sunday of Luke, October 4, 2020
These Martyrs contested for the Faith during the reign of Diocletian, in the year 288. Saint Callistratus was arrested as a Christian, and after being tormented, was enclosed in a sack and cast into the sea. The sack burst, and the Saint came to dry land safe and sound. Forty-nine soldiers, seeing this, also confessed Christ, and with him were cast into prison, then beheaded.
The Feast of the Protection commemorates the appearance of the most holy Theotokos in the Church of Blachernae in Constantinople in the tenth century, as recorded in the life of Saint Andrew the Fool for Christ's sake. While the multitudes of the faithful were gathered in church, Epiphanius, the friend of Saint Andrew, through the Saint's prayers, beheld the Virgin Mary above the faithful and spreading out her veil over them, signifying her unceasing protection of all Christians. Because of this we keep a yearly feast of gratitude, imploring our Lady never to cease sheltering us in her mighty prayers.
In the Greek tradition, this feast is celebrated on October 28, while in the Slavic tradition, this feast is celebrated on October 1.
Prokeimenon. Grave Mode. Psalm 28.11,1.
The Lord will give strength to his people.
Verse: Bring to the Lord, O sons of God, bring to the Lord honor and glory.
The reading is from St. Paul's Second Letter to the Corinthians 6:1-10.
Brethren, working together with him, we entreat you not to accept the grace of God in vain. For he says, "At the acceptable time I have listened to you, and helped you on the day of salvation." Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. We put no obstacle in any one's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: through great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, tumults, labors, watching, hunger; by purity, knowledge, forbearance, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love, truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; in honor and dishonor, in ill repute and good repute. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
Προκείμενον. Grave Mode. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 28.11,1.
Κύριος ἰσχὺν τῷ λαῷ αὐτοῦ δώσει.
Στίχ. Ἐνέγκατε τῷ Κυρίῳ υἱοὶ Θεοῦ, ἐνέγκατε τῷ Κυρίῳ δόξαν καὶ τιμήν.
τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς Κορινθίους β' 6:1-10.
Ἀδελφοί, συνεργοῦντες δὲ καὶ παρακαλοῦμεν μὴ εἰς κενὸν τὴν χάριν τοῦ θεοῦ δέξασθαι ὑμᾶς - λέγει γάρ, Καιρῷ δεκτῷ ἐπήκουσά σου, καὶ ἐν ἡμέρᾳ σωτηρίας ἐβοήθησά σοι· ἰδού, νῦν καιρὸς εὐπρόσδεκτος, ἰδού, νῦν ἡμέρα σωτηρίας - μηδεμίαν ἐν μηδενὶ διδόντες προσκοπήν, ἵνα μὴ μωμηθῇ ἡ διακονία· ἀλλʼ ἐν παντὶ συνιστῶντες ἑαυτοὺς ὡς θεοῦ διάκονοι, ἐν ὑπομονῇ πολλῇ, ἐν θλίψεσιν, ἐν ἀνάγκαις, ἐν στενοχωρίαις, ἐν πληγαῖς, ἐν φυλακαῖς, ἐν ἀκαταστασίαις, ἐν κόποις, ἐν ἀγρυπνίαις, ἐν νηστείαις, ἐν ἁγνότητι, ἐν γνώσει, ἐν μακροθυμίᾳ, ἐν χρηστότητι, ἐν πνεύματι ἁγίῳ, ἐν ἀγάπῃ ἀνυποκρίτῳ, ἐν λόγῳ ἀληθείας, ἐν δυνάμει θεοῦ, διὰ τῶν ὅπλων τῆς δικαιοσύνης τῶν δεξιῶν καὶ ἀριστερῶν, διὰ δόξης καὶ ἀτιμίας, διὰ δυσφημίας καὶ εὐφημίας· ὡς πλάνοι καὶ ἀληθεῖς· ὡς ἀγνοούμενοι, καὶ ἐπιγινωσκόμενοι· ὡς ἀποθνῄσκοντες, καὶ ἰδού, ζῶμεν· ὡς παιδευόμενοι, καὶ μὴ θανατούμενοι· ὡς λυπούμενοι, ἀεὶ δὲ χαίροντες· ὡς πτωχοί, πολλοὺς δὲ πλουτίζοντες· ὡς μηδὲν ἔχοντες, καὶ πάντα κατέχοντες.
1st Sunday of Luke
The Reading is from Luke 5:1-11
At that time, as Jesus was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, he saw two boats by the lake; but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon's, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. And when he had ceased speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch." And Simon answered, "Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets." And when they had done this, they enclosed a great shoal of fish; and as their nets were breaking, they beckoned to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord." For he was astonished, and all who were with him, at the catch of fish which they had taken; and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid; henceforth you will be catching men." And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.
1st Sunday of Luke
Κατὰ Λουκᾶν 5:1-11
Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, ἑστὼς ὁ Ἰησοῦς παρὰ τὴν λίμνην Γεννησαρέτ, καὶ εἶδε δύο πλοῖα ἑστῶτα παρὰ τὴν λίμνην· οἱ δὲ ἁλιεῖς ἀποβάντες ἀπ᾿ αὐτῶν ἀπέπλυναν τὰ δίκτυα. ἐμβὰς δὲ εἰς ἓν τῶν πλοίων, ὃ ἦν τοῦ Σίμωνος, ἠρώτησεν αὐτὸν ἀπὸ τῆς γῆς ἐπαναγαγεῖν ὀλίγον· καὶ καθίσας ἐδίδασκεν ἐκ τοῦ πλοίου τοὺς ὄχλους. ὡς δὲ ἐπαύσατο λαλῶν, εἶπε πρὸς τὸν Σίμωνα· ἐπανάγαγε εἰς τὸ βάθος καὶ χαλάσατε τὰ δίκτυα ὑμῶν εἰς ἄγραν. καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ Σίμων εἶπεν αὐτῷ· ἐπιστάτα, δι᾿ ὅλης τῆς νυκτὸς κοπιάσαντες οὐδὲν ἐλάβομεν· ἐπὶ δὲ τῷ ῥήματί σου χαλάσω τὸ δίκτυον. καὶ τοῦτο ποιήσαντες συνέκλεισαν πλῆθος ἰχθύων πολύ· διερρήγνυτο δὲ τὸ δίκτυον αὐτῶν. καὶ κατένευσαν τοῖς μετόχοις τοῖς ἐν τῷ ἑτέρῳ πλοίῳ τοῦ ἐλθόντας συλλαβέσθαι αὐτοῖς· καὶ ἦλθον καὶ ἔπλησαν ἀμφότερα τὰ πλοῖα, ὥστε βυθίζεσθαι αὐτά. ἰδὼν δὲ Σίμων Πέτρος προσέπεσε τοῖς γόνασιν ᾿Ιησοῦ λέγων· ἔξελθε ἀπ᾿ ἐμοῦ, ὅτι ἀνὴρ ἁμαρτωλός εἰμι, Κύριε· θάμβος γὰρ περιέσχεν αὐτὸν καὶ πάντας τοὺς σὺν αὐτῷ ἐπὶ τῇ ἄγρᾳ τῶν ἰχθύων ᾗ συνέλαβον, ὁμοίως δὲ καὶ ᾿Ιάκωβον καὶ ᾿Ιωάννην, υἱοὺς Ζεβεδαίου, οἳ ἦσαν κοινωνοὶ τῷ Σίμωνι. καὶ εἶπε πρὸς τὸν Σίμωνα ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς· μὴ φοβοῦ· ἀπὸ τοῦ νῦν ἀνθρώπους ἔσῃ ζωγρῶν. καὶ καταγαγόντες τὰ πλοῖα ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν, ἀφέντες ἅπαντα ἠκολούθησαν αὐτῷ.
We look forward to reuniting the Young at Heart Members when the time is right. Meanwhile, please stay safe and healthy.
A sincere and heartfelt "Thank You" to Agnes Louridas and Helen Papanicolau for their many years of leadership and commitment in making this ministry a vital part of our community. We hope to continue their energy and enthusiasm.
With gratitude,
Susan Gouris and Maria McNally
“The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing; To show that the Lord is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.” Psalm 92:12
Our Young at Heart ministry provides fellowship and friendship for our mature adults. Each person in the church is vital to the health and growth of the church. The rich experience and seasoned gifts of older Christians are indispensable resources to our congregation. Our church has made a commitment to encourage the Young at Hearts and maintain their involvement in the life of the church. There's a place for you at Annunciation! Ministries need your skills, abilities, and maturity!
The group plans social gatherings that include day excursions, holiday luncheons, and other fun and festive activities throughout the year. The activities are promoted in the Weekly Bulletin (hard copy on Sunday and E-Bulletin), and mailed to those without an email address, for all those interested, to plan ahead and join in. We invite you to join us in fellowship and fun!
Contact Persons
Susan Gouris
Maria McNally
Please submit your material by Wednesday 12 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.
Thank you!
Dear Annunciation Parents and Families of our Youth,
I am pleased to announce that Youth Ministries Registration 20’-21’ is Now Open! Please read its welcome letter closely.
Know that all our youth ministry events and activities will be offered virtually until further notice and that our youth and parish leadership are actively looking at all possible safe, in-person opportunities for youth activities.
Finally, I am personally challenging all of you, our parents and families of our youth, to register and commit to helping your child engage Google Classroom and Google Meet - our single online education platform of choice - as our teachers have been working tirelessly to pull together a meaningful virtual offering for your child.
Most of all, thank you to all our teachers and advisors!
See you soon,
Fr. John L. Johns
This year, we were forced to attend services behind our computer screens during Great Lent and Holy Week. Now more than ever, as we begin the new ecclesiastical year, we need to teach our youth about missions and get them involved in this critical ministry!
Please dust off those lesson plans and Coin Boxes we sent you earlier in the year and put them to good use. This year’s lesson plans focus on the life of one of the Church’s great missionary saints – St. Herman of Alaska. In August we celebrated the 50th anniversary of his canonization. In honor of his shining example we ask the following:
Thank you for your efforts in helping to share the Good News of Jesus Christ!
3rd ANNUAL PARISH BACKPACK DRIVE
Would you please help us help others?
We are less than 2 weeks from our October 4th deadline. If you can contribute by donating any of the following items, it would help make a difference for someone living on the streets!
Essentials for Men Essentials for women
1 Pair of white cotton socks Same items listed for men plus:
1 Mask Feminine hygiene products
Small bottle hand sanitizer Hair ties or scrunchie
Bandaids (a few assorted sizes)
Deodorant
Lip balm/chapstick
Lotion (travel size)
Sunscreen (small size)
Tissues
Toothbrush (if possible with covers) and toothpaste (travel size) Wet Wipes
Multivitamins or EmergenC
Beef Jerky
Breakfast bars or cereal bars
Mints (gum is not preferred because of dental issues)
Peanut Butter crackers
Applesauce or pudding cups
Donations can be placed in the Homeless Ministry basket located on the balcony by the Resource Center or if you would like your donation picked up, please contact any of the following to make arrangements:
Angela Godshall (GodshallA@aol.com)
Craig Godshall (CLGodshall@aol.com)
Talia Glaras (scorp1371@msn.com)
Demetrios Hatzapoulos (demetrios.hatzopoulos@yahoo.com)
Please include a $10 check made payable to FOCUS North America in the zip loc bag if you would also like to donate the backpack. All checks will be mailed to FOCUS once the drive is completed.
Thank you for sharing your love and compassion by giving to our homeless neighbors
In Christ's service,
The Homeless Ministry
Did you know the liturgical year begins and ends with feasts of the Theotokos (her Nativity on September 8 and the Dormition on August 15)? Here are some helpful resources as we begin a new liturgical year:
Seasons of Grace: Reflections on the Orthodox Church Year by Donna Farley, $17.95. Short, insightful reflections that help us find balance as we weave the Great Feasts into the fabric of our lives.
Do Not Judge by Hieromonk Gregorios, $7.95. As we struggle to live according to God’s commandments, we can lose hope and give up. Christ, however, suggested a very simple way for us to please Him and avoid condemnation at the Last Judgment: Do not judge in order not to be judged (Matt. 7:1-2). This slim volume addresses causes & types of criticism, gossip, and passing judgment.
The Story of Mary, the Mother of God by Dorrie Papademetriou, $20. A beautiful picture book that tells the story of the Virgin Mary’s childhood. Inspired by mosaics in the monastery of Chora in Constantinople.
Celebrate the Feasts, children’s music CD by Kh. Gigi Shadid. Stream the CD here to help young children learn the hymns of the Great Feasts or listen to her song about the feasts of Panagia here on YouTube.
Please reach out to us and let us know how we can serve you. Need a gift, an icon or items for your home church? We have them. Since you cannot come to the Resource Center during the pandemic, we will do our best to bring it to you!
You now have the option of paying for your Resource Center items through the Give+ app.
Jjcempapa@aol.com (Jane Papacostas)
GodshallA@aol.com (Angela Godshall)
BarbaraLouridas@gmail.com (Barbara Louridas)
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, Anthony, Janet, Dionysios, Elizabeth, Peter, Athanasia, Earnest, Virginia, Sandra, Tom, Stephen, Betty, Chryssie, Stacey, Athena, Konstantinos, Donna, Fr. George, Helen, Luke, Lia, Mary.
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, 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 who are celebrating birthdays this coming week: Heinze, Douglas & Angela; O'Hara, Dennis & Mary; Papanikolaou, Nikolaos & Maria; Connolly, Denise & Sean; Alfaro, Anthony & Kimberly; Skoutelas, Peter & Christina; Voutsinos, Frank & Carol; Avgiris, Constantine & Krystin; Georgiou, Peter & Christine; Pitsakis, Antonios & Georgia; Romas, Christos & Karen.
Χρόνια πολλά & ευλογημένα! God grant you many years! To those who are celebrating birthdays this coming week: Katerina Calliagas, Sebastian Fernandez, Konstantinos Patounas, Maria Chin, Yanni Grigorakakis, Elizabeth Limberakis, Argiris Niamonitos, Zoe Tripolitis, Evropi McGrath, John Tsaketas, Athanasios Tsakiris, Christos Yiantsos, Markella Hadgimallis, Alexandros Sebastiano, Asleigh Stoupakis, Gerard Zeman, George Fisfis, Jacklyn Louridas, Demetrios Malitas, George Pries, Ursula Glazewska, Jennifer Kyriakodis, Scott McLeod, Nicholas Zombolas, Nicholas Christman, Thomas Dinneen, Paraskeve Gardner, Lazaros Ioakimidis, Sofia Mitsas, Elise Pasles, Alfredo Yiannateli.
Οργάνωση Γονέων και Δασκάλων
Sunday, October 25, 2020
“What you are doing is the work of God!” These words come from Matt of Long Island City, NY the beneficiary of a grant from the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America Covid-19 Relief Fund. Matt is one of 358 grant recipients who received much needed assistance after being financial impacted by the global pandemic.
Late last week a rare and powerful hurricane, Ionas, caused tremendous damage in western Greece. The storm has been referred to as a “medicane,” a Mediterranean hurricane, and has created extensive destruction in the Ionian. Heavy rain and 75 m.p.h winds tore up some of the area’s most scenic and popular beaches and islands.
