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.
Please sign up HERE to attend in person any of the church services. All ages are welcomed (and encouraged) to attend.
For those unable to attend in person, click on the service to see the text and pray with us through our Facebook Livestream
Let us know if you would like for us to light a votive candle for you HERE
Friday, October 23, 2020. James (Iakovos) the Apostle, brother of Our Lord / Ἰάκωβος ὁ Ἀδελφόθεος
7:30 pm GOYA dance practice
Saturday, October 24, 2020
VI Sunday of Luke, October 25, 2020
Monday, October 26, 2020. The Holy Great Martyr Demetrius the Myrrh-streamer / Δημήτριος ὁ Μεγαλομάρτυς
These Martyrs were disciples of Saint Paul the Confessor (see Nov. 6). Martyrius was a subdeacon, Marcian a chanter and reader. They were beheaded by the Arians in the year 346. Miracles were wrought at their tomb, and demons were cast out; Saint John Chrysostom began the building of the church in their honour in Constantinople, and it was completed by patriarch Sisinius.
Saint Demetrius was a Thessalonian, a most pious son of pious and noble parents, and a teacher of the Faith of Christ. When Maximian first came to Thessalonica in 290, he raised the Saint to the rank of Duke of Thessaly. But when it was discovered that the Saint was a Christian, he was arrested and kept bound in a bath-house. While the games were under way in the city, Maximian was a spectator there. A certain friend of his, a barbarian who was a notable wrestler, Lyaeus by name, waxing haughty because of the height and strength of his body, boasted in the stadium and challenged the citizens to a contest with him. All that fought with him were defeated. Seeing this, a certain youth named Nestor, aquaintance of Demetrius', came to the Saint in the bath-house and asked his blessing to fight Lyaeus single-handed. Receiving this blessing and sealing himself with the sign of the precious Cross, he presented himself in the stadium, and said, "O God of Demetrius, help me!" and straightway he engaged Lyaeus in combat and smote him with a mortal blow to the heart, leaving the former boaster lifeless upon the earth. Maximian was sorely grieved over this, and when he learned who was the cause of this defeat, he commanded straightway and Demetrius was pierced with lances while he was yet in the bath-house, As for Nestor, Maximian commanded that he be slain with his own sword.
As mentioned in the account concerning Saint Demetrius (October 26), this Saint contested during the reign of Maximian, in the year 290.
Prokeimenon. Third Mode. Psalm 46.6,1.
Sing praises to our God, sing praises.
Verse: Clap your hands, all you nations.
The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians 1:11-19.
Brethren, I would have you know that the gospel which was preached by me is not man's gospel. For I did not receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through a revelation of Jesus Christ. For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it; and I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers. But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and had called me through his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not confer with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia; and again I returned to Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas, and remained with him fifteen days. But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord's brother.
Προκείμενον. Third Mode. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 46.6,1.
Ψάλατε τῷ Θεῷ ἡμῶν, ψάλατε.
Στίχ. Πάντα τὰ ἔθνη κροτήσατε χεῖρας.
τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς Γαλάτας 1:11-19.
Ἀδελφοί, γνωρίζω δὲ ὑμῖν, ἀδελφοί, τὸ εὐαγγέλιον τὸ εὐαγγελισθὲν ὑπʼ ἐμοῦ, ὅτι οὐκ ἔστιν κατὰ ἄνθρωπον. Οὐδὲ γὰρ ἐγὼ παρὰ ἀνθρώπου παρέλαβον αὐτό, οὔτε ἐδιδάχθην, ἀλλὰ διʼ ἀποκαλύψεως Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ. Ἠκούσατε γὰρ τὴν ἐμὴν ἀναστροφήν ποτε ἐν τῷ Ἰουδαϊσμῷ, ὅτι καθʼ ὑπερβολὴν ἐδίωκον τὴν ἐκκλησίαν τοῦ θεοῦ, καὶ ἐπόρθουν αὐτήν· καὶ προέκοπτον ἐν τῷ Ἰουδαϊσμῷ ὑπὲρ πολλοὺς συνηλικιώτας ἐν τῷ γένει μου, περισσοτέρως ζηλωτὴς ὑπάρχων τῶν πατρικῶν μου παραδόσεων. Ὅτε δὲ εὐδόκησεν ὁ θεὸς ὁ ἀφορίσας με ἐκ κοιλίας μητρός μου καὶ καλέσας διὰ τῆς χάριτος αὐτοῦ, ἀποκαλύψαι τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ ἐν ἐμοὶ ἵνα εὐαγγελίζωμαι αὐτὸν ἐν τοῖς ἔθνεσιν, εὐθέως οὐ προσανεθέμην σαρκὶ καὶ αἵματι· οὐδὲ ἀνῆλθον εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα πρὸς τοὺς πρὸ ἐμοῦ ἀποστόλους, ἀλλὰ ἀπῆλθον εἰς Ἀραβίαν, καὶ πάλιν ὑπέστρεψα εἰς Δαμασκόν. Ἔπειτα μετὰ ἔτη τρία ἀνῆλθον εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα ἱστορῆσαι Πέτρον, καὶ ἐπέμεινα πρὸς αὐτὸν ἡμέρας δεκαπέντε. Ἕτερον δὲ τῶν ἀποστόλων οὐκ εἶδον, εἰ μὴ Ἰάκωβον τὸν ἀδελφὸν τοῦ κυρίου.
6th Sunday of Luke
The Reading is from Luke 8:26-39
At that time, as Jesus arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, there met him a man from the city who had demons; for a long time he had worn no clothes and he lived not in a house but among the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him, and said with a loud voice, "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beseech you, do not torment me." For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many a time it had seized him; he was kept under guard, and bound with chains and fetters, but he broke the bonds and was driven by the demon into the desert.) Jesus then asked him, "What is your name?" And he said, "Legion"; for many demons had entered him. And they begged him not to command them to depart into the abyss. Now a large herd of swine was feeding there on the hillside; and they begged him to let them enter these. So he gave them leave. Then the demons came out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned. When the herdsmen saw what happened, they fled, and told it in the city and in the country. Then people went out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had gone, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. And those who had seen it told them how he who had been possessed with demons was healed. Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gadarenes asked him to depart from them; for they were seized with great fear; so he got into the boat and returned. The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him; but he sent him away, saying, "Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you." And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him.
6th Sunday of Luke
Κατὰ Λουκᾶν 8:26-39
Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, ἐλθόντι τῷ Ἰησοῦ εἰς τὴν χώραν τῶν Γαδαρηνῶν, ἥτις ἐστὶν ἀντίπερα τῆς Γαλιλαίας. ἐξελθόντι δὲ αὐτῷ ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν ὑπήντησεν αὐτῷ ἀνήρ τις ἐκ τῆς πόλεως, ὃς εἶχε δαιμόνια ἐκ χρόνων ἱκανῶν, καὶ ἱμάτιον οὐκ ἐνεδιδύσκετο καὶ ἐν οἰκίᾳ οὐκ ἔμενεν, ἀλλ᾿ ἐν τοῖς μνήμασιν. ἰδὼν δὲ τὸν ᾿Ιησοῦν καὶ ἀνακράξας προσέπεσεν αὐτῷ καὶ φωνῇ μεγάλῃ εἶπε· τί ἐμοὶ καὶ σοί, ᾿Ιησοῦ, υἱὲ τοῦ Θεοῦ τοῦ ὑψίστου; δέομαί σου, μή με βασανίσῃς. παρήγγειλε γὰρ τῷ πνεύματι τῷ ἀκαθάρτῳ ἐξελθεῖν ἀπὸ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου. πολλοῖς γὰρ χρόνοις συνηρπάκει αὐτόν, καὶ ἐδεσμεῖτο ἁλύσεσι καὶ πέδαις φυλασσόμενος, καὶ διαρρήσσων τὰ δεσμὰ ἠλαύνετο ὑπὸ τοῦ δαίμονος εἰς τὰς ἐρήμους. ἐπηρώτησε δὲ αὐτὸν ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς λέγων· τί σοί ἐστιν ὄνομα; ὁ δὲ εἶπε· λεγεών· ὅτι δαιμόνια πολλὰ εἰσῆλθεν εἰς αὐτόν· καὶ παρεκάλει αὐτὸν ἵνα μὴ ἐπιτάξῃ αὐτοῖς εἰς τὴν ἄβυσσον ἀπελθεῖν. ἦν δὲ ἐκεῖ ἀγέλη χοίρων ἱκανῶν βοσκομένων ἐν τῷ ὄρει· καὶ παρεκάλουν αὐτὸν ἵνα ἐπιτρέψῃ αὐτοῖς εἰς ἐκείνους εἰσελθεῖν· καὶ ἐπέτρεψεν αὐτοῖς. ἐξελθόντα δὲ τὰ δαιμόνια ἀπὸ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου εἰσῆλθον εἰς τοὺς χοίρους, καὶ ὥρμησεν ἡ ἀγέλη κατὰ τοῦ κρημνοῦ εἰς τὴν λίμνην καὶ ἀπεπνίγη. ἰδόντες δὲ οἱ βόσκοντες τὸ γεγενημένον ἔφυγον, καὶ ἀπήγγειλαν εἰς τὴν πόλιν καὶ εἰς τοὺς ἀγρούς. ἐξῆλθον δὲ ἰδεῖν τὸ γεγονός, καὶ ἦλθον πρὸς τὸν ᾿Ιησοῦν καὶ εὗρον καθήμενον τὸν ἄνθρωπον, ἀφ᾿ οὗ τὰ δαιμόνια ἐξεληλύθει, ἱματισμένον καὶ σωφρονοῦντα παρὰ τοὺς πόδας τοῦ ᾿Ιησοῦ, καὶ ἐφοβήθησαν. ἀπήγγειλαν δὲ αὐτοῖς οἱ ἰδόντες πῶς ἐσώθη ὁ δαιμονισθείς. καὶ ἠρώτησαν αὐτὸν ἅπαν τὸ πλῆθος τῆς περιχώρου τῶν Γαδαρηνῶν ἀπελθεῖν ἀπ᾿ αὐτῶν, ὅτι φόβῳ μεγάλῳ συνείχοντο. αὐτὸς δὲ ἐμβὰς εἰς τὸ πλοῖον ὑπέστρεψεν. ἐδέετο δὲ αὐτοῦ ὁ ἀνήρ, ἀφ᾿ οὗ ἐξεληλύθει τὰ δαιμόνια, εἶναι σὺν αὐτῷ· ἀπέλυσε δὲ αὐτὸν ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς λέγων· ὑπόστρεφε εἰς τὸν οἶκόν σου καὶ διηγοῦ ὅσα ἐποίησέ σοι ὁ Θεός. καὶ ἀπῆλθε καθ᾿ ὅλην τὴν πόλιν κηρύσσων ὅσα ἐποίησεν αὐτῷ ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς.
Dear Stewards and Friends of Annunciation Parish,
The IOCC, in the spirit of Christ’s love, offers emergency relief and development programs to those in need worldwide, without discrimination, and strengthens the capacity of the Orthodox Church to so respond.
IOCC, the international humanitarian aid and development agency of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America, aims to develop in Orthodox Christians a commitment to philanthropy and global cooperative involvement in the diaconal work of the Orthodox Church.
As a charitable arm of our Orthodox faith, the IOCC assists people in need across the globe, including right here in the US and in Greece. Each year the Philadelphia chapter holds a major fundraiser. This year’s event will be virtual.
Whether or not you can attend the 1-hour program on Sunday, please consider making a donation HERE to help the hungry, homeless, and others in dire need.
God bless you for your support!
In Christ's Service,
Annunciation IOCC Committee
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!
On Saturday, October 17, the PTO held a socially distanced Trunk or Treat in the church’s parking lot.
The youth of our parish enjoyed dressing up and collecting candy, while the adults had a good time decorating their trunks in various themes.
Thanks to all who participated. Here are some pictures of the event:
A Trinity of Good Works
Many of our parishioner families are not aware of the extent and breadth of support that Philoptochos provides on a local, national, and global level. The proceeds of our major annual fundraiser, the Bid N Buy, and our members provide the primary resources for our chapter to do A Trinity of Good Works – in Reaching In and Reaching Out Ministries as well as Extended Ministries, which we call promises to keep.
Here is a summary of the Trinity of Good Works your Philoptochos chapter has supported, thus far, in 2020 totaling $18,000:
As always, we thank Father John and our Philoptochos Board members for being ready and eager to help in whatever way they can.
Your Sister in Christ,
Stella Fisfis
Philoptochos Nausica President
2020 Philoptochos Community Christmas Card
Please view the invitation letter HERE and return your submission by November 30, 2020
As we continue to co-suffer with others in times of need and celebrate with others in times of joy!
(From FOCUS North America's October Newsletter https://focusnorthamerica.org)
In Christ's service,
The Homeless Ministry
Thank you for being part of positive change within our community. Matthew 25 works very hard to reduce hunger in our local communities, as you often hear in our bulletins. Our ministry is grateful for the generosity you have shown us with the outpouring of donations during Covid. We are excited to announce that with your help, we delivered our monthly egg donation (100 dozen eggs) to the Seeds of Hope food pantry and were able to add $100 in nourishing soups, $100 in nutrient-rich frozen vegetables, and $100 in heart-healthy oil as well as butter. We also delivered the items that you added to our bins. The pantry was thrilled, and they are always so thankful and blessed with our offerings. Please continue to donate in any capacity that you can. We would love to be able to continue this level of contribution in the future!
To expand our community reach with our increased funding, we added a visit to Mattie Dixon Community Cupboard, located in Ambler, this month. They feed, clothe, and even help with job placement and bill assistance to the neighboring communities—what a remarkable group of volunteers and people who run this amazing facility. Feel free to look them up and drop off clothing and food. We discovered that they would need help fulfilling approximately 400+ Christmas gifts, so we will be working with them this Christmas through our Angel Tree program to make some dreams come true. Next month we will fill you in on the various ways you can participate in Angel Tree this year.
We are always hearing about the impact of Covid on people financially, but when you visit the pantry and see the faces of hunger and need, it leaves you with a feeling of sadness that quickly sparks into a sense of hope. We are that hope, and we are all part of this mission to help serve “the least of our brethren.” Our ministry name and scripture of Matthew 25:40 reminds us. We must see and serve our fellow man for the Glory of God. Thank you for helping us accomplish our mission.
Our Annual Turkey Drive is on. Please see information HERE. We are ready to take orders! We hope to purchase over 150 turkeys this year! You can always donate to M25 on the GivePlus+ at any time and in any amount.
October Update
The Orthodox Church teaches us that holiness or sainthood is a gift given by God to man through the Holy Spirit. We honor the saints - who are first of all "friends" of God - to express our love and gratitude to God. Many wonderful books are available to make the saints' lives accessible to us and help us follow their example. Here are just a few:
Christ in His Saints by Patrick Henry Reardon. Father Reardon examines the lives of 150 saints and heroes from the Scriptures, from Abigail to Zephaniah, Adam to St. John the Theologian. Repentant saints, zealous saints, saints under pressure – they're all here, and their stories are both fascinating and uplifting. But Christ in His Saints is far more than a biblical "who's who." These men and women represent that ancient family into which, by baptism, all believers have been incorporated. Together they compose that "great cloud of witnesses" cheering us on and inspiring us through word and deed.
Christina’s Favorite Saints by Maria C. Khoury. This beautiful children's book features a brief biography and colorful icon of one saint for each month of the year. Among the saints included are St. Herman of Alaska, St. Kosmas the Melodios, St. Gerasimos of Jordan, St. Anthony the Great, St. Constantine the Great, St. Helen, St. Katherine, St. George the Great Martyr, St. Sophia and her daughters, and Sts. Peter and Paul.
Everyday Saints and Other Stories by Archimandrite Tikhon. In Communist Russia in 1984, five youths from non-religious backgrounds joined a monastery. This book tells the story of what they experienced and some of the "everyday saints" they met. The author says, "In this book I want to tell you about this beautiful new world of mine, where we live by laws completely different from those in 'normal' worldly life—a world of light and love, full of wondrous discoveries, hope, happiness, trials and triumphs, where even our defeats acquire profound significance: a world in which, above all, we can always sense powerful manifestations of divine strength and comfort." Translated into ten languages, Everyday Saints has sold millions of copies since its publication in 2011, and in 2012 received the “Book of the Year Award,” one of the most prestigious literary awards in Russia.
Traveling Companions by Christopher Moorey. The saints started out as ordinary Christians, just like us, and they are waiting to accompany us on our journey to heaven if we will only reach out our hands. Traveling Companions briefly introduces saints from a variety of times, places, and walks of life, all in language that brings them close to contemporary readers’ lives. You’re sure to find companions here that you will be happy to walk with all the way to the Kingdom.
Please reach out to us if you’d like to purchase any of these books – or an icon or items for your home church. You may now pay for them through the Give+ app. Since you cannot come to the Resource Center during the pandemic, we will do our best to bring it to you!
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 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, Fr. George, Helen, Luke, Lia, Mary, Stefanos.
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: Giannos, Steve & Effie; Lambrou, Dimitri & Lynn; Matarangas, Dennis & Vincenza; Pieces, Isidoros & Andriana; Tsakiris, Dimitrios & Eleni; Worthington, Benjamin & Angelica Kolokithias; Christodoulakis, George & Heather; Nanz, Michael & Stephanie; Gimbel, Benjamin & Maria; Sheehan, Frank & Maria.
Χρόνια πολλά & ευλογημένα! God grant you many years! To those who are celebrating birthdays this coming week: Andrew Kanellopoulos, Joseph Sarris, Stamatia Sklikas, Niki Crits, Alexander Falbo, David Fiorita, Olivia Pavlou, Demetra Pithis, Anastasia Cooper, Sara Couppas, Mary Gouris, Sophia King, Panayiotis Pithis, David Fiorita, Byron Koukaras, Pagona Kytzidis, Catherine McNally, Michael Metsikas, Maria Sandilos, Irene Diaz, Catherine Grigos, Talia Hatzopoulos, Gregory Kosiras, Irene Lambrou, Mathew Mulcahy, Eleni Psoras, Anna Trantas, Madeline Zeman, Chloe Armenakis, George Georgiou, Kathleen Moustakas, Melissa Stolarczyk, Matthew Voutsinos, Roxanne Fentross, Amanda Macindoe, Dimitrius Sebastiano, Nicky Stylianou.
Our deepest sympathy to the family of Peter Borras, 86, who fell asleep in the Lord on October 17, 2020. May his memory be eternal.
His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America has today announced his appointments to the 2020-2022 Archdiocesan Council.
Today, His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America in his capacity as Chairman of the Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos Society announced the appointment of the Executive Board Members for the 2020-2022 term.
Ionian Village, the Archdiocese’s summer camp site in the northwestern Peloponnese, sustained damage on Monday, October 13, 2020. A tornado ripped through the facility, causing most significant damage to the cafeteria (“Trap”) and the pool. Several trees behind the cabins were uprooted and launched hundreds of feet. No one was on site during the tornado, and no one was injured.
The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America announces the Rev. Dr. Nicholas Louh and his wife, Dr. Roxanne Louh, as the hosts of a new radio program of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese on 77WABC Talk Radio. The program, Live with the Louhs will broadcast each week beginning Sunday, October 18, 2020 at 6:00am ET in the NY Metro area.
Saturday, October 24, 2020
Please return by November 30, 2020
Thanksgiving 2020