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***

16th Sunday of Matthew, February 7, 2021

Κυριακή ΙΣΤ΄ Ματθαίου, 7 Φεβρουαρίου, 2021. Το κήρυγμα ΕΔΩ

8:30 am MATINS, 9:30 am DIVINE LITURGY
Join us in offering memorial prayers for the peaceful repose of the soul of George Mitsas of blessed memory (1-year)
Philoptochos Go Red Sunday

Wednesday, February 10, 2021—Hieromartyr Haralambos

8:30 am MATINS, 9:30 am DIVINE LITURGY

Saturday, February 13, 2021

11 am Greek School March 25 Program rehearsal

Sunday of the Canaanite Woman, February 14, 2021

8:30 am MATINS, 9:30 am DIVINE LITURGY
Godparents Sunday
40-day Mother & Child Blessing: Michael Fotis, son of Alexandra & Evangelos Pappas

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

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.

Gospel Reading

16th Sunday of Matthew
The Reading is from Matthew 25:14-30

The Lord said this parable: "A man going on a journey called his servants and entrusted to them his property; to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them; and he made five talents more. So also, he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.' His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.' And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.' His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.' He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, 'Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not winnow; so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.' But his master answered him, 'You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sowed, and gather where I have not winnowed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to every one who has will more be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth." As he said these things he cried out: "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!"

16th Sunday of Matthew
Κατὰ Ματθαῖον 25:14-30

Εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος τήν παραβολὴν ταύτην· Ἄνθρωπος ἀποδημῶν ἐκάλεσε τοὺς ἰδίους δούλους καὶ παρέδωκεν αὐτοῖς τὰ ὑπάρχοντα αὐτοῦ, καὶ ᾧ μὲν ἔδωκε πέντε τάλαντα, ᾧ δὲ δύο, ᾧ δὲ ἕν, ἑκάστῳ κατὰ τὴν ἰδίαν δύναμιν, καὶ ἀπεδήμησεν εὐθέως. πορευθεὶς δὲ ὁ τὰ πέντε τάλαντα λαβὼν εἰργάσατο ἐν αὐτοῖς καὶ ἐποίησεν ἄλλα πέντε τάλαντα. ὡσαύτως καὶ ὁ τὰ δύο ἐκέρδησε καὶ αὐτὸς ἄλλα δύο. ὁ δὲ τὸ ἓν λαβὼν ἀπελθὼν ὤρυξεν ἐν τῇ γῇ καὶ ἀπέκρυψε τὸ ἀργύριον τοῦ κυρίου αὐτοῦ. μετὰ δὲ χρόνον πολὺν ἔρχεται ὁ κύριος τῶν δούλων ἐκείνων καὶ συναίρει μετ᾿ αὐτῶν λόγον. καὶ προσελθὼν ὁ τὰ πέντε τάλαντα λαβὼν προσήνεγκεν ἄλλα πέντε τάλαντα λέγων· κύριε, πέντε τάλαντά μοι παρέδωκας· ἴδε ἄλλα πέντε τάλαντα ἐκέρδησα ἐπ᾿ αὐτοῖς. ἔφη αὐτῷ ὁ κύριος αὐτοῦ· εὖ, δοῦλε ἀγαθὲ καὶ πιστέ! ἐπὶ ὀλίγα ἦς πιστός, ἐπὶ πολλῶν σε καταστήσω· εἴσελθε εἰς τὴν χαρὰν τοῦ κυρίου σου. προσελθὼν δὲ καὶ ὁ τὰ δύο τάλαντα λαβὼν εἶπε· κύριε, δύο τάλαντά μοι παρέδωκας· ἴδε ἄλλα δύο τάλαντα ἐκέρδησα ἐπ᾿ αὐτοῖς. ἔφη αὐτῷ ὁ κύριος αὐτοῦ· εὖ, δοῦλε ἀγαθὲ καὶ πιστέ! ἐπὶ ὀλίγα ἦς πιστός, ἐπὶ πολλῶν σε καταστήσω· εἴσελθε εἰς τὴν χαρὰν τοῦ κυρίου σου. προσελθὼν δὲ καὶ ὁ τὸ ἓν τάλαντον εἰληφὼς εἶπε· κύριε· ἔγνων σε ὅτι σκληρὸς εἶ ἄνθρωπος, θερίζων ὅπου οὐκ ἔσπειρας καὶ συνάγων ὅθεν οὐ διεσκόρπισας· καὶ φοβηθεὶς ἀπελθὼν ἔκρυψα τὸ τάλαντόν σου ἐν τῇ γῇ· ἴδε ἔχεις τὸ σόν. ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ ὁ κύριος αὐτοῦ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· πονηρὲ δοῦλε καὶ ὀκνηρέ! ᾔδεις ὅτι θερίζω ὅπου οὐκ ἔσπειρα καὶ συνάγω ὅθεν οὐ διεσκόρπισα! ἔδει οὖν σε βαλεῖν τὸ ἀργύριόν μου τοῖς τραπεζίταις, καὶ ἐλθὼν ἐγὼ ἐκομισάμην ἂν τὸ ἐμὸν σὺν τόκῳ. ἄρατε οὖν ἀπ᾿ αὐτοῦ τὸ τάλαντον καὶ δότε τῷ ἔχοντι τὰ δέκα τάλαντα. τῷ γὰρ ἔχοντι παντὶ δοθήσεται καὶ περισσευθήσεται, ἀπὸ δὲ τοῦ μὴ ἔχοντος καὶ ὃ ἔχει ἀρθήσεται ἀπ᾿ αὐτοῦ. καὶ τὸν ἀχρεῖον δοῦλον ἐκβάλετε εἰς τὸ σκότος τὸ ἐξώτερον· ἐκεῖ ἔσται ὁ κλαυθμὸς καὶ ὁ βρυγμὸς τῶν ὀδόντων.

Saints and Feasts

February 07

Parthenius, Bishop of Lampsacus

Saint Parthenius was born in Melitopolis on the Hellespont, the son of a deacon named Christopher. Because of the miracles that he wrought even as a young man, he was ordained a priest and then Bishop of Lampsacus in the days of Saint Constantine the Great, from whom he received great gifts and authority both to overturn the altars of the idols and to raise up a church to the glory of Christ. Working many miracles throughout his life, he reposed in peace an old man and full of days.

February 08

Theodore the Commander & Great Martyr

The holy Martyr Theodore was from Euchaita of Galatia and dwelt in Heraclea of Pontus. He was a renowned commander in the military, and the report came to the Emperor Licinius that he was a Christian and abominated the idols. Licinius therefore sent certain men to him from Nicomedia, to honor him and ask him to appear before him. Through them, however, Saint Theodore sent back a message that it was necessary for various reasons, that Licinius come to Heraclea. Licinius, seeing in this a hope of turning Saint Theodore away from Christ did as was asked of him.

When the Emperor came to Heraclea, Saint Theodore met him with honor, and the Emperor in turn gave Theodore his hand, believing that through him he would be able to draw the Christians to the worship of his idols. Seated upon his throne in the midst of the people, he publicly bade Theodore offer sacrifice to the gods. But Theodore asked that the emperor entrust him with the most venerable of his gods, those of gold and silver, that he might take them home and himself attend upon them that evening, promising that the following day he would honor them in public. The Emperor, filled with joy at these tidings, gave command that Theodore's request be fulfilled.

When the Saint had taken the idols home, he broke them in pieces and distributed the gold and silver to the poor by night. The next day a centurion named Maxentius told Licinius that he had seen a pauper pass by carrying the head of Artemis. Saint Theodore, far from repenting of this, confessed Christ boldly. Licinius, in an uncontainable fury, had the Saint put to many torments, then crucified. While upon the cross, the holy Martyr was further tormented -- his privy parts were cut off, he was shot with arrows, his eyes were put out, and he was left on the cross to die. The next day Licinius sent men to take his corpse and cast it into the sea; but they found the Saint alive and perfectly whole. Through this, many believed in Christ. Seeing his own men turning to Christ, and the city in an uproar, Licinius had Theodore beheaded, about the year 320. The Saint's holy relics were returned to his ancestral home on June 8, which is also a feast of the Great Martyr Theodore.

February 10

Hieromartyr Haralambos

This Saint was a priest of the Christians in Magnesia, the foremost city of Thessaly, in the diocese having the same name. He contested during the reign of Alexander Severus (222-235), when Lucian was Proconsul of Magnesia. At the time of his martyrdom the Saint was 103 years of age.

St. Haralambos is commemorated on February 10th, with the exception when this date falls on the Saturday of the Souls preceding Lent or on Clean Monday (the first day of Lent), in which case the feast is celebrated on February 9th.

Wisdom of the Fathers

There is an old saying: 'Excesses meet.' Too much fasting and too much eating come to the same end. Keeping too long a vigil brings the same disastrous cost as ... sluggishness... Too much self-denial brings weakness and induces the same condition as carelessness. Often I have seen men who would not be snared by gluttony fall, nevertheless, through immoderate fasting and tumble in weakness into the very urge which they had overcome. Unmeasured vigils and foolish denial of rest overcame those whom sleep could not overcome. Therefore, 'fortified to right and to left in the armor of justice,' as the apostle says (2 Cor. 6:7), life must be lived with due measure and, with discernment for a guide, the road must be traveled between the two kinds of excess so that in the end we may not allow ourselves to be diverted from the pathway of restraint which has been laid down for us nor fall through dangerous carelessness into the urgings of gluttony and self-indulgence.

St. John Cassian

Conferences, Conference Two: On Discernment no. 16; Paulist Press pg. 76, 5th century

Become an Annunciation Sustaining Steward Now

“…the greatest of these is love” I Corinthians 13:13

OUR SUSTAINING STEWARDSHIP INITIATIVE

A Sustaining Steward commits to stay engaged continuously and support the church through regular weekly or monthly payments. A Sustaining Steward’s pledge rolls over to the following year without filling out a pledge card each year. A Sustaining Steward can adjust their pledge anytime to reflect their level of commitment or personal/family situation.

WHY BECOME A SUSTAINING STEWARD?
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF SUSTAINING STEWARDSHIP?

Becoming a Sustaining Steward (1) fulfills God’s command to give faithfully and regularly. As a sustaining steward, your enrollment and giving (2) rolls-over annually, eliminating the need to re-register and re-pledge every year. This automatic and recurring giving also (3) helps the church address seasonal funding gaps, and (4) helps us achieve festival independence, allowing us to save more.

Ultimately, it (5) creates better ministry and budgetary planning, and (6) helps support our church, her ministries, and their growth.

HOW DO I BECOME A SUSTAINING STEWARD?

Fill out the Family Information Form HERE (first- time registration or annual update)
Fill out the Online Pledge Form HERE and choose your method of payment (auto-debit from a debit card, credit card, or checking account trough GivePlus⁺; personal check; or your bank’s bill payer service)
If you are already signed up for regular payments through GivePlus+ or your bank's bill payer service, you are already a Sustaining Steward! Please adjust your pledge and payment to reflect your new level of commitment for 2021 and make sure your automatic payments continue through the new year.

Annunciation is a full stewardship parish that requires no minimum pledge to be a Steward.
Our Stewardship Program encourages parishioners 18 and over to pledge donations in any amount, according to the blessings they have received from our Lord.
Our Stewardship Pledge Drive starts in November for the following calendar year, although new members and current members may submit a pledge at any time.
We offer you the Weekly Giving Guideline chart below to help you determine your level of giving. Being a good steward is using your resources wisely.

Weekly Giving Guidelines
Weekly Income	10%	5%	4%	2%
$500	$50	$25	$20	$10
$750	$75	$37	$30	$15
$1000	$100	$50	$40	$20
$1500	$150	$75	$60	$30
$2000	$200	$100	$80	$40

Community News & Events

Looking Ahead Beyond Next Week

Sunday, February 14, 2021 - Godparents Sunday
Sunday, February 21, 2021 - Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee. Triodion Begins Today (Three-week pre-Lenten season)
Thursday, February 25, 2021 - Homeless Ministry Serving at Aviator Park (Logan Square, Philadelphia)
Monday, March 1, 2021 - Spring Assembly of our Parishioners
Saturday, March 6, 2021 - First of Three Saturdays of Souls
Monday, March 15, 2021 - Clean Monday, Start of Holy and Great Lent
Thursday, March 25, 2021 - Our Feastday, The Annunciation/Evangelismos of the Theotokos. Greek Independence Day
Sunday, April 25, 2021 - Plam Sunday, Start of Holy Week
Sunday, May 2, 2021 - Holy and Great Pascha

Organist Needed for Weddings

We are looking for a parishioner who can provide organ music for church weddings.

This position is ideal for a young person who can play the piano or organ.

Interested persons should contact Fr. John for more information frjohn@anngoc.org

Help Us Connect with All Parishioners

Our Weekly Bulletin is emailed to 550+ parishioners by Friday every week.

If you know of a parishioner who is not receiving the e-bulletin and would like to, please encourage them to visit our website and enter their email at the Join Our Email Listserv button on the homepage. Alternatively, give us a call (215) 635-0316 or email us at the parish office, and we will gladly do it for you.

If you know of a parishioner who does not have an email address, please let us know to place them on our Paper Bulletin mailing list.

Fun Fact: This month marks the 20th year that we have been emailing our Weekly Bulletin to our parishioners! In January 2001, we started with a few dozen parishioners' emails and were among the first parishes in the nation to use this amazing new communication tool. It has certainly been a blessing, and we look forward to improving our communications utilizing all the new technology tools becoming available to us.

We thank you for your support, patience, and cooperation.

Church Postal Mail Delayed

We want to update you on two bulk mail shipments sent out at the beginning of December but have not arrived at your homes yet due to unusual Postal Service delays.

The first mailing contained the Philoptochos Bid & Buy Booklet. The second mailing included the 2021 Wall Calendar, 2021 Pocket Calendar, Nativity Schedule, and a Christmas Donation Envelope.

We haven't been able to get confirmation from the Postal Service when they may be arriving at your homes.

In the meantime, we would like to provide you with the following links to the electronic versions of these mailings:

Philoptochos 2020 Bid & Buy Booklet
2021 Calendar of Feasts and Daily Bible Readings
It is not too late to make your Christmas Donations through GivePlus+ instead of the return envelope

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Bulletin Announcements

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!

Youth Activities and News

Greek School News

Click HERE to see the students' 2021 Three Hierarchs Presentation

Godparents Sunday, February 14, 2021

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On Behalf of PTO,

All NOUNAs and NOUNOs
are cordially invited to attend Divine Liturgy

with your Godchildren

Followed by the Reaffirmation of Commitments
Made at the time of Your Holy Baptism.

Our hope is that we (a) share in this celebration as an Annunciation Family,

(b) reconnect with the honor, responsibilities, & teachings of this sacred position, and

(c) take advantage of the two online resources:

First, click below to Post & View your Well-Wishes to your Godparents and children.

Second, click HERE to visit our new Godparent Sunday Webpage and Resources.

Altar Servers Wanted

With our Altar Boys’ safety and well-being in mind and keeping with COVID directives and restrictions, we invite all Altar Boys back to church to begin serving again on Sundays (2 per Sunday rotation).

Contact me at 267-255-1380 or Paul.Fisfis@usfoods.com to place your child on the rotation to serve.

Please make every effort to encourage your son to participate if they are healthy; we miss you all and can't wait to have everyone back together.

Many Blessings!

Paul Fisfis, Altar Servers Coordinator

2021: The Year of the Youth

Year of the Youth Banner2.jpg

At the annual meeting in October 2020, the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America declared 2021 the Year of the Youth, with the intent of augmenting ministry to children, teens, and young adults across the country.

The yearlong festivities will focus on the youth’s presence and potential within the Church by celebrating and enhancing their God-given talents.

Please click HERE for more information

CrossRoads Summer Instiute

Apply HERE for the 2021 CrossRoad Summer Institute

Philoptochos News

Go Red Sunday – February 7, 2021

The Ladies Philoptochos ‘Nausica’ continues its commitment to Go Red for Women, the American Heart Association’s national call to increase awareness and help prevent heart disease, the number one killer of American women. This is a call for women, by women, to take charge of their well-being and live stronger, healthier lives.

We invite all of our parishioners to show support for this important mission to increase awareness and help prevent heart disease in women by wearing red, our hearts' color, on Go Red Sunday, February 7, 2021, when attending church services. We will also be taking a collection that day to benefit the American Heart Association. Thank you for your continued support!

Know the warning signs of heart attack and stroke

Matthew 25 Ministry News

Happy New Year! We come to you with the hope that spirits will be lifted and better days are ahead in 2021. The tone for the past year has been dark and gloomy. We've heard stories, seen losses, and lived through isolation. Amid this gloom, Matthew 25 looked for that spark. It wasn't always easy...but as a ministry, our messages and bulletins often elaborate on our ministry's needs. This week's message is one of gratitude. We seek and you find. Your donations on the GivePlus+ app exceeded our expectations and provided thousands of dollars in food for local families. This is a "shout out from the highest mountain top" kind of thank you!

Moving on to Angel Tree, where do we possibly begin? There were 135 tags between the signup genius and the physical tree. We were not well attended in the church in November & December, and yet one by one, tags and names were crossed off our list. People came out of Covid to help us fulfill the requests this year. We thank those individuals or ministries that provided us with names, we thank those who helped move our tree in and out every Sunday, those who bought physical gifts, sent in gift cards, and for our church leaders who allowed us to think outside of the box for this project. Thank you all for Angel Tree's success this past year. We all seem to receive so much joy from giving! We are evolving into a parish that comes together to help those in need. Thank you for your ongoing support.

We will be increasing our egg donation this month to 120 dozen eggs and spending $475 in your donations for Seeds of Hope. Giant will be delivering the eggs along with other requested items to the pantry. Monday's snowstorm made deliveries and donations very difficult for the pantry. They are so gracious for all that we do!

Please look for upcoming bulletins to see how we will implement our Lenten community service project this year.

Matthew 6:33 "But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.

Homeless Ministry News

Abbot Tryphon more recently on “The Poor”:

The saints serve as our guides in serving the poor.

In many parts of the American countryside, one can find the remnants of poorhouses (sometimes called workhouses), institutions run by local county or state governments as a means of dealing with the issue of the unemployed poor, and homeless. These poorhouses were often located in rural farming communities and could resemble rather bleak mental hospitals or prisons. Those residing in these poorhouses were seen as dishonorable, lacking moral character, and devoid of any industriousness. They were poor because they were lazy.

These poorhouses resembled reformatories precisely because poverty was seen as the result of a total lack of initiative on the part of the poor. Those who were forced to live in these institutions, either alone, or as families, were subjected to a penal labor regime of manual labor, sometimes even subjected to physical punishment. More often than not, poorhouses shared space with prison farms, and other penal or charitable public institutions, housing paupers (mainly elderly and disabled people) at public expense. These institutions were common in the United States beginning in the middle of the 19th century and declined in use after the introduction of Social Security in 1935.

Most poorhouses operated working farms that produced at least some of the produce, grain, and livestock they consumed. Residents were expected to provide labor to the extent that their health would allow, both in the fields and in providing housekeeping and care for other residents. Rules were strict and accommodations minimal. Hardly the place one would want their elderly relatives to be forced to reside, or a place for our nation's children to be raised. Yet, given the bleak statistics of our nation's homeless, these poorhouses were at least warm shelters for desperate families and homeless elderly.

The Church's Witness to Poverty

Our Orthodox Church is very clear in its teaching regarding the poor. Our Lord Jesus Christ taught us by His example as the great philanthropos, and we can do nothing less than follow His example. Christ commanded us to love and serve the poor and the hungry. He told us we must care for the sick and suffering, and that we must visit those in prisons, and cloth the naked. The Church's liturgical hymns and seasons are filled with the commemoration of saints who were known for their love of the poor. Saint Basil the Great of the third century established Church-sponsored hospitals and mental institutions. Saint Nicholas of Myra of Lycia distributed money to those in need. Saint John the Almsgiver was one of the most charitable Patriarchs of the Byzantine Empire. Saint Joseph of Volokhlamsk emphasized the ancient monastic tradition of hospitality and care for the poor, and Saint Elizabeth the Grand Duchess established hospitals for the poor and destitute in Russia. The newly canonized saint, Mother Maria Skobtsova, served soup kitchens and established houses of hospitality in World War II France.

These holy saints provided unique examples to the rest of us of what it means to be Christians. They showed forth the Light of Christ by following His example of love for the poor, by giving of their talents, time, and money to those in need. Orthodox Christians told up the saints as exemplary people whose lives are worthy of emulating. They show us the way to live out the Gospels, and point, by their lives, the Way of Christ.

Love in Christ,

Abbot Tryphon

Together let’s follow the examples of these Saints in helping those in need!

Signupgenius - Homeless Ministry/Aviator Park-February

Signupgenius - Homeless Ministry/Philoptochos casseroles for college students

In Christ's service,

The Homeless Ministry

Annunciation Resource Center

Here are some book recommendations, resources, and links for the month of February. And don’t forget – if you’ve read a good book recently and would like to tell the Annunciation community about it, please let us know!

A.R.E. You Ready to Learn More? Gerry Clonaris, a parishioner of St. Nektarios Greek Orthodox Church in Charlotte, N.C., has developed a series of YouTube videos on Greek Orthodoxy in conjunction with that church’s Adult Religious Education (A.R.E.) program. Gerry’s mother Connie and his sister Marion of blessed memory were lifelong and very active parishioners of Annunciation. Gerry was recently appointed to the Archdiocesan Council by Archbishop Elpidophoros. You can access the videos here.

Faith in the time of Covid-19 by Elpidophoros Lambriniadis, Archbishop of America. The archdiocese has published a collection of homilies and pastoral messages offered by His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros during Great Lent last year. These messages help us understand the church’s thoughts during this very difficult time of the pandemic. You can learn more and order the book on the archdiocesan website.

In Thy Presence by Lev Gillet. In this book Fr. Gillet offers beautiful meditations on selected bible readings and turns them into one- or two-page everyday conversations between God and his beloved children. The message of this book is calming, with passages that are easy on your mind – and that just might help you sleep more peacefully!

Sacred Symbols That Speak by Anthony M. Coniaris. In this two-volume set, Fr. Coniaris brings to life the sacred symbols through which Orthodox Christians celebrate their faith. In twelve brief chapters and clear prose, he examines the spiritual meaning of symbols such as aroma, kneeling, and silence; the sacraments; as well as the Pantocrator and the Great Feasts of the church.

Pictures of God by John Kosmas Skinas. A photo journal written for children in grades 1-4, this sturdy, colorful volume describes icons from around the world. Beginning readers will find it easy to understand – and adults reading it aloud with younger children will be surprised to learn a lot too!

Focus on Our Church Family

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, Fr. George, Helen, Luke, Lia, Mary, Irene, Agnes, Kalliopi, Theofilos, Efthimia, Anthony, Sandi, Dennis, Ken, Efthimia, Brian.

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 this coming week: Maragoudakis, Athanasios & Maria; Hatzigeorgiou, Ioannis & Ashley; Hunsicker, Ryan & Melina Mathewson; Cardenas, Geovanny & Maria

Χρόνια πολλά & ευλογημένα! God grant you many years! To those who are celebrating birthdays this coming week: Anthony Ballas, Yiannis Exarchos, Stacy Pappas, Brenna Zervos, Stefanos Zoubroulis, Kimon Angelikas, Nicolette Cosmas, Constantine Dalson, Diamantis Diamantas, Athanasios Limbanovnos, Ekaterini Nanos, Alexander Pavlidis, Eleni Vafiadis, Barbara Laspee, Kaliopi Mountis, Daniel Pithis, Emmanuel Topakas, Maria Frangetis, Maria Kanakis, Fotios Malliaris, Eugenia Spyrou, Michael Browne, Anna Dalson, Krystin Avgiris, Teri Douris, Maria Karidas, John Koutsouros, Isabelle Lambrou, John Metzger, Alexandra Siokos, Christos Angelis, Nicole Oquendo, Evan Pappas.

Our deepest sympathy: to the Kopsinis and Exarchos families for the falling asleep in the Lord of their beloved mother, grandmother, sister, and aunt, Vassilike Kopsinis, 68, of blessed memory on January 29, 2021. The funeral will be private. May her memory be eternal.

Bulletin Inserts

Archpastoral Visit 'Thank You'

January 3, 2021

Women's Heart Warning Signs Infographic

Philoptochos Go Red Campaign

2021 Philoptochos Membership

January 2021

Orthodox Christian Mission Center

Meet OCMC Missionary Elaine Piniat

Elaine Piniat is a pre-field missionary with the Orthodox Christian Mission Center. Elaine felt called to become a missionary 10 years ago but didn't go through with it out of fear. Instead, she built a thriving career as a journalist, most recently working as an audience engagement editor at Newsday on Long Island.

But the yearning to be a full-time missionary never went away. Elaine continued to serve the Lord on short-term mission trips to East Asia, Guatemala, and Albania and also helped with youth and homeless ministries at parishes. After her first trip to Albania, Elaine came across an ad from OCMC for missionaries in Sweden. The internet ministry role perfectly matched her skills from her experience at Newsday. After much prayer and deliberation, the Lord has led her to serve in Sweden.

She’ll be using her journalism experience to preach the Gospel and spread the message of Orthodoxy in the digital world. Her efforts will support the Metropolis of Sweden and All Scandinavia, as she does in-person outreach and builds a multi-platform online presence that inspires parishioners to grow spiritually. Elaine also hopes to encourage those she meets in the broader community, as 73 percent of Swedes say they're either "not religious" or "convinced atheists," according to a Gallup poll.

If anyone would like to follow Elaine's journey, they can sign up for her newsletter at elainepiniat.com. Elaine also has a Psalter Group. If anyone would like to participate in the Psalter Group, please email Elaine at e.piniat@ocmc.org.

To learn more about the OCMC, visit www.ocmc.org

Beyond Annunciation

Orthodox Christian Fellowship

2021 CrossRoad Summer Institute

Apply HERE for the 2021 CrossRoad Summer Institute

PanHellenic Scholarship Foundation

2020-2021 PanHellenic Scholarship Application

College Year in Athens 2021

We are delighted to share an exciting new initiative, ideal for high-school graduates of Greek heritage:

Know Thyself while exploring Greece, volunteering for a worthy cause, and adventuring on cultural immersion. An exceptional way to enrich the students' educational and life experiences, and a unique opportunity to deepen the connection and understanding of Greek culture.

College Year in Athens (CYA) is offering two opportunities for Gap Year students: one for those passionate about antiquity with the program "Archaeological Field Work: Excavation, Workshops and Digital Technologies" and one for those interested in learning more about activism and diversity, with the program "Understanding Activism, Diversity, and Equity: the example of Greece".

While gaining a fuller understanding of a different culture via interactive learning methods, students will create an e-portfolio as a record of what is learned and accomplished through this program. Field trips within Greece will not only allow the broadening of perspective and expanding of the worldview but mainly grant them a unique chance to come into a close encounter with the land of their ancestors whose cultural heritage became the pillar of the western civilization.

CYA, recognizing the difficult times that COVID-19 has created, has established the Fall 2021 Gap Flight Award. A student who will be accepted in the Fall 2021 Gap program, will receive $1,000 to offset the cost of the round-trip ticket to/from Athens, Greece.

College Year in Athens (CYA) is a non-profit educational institution, which, since 1962, provides English-speaking undergraduates (more than 10,000 to date) the transformative experience to study in Athens and familiarize themselves with the Greek culture. To find out how Greece & CYA is faring up, please check out the COVID-19 FAQ on our website here.

Archepiscopal Message

Encyclical on the Feast of Saint Photios, Patriarch of Constantinople

02/05/2021

Our annual celebration of the great and holy Patriarch Photios is an occasion to remember the Saint who presided in love on the First Throne of Orthodoxy, and whose mission to bring the Faith of Christ to the world was one of the most ambitious and successful in history.

https://www.goarch.org/-/photios-encyclical

Encyclical on the Feast of the Three Hierarchs and the Day of Greek Letters

01/28/2021

The Day of Greek Letters is upon us, the Feast of the Holy Three Hierarchs: Basil the Great, John Chrysostom, and Gregory the Theologian. This Feastday was designed to settle the disputes about who was the greatest of the three. And the answer is … they are all great!

https://www.goarch.org/-/greek-letters-encyclical

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