Camp Good Shepherd, August 15-21, 2021. Registration is Now Open

Register here: app.campdoc.com/register/cgsn

https://www.projectmexico.org/news/2021/7/7/the-gift-of-service-by-emmalia-godshall?fbclid=IwAR3peFYA393UDjn7rkprpBRUf6K0VCo4GgvPLmhOc9hkiNXnPnBC26iVfvw 

Now collecting your gently used books for Project HOME Books

Accepting books in good condition including customer favorites such as books on art and design, religion, and newer academic or technical texts on topics like engineering or philosophy.

Cannot accept encyclopedias, outdated textbooks, or periodicals.

One of several social enterprise programs at Project HOME, this newest initiative helps to provide opportunities for employment, income, community, and a steppingstone in recovery from homelessness.

Click here: https://projecthome.org/books  if you would like to learn more.

THANK YOU for your contributions to the

Summer Water Drive (continues through the summer)

and to the Backpack Drive (continues until August 15th)

and for your July donations of food and service at Aviator Park!!!

 

The Homeless Ministry

Help Childen from Homeless Families

Every child deserves their very own backpack and school supplies to start the new school year!

Help restore some sense of normalcy for these children and send the message that they are important—and so is their education!
Donate $10 to cover the cost of one backpack,
or
Donate $15 to cover the cost of school supplies for one backpack,
or
Donate $25 to cover the cost of one backpack filled with school supplies.
Donate any amount towards this drive. FOCUS North America will supply the backpacks and school supplies.
You can participate either by mailing or dropping off a check made payable to “FOCUS North America” to our church office or by making a donation to the Homeless Ministry on GivePlus. Please indicate that your donation is for the backpack drive.
This drive will end on August the 15th.
Backpacks and supplies will be distributed to homeless families through Philadelphia Interfaith Hospitality Network and Project Home.

Let’s Help Kids in Need Succeed!

The Homeless Ministry

Community Service is an essential part of Matthew  25.  It’s so rewarding to be able to give back. In the  words of Theodore Roosevelt, “ This country will  NOT be a good place for any of us to live in unless  we make it a good place for all of us to live in.”  As our country is coming off of the pandemic, these words couldn’t be truer.  Matthew 25, with the help of your donations, was able to set up a  delivery of 125 dozen eggs, 60 pounds of butter,  and upon the request of the pantry, a case of crackers.  In addition, there was a personal donation of cheese slices, sour cream, hotdogs,  and apples that were well received by the pantry!  Seeds of Hope was just given a donation of hotdog buns from Giant … but no hotdogs. Thank you! We made a $300 donation to Somerton  Interfaith Food Bank this month as well.  That will help them keep their pantry stocked. 

Again, we thank you for your incoming donations. The local pantries are concerned with the fall months, as shoppers will increase as government benefits end.  We will make larger donations in the fall based on the needs of the pantry’s we support.  If you have a perishable donation, please contact  Sophia at sophiagreekgirl@gmail.com or Lisa at  oceancitymom@aol.com in order for us to get your donation to the pantry while it’s fresh.

Stay cool this summer and as always THANK YOU! 

Want to participate in an Orthodox book club?

In celebration of the 200^th anniversary of the birth of Russian author Fyodor Dostoevsky, the Ancient Faith book club is reading and discussing Crime and Punishment in August. (Not exactly a beach read but well worth the effort!)

Here are reviews of two studies on the Book of Revelation, from Konstantine:

An Introduction to Reading the Apocalypse by Columba Graham Flegg. Before addressing the text of Revelation, the author lays a solid foundation by offering the full texts of pertinent prophecies from Ezekiel, Daniel, Matthew, Corinthians, Thessalonians, Peter, and John, and by discussing the background, history, and structure of Revelation. The letters to the seven churches and the future prophecies are then commented on, again with extensive portions of the actual text. Since this brief and simple introduction is best suited for the person with minimal experience in Scriptural prophecy and Revelation, in particular, it thus admirably fulfills its purpose.

Revelation: A Liturgical Prophecy by Fr. Patrick Henry Reardon. While Fr. Reardon’s treatment of the details of Revelation can be disappointing––he passes over a great deal, presents new interpretations with no corroborating evidence, and offers excellent references and parallel passages but fails to explain their significance––his real contribution, and it is a profound one, is his “vision” for understanding the context of Revelation, dismissing the idea that it is a letter and for a far-future time, and rather identifying it as a book and a prophecy that is situated within a liturgical setting and has real significance for the seven churches. Another valuable contribution is that Revelation was not written to inform us about the future so that we could feel self-pleased in our knowledge, but to call us to present repentance, because of the future.

Many thanks to our parishioners who have graciously shared book reviews with us!  Please let us know if you’d like to share what you’ve been reading with the Annunciation community.

Bulletin Announcements

Please submit your material by Tuesday 12 noon for the upcoming Sunday’s bulletin during the summer months. 

Your submission should be an editable document (Word, Publisher, Google Doc, Pages), as well as your final PDF document. Please send your submission to office@anngoc.org and 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.

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.

This week’s “How-to” Green Your Parish episode features Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Raleigh, NC.

Dr. Paraskevè “Eve” Tibbs, the Christian Education Ministry leader for the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of San Francisco, has just published a book, A Basic Guide to Eastern Orthodox Theology – Introducing Beliefs and Practices. The format is inviting and accessible, suitable for both Orthodox and western Christian readers, who may or may not have prior theological background.

The Greek Orthodox Metropolis of San Francisco is pleased to announce “Learning Through Serving: Project Based Learning for Religious Education”. This Zoom workshop will be held on Thursday, August 19, 2021 from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. PDT and is ideal for clergy, religious educators, Sunday School directors and teachers, parents, and anyone interested in the implementation of Project Based Learning for Religious Education.

With great spiritual gladness, I rejoice to celebrate the Feastday of your Heavenly Protector and Advocate, the Holy and Righteous-Martyr, Paraskevi. Earlier in our prayers and praises, we read the following from her Kontakion: Τὸν ναόν σου πάνσεμνε, ὡς ἰατρεῖον ψυχικὸν εὑράμενοι… We find your Temple, O All-Pure One, to be a remedy of our souls…

Everybody can be creative- you've just got to think outside of the box. You can turn virtually any activity into a chance to help others through IOCC.

Hit the links with Metropolitan Nathanael and friends!

In honor of the 200th year anniversary of Greek independence, the Department of Inter-Orthodox, Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations, will release a video the 25th of each month as part of the “Faith in Freedom” series.

Ionian Village in Glyfa, Greece prepares to welcomes the arrival of its going adult program, #IVNext2021.