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Annunciation/Evangelismos Church, Elkins Park, PA
Publish Date: 2022-01-09
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Annunciation/Evangelismos Church, Elkins Park, PA

General Information

  • Phone:
  • (215) 635-0316
  • Fax:
  • (215) 635-8301
  • Street Address:

  • 7921 Old York Road

  • Elkins Park, PA 19027


Contact Information




Services Schedule

We meet for divine worship every Sunday morning and on holy days starting with Orthros (Matins) at 8:30, Divine Liturgy at 9:30-11 AM.

Visit us at www.anngoc.org for information on how to attend church services during the COVIT-19 Pandemic.


Past Bulletins


Weekend Update

COVID & Church Attendance

  • The two outer sections are for those who wish to distance themselves socially. The seating is limited to every other pew.
  • The two middle sections are for those who can distance themselves at their own discretion. Every pew is open.

We strongly encourage everyone to wear masks while in the church building regardless of their vaccination status.

  • For those unable to attend in person, install the GOA Ages Initiatives App on your phone or tablet 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.
 

Sunday after Epiphany, January 9, 2022

Κυριακή μετά τα Φώτα, 9 Ιανουαρίου, 2022. Το κήρυγμα εδώ.

  • 8:30 am MATINS, 9:30 am DIVINE LITURGY with THE BLESSING OF THE WATERS.
  • Catechism School students and teachers will remain in church after Holy Communion in order to participate in the Blessing of the Waters. We look forward to having our Youth join together in worship on this special day.
  • Join us in offering memorial prayers for the peaceful repose of the soul of Ioanna Calliagas of blessed memory (1-year).
  • 2022 Parish Council Affirmation of Office.
  • Our Greek School invites all to the kalosorisma/fellowship hour after the liturgy.
  • 2 pm GOYA basketball playoffs.

Tuesday, January 11, 2022

  • 5 pm Greek School classes.
  • 6:30 pm Intermediate Adult Greek class.

Wednesday, January 12, 2022

  • 5 pm Greek School classes.
  • 6 pm Advanced Adult Greek class.

Thursday, January 13, 2022

  • 6 pm DVYC Meeting at St. George Greek Orthodox Church, Media, PA.

Friday, January 14, 2022

  • 5 pm Greek School classes.
  • 6:30 pm JOY dance practice.
  • 7 pm Beginners Adult Greek class.
  • 7:30 pm GOYA dance practice.

12th Sunday of Luke, January 16, 2022

  • 8:30am MATINS, 9:30am DIVINE LITURGY.
  • Catechism School classes after Holy Communion.
  • PTO invites all to the kalosorisma/fellowship hour after the liturgy.
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Youth Activities and News

Sunday School News

Greek School News


HOPE & JOY Activities

GOYA Activities

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Community News & Events

2022 Parish Council Affirmation of Office Today

We are pleased to inform you that we have received the blessing of His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros to administer the Affirmation of Office to our 2022 Parish Council.

We are grateful to the selected parishioners who have offered to be servant leaders of our community: Dean Dalson, Christine Ferello, Panagiotis Giannoumis, Craig Godshall, Panagiotis Kyriakou, Mary O’Hara, James Papacostas, Demetrios Papakirk, Russell Penning, and Antonios Vlahos.

A note of gratitude to outgoing members Cathy Avgiris, Peter Gouris, Leonidas Koletas, and Peter Nikolopoulos for their service and leadership.

In addition, we appreciate the excellent work of Diane Saphos and the Elections Committee.


Epiphany In-person and Drop-off House Blessings

Due to the rising cases of the Omicron variance in our area, we are instituting a Drop-off House Blessing option in addition to the traditional In-person House Blessing.

If you're at-risk and would still like your home blessed for the Feast of Epiphany, please enter your information here, and Fr. John will come to bless your front door and leave a Holy Water Kit for you to bless the inside. 

Fr. John will do his best to deliver these kits by the end of January.

For the traditional In-person House Blessing, please contact the parish office, (215) 635-0316 based on the House Blessing Schedule you received in your Christmas Package.

Blessed Feast of Theophany and stay safe!


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!

If you haven't made it before and are interested in making it, please call the parish office for help with the seal, baking pans, and recipe.

Charcoal briquettes & incense. Donations are appreciated as we purchase specific king of charcoal & incense.

Thank you!


Looking Ahead Beyond Next Week

  • Monday, January 17: Philoptochos/PTO Holiday Dinner
  • Saturday, January 22: Regional HOPE/JOY Kid Mission:“Not All Heroes Wear Capes” hosted by Annunciation, Elkins Park.
  • Sunday, January 23: Parish Greek School Three Hierarchs celebration.
  • Tuesday, January 25: Council of Ministries quarterly meeting.
  • Sunday, January 30: Regional Three Hierarchs celebration.
  • Sunday, February 6: Godparents Sunday.
  • Sunday, February 13: Start of the Triodion (three-week pre-Lenten period).
  • Monday, February 28: Spring General Assembly of our parishioners.
  • Saturday, March 5: Lenten Retreat.
  • Sunday, March 6: Parish level St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival.
  • Monday, March 7: Start of Great Lent.
  • Sunday, March 13: Greek Independence Day celebration by our Greek School.
  • Sunday, March 20: Greek Independence Day Parade in Philadelphia.
  • Saturday, March 26: Parish nameday & Greek Independence dinner celebration.
  • Sunday, April 24: Great and Holy Pascha.

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.

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


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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, Virginia, George, Maria, Constantino, Panagiotis, Peter, Zoë, Penelope, Panagiotis, Dimitrios, Konstantinos, Alexandra.
 
We will keep the names 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 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 celebrating this coming week:  Arieta & Gianni Gouvakis.

Χρόνια πολλά & ευλογημένα!  God grant you many years!  To those who are celebrating birthdays this coming week: Georgio Koulouris, Susan Lagakos, Katherine Rongione, Markos Hatzis, Christina Staurinos, Despina Twyman, George Wrigley, Angela Kambouris, Jenna Kloufetos, Dimitri Romano, Joann Samios, Thomas Trotter, Eleni Costa, Marian Fiorita, Charles Millili, Penelope Otto, Delfine Prousi, Joseph Sarver, Thalia Tsiobikas, Betsy Angelis, Angelina Makris, Athanasios Maragoudakis, Alexsandra Sutcliffe, Michael Thomas, Antonio Gonzales, Angeliki Karamatsoukas, Peter Kloufetos, Gianna Romano, Melena Tsoflias, Daphne Calliagas, Christopher Lawrence, Angela McCulloch, Argiris Mountis, Olga Stylianou.
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Stewardship Update

Stewardship 2022 Campaign is Under Way

You should have received your 2022 personalized Stewardship Pledge Card of Time, Talent, and Treasure in the mail, including our Sustaining Stewardship Initiative information.

If you are already a Sustaining Steward, that is, you have set up regular payments through Vanco or your bank bill payer service:

  • You do not have to fill out a pledge card!
  • Use the 2022 Pledge Card information as a guide to update your giving to reflect your current level of commitment and personal/family situation.
  • Check with your Vanco account or bank bill payer service to ensure that your regular payments continue through 2022.

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Bulletin Inserts

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Archdiocese News

Fully Human Podcast

01/05/2022

Presvytera Melanie speaks with Matushka Wendy Cwiklinski, founder of the private Facebook group “Koinonia for Exceptional Orthodox Families,” about her family’s experience of misconceptions of behaviors related to invisible disabilities, the difficult decision to speak on and publish material about such, the gift that persons with disabilities are to their “typical” community members, and more!

Faith Matters Newsletter - January 2022

01/05/2022

Dear Friends, With 2021 officially behind us, now is a time to reflect and look forward to the new year. This occasion allows us to reinvest in our own personal missions and reminds us that each of us offers a unique contribution.

2021 Office of Greek Education Christmas Video/Essay Contest Winners

01/03/2022

The Office of Greek Education of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America is pleased to announce the winners of the 2021 Christmas Essay/Video Contest.
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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. First Mode. Psalm 32.22,1.
Let your mercy, O Lord, be upon us.
Verse: Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Ephesians 4:7-13.

BRETHREN, grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. Therefore it is said, "When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men." (in saying, "He ascended," what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is he who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) And his gifts were that some should be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.

Προκείμενον. First Mode. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 32.22,1.
Γένοιτο, Κύριε, τὸ ἔλεός σου ἐφ' ἡμᾶς.
Στίχ. Ἀγαλλιᾶσθε δίκαιοι ἐν Κυρίῳ

τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς Ἐφεσίους 4:7-13.

Ἀδελφοί, ἑνὶ ἑκάστῳ ἡμῶν ἐδόθη ἡ χάρις κατὰ τὸ μέτρον τῆς δωρεᾶς τοῦ Χριστοῦ. Διὸ λέγει, Ἀναβὰς εἰς ὕψος ᾐχμαλώτευσεν αἰχμαλωσίαν, καὶ ἔδωκεν δόματα τοῖς ἀνθρώποις. Τὸ δέ, Ἀνέβη, τί ἐστιν εἰ μὴ ὅτι καὶ κατέβη πρῶτον εἰς τὰ κατώτερα μέρη τῆς γῆς; Ὁ καταβάς, αὐτός ἐστιν καὶ ὁ ἀναβὰς ὑπεράνω πάντων τῶν οὐρανῶν, ἵνα πληρώσῃ τὰ πάντα. Καὶ αὐτὸς ἔδωκεν τοὺς μὲν ἀποστόλους, τοὺς δὲ προφήτας, τοὺς δὲ εὐαγγελιστάς, τοὺς δὲ ποιμένας καὶ διδασκάλους, πρὸς τὸν καταρτισμὸν τῶν ἁγίων, εἰς ἔργον διακονίας, εἰς οἰκοδομὴν τοῦ σώματος τοῦ Χριστοῦ· μέχρι καταντήσωμεν οἱ πάντες εἰς τὴν ἑνότητα τῆς πίστεως καὶ τῆς ἐπιγνώσεως τοῦ υἱοῦ τοῦ θεοῦ, εἰς ἄνδρα τέλειον, εἰς μέτρον ἡλικίας τοῦ πληρώματος τοῦ Χριστοῦ.


Gospel Reading

Sunday after Epiphany
The Reading is from Matthew 4:12-17

At that time, when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee; and leaving Nazareth he went and dwelt in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: "The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, toward the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles, the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned." From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

Sunday after Epiphany
Κατὰ Ματθαῖον 4:12-17

Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, ἀκούσας δὲ ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς ὅτι ᾿Ιωάννης παρεδόθη, ἀνεχώρησεν εἰς τὴν Γαλιλαίαν, καὶ καταλιπὼν τὴν Ναζαρὲτ ἐλθὼν κατῴκησεν εἰς Καπερναοὺμ τὴν παραθαλασσίαν ἐν ὁρίοις Ζαβουλὼν καὶ Νεφθαλείμ, ἵνα πληρωθῇ τὸ ῥηθὲν διὰ ῾Ησαΐου τοῦ προφήτου λέγοντος· γῆ Ζαβουλὼν καὶ γῆ Νεφθαλείμ, ὁδὸν θαλάσσης, πέραν τοῦ ᾿Ιορδάνου, Γαλιλαία τῶν ἐθνῶν, ὁ λαὸς ὁ καθήμενος ἐν σκότειεἶδε φῶς μέγα, καὶ τοῖς καθημένοις ἐν χώρᾳ καὶ σκιᾷ θανάτουφῶς ἀνέτειλεν αὐτοῖς. ᾿Απὸ τότε ἤρξατο ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς κηρύσσειν καὶ λέγειν· μετανοεῖτε· ἤγγικε γὰρ ἡ βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν.


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Saints and Feasts

Allsaint
January 09

Polyeuctus the Martyr of Melitene in Armenia

Saint Polyeuctus, a soldier in rank, contested during the reign of Valerian, in the year 255. He was from Melitene, a city in Armenia.


Allsaint
January 09

Eustratios the Wonderworker


Allsaint
January 09

Peter, Bishop of Sebaste, brother of Basil the Great and Gregory of Nyssa


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Annunciation/Evangelismos Endowment Fund

Like all gifts that benefit Annunciation / Evangelismos Greek Orthodox Church, endowed gifts to the church contribute to its growth, to ministry creation, and to its service to others fulfilling the Gospel of Christ. Endowments are particularly powerful because they deliver a dependable, perpetual source of funding to the ministries of Christ you care about most and that our Lord commands us, in the Holy Scriptures, to fulfill. Your Gift to establish an endowment is an investment in the future – an eternal investment - one that affects the salvation of each spiritual life in our church family and of those our ministries serve.

Mission Statement

The Annunciation / Evangelismos Greek Orthodox Church Endowment Fund aims to provide for the long-term financial support and stability of our church’s programs, ministries, and missions consistent with the Holy Scriptures and the Orthodox Christian Tradition, to witness to the Orthodox Faith, and to serve others.

What is an Endowment Fund?

An Endowment Fund is composed of restricted funds given as individual bequests and gifts through such giving vehicles as wills, trusts, retirements or estate plans, life insurance, charitable lead or remainder trusts, gift annuities, cash, or real estate. Endowed funds are unique in that the total amount of the gift is invested and remains intact. The investment income, then, becomes a financial resource for Annunciation / Evangelismos to use. Each year, a percentage of the endowment fund’s income is distributed to benefit the mission of the Fund.  In this respect, an endowment is intended to be a perpetual gift.

Why Should I Give to the Annunciation / Evangelismos Endowment Fund?

Giving through accumulated, inherited and appreciated resources is considered “asset stewardship”. As Orthodox Christian faithful, we are encouraged to give from our accumulated resources and wealth during our life and after death. The Endowment Fund is a way for stewards to make a perpetual gift to the church from their lifetime accumulated resources. Knowing that your gift will grow with sound investment and spending practices, endowed funds:

  • Help create and grow the programs, ministries, and missions of the Church
  • Provide the assurance we need to recruit and maintain staff that ministry and church growth necessitate
  • Leave a perpetual and enduring Legacy of Faith to the Church
  • Honor and memorialize your faithful family or loved-one
  • Protect your estate and legacy
  • Reduce your income and/or estate taxes – ask your tax accountant or financial advisor how

The Different Ways of Planned Giving

  • Wills and Bequests - Leave a lasting legacy by adding the Endowment Fund as a beneficiary to your will - most common method
  • Life Insurance policy - You can gift an existing policy your family no longer needs or a new policy naming the fund as a beneficiary
  • Cash, Stocks, Bonds, Real Estate or other assets
  • Charitable Remainder Trust
  • Will, bequest, beneficiary form or check made to: Annunciation / Evangelismos Endowment Fund, EIN#  83-3399560

To Learn More about the Annunciation / Evangelismos Endowment Fund

Please call the church office and one of the Endowment Fund committee members will call you back. The directors are: Jim Verros, Jim Trivelis, Demetrios Hatzopoulos, John Gilliland, Mitch Papakirk, Dean Dalson and Father John Johns.

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