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Annunciation/Evangelismos Church, Elkins Park, PA
Publish Date: 2022-06-19
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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

  • Following the Montgomery County health department recommendations, wearing a mask is now optional for divine liturgy and all church activities.
  • 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 of All Saints, June 19, 2022

Κυριακὴ τῷ Αγίων Πάντων, 19 Ιουνίου, 2022. To κήρυγμα της Κυριακής εδώ

  • 8:30 am MATINS, 9:30 am DIVINE LITURGY.
  • The Voutsinas family offers the artoklasia (blessing of the wine, oil, and bread) for the health and well-being of their members - feast of Thaddeus (Jude) the Apostle.
  • Our Philoptochos will host the kalosorisma/fellowship hour after the liturgy.

Monday, June 20, 2022

Tuesday, June 21, 2022

  • 10 am Viewing followed by the Funeral at 11 am for Virginia Livanos of blessed memory.

  • 7 pm Parish Council meeting.

Wednesday, June 22, 2022

  • 7 pm The Annunciation ministry leaders will meet to plan the 2022-2023 Master Church Calendar. Ministry leaders: please check your email for the calendar invitation and the meting agenda.

Sunday, June 26, 2022

  • 8:30 am MATINS, 9:30 am DIVINE LITURGY. Fr. Emanuel Pratsinakis will celebrate the divine liturgy with us, filling in for Fr. John, who will be on vacation with his family.
  • Join us in offering memorial prayers for the peaceful repose of the souls of Konstantinos Vafiadis (6 months), and Sophia Verros (5 years) of blessed memory.

Wednesday, June 29, 2022, Peter and Paul, the Holy Apostles

  • 8:30 am MATINS, 9:30 am DIVINE LITURGY. Fr. Dennis Rhodes will celebrate the divine liturgy with us.

Thursday, June 30, 2022

3rd Sunday of Matthew, July 3, 2022

  • 8:30 am MATINS, 9:30 am DIVINE LITURGY. Fr. Emanuel Pratsinakis will celebrate the divine liturgy with us.

4th Sunday of Matthew, July 10, 2022

  • 8:30 am MATINS, 9:30 am DIVINE LITURGY. Fr. Emanuel Pratsinakis will celebrate the divine liturgy with us.

Sunday of the Holy Fathers of the 4th Ecumenical Council, July 17, 2022

  • 8:30 am MATINS, 9:30 am DIVINE LITURGY. Fr. Dennis Rhodes will celebrate the divine liturgy with us.
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Youth Activities and News

Sunday School News

Please register you children for the 2022-2023 Catechism School year and all Youth Ministries here: 2022-2023 Youth Ministries Registration Form

This Week's Children's Word from OCN


Greek School News

Please register you children for the 2022-2023 Greek School year and all Youth Ministries here: 2022-2023 Youth Ministries Registration Form

 Help Wanted

The future is brighter than ever for Annunciation Elkins Park Greek School. We are looking for dynamic, passionate, and qualified individuals to join our team and our mission for the upcoming 2022-2023 school year! 
The ideal candidate should have mastery of the Greek Language, teaching skills, as well as a professional who wants to provide students with an exemplary, Greek education and is comfortable incorporating technology into the classroom. Our Greek school hours are Tuesdays and Fridays 5:00pm-7:00pm. 
If you are interested in becoming a teacher, or know anyone that might be interested, please email Annunciation Greek School Director, Debbie Sourias, greekschool@anngoc.org or contact by phone 215-407-1872.
 

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Community News & Events

Community Calendar

We apologize that our web calendar is currently unavailable due to technical difficulties. Here is an alternative PDF version for now.

June-August 2022 Annunciation Community Calendar

Homeless Ministry News

Have you had enough water today?

The recommended eight 8oz glasses per day is a far reach for many, especially for people experiencing homelessness. Heat stroke and dehydration are a common cause of emergency room visits.

Help those experiencing homelessness stay hydrated, especially during the hot summer months by donating to our Summer Water Drive.

One water bottle makes a big difference!

Please  consider donating water in cartons (16.9 fl oz) instead of in plastic bottles. “Justwater” and “Boxed Water” are two such brands and are available online as well as in grocery stores, drugstores and other retail businesses.

Also, if you have any new sustainable reusable water bottles that you would like to donate, please place your donations in the Homeless Ministry Basket located on the Mezzanine level by the bookstore.

When we give a drink to someone who is thirsty, we give a drink to Jesus himself, and when we love our neighbor, we love Jesus.

Please note: Our next scheduled serving date at Aviator Park is June 30th.

Sign up Here

Please save the date and join us if you are able!

The Homeless Ministry


Looking Ahead Beyond Next Week

  • July 3-7: Archdiocese Clergy-Laity Congress and National Philoptochos Convention in New York City.
  • August 1: Start of the Dormition Fast.
  • Friday, September 2: Start of Greek Dance classes. Plese register here
  • Sunday, September 18: Start of Catechism classes. Plese register here
  • Tuesday, September 20: Start of Greek School classes. Plese register here
  • September 30-October 1: Fall OPA Greek Festival.
  • Saturday, October 22: Young Couples Retreat.
  • Saturday, November 5: Golden Thyranoixia Anniversary Banquet.
  • Saturday, November 19: Spiritual Life Nativity Retreat.

50th Anniversary Celebration

SAVE THE DATE!

Annunciation/Evangelismos Church Golden Thyranoixia Gala.

Saturday, November 5th, 2022.

Green Valley Country Club in Lafayette Hill, PA.

We are excited to be planning this celebration to commemorate our 50 years in Elkins Park, PA, as a church family. We are equally excited and honored to be blessed with the presence of His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros and His Grace Bishop Apostolos for the evening.

Details are forthcoming. Please mark your calendars!


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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, Panagiotis, Peter, Zoë, Penelope, Panagiotis, Dimitrios, Alexandra, Peter, Dimitra,  Joyce, Eleni.
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: Elise & Paul Pasles,  Glykeria & Nick Kontogeorgos, Val & Scott Mcleod, Stacey & Many Metsikas, Allison & Konstantinos Dounoulis, Melissa & Andrew Prousi, Marianna & Zisis Siokos, Virginia & John Koutsouros, Maria & Dimitrios Andreadis, Gloria & William Johnson, Kimberly & William Koutsouros, Athena & Loukas Louca, Vrisida & Philip Nanos, Despina & James Peterman, Angelique & Yiorgos Hatzinikolaou, Despina & Theodosios Sourias, Alexsandra & Richard Wrigley, Robin & Stefanos Haviaras, Maria & James McNally, Demetra & Daniel Pithis.

Χρόνια πολλά & ευλογημένα!  God grant you many years!  To those who are celebrating birthdays this coming week: Constantine Fournaris, Panagiotis Kyriakou, Elisavet Loizos, Stephen Maris, Gregory Psaroudis, Marisa Verros, Markos Andreadis, Eva Limbanovnos, Mark Pasles, Anastasia Psoras, Dimitra Ganas, Louis Grau, Xanthi Stathis, Christina Bennett, Kyra Cunningham, Stephanie Degaitis, Christina Iliadis, Gail Karmokolias, Dianna O’Hara, Alexandra Tzitzikas, Angelique Hatzinikolaou, Charlie Rey Louridas, Elvis Louridas, Rhea Metsikas, Domenick Niamonitos, Nicholas Saphos, Zaffie Zoubroulis, Eleni Evangelatos, Constantine Hadgimallis, Robert Hadgimallis, Aris Malita, Russell Penning.

Our deepest sympathy to the Livanos and Archon families for the passing of their beloved mother and grandmother, Virginia Livanos, 91, on 6/16/22. Her funeral will be at Annunciation Elkins Park on Tuesday 6/21/22. May her memory be eternal.

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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Fourth Mode. Psalm 67.35,26.
God is wonderful among his saints.
Verse: Bless God in the congregations.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 11:33-40; 12:1-2.

Brethren, all the saints through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, received promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and scourging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were killed with the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, ill-treated - of whom the world was not worthy - wandering over deserts and mountains and in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, though well attested by their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had foreseen something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect. Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.

Προκείμενον. Fourth Mode. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 67.35,26.
Θαυμαστὸς ὁ Θεὸς ἐν τοῖς Ἁγίοις αὐτοῦ.
Στίχ. Ἐν Ἐκκλησίαις εὐλογεῖτε τὸν Θεὸν.

τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς Ἑβραίους 11:33-40, 12:1-2.

Ἀδελφοί, οἱ Ἅγιοι πάντες διὰ πίστεως κατηγωνίσαντο βασιλείας, εἰργάσαντο δικαιοσύνην, ἐπέτυχον ἐπαγγελιῶν, ἔφραξαν στόματα λεόντων, ἔσβεσαν δύναμιν πυρός, ἔφυγον στόματα μαχαίρας, ἐνεδυναμώθησαν ἀπὸ ἀσθενείας, ἐγενήθησαν ἰσχυροὶ ἐν πολέμῳ, παρεμβολὰς ἔκλιναν ἀλλοτρίων. Ἔλαβον γυναῖκες ἐξ ἀναστάσεως τοὺς νεκροὺς αὐτῶν· ἄλλοι δὲ ἐτυμπανίσθησαν, οὐ προσδεξάμενοι τὴν ἀπολύτρωσιν, ἵνα κρείττονος ἀναστάσεως τύχωσιν· ἕτεροι δὲ ἐμπαιγμῶν καὶ μαστίγων πεῖραν ἔλαβον, ἔτι δὲ δεσμῶν καὶ φυλακῆς· ἐλιθάσθησαν, ἐπρίσθησαν, ἐπειράσθησαν, ἐν φόνῳ μαχαίρας ἀπέθανον· περιῆλθον ἐν μηλωταῖς, ἐν αἰγείοις δέρμασιν, ὑστερούμενοι, θλιβόμενοι, κακουχούμενοι - ὧν οὐκ ἦν ἄξιος ὁ κόσμος - ἐν ἐρημίαις πλανώμενοι καὶ ὄρεσιν καὶ σπηλαίοις καὶ ταῖς ὀπαῖς τῆς γῆς. Καὶ οὗτοι πάντες, μαρτυρηθέντες διὰ τῆς πίστεως, οὐκ ἐκομίσαντο τὴν ἐπαγγελίαν, τοῦ θεοῦ περὶ ἡμῶν κρεῖττόν τι προβλεψαμένου, ἵνα μὴ χωρὶς ἡμῶν τελειωθῶσιν. Τοιγαροῦν καὶ ἡμεῖς, τοσοῦτον ἔχοντες περικείμενον ἡμῖν νέφος μαρτύρων, ὄγκον ἀποθέμενοι πάντα καὶ τὴν εὐπερίστατον ἁμαρτίαν, διʼ ὑπομονῆς τρέχωμεν τὸν προκείμενον ἡμῖν ἀγῶνα, ἀφορῶντες εἰς τὸν τῆς πίστεως ἀρχηγὸν καὶ τελειωτὴν Ἰησοῦν.


Gospel Reading

The Sunday of All Saints
The Reading is from Matthew 10:32-33; 37-38; 19:27-30

The Lord said to his disciples, "Every one who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven; but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny him before my Father who is in heaven. He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and he who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me." Then Peter said in reply, "Lo, we have left everything and followed you. What then shall we have?" Jesus said to them, "Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of man shall sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And every one who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. But many that are first will be last, and the last first."

The Sunday of All Saints
Κατὰ Ματθαῖον 10:32-33, 37-38, 19:27-30

Εἶπεν ὁ Κὐριος τοῖς ἑαυτοῦ μαθηταῖς· Πᾶς οὖν ὅστις ὁμολογήσει ἐν ἐμοὶ ἔμπροσθεν τῶν ἀνθρώπων, ὁμολογήσω κἀγὼ ἐν αὐτῷ ἔμπροσθεν τοῦ πατρός μου τοῦ ἐν οὐρανοῖς. ὅστις δ᾿ ἂν ἀρνήσηταί με ἔμπροσθεν τῶν ἀνθρώπων, ἀρνήσομαι αὐτὸν κἀγὼ ἔμπροσθεν τοῦ πατρός μου τοῦ ἐν οὐρανοῖς. ῾Ο φιλῶν πατέρα ἢ μητέρα ὑπὲρ ἐμὲ οὐκ ἔστι μου ἄξιος· καὶ ὁ φιλῶν υἱὸν ἢ θυγατέρα ὑπὲρ ἐμὲ οὐκ ἔστι μου ἄξιος· καὶ ὃς οὐ λαμβάνει τὸν σταυρὸν αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀκολουθεῖ ὀπίσω μου, οὐκ ἔστι μου ἄξιος. Τότε ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ Πέτρος εἶπεν αὐτῷ· ἰδοὺ ἡμεῖς ἀφήκαμεν πάντα καὶ ἠκολουθήσαμέν σοι· τί ἄρα ἔσται ἡμῖν; ὁ δὲ ᾿Ιησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι ὑμεῖς οἱ ἀκολουθήσαντές μοι, ἐν τῇ παλιγγενεσίᾳ, ὅταν καθίσῃ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐπὶ θρόνου δόξης αὐτοῦ, καθίσεσθε καὶ ὑμεῖς ἐπὶ δώδεκα θρόνους κρίνοντες τὰς δώδεκα φυλὰς τοῦ ᾿Ισραήλ. καὶ πᾶς ὃς ἀφῆκεν οἰκίας ἢ ἀδελφοὺς ἢ ἀδελφὰς ἢ πατέρα ἢ μητέρα ἢ γυναῖκα ἢ τέκνα ἢ ἀγροὺς ἕνεκεν τοῦ ὀνόματός μου, ἑκατονταπλασίονα λήψεται καὶ ζωὴν αἰώνιον κληρονομήσει. Πολλοὶ δὲ ἔσονται πρῶτοι ἔσχατοι καὶ ἔσχατοι πρῶτοι.


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Archdiocese News

Updated Sexual Misconduct Policy Announced

06/14/2022

The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, under the leadership of His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, has instituted a revised policy on sexual misconduct by clergy. This revised policy updates the current one in place since 2000.

Communique of the Holy Eparchial Synod

06/15/2022

Today, June 15, 2022, upon the invitation of His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, the Holy Eparchial Synod of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America convened via videoconference in order to review current matters concerning the life of the Church.
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Saints and Feasts

Allsaint
June 19

The Sunday of All Saints

Honouring the friends of God with much reverence, the Prophet-King David says, "But to me, exceedingly honourable are Thy friends, O Lord" (Ps. 138:16). And the divine Apostle, recounting the achievements of the Saints, and setting forth their memorial as an example that we might turn away from earthly things and from sin, and emulate their patience and courage in the struggles for virtue, says, "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every burden, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us" (Heb. 12:1).

This commemoration began as the Sunday (Synaxis) of All Martyrs; to them were added all the ranks of Saints who bore witness (the meaning of "Martyr" in Greek) to Christ in manifold ways, even if occasion did not require the shedding of their blood.

Therefore, guided by the teaching of the Divine Scriptures and Apostolic Tradition, we the pious honour all the Saints, the friends of God, for they are keepers of God's commandments, shining examples of virtue, and benefactors of mankind. Of course, we honour the known Saints especially on their own day of the year, as is evident in the Menologion. But since many Saints are unknown, and their number has increased with time, and will continue to increase until the end of time, the Church has appointed that once a year a common commemoration be made of all the Saints. This is the feast that we celebrate today. It is the harvest of the coming of the Holy Spirit into the world; it is the "much fruit" brought forth by that "Grain of wheat that fell into the earth and died" (John 12:24); it is the glorification of the Saints as "the foundation of the Church, the perfection of the Gospel, they who fulfilled in deed the sayings of the Saviour" (Sunday of All Saints, Doxasticon of Vespers).

In this celebration, then, we reverently honour and call blessed all the Righteous, the Prophets, Apostles, Martyrs, Confessors, Shepherds, Teachers, and Holy Monastics, both men and women alike, known and unknown, who have been added to the choirs of the Saints and shall be added, from the time of Adam until the end of the world, who have been perfected in piety and have glorified God by their holy lives. All these, as well as the orders of the Angels, and especially our most holy Lady and Queen, the Ever-virgin Theotokos Mary, do we honour today, setting their life before us as an example of virtue, and entreating them to intercede in our behalf with God, Whose grace and boundless mercy be with us all. Amen.


Holy12ap
June 19

Thaddeus (Jude) the Apostle & Brother of Our Lord

The Apostle Jude was of the choir of the Twelve, and by Luke was called Jude, the brother of James the Brother of God (Luke 6:16; Acts 1:13), and therefore also a kinsman of the Lord according to His humanity. But by Matthew (10:3), he is called Lebbaeus, surnamed Thaddeus (he is not the Thaddeus who healed the suffering of Abgar, as Eusebius says in his Eccl. Hist., 1:13; see Aug. 21). Saint Jude preached in Mesopotamia, Arabia, Idumea, and Syria, and, it is said, completed the path of his divine apostleship by martyrdom in Beirut in the year 80. Written after the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus, his is the last of the Catholic (General) Epistles to the believing Jews in the Diaspora. His name (a variant of Judah) means "Praise."


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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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