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.
1st Sunday of Luke, September 25 2022
Κυριακὴ Α’ Λουκά, 25 Σεπτεμβρίου, 2022. Το κήρυγμα εδώ
If you haven't yet registered your child for Catechism School (or any of our other ministries), please do so here: 2022-2023 Youth Ministries Registration Form
God bless,
Jacinda Ojeda
Sunday School Director
This Week's Children's Word from OCN
Come and See GOYA Retreat, October 14-16, 2022
We all know that the past 2 years have been incredibly hard on everyone, and our church attendance numbers, especially in youth, have been significantly affected. Our retreat theme this year addresses exactly this issue, and prompts a campaign to return to church.
The theme is “Come and See”, and it is an invitation for all of us to see what our faith is all about, what it means to participate in worship, and what tools the church has to offer to help us navigate this often scary world. Our goal for this retreat is to cover why Orthodoxy still works, why it is relatable in our everyday lives, and why fostering Orthodox relationships is key.
We look forward to what is sure to be an exciting and enlightening weekend with our youth, and we truly can’t wait to get started!
ABSOLUTE Deadline of Saturday October 1st, 2022.
We will be putting together our Fall General Assembly mailing this Tuesday Sep 27, 10 am to 12 pm.
Any amount of time you can offer is appreciated!
Please get in touch with George Dalagelis for details: 215-635-0316
Tickets are available for purchase for our annual Bid 'n Buy on Thursday, November 10, 2022, in our Church Hall. We look forward to you joining us for a great evening of fun and fellowship for this, our major fundraiser of the year. Seating is limited, and no tickets will be sold at the door. Please see attached flyer for the link to purchase tickets.
Our 3rd Annual Project Home Book Drive has begun and continues until September 30th.
The Homeless Ministry is collecting your gently used books for Project HOME Books.
One of several social enterprise programs at Project HOME, this initiative helps to provide opportunities for employment, income, community and a steppingstone in recovery from homelessness.
Collecting 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
All book donations may be placed in or next to the Homeless Ministry Basket located on the Mezzanine level next to our Resource Center.
The Homeless Ministry will be serving at Aviator Park on September 29th.
If you would like to help serve or donate food, please sign up here
Thank oyu for your continuous prayers and support!
The Homeless Ministry
It’s that time of year when we reflect on the many blessings that God has graced us with. November is a month of feeling thankful and bountiful. Our tables will be overflowing with delicious turkey, fixings, and pies. Unfortunately, this isn’t true for so many people in our community who are food insufficient. They are struggling to put weekly meals on the table, unable to provide a feast this November. As most of you are aware, food cost inflation has impacted everyone, especially those who are more in need. Our supplier partners have notified us that turkey prices will be up considerably again this holiday season. It is recommended that we should order earlier than usual to be assured adequate supply and a more reasonable price than if we wait until later in the fall.
Matthew 25 is excited to once again promote our Annual Turkey Drive! Anyone can participate. It doesn’t matter if you are unable to attend church. We will collect money, place the order, and deliver your turkeys to Seeds of Hope Food Pantry on November 14th, 2022. It’s so easy… all you need to do is fill out the form below and mail it by October 24th. The cost per turkey is $35. You can make a donation directly through Vanco and type “Turkey Drive” under Matthew 25. You can also make a check payable to Annunciation Church and in the memo write “M25 Turkey Drive.” Of course, you’re always welcome to bring your own turkey to church if you prefer. If you choose to bring your own turkey or have any questions, please email us at oceancitymom1@gmail.com. Matthew 25 will also be donating a few turkeys to the Homeless Ministry .
Thank you so much for supporting us and being a part of feeding families this Thanksgiving. Continue to drop off any food donations in our bins throughout the months of September, October and November. Fixings are always appreciated this time of year along with any other non-perishable foods you might like to donate.
We have all been given great power by God in the form of Time, Talents, and Treasure. The Gospel reminds us that this power is meant to be used for great good. And that failure to do so has eternal consequences.
We see the urgency for us to put our powers to good use in a Gospel passage from Luke. Our Lord tells the rather chilling parable of the rich man who ignored poor Lazarus during their lifetimes. At the moment of the rich man’s death, he goes down to the netherworld while Lazarus is taken to the eternal joy and comfort in the bosom of Abraham. The rich man keenly regrets his indifference towards the needs of Lazarus, but it is too late for regret. His choices have played out, and now the rich man will face the consequences of failing to use the gifts God gave him.
Pursuit of God’s kingdom and care for the poor are not trifling matters. Our Lord makes this clear to us over and over in the Scriptures and the constant teachings of our 2,000-year-old Church. We are free to ignore these teachings and live instead for ourselves. But there will be tragic results for us in the end. And, because we are made for eternity, living selfishly on this earth doesn’t really bring us true happiness anyway.
So how can we use our great powers for great good? By embracing a stewardship way of life. By putting God first in all areas of our lives — in the way we spend our time, the ways we share our talents, the ways we give of our financial resources. Stewardship living calls us out of our comfort zone and into a commitment to the Lord and the things that matter to Him.
Please make all your church donations via:
Thank you for your generosity
Saturday, November 5th, 2022. 5-10:30 pm.
Green Valley Country Club, Plymouth Meeting, PA.
ALL are WELCOME!
Dancing, Dinner, Live Music, Cocktails, and Visuals take us through our first 50 years at Elkins Park as a Church Community – and unlock the many possibilities of our future!
We will be blessed with the presence of His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros and His Grace Bishop Apostolos.
FUN for EVERYONE
Your participation will make this a wonderful success!
For more information, please contact the church office (215-635-0316), Mary O’Hara, or Christine Ferrello (co-chairs).
We are creating a Commemorative Album for the event. This will be gifted to each family attending the Golden Thyranoixia Gala.
A portion of the proceeds will benefit our Capital Campaign. Please contact Marina Blackton or Peter Gouris for further information.
Happy wedding anniversary to those celebrating this coming week: Magdalini & Nickolas Bougioukas, Helen & Konstantinos Jasionowicz, Sofia & Thomas Dinneen, Angela & Douglas Heinze, Mary & Dennis O’Hara, Maria & Nikolaos Papanikolaou, Donna & Kostas Sfiridis, Diane & Alexander Saphos, Sean & Denise Connolly.
Χρόνια πολλά & ευλογηµένα! God grant you many years! To those who are celebrating birthdays this coming week: John Contoudis, Apostolos Fisfis, Athanasios Pappas, Heather Pitsakis, Natalie Sarantidis, George Vafiadis, Urania Pappas, Christopher Perry, Manny Stoupakis, Gregory Voutsinas, Katerina Calliagas, Sebastian Fernandez, Konstantinos Patounas, Maria Chin, Yanni Grigorakakis, Elizabeth Limberakis, Argiris Niamonitos, Zoe Tripolitis, Georgia Arfanis, Evropi McGrath, John Tsaketas, Athanasios Tsakiris, Christos Yiantsos, Markella Hadgimallis, Alexandros Sebastiano, Asleigh Stoupakis, Vasilis Xhixho, Gerard Zeman, George Fisfis, Jacqueline Louridas.
Prokeimenon. Plagal Second Mode. Psalm 27.9,1.
O Lord, save your people and bless your inheritance.
Verse: To you, O Lord, I have cried, O my God.
The reading is from St. Paul's Second Letter to the Corinthians 4:6-15.
Brethren, it is the God who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For while we live we are always being given up to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you.
Since we have the same spirit of faith as he had who wrote, "I believed, and so I spoke," we too believe, and so we speak, knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.
Προκείμενον. Plagal Second Mode. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 27.9,1.
Σῶσον, Κύριε τὸν λαὸν σου καὶ εὐλόγησον τὴν κληρονομίαν σου.
Στίχ. Πρὸς σἐ, Κύριε, κεκράξομαι ὁ Θεός μου.
τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς Κορινθίους β' 4:6-15.
Ἀδελφοί, ὁ θεὸς ὁ εἰπὼν ἐκ σκότους φῶς λάμψαι, ὃς ἔλαμψεν ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις ἡμῶν πρὸς φωτισμὸν τῆς γνώσεως τῆς δόξης τοῦ θεοῦ ἐν προσώπῳ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ. Ἔχομεν δὲ τὸν θησαυρὸν τοῦτον ἐν ὀστρακίνοις σκεύεσιν, ἵνα ἡ ὑπερβολὴ τῆς δυνάμεως ᾖ τοῦ θεοῦ, καὶ μὴ ἐξ ἡμῶν· ἐν παντὶ θλιβόμενοι, ἀλλʼ οὐ στενοχωρούμενοι· ἀπορούμενοι, ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἐξαπορούμενοι· διωκόμενοι, ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἐγκαταλειπόμενοι· καταβαλλόμενοι, ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἀπολλύμενοι· πάντοτε τὴν νέκρωσιν τοῦ κυρίου Ἰησοῦ ἐν τῷ σώματι περιφέροντες, ἵνα καὶ ἡ ζωὴ τοῦ Ἰησοῦ ἐν τῷ σώματι ἡμῶν φανερωθῇ. Ἀεὶ γὰρ ἡμεῖς οἱ ζῶντες εἰς θάνατον παραδιδόμεθα διὰ Ἰησοῦν, ἵνα καὶ ἡ ζωὴ τοῦ Ἰησοῦ φανερωθῇ ἐν τῇ θνητῇ σαρκὶ ἡμῶν. Ὥστε ὁ μὲν θάνατος ἐν ἡμῖν ἐνεργεῖται, ἡ δὲ ζωὴ ἐν ὑμῖν. Ἔχοντες δὲ τὸ αὐτὸ πνεῦμα τῆς πίστεως, κατὰ τὸ γεγραμμένον, Ἐπίστευσα, διὸ ἐλάλησα, καὶ ἡμεῖς πιστεύομεν, διὸ καὶ λαλοῦμεν· εἰδότες ὅτι ὁ ἐγείρας τὸν κύριον Ἰησοῦν καὶ ἡμᾶς διὰ Ἰησοῦ ἐγερεῖ, καὶ παραστήσει σὺν ὑμῖν. Τὰ γὰρ πάντα διʼ ὑμᾶς, ἵνα ἡ χάρις πλεονάσασα διὰ τῶν πλειόνων τὴν εὐχαριστίαν περισσεύσῃ εἰς τὴν δόξαν τοῦ θεοῦ.
1st Sunday of Luke
The Reading is from Luke 5:1-11
At that time, as Jesus was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, he saw two boats by the lake; but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon's, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. And when he had ceased speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch." And Simon answered, "Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets." And when they had done this, they enclosed a great shoal of fish; and as their nets were breaking, they beckoned to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord." For he was astonished, and all who were with him, at the catch of fish which they had taken; and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid; henceforth you will be catching men." And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.
1st Sunday of Luke
Κατὰ Λουκᾶν 5:1-11
Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, ἑστὼς ὁ Ἰησοῦς παρὰ τὴν λίμνην Γεννησαρέτ, καὶ εἶδε δύο πλοῖα ἑστῶτα παρὰ τὴν λίμνην· οἱ δὲ ἁλιεῖς ἀποβάντες ἀπ᾿ αὐτῶν ἀπέπλυναν τὰ δίκτυα. ἐμβὰς δὲ εἰς ἓν τῶν πλοίων, ὃ ἦν τοῦ Σίμωνος, ἠρώτησεν αὐτὸν ἀπὸ τῆς γῆς ἐπαναγαγεῖν ὀλίγον· καὶ καθίσας ἐδίδασκεν ἐκ τοῦ πλοίου τοὺς ὄχλους. ὡς δὲ ἐπαύσατο λαλῶν, εἶπε πρὸς τὸν Σίμωνα· ἐπανάγαγε εἰς τὸ βάθος καὶ χαλάσατε τὰ δίκτυα ὑμῶν εἰς ἄγραν. καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ Σίμων εἶπεν αὐτῷ· ἐπιστάτα, δι᾿ ὅλης τῆς νυκτὸς κοπιάσαντες οὐδὲν ἐλάβομεν· ἐπὶ δὲ τῷ ῥήματί σου χαλάσω τὸ δίκτυον. καὶ τοῦτο ποιήσαντες συνέκλεισαν πλῆθος ἰχθύων πολύ· διερρήγνυτο δὲ τὸ δίκτυον αὐτῶν. καὶ κατένευσαν τοῖς μετόχοις τοῖς ἐν τῷ ἑτέρῳ πλοίῳ τοῦ ἐλθόντας συλλαβέσθαι αὐτοῖς· καὶ ἦλθον καὶ ἔπλησαν ἀμφότερα τὰ πλοῖα, ὥστε βυθίζεσθαι αὐτά. ἰδὼν δὲ Σίμων Πέτρος προσέπεσε τοῖς γόνασιν ᾿Ιησοῦ λέγων· ἔξελθε ἀπ᾿ ἐμοῦ, ὅτι ἀνὴρ ἁμαρτωλός εἰμι, Κύριε· θάμβος γὰρ περιέσχεν αὐτὸν καὶ πάντας τοὺς σὺν αὐτῷ ἐπὶ τῇ ἄγρᾳ τῶν ἰχθύων ᾗ συνέλαβον, ὁμοίως δὲ καὶ ᾿Ιάκωβον καὶ ᾿Ιωάννην, υἱοὺς Ζεβεδαίου, οἳ ἦσαν κοινωνοὶ τῷ Σίμωνι. καὶ εἶπε πρὸς τὸν Σίμωνα ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς· μὴ φοβοῦ· ἀπὸ τοῦ νῦν ἀνθρώπους ἔσῃ ζωγρῶν. καὶ καταγαγόντες τὰ πλοῖα ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν, ἀφέντες ἅπαντα ἠκολούθησαν αὐτῷ.
Our righteous Mother Euphrosyne, who lived during the reign of Saint Theodosius the Younger (408-450), was the daughter of Paphnutius of Egypt. Forsaking her father and his wealth, she renamed herself Smaragdus, and pretending to be a eunuch of the imperial palace, she dressed herself as a man and entered a monastery of men where her identity remained unknown until her repose thirty-eight years later.
Saturday, September 24, 2022
September 25, 2022
Wednesday, October 26, 2022
Saturday, November 5, 2022
Join Us for the 50th Celebration on November 5, 2022
Thursday, November 10, 2022
The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America is pleased to announce that it has granted over $300,000 in scholarships to 38 students, for the 2022-2023 academic year.
2022 represents the 100th year of one of humanity’s darkest periods, a time point that inspired and ignited what eventually resulted in one of humankind’s bleakest moments. 1922 was the peak of the period between 1915-1923, when Christians and Jews were systematically exterminated only for their faith and culture.
The Department of Religious Education (DRE) of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, with the blessing of His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros, is pleased to announce that the Metropolis of New Jersey will host the 39th Annual St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival Nationals at the St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Clifton, NJ, on the weekend of June 9 to 11, 2023.
The Family Wellness Ministry and the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministries from the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of San Francisco are pleased to the announce them continuation of the popular relationship series, Eight Dates, based on the book Eight Dates: