OUR MISSION is to proclaim the Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, sanctify the faithful through the liturgy and the Holy Sacraments, grow the church by receiving new members, live the Orthodox Christian Faith, and serve humanity through Christ-centered ministries.

OUR VISION is to be a loving, caring, and welcoming Christian community where all belong and grow in the Orthodox Christian Faith through worship, witness, fellowship, and service to others.

HOLY COMMUNION is offered to those baptized and confirmed in the Eastern Orthodox Christian Faith who have prepared according to the Orthodox Tradition. Guests and visitors are welcome to worship with us and receive the antidoron (“instead of the gifts”) blessed bread at the dismissal.
Please allow Catechism School children to receive Holy Communion first, followed by the newly baptized infants. When you approach the chalice, please give your baptismal name to the priest.

GUESTS AND VISITORS: Enter your contact information in the Guest Book at the narthex if you want us to contact you and join us for fellowship hour in our church hall following the liturgy.

17^th Sunday of Luke (the Prodigal Son), March 3, 2024

ΙZ΄ Λουκᾶ (τοῦ Ασώτου), 3 Μαρτίου, 2024. Το κήρυγμα της Κυριακής εδώ

• 8:30 am MATINS, 9:30 am DIVINE LITURGY
• Catechism classes following Holy Communion.
• Our GOYA hosts the coffee fellowship hour.
• 12:30 pm GOYA Sights & Sounds practice.

Monday, March 4, 2024

• 6:30 pm Spring General Assembly of our parishioners.

Tuesday, March 5, 2024

• 5 pm Greek School classes.

Thursday, March 7, 2024

• 7 pm Philoptochos Board meeting.

Friday, March 8, 2024

• 5 pm Greek School classes.
• 6 pm Philoptochos & Hope-Joy Koliva & Cocoa.
• 6:30 pm GOYA Sights & Sounds practice followed by dance practice at 7:30.
• 6:30 pm Understanding Byzantine Chant class.

Saturday of Souls, March 9, 2024

• 8:30 am MATINS, 9:30 am DIVINE LITURGY
• 11 am Young @ Heart coffee fellowship.
• 11 am Annunciation facilities and grounds walk through assessment.
• 12 pm Graveside trisagion prayers at Lawnview Cemetery.
• 1:30 pm Graveside trisagion prayers at Whitemarsh Cemetery.

Judgement Sunday, March 10, 2024

• 8:30 am MATINS, 9:30 am DIVINE LITURGY
• Catechism classes following Holy Communion.
• We will offer memorial prayers for the peaceful repose of the soul of Stamatios Mountis of blessed memory (40-days).
• Collection by Philoptochos to benefit the Metropolis Social Services.
• The Mountis family will offer luncheon in memory of Stamatios of blessed memory.
• 12:30 pm GOYA Sights & Sounds practice.

Tuesday, March 12, 2024

• 5 pm Greek School classes.

Thursday, March 14, 2024

• 7 pm Parish Council meeting.

Friday, March 15, 2024

• 5 pm Greek School classes.
• 6:30 JOY dance practice.
• 6:30 pm GOYA Sights & Sounds practice followed by dance practice at 7:30.
• 6:30 pm Understanding Byzantine Chant class.

Cheesefare Saturday, March 16, 2024

• 8 am MATINS, 9 am DIVINE LITURGY (please note earlier starting time today)
• 11 am Philoptochos Annual Seminarian Luncheon "Walking with Christ" at St. Luke, Broomall.

• Sunday, March 17: Greek School Independence Day Program
• Monday, March 18: Clean Monday, Start of Great and Holy Lent
• Saturday, March 23: Parish Name-Day & Greek Independence Day Dinner Dance
• Monday, March 25: Annunciation/Evangelismos Feast Day Events
• Sunday, April 7: Greek Independence Day Parade in Philadelphia.  Sign upe here for the bus ride to and from the parade

• Tuesday, April 9: Greek Orthodox Metropolis of New Jersey Clergy-Laity Assembly and Philoptochos Convention
• Saturday, April 13: Regional Sights and Sounds Youth Arts Festival at St. Demetrios Church, Upper Darby
• Wednesday, April 17: Young at Heart Coffee Fellowship
• Saturday, April 20: Delaware Valley Region Religious Education Teachers Seminar 
• April 28—May 5: Holy Week and Holy Pascha
• May 9-11: OPA Greek Food Festival

• This Week's Children's Word from OCN
• Saturday, April 20: Delaware Valley Region Religious Education Teachers Seminar 
• 2023-2024 Youth Ministries Registration

• June 23-29: Camp Good Shepherd
• Summer 2024: Crossroads Institute

• IONIAN VILLAGE 2024. The Office of Ionian Village, with the blessing of His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, is pleased to announce applications for need-based scholarships for those wishing to attend Ionian Village 2024. Ionian Village Scholarships Here

• Friday, March 8: Philoptochos & HOPE-JOY Koliva Making

• Sunday, April 7: Greek Independence Day Parade in Philadelphia
• Sign upe here for the bus ride to and from the parade

Our Spring General Assembly will be held on Monday, March 4, 2024, at 6:30 PM.

Information here:

1. 2024 Spring Assembly Invitation and 2023 Fall Assembly Minutes
   
2. The 2023 Annual Report highlighting our community’s activities (coming soon)

We are excited to see you actively participate in the administration of your Parish.
If you are unable to participate in person, please join us through Microsoft Teams here:

Microsoft Teams meeting

Join on your computer, mobile app, or room device

Click here to join the meeting

Meeting ID: 936 312 808 315 5
Passcode: d9CyKi

Download Teams | Join on the web
Learn More | Meeting options

The church teaches us that those who have fallen asleep are not dead but still alive in Christ Jesus! In its very essence, prayer for the dead is a proclamation of the Resurrection of Christ. This is a central reoccurring theme for the Saturday of the Souls. Therefore, it is imperative for us, the living, to remember our loved ones who have passed on and pray that the Lord accepts them into His heavenly kingdom.

You have two options to submit the name of your loved departed ones to be commemorated:

A)   electronically here, or

B)   in writing with your koliva when you attend liturgy. If you submit your names electronically, you don't have to re-submit them in writing when you attend liturgy in person.

Matins begin at 8:30 am, and we kindly ask you to bring your koliva (memorial wheat) and printed names to church no later than 9 am on Saturday. Ushers on duty will be here to assist you. We will share a coffee fellowship hour after the liturgy.

Fr. John will also offer graveside trisagion prayers after the divine liturgy on Saturday, March 9. He will be at Lawnview Cemetery at approximately 12 pm, and Whitemarsh Cemetery at 1:30 pm.

• Saturday, March 16:  Philoptochos Annual Seminarian Luncheon "Walking with Christ"

• Philoptochos 2024 Membership Letter
• Philoptochos 2024 Membership Brochure
• Philoptochos Career Wardrobe Clothing Drive 2/1 to 3/31
• Help Support Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia: Stephanos Kyriakodis

ελεημοσύνη

eleemosyne/alms, charitable giving

Great Lent is almost upon us. During Great Lent, we are encouraged to take forty days to prepare ourselves and our families to be spiritually ready and worthy of celebrating and worshiping the Resurrection. We are encouraged to fast, pray more, and practice intentional charity (almsgiving).

An almsgiving is an act of love that can deepen our prayer life and bring a greater sense of meaning to fasting. When we give alms, we make a concrete donation of ourselves through money, time, talent, or service to others. Almsgiving helps us say, in crystal clear terms: “Here is what I can offer, and I offer it out of love for you and God because I care about your welfare.”

The Homeless Ministry and our Catechism students will prepare our annual “AGAPE” bags throughout the Lenten season. As we did last year, we will fill each bag with a bottle of water, Belvita breakfast bars, boxed chicken salad, beef jerky, peanut butter crackers, a bag with hard candy, individual packs of wet ones, and socks donated by Bombas! The AGAPE bags will be available during Lent for our parishioners to take and give to someone in need!

Please consider making a financial contribution towards items for this drive through VANCO Please don't hesitate to contact Angela Godshall with any questions.

As we continue through the Triodion and prepare for Pascha, let us abide by the Hymn from the Matins of Forgiveness Sunday:

“The arena of the virtues has been opened. Let all who wish to struggle for the prize now enter, girding themselves for the noble contest of the Fast, for those that strive lawfully are justly crowned. Taking up the armor of the Cross, let us make war against the enemy. Let us have faith as our invincible wall, prayer as our breastplate, and as our helmet almsgiving; and as our sword, let us use fasting that cuts away all evil from our heart. If we do this, we shall receive the true crown from Christ the King of all at the Day of Judgment.”

Blessed Triodion!

The Homeless Ministry

We associate February with the heart and LOVE! February is also the beginning of the season of Lent. Preparing for Lent is a great time to reflect on ourselves and open our hearts to the world. There are several elements to Lent: prayer, fasting, and giving back. Matthew 25 is a ministry that acts on love and hope for our brothers and sisters. Although our Lenten timeline doesn't align perfectly with Western Easter this year, we will ensure that Matthew 25 and our parish can provide holiday meats to our pantries before March 29th. Please complete and return the donation form below. You can always donate directly through VANCO, and in the memo portion, type Lenten Meat Drive. We recommend donating around $35 or more, but you give what you can. Please help us continue to care for our food-insecure communities.

We will prepare about 15 trays of lasagna for Lasagna Love on 3/5/2024. It's a great organization, and we are excited to cook for a worthy cause for the second year. If you would like to act on this individually, please visit lasagnalove.org.

Sowing seeds of goodness is good for both the heart and the soul. These straightforward acts of kindness that Matthew 25 offers to our parish are simple ways to prepare your personal Lenten journey and give hope to those in need.

During Lent, let us find CONCRETE ways to overcome our indifference~ Pope Francis.
*****************************
Matthew 25 - LENTEN MEAT DRIVE
YOUR NAME: _______________________________
Quantity: ____________ x $35 = ______________
Please send the form (and check if not giving through VANCO) to:
Lisa Trivelis. 31 Trailwood Drive. Holland, PA 18966

In Honor of:

a. the Feast Day of Annunciation/ Evangelismos of Theotokos,
b. the 203^th Anniversary of the Greek Revolution of 1821,  and
c. the 123^th Anniversary of the Founding of Our Community in 1901,

Great Vespers * will be prayed on Sunday, March 24, at 6:00 pm.

Our Philoptochos will offer a reception following vespers.

The Feast Day Orthros & Divine Liturgy * will be celebrated on Monday, March 25, starting at 8:30 am, with participation of area clergy. A thanksgiving doxology for the liberation of Greece will be offered at the conclusion of the liturgy.

Our Philoptochos will host a luncheon following the divine liturgy.

* Please let the church office know in advance if you would like to offer artoklasia—the blessing of the bread, wine & oil- for the health and salvation of your family in honor of the Annunciation Feast.

We are pleased to offer introductory lessons to Byzantine Chant starting Friday, February 23 at 6:30 pm. The lessons will combine virtual, self-study, occasionally in-person, and practicum during the services of Great Lent.

Open to all parishioners, especially the young. The only requirement is a willingness to learn. We will focus on the following:

1. The structure of the liturgical services and cycles of the Eastern Orthodox Church: when, how, and why we do what we do in church.
2. The history and purpose of our hymnology: what are the eight Modes? Psalms? Troparion? Apolytikion? Kontakion? Triodion?
3. Sight reading neumes - the distinctive musical notation of the Eastern Orthodox Church.

Please let George Dalagelis know if you are interested (215) 635-0316, office@anngoc.org. If Friday night does not work for you, the group can decide on a different date.

Vanco Mobile App 

We have updated some features, so please refresh it.  If you haven't downloaded it yet, please do so now! You can make all your church offerings and donations in one convenient and safe location:

1. Download the free Vanco Mobile App here:  iPhone or Android
2. Make one-time or recurring donations using your debit/credit card or checking/savings account.
3. Login to your Vanco account or donate as a guest.
4. You can also check out this Vanco Mobile How-To Guide for step-by-step instructions.

Vanco Online

We have also updated the Vanco Faith Page on our website. Please login with your existing Vanco account and check out the new easy-to-use giving features.

You can now edit your recurring transactions from within your Vanco profile. To make edits to your recurring transactions,  log into your profile, navigate to scheduled transactions, and click the edit button on the recurring transaction you wish to update. Once you have selected the edit option, you can make changes to your gifts:  

• Frequency 
• (Next) start date 
• End date 
• Transaction amount 
• Payment method 
• Tile/Fund choice 

This feature is currently available on the online version, and it will also be available in the mobile app soon.  

Please stop by the church office or call us if you have questions or need assistance.

January 2024 Stewardship Communication

Last November, you received your 2024 personalized Stewardship Pledge Card of Time, Talent, and Treasure and the 2024 Stewardship Increase Request in the mail.

Thank you to the 162  parishioners who have already returned their 2024 Pledge Card or pledged through VANCO.

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

1. You do not have to fill out a pledge card!
2. Check with your VANCO account or bank bill payer service to ensure your regular payments continue through 2024.
3. Use the 2024 Pledge Card information as a guide to update your giving to reflect your current level of commitment.
4. Don't hesitate to call us at the parish office if you need help updating your VANCO donations for 2024.