Weekly Services
(Please note schedule subject to change. Please call church office to confirm times.)
Sunday Services: Orthros 8:15 am; Divine Liturgy 9:15 am. Followed by Sunday School and Fellowship Hour in our Community Center.
Weekly Feastday / Major Saint Day Liturgies: 9 am Orthros followed by Divine Liturgy.
For the maintenance of their armed forces, the Roman emperors decreed that their subjects in every district should be taxed every year. This same decree was reissued every fifteen years, since the Roman soldiers were obliged to serve for fifteen years. At the end of each fifteen-year period, an assessment was made of what economic changes had taken place, and a new tax was decreed, which was to be paid over the span of the fifteen years. This imperial decree, which was issued before the season of winter, was named Indictio, that is, Definiton, or Order. This name was adopted by the emperors in Constantinople also. At other times, the latter also used the term Epinemisis, that is, Distribution (Dianome). It is commonly held that Saint Constantine the Great introduced the Indiction decrees in A.D. 312, after he beheld the sign of the Cross in heaven and vanquished Maxentius and was proclaimed Emperor in the West. Some, however (and this seems more likely), ascribe the institution of the Indiction to Augustus Caesar, three years before the birth of Christ. Those who hold this view offer as proof the papal bull issued in A.D. 781 which is dated thus: Anno IV, Indictionis LIII -that is, the fourth year of the fifty-third Indiction. From this, we can deduce the aforementioned year (3 B.C.) by multiplying the fifty-two complete Indictions by the number of years in each (15), and adding the three years of the fifty-third Indiction. There are three types of Indictions: 1) That which was introduced in the West, and which is called Imperial, or Caesarean, or Constantinian, and which begins on the 24th of September; 2) The so-called Papal Indiction, which begins on the 1st of January; and 3) The Constantinopolitan, which was adopted by the Patriarchs of that city after the fall of the Eastern Empire in 1453. This Indiction is indicated in their own hand on the decrees they issue, without the numeration of the fifteen years. This Indiction begins on the 1st of September and is observed with special ceremony in the Church. Since the completion of each year takes place, as it were, with the harvest and gathering of the crops into storehouses, and we begin anew from henceforth the sowing of seed in the earth for the production of future crops, September is considered the beginning of the New Year. The Church also keeps festival this day, beseeching God for fair weather, seasonable rains, and an abundance of the fruits of the earth. The Holy Scriptures (Lev. 23:24-5 and Num. 29:1-2) also testify that the people of Israel celebrated the feast of the Blowing of the Trumpets on this day, offering hymns of thanksgiving. In addition to all the aforesaid, on this feast we also commemorate our Saviour's entry into the synagogue in Nazareth, where He was given the book of the Prophet Esaias to read, and He opened it and found the place where it is written, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, for which cause He hath anointed Me..." (Luke 4:16-30).
It should be noted that to the present day, the Church has always celebrated the beginning of the New Year on September 1. This was the custom in Constantinople until its fall in 1453 and in Russia until the reign of Peter I. September 1 is still festively celebrated as the New Year at the Patriarchate of Constantinople; among the Jews also the New Year, although reckoned according to a moveable calendar, usually falls in September. The service of the Menaion for January 1 is for our Lord's Circumcision and for the memorial of Saint Basil the Great, without any mention of its being the beginning of a new year.
Prokeimenon. Fourth Mode. Psalm 103.24,1.
O Lord, how manifold are your works. You have made all things in wisdom.
Verse: Bless the Lord, O my soul.
The reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 16:13-24.
Brethren, be watchful, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love. Now, brethren, you know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints; I urge you to be subject to such men and to every fellow worker and laborer. I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicos, because they have made up for your absence; for they refreshed my spirit as well as yours. Give recognition to such men. The churches of Asia send greetings. Aquila and Prisca, together with the church in their house, send you hearty greetings in the Lord. All the brethren send greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss. I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. If any one has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. Our Lord, come! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.
13th Sunday of Matthew
The Reading is from Matthew 21:33-42
The Lord said this parable, "There was a householder who planted a vineyard, and set a hedge around it, and dug a wine press in it, and built a tower, and let it out to tenants, and went into another country. When the season of fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants, to get his fruit; and the tenants took his servants and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. Again he sent other servants, more than the first; and they did the same to them. Afterward he sent his son to them, saying 'They will respect my son.' But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, 'This is the heir; come, let us kill him and have his inheritance.' And they took him and cast him out of the vineyard and killed him. When therefore the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?" They said to him, "He will put those wretches to a miserable death, and let out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their seasons." Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the scriptures: 'The very stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner; this was the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes?'"
Church Calendar:
Monday, August 27: St. Phanourios - at 9 am
Wednesday, August 29: Beheading of St. John the Baptist - Orthros/Divine Liturgy at 9 am
Saturday, September 1: Indiction (Beginning of Ecclesiastical New Year)-Orthros /Divine Liturgy 9 am
SUNDAY SCHOOL - The 2018-2019 Sunday school year begins on September 23. If you would like to teach, assist, or substitute please contact Father A or Aimee Douvris. Be involved with our youth, and help teach them about our faith, pageants, events and church worship. Contact: aimeedouvris@gmail.com.
GREEK SCHOOL -For those of you with children in the Greek school program, we are happy to inform you that we have hired a new teacher for the new school year. Greek School will begin on Monday, September 24. If you have any questions please contact Father Anastasios or Maria Sfondouris, our Greek School Director. Contact: msfondouris@gmail.com
Fellowship Hour: There is no official Fellowship Hour Sponsorship through September 16, but you can contact John Giannouris at (610) 680-7507 or john.giannouris@comcast.netif you are interested in sponsoring Fellowship Hour in the summer months or this fall. Thank you
OPA
It's OPA! Time again! The parish's biggest fundraiser is 3 weeks away and it is time to fill volunteer slots. Look for the "Signup Genius" link below. For the last 3 years our OPA! has won 'Best Foodie Event' in Hunterdon. It has grown every year and, with good weather, we can expect an even bigger crowd. We need "all hands on deck" to service our guests. Faster service helps boost sales. Please volunteer to help as much as you can. The days are broken up into shifts, but one can sign up for multiple shifts and some people have worked full days or the whole weekend.
OPA Volunteer Chair - Anna Fallon - contact: missannoula@hotmail.com.
Let's help make this "OPA!" the best yet!
Here is the Sign up Genius link for the Festival: 2018 Flemington Opa! Festival
OPA Food Donation Transport: Please contact Bill Panageas at vpanageas@gmail.comif you can help pick up food donations during the last week of August/first week of September.
Fall Wine & Dine - The Best from the West in the US…Featuring top wines from California, Oregon and Washington paired with 5 dishes.
Saturday, October 6, 6:30 pm (rain or shine) at the Soteropoulos Residence; 12 Vail Lane, Flemington
Cost is $75 per person.Contacts: George Staikos at 973.699.2199 or george@theeducatedgrape.comor Christi Staikos at cstaikos@comcast.net. Please send payment (check payable to St Anna) to Christi Staikos at 43 Fox Grape Road, Flemington, NJ 08822
STEWARDSHIP: Stewardship is the sharing of the talents and treasures that God has provided for us. An Orthodox Christian Steward is an active participant in the life of the Church. The parish encourages all who accept the Orthodox Faith to become practicing Stewards.
2018 Stewardship Status: 135 Pledges totaling $137,279 for an average of $1,017 and $91,016 received to date. It is important that all families complete a stewardship card to be considered a steward.. Current Stewardship List and other stewardship information is posted on bulletin board by the water cooler.
If you have not done so already, we ask that you prayerfully consider your Stewardship commitment and submit a 2018 pledge card as soon as you can.
…Remember a rich man is not one who has much, but one who gives much...
|