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St. Anna Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2018-12-16
Bulletin Contents
Saints and Feasts
Hymns of the Day
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Wisdom of the Fathers
Ministry News
Bulletin Inserts
Stewardship
Forefathers
Organization Icon
St. Anna Greek Orthodox Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • (908) 968-4004
  • Fax:
  • (908) 968-4002
  • Street Address:

  • 85 Voorhees Corner Road,

  • Flemington, NJ 08822

Contact Information

St. Anna Office staff

stannagoc@gmail.com | (908) 968-4004

Proistamenos Rev. Fr. Anastasios Kousoulas

frakousoulas@gmail.com | mobile (908) 528-1077

Services Schedule

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.

Past Bulletins


Saints and Feasts

Forefathers
December 16

11th Sunday of Luke

On the Sunday that occurs on or immediately after the eleventh of this month, we commemorate Christ's forefathers according to the flesh, both those that came before the Law, and those that lived after the giving of the Law.

Special commemoration is made of the Patriarch Abraham, to whom the promise was first given, when God said to him, "In thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed" (Gen. 22:18). This promise was given some two thousand years before Christ, when Abraham was seventy-five years of age. God called him and commanded him to forsake his country, parents, and kinsmen, and to depart to the land of the Canaanites. When he arrived there, God told him, "I will give this land to thy seed" (Gen. 12:7); for this cause, that land was called the "Promised Land," which later became the country of the Hebrew people, and which is also called Palestine by the historians. There, after the passage of twenty-four years, Abraham received God's law concerning circumcision. In the one hundredth year of his life, when Sarah was in her ninetieth year, they became the parents of Isaac. Having lived 175 years altogether, he reposed in peace, a venerable elder full of days.

22_anastasia3
December 22

Anastasia the Great Martyr

This Saint, who was from Rome, was a most comely, wealthy, and virtuous maiden, the daughter of Praepextatus and Fausta. It was her mother who instructed her in the Faith of Christ. The Saint was joined to a man named Publius Patricius, who was prodigal in life and impious in disposition, but she was widowed after a short time. Henceforth, she went about secretly to the dwellings of the poor and the prisons where the Martyrs of Christ were, and brought them whatever was needed for their daily subsistence. She washed their wounds and loosed them from their fetters, and consoled them in their anguish. Also, because the Saint, through her intercessions, has healed many from the ill effects of spells, potions, poisons, and other harmful substances, she has received the name "Deliverer from Potions." Since the fame of her deeds had spread about, she was arrested by Diocletian's minions, and after enduring many torments she was put to death by fire in the year 290.

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Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Fourth Mode

When the women Disciples of the Lord had learned from the Angel the joyful message of the Resurrection and had rejected the ancestral decision, they cried aloud to the Apostles triumphantly: Death has been despoiled, Christ God has risen, granting His great mercy to the world.

Apolytikion for 11th Sun. of Luke in the Second Mode

By faith didst Thou justify the Forefathers, when through them Thou didst betroth Thyself aforetime to the Church from among the nations. The Saints boast in glory that from their seed there is a glorious fruit, even she that bare Thee seedlessly. By their prayers, O Christ God, save our souls.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Third Mode

On this day the Virgin cometh to the cave to give birth to * God the Word ineffably, * Who was before all the ages. * Dance for joy, O earth, on hearing * the gladsome tidings; * with the Angels and the shepherds now glorify Him * Who is willing to be gazed on * as a young Child Who * before the ages is God.
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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Fourth Mode. Daniel 3.26,27.
Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers.
Verse: For you are just in all you have done.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Colossians 3:4-11.

Brethren, when Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience. In these you once walked, when you lived in them. But now put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and foul talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old nature with its practices and have put on the new nature, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Here there cannot be Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free man, but Christ is all, and in all.

Gospel Reading

11th Sunday of Luke
The Reading is from Luke 14:16-24

The Lord said this parable: "A man once gave a great banquet, and invited many; and at the time of the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, 'Come; for all is now ready.' But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, 'I have bought a field, and I go out and see it; I pray you, have me excused.' And another said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I must go to examine them; I pray you, have me excused.' And another said, 'I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.' So the servant came and reported this to his master. Then the householder in anger said to his servant, 'Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and maimed and blind and lame.' And the servant said, 'Sir, what you commanded has been done, and there is still room.' And the master said to the servant, 'Go out to the highways and hedges, and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet. For many are called, but few are chosen.'"

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Wisdom of the Fathers

This parable ... proclaims beforehand both the casting out of the Jews, and the calling of the Gentiles; and it indicates together with this also the strictness of the life required, and how great the punishment appointed for the careless ....
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 69 on Matthew 22, 4th Century

And when were they bidden? By all the prophets; by John again; for unto Christ he would pass all on, saying, "He must increase, I must decrease;" by the Son Himself again, "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will refresh you;" and again, "If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink."
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 69 on Matthew 22, 4th Century

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Ministry News

Agia_anna

TODAY Fellowship Hour is sponsored by Helen Pappas. 

 

Church Calendar:

Daily Liturgy during the Christmas Fast, 9 am  

Saturday, December 22:  GOMNJ Byzantine Music Christmas Concert, 6pm, St John Theologian Cathedral, Tenafly,NJ  

Sunday, December 23: Christmas Pageant, Choir Concert, Greek School Christmas Program

Monday, December 24: Christmas Eve Divine Liturgy of St. Basil, 9 am 

Monday, December 24: Christmas Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, 10:30 pm (to 12:30 am) 

Tuesday, January 1, 2019:  St. Basil - Circumcision of Our Lord, Orthros / Liturgy 9 am

Sunday, January 6: Epiphany and 2nd Agiasmos (Blessing of Waters)

 

EDUCATION: Today the Sunday School will rehearse for the Christmas Pageant  - December 16 

Christmas Pageant  -  December 23 

No Sunday School on December 30  and January 6 (Epiphany).  

We wish everyone a wonderful Christmas season.  Sunday School contact:  aimeedouvris@gmail.com

 

 

Christmas "Concert Choir":  Youth Choir will rehearse today at Noon. 

Adults & teens: There will be a rehearsal on Thursday evening at 7:30 pm for all adults and older youth who wish to sing with the adults during the Dec 23 Christmas Program. We will also rehearse Liturgical hymns for the evening Christmas service for those who wish to participate in the Liturgical Choir.   A second rehearsal on Saturday at 4 pm may be scheduled to accommodate additional people who would like to sing but cannot make this rehearsal. The choir will sing before the Christmas pageant so there is no conflict. Please contact Choir Director Diana Grina to confirm interest in participating: dianakg2003@yahoo.com,908-392-7449.

 

Adult Greek School:  Adult Greek school that classes will start on January 7 and registration has begun!  Please see Maria Sfondouris to register today and on December 9 (msfondouris@gmail.com)

 

Adult Bible Study:   Adult Bible Study is on Fridays from 12 – 1 pm. Please let Fr. A know if you are interested.  All are welcome!

 

Philoptochos Vasilopita Sale:  Please see Zoi Kaldes to order Vasilopita TODAY (deadline).  Cost $17.  Checks payable to "St. Anna Philoptochos".  Pick up Vasilopita at St. Anna on December 23.

 

PC CORNER: 

  • The PC partnered with local Authorities to review our security systems and procedures and make the necessary improvements to improve the safety and security of our Parishioners and our Facilities. This is not a one meeting event and to be successful we will need everyone's participation. We will be keeping you informed as we have the opportunity to learn more and be able to share with you details.

 

  • We are in the process of the next phase of the iconography. We will let you know as soon as we have an agreed-upon date.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Bulletin Inserts

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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: We have 163 Pledges totaling $152,685 for an average of $ 937 and $138,726 received to date. We also have 6 families who have contributed $3,650 to date but have not submitted a stewardship card.   It is important that all families complete a stewardship card to be considered a steward. If you have not already done so, please fill out your Stewardship Card for 2018.

 

…Remember a rich man is not one who has much, but one who gives much

 

 

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