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St. Anna Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2019-04-14
Bulletin Contents
Saints and Feasts
Hymns of the Day
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Wisdom of the Fathers
Ministry News
Bulletin Inserts
Stewardship
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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

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April 14

Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt

The memory of this Saint is celebrated on April 1, where her life is recorded. Since the end of the holy Forty Days is drawing nigh, it has been appointed for this day also, so that if we think it hard to practice a little abstinence forty days, we might be roused by the heroism of her who fasted in the wilderness forty-seven years; and also that the great loving-kindness of God, and His readiness to receive the repentant, might be demonstrated in very deed.

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Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Plagal First Mode

Let us worship the Word who is unoriginate * with the Father and the Spirit, and from a Virgin was born * for our salvation, O believers, and let us sing His praise. * For in His goodness He was pleased * to ascend the Cross in the flesh, and to undergo death, * and to raise up those who had died, * by His glorious Resurrection.

Apolytikion for Sun. of St. Mary of Egypt in the Plagal Fourth Mode

In thee the image was preserved with exactness, O Mother; for taking up thy cross, thou didst follow Christ, and by thy deeds thou didst teach us to overlook the flesh, for it passeth away, but to attend to the soul since it is immortal. Wherefore, O righteous Mary, thy spirit rejoiceth with the Angels.

Apolytikion for St. Anna (Dec. 9) in the Fourth Mode

Today the bonds of childlessness are loosed; for God hearkened to Joachim and Anna. And though it was beyond hope, He clearly promised them that they should bear a divine child, from whom was born the Uncircumscribable One Himself Who became a mortal, and through an Angel commanded them to cry unto her: Rejoice, thou who art full of grace, the Lord is with thee."

Seasonal Kontakion in the Second Mode

O Protection of Christians that cannot be put to shame, mediation unto the creator most constant: O despise not the voices of those who have sinned; but be quick, O good one, to come unto our aid, who in faith cry unto thee: Hasten to intercession and speed thou to make supplication, O thou who dost ever protect, O Theotokos, them that honor thee.
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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt
The Reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 9:11-14

BRETHREN, when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the Holy Place, taking not the blood of goats and calves but his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. For if the sprinkling of defiled persons with the blood of goats and bulls and with the ashes of a heifer sanctifies for the purification of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify your conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

Gospel Reading

Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt
The Reading is from Mark 10:32-45

At that time, Jesus took his twelve disciples, and he began to tell them what was to happen to him, saying, "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man will be delivered to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death, and deliver him to the Gentiles; and they will mock him, and spit upon him, and scourge him, and kill him; and after three days he will rise." And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him, and said to him, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you." And he said to them, "What do you want me to do for you?" And they said to him, "Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory." But Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?" And they said to him, "We are able." And Jesus said to them, "The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared." And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant of James and John. And Jesus called them to him and said to them, "You know that those who are supposed to rule over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of man also came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

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Wisdom of the Fathers

But let no man be troubled at the apostles being in such an imperfect state. For not yet was the cross accomplished, not yet the grace of the Spirit given. But if thou wouldest learn their virtue, notice them after these things, and thou wilt see them superior to every passion.
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 65 on Matthew 20, 2,3,4,6. B#54, pp.399-401,403., 4th Century

For with this object He reveals their deficiencies, that after these things thou mightest know what manner of men they became by grace. ... No one shall sit on His right hand nor on His left.
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 65 on Matthew 20, 2,3,4,6. B#54, pp.399-401,403., 4th Century

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Ministry News

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TODAY some of our St. Anna Oratorical Festival participants will offer their speeches. 

TODAY Fellowship Hour is sponsored by the Gianos family 

Church Calendar:

Weekly Lenten Services

Great Compline Services, Mondays, 5:30 pm - April 15 

9thHour/Presanctified Liturgies, Wednesdays, 6 pm – Apr 17

Great Compline Services, Thursdays, 7 pm, – April 18

9thHour/Presanctified Liturgies, Fridays, 8 am - Apr 19

A copy of the 2019 Easter Appeal Letter was emailed to all Parishioners for their immediate consideration.  Please support out beautiful Easter services in any way you can. 

GOMNJ Byzantine Music Lenten Concert:  Saturday of Lazarus, April 20, at the St. Thomas Greek Orthodox Church in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.  Great Hierarchical Vespers begin at 6 pm and the Lenten Concert begins at 7 pm.

Choir:There will be a short rehearsal today after Liturgy for Youth and teens (ages 8 and up)  who would like to sing on Palm Sunday.  Please see Diana Grina at Fellowship Hour.  Any teens and adults who would like to sing with the choir on Good Friday and Pascha please see or contact Diana Grina for information. Dianakg2003@yahoo.com

PALM SUNDAY LUNCHEON:  Once again, the PC will be offering a Palm Sunday Luncheon on April 21 following services: Flounder with Spanakorizo for $12 and pasta for children $5.  

Please register TODAY so that we know how much fish to order in advance.

 Education:  St Basil Academy Almsgiving envelopes should be returned to Greek and Sunday school teachers by Palm Sunday. Thank you for your participation. 

PTO:  If you have a daughter between the ages of 6 and 11 in our St. Anna Sunday School program who is interested in participating in the Good Friday evening service as a Mirofora, please contact Sofia Manoussakis at s_manoussakis@yahoo.com. Please include your daughter’s name and age in email.  All girls will need to be dressed in white, and must arrive at the Church hall promptly at 7 pm on Friday, April 26. Thank you!

St. Anna Bookstore:Come visit our Bookstore in the hallway and see our latest additions for Easter.  See Kim Vaporakis or Angela Ferreira during Fellowship Hour for assistance. Kalo Pascha!

Scholarships:  The St. Anna Scholarship program is available for eligible HS Seniors (information at www.stannagoc.org). Archdiocese Scholarship programs can be found at www.goarch.org.

St. Anna Bistro on May 18 & 19: Please register for any food preparation days you can attend.  We will start at 6:30 pm on the following dates: April 16 – Galaktoboureko              May 7 - Baklava

The week of the event, starting on Tuesday May 14, we will start the preparation of the remaining items.

Philoptochos News:  On Lazarus Saturday, April 20, please join us after services to make palm crosses. Many hands make light work!  A light luncheon will be served (bagels, PB&J, fasolada, halva). Please bring your own scissors.

YiaYia's Attic:  This year’s YiaYia's Attic will take place on Saturday, June 1, from 8 am – 1 pm. Donations will be collected starting May 26.  As you do your Spring Cleaning consider donating unneeded items to our sale: clothing, toys, household goods, jewelry, bicycles, seasonal décor, etc.  Please no electronics or large items such as furniture, which is difficult to sell.  We are also collecting lightly worn women's business attire for the organization "Dress for Success". 

 

HOLY WEEK SERVICES

Saturday, April 20:          Lazarus Saturday – 9 am Orthros/Liturgy (followed by Palm folding)

Sunday, April 21:             Palm Sunday – 9 am  

Bridegroom Service – 7 pm

Monday, April 22:             Presanctified Liturgy – 9 am

Bridegroom Service – 7 pm 

Tuesday, April 23:           Presanctified Liturgy – 9 am

Bridegroom Service -  7 pm 

Wednesday, April 24:       Presanctified Liturgy – 9 am

Holy Unction Sacrament – 4 pm

Holy Unction Sacrament – 7 pm

Thursday, April 25:          Holy Thursday Liturgy (St. Basil)– 9 am

Service of Holy Passion (12 Gospels)– 7 pm

Friday, April 26:              Holy and Great Hours – 8:30 am

Apokathelosis – 3 pm

Lamentations Service – 7 pm

Saturday, April 27:          Liturgy of St. Basil– 9 am

Resurrection Service – 11:15 pm (Orthros/Liturgy of Resurrection)

Sunday, April 28:             Agape Vespers Service – 10:30 am

Renewal Friday, May 3:    Theotokos of the Life-Giving Font:  9 am Orthros/Liturgy

  

 

 

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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.

 

2019 Stewardship Drive:  

91 Pledges totaling $112,434 for an average of $1,236 and $64,932 received to date.  We also have 9 families who have contributed $4,875 to date but have not submitted a stewardship card.  It is important that all families complete a stewardship card to be considered a steward.  Current Stewardship List and other stewardship information is posted in bulletin board by water cooler.

 

We need everyone’s participation to exceed this year’s stewardship pledge target of $170,000.  If the remaining 79, 2018 stewards give at the same level as last year we could exceed our budget and reach a record high number of stewards

 

 

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

 

 

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