Today, Sunday, Feb. 4: We welcome Fr. Christos Christofidis who is substituting for Fr. Anastasios who is recovering from carpal tunnel surgery. Welcome, Fr. Christos! (Fr. A is healing well and hopes to be at church soon.)
40-Day Memorial Service Today: for Brian Jeffery Puckett (baptismal name: Dimitrios), beloved husband of Juliana and father of Stella, Julia, and Vasilios. May his memory be eternal!
March 23 Lenten Retreat
Registration for parishioners is now open. A link was sent to the e-bulletin list. Maria Tattoli will also be taking registrations on Sunday during the Fellowship Hour. Please register early before we open it to the public as space is limited. The price is $30.
Online Information & Registration:
Contact Diana Grina with event questions: Dianakg2003@yahoo.dom
March 1 Trivia Night Ticket Sales: Buy your tickets online at
greekdinners.com Early bird pricing of $25 until 2/18, $30 thereafter. This will be an evening of fun and fellowship for family and friends 21 years of age and older. In addition to challenging your trivia knowledge, there will also be prizes for Trivia game winners, a Wine Pull, a 50/50 raffle, door prizes, and dessert. Register to attend by Feb. 18 at $25 per person, however, if you register after Feb. 18, it is $30 per person – so register early and save. For questions and more information, ask Arge Mardakis.
To schedule a house blessing from Feb. 19 through March 10, please contact Fr. A. Thank you. (Fr. A is out on medical leave from Jan. 31 through Feb. 10).
YOUTH MINISTRY CONTACTS:
Sunday School Director: Nikol Toulatos nikoltoulatos44@gmail.com
Greek School Director: Maria Sfondouris msfondouris@gmail.com
GOYA Head Advisor: Larisa Trumpy larisatrumpy@gmail.com
Hope & Joy Advisor: Kristen Diagelakis kdiagelakis@gmail.com
Greek Dance Lead: Larisa Trumpy larisatrumpy@gmail.com
Young Adult League (YAL): Kali Vaporakis rangerkali@gmail.com
College Care Package Ministry: Maria Tattoli mtattoli@gmail.com
Parent Advisory Council (PAC) Chair: Lisa Soteropoulos lisasoteropoulos@gmail.com
GREEK SCHOOL:
TODAY (FEB. 4) there will be a Three Hierarchs and Greek Letters presentation by our Greek School students following the Divine Liturgy. Light refreshments will be offered during Fellowship Hour.
SUNDAY SCHOOL:
TODAY (FEB.4) is Youth Leadership Sunday. There will be no Sunday School class for the high school students.
Upcoming Events:
FEB. 11: No class for the 13-18 year old class only.
FEB. 25: Godparent Sunday
MAR. 24: Sunday of Orthodoxy
The Oratorical Festival topics are now online! Please encourage all youth from grades 7 to 12 to pick out a topic as we prepare for a March 2024 Parish Oratorical Festival. (The District Level will be on Sat, April 6 at our neighboring parish of St. George in Trenton, NJ.) Please see the Bulletin Insert for a list of topics.
GOYA:
St. Anna is hosting the GOYA Valentine's Dance on FEB.16. All volunteers will need to be
Youth Worker Certified. If you would like to volunteer and have not been certified yet, please email Anthony Mariani at
youthsafety@stannagoc.org. A volunteer Sign Up Genius will be forthcoming.
HOPE & JOY:
Please join us for some Valentine's fun TODAY (FEB. 4) from 12-2 P.M. We will have Valentine crafts, snacks, and then some open gym time. RSVP to Kristen Diagelakis
kdiagelakis@gmail.com. See Bulletin Insert.
COLLEGE CARE PACKAGE MINISTRY:
Our second mailing of care packages will be sent to our St. Anna college students on MARCH 4. If you would like to contribute snacks for the care packages, please go to the Sign Up Genius below. Monetary contributions toward this ministry are also greatly appreciated.
If your student did not receive a care package in the fall, please contact Maria Tattoli at
mtattoli@gmail.com to get them on the list. We are also happy to expand this ministry to any young adult who has moved away and might like to hear from us. Our objective is to stay connected with our young adults and to remind them that church is their home away from home.
Please place your donations in the bin outside the gym. Thank you for your support. Our college students have told us that they love receiving these care packages and knowing their St. Anna family is thinking of them.
Donation deadline: FEB. 25
Care packages to be mailed: MARCH 4
YOUNG ADULT LEAGUE (YAL):
Virtual Blood Drive:
When: Through March 10
How to Get Involved: Every 2 seconds a person in the United States needs blood. As Orthodox Christians we are called to "Love your neighbor as yourself" Mark 12:31. What is a greater act of love than selflessly giving your neighbor the gift of life? Pledge your support and make your donation by going to: https://sleevesup.redcrossblood.org/campaign/nnj-yal/ #NNJYALSleevesUp
Orthodoxy on Tap:
A monthly initiative for connecting with fellow Orthodox Young Adults to learn and discuss our faith. Past discussion topics have included Orthodoxy in a Roman Catholic and Protestant World (Fr. Symeon Williams), How Should an Orthodox Christian Approach Reading and Understanding the Bible? (Nicholas Ruvelas M.Div.) and How we Understand Fasting Today as Orthodox Christians (Fr. Nicholas Mataragas).
When: Wednesday, February 28th, 7-10 pm
Where: Tavern on George
361 George St, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Speaker and Topic: TBD
Beefsteak Fundraiser:
All are welcome to join us for a night of feasting on unlimited filet mignon, pasta, ice cream, and more! Explore enticing raffle baskets with gift certificates, designer handbags, and local business goodies. Get ready for a night of dancing with our live DJ, then quench your thirst at the full cash bar, featuring “The Mediterranean” our special drink of the night.
When: Saturday, March 9th 6:30 pm – 11 pm
Where: The Metropolitan Cathedral of St. John the Theologian, 353 E. Clinton Ave., Tenafly, NJ 07670
LADIES PHILOPTOCHOS CORNER: This Sunday is Philoptochos, "Go Red Sunday." Please wear red this Sunday, February 4 in uniting for heart health awareness.
CHRISTMAS/NEW YEAR PHILOPTOCHOS MEMBER LUNCHEON, was held on Sat., Feb. 3 at the Moutain View Chalet.
The first General Membership Meeting of 2024, will be on February 4th. Please join us to help us ensure our plans for the remainder of this year. Looking forward to seeing you there, new and existing members!
The period of January and February is for the annual Philoptochos stewardship/membership drive!! Please join us for a special Valentine's
Day Tea, on Sunday, February 18th to renew your membership, or to sign up as a new member! Please see Maria Gimbel or Carrie Kafalas, our membership chairs for the application! Your membership donation is essential for our Philoptochos chapter to continue growing and thriving, allowing us to better help our community!
ST. ANNA BOOKSTORE NEWS. Wishing you a happy and blessed New Year! Why not kick off those New Year's resolutions by picking up a spiritual book to grow in your faith?
This month's recommendations include: FOR ADULTS: "Our Thoughts Determine Our Lives: The Life and Teachings of Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica"; and the Orthodox Study Bible; FOR KIDS: the Children's Bible Reader; and Holy Theotokos Jigsaw Puzzle.
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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.
2024 Stewardship Status: we have 33 Pledges totaling $83,230 and $30,165 received to date. We also have 7 families who have contributed $1,110 to date but have not submitted a stewardship card. It is important that all families complete a stewardship card to be considered a steward. The current Stewardship List and other stewardship information are posted on the 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 2024 pledge card as soon as you can.
…Remember a rich man is not one who has much, but one who gives much…..
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Other Information:
St. Haralambos Great Vespers: Friday, Feb. 9 at 6 pm at the St. Barbara GOC in Toms River, presided by His Eminence Metropolitan Apostolos of NJ. Refreshments to follow.
CrossRoad Institute: Are you an 11th or 12th grader looking ahead to the summer? Learn more today about CrossRoad Institute Summer Program, a 10-day academic institute made just for you! Travel to Boston, Northern California, or Chicago to connect with other Orthodox Christians as you prepare to make big life decisions and start new adventures.(Boston: Session 1: June 8-18th; Session 3: June 22nd-July 2nd. Hosted At: Hellenic College Holy Cross SOT)
Learn more today at www.CrossRoadInstitute.org. Application deadline is February 20, 2024.