Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Grave Tone

By means of Your Cross, O Lord, You abolished death. * To the robber You opened Paradise. * The lamentation of the myrrhbearing women You transformed, * and You gave Your Apostles the order to proclaim to all * that You had risen, O Christ our God, * and granted the world Your great mercy.

Κατέλυσας τῷ Σταυρῷ σου τὸν θάνατον, ἠνέῳξας τῷ Λῃστῇ τὸν Παράδεισον, τῶν Μυροφόρων τὸν θρῆνον μετέβαλες, καὶ τοῖς σοῖς Ἀποστόλοις κηρύττειν ἐπέταξας, ὅτι ἀνέστης Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός, παρέχων τῷ κόσμῳ τὸ μέγα ἔλεος.

Apolytikion for the Church in the Fourth Tone

Today is the fountainhead of our salvation and the manifestation of the mystery which was from eternity. The Son of God becomes the Virgin’s Son And Gabriel announces the good tidings of Grace for this cause, let us cry to the Mother of God with him. Rejoice thou who art full of Grace the Lord is with you.

Σήμερον τῆς σωτηρίας ἡμῶν τὸ Κεφάλαιον, καὶ τοῦ ἀπ' αἰῶνος Μυστηρίου ἡ φανέρωσις, ὁ Υἱὸς τοῦ Θεοῦ, Υἱὸς τῆς Παρθένου γίνεται, καὶ Γαβριὴλ τὴν χάριν εὐαγγελίζεται. Διὸ καὶ ἡμεῖς σὺν αὐτῷ τὴ Θεοτόκω βοήσωμεν, Χαῖρε Κεχαριτωμένη, ὁ Κύριος μετὰ σοῦ.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Third Tone

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.

Ἡ Παρθένος σήμερον, τὸν Προαιώνιον Λόγον, ἐν Σπηλαίῳ ἔρχεται, ἀποτεκεῖν ἀπορρήτως. Χόρευε ἡ οἰκουμένη ἀκουτισθεῖσα, δόξασον μετὰ Ἀγγέλων καὶ τῶν Ποιμένων, βουληθέντα ἐποφθῆναι, παιδίον νέον, τὸν πρὸ αἰώνων Θεόν.

Prayer List

Please pray for our brothers and sisters: James, Elizabeth, Tom, Kostas, William, Alexandra, Rita, John, Mikaela, Connor, James, Peter, Vasili, Sophia, Rachel, Nicole, Christine, Michael, Irina, Abigail, Shirley, Bridie, Christopher, Malina, Andrew, Vera, Erin, Paula, Milton, Galini, Yevgeniy, Alexey, Nadia, Vasiliki, Diane, Deborah, Phillip, Jim, Jave, Demetrios, Kathy, Elaina, Panagiota, Conan, John, Jo Anne, Bill, James, Colleen, Barbara, Theophana, Paul, Tasso, Roula, Thomas, Jim, Prescott, Sze, Prudence, Brittany, Dionysios, Konstantinos, Evangelia, Nikolaos, Penny, Taki, Maki, Andre, Pavlos, Stephanie, Phyllis, Ed, Bettyann, George, Althea, Sofia, Irina, Ava Maria, Demetrios, Maria.

If you or a loved one is going through a difficult time and would like the community to pray for you, please call the office and request to be added on the prayer list. We will list the first names only in the weekly bulletin for six months, or until you ask to be removed from the list. I will also make a special mention of the Orthodox names at the Proskomede.

Saints and Feasts

December 01

14th Sunday of Luke

December 06

Nicholas the Wonderworker, Archbishop of Myra

This Saint lived during the reign of Saint Constantine the Great, and reposed in 330, As a young man, he desired to espouse the solitary life. He made a pilgrimage to the holy city Jerusalem, where he found a place to withdraw to devote himself to prayer. It was made known to him, however, that this was not the will of God for him, but that he should return to his homeland to be a cause of salvation for many. He returned to Myra, and was ordained bishop. He became known for his abundant mercy, providing for the poor and needy, and delivering those who had been unjustly accused. No less was he known for his zeal for the truth. He was present at the First Ecumenical Council of the 318 Fathers at Nicaea in 325; upon hearing the blasphemies that Arius brazenly uttered against the Son of God, Saint Nicholas struck him on the face. Since the canons of the Church forbid the clergy to strike any man at all, his fellow bishops were in perplexity what disciplinary action was to be taken against this hierarch whom all revered. In the night our Lord Jesus Christ and our Lady Theotokos appeared to certain of the bishops, informing them that no action was to be taken against him, since he had acted not out of passion, but extreme love and piety. The Dismissal Hymn for holy hierarchs, The truth of things hath revealed thee to thy flock ... was written originally for Saint Nicholas. He is the patron of all travellers, and of sea-farers in particular; he is one of the best known and best loved Saints of all time.

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Grave Tone. Psalm 28.11,1.
The Lord will give strength to his people.
Verse: Bring to the Lord, O sons of God, bring to the Lord honor and glory.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Ephesians 2:14-22.

Brethren, Christ is our peace, who has made us both one, and has broken down the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law of commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby bringing the hostility to an end. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; for through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built into it for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

Προκείμενον. Grave Tone. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 28.11,1.
Κύριος ἰσχὺν τῷ λαῷ αὐτοῦ δώσει.
Στίχ. Ἐνέγκατε τῷ Κυρίῳ υἱοὶ Θεοῦ, ἐνέγκατε τῷ Κυρίῳ δόξαν καὶ τιμήν.

τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς Ἐφεσίους 2:14-22.

Ἀδελφοί, Χριστός ἐστιν ἡ εἰρήνη ἡμῶν, ὁ ποιήσας τὰ ἀμφότερα ἕν, καὶ τὸ μεσότοιχον τοῦ φραγμοῦ λύσας, τήν ἔχθραν ἐν τῇ σαρκί αὐτοῦ, τὸν νόμον τῶν ἐντολῶν ἐν δόγμασιν, καταργήσας· ἵνα τοὺς δύο κτίσῃ ἐν ἑαὐτῷ εἰς ἕνα καινὸν ἄνθρωπον, ποιῶν εἰρήνην, καὶ ἀποκαταλλάξῃ τοὺς ἀμφοτέρους ἐν ἑνὶ σώματι τῷ θεῷ διὰ τοῦ σταυροῦ, ἀποκτείνας τὴν ἔχθραν ἐν αὐτῷ· καὶ ἐλθὼν εὐηγγελίσατο εἰρήνην ὑμῖν τοῖς μακρὰν καὶ τοῖς ἐγγύς· ὅτι διʼ αὐτοῦ ἔχομεν τὴν προσαγωγὴν οἱ ἀμφότεροι ἐν ἑνὶ πνεύματι πρὸς τὸν πατέρα. Ἄρα οὖν οὐκέτι ἐστὲ ξένοι καὶ πάροικοι, ἀλλὰ συμπολῖται τῶν ἁγίων καὶ οἰκεῖοι τοῦ θεοῦ, ἐποικοδομηθέντες ἐπὶ τῷ θεμελίῳ τῶν ἀποστόλων καὶ προφητῶν, ὄντος ἀκρογωνιαίου αὐτοῦ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, ἐν ᾧ πᾶσα οἰκοδομὴ συναρμολογουμένη αὔξει εἰς ναὸν ἅγιον ἐν κυρίῳ, ἐν ᾧ καὶ ὑμεῖς συνοικοδομεῖσθε εἰς κατοικητήριον τοῦ θεοῦ ἐν πνεύματι.

Gospel Reading

14th Sunday of Luke
The Reading is from Luke 18:35-43

At that time, as Jesus drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging; and hearing a multitude going by, he inquired what this meant. They told him, "Jesus of Nazareth is passing by." And he cried, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" And those who were in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent; but he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" And Jesus stopped, and commanded him to be brought to him; and when he came near, he asked him, "What do you want me to do for you?" He said, "Lord, let me receive my sight." And Jesus said to him, "Receive your sight; your faith has made you well." And immediately he received his sight and followed him, glorifying God; and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.

14th Sunday of Luke
Κατὰ Λουκᾶν 18:35-43

Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, ᾿Εγένετο δὲ ἐν τῷ ἐγγίζειν αὐτὸν εἰς ῾Ιεριχὼ τυφλός τις ἐκάθητο παρὰ τὴν ὁδὸν προσαιτῶν· ἀκούσας δὲ ὄχλου διαπορευομένου ἐπυνθάνετο τί εἴη ταῦτα. ἀπήγγειλαν δὲ αὐτῷ ὅτι ᾿Ιησοῦς ὁ Ναζωραῖος παρέρχεται. καὶ ἐβόησε λέγων· ᾿Ιησοῦ υἱὲ Δαυΐδ, ἐλέησόν με· καὶ οἱ προάγοντες ἐπετίμων αὐτῷ ἵνα σιωπήσῃ· αὐτὸς δὲ πολλῷ μᾶλλον ἔκραζεν· υἱὲ Δαυΐδ, ἐλέησόν με. σταθεὶς δὲ ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς ἐκέλευσεν αὐτὸν ἀχθῆναι πρὸς αὐτόν. ἐγγίσαντος δὲ αὐτοῦ ἐπηρώτησεν αὐτὸν λέγων· τί σοι θέλεις ποιήσω; ὁ δὲ εἶπε· Κύριε, ἵνα ἀναβλέψω. καὶ ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτῷ· ἀνάβλεψον· ἡ πίστις σου σέσωκέ σε. καὶ παραχρῆμα ἀνέβλεψε, καὶ ἠκολούθει αὐτῷ δοξάζων τὸν Θεόν· καὶ πᾶς ὁ λαὸς ἰδὼν ἔδωκεν αἶνον τῷ Θεῷ.

General Announcements

Memorials & Coffee Hour: Today we will have a one year memorial for Mary Strangas, and forty day memorials for James Kageleiry and Joan Bourlessas. May their memory be eternal! The Alkistis Ladies Society will host coffee hour today. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Church Service this Week: Friday, December 6th at 9:30am Divine Liturgy for St. Nicholas.

We are invited to vespers on Thursday December 5th at 6pm to St. Nicholas Church in Portsmouth for their nameday vesper celebration.

Orthodox Life & Bible Study: Monday, December 2nd at 10:00am. Everyone is welcome to attend. We will be reading: In the Heart of the Desert: The Spirituality of the Desert Fathers and Mothers (Treasures of the World's Religions) by John Chryssavgis. Available at Amazon.com

Daughters of Penelope: Christmas Party Wednesday, December 4th. (See flyer in flyer section for more details)

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FALL 2019 GENERAL ASSEMBLY Meeting Agenda

Sunday December 8th, 2019 12:00 Noon

Call meeting to order
Opening Prayer
Election of Parliamentarian for the meeting
Approval of Spring General Assembly (May 19, 2019) Minutes
Priest's Comments
President's Comments
Treasurer's Review of the Parish Budget for 2020
Cemetery Committee Report – Including State of Finances and Budget for 2020
Bylaws Change – Parish Council
Selection of Board of Auditors - 2019 Books
Good of the Parish
Closing Prayer

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Dear Annunciation Parishioners,
Christmas is fast approaching and once again it is time to open our hearts and share the joy of the season with those less fortunate.
Please select an “Angel” of your choice from the ANGEL TREE located in the Narthex. Return your wrapped gift to the Annunciation library with its original tag request. Your donations will be distributed to the children at CHAD - Children”s Hospital At Dartmouth. Please return your gifts by Wednesday, December 11th.
The Outreach ministry and Sunday School thank you for your generosity and kindness in this joint venture.

Merry Christmas and may God bless you always!

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Cross Roads House

Cross Roads House has been providing emergency and transitional shelter to homeless women, men, and children in the New Hampshire Seacoast area since 1982.

We are inviting you to donate new or gently used gloves, mittens, scarves, socks, hats, weaters, winter coats, jackets, etc to the homeless residents who live at the Cross Roads House.
Paul Koutroubas, one of our dedicated parishioners, has offered to take all of your donations to the Cross Roads House where he is employed.

Please leave your donations on the stage in the Father Athans Fellowship Hall.
Stay tuned to read more about the Cross Roads House in the December/ January issue of the Rejoice.
With gratitude,
Maria Faskianos
If you have any questions, please send an email to mfaskianos@comcast. net

Calendar

Church Calendar

November 15 to December 23, 2019

Friday, November 15

Nativity Fast

Sunday, December 1

Joan Bourlessas 40 day memorial

James Kageleiry 40 day memorial

Mary Strangas 1yr. memorial

Monday, December 2

10:00AM Orthodox Life & Bible Study

Wednesday, December 4

5:30PM Daughters of Penelope Christmas Party

Thursday, December 5

6:00PM Vespers - St. Nicholas @ Portsmouth

Friday, December 6

9:30AM Liturgy - St. Nicholas

Sunday, December 8

Fall General Assembly

Monday, December 9

10:00AM Orthodox Life & Bible Study

Wednesday, December 11

6:30PM Parish Council Mtg.

Sunday, December 15

Stewardship Sunday

Monday, December 16

10:00AM Orthodox Life & Bible Study

Tuesday, December 17

10:30AM Clergy Brotherhood

Sunday, December 22

Christmas Pageant Sun. School

Monday, December 23

10:00AM Orthodox Life & Bible Study

Flyers

Church Christmas Card Fundraiser & Flowers

Forms to participate in Church Christmas Card and to purchase Christmas flowers for our church. We have extended the date to return these forms by December 8th!

Daughters Of Penelope Christmas Party

Daughters of Penelope Annual Christmas Gathering Wednesday, December 4th

General Information

Contact Information

Services Schedule

Past Bulletins