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St. Anna Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2017-03-12
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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






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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March 12

Sunday of St. Gregory Palamas

This divine Father, who was from Asia Minor, was from childhood reared in the royal court of Constantinople, where he was instructed in both religious and secular wisdom. Later, while still a youth, he left the imperial court and struggled in asceticism on Mount Athos, and in the Skete at Beroea. He spent some time in Thessalonica being treated for an illness that came from his harsh manner of life. He was present in Constantinople at the Council that was convened in 1341 against Barlaam of Calabria, and at the Council of 1347 against Acindynus, who was of like mind with Barlaam; Barlaam and Acindynus claimed that the grace of God is created. At both these Councils, the Saint contended courageously for the true dogmas of the Church of Christ, teaching in particular that divine grace is not created, but is the uncreated energies of God which are poured forth throughout creation: otherwise it would be impossible, if grace were created, for man to have genuine communion with the uncreated God. In 1347 he was appointed Metropolitan of Thessalonica. He tended his flock in an apostolic manner for some twelve years, and wrote many books and treatises on the most exalted doctrines of our Faith; and having lived for a total of sixty-three years, he reposed in the Lord in 1359.

His holy relics are kept in the Cathedral of Thessalonica. A full service was composed for his feast day by the Patriarch Philotheus in 1368, when it was established that his feast be celebrated on this day. Since works without right faith avail nothing, we set Orthodoxy of faith as the foundation of all that we accomplish during the Fast, by celebrating the Triumph of Orthodoxy the Sunday before, and the great defender of the teachings of the holy Fathers today.


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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. Gregory Palamas in the Plagal Fourth Mode

Light of Orthdoxy, pillar and teacher of the Church, adornment of monastics, invincible champion of theologians, O Gregory thou wonderworker, boast of Thessalonica, herald of grace: ever pray that our souls be saved.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Plagal Fourth Mode

To you, Theotokos, invincible Defender, having been delivered from peril, I, your city, dedicate the victory festival as a thank offering. In your irresistible might, keep me safe from all trials, that I may call out to you: "Hail, unwedded bride!"
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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Plagal First Mode. Psalm 11.7,1.
You, O Lord, shall keep us and preserve us.
Verse: Save me, O Lord, for the godly man has failed.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 1:10-14; 2:1-3.

"IN THE BEGINNING, Thou, Lord, didst found the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of thy hands; they will perish, but thou remainest; they will all grow old like a garment, like a mantle thou wilt roll them up, and they will be changed. But thou art the same, and thy years will never end." But to what angel has he ever said, "Sit at my right hand, till I make thy enemies a stool for thy feet?" Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to serve, for the sake of those who are to obtain salvation?

Therefore we must pay closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For if the message declared by angels was valid and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard him.


Gospel Reading

Sunday of St. Gregory Palamas
The Reading is from Mark 2:1-12

At that time, Jesus entered Capernaum and it was reported that he was at home. And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room for them, not even about the door; and he was preaching the word to them. And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and when they had made an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic lay. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "My son, your sins are forgiven." Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, "Why does this man speak thus? It is a blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?" And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, "Why do you question thus in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise, take up your pallet and walk? But that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins"-he said to the paralytic-"I say to you, rise, take up your pallet and go home." And he rose, and immediately took up the pallet and went out before them all; so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, "We never saw anything like this!"


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Wisdom of the Fathers

Now Matthew indeed saith, that "they brought him," but the others, that they also broke up the roof, and let him down. And they put the sick man before Christ, saying nothing, but committing the whole to Him.
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 29 on Matthew 9, 1. B#54, pp. 195, 196, 4th Century

For though in the beginning He Himself went about, and did not require so much faith of them that came unto Him; yet in this case they both approached Him, and had faith required on their part. For, "Seeing," it is said, "their faith;" that is, the faith of them that had let the man down.
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 29 on Matthew 9, 1. B#54, pp. 195, 196, 4th Century

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Ministry News

Agia_anna
DON'T FORGET:  We spring forward one hour on Sunday, March 12.  Remember to change your clocks, and to make it to Church at the right time! 

 

 TODAY, Fellowship Hour is sponsored by the Wolfe family

CHURCH CALENDAR

Weekly Services During Lent

Mondays (5:30 to 6:30 pm):  Great Compline Service

Wednesdays (6 pm) and Fridays* (9 am):  9th Hour followed by Presanctified Liturgy. 

(*No Pre-Sanctified Liturgy on Friday, March 24)

Thursdays (6 to 7 pm):  Great Compline Service. 

Fridays (7 to 8 pm):  Salutations Service      * Akathyst Hymn on Friday, March 31

               (*Great Vespers of Annunciation, on March 24 with the 4th Stanza).

 

 Byzantine Music Workshop and Choir

Meetings are usually on Saturdays following Liturgy. For confirmation, please contact our cantor Stathis directly or through email (stathisleon@gmail.com) with subject matter "Byzantine Choir."

 

Education:  Sunday School:  The St. Anna Sunday School and Community are invited to take part in an Almsgiving project for the Lenten season.  We are collecting the following items for the Hunterdon County Family Success Center (www.hcfsc.com).  Look for collection station in the hallway to the Community Center. See today’s insert for more information.  Donations will be received through April 9.  If you have any questions, please contact Aimee Douvris at aimeedouvris@gmail.com.  

Grades 7 through 12 are requested to begin preparing for the St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival which has bee rescheduled for Sunday, March 26 after Church.   List of questions can be found at (http://www.goarch.org/archdiocese/departments/religioused/sjcof). We welcome all Parishioners to join us for the St John Chrysostom Festival 

Greek School:  Reminder that our Greek School Independence Day program will take place following services on Sunday, March 26. 

Philoptochos News

Easter Bread

Pre-orders being taken for Easter Tsourekia from Feb. 26 - March ​19​.  Cost is $17 (price increase reflects the cost increase from bakery - Agia Skepi Monastery).  Tsourekia will be available for pick-up on Sunday, April 9 (Palm Sunday).  See Aimee Douvris after church services in the Fellowship Hall or contact Aimee at 908-339-2511 or aimeedouvris@gmail.com

Palm Cross

Palm Crosses will be available for sale on April 2 and 9 in the Fellowship Hall.  Cost is $10.​

Holy Cross Luncheon

On Sunday March 19 the Philoptochos will sponsor a potluck, free offering luncheon to benefit the College of the Holy Cross.  Please see sign-ups for contributions of Lenten dishes during Fellowship hour or via Sign-up Genius.

Spring Yia Yia's Attic

Spring is near and that means it's time to clean out those closets, basements, and garages for donations to the Saturday, May 20 Yia Yia's attic.  This will be the only Yia Yia's attic for the year, so don't put it off!  Donations will be collected starting the week of the event.  See Margaret Panageas with any questions or contact at 908-246-7527.

 

Goya News:  On behalf of the GOYA Advisors, we wish everyone a Blessed Lenten Journey.

Sights and Sounds:  Congratulations to our GOYAns who participated in the Westfield Sights and Sounds Festival last Saturday. We are very proud of you! 

In Sights, Grace Trumpy won first place for printmaking.

In Sounds, our Religious Singing Group placed 4th, and Marisa and Anastasia Soteropoulos placed 3rd in Singing Duets, a new category this year.

Special thanks to the advisors, Nick Vosinas, our Greek dance teacher, Mr. Fred Trumpy, our band director, and the parents who prepared our kids for their performances. They couldn't have done it without your help. Great job everyone!

Lenten Retreat: Save the dates, March 31-April 1, for our GOYA District II Lenten Retreat at Camp Tecumseh in Pittstown. Registration details will be available very soon. Our focus this year is Holy Week. We've gotten responses from a few churches that will be attending. We are hosting this event with St. George Asbury Park/Ocean so we'd like to have a good showing from our Church.

 

Fellowship Hour sponsors needed!  Please sign up outside the Church office, or contact Dr. Nikolaos Kritharis at nikolaos.kritharis.dmd@gmail.com or 201-572-3420. 

Scholarship News:  The Hellenic University Club of NY Annual Scholarship offers scholarships to deserving Greek-American students who have exemplified high scholastic achievement.  Applications due on April 1, 2017 .  http://www.hucny.com/ (letter uploaded to e-bulletin).

Heritage Greece:  Greece (HG) is a two-week cultural and educational immersion odyssey for accomplished Greek American college students that share their experience with a peer group of exceptional students from the American College of Greece (ACG) in Athens, Greece.   Applications are due on March 15, 2017.  http://www.nationalhellenicsociety.org/program-overview.html. 

 

PC Corner:  On Tuesday March 7, the PC and Ministries held a combined meeting to discuss planning for the year and challenges facing the various ministries. Some notes from our Ministry meeting:

  • PTO graciously offered to pay for corkboards for all the classrooms.
  • GOYA needs new Advisors, as Maria Georgeles is stepping down after 4 years of phenomenal work and leadership. We ask that Parishioners consider coming forward to take on an Advisor role with the GOYA organization. You do not need to do it all. There is a list of things that can be divided among a few people and Maria can explain.  GOYA CANNOT RUN without Advisors.
  • HOPE & JOY is without leadership also, as Leoni DiAndrea is stepping down. We need someone to take over this Ministry.

Other PC Notes:

  1. PC has scheduled St. Anna Clean Up and Fix Up Days:  Saturday, March 18 and Saturday, April 1 (8 am – 12 pm)  Please come for an hour or two to help spruce up the Church and Community Center.  All are welcome and any time you can give is appreciated. 
  2. The PC has decided to offer the Palm Sunday Luncheon again this year after Church services. If you liked the food offered last year, please join us again this year. The cost is the same as last year: $12 for adults and any children who order the fish plate. Otherwise, the Children’s menu will be spaghetti with sauce and will cost $5. We will take reservations starting this Sunday.
  3. Stewards will soon be receiving letters with details about the upcoming GA meeting scheduled for April 2 in the Community Center starting at about 11:30 am. Please make the effort to attend.
  4. The PC has authorized the purchase of a few religious items from the religious items account. We will also purchase some equipment for handling the tables and the chairs in the Community Center to prevent injuries, and we will also replace the wooden kitchen tables with Stainless Steel and the cost will be paid from the gym budget and the kitchen budget respectively.
  5. Remember! September 2, 2017, we will celebrate our 15th Birthday as a Parish. From our 2002 humble beginnings, we managed to build this beautiful Saint Anna Greek Orthodox Church. The PC has dedicated a significant amount of time and effort to finalize the May 7, 2017: “Destiny Fulfilled.. an Appreciation Celebration”: Hall Dedication and Donor Recognition program by organizing the event, selecting the displays, sending out invitation letters, planning for the activities for the day, etc. The leaders, Dr. Douvris and Diana Grina are doing an excellent job in progressing such an important milestone for our church. If you think you can help please reach out to them and offer your time and talent.
  6. The Greek School program is another area under the PC radar.  Joanne Diver will schedule an Education meeting for all families with children to ensure that we understand your needs and expectations and to try to improve the program and increase participation. Please make every effort to attend.

 

 

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Stewardship

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.

2017 Stewardship Status:  We have 95 Pledges totaling $149,310 for an average of $1,572 and $60,039 received to date.  We also have 6 families who have contributed $  980 to but have not submitted a stewardship card.  It is important that all families complete a stewardship card to be considered a steward.

We need everyone’s participation to exceed this year’s stewardship pledge budget of $175,000. If the remaining 2016 stewards give at the same level as last year we could exceed our budget and reach a record high number of stewards.

If you have not done so already, we ask that you prayerfully consider your stewardship commitment and submit a 2017 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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