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St. Anna Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2017-03-19
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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March 19

Sunday of the Holy Cross

With the help of God, we have almost reached the middle of the course of the Fast, where our strength has been worn down through abstinence, and the full difficulty of the labour set before us becomes apparent. Therefore our holy Mother, the Church of Christ, now brings to our help the all-holy Cross, the joy of the world, the strength of the faithful, the staff of the just, and the hope of sinners, so that by venerating it reverently, we might receive strength and grace to complete the divine struggle of the Fast.

Annuncia
March 25

Annunciation of the Theotokos

Six months after John the Forerunner's conception, the Archangel Gabriel was sent by God to Nazareth, a town of Galilee, unto Mary the Virgin, who had come forth from the Temple a mature maiden (see Nov. 21). According to the tradition handed down by the Fathers, she had been betrothed to Joseph four months. On coming to Joseph's house, the Archangel declared: "Rejoice, thou Full of Grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women." After some consideration, and turmoil of soul, and fear because of this greeting, the Virgin, when she had finally obtained full assurance concerning God's unsearchable condescension and the ineffable dispensation that was to take place through her, and believing that all things are possible to the Most High, answered in humility: "Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word." And at this, the Holy Spirit came upon her, and the power of the Most High overshadowed her all-blameless womb, and the Son and Word of God, Who existed before the ages, was conceived past speech and understanding, and became flesh in her immaculate body (Luke 1:26-38).

Bearing in her womb the Uncontainable One, the blessed Virgin went with haste from Nazareth to the hill country of Judea, where Zacharias had his dwelling; for she desired to find Elizabeth her kinswoman and rejoice together with her, because, as she had learned from the Archangel, Elizabeth had conceived in her old age. Furthermore, she wished to tell her of the great things that the Mighty One had been well-pleased to bring to pass in her, and she greeted Elizabeth and drew nigh to her. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, she felt her six-month-old babe, Saint John the Baptist, prophesied of the dawning of the spiritual Sun. Immediately, the aged Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and recognized her as the Mother of her Lord, and with a great voice blessed her and the Fruit that she held within herself. The Virgin also, moved by a supernatural rejoicing in the spirit, glorified her God and Savior, saying: "My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour," and the rest, as the divine Luke hath recorded (1:39-55)

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Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Plagal Second Mode

When the angelic powers appeared at Your grave, the soldiers guarding it feared and became as dead. And standing by the sepulcher was Mary who was seeking Your immaculate body. You devastated Hades, not afflicted by it. You went to meet the virgin, and granted eternal life. You resurrected from the dead. O Lord, glory to You.

Apolytikion for Sun. of the Holy Cross in the First Mode

Save, O Lord, Thy people and bless Thine inheritance; grant Thou unto the faithful victory over adversaries. And by the power of Thy Cross do Thou preserve Thy commonwealth.

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 Second Mode. Psalm 27.9,1.
O Lord, save your people and bless your inheritance.
Verse: To you, O Lord, I have cried, O my God.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:1-6.

BRETHREN, since we have a high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. Because of this he is bound to offer sacrifice for his own sins as well as for those of the people. And one does not take the honor upon himself, but he is called by God, just as Aaron was. So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, "Thou art my Son, today I have begotten thee"; as he says also in another place, "Thou art a priest for ever, after the order of Melchizedek."

Gospel Reading

Sunday of the Holy Cross
The Reading is from Mark 8:34-38; 9:1

The Lord said: "If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? For what can a man give in return for his life? For whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of man also be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." And he said to them, "Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power."

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Wisdom of the Fathers

And see how He also makes His discourse unexceptionable: not saying at all, "whether you will, or no, you must suffer this," but how? "If any man will come after me."
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 55 on Matthew 16, 1. B#54, p.339., 4th Century

"I force not, I compel not, but each one I make lord of his own choice; wherefore also I say, 'If any man will.' For to good things do I call you, not to things evil, or burdensome; not to punishment and vengeance, that I should have to compel.
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 55 on Matthew 16, 1. B#54, p.339., 4th Century

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Ministry News

Agia_anna
 TODAY, there will be a 40-day Memorial Services for Evdoxia, beloved sister of Renee Poulis. May her memory be eternal.

TODAY, Fellowship Hour is sponsored by Renee Poulis in memory of her sister. 

TODAY, the Philoptochos is sponsoring a free offering luncheon to benefit the College of the Holy Cross.  Please join us in support of this worthy cause. 

 

CHURCH CALENDAR

Saturday, March 25:  Evangelismos, Annunciation of the Theotokos, 9 am

 

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 items for the Hunterdon County Family Success Center (www.hcfsc.com).  Look for collection station in the hallway to the Community Center.  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 preparing for the St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival which will take place next Sunday, March 26 following Church services.   List of  questions:   http://www.goarch.org/archdiocese/departments/religioused/sjcof. 

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

 

Philoptochos News: 

Easter Bread:  Pre-orders being taken for Easter Tsourekia from Feb. 26 - March ​19​. TODAY is the last day for Tsourekia orders.   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).  Contact Aimee Douvris 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.​

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: 

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 and can be found at http://www.hucny.com/ (letter uploaded to e-bulletin).

“Hidden in Plain Sight”  program sponsored by the Hunterdon Prevention Resources  and Safe Communities Coalition – March 29, 6:30 pm at Clinton Township Middle School (flyer uploaded to the e-bulletin).

 

 

          

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Bulletin Inserts

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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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