OUR MISSION is to proclaim the Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, sanctify the faithful through the liturgy and the Holy Sacraments, grow the church by receiving new members, live the Orthodox Christian Faith, and serve humanity through Christ-centered ministries.

OUR VISION is to be a loving, caring, and welcoming Christian community where everyone belongs and grows in the Orthodox Christian Faith through worship, witness, fellowship, and service to others.

HOLY COMMUNION is offered to those baptized and confirmed in the Eastern Orthodox Christian Faith who have prepared according to the Orthodox Tradition. Guests and visitors are welcome to worship with us and receive the antidoron “instead of the gifts” blessed bread at the dismissal. Please follow the ushers' directions for the order of Communion.  When you approach the chalice, please give the priest your baptismal name.

GUESTS AND VISITORS: Enter your contact information in the Guest Book at the narthex if you want us to contact you and join us for fellowship hour in our church hall following the liturgy.

Sunday, September 1, 2024 Ecclesiastical New Year

Κυριακή, 1 Σεπτεμβρίου, 2024 Ἀρχή τῆς Ἰνδίκτου. Το κήρυγμα της Κυριακής εδώ >>

• 8:30 am - Matins, 9:30 Divine Liturgy
• Our GOYA invites all to our coffee fellowship hour.

Thursday, September 5

• 7 pm - Philoptochos Board meeting.

Sunday before Holy Cross, Nativity of The Theotokos, September 8, 2024

• 8:30 am - Matins, 9:30 Divine Liturgy
• We will offer memorial prayers for the peaceful repose of the soul of Renne Zissios of blessed memory  (5 years).
• The Papadopoulos family will offer the Artoklasia (blessing of the wine, oil, and bread) for the health and well-being of their family members (Nativity of the Theotokos, name-day of Virginia).
• Our Philoptochos will host our coffee fellowship hour.

View our full calendar >>

Catechism School | ANNUNCIATION / EVANGELISMOS (anngoc.org)

One-stop Youth Ministries online registration here: 2024-2025 Youth Ministries Registration

Greek Language & Culture School | ANNUNCIATION / EVANGELISMOS (anngoc.org)

HOPE-JOY | ANNUNCIATION / EVANGELISMOS (anngoc.org)

• September: HOPE/JOY and Homeless Ministries used book drive >>

• Saturday, September 21: Get your tickets here for our day trip to St. Tikhon's Monastery >>

• Thursday, October 10: Philoptochos Painting with a Purpose event >>

• Thursday, October 17: Philoptochos Youth Service Project >>

• Sunday, October 27: Get your tickets here for the Philadelphia 13th Annual IOCC Banquet >>

• Thursday, November 7: Philoptochos Annual Bid & Buy >>

You can add our website on the home screen of your mobile phone with just a few clicks:

1. Open Safari or Chrome and go to www.anngoc.org

2. While viewing the website, tap the  Share button in the menu bar.

3. Scroll down the list of options, then tap Add to Home Screen. Our website will now appear as an app on your home screen

Our website is responsive, and it adopts and is easy to navigate on any mobile device.

Our website is updated daily to help you stay informed and connected with your church community. You can see the church calendar, sign up for upcoming events, and view the ministries’ pages to see how you can get involved, all at your fingertips.

Ministries Leaders: please review your pages regularly and forward us any information about your activities so we can keep the website current.

We regularly purchase the items below to celebrate our divine liturgy, holy sacraments, and all church prayer services. Your contributions make these services possible.

Prosforo Bread, Communion Wine, Candles, Olive Oil, Wicks, Charcoal, Incense, Distilled Water.

Any donations toward these items are appreciated! Please make your donations HERE and in the memo, secilfy "liturgical items".

• Thursday, October 10: Philoptochos Painting with a Purpose event >>
• Thursday, October 17: Philoptochos Youth Service Project >>
• Thursday, November 7: Philoptochos Annual Bid & Buy >>

• Philoptochos 2024 Membership Letter
• Philoptochos 2024 Membership Brochure

Matthew 25 Ministry | ANNUNCIATION / EVANGELISMOS (anngoc.org)

“Anyone who tries to make brownies without butter should be arrested.” Ina Garten

How many of us think nothing about baking a little something sweet to indulge our families with? It’s pretty simple for most of us as we reach into our pantries and refrigerators and pull out the necessary ingredients to bake a cake or make cookies. Worse case scenario, we run to the market and think nothing about buying dessert or any ingredients we don’t have on hand for our recipe. We received a monthly blast from Seeds of Hope summarizing their summer and a few other notable things. It really got our hearts pumping and gearing up for the fall as M25 prepared for the new ecclesiastical year. Kay Negley, the pantry’s director, mentioned that numbers didn’t wane over the summer. There is generally a significant drop in shoppers during the warmer months. Sadly, this was not the case due to inflation at the pump, cost to cool our homes, and naturally the rise in the cost of groceries. People with food insecurities just can't seem to catch a break! They sent a photo from the pantry showing a meager baking shelf. We thought to ourselves, why a baking shelf? Easy, everyone wants a treat.

People with food insecurities have birthdays, milestones, and a sweet tooth just like the rest of us. We don’t often think of supplying a pantry with the simple pleasures of baking mixes, flour, sugar , oil, and even chocolate chips. We didn’t come up with this list of requested foods, and we weren’t even planning on asking for these items.. It just felt right to ask our community to help us out and bring small packages of each to church until the middle of September. We would love to make an abundant delivery in the next 6 weeks. How nice for kids and loved ones to come home to fresh baked cookies, cake,bread, or even a healthy muffin? Please consider donating a small bag of sugar or vegetable oil or flour. We would be so grateful. Please drop off any food items in the bin in the cove by the Sunday School classrooms. We will purchase all the perishable foods like we always do. If you prefer a Vanco donation, we encourage this as well, and M25 will pick up some of the requested items for you. We often shop at Walmart for flour, sugar, and oil. Walmart has some of the lowest prices and offers small sizes. If you prefer something healthy, pick up some peanut butter and oatmeal. We will be happy to take anything you deliver that isn’t expired.

Thank you for supporting Matthew 25 and we hope that you continue to enjoy your summer! Enjoy the day and all its beauty.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: “Choose to be in touch with what is wonderful, refreshing, and healing within yourself and around you. “
- Nhat Hahn

FOCUS North America is searching for a qualified candidate to fill the position of Center Director for its FOCUS Philadelphia ministry location. Please see the job description and application here.

Last November, you received your 2024 personalized Stewardship Pledge Card of Time, Talent, and Treasure and the 2024 Stewardship Increase Request in the mail.

Thank you to the 265  parishioners who have already returned their 2024 Pledge Card or pledged through VANCO.

A. Look for a letter in your postal mail this week with your Quarterly Stewardship Pledge Statement.

B. If you have not pledged yet, you will receive a 2024 Pledge Card. We look forward to your reply.

If you are already a Sustaining Steward, that is, you have set up regular payments through VANCO or your bank bill payer service:

1. You do not have to fill out a pledge card!
2. Check with your VANCO account or bank bill payer service to ensure your regular payments continue through 2024.
3. Use the 2024 Pledge Card information as a guide to update your giving to reflect your current level of commitment.
4. Don't hesitate to call us at the parish office if you need help updating your VANCO donations for 2024.