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St. Anna Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2020-02-09
Bulletin Contents
Saints and Feasts
Hymns of the Day
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Wisdom of the Fathers
Ministry News
Bulletin Inserts
Stewardship
Publphar
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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

Publphar
February 09

Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee: Triodion Begins Today

The Pharisees were an ancient and outstanding sect among the Jews known for their diligent observance of the outward matters of the Law. Although, according to the word of our Lord, they "did all their works to be seen of men" (Matt. 23:5), and were hypocrites (ibid. 23: 13, 14, 15, etc.), because of the apparent holiness of their lives they were thought by all to be righteous, and separate from others, which is what the name Pharisee means. On the other hand, Publicans, collectors of the royal taxes, committed many injustices and extortions for filthy lucre's sake, and all held them to be sinners and unjust. It was therefore according to common opinion that the Lord Jesus in His parable signified a virtuous person by a Pharisee, and a sinner by a Publican, to teach His disciples the harm of pride and the profit of humble-mindedness.

Since the chief weapon for virtue is humility, and the greatest hindrance to it is pride, the divine Fathers have set these three weeks before the Forty-day Fast as a preparation for the spiritual struggles of virtue. This present week they have called Harbinger, since it declares that the Fast is approaching; and they set humility as the foundation for all our spiritual labors by appointing that the parable of the Publican and the Pharisee be read today, even before the Fast begins, to teach, through the vaunting of the Pharisee, that the foul smoke of self-esteem and the stench of boasting drives away the grace of the Spirit, strips man of all his virtue, and casts him into the pits of Hades; and, through the repentance and contrite prayer of the Publican, that humility confers upon the sinner forgiveness of all his wicked deeds and raises him up to the greatest heights.

All foods are allowed the week that follows this Sunday.

10_charalambos1
February 10

Hieromartyr Haralambos

This Saint was a priest of the Christians in Magnesia, the foremost city of Thessaly, in the diocese having the same name. He contested during the reign of Alexander Severus (222-235), when Lucian was Proconsul of Magnesia. At the time of his martyrdom the Saint was 103 years of age.

St. Haralampus is commemorated on February 10th, with the exception when this date falls on the Saturday of the Souls preceding Lent or on Clean Monday (the first day of Lent), in which case the feast is celebrated on February 9th.

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Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the First Mode

The stone had been secured with a seal by the Judeans, * and a guard of soldiers was watching Your immaculate body. * You rose on the third day, O Lord * and Savior, granting life unto the world. * For this reason were the powers of heaven crying out to You, O Life-giver: * Glory to Your resurrection, O Christ; * glory to Your eternal rule; * glory to Your dispensation, only One who loves mankind.

Apolytikion for Apodosis of the Presentation in the First Mode

Lady full of grace, rejoice, O Virgin Theotokos, for Christ our God, the Sun of righteousness has risen from you and He illumined those in darkness. And you, righteous Elder, be glad in heart, receiving in your embraces the One who liberates our souls and bestows on us the Resurrection.

Seasonal Kontakion in the First Mode

Your birth sanctified a Virgin's womb and properly blessed the hands of Symeon. Having now come and saved us O Christ our God, give peace to Your commonwealth in troubled times and strengthen those in authority, whom You love, as only the loving One.
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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. First Mode. Psalm 32.22,1.
Let your mercy, O Lord, be upon us.
Verse: Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous.

The reading is from St. Paul's Second Letter to Timothy 3:10-15.

TIMOTHY, my son, you have observed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions, my sufferings, what befell me at Antioch, at lconion, and at Lystra, what persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. Indeed all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceivers and deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings which are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

Gospel Reading

Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee: Triodion Begins Today
The Reading is from Luke 18:10-14

The Lord said this parable, "Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, I give tithes of all that I get.' But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!' I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted."

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Wisdom of the Fathers

It is possible for those who have come back again after repentance to shine with much lustre, and oftentimes more than those who have never fallen at all, I have demonstrated from the divine writings. Thus at least both the publicans and the harlots inherit the kingdom of Heaven, thus many of the last are placed before the first.
St. John Chrysostom
AN EXHORTATION TO THEODORE AFTER HIS FALL, 4th Century

When lately we made mention of the Pharisee and the publican, and hypothetically yoked two chariots out of virtue and vice; we pointed out each truth, how great is the gain of humbleness of mind, and how great the damage of pride.
St. John Chrysostom
CONCERNING LOWLINESS OF MIND., 4th Century

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Ministry News

Agia_anna

TODAY there will be a 40-day Memorial for Chrisoula (Christine) Krinis, wife of Vasilios Krinis, mother to Anna Shinn, John Krinis, Evan Krinis and Patra Acquaviva. Aunt to Christina Brown. She is grandmother to 11 grandkids that she loved more than anything in the world. May her memory be eternal.

TODAY there will also be a 40-day Memorial for Panagis (Pete) Parameritis, son of Alexandra and Andreas.  His brother is Alexandros, sister is Evangelia (Lia) Santangelo, whose husband is Mark Santangelo and son is Fynn Joseph Santangelo. Pete’s children are Ethan Andreas and Ema Jean Parameritis. May his memory be eternal.

TODAY Fellowship Hour is sponsored by the St. Anna Sunday School Class pre-K,K,1&2

Church Calendar:

Saturdays, February 22, February 29, March 7 – Saturday of Souls  - 9 am  

Monday, March 2: Kathara Deuftera (Clean Monday)- 5:30 pm 

Last call for House Blessings!  Please contact Fr. A to make an appointment.

 

 The Apokriatiko Glendi is on!!

Join us for our “Mardi Gras” celebration on February 22 from 7-11 pm at the Mountain View Chalet. Tickets are still available!  $75 pp, $40 for children 12 & under. 

If you are not able to join us on February 22, you can still contribute towards the success of the event by making a monetary donation to defray costs or by sponsoring a tricky tray basket. We are accepting baskets with a retail value of $30-50 which will be awarded at the Glendi. Examples of basket themes include: Movie Night, Coffee Time, Chocolate, Pets, Toys, Beach Time, Skin Care, Wine, etc. Sign up during Fellowhip Hour. Contact Arge Mardakis with any questions:  mardakis@co.somerset.nj.us

 

Education:  Sunday School: In the month of February, Sunday school students are invited to make cards for patients of Hunterdon medical center. Just a few words of encouragement is all that is needed. These cards can be made at home or in class. Parents are invited to join in as well and brighten a patient’s day.  They will be collected by the end of February.

On Sunday, February 16,  Fr. A will hold a Teaching Liturgy. He will stop at various times during the Liturgy to explain the symbolism and meaning.  These explanations will take the place of the children’s sermon. Sunday School is in session that day.

Sunday School Teachers Meeting:  There will be a Sunday School Teachers Meeting on February 23  @ 11:45 am n one of the classrooms

Greek School: Session 2 of our Adult Greek School classes will begin Monday, February 10. We will have two one-hour classes to choose from - one hour for Beginners and one hour for Intermediate/Advanced students. If you are interested, please contact Maria Sfondouris.  

St. Anna Oratorical Festival Save the Date:  Sunday, March 29.  Topics are available online at https://www.goarch.org/oratorical     

2019 Statements:  Most 2019 statements were handed out in church or  mailed out during the week, but there were a handful that had to be re-worked and should be available on Sunday in Church or, if not picked up, will be mailed out next week.  For any questions with the statements, contact the treasurers at treasurer@stannagoc.org.

Teen Safety Night, Friday, March 29: 8 to 9:30 pm (immediately after Salutations Service)

Prevention Resources is returning to our Church as we host our 2nd Teen Safety Night! All youth from Grades 6 to 12 are invited (and college-aged young adults too) as we once again learn by way of a Kahoot game (with lots of tech prizes to be won).  Drug misuse and suicide prevention will be included in the discussion with Lesley Gabel, who led a most interactive and educational Teen Safety Night last year. Again, we ask you to invite your friends to join us.  Just RSVP to Fr. A with a list of friends and their grades so we can plan.

www.njprevent.com.  Dedicated to Promoting Health and Wellness and Preventing Substance Abuse and Violence in our Community.

Hunterdon Happening

Voting for the Hunterdon Happening List Best Foodie Event is now open. We need to reclaim our title ans we are currently a distant second place.  Please vote and share! The time is now

http://hunterdon.happeningmag.com/happeninglist/2020-everything-hunterdon-foodie-event/

  PC Corner

Please mark your calendars for this year’s events:  

February 22 - Glendi.  See note on first page.  

March 22     - Spring General Assembly

April 12       - Palm Sunday Fish Lunch

April 24       - Trivia night 

September 11-13 OPA

Nov 1         - Fall General Assembly

October 23  - Trivia night

November 14-15 - Eat & Shop

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Bulletin Inserts

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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. 

2020 Stewardship Status: We have 47 Pledges totaling $87,850 for an average of $1,869 and $33,040 received to date.  We also have 4 families who have contributed $  880 to date but have not submitted a stewardship card.  It is important that all families complete a stewardship card to be considered a steward.  Current Stewardship List and other stewardship information is posted in bulletin board by water cooler.

We need everyone’s participation to exceed this year’s stewardship pledge target of $175,000.  If the remaining 117, 2019 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 already done so, pick up your 2020 Stewardship Cards today! 

…Remember a rich man is not one who has much, but one who gives much

 

 

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