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St. Anna Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2020-02-23
Bulletin Contents
Saints and Feasts
Hymns of the Day
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Wisdom of the Fathers
Ministry News
Bulletin Inserts
Stewardship
Lastjudgement1
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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

Lastjudgement1
February 23

Judgment Sunday (Meatfare Sunday)

The foregoing two parables -- especially that of the Prodigal Son -- have presented to us God's extreme goodness and love for man. But lest certain persons, putting their confidence in this alone, live carelessly, squandering upon sin the time given them to work out their salvation, and death suddenly snatch them away, the most divine Fathers have appointed this day's feast commemorating Christ's impartial Second Coming, through which we bring to mind that God is not only the Friend of man, but also the most righteous Judge, Who recompenses to each according to his deeds.

It is the aim of the holy Fathers, through bringing to mind that fearful day, to rouse us from the slumber of carelessness unto the work of virtue, and to move us to love and compassion for our brethren. Besides this, even as on the coming Sunday of Cheese-fare we commemorate Adam's exile from the Paradise of delight -- which exile is the beginning of life as we know it now -- it is clear that today's is reckoned the last of all feasts, because on the last day of judgment, truly, everything of this world will come to an end.

All foods, except meat and meat products, are allowed during the week that follows this Sunday.

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Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Third Mode

Let the heavens sing for joy, and let everything on earth be glad. * For with His Arm the Lord has worked power. * He trampled death under foot by means of death; * and He became the firstborn from the dead. * From the maw of Hades He delivered us; * and He granted the world His great mercy.

Seasonal Kontakion in the First Mode

O God, when You come upon the earth in glory, the whole world will tremble. A river of fire will bring all before Your Judgment Seat and the books will be opened, and everything in secret will become public. At that time, deliver me from the fire which never dies, and enable me to stand by Your right hand, O Judge most just.
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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Fourth Mode. Psalm 146.5;134.3.
Great is our Lord, and great is his power.
Verse: Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good.

The reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 8:8-13; 9:1-2.

Brethren, food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. Only take care lest this liberty of yours somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if any one sees you, a man of knowledge, at table in an idol's temple, might he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? And so by your knowledge this weak man is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. Thus, sinning against your brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food is a cause of my brother's falling, I will never eat meat, lest I cause my brother to fall.

Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are not you my workmanship in the Lord? If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you; for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.

Gospel Reading

Judgment Sunday (Meatfare Sunday)
The Reading is from Matthew 25:31-46

The Lord said, "When the Son of man comes in his glory and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will place the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, 'Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.' Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?' And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.' Then he will say to those at his left hand, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' Then they also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?' Then he will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.' And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

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Wisdom of the Fathers

He indicates the dispositions of each, calling the one kids, the other sheep, that He might indicate the unfruitfulness of the one, for no fruit will come from kids; and the great profit from the other, for indeed from sheep great is the profit, as well from the milk, as from the wool, and from the young, of all which things the kid is destitute.
St. John Chrysostom
Homily on Matt. XXV, 4th Century

For when one has pity on the poor, he lends to God; and he who gives to the least gives to God--sacrifices spiritually to God an odour of a sweet smell.
St. Cyprian of Carthage
The Lord's Prayer, 33. B#41, p.102, 3rd century

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Ministry News

Agia_anna

TODAY is Godparent Sunday. We welcome all Godparents that are with us today.  Everyone is invited to enjoy a Community Breakfast following services in our Nicholas and Anna Bouras Memorial Hall.  Thanks to Fay Vespa for her leadership in organizing and serving the breakfast this morning. 

TODAY Fellowship Hour is sponsored by the Sfondouris family.

 

Church Calendar:

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

Monday, March 2: Kathara Deuftera (Clean Monday)- 5:30 pm Great Compline followed by Potluck Lenten Soup

Friday, March 6: Salutations Service – 7 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 Fellowship Hour. Contact Arge Mardakis with any questions:  mardakis@co.somerset.nj.us

 

Education:  Sunday School: During 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.

Sunday School Teachers Meeting:  The Sunday School Teachers Meeting has been rescheduled to take place on Sunday, March 15 immediately following Sunday School (no meeting today).

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

St. Anna Scholarships:  Application forms for the 2020 St. Anna Scholarships can be found on the Church web page.  

Philoptochos:  There will be a preliminary flower meeting will be on Monday, February 24 at 630pm in the Church conference room.  Many hands are needed to help decorate the church and icons for the Pascha season!  No experience necessary. If you are unable to attend  but want to help please email Aimee Douvris at aimeedouvris@gmail.com  Please let Aimee know if you can make the meeting on February 24 as well.  Thank you in advance. 

Youth Safety Night at St. Anna’s, Friday, March 20, 8 to 10 pm (immediately after Salutations Service) – note the change in date. See flyer in e-bulletin.  Prevention Resources is returning to our Church to 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 Youth Safety Night last year. Again, we ask you to invite your friends to join us.  Just RSVP to Fr. A by March 2 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. #Knockoutopioidabuse

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 55 Pledges totaling $95,600 for an average of $1,738 and $39,830 received to date.  We also have 4 families who have contributed $  990 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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