August 27
St. Anna Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2023-08-27
Bulletin Contents
Parish News
Saints and Feasts
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Hymns of the Day
Wisdom of the Fathers
Bulletin inserts
St. Anna Greek Orthodox Church
General Information
- Phone:
- (908) 968-4004
- Fax:
- (908) 968-4002
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Street Address:
- 85 Voorhees Corner Road,
- Flemington, NJ 08822
Contact Information
Services Schedule
Sunday Services: Orthros 8:30 am; Divine Liturgy 9:30 am.
Weekday Services: See parish website calendar link for updates.
Past Bulletins
- Publish Date:
- 2024-12-22
- Publish Date:
- 2024-12-15
- Publish Date:
- 2024-12-08
- Publish Date:
- 2024-12-01
- Publish Date:
- 2024-11-24
- Publish Date:
- 2024-11-17
Parish News
We are all invited to the St. Fanourios Greek Orthodox Church in Elizabeth today (Sat.) for the Great Vespers service at 7 pm. St. Fanourios bread will be blessed.
We thank the Rev. Fr. Nicholas Soteropoulos for serving the Sundays of Aug. 20 and 27 while Fr. Anastasios is on vacation. Fr. Nick will be blessing the fanouropites at the end of Liturgy on Sunday, Aug. 27. Please bring names for Fr. Nick to commemorate for health and welfare.
Our next weekday service is Friday, Sept. 1 - the Indiction (beginning of the Ecclesiastical New Year). Orthros begins at 8:30 AM and is followed by Divine Liturgy.
The Enthronement of His Eminence Metropolitan Apostolos of New Jersey will take place on Saturday, September 16, 2023, at 10:30 a.m., at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Saint John the Theologian in Tenafly, New Jersey. (All are invited to the Enthronement!) The following day, Sunday, September 17, His Eminence will also celebrate his first Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral as the new Metropolitan of New Jersey. As of now, the Enthronement Luncheon at the Venetian on Sat., Sept. 16 is sold out (waiting list).
DEADLINE APPROACHING: Dinner at Local Greek that will take place on Monday, September 18th, 2023 from 6 to 8 pm at Local Greek Lambertville located at 2 Canal Street in Lambertville, NJ. We hope that you will join us for this fun-filled evening of delicious Greek cuisine and fellowship with both old friends and new ones. Admission to the event will be $50 a person which includes a selection of appetizers, a main course, sides, and dessert. Seating is limited so Please Reserve Early. Please visit www.greekdinners.com to purchase your tickets/ reservation. Reservations are needed by September 10th. Please see event chairs Bill Johnson or Diana Grina with any questions.
Be sure to mark your calendars for our Wine & Dine fundraiser on Saturday, October 21 at 6 p.m. For many years prior to the pandemic, this was always a highly anticipated annual fundraiser as it combines fellowship, wine education, and wonderful food and wine pairings in a reception style, intimate in-home setting. Parishioner George Staikos, who is a sommelier and wine educator, will lead this event with his wife Christi along with the executive chef/co-owner of the Sergeantsville Inn, Daniel Brunina, who will prepare the menu for us that evening. This event will be held in the home of parishioner Dan Vlahakas in nearby Ringoes who has generously offered to host this not-to-be-missed fundraiser.
Stewardship: Please be sure that you have submitted a Stewardship Commitment Card for 2023. Also, those 2022 Stewards that have forgotten to submit a card for this year can expect a gentle reminder via email and mail in the coming weeks. The refinancing of our Mortgage in August is dependent on having a strong stewardship count with all our families participating. The Stewardship Card is critical for this accounting of our "Committed" Stewards. Please reach out to t[email protected] if you have any Stewardship questions. See the Stewardship update below. Thank you.
SUNDAY SCHOOL: Our Sunday School program has wrapped up for the year. Please officially sign up for Sunday School next year as we plan for another great year. See Fr. A if you want to volunteer to help this vital ministry. 1ST DAY OF CLASSES IS SUNDAY, SEPT. 24.
YOUTH MINISTRY REGISTRATIONS: Each of our youth ministries will be taking registrations for the 2023-2024 ecclesiastical year. We encourage all families to sign up early. Thank you.
GOYA: The Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023 event is CANCELLED due to the Enthronement Ceremony in Tenafly that morning.
On Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023, all NJ parishes ARE NOW OPEN! (The Holy Cross celebration with take place the following week with just the divers expected to attend the St. George Church in Ocean, NJ from the regional churches.)
HOPE & JOY: Grades K-6th. Please see Kristen Diagelakis as we restart these vital ministries of our parish.
GREEK DANCE: Thanks to our dedicated dancers for all their wonderful performances! Please see Larisa Trumpy or Fr. A to be sure that all new teens join the Dance Troupe. We are hoping to add to our numbers as we continue to grow this ministry. All are welcome!
PHILOPTOCHOS: Congratulations to the new board that was elected last month! All are asked to support this vital outreach ministry of our parish. Affirmation of Officers will take place on Sunday, Sept. 3.
Choir NEWS: As always, the choir looks forward to growing participation. Anyone interested in joining the choir- please contact Choir Director Diana Grina- 908-392-7449, [email protected]
Greek School: Please sign your children up for next year now. We are excited about another wonderful Greek school year starting in September. (Sept. 25 is the first day of Greek School).
Young Adults - Please be sure that Fr. A has the email and cell numbers of all our 18-35-year-olds so that he can reach out to them.
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STEWARDSHIP: Stewardship is the sharing of the talents and treasures that God has provided for us. Remember a rich man is not one who has much, but one who gives much…..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.
2023 Stewardship Status: we have 143 Pledges totaling $185,070 and $142,629 received to date. We also have 8 families who have contributed $4,500 to date but have not submitted a stewardship card. It is important that all families complete a stewardship card to be considered a steward. The current Stewardship List and other stewardship information are posted on the bulletin board by the water cooler.
2023 Stewardship Status: we have 143 Pledges totaling $185,070 and $142,629 received to date. We also have 8 families who have contributed $4,500 to date but have not submitted a stewardship card. It is important that all families complete a stewardship card to be considered a steward. The current Stewardship List and other stewardship information are posted on the bulletin board by the water cooler.
REMEMBER, PLEASE SUBMIT A 2023 STEWARDSHIP CARD SO WE CAN HAVE AN ACCURATE COUNT OF OUR "COMMITTED STEWARD" FAMILIES AS WE BUDGET FOR THE YEAR AND PREPARE FOR REFINANCING OUR MORTGAGE.
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Save the date! The Flemington Area Food Pantry's main fundraiser is happening this year on Friday, September 29th at the Pantry from 11:00 AM to 2:30 PM. "The Empty Bowl" is an annual drive-up lunch event that raises funds to provide food and personal care items to approximately 1,600 income-qualified Hunterdon County families who are food insecure.
This year's $30 donation will provide a delicious take-out lunch with a restaurant soup, a mini sandwich, a dessert, water, and a handcrafted bowl. Purchase your ticket online and just drive up to the Food Pantry, located across the parking lot from the Flemington Walmart, and your tasty lunch and unique bowl will be delivered right to your car. More than 80% of the Pantry's income is derived from contributions of monetary donations and groceries. For more information, visit https://flemingtonfoodpantry.org/empty-bowl. Tickets will be available in late August. Please check back as participating restaurants are confirmed.
Andrea Kalliaras is a parishioner within our Metropolis who has a health need. She has been diagnosed with a rare form of Leukemia that can only be cured by a stem cell transplant. We have an opportunity to help Andrea by volunteering to take a test to determine donor suitability. This 10-second cheek swab test can be done in the convenience of one's home and is free of charge. We ask that you please include Andrea in your prayers and consider participating in the donor process.
Please use the following link to learn more about Andrea's situation and to find the instructions for ordering a test kit. www.swab4andrea.com.
(See Fr. A for more info). Thank you.
Saints and Feasts
August 27
12th Sunday of Matthew
August 27
Pimen the Great
Saint Pimen was from Egypt and shone forth in the ascetical life in Scete in the fourth century; he was renowned for his discretion. Many of his sayings and deeds are preserved in the Paradise of the Fathers and the Sayings of the Fathers.
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Epistle Reading
Prokeimenon. 3rd Tone. Psalm 46.6,1.
Sing praises to our God, sing praises.
Verse: Clap your hands, all you nations.
The reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 15:1-11.
Brethren, I would remind you in what terms I preached to you the gospel, which you received, in which you stand, by which you are saved, if you hold it fast -- unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unfit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God which is with me. Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.
Gospel Reading
12th Sunday of Matthew
The Reading is from Matthew 19:16-26
At that time, a young man came up to Jesus, kneeling and saying, "Good Teacher, what good deed must I do, to have eternal life?" And he said to him, "Why do you call me good? One there is who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments." He said to him, "Which?" And Jesus said, "You shall not kill, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother, and You shall love your neighbor as yourself." The young man said to him, "All these I have observed; what do I still lack?" Jesus said to him, "If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful; for he had great possessions.
And Jesus said to his disciples, "Truly, I say to you, it will be hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." When the disciples heard this they were greatly astonished, saying, "Who then can be saved?" But Jesus looked at them and said to them, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."
Hymns of the Day
Resurrectional Apolytikion in the 3rd Tone
Let the Heavens rejoice; let earthly things be glad; for the Lord hath wrought might with His arm, He hath trampled upon death by death. The first-born of the dead hath He become. From the belly of Hades hath He delivered us, and hath granted great mercy to the world.
Apolytikion for Martyr Phanurius in the 4th Tone
A heavenly song of praise is brightly sung on the earth; * the hosts of the Angels keep an earthly festival now in splendor and radiant joy; * from on high, they praise with hymns the suff'rings and struggles; * and below, the Church doth laud the heavenly glory * thou foundest by thy contests and pains, O glorious Phanurius.
Seasonal Kontakion in the 4th Tone
In your holy birth, Immaculate One, Joachim and Anna were rid of the shame of childlessness; Adam and Eve of the corruption of death. And so your people, free of the guilt of their sins, celebrate crying: "The barren one gives birth to the Theotokos, who nourishes our life."
Wisdom of the Fathers
Rise from love of the world and love of pleasure. Put care aside, strip your mind, refuse your body. Prayer, after all, is a turning away from the world, visible and invisible. What have I in heaven? Nothing except simply to cling always to You in undistracted prayer. Wealth pleases some, glory others, possessions others, but what I want is to cling to God and to put the hopes of my dispassion in Him (cf. Ps. 72:25, 28).
Ladder of Divine Ascent, Step 28: On Prayer; Paulist Press pg. 277, 6th century
Spiritual delight is not enjoyment found in things that exists outside the soul.
Unknown, 7th century
Bulletin inserts
2023 Stewardship Commitment Card
Thank you for supporting your St. Anna Parish and all her ministries, payroll, and needs.