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St. Anna Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2023-09-24
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Callapostles
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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






Services Schedule

Sunday Services:  Orthros 8:30 am; Divine Liturgy 9:30  am.  

Weekday Services:  See parish website calendar link for updates.

 


Past Bulletins


Parish News

Artoklasia: the blessing (literally "breaking") of the 5 Loaves (Artoklasia) is offered today by Adriana and John Tolis in honor of their daughter, Polixeni, who celebrates her Nameday on Sat., Sept. 23.  Chronia Polla!

Services this week:  Great Vespers in Tenafly on Monday, Sept. 25 at 7 pm presided by His Eminence Metropolitan Apostolos of NJ.

Tuesday here at St. Anna GOC:  Orthros at 8:30 AM followed by Divine Liturgy for the Feastday of St. John the Theologian.  Happy Nameday to all who celebrate!

YOUTH MINISTRY REGISTRATIONS:  Each of our youth ministries will be taking registrations for the 2023-2024 ecclesiastical year. 
Please sign up at the registration table during fellowship hour TODAY.  We have so many exciting plans for our youth!

SAVE THE DATE: Sunday, Oct. 8, 11:30 am - 1:30 pm. We are happy to announce that our youth in grades K-12 are invited to a team-building Fall Field Day to kick off our youth ministries. This is a FREE event. It will be an afternoon of outdoor field day games and refreshments. Please see Nikol Toulatos or Maria Tattoli during fellowship hour to register your youth and/or to volunteer for the event. Or you may email Nikol Toulatos at nikoltoulatos44@gmail.com. RSVP deadline is Sept. 30. You don’t want to miss out on this fun event!  Feel free to invite a friend. (See bulletin insert)

SUNDAY SCHOOL: 1ST DAY OF CLASSES HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED TO SUNDAY, OCT. 1.  Please see Fr. A if you want to volunteer with this vital ministry and see Nikol Toulatos during fellowship hour to register.

SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS are invited to attend a kick-off meeting TODAY during fellowship hour with Nikol Toulatos and Fr. A.  Please make every effort to attend.

GREEK SCHOOL: 1ST DAY OF GREEK SCHOOL CLASSES IS MONDAY, SEPT. 25.  Please see Maria Sfondouris during fellowship hour to register.

ADULT GREEK SCHOOL is also back beginning Oct. 2 via Zoom. The classes will run each Monday from 7:30 pm - 8:30 pm by our wonderful volunteer teacher, Katerina Toulatos. If you are interested or have any questions, please see Maria Sfondouris during fellowship hour to register. 

GOYA:  The Holy Cross celebration is canceled for Sunday due to the weather.  Please see Larisa Trumpy during fellowship hour to register for GOYA. 

HOPE & JOY:  Please see Kristen Diagelakis during fellowship hour to register our youth in grades K-6.

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!

COLLEGE CARE PACKAGES: If you have a college-aged child living at home or away at school, let us know so we can connect with them this school year with 1-2 care packages.  The objective of this ministry is to stay connected with our St. Anna youth and to gently remind them that church is home.  Please email Maria Tattoli at mtattoli@gmail.com to include your child.  Deadline: Oct. 15. 

YOUNG ADULT LEAGUE (YAL): For Orthodox Christians ages 18-35.  The Metropolis of Pittsburgh is hosting a YAL conference on Oct. 13-15 at the Wyndham Grand Pittsburgh Downtown.  Registration is open. For more details, go to: https://y2am.pittsburgh.goarch.org/ya/2023-yal-conference

PHILOPTOCHOS: TODAY, SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 24th @ 11:00 AM
Please join us as we kick off an exciting new year at our first Philoptochos General Member meeting! We will be discussing plans for events and outreach, and how we will reach the fundraising goal of "Being Philoptochos", translated to: "Being Friends of the Poor"!!! Grab your coffee and join us for fellowship and discussion in the first classroom on the left!  ALL ARE WELCOME! Old and New members!! Hope to see you there! 
 
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, dianakg2003@yahoo.com.  The Choir will resume on Sunday, Oct. 1 so please see Diana today!

OCTOBER WINE AND DINE: 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 Vlahakis in nearby Ringoes (Copper Hill Country Club) who has generously offered to host this not-to-be-missed fundraiser. 

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. 
2023 Stewardship Status: we have 151 Pledges totaling $192,050 and $158,440 received to date.  We also have 11 families who have contributed $5,970 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 $200,000.  If the remaining 52, 2022 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 2023 pledge card as soon as you can.
…Remember a rich man is not one who has much, but one who gives much…..

2023 Stewardship List
* Contributed but have not submitted stewardship card Report Date: Sept. 21, 2023
1 Archimedes, Alexander & Debbie 69 Lappen, Justin&Danielle 137 Trumpy, Grace
2 Arvanitidou, Evangelia 70 Logothetis, Nikita & Sophia 138 Tsatsos, Costa & Maria
3 Balios, Efthimia 71 Loukedis, Alexander & Jennifer 139 Tsokas, Lorraine
4 Bulzacchelli, Thomas & Valerie 72 Manoussakis, Stamati & Sofia 140 Tzovolos, Demetri and Arete
5 Bunce, Daniel & Marianne 73 Manteo, Michael & Gramatiki 141 Tzovolos, Olympia
6 Callanan, Ryan & Christina Roros 74 Mardakis, Arge 142 Vaporakis, Efharis Karise
7 Collett, Martin & Adriane 75 Mariani, Anthony & Kristen 143 Vaporakis, John & Kim
8 Connell, William & Nikki 76 Martin, Stephen & Despina 144 Vaporakis, Kaliope
9 Costalas, Paul & Josephine 77 Martini, Matt & Meropi, Louis 145 Vaporakis, Mihail
10 Coutros, George & Lana 78 Martini, Nicole+Emilio Verrillo 146 Varas, Alexander Pericles
11 Coutros, Peter 79 Mavrode, John Steven 147 Varas, Loukas Michael
12 Coutsouridis, John & Denise 80 Mavrode, Michael & Demetra 148 Varas, Michael & Elaine
13 Diagelakis, Gerasimos & Kristen 81 Mavrode, Ouania (Ronnie) 149 Veneman, Ryan & Polyxeni-Tolis
14 Diamantis, Ioannis & Gerasimoula 82 Mavrode, William & Vanessa 150 Vespa, Paul & Fay
15 Diver, Sean & Joanne 83 McElroy, Stephanie 151 Vlahakes, Louis & Anastasia
16 Doty, James & Kathy 84 Millett, Matthew & Maria 152 Vlahakis, Dan
17 Douvris, John & Aimee 85 Missios, Michael & Popi 153 Wolf, Chad and Jennifer
18 Fallon, Tom & Anna 86 Montalvo, Alex&Maria 154 Wolfe, Richard & Penelope
19 Ferreira, Jorge & Angela 87 Mulcahy, Dr. Wayne and Mary * 155 Wygera, Walter & Constance
20 Finley, Thomas & Antoinette 88 Nelson, Anna 156 Xenakis, Matthew & Vasiliki
21 Foglia, Katina 89 Nelson, Stephanie 157 Zacharatos, Jerry & Justine Raspanti *
22 Gabriel & Ioana Patuleanu Swift 90 Nicolaou, Nicolaos & Kaliopi 158 Zajac, Pegi
23 Gacos, Chris & Frances * 91 Olsen, Richard & Kattia * 159 Zanidakis, Theodore & Charlotte
24 Gacos, Christopher & Escarlen 92 Paitakes, John&Linda 160 Zannikos, Peter & Amy
25 Gatanis, Michael & Angela * 93 Paliatsos, Mary 161 Zavitsanos, Anna
26 Georgeles, George & Maria 94 Panageas, Bill & Margaret 162 Zervos, Alexandros and Mary
27 Giambrone, Charles J 95 Panayote, William & Deborah 163  
28 Gianakos, Michael & Dianne 96 Pappas, Demitrios & Stacy 164  
29 Gianakos, Phillip & Arianna 97 Pappas, Vivian Schiavone 165  
30 Giannouris, John & Tracey 98 Patel, Kesha * 166  
31 Gianos, Irene 99 Pelios, Georgia 167  
32 Gimbel, Maria 100 Peppe, George & Demetra 168  
33 Giotis, John & Karen 101 Perez, Alex & Eleni Panas 169  
34 Glynos, Peter & Cindy 102 Perris, Emanuel E. 170  
35 Grigsby, Thomas & Alexandra Pogogeff 103 Peter Allen 171  
36 Grina, Peter & Diana 104 Petromelis, Christopher & Georgette 172  
37 Gus and Anna Kodersha 105 Petromelis, Phyllis 173  
38 Hawes, Ashlynn 106 Polychronis, Cary & Chara 174  
39 Hawes, Brian & Allison Faches 107 Procyk, Eugenia 175  
40 Hawes, Teagan 108 Rentoulis, Dino & Chrisa * 176  
41 Hindle, Irene * 109 Roros, Constantine (Dean) 177  
42 Iliakostas, Vasilis & Konstantina * 110 Rosengarth, Derek & Sara Marin 178  
43 Iliopoulos, Christos & Anna 111 Roupas, Daniel & Mary 179  
44 Jaghab, Danny & Delmy 112 Rudy, George & Sofia 180  
45 Jimenez, Lee&Deanne 113 Sacalis, John 181  
46 Johnson, Bill 114 Sakellos, Alexandra 182  
47 Johnson, Gloria 115 Sakellos, Evan & Catherine 183  
48 Kaldes, John & Zoi 116 Sakellos, George 184  
49 Kamnitsis, Christopher & Heather 117 Sauma, Abdo & Gladys 185  
50 Kamnitsis, Constantine & Nancy 118 Sfondouris, John & Maria 186  
51 Kanterakis, Anthony & Maria 119 Sheehan, Katherina 187  
52 Karazoupis, Vasilios & Panayiota 120 Shepardson, Lilyan 188  
53 Katogiritis, George & Kalliopi 121 Sideris, Leonidas & Elizabeth 189  
54 Kazantzis, Sava & Nancy 122 Soteropoulos, Dean & Elizabeth 190  
55 Kefalas, Carrie 123 Soteropoulos, Marisa 191  
56 Kehayes, Peter & Helen 124 Staikos, George & Christi 192  
57 Kehayes, Stephen & Beth 125 Staikos, Nicholas, Eirini Daskalakis 193  
58 Kizoulis, Menas & Antonia * 126 Stathopulos, Peter&Julan, Adriana 194  
59 Kosoglou, Arianna * 127 Stellakis, Eileen 195  
60 Kosoglou, Teddy and Roula 128 Stier, Benjamin & Eleftheria Tsatsos 196  
61 Kousoulas, Constantine 129 Sullivan, Mary 197  
62 Kousoulas, Demetrios 130 Tattoli, Larry & Maria 198  
63 Kousoulas, Evangelos 131 Tattoli, Steven 199  
64 Kousoulas, Fr. Anastasios & Presv. Nektaria 132 Ticas, Cesar & Areti 200  
65 Kousoulas, Panayiotis 133 Toulatos, Katerina M 201  
66 Kubu, James & Evangeline 134 Toulatos, Nikoleta 202  
67 Kypridakes, Michael & Asimina 135 Toulatos, Polixenia 203  
68 Lambrianakos, George&Helen 136 Trumpy, Fred & Larisa 204  


 

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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.
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Saints and Feasts

Callapostles
September 24

1st Sunday of Luke


Thecla
September 24

Thecla the Protomartyr & Equal to the Apostles

This saint was from the city of Iconium. When she was eighteen years of age, she was instructed in the Faith of Christ and the hope of the resurrection by the Apostle Paul, whom also she followed, forsaking her betrothed and espousing a life of virginity for the sake of the Heavenly Bridegroom. Having preached Christ in various cities and suffered many things, she reposed in Seleucia of Cilicia at the age of 90.


Johntheo
September 26

The Falling Asleep of St. John the Evangelist and Theologian

This Apostle was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and was the son of Zebedee and Salome, and the brother of James the elder. First a fisherman by trade, he became an Apostle and the beloved Disciple of Christ. Only he of all the Disciples followed Him even to the Cross, and was entrusted with the care of our Saviour's Mother, as it were another son to her, and a brother of Christ the Teacher. After this, he preached throughout Asia Minor, especially in Ephesus. When the second persecution against the Christians began in the year 96 during the reign of Domitian, he was taken in bonds to Rome, and there was cast into a vat filled to the brim with boiling oil. Coming forth therefrom unharmed, he was exiled to the island of Patmos, where he wrote the Book of Revelation. Returning again to Ephesus after the death of the tyrant, he wrote his Gospel (after the other Evangelists had already written theirs) and his three Catholic Epistles. In all, he lived ninety-five years and fell asleep in the Lord during the reign of Trajan in the year 100. He was called Theologian because he loftily expounded in his Gospel the theology of the inexpressible and eternal birth of the Son and Word of God the Father. It is for this cause that an eagle-a symbol of the Holy Spirit, as Saint Irenaeus says-is depicted in his icon, for this was one of the four symbolic living creatures that the Prophet Ezekiel saw (Ezek. 1:10).


Pokrov
October 01

The Feast of the Holy Skepi of the Theotokos

The Feast of the Protection commemorates the appearance of the most holy Theotokos in the Church of Blachernae in Constantinople in the tenth century, as recorded in the life of Saint Andrew the Fool for Christ's sake. While the multitudes of the faithful were gathered in church, Epiphanius, the friend of Saint Andrew, through the Saint's prayers, beheld the Virgin Mary above the faithful and spreading out her veil over them, signifying her unceasing protection of all Christians. Because of this we keep a yearly feast of gratitude, imploring our Lady never to cease sheltering us in her mighty prayers.

The Feast is celebrated on October 1. In the 1950s, the Church of Greece began to observe the Feast on October 28.


Romanosmelodist
October 01

Romanos the Melodist

Saint Romanos flourished during the reign of Anastasius (491-518). He was from Emesa of Syria, and apparently was born of Jewish parents, for a hymn written in his honour in Greek says he was "of Hebrew stock," and it has furthermore been noted that he uses many Semitic idioms in his writings. He was baptized an Orthodox Christian, and at some time became a deacon in the Church of Beirut. He was the first composer of the kontakia, the foremost of which is that of the feast of Christ's Nativity, On this day the Virgin .... In composing many of his kontakia. Saint Romanos was inspired by the hymns of Saint Ephraim of Syria.


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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. 4th Tone. Psalm 67.35,26.
God is wonderful among his saints.
Verse: Bless God in the congregations.

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

1st Sunday of Luke
The Reading is from Luke 5:1-11

At that time, as Jesus was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, he saw two boats by the lake; but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon's, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. And when he had ceased speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch." And Simon answered, "Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets." And when they had done this, they enclosed a great shoal of fish; and as their nets were breaking, they beckoned to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord." For he was astonished, and all who were with him, at the catch of fish which they had taken; and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid; henceforth you will be catching men." And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.


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Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Grave Tone

Thou didst abolish death by Thy Cross; Thou didst open Paradise to the thief; Thou didst transform the myrrh-bearers' lamentation, and didst bid Thine Apostles to preach that Thou art risen, O Christ God, granting great mercy to the world.

Apolytikion for Theotokos Myrtidiotissis in the 4th Tone

O come, all you people, and let us in faith clap our hands * and sing sacred songs to her who is the Mother of God, * and longingly cry aloud: * "Rejoice, O protection of all those who entreat you; * rejoice, the salvation of those who honor you with longing; * rejoice, O Lady who restored * the paralyzed man to health."

Apolytikion for Protomartyr Thekla in the 3rd Tone

All aflame with love for your Creator, * from the teachings of the sacred preacher, * you disregarded as fleeting all things mundane. * And being bold in the face of the penalties, * you gave yourself as a beautiful gift to God. * Thekla, glorious companion of the Apostle Paul, * we pray you entreat your Bridegroom, Christ, * and ask Him to grant us His great mercy.

Seasonal Kontakion in the 2nd Tone

O Protection of Christians that cannot be put to shame, mediation unto the creator most constant: O despise not the voices of those who have sinned; but be quick, O good one, to come unto our aid, who in faith cry unto thee: Hasten to intercession and speed thou to make supplication, O thou who dost ever protect, O Theotokos, them that honor thee.
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Wisdom of the Fathers

For now they were well instructed beforehand...But mark both their faith and their obedience. For though they were in the midst of their work when they heard His command, they delayed not, they procrastinated not, they said not, "let us return home, and converse with our kinsfolk," but "they forsook all and followed."
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 14 on Matthew 4, 4th Century

Because such is the obedience which Christ seeks of us, as that we delay not even a moment of time, though something absolutely most needful should vehemently press on us.
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 14 on Matthew 4, 4th Century

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Bulletin inserts

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