St. Anna Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2024-09-15
Bulletin Contents

Organization Icon
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

Schedule of Services for Week of September 15, 2024

Sunday,   9/15   8:30 a.m.  Orthros / Liturgy - Birth of Virgin Mary
Tuesday   9/17   9:00 a.m.  Orthros / Liturgy - St. Sophia and Her 3 Daughters, Faith, Hope, and Love

Today, we will remember the servant of God, Alexander Paliatsos, husband of Mary Paliatsos and father of George Paliatsos, Athan Paliatsos, and Sofia Rudy with a 50 year memorial service. Today, following services the Rudy and Paliatsos families will be hosting the fellowship hour in memory of their beloved husband and father. May his memory be eternal.

Attached, please find the Archepiscopal Encyclical for the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.

Today, Philoptochos will have a collection for Holy Cross Seminary at the back of church after Divine Liturgy.

Parish Council Updates:

We pray that everyone has had a nice summer. As we start the new year, we would like to provide a few updates:
1. Over the summer, the ministries worked on their ministry plans and have submitted them to the Parish Council for approval. The PC and the Ministry Leads meet on Aug 28th to review and coordinate an overall, synchronized calendar. We aim to publish the calendar of events in the coming weeks.
2. Our participation in the Effective Christian Ministry Program has begun. This is a program that we have discussed and approved at our General Assembly meetings. We have selected six individuals who will participate in the first round - Fr. Jimmy, Dean & Lisa Soteropoulos, Maria Georgeles, Michael Manteo and Lucy Pavlow.
3. We have recruited a new full time Psalti who will be joining our volunteer Psalti Team. His name is Alexander Boubaris and his first Sunday with us will be Sep 22nd. He has extensive experience chanting in both Greek and English. To hear Alexander chanting, you can click on this link - https://www.youtube.com/@alexandrosmp1.

LADIES PHILOPTOCHOS CORNER:    

Welcome Back to Everyone ~ Let's get the Ecclesiastical year off to a great Start!!

UPCOMING EVENTS:

The first Philoptochos board meeting of the new year will be on Sunday, September 22, directly after Divine Liturgy.

Please join us for the first Philoptochos General Membership meeting of the new year on Sunday, September 29, get your coffee and bagel and meet in the 1st classroom on the left; we have a lot of planning and decisions to make. Bring your ideas and an open mind and we will brain-storm some amazing projects for the year! Let's make this the best year ever!!!

Our 2nd Annual Paint & Sip is right around the corner on Saturday, November 2, 2024. Bring your talent and enthusiasm and take home a beautiful painting made by YOU! Be sure to sign up at the Philoptochos Table during Fellowship!

YOUTH MINISTRY CONTACTS:

Sunday School Director: Nikol Toulatos [email protected]
Greek School Director: Maria Sfondouris [email protected]
GOYA Head Advisor: Larisa Trumpy [email protected]
Hope & Joy Advisor: Kristen Diagelakis [email protected]
Little Blessings:  Lucy Pavlow [email protected]
Greek Dance Lead: Larisa Trumpy [email protected]
Young Adult League (YAL): Bill Johnson [email protected]

College Care Package Ministry: Maria Tattoli [email protected]
Parent Advisory Council (PAC): Lisa Soteropoulos [email protected]

Parent Advisory Council (PAC): The Parent Advisory Committee is looking forward to the start of our new ecclesiastical year. We are kicking off the PAC Ministry with a 'Parent Happy Hour Social' Oct. 5th 7pm-9pm. Parents, grandparents and caregivers of all Saint Anna Youth and Young Adult Ministry are welcome to attend. A flyer is attached to this bulletin.
Please RSVP by 9/23/2024 using the Google form. https://forms.gle/YM8GMgvwrvjcQ3LNA. If you have any questions or need further information, feel free to contact Lisa Soteropoulos at [email protected]

Youth Field Day: September 29 after Divine Liturgy. Free event for children from Kindergarten through 12th grade. A flyer is attached to this bulletin. Please contact Nikol Toulatos at [email protected].

Greek School: We are looking forward to a new Greek school year! Our first day will be September 23rd. Please register your children using the attached registration form. If you have any questions,, please contact Maria Sfondouris [email protected].

Sunday School: We are looking forward to the first day of Sunday School on September 29th! Please email Nikol Toulatos to register your children for the 2024-25 school year. Parents interested in volunteering for Sunday School teaching / aiding please reach out to Nikol Toulatos.

GOYA: We wish Adriana Tattoli, Hope Trumpy, and Aris Diagelakis many blessings as they represent St. Anna GOYA at the Diving of the Holy Cross this Sunday! 
Save the date: Sunday, 9/22 GOYA Kick Off Event after church services for members and parents. 
Mr and Miss GOYA Sunday October 13th: Tickets are on sale to attend the dinner and pageant at the Hanover Manor. Our representatives are Adriana Tattoli and Yanni Logothetis. It is a lovely event that is a scholarship fundraiser for graduating seniors. Please email Larisa Trumpy for tickets ASAP
Registration is open for children grades 7-12 for GOYA https://forms.gle/JKECwBdrma3bUTu69  

HOPE & JOY: Our HOPE & JOY program is for children grades K-6th. Register Now for the upcoming year https://forms.gle/CJWRD3rfdRxnfDbd6Our first meeting will be October 6th. If you have any questions or you are interested in becoming a HOPE & JOY advisor this year, please contact Kristen Diagelakis at [email protected].
 
Little Blessings: Join us on October 6th for the launch of our Little Blessings Ministry Group (Pre-K and under)Use the Google form to RSVP. https://forms.gle/r1hZ7kDa6uDdj1Vr7 We hope to see you there!

College Care Packages:  Fall care packages will be mailed October 1st.  As our young adults go off to college - whether it is close to home or far away - it is important that they stay connected to their St. Anna family.  This ministry aims to establish and maintain contact with each of our high school graduates as they progress through their college years. Our goal is to remind them that church is always HOME.  We try to do this by sending them 2 care packages each school year.  These include a letter with some information on our Orthodox faith to help their spiritual growth in college and some treats to simply put a smile on their face.  For our freshmen students, we do some research and provide information about a local Orthodox church close to their campus, an OCF chapter on campus, Hellenic Club, etc.  We also provide some of the Archdiocese’s resources that are geared toward young adults.  We are mindful of striking a good balance of faith and friendship in our communications. 
To register your student, please contact Maria Tattoli [email protected]. Registration deadline: September 23.
We welcome snack donations.  The snack list and collection bin is in the church lobby. Thank you for your support!

ST. ANNA BOOKSTORE NEWS.  Let's celebrate the Panagia this month:
 
FOR CHILDREN...
---- Rejoice Panagia: Offering to Children the Akathist Hymn
---- Virgin Mary Mother of God: Blessed Above All Women
 
FOR ADULTS...
---- Orthodox Veneration of Mary, Birthgiver of God
---- The Way of the Pilgrim
 
If there is something in particular you are looking for, we can assist. Contact Angela Ferreira ([email protected]) or Aimee Douvris ([email protected]). 
 
Sunday Fellowship Hour Sponsors: The Parish Council would like to make an appeal for sponsors of our Sunday Fellowship Hour for the Ecclesiastical year.  Please consider sponsoring a fellowship hour to honor a friend or family member (perhaps a birthday or graduation), for the memory of a deceased loved one, or as a donation to support the Saint Anna parish.  The requested fellowship hour sponsorship donations is $50 which covers the cost of bagels, all the spreads, coffee and condiments.
 
STEWARDSHIP: Stewardship is a practice that can help shape our world and lives so that we can more fully and gratefully experience God's grace, love, and communion. Inspired by our love of God, stewardship is expressed through the many ways we support and engage in the life of our beloved Parish. Parish engagement in the form of time, talent and treasure supports the mission and programs of our Church. As we embark on our Church’s future and continued progress, we recognize the incredible efforts of so many individuals over the past 20+ years that have led to remarkable accomplishments for our humble Community. To continue to build and maintain our momentum, and achieve our vision for Saint Anna, we depend heavily on parish engagement and stewardship. With your heartfelt pledges, we can maintain our church facilities, do God's work, and grow in Christ together. If you haven’t submitted your annual stewardship pledge card for 2024, we ask that you take the time to download and complete the card attached to this message. Kindly hand in your card when you come to Church or send it via email or the postal service by September 30. Thank you again for your support and may God bless you!
 
2024 Stewardship Status:  Growth in the number of stewards is annually assessed by the Archdiocese and the New Jersey Metropolis and is a key indicator of stability and progress. All families and individuals must complete a stewardship card to be considered a steward. We have 159 Pledges totaling $209,775 for an average of $1,319 and $167,246 received as of 12 September 2024. We also have 4 families who have contributed $540 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 is attached to this email and posted on the bulletin board by the water cooler. 

KIDNEY DONOR NEEDED:  National Philoptochos Board Member Joanne Kakoyiannis, a long-standing National Philoptochos Board member is currently facing stage 5 chronic kidney disease and urgently requires a kidney transplant, preferably from a suitable living donor. It should be noted that Joanne’s blood type is O-positive. Joanne is working with the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania Kidney Transplant Program. They are available at (215) 662-6200 for confidential discussions to provide information about the living donation process and address your concerns. There is no financial burden on the donor. If you know someone who may be open to donating a kidney, please let them know about Joanne’s situation. The following website  tells Joanne’s story: http://www.helpingjoannefindakidney.com/.  If you need more information, please feel free to reach out to Penn (tel 215-662-6200), Peter Kakoyiannis (tel 215-715-5378; email  [email protected]) and/or Jason Kakoyiannis (213-590-9125; [email protected]). Thank you!

PARISH LINKS: 

St Anna Website: https://www.stannagoc.org/

St Anna Greek Orthodox Church Calendar: https://calendar.google.com/calendar/u/0/[email protected]&ctz=America/New_York 

For questions to the parish council: [email protected]

To be added to the weekly bulletin email or for general questions:  [email protected]

BACK TO TOP

Saints and Feasts

September 15

Nikitas the Great Martyr

This Saint was of high birth among the Goths beyond the Danube River. He was taken by Athanaric, pagan ruler of the Goths, and after being tortured, was burned to death for his confession of Christ. According to some, this took place during the reign of Saint Constantine the Great; according to others, under the Emperor Gratian.


September 17

Sophia & her three daughters: Faith, Hope, and Love

These Saints were from Italy and contested for the Faith about the year 126, during the reign of the Emperor Hadrian. Faith was twelve years old, Hope, ten, and Love, nine; each was tormented and then beheaded, from the eldest to the youngest. Their mother Sophia mourned at their grave for three days, where she also fell asleep in peace; because of her courageous endurance in the face of her daughters' sufferings, she is also counted a martyr. The name Sophia means "wisdom" in Greek; as for her daughters' names, Faith, Hope, and Love (Charity), they are Pistis, Elpis, and Agape in Greek, and Vera, Nadezhda, and Lyubov in Russian.


September 21

Jonah the Prophet

The Prophet Jonah, the son of Amathi, of the town of Geth-hopher (IV Kings 14:25), was of the tribe of Zabulon; he prophesied during the years 838-810 before Christ. God commanded him to go to Nineveh, the great city of the Assyrians, and to proclaim that its destruction was nigh at hand because of the sins of its people. But he, as a Prophet who knew the great compassion of God, feared that at his preaching the Ninevites would repent; that God, accepting their repentance in His love for man, would not fulfill Jonah' threats; and that he would be branded a false prophet. So he disobeyed the divine command, and boarded a ship and departed elsewhere. Yet, the sudden and fearful sea-storm and the revelation of Jonah' disbedience caused the sailors to cast him into the sea. A great sea-monster appeared straightway by divine providence, and swallowed him up. For three days and nights he was found in its belly and he prayed, saying the words, "I cried aloud in my affliction unto the Lord my God..." (Jonah 2:3, the Sixth ode of the Holy Psalter). The sea-monster then vomited him up on dry land and he again heard God's command. Wherefore, he went and preached, saying, "In three days, Nineveh shall be destroyed." The people became terrified and all repented. The great, the small, babes at the breast, and even the irrational beasts themselves fasted, and thus, having found mercy from God, they were spared His wrath. Jonah' book of prophecy is divided into four chapters, and is placed fifth in order among the twelve minor Prophets. His three-day sojourn in the sea-monster's belly is an image of our Saviour's three-day burial and His life-bringing Resurrection (Matt. 12:39-40). His name means "dove."


BACK TO TOP

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 Letter to the Galatians 2:16-20.

Brethren, knowing that a man is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ, and not by works of the law, because by works of the law shall no one be justified. But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we ourselves were found to be sinners, is Christ then an agent of sin? Certainly not! But if I build up again those things which I tore down, then I prove myself a transgressor. For I through the law died to the law, that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.


Gospel Reading

Sunday after Holy Cross
The Reading is from Mark 8:34-38; 9:1

The Lord said: "If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? For what can a man give in return for his life? For whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of man also be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." And he said to them, "Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power."


BACK TO TOP

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 Afterfeast of the Holy Cross in the 1st Tone

Save, O Lord, Thy people and bless Thine inheritance; grant Thou unto the faithful victory over adversaries. And by the power of Thy Cross do Thou preserve Thy commonwealth.

Seasonal Kontakion in the 4th Tone

Lifted up on the Cross by Your free will, Christ God, grant mercies to the new commonwealth that bears Your name. Gladden our faithful rulers by Your power, giving them victories over their adversaries. May Your alliance be for them a weapon for peace, an invincible standard.
BACK TO TOP

Wisdom of the Fathers

The key to knowledge is the humility of Christ. The door of the Kingdom of Heaven is open, not to those who only know in their learned minds the mysteries of faith and the commandments of their Creator, but to those who have progressed far enough to live by them.
St. Bede the Venerable
Unknown, 8th century

To deny oneself means to give up one's bad habits; to root out of the heart all that ties us to the world; not to cherish bad thoughts and desires; to suppress every evil thought; to avoid occasions of sin; not to desire or to do anything out of self-love, but to do everything out of love for God. To deny oneself, according to St. Paul means "to be dead to sin. . . but alive to God."
St. Innocent of Alaska
The Lenten Spring, SVS Press, p. 147, 19th Century

BACK TO TOP

Bulletin Inserts:

BACK TO TOP