UPCOMING EVENTS:
We are thrilled to announce that the 2nd Annual Paint & Sip is right around the corner! Join us on Saturday, November 2, 2024, from 6:30 to 9:30. Cost is $35/person. Cash, Credit Card, and Zelle accepted! 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 or contact Fay Vespa at: [email protected] or Katina Foglia at: [email protected] to sign up or for more information!
We have 3-(three) $50 Raffle tickets still available for sale to benefit St. Michael's Home. Please see a Philoptochos member at our table in the fellowship hall if you are interested in purchasing one. You do not have to be in attendance to win. Drawing on November 5th.
"There are no great limits to growth because there are no limits of human intelligence, imagination, and wonder!"
Come grow with us!
Join St. Anna Philoptochos Today!
Veterans Day Program: On Sunday, November 10, 2024, Saint Anna will be honoring our Veterans who served their country with courage and strength. Please join us for this special program for our Veterans and thank them for their service. The Saint Anna Philoptochos will sponsor coffee hour.
ATTENTION ALL VETERANS: If you are new to Saint Anna and are a Veteran, please notify Denise Coutsouridis as soon as possible regarding your branch of the military, years served, and era of service so that you can be acknowledged during the program. Please email to Denise at [email protected].
Parish Council 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 met 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.
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
Saint Anna will offer an
iconography class November 18-22. The class will be held at the church for
3 hours each evening, from 6 to 9 p.m. The instructor is Maria Athanasiou, author and illustrator of six published children's books. The icon subject will be an
8"x10" image of Christ Emmanuel (Christ as a child), focusing on His face, and the class will be suitable for students of all artistic skill levels... no previous art experience is needed to take it. We have designed it to use acrylic paints (easier for beginners than the traditional egg tempera medium), and all but the most commonly needed materials will be provided. The cost will be $300 per student. For more information, or to register, please call, text, or email Maria (631-235-6956,
[email protected]) or Gerard A. Pelletier (609-917-0990,
[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.
Announcing St. Anna's 1st Annual Parish Ministries Fair: Sunday, October 20!
On Sunday, October 20th, in conjunction with Stewardship Sunday, St. Anna will host its first-ever Parish Ministries Fair. We kindly request that all parishioners reach out to former and prospective stewards, family, and friends to invite them to attend this special event to learn more about our dynamic community! There are so many new and exciting things happening at St. Anna! The fair is a wonderful opportunity to showcase the vibrant array of ministries we offer for faithful of all ages -- and generate awareness, enthusiasm, and involvement. Immediately following church services, each ministry, committee, and organization will have a table/booth at the fair to share information about their activities and ways to get involved. Everyone-- current, past, and prospective stewards-- can gather information, ask questions, and learn more about the range of spiritual, social, educational, leadership, and cultural opportunities at St. Anna. The festivities will also include a delicious buffet luncheon, special door prizes, and awards for the most creative table displays. Join us to celebrate our community and its ministries -- and please bring a friend!
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 162 Pledges totaling $211,815 and $174,942 received as of 24 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 and other stewardship information is 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]
