St. Anna Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2024-10-13
Bulletin Contents
Parish News
Saints and Feasts
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Hymns of the Day
Wisdom of the Fathers
Bulletin Inserts:

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

St. Anna Office
staff

[email protected] | (908) 968-4004

Clergy
Father Jimmy Pavlow

[email protected] | (609) 498-4672

Corresponding Secretary
Paul J. Costalas

[email protected]

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 October 13, 2024

Sunday,    10/13   8:30 a.m.  Orthros / Liturgy - Sunday of the 7th Ecumenical Council
Friday,      10/18   9:00 a.m.  Orthros / Liturgy - St. Luke the Evangelist

Today, there will be a 10-year Memorial service for Michael Nelson, beloved husband of Stephanie and endearing father to Nicholas, Christina, and Anna.  May his memory be eternal.  In memory of Michael, the Nelson family is hosting Fellowship Hour.

Today, there is a 40-day blessing for Nikolaos Conrad, the new born son of Ben and Eleftheria Stier and brother of Evangelia. 

Please join us today, October 13th, immediately after Divine Liturgy, for a brief meeting on organizing our new Senior Adult group, Parea. We are looking for volunteers to help in the planning stages. Bring your coffee to the marked table in the fellowship hall where you will find Aimee Douvris, [email protected].  

National Church Music Sunday
This Sunday we celebrate National Church Music Sunday.This is in commemoration of St. Romanos the Melodist, whose feast day is Oct.1. St. Romanos lived in the 6th century and composed hundreds of hymns we still sing, including the Kontakion of the Nativity and the Akathist Hymn. He is considered the patron saint of all who sing for the Church and the leader in the world of religious hymnology. 
We set aside today to commemorate and thank the dedicated and talented women and men in our congregation whose stewardship provides music for our liturgical services throughout the year. The ministry of music is an essential part of our religious life. Through our hymns, we worship the Lord our God, give thanks, ask for blessings, and renew our Orthodox Christian faith. Our parishioners who contribute to our year-round music program include choir members Dr. John Douvris, Antoinette Finley, Maria Georgeles, Diana Grina,Alexandra Sakellos Zembur, Lisa Soteropoulos,George Staikos, Lisa Soteropoulos,Sofia Szymborski, Hope Trumpy and our chanters: Alexander Boubaris, Tony Lutkus,  and Kallie Vaporakis. 
We welcome new members anytime. Youth ages 9 and up are especially welcome. If you or your child would like to sing with our choir, please contact choir director Diana Grina at [email protected].

Announcing St. Anna's Annual Parish Ministries Fair: Sunday, October 20!
On Sunday, October 20th, in conjunction with Stewardship Sunday, St. Anna will host its annual 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! 

LADIES PHILOPTOCHOS CORNER:    

Please join us today, after church services, in the middle classroom for a General Membership Meeting to discuss upcoming events and baking schedule for our Christmas Bake Sale! Grab a snack and your coffee and come spend 45 minutes planning our schedule of events! Hope to see all of you there, feel free to bring a friend who is not a Philoptochos member, we are offering a "Trial Membership" {to all women of the parish, who are not members yet but would like to learn more}, till the end of the year. Come see what we are all about!

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Come see us at the "St. Anna Ministry Fair" on Sunday, October 20th at the St. Anna Philoptochos Booth!! Prizes and goodies will be given out to every woman who signs up to be a member of our thriving Philoptochos Society!

The 2nd Annual Paint & Sip is in just 3 WEEKS!! Don't let yourself miss the fun at this year's event! Join us on Saturday, November 2, 2024, from 6:30 to 9:30 to paint your masterpiece, have some wine, and join in the fellowship with family and friends! Our own Lisa Soteropoulos will entertain us with her magical voice!! Bid on some awesome Auction Items including an Electric Guitar valued at $375, Original Box "Cabbage Patch Dolls" each valued at $200, an amazing "Date Night" package with 2 great local restaurants and 2 bottles of wine, valued at $250, and much more!  Cost is $35/person which includes all supplies and a glass of wine, appetizers and dessert. 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! **Paint & Sip Flyer is attached at the bottom of the bulletin.

“What you do makes a difference, you just have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” —Jane Goodall
Come make a Difference with us!!!
St. Anna Philoptochos

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.

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]

First Sundays are Youth Sundays at St. Anna. GOYA, HOPE & JOY (grades K-6th), and our Little Blessings (Pre-K and under) ministries will meet on the First Sunday of the month. Register Now.
GOYA (Grades 7-12) https://forms.gle/JKECwBdrma3bUTu69 
HOPE & JOY (Grades K-6) https://forms.gle/CJWRD3rfdRxnfDbd6 
Little Blessings (Pre-K & Under) https://forms.gle/r1hZ7kDa6uDdj1Vr7

GOYA:  Best wishes to Adriana Tattoli and Yanni Logothestis as they represent St. Anna, tonight, October 13th, at the Mr. and Miss GOYA Pageant. God Bless you both!
GOYA Fall Festival: All children in Grades K-6 are invited to a Fall Festival, hosted by St. Anna GOYA, on Sunday, October 27th from 12-2. Children in Sunday School and Greek School are invited. You may wear a church appropriate Halloween costume or festive attire!  Please RSVP by October 24th to Larisa Trumpy, advisor, at [email protected].

HOPE & JOY: Register children grades K-6th for the upcoming year https://forms.gle/CJWRD3rfdRxnfDbd6. Our next meeting is November 3rd. If you have any questions or you are interested in becoming a HOPE & JOY advisor please contact Kristen Diagelakis at [email protected].

Little Blessings:  Thank you for the families who came out and supported our first Little Blessings Meeting! It was a great success! We hope to see everyone at the next event!

Greek School: If you are interested in registering your child for Greek school or if you would like to find out more about our Greek school program please email Maria Sfondouris at [email protected]. 

Adult Greek School: Please email Maria Sfondouris if you are interested in weekly lessons via Zoom. [email protected].

Sunday School: 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.

Parent Advisory Council (PAC): This past Sunday Saint Anna Flemington PAC helped launch our brand new ministry 'Little Blessings' for children ages 1 to 4 years old. This ministry will be meeting the first Sunday of every month. Please contact Lucy Pavlow [email protected] to sign up and join the fellowship and fun!! We look forward to seeing you at our next session on November 3rd.

ST. ANNA BOOKSTORE.  FALL RECOMMENDATIONS:

FOR CHILDREN:
---- Variety of Saint books by Potamitis publishing.

FOR ADULTS...
---- "Gratitude in Life's Trenches: How to Experience the Good Life...Even When Everything Is Going Wrong".

If there is something in particular you are looking for, we can assist. Contact Angela Ferreira ([email protected]) or Aimee Douvris ([email protected]). 

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]).

Procedure for Holy Communion:
Our new procedure for receiving Holy Communion from the center aisle minimizes waiting on line and congestion. Please wait in your pew until a member of the Parish Council calls your pew. The order is as follows:
-Any Newly illumined (newly Baptized, Chrismated)
- Choir
-Sunday School students and Teachers
-Pew by pew per PC direction. Please wait until your pew is called. 
-Those remaining in the narthex. 

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 163 Pledges totaling $213,691 and $179,968 received as of 1 October 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]

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Saints and Feasts

October 13

Sunday of the 7th Ecumenical Council

On the Sunday that falls on or immediately after the eleventh of this month, we chant the Service to the 350 holy Fathers of the Seventh Ecumenical Council, which gathered in Nicaea in 787 under the holy Patriarch Tarasius and during the reign of the Empress Irene and her son, Constantine Porphyrogenitus, to refute the Iconoclast heresy, which had received imperial support beginning with the Edict issued in 726 by Emperor Leo the Isaurian. Many of the holy Fathers who condemned Iconoclasm at this holy Council later died as Confessors and Martyrs for the holy Icons during the second assult of Iconoclasm in the ninth century, especially during the reigns of Leo the Armenian and Theophilus.

October 13

Carpus, Papylus, Agathodorus, & Agathonica, the Martyrs of Pergamus

Saint Carpus was Bishop of the Church of Thyatira in Asia Minor and Papylus was his deacon, whom he had ordained. Seized as Christians and tormented in Thyatira, they were taken to Sardis, whither Agathodorus, their servant, followed them, and also confessed Christ, and was tormented with them. Together with Agathonica, the sister of Saint Papylus. they were all beheaded during the reign of Decius, in the year 250.

October 16

Longinos the Centurion

This Martyr was in the service of Pontius Pilate at the time of Christ our Saviour's Passion. While standing guard at the Cross and beholding the earthquake and all that came to pass, he cried out with fear, "Truly this was the Son of God" (Matt. 27:54). After the Resurrection, he forsook the military and departed for Cappadocia, his homeland, where he preached Christ. By the agency of Pontius Pilate, Tiberius Caesar had him arrested and beheaded.

October 18

Luke the Evangelist

This Apostle was an Antiochean, a physician by trade, and a disciple and companion of Paul. He wrote his Gospel in Greek after Matthew and Mark, after which he wrote the Acts of the Apostles, and dedicated both works to Theophilus, who, according to some, was Governor of Achaia. He lived some eighty-six years and died in Achaia, perhaps in Patras, the capital of this district. His emblem is the calf, the third symbolical beast mentioned by Ezekiel (1:10), which is a symbol of Christ's sacrificial and priestly office, as Saint Irenaeus says.

October 19

John the Wonderworker of Kronstadt

Saint John of Kronstadt was a married priest, who lived with his wife in virginity. Through his untiring labours in his priestly duties and love for the poor and sinners, he was granted by our Lord great gifts of clairvoyance and miracle-working, to such a degree that in the last years of his life miracles of healing--both of body and soul--were performed countless times each day through his prayers, often for people who had only written to him asking his help. During his lifetime he was known throughout Russia, as well as in the Western world. He has left us his diary My Life in Christ as a spiritual treasure for Christians of every age; simple in language, it expounds the deepest mysteries of our Faith with that wisdom which is given only to a heart purified by the grace of the Holy Spirit. Foreseeing as a true prophet the Revolution of 1917, he unsparingly rebuked the growing apostasy among the people; he foretold that the very name of Russia would be changed. As the darkness of unbelief grew thicker, he shone forth as a beacon of unquenchable piety, comforting the faithful through the many miracles that he worked and the fatherly love and simplicity with which he received all. Saint John reposed in peace in 1908.

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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. 4th Tone. Daniel 3.26,27.
Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers.
Verse: For you are just in all you have done.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to Titus 3:8-15.

Titus, my son, the saying is sure. I desire you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to apply themselves to good deeds; these are excellent and profitable to men. But avoid stupid controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels over the law, for they are unprofitable and futile. As for a man who is factious, after admonishing him once or twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is perverted and sinful; he is self-condemned.

When I send Artemas or Tychicos to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. Do your best to speed Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way; see that they lack nothing. And let our people learn to apply themselves to good deeds, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not to be unfruitful.

All who are with me send greeting to you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen.

Gospel Reading

Sunday of the 7th Ecumenical Council
The Reading is from Luke 8:5-15

The Lord said this parable: "A sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell along the path, and was trodden under foot, and the birds of the air devoured it. And some fell on the rock; and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns grew with it and choked it. And some fell into good soil and grew, and yielded a hundredfold." And when his disciples asked him what this parable meant, he said, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God; but for others they are in parables, so that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand. Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, that they may not believe and be saved. And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy; but these have no root, they believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. And as for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bring forth fruit with patience." As he said these things, he cried out "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."

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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 Sun. of the 7th Ecumenical Council in the Plagal 4th Tone

Most glorified art Thou, O Christ our God, Who hast established our Fathers as luminous stars upon the earth, and through them didst guide us all to the true Faith. O Most Merciful One, glory be to Thee.

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

When you see life's pleasures, beware that they might not distract you, for they conceal death's snares. Likewise a fisherman casts not his hook to no purpose. As bait for his hook, the enemy uses the delusion of sensuality to arouse desire, that he might thereby catch men's souls and subject them to himself. A soul which has been caught to serve the enemy's will then serves as a snare for other souls, for it conceals the grief of sin with its apparent delight.
St. Ephraim the Syrian
A Spiritual Psalter no 43, pg. 74, 4th century

Since there are certain people who find great fault with us for adoring and honoring both the image of the Savior and that of our Lady, as well as those of the rest of the saints and servants of Christ, let them hear how from the beginning God made man to His own image. For what reason, then, do we adore one another, except because we have been made to the image of God? As the inspired Basil, who is deeply learned in theology, says: "the honor paid to the image conveys to the original.," and the original is the thing imaged from which the copy is made.
St. John of Damascus
The Orthodox Faith, 4.16. Catholic University of America Press in Washington D.C. Translated by Frederic H. Chase, Jr. volume 37, page 370., 8th Century

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Bulletin Inserts:

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