Schedule of Services for the Week of May 11, 2025
Sunday 5/11 8:30 a.m. Orthros/Divine Liturgy - Sunday of the Paralytic
Email Spoofing: We have learned that several people are getting fake emails from someone posing as Fr. Jimmy. As a rule, please ignore any emails that do not come from [email protected].
Procedure for Holy Communion:
Enter into the center aisle. Please wait until a member of the Parish Council calls your pew. The order is as follows:
- Any Newly illumined (newly Baptized, Chrismated)
- Choir
- Pew by pew per PC direction. Please wait until your pew is called.
- Those remaining in the narthex.
YAL: The YAL will be hosting a Mother's Day breakfast TODAY in the fellowship hall following the Divine Liturgy.
Today we are offering a memorial service for for Kalliopi (2 years), George (51 years), Michael (43 years), Melba (32 years), and cousin Marian (40 days) beloved parents/family of Maria and George Georgeles, grandparents/family of Michael and Kali (Roni), and great-grandparents/family of Kalani. Today, the Georgeles family will be hosting the fellowhip hour in honor of their departed loved ones. May their memory be eternal.
"Take and Bake" Fundraiser: We have frozen 1/2 trays of Pastitsio/ $60 and Spanakopita/ $50 for sale. Please see attached flyer and contact any Parish Council member for purchase. The items are ready for pickup. Quantities are limited, first come first serve!
Sunday Fellowship Hour Sponsors: Please sponsor a fellowship hour to support the Saint Anna parish. The requested fellowship hour sponsorship donation is $50.
CHURCH WEBSITE: Our parish website has been updated in format and content. Please check out the updates!
FORMS: The following forms are on the website and can be downloaded from the following links:
2025 STEWARDSHIP PLEDGE CARD
KOLIVA REQUEST FORM (for memorials already scheduled with Father Jimmy)
PHILOPTOCHOS MEMBERSHIP FORM
2025 Stewardship Status: We have 102 Pledges totaling $162,085 and $111,591 received to date. We also have 5 families who have contributed $13,211 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.
OPA FESTIVAL JUNE 6-8: Festival Website: Opafestival.com
*DOWNLOAD THE FESTIVAL FLYER HERE
* Thank you!: Thanks to All who helped bake this week!
* Parishioner Sponsors Needed: As in prior years, we are seeking donations from parishioners to help offset the costs of the festival. This compliments our program to area businesses who sponsor our event. DOWNLOAD THE FORM HERE.
* To stay up to date on Opa News: Please add [email protected] to your mailbox.
* Volunteer Signups to come soon!
*Our Digital Billboard ad on the Flemington Circle will start running Monday May 12th.
We will continue baking for the festival this Tuesday, May 13th, at 10:00 am. Many hands make light work. Thank you to all our volunteers who have supported the festival. Packing dates and times TBD. Please let Popi and Olympia know you can lend a hand.
House Blessings: This is the time when we normally schedule House Blessings. If you would like Father Jimmy to come and bless your home, please email/call Father and the office by emailing [email protected] and/or calling (908) 968-4004.
Parish Council Updates:
Happy Mother's Day to all the Mothers, Grandmothers, and Godmothers. Thank you!
A Special General Assembly will be held on May 18th after services. Invitation was sent by email and is attached as well.
Tomorrow, May 12th, the NJ Metropolis is hosting the annual Honoree Banquet. Please join us in congratulating this year's honorees:
Parish Council - Paul Costalas
Philoptochos - Iosifina Costalas
Community - Katina Foglia
Senior Steward - Constantine Kamnitsis
Greek School - Peter Grina
Sunday School - Marianna Bunce
Youth Advisor - Elizabeth Soteropoulos
GOYA - Adriana Tattoli
Parea: Christos Anesti! PLEASE NOTE THE DATE CHANGE..our June Senior Parea will meet on June 10th at 12:00 in the fellowship hall. Please RSVP for food planning purposes a few days ahead. Please RSVP after church or contact Olympia Tzovolos, (908) 285-3983, or Aimee Douvris, (908) 339-2511, [email protected]. We will meet again in the fall.
PHILOPTOCHOS CORNER:
Xristos Anesti!
Happy Mother's Day!
The Theotokos, the Mother of God, is a joy to behold, a mother to aspire
to be like, and a fervent interceder for us all. Glory to God for her love
for Him and for all of us!
Lord, on this day in which we honor mothers, may we love and cherish the
special women who have birthed us, who have nurtured us,
who have guided us, and who have prayed for our well-being.
We pray you give each mother strength.
We ask You to be the daily bread of tired mothers.
We ask you to give eternal rest to those mothers who have fallen asleep.
Amen.
Sunday, May 18th, Board Elections open at 11:30 and close at 12:30
In the Nicholas and Anna Bouras Fellowship Hall. **All Members are asked to Vote!
We are continuing our membership drive until the May 18th elections.
Please become a member of St. Anna Philoptochos as we strive to help
our neighbors and community!
Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, it is more blessed to
give than to receive! Acts 20:35
Festival Baking will be on Tuesday, May 13 at 10:00am.
Any and all help is appreciated!
Any questions, please see Popi or Aimee.
We are collecting needed items for the "Hunterdon County Global Health for
Guatemala" drive.
Items needed: Empty pill bottles, trial size personal hygiene products,
such as toothpaste, toothbrushes, lotions, shampoo, OTC cold & allergy
meds; crayons, coloring books, small toys, and more...
There is a Collection Box in the hallway with a complete "what's needed
item list".
Thank you as always for your generosity!
Save the Date:
When: Sunday, June 22nd, 11:30 to 2:00
What: Philoptochos End of Year Celebration! (more info to follow)
On Sunday, May 25, 2025, there will be a Memorial Day prayer service focusing on remembrance, prayer, and eternal life to honor our fallen soldiers and departed veterans. Parishioners are encouraged to submit names to Father Jimmy. Philoptochos will prepare the koliva and sponsor coffee hour in their honor. Family members are welcome to place labeled photographs of their loved on a designated table in the church hall. Questions? Contact Denise Coutsouridis at 908-788-5351.
YOUTH MINISTRY:
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 .
YAL: Give Hope this Spring. Give Blood. The YAL and the American Red Cross will be hosting a Blood Drive on Saturday, May 24, 2025, 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Please visit RedCrossBlood.org and enter: StAnnaFlemingtonNJ to schedule an appointment. Please see the attached flyer for additional information.
The Young Adult League will assist in PC duties on the second Sundays of the month (YAL Sundays). If you are of YAL age (18-35) and interested in participating or for more information about monthly meetings and events, please reach out to Steven Tattoli at yal‑[email protected].
GOYA: Thank you to those who donated quarters to the Family Promise of Hunterdon County. This organization works with the homeless and provides them with quarters so that people in their shelters can do laundry. We raised $60 from your donations and Philoptochos donated $100. Thank you to Kristen Diagelakis for organizing this outreach!
College Care Ministry- Graduate Recognition: We would like to recognize all of our 2025 high school and college graduates (undergrad, post grad, and trade school) in our June bulletin.
Please email [email protected] with the following information no later than 5/25/25.
* Graduate's Name
* If high school graduate: name of high school and college/trade school/other plans
* If college grad: college and degree conferred
New Women's Group Book Club. Our first gathering will be Wednesday, June 11th at 6:30pm. Our First book is "EVERYWHERE PRESENT: CHRISTIANITY IN A ONE-STOREY UNIVERSE" by Fr. Stephen Freeman. Come for an evening of conversation and fellowship. The book is available in the Bookstore and also on Audible. If you can read it ahead of time, terrific; if you don't finish it, come anyway. Bring a drink, a snack and your desire to get together and grow spiritually. Questions? Email [email protected].
ST. ANNA BOOKSTORE - Christ is Risen!
Mother's day is here! Stop by to look at all our new items.
Here are some book recommendations for mom... "The Ascetic Lives of Mothers" and "Parenting Toward the Kingdom". Here is one for children... "H is for Holy: An Orthodox Alphabet".
Questions? Send email to [email protected]
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 general questions: [email protected]
To be added to the weekly bulletin email: [email protected]