Parish News

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]

Saints and Feasts

May 11

Sunday of the Paralytic

Close to the Sheep's Gate in Jerusalem, there was a pool, which was called the Sheep's Pool. It had round about it five porches, that is, five sets of pillars supporting a domed roof. Under this roof there lay very many sick people with various maladies, awaiting the moving of the water. The first to step in after the troubling of the water was healed immediately of whatever malady he had.

It was there that the paralytic of today's Gospel way lying, tormented by his infirmity of thirty-eight years. When Christ beheld him, He asked him, "Wilt thou be made whole?" And he answered with a quiet and meek voice, "Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool." The Lord said unto him, "Rise, take up thy bed, and walk." And straightaway the man was made whole and took up his bed. Walking in the presence of all, he departed rejoicing to his own house. According to the expounders of the Gospels, the Lord Jesus healed this paralytic during the days of the Passover, when He had gone to Jerusalem for the Feast, and dwelt there teaching and working miracles. According to Saint John the Evangelist, this miracle took place on the Sabbath.

May 11

Hieromartyr Mocius

The holy Hieromartyr Mocius, who was of Roman parents, lived during the reign of Diocletian, and was a priest in Amphipolis of Thrace. One day as the idolaters were assembled, and the Proconsul Laodicius was offering sacrifice to Dionysus, Mocius entered the temple and overturned the altar. After many torments, through which he was preserved whole by grace divine, he was sent to Byzantium, where he was beheaded about the year 288. Saint Constantine the Great built a magnificent church in honour of Saint Mocius in Constantinople, where his holy relics were enshrined. He is one of the Holy Unmercenaries.

May 11

Methodios & Cyril, Equal-to-the Apostles Illuminators of the Slavs

Born in Thessalonica, Saint Methodius was a military man before becoming a monk on Mount Olympus. His brother Constantine, known as the Philosopher because of his erudition, was Librarian at the Church of the Holy Wisdom in Constantinople; he later became a monk with the name of Cyril. The Emperor Michael sent him with his brother Methodius to the Khazars in response to their petition for teachers to expound to them the Christian Faith. On their way, they stayed in Cherson, where they recovered from the Black Sea the relics of Saint Clement of Rome. Later, they were called by Prince Rostislav of Moravia to instruct his people in the Orthodox Faith (Saint Rostislav died a martyr's death and is celebrated Oct. 15). The Saints devised an alphabet for the Slavs, and used it to translate the Greek books into the language of the people. In their apostolic labours throughout the Balkans, the holy brothers were slandered by certain Germanic bishops who opposed the use of the vernacular in the church services. Summoned to court at Rome in 867, they presented their Slavonic translations to Pope Adrian II, who received them with love and full approval. Two years later, Saint Cyril reposed in Rome on February 14 and was buried in the Church of Saint Clement. Saint Methodius was made Bishop of Moravia, but at the intrigues of certain Latin clergy, was cast into prison by the "Holy Roman Emperor" (the Germanic Emperor of the West), where he was cruelly tormented for some three years. In 874, through the defence of Pope John VIII, he was freed and made Archbishop of Moravia. Because he reproved the lax morals of the German priests in Moravia, he was soon accused of heresy by them, and was forbidden to celebrate the Liturgy in Slavonic. Summoned to Rome again in 879, he was completely exonerated and allowed once again to use the Slavonic tongue for the divine services. He reposed on April 6, 885.

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 Acts of the Apostles 9:32-42.

In those days, as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints that lived at Lydda. There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden for eight years and was paralyzed. And Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed." And immediately he rose. And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord. Now there was at Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity. In those days she fell sick and died; and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him entreating him, "Please come to us without delay." So Peter rose and went with them. And when he had come, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping, and showing tunics and other garments which Dorcas made while she was with them. But Peter put them all outside and knelt down and prayed; then turning to the body he said, "Tabitha, rise." And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. And he gave her his hand and lifted her up. Then calling the saints and widows he presented her alive. And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.

Gospel Reading

Sunday of the Paralytic
The Reading is from John 5:1-15

At that time, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Hebrew called Bethesda which has five porticoes. In these lay a multitude of invalids, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water; for an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool, and troubled the water; whoever stepped in first after the troubling of the water was healed of whatever disease he had. One man was there, who had been ill for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him and knew that he had been lying there a long time, he said to him, "Do you want to be healed?" The sick man answered him, "Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is troubled, and while I am going another steps down before me." Jesus said to him, "Rise, take up your pallet, and walk." And at once the man was healed, and he took up his pallet and walked.

Now that day was the sabbath. So the Jews said to the man who was cured, "It is the sabbath, it is not lawful for you to carry your pallet." But he answered them, "The man who healed me said to me, 'Take up your pallet, and walk.' "They asked him, "Who is the man who said to you, 'Take up your pallet, and walk'?" Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place. Afterward, Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, "See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse befall you." The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him.

Hymns of the Day

Apolytikion of Great and Holy Pascha in the Plagal 1st Tone

Christ is risen from the dead, by death hath He trampled down death, and on those in the graves hath He bestowed life.

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.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Plagal 4th Tone

Though You went down into the tomb, You destroyed Hades' power, and You rose the victor, Christ God, saying to the myrrh-bearing women, "Hail!" and granting peace to Your disciples, You who raise up the fallen.

Bulletin Inserts:

YAL Blood Drive

Give hope this spring. Give blood. The YAL and the American Red Cross will be hosting a Blood Drive at the St. Anna Nicholas and Anna Bouras Memorial Hall on Saturday, May 24, 2025, 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

2025 May Special General Assembly Invite & Agenda

There are a few topics which the Parish Council would like to discuss with the Parishioners, and therefore we are inviting St. Anna Stewards to a Special Assembly which will take place in our Nicholas and Anna Bouras Memorial Fellowship Hall after services on Sunday, May 18, 2025, starting at 12:00pm.

"Take and Bake" Fundraiser:

We have frozen 1/2 trays of Pastitsio/ $60 and Spanakopita/ $50 for sale. Quantities are limited, first come first serve!

Stewardship list

Stewardship

General Information

Contact Information

Services Schedule

Past Bulletins

Parish News

Saints and Feasts

Sunday of the Paralytic

Hieromartyr Mocius

Methodios & Cyril, Equal-to-the Apostles Illuminators of the Slavs

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Gospel Reading

Hymns of the Day

Apolytikion of Great and Holy Pascha in the Plagal 1st Tone

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the 3rd Tone

Seasonal Kontakion in the Plagal 4th Tone

Bulletin Inserts:

YAL Blood Drive

2025 May Special General Assembly Invite & Agenda

"Take and Bake" Fundraiser:

Stewardship list