Welcome Visitors

We extend a heartfelt welcome to all our visitors and newcomers - may you feel at home as you worship with us. Please join us for fellowship hour following the Divine Liturgy. Take a moment to sign our guest book in the Narthex so we can stay in touch and share more about the parish life at St. Anna.

SCHEDULE OF UPCOMING SERVICES: 

• Sunday, November 1: Cosmas and Damianos the Holy Unmercenaries
  • Orthros 8:30 am / Divine Liturgy 9:30 am

For a complete list of services, click here.

GOSPEL AND EPISTLE READINGS OF THE DAY:

Click here for Gospel and Epistle readings of the day.

PHILOPTOCHOS SUNDAY

As designated by His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America and the Holy Eparchial Synod, Philoptochos Sunday will be observed on Sunday, November 1, 2026. Each year, the first Sunday of November is set aside to honor the women of Philoptochos and the ministry of love, philanthropy, and service they carry out in parishes and communities across the Archdiocese.

This year holds special meaning, as Philoptochos Sunday falls on the Feast of Saints Kosmas and Damianos, the Holy Unmercenaries and patron saints of Philoptochos. Their lives of selfless healing, offered freely and without expectation of reward, continue to guide and inspire our work.

THANK YOU to our St. Anna Philoptochos, St. Magdalene chapter, for all you do for our parish!

MEMORIAL

☦Christopher Petromelis (6 months)

Beloved son of Phyllis Petromelis. Loving brother of Theodore and Achilles.
May his memory be eternal

Coffee hour today will be sponsored by Phyllis in loving memory of her son.

NATIVITY CHANT PROGRAM

Starting TODAY, Sunday, November 1 our Protopsalti, Jordan Zanetis, will be offering a six-week chant program focused on the hymns of the Nativity and the story behind them. The classes will be held after coffee hour from November 1 - December 13 (no class on November 29). All are welcome to attend. See Bulletin Inserts for flyer.

VETERANS DAY PROGRAM

On November 8, following the Divine Liturgy, our St. Anna Philoptochos will be honoring our Veterans who served their country with courage, honor and strength. Please join us for this program in the church hall and thank our Veterans for their service. Coffee hour will be served in their honor. 

All Veterans: 
1. If you are new to St. Anna, please notify us as soon as possible, at [email protected], of your branch of the military and years served so that you can be acknowledged during the ceremony. 
2. RSVP: By November 1, please confirm your attendance plans for the Veterans Day program. Pews for veterans and their families will be reserved for your place of honor. Please reply to Jon Eppler at [email protected].

We also invite parishioners to share a photo of a deceased veteran from your family. Photos will be displayed during our Veterans Day Program as we remember and honor their service as well. You may bring your photos to the church office any Sunday up until November 8. Please include a note with the Veteran's name, branch of service, and relationship to your family for the display table.

TODAY, 11/1:

• Youth Leadership Sunday
• Nativity Chant classes begin
• GOYA meeting
• Philoptochos General Membership meeting
• Philoptochos Bake Sale and Christmas Card Sale
• Volleyball game at Home

THIS WEEK:

• 11/2: Greek School and Greek Dance
• 11/3: Senior Parea 'Friendsgiving' 
• 11/4: Girls' Volleyball Practice
• 11/8: Veterans Day Program & Volleyball game @ Holmdel

UPCOMING EVENTS:

• 11/14: Philoptochos Paint & Sip
• 11/15: YAL Leadership Sunday & meeting
• 11/19: Women's Book Club
• 11/22: Fall General Assembly

PHILOPTOCHOS:

• Please join us TODAY for a General Membership meeting during fellowship hour.
• Thanksgiving Bake Sale: We are taking orders for the Philoptochos Thanksgiving Bake Sale. Please see Popi, or a board member, at the Philoptochos table to place your order for the delicious treats. Last day to order is Sunday, November 15. Pick-up is on Sunday, November 22. Thank you for your support!
• Christmas card sale begins TODAY and orders will continue until November 29.
• Vasilopita sales will begin on November 15 - December 6.  More details to come. 
• Thankful hearts, giving hands.. Help fill our food pantry this Thanksgiving. Items in need are: stuffing, cranberry sauce,  gravy, salad dressing, tea, coffee, and canned fruits. This collection will end on November 15 to prepare for the holiday. (Collection bin is in church vestibule)
• Our annual Veterans Day program will be on November 8 during fellowship hour. See the Announcements section for more details.
• Our 4th Annual Paint & Sip is on the way! Join us on Saturday, November 14, from 6:00 - 10:00 pm, for a fun evening of food, drinks, silent auction items, and painting. Reserve your tickets at the Philoptochos table TODAY! See the Bulletin Inserts for details.

BOOKSTORE:

• Come visit the Bookstore. Christmas is around the corner and we have an extensive gift selection! Questions? See Angela Ferreira

  November recommendations:

  *Beautiful icons for sale (donated in memory of Christopher and Georgette Petromelis). All proceeds support the bookstore ministry. 
  *For children: "H" is for Holy 
  *For teens/young adults:  "A Tiny Step Away from Deepest Faith: Teenager's Search for Meaning" 
  *For adults: "Wounded by Love" (St. Porphyrios) 

SENIOR PAREA:

• Senior Parea will be gathering for a Friendsgiving on Tuesday, November 3 at 12:00 PM. Please RSVP to Olympia or Aimee for food planning. 

WOMEN'S BOOK CLUB:

• Next gathering is Thursday, November 19 from 6:00-8:00 PM in the conference room.
• We are reading our first book about a contemporary modern female saint, St. Maria of Paris. The book is entitled "Mother Maria Skobtsova: Essential Writings". Copies are available in the bookstore.
• Book Club meets on the 3rd Thursday of every month. Questions? See Angela Ferreira. 

YOUTH & YOUNG ADULT MINISTRIES:

GREEK SCHOOL

• The students commemorated OXI Day with songs and poems honoring October 28, 1940, when Greek Prime Minister Ioannis Metaxas rejected Italy’s ultimatum - a historic “OXI” (“No”) that became a symbol of Greek courage, unity, and determination. 
• For more information about our Greek School program, please contact Maria Sfondouris at  [email protected].

LITTLE BLESSINGS

• Please join us every Sunday after receiving Holy Communion for our weekly session!

  November 1: Saints of Our Church
  November 8: Archangels Day
  November 15: The Iconostasion
  November 22: Giving Thanks to God
  November 29: No Class. We will resume classes December 6.

GOYA

• GOYA SPORTS: St. Anna is being represented by our girls' volleyball team this fall! The third game will be Sunday, November 1 AT HOME vs St. George Trenton. We would love to have the community stay and cheer our team on! Wear your St. Anna festival shirt to show your team spirit.  Next Sunday, November 8 there will be an away game against Holmdel. 
• If you have a GOYAN interested in joining the team, there is still time. Please contact Polyxeni at [email protected]. See Bulletin Inserts for flyer.

YOUNG ADULT LEAGUE (YAL)

• The YALs of St. Anna, St. Demetrios Union, St. George Clifton, and St. John the Theologian are teaming up with the NJ Hellenic Federation to bring you a Young Adult Glendi on Friday, November 13 from 7:00 PM-12:00 AM! Scan the QR code on the flyer to get your tickets now! See Bulletin Inserts for flyer.
• November 15 marks the final Young Adult Leadership Sunday of 2026! After Liturgy, join us in the middle classroom for our bi-monthly meeting.