Upcoming Community Events FRIDAY 19.
6:30 p/ JOY dance practice.
7:30 p/ THE AKATHIST HYMN TO THE THEOTOKOS.

SUNDAY 21. V Sunday of Lent. St. Mary of Egypt.
8:45 a/ ORTHROS AND DIVINE LITURGY.
Memorials: Demitra Hatzinikolaou (40-day) and George Costrallas (1-year).
1 p/ Greek Independence Day Parade at Benn Franklin Parkway.

MONDAY 22.
6 p/ GREAT COMPLINE, followed by Book of the Apocalypse study.

TUESDAY 23.
11 a/ Bible study at church.
4:30 p/ Greek School classes.

WEDNESAY 24.
7 p/ GREAT VESPERS OF ANNUNCIATION, followed by a reception by Philoptochos.

THURSDAY 25. Feast of the Annunciation of the Theotokos. Greek Independence Day.
8:45 a/ ORTHROS, DIVINE LITURGY AND DOXOLOGY, followed by a luncheon offered by Philoptochos.

FRIDAY 26.
6:30 p/ Palm folding activity. All parishioners are invited.

SATURDAY 27. The raising of Lazarus, friend of Christ.
8:45 a/ ORTHROS AND DIVINE LITURGY.
Confession for GOYAns will follow.
6 p/ VESPERS.

PALM SUNDAY, 28.
8:45 a/ ORTHROS AND DIVINE LITURGY.
Annual fish luncheon by Parish Council.
7 p/ BRIDEGROOM SERVICE.

Please Contact Father Christos this week if you wish to have him visit a family member, or friend, who is unable to come to Church and receive the Holy Mysteries of the Church before Pascha.
215 635 0316


Greek Independence Day Parade Sponsored by the Federation of Hellenic American Societies of Philadelphia and Greater Delaware Valley.
This Sunday is the 189th Anniversary of Greek Independence.  
Every year the Federation of Greek American Societies of Philadelphia and Delaware valley sponsors the Greek Independence Day parade.
PTO is providing two buses to and from the parade.  The buses are planning to leave around 12:20.
One bus will return to the church immediately following the parade.  The other bus will proceed to St. Demetrios Upper Darby to the Reception and Dance Performances from various parishes and organizations.  Everyone is welcome to continue to Upper Darby for the celebration.  If you have a Greek costume, please have your children wear it.  All JOY dancers can wear their own costumes or borrow one from the church.  All GOYA costumes will be at church on Sunday.  We also have sweatshirts with the church LOGO if anyone would like to wear that.

The Annunciation Parish Council cordially invites you to a Fish Luncheon, to be served after the Divine Liturgy on Palm Sunday, March 28. Children’s menu will also be available.

Greek School Activities Update Parents:
Please note the following upcoming Greek School activities:

Sunday March 21, 2010. Greek Independence Day Parade.
Two busses will depart from Church right after the Divine Liturgy, 12:20 PM. Formation is at 16 Street and Parkway at 1:00 PM. Parade starts at 2:00 PM. All Greek School students will parade together as a group. Students should wear ethnic Greek costumes, or some combination of blue & white.

Tuesday March 23. Regular class times.

We have no classes during Holy Week, Tuesday March 30.

Tuesday April 6, 4:30 PM. General rehearsal for the Greek Independence Day Program. All students should be here at 4:30 PM. A snack will be served during break.

Tuesday April 13, 6:00 PM. Greek Independence Day Celebration in the Church Hall.
All students should wear ethnic Greek costumes, or some combinations of blue & white, or black & white.
All parents, grandparents, relatives and parishioners are invited!

Join Us On Holy Friday for a special HOLY FRIDAY RETREAT
for all Church School Youth, on Holy Friday, April 2, 2010.

Kindergarteners through 8th; THE “SEARCH FOR PASCHAL – TREASURE” STATIONS.
An important learning experience for all: The theology, symbols, and hymns of Holy Friday and Holy Week.
9th through 12th”; “Остров”- “THE ISLAND”: A film about a Russian Orthodox monk.
Analysis and discussion will follow.

Holy Friday, April 2nd.
Royal Hours Service will start at 10:00 am.
Lunch will be served at 12:00 noon.
The Retreat will be from 1:00 to 3:00 pm.
Followed by Holy Friday Vespers -Taking Down from the Cross Service (Apokathilosis)
MARK THE DATE!


Anastasis Agape Community Meal The Parish Council is organizing an Anastasis Agape Community Meal after the Divine Liturgy of the Resurrection in the early morning on Pascha Sunday, April 4. All parishioners are invited. You may bring your own dish and share with our church family, as we celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord together. Please see any of the Parish Council members for more details.

Agape Vespers Polyglot Gospel Reading It is a tradition of our Church, going back to Pentecost, to proclaim the Gospel in as many languages as possible during the Vespers of Agape on Pascha Sunday, as a way of emphasizing the universality of the Gospel message of love. If you are blessed with the knowledge of a foreign language, please consider participating by reading the Holy Gospel in your language of knowledge during the Agape Vespers on Pascha Sunday, April 4, @ 11:00 am.
Please contact Agape Vespers Gospel Reading coordinator Maria Sandilos, 215-643-2716.

, حُب love, 喜爱, láska, kærlighed , liefde, armastus, rakkaus , amour, die Liebe, αγάπη, szeretet, ást, amore, 愛, 애정, mīlestība, meilė, kjærlighet, zamiłowanie, amor, dragoste, любовь, láska, ljubezen, amor, kärlek, aşk... 

The Spring General Assembly of our Parishioners will take place in the Cultural Center on Sunday April 11, after the Divine Liturgy. Mark your calendars and plan to come and actively participate in the administration of your parish.

You Are Invited to the Annunciation Church Annual Dinner Dance, on Saturday, April 17, 2010, 6 PM, in our Cultural Center.
For information and reservations, please contact Sophia Penning, sophiagreekgirl@verizon.net.

Sunday 3/21 Is The Last Day to place your name in the Annunciation 2010 Community Paschal Card.
Please stop by the Community Paschal Card Table during the Kalosorisma, and see Presvytera Joanna
Thank you for your support!

Clothes Collection We are collecting winter clothing for men NEW OR USED (but in good condition) like coats, pants, sweaters, rain coats, (underwear must be new). If used, they must be washed and in bags.
Please bring them to the church office, to the attention of Fr. Christos. Thank you!

Annunciation Resource Center - Recommended Reading For The Lenten journey: JUST ARRIVED!  CDs in Greek of the Holy Monday Bridegroom service, the Lamentations, and other Holy Week chants are now available.

Wounded by Love: The Life & the Wisdom of Elder Porphyrios. Elder Porphyrios, a Greek monk & priest who died in 1961, tells the story of his life and, in simple and profoundly wise words, expounds the Christian faith for today. His vibrant personality shines through his words with transparency & charm. ($30)

The Sayings of the Desert Fathers, Benedicta Ward, translator. These sayings have for centuries been an inspiration to Christians striving to live the Gospel. The faithful sought out the desert ascetics for counsel and consolation, and this book is a compilation of the “words” they received from them. ($15.95)

New for Children! St. Helen Finds the Cross of Jesus, M. Georgiou & J. Fotopoulos. This picture book for the very young (ages 4-7) presents the story of St. Helen’s search for the true cross with simple and engaging text and colorful, iconic illustrations. ($14)

PTO ANNUAL PASCHA BAKE SALE WE WILL ONLY BE TAKING ORDERS THIS YEAR – NO ITEMS WILL BE SOLD INDIVIDUALLY ON THE PICK UP DATE
PLACE YOUR ORDERS IN ADVANCE!!


____ Koulourakia $8 per lb. _____

____ Koulourakia $4 per ½ lb ______


____ Tsourekia (Large Easter Loaf) each $9.00 ______



Total due with order: ______


PLEASE PRINT CLEARLY

Name:__________________________________
Address:_______________________________
Telephone Number: (______)____________

Please drop orders off in church office or mail order to: Annunciation PTO-Bake Sale, 7921 Old York Road, Elkins Park, PA 19027 by March 21, 2010. Checks made payable to: Church of the Annunciation-PTO. Pick up orders on Friday, March 26th between 6:30 pm and 8:30 pm or Sunday, March 28th following services. Questions? Please contact Stella Nikolopoulos 215-343-7643.
ALL ORDERS MUST BE PRE-ORDERED BY DEADLINE – NO ITEMS BEING SOLD THAT DAY

The Prayer Corner “For Health and Salvation”
If yourself or a loved one is going through a difficult time and would like the community to pray for you, please contact Fr. Christos or the Parish Office, and request to be added on the prayer list. We will list the first names only in the weekly bulletin for six months, or until you ask to be removed from the list. Fr. Christos will also make a special mention of these names at the Proskomede.
We also need to remind you to call Fr. Christos when someone is ill and hospitalized so Fr. Christos can visit the hospital or nursing home.

Prayer for Healing:
Heavenly Father, physician of our souls and bodies, who have sent our Lord to heal every sickness. Visit and heal us. Grant patience in this sickness, strength of body and spirit, and recovery of health. Lord, You have taught us to pray for each other that we may be healed. We pray that You heal, guide and protect your servant (s)
(pray by name for those who are sick)
and grant them the gift of complete health. For You are the source of healing and to You we give glory, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Please add the following to your daily prayer list:
Anastasia, Donna, Eleni, Eleni, Frederica, Garyfalia, George, John, Kyriaki, Maria, Mary, Nicholas, Panagiota, Thalia, Thomas, Chris, Chris, Chrysanthi, Nicholas, Eusebia, Mary, Themistokles, George, Panagiotis, Fr. Anthony, Presvytera Eleni, Cora, Soteria, Konstantina, Panagiotis, Eleftheria, Francis, Beverly, Allan, Ella, Fr. John, Presvytera Elizabeth, Peter, Irene, Leila, Liz, Panagiotis, Andreas, Kyle, Penelope, Petros, Olivia, Argyro, Richard, Perry, Richard, Debbie, Helen, Mariam, Maddie, Jamil, Maria, Kalliope, Jesse, Charlie, Leonidas, Inna, Ruthie, Aris...

Share-A-Ride to Church Do you, or someone you know, need a ride to Church on Sunday and Holydays?
A number of parishioners have indicated on their Stewardship Card that they are willing to volunteer to give persons a ride to Church. Please contact the office, 215-635-0316, and we will connect you with someone in your area who can bring you to Church, and take you back home.