President`s Message In case you missed last Sunday’s General Assembly meeting . . .

It was announced that starting January 1, 2010, we will no longer pass a tray during liturgy except during Holy Weeks. Parishioners are asked to consider what they put in the tray and to increase their annual stewardship pledge by a like amount. 2010 pledge cards were distributed last Sunday but are also available in the Narthex.

At many parishes, stewardship is the tray. A bin will be prominently displayed in the back of the church where parishioners can place their stewardship offerings each week as they enter. The stewardship offerings will be brought forward during the Divine Liturgy, as the tray is today, to be blessed by Father Constantine as an offering to God and His Church. The bin can also be used for other monetary contributions especially for visitors to our parish.

Parishioners are also reminded that there are less than two months remaining to fulfill their 2009 pledges. John Gogolos has been sending out reminders via email to those with email addresses on file and via regular mail to those who don’t have email.

Although the financial responsibility of stewardship is very important to our church, this coming year we will focus on time & talent offerings. The Stewardship Committee is maintaining a database with information collected from our parishioners so that we have a better understanding of who our parishioners are. Please refer to the reverse side of your pledge card and fill out this information. Thank you!


THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU Today we say "thank you" first of all to God by offering to him a part of the talent, time, and treasure which he has so richly blessed us with. There will be a collection and blessing of our Stewardship Offering to God after Liturgy. After Liturgy we say "thank you" to our generous Stewards with our Stewardship Brunch.

Please remember that God has entrusted this part of his Kingdom to your care. Like Adam and Eve in the Garden, he has made you a caretaker of this bit of Paradise. Please consider how YOU can do that!

May their Memory be Eternal Please join in praying the memorial prayers at the end of Liturgy today for the departed family of Byron and Helen Matthews: Rose Matthews (30 years)and John Matthews (21 years); and the departed family members of Paul and Christine Matthews: Anthony James Matthews (12 years), James Kotopoulis (26 years), Alexander Kotopoulis (39 years), and Madeline Kotopoulis Souleotis (8 years).



Thanks to our Prosphora Baker Thanks to Lisa Housianitis who is offering the prosphora this week.

St. Basil`s Cooks Corner Our thank you for the week goes to Presbytera Anna Newman for making a wonder meal called American Chicken. She found the recipe in one of her cookbooks from Switzerland. They make American chicken by adding corn to cream of mushroom soup which is a major ingredient in this delicious recipe. Our guests loved it.

Servers included Fr. Constantine, Don Argyrople, Bill Angelos, Mary Dollas and our friend Mike Murphy. We want to thank the parishioners who provided canned goods on Sunday. Nearly all of these were distributed on Monday. Please keep the single serving cans coming.


Come for a Great Discussion Our Book Club will be meeting on Tuesday, November 17 at 7:00 pm (after the Paraklesis to St. Nektarios at 6:15 pm). This months`s selection is the new book by Frederica Matthewes-Green, "The Jesus Prayer: The Ancient Desert Prayer that Tunes the Heart to God". Please see Julie Ray to find out how to obtain a copy.

Most Holy Theotokos, Save Us. What better way to begin our preparations for Christmas than to celebrate the great Feast of the Entry of the Theotokos into the Temple. We will be celebrating this great Feast with an Agrypnia (Vigil) on Friday, November 20, beginning at 8:00 pm and ending somewhat after midnight. The Vigil will consist of Great Vespers with Artoclasia, Orthros and Divine Liturgy. If you wish to receive Holy Communion, please be fasting from after a light dinner. You are welcome to come for the whole vigil or for a part of it.

Parish Family Night Out Our second Parish Family Night Out will take place on Sunday, November 22 at 5:00--7:00 pm. This will be a meeting of all our youth groups (JOY, Jr. GOYA, Sr. GOYA) as well as our adults. Dinner will be served and there will be some common activities, as well as separate meetings of each group. The theme this month is Confession. Please try to attend to learn more about our Faith!

Check Out the New Website For many years we have enjoyed a wonderful Website. However, due to various problems, we needed to revise and update the site. Many, many thanks to Melanie Dukas who spent many hours constructing this site. You will find it easy to use, clear, and direct. Consult it often to see upcoming events, parish news, and especially to learn more about your faith. Are you on the internet alot? Why not go to the "Orthodox Prayerbook" site and use it to spend some moments in prayer? Our address: www.annunciationgoc.com.

A Celebration of Greek Music The Metropolis of Boston invites you to a Celebration of Greek Music, with an orchestra and chorus conducted by Fred Elias and Christos Papoutsy on Saturday, November 21, 7:30 pm, at the Sanders Theater, Harvard University, 45 Quncey St., Cambridge, MA. Please see Father is you are interested in getting tickets.

Whatever You Do for the Least of my Brothers and Sisters With the onset of the cold weather, our thoughts should turn to our brothers and sisters who are most in need. The GOYAns are spearheading a collection of toiletries, as well as warm clothing, such as hats, gloves, mittens, and blankets. There is a basket in the Narthex to receive your generous donation.

We are also in need of canned goods for our guests at St. Basil`s Kitchen. The best things are prepared foods, like soup, pasta, beef stew, prepared chicken, with easily removed pull tops. A basket in the Narthex will also welcome these donations as well!

Thank you for helping Christ in the least of our brothers and sisters!

Celebrating 25 Years Next year, in May of 2010, we will be celebrating the 25th anniversary of the door opening of our new church. We are looking to have the celebration on May 16. His Eminence will be joining us for this celebration.

If you are interested in being on the committee to plan the celebration, please see Fr. Constantine or Angela Tsopelas. We will be meeting in January to start putting the event together.

News from the Ladies Aid Society The Market Fair which is being sponsored by the Greek Ladies Aid Society will take place on November 21st from 10:00 to 3:00. GLAS has extended invitations to many vendors to attend and sell their wares. The Ladies will also be hosting a Greek luncheon and will have a couple of tables of their own. One of those tables will be a `New and Nearly New` table. The GLAS is asking members of the church community to donate anything that is new or nearly new (something perhaps like a gift that you have not found use for). Please see Maria Connor for drop off information. Also GLAS is looking for talented people that might have a craft or an idea for a craft or hand made or sewn item that they can contribute. See Pauline Rallis. Finally, see Daphne Tikelis also if interested in adding to the baked goods table.

In preparation for the Market Fair, help is also needed Sunday, November 8th after the General Assembly meeting at Church to make Tiropetes and Koulouria. Help is needed on Tuesday, November, 17th to make Spanakopeta. Finally help is needed the night before, November 20th to help set up and move tables into place for outside vendors. The GLAS would welcome help from GLAS members, potential members, men`s club members, potential members and any other church member interested in helping to prepare for this wonderful event. Many of the profits made from this event and other GLAS events go back into the church through its monthly stewardship, ongoing projects such as the Icon Restoration one, helping families in need and other things.

The next GLAS (Greek Ladies Aid or Great Ladies Aid Meeting is November 3rd. Please attend if you can. New faces and ideas are always welcome!



Ring in the New Year with Us We will be hosting a New Year`s Eve Dance on December 31 from 8 pm to after midnight. Dancing all night to the tunes of DJ Jimmy Costopoulos. Hors d`Ouevres will be served throughout the evening. The event is semi-formal, a chance to dress up and ring in the New Year together with your community. At midnight we will cut the Vasilopita and toast with a little champagne. The tickets are $25 per person. The proceeds are going towards the Scholarship Fund.

From the Newburyport Lions Club The Newburyport Lions Club will be holding their annual Thanksgiving Day Dinner on Thursday, November 26, 2009, at the Immaculate Conception School Cafeteria, Washington St. in Newburyport from 11 am to 2 pm. This is a free dinner for all. You are welcome to attend.

We are also looking for volunteers and donations. If you are interested in volunteering some time please call the number below. We will be having a food preparation on Wednesday, November 25 starting at 12 pm. Children with adult supervision are welcome.

Monetary donations can be mailed to the Lions at PO Box 545, Newburyport MA 01950. We are always seeking food, supplies and volunteers. Help us to help others in need.

Please call us today at 978-463-3746 to find out more about how you can help, or visit our website at www.newburyportmalionsclub.lionwap.org.