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+++ UPCOMING EVENTS
SPECIAL PARISH ASSEMBLY --- Sun, July 28, 11:30am --- Media Room
The Special Assembly will begin after the Coffee Social - about 11:30am. The agenda to current Stewards was mailed Wed, July 17; giving statements were emailed on Fri, July 12, documenting 2024 2nd Quarter giving. If your email is not on file with the church, your giving statement was mailed on Friday, July 12. To be eligible to vote, a Stewardship Pledge Form for the year 2024 must be submitted & 50% of your Treasure commitment must be fulfilled prior to the meeting. If you are catching up on the actual date of the assembly (July 28), please do not place your catch-up stewardship donation in the collection baskets; rather, bring it to the Church Office during Coffee Social. The main and only item on the Agenda is the vote on the Syriopoulos Estate funds.
VACATION CHURCH SCHOOL – Mon, Aug 5 - Fri, Aug 9, 9:00am-12:00pm
Registration OPEN at tinyurl.com/2024VCS; see flyer below, online, or in our July Koinonia Newsletter! The Theme for this year is “This is my Beloved Son; Listen to Him!” (Luke 9:35). We need Adult and High School volunteers. Speak to Kim Mamalakis or Pres. Maggie if you have any questions or if you’d like to help.
19TH ANNUAL GOLF OUTING --- Sun, Aug. 25 --- Western Lakes Golf Club, Pewaukee
$150 per golfer. 10% of proceeds to support The Team Bryce Foundation. All details in flyer.
DOORS OPEN MILWAUKEE --- Sat, Sept. 28, 10:00am-5:00pm --- Annunciation Church
Doors Open Milwaukee will include Annunciation again this year. Our Church Tour Committee will act as guides to members of the larger community of Milwaukee as they come to visit and learn more about our church. Our Baking Angels will have baked goods to sell also. This event is free of charge for all.
+++ PARISH ANNOUNCEMENTS
Congratulations to Eleni Louise Joseph, daughter of Maria Sarandos and Andrew Joseph, for being baptized into the Orthodox Christian faith on Sat, July 20, 2024. Her godparents are Diana & Greg Papachristou.
Congratulations to Mila Ramona Moraites, daughter of Anthony Moraites and Jenna Harrigan, for being baptized into the Orthodox Christian faith on Sat, July 20, 2024. Her godmother is Zoe Moraites.
CLERGY-LAITY & LITURGICAL ITEMS DONATIONS --- On Sunday, July 21, after the Divine Liturgy, Fr. Ciprian will share a short update on the National Clergy-Laity Congress & Philoptochos Convention. He will also introduce/show the following liturgical items he brought back, which parishioners are welcome to help donate: (1) Large Blue Ribbons for the Royal Doors ($500), (2) Small Blue Annunciation Ribbons for Dikero/Trikero & Altar ($150), Communion Cloths ($85), Clerical Priest Hat for Fr. Ciprian ($75).
OPERATION CLASSROOM: SCHOOL SUPPLY DRIVE --- July 14 – Aug. 18
Philoptochos is hosting a School Supply Drive to help underserved and underfunded schools. This year we are happy to support the children of Engleburg Elementary, a school within our local community. Supplies can be dropped off between July 14 and August 18 at the Cultural Center. See flyer for details.
ATTENTION --- Please use the handicap ramp when entering & exiting the church for full protection by the scaffolding while the roof is being worked on.
DORMITION FAST --- Everyone is encouraged to observe the Dormition Fast (August 1 to Dormition on August 15) to the best of your ability. Join us also for the beautiful Paraklesis (Supplication) Services at 6:00pm on Aug. 2, 7, 9, & 12 during this period. Forms to submit your list of living to be commemorated at the services are in the Narthex and the Office.
SPONSOR/DONATE the Adornment of Icon(s) for HOLY TRANSFIGURATION & DORMITION
If you would like to donate the icon adornment for Holy Transfiguration ($125 – Aug. 6) or Holy Dormition ($125 – Aug. 15), please contact Sarah/the Office.
PROSPHORA --- Please inform the Office when Prosphora is placed in cooler/freezer.
COFFEE SOCIAL --- If you would like to sponsor Coffee Social in August or September, please contact the Office (414-461-9400).
2024 PHILOPTOCHOS MEMBERSHIP FORM --- Available in the Narthex & the Office.
2024 STEWARDSHIP --- The 2024 Stewardship Pledge Form is available on our website and here https://tinyurl.com/annunciation-2024-pledge. The printed form is available in the Narthex & the Office. Stewardship and other donations can be made online at https://tinyurl.com/annunciation-give-now. As of Thu, July 18, we have 278 pledged households totaling $362,561.80. To date, we have received $239,046.73.
STRATEGIC PLANNING --- Our 5 Strategic Areas & their respective leads are: (1) Worship & Faith Formation (Elias Pagones), (2) Site & Facilities (Norm Eckstaedt), (3) Financial Health (Nicholas Ganos), Parish Community (Cheryl Haska), In-Reach/Outreach (Pat Galanis). After the Vision Teams goals, actions, & timelines have been reviewed & finalized, they will be compiled into our 3-year Strategic Plan to be presented & approved by the Parish Assembly.
+++ BEYOND OUR PARISH
METROPOLIS OF CHICAGO “VISION FOR GROWTH” --- As a result of a year-long dialogue with clergy & lay leaders, His Eminence Metropolitan Nathanael identified 5 core priorities that undergird the “Vision for Growth” & which are for the direct benefit & support of our parishes. Some of the programs include: 1) continued strengthening of clergy through leadership development & a new comprehensive wellness program; 2) a best-in-category catechism program for all parishes; & 3) a parish debt elimination policy. The idea here is that parishes cannot effectively support their ministries and programs if they are burdened with debt. Our Metropolis will accept applications for partial or total debt elimination. The Metropolis’s goal is to enhance and, in some cases, to revitalize parish life. In the long run, the goal is to increase the number of believers in the Church, as a healthy Church should do—it should grow & flourish by sharing Christ’s love. For more information & to get the full picture, please check out the announcement on the Metropolis of Chicago’s website.
ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN PRISON MINISTRY AWARENESS SUNDAY --- Sun, July 28
Learn more at theocpm.org/sample-page/pmas.
METROPOLIS OF CHICAGO MUSTARD SEED FUND
The purpose of the Mustard Seed Fund is to test & scale promising new ministries & programs that inspire and motivate a new generation of Orthodox Christians to participate in the Church. For more information, visit chicago.goarch.org/ministry/the-mustard-seed-fund/. If you would like to apply, please contact Fr. Ciprian. Applications are due August 1.
OCWA RETREAT “ON THE THEOTOKOS” --- Sept. 27-28 --- Fri. 4pm - Sat. 1pm
RSVP to Janet at (414) 795-4824 by Sept. 2. See flyer for details.
66TH ANNUAL CHICAGO METROPOLIS CHURCH MUSIC CONFERENCE
Thu, Oct. 10 – Sun, Oct. 13 --- Annunciation Church
Celebrating the unique beauty of Orthodox worship! See flyer; more details to come!
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