The Messenger - Our Sunday Bulletin

Sunday, December 22, 2024

Sunday before the Nativity of Christ

https://facebook.com/annunciationchurch/videos/ (stream services online)

https://dcs.goarch.org/goa/dcs/indexes/20241222.html

• Sunday before the Nativity of Christ; Anastasia the Great Martyr 
• Chrysogonos, Theodota, Evodias, & Eutychianus, the Martyrs
• Matins Gospel Reading : Luke 24:1-12 
• Epistle Reading : St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 11:9-10; 32-40 
• Gospel Reading : Matthew 1:1-25 

- Mode: 1  |   Matins Gospel: 4   |  Epistle Reader: Grace Busse

- Greeter: Carol McGinley   |  Prosphora: Dorothaya Sarandos

- 8:00am Matins & 9:00am Divine Liturgy

- Sunday School after Holy Communion: K4-12 – All are welcome!

- Coffee Social Host: George & Angie Panagiotopoulos

- Make your Christmas Offering today! Donation envelopes are located in the Narthex.

- 10:30am – GOYA Christmas Party & Cook-Off --- Come celebrate the season sharing time together & having a little friendly competition cooking while helping others in need. Lunch will be provided. We’ll be making gyro dinner & decorating Christmas cookies for the Cathedral Center for about 45-65 people. After cooking we’ll pair up and have some more friendly competition and fun playing pickleball together. RSVP to Kim or Helene.

- 5:00pm – GOYA serving at Cathedral Center --- If your family would like to donate food or help serve food at 5pm please let us know.

Altar Candle for the Health and Salvation of:

- Diane Rouman, offered by Cynthia & George Kanavas, her daughter & son-in-law, and Stephanie Kanavas, her granddaughter.

Altar Candles in Loving Memory of:

- Peter Tsounis (9 yrs), offered by his family.

- John Metrusias (24 yrs) & Dorothy Metrusias (16 yrs), offered by their children & grandchildren.

Tuesday, December 24 - Christmas Eve

- Constantine Alex, offered by Barbara, his wife.

- James Domoras, Jr., offered by: Cally Domoras, his mother; Kathy & Bob Kobza, his sister & brother-in-law; and Cally & Robert Kobza, his niece & nephew.

+++ UPCOMING EVENTS

ANNUNCIATION VASILOPETA CELEBRATION --- Sun, Jan. 12 following the Divine Liturgy

All proceeds will benefit the children of St. Basil’s Academy. See flyer for details.

BLESSING OF LAKE MICHIGAN --- Sun, Jan. 12 at 2:30pm --- Organized by MOCCA; see flyer.

JOY & GOYA SNOW TUBING OUTING --- Sun, Jan. 26, 1:30-4:00pm

Sunburst Winter Park, Kewaskum, WI

+++ PARISH ANNOUNCEMENTS

ACCSESS INTO THE CHURCH, via the ADA ramp, is comfortable and safe for everyone attending our services – new concrete has been poured and there is no more gravel leading to the ADA ramp. As soon as weather warms up in the spring, we will resume and complete the stairs and plaza area between the stairs and water fountain.

Tessie “Tessa” Georgia Kailas fell asleep in the Lord on Monday, December 16, 2024, at the age of 92. The Funeral Service at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church was held on Friday, December 20, 2024, at 11:00 AM, with visitation preceding at 10:30 AM. May her soul rest in peace among the saints and may her memory be eternal!

Congratulations to Theodore Thomas Vergis II and his parents, Theo & Kaitlyn Vergis, for the 40-day Churching on Tue, Dec. 17, 2024. Teddy was born on October 24, 2024.

NEW ALTAR BOY ROBES --- A heart-felt thank you to our anonymous donor for the new and beautiful RED Altar Boy robes! These Red & Gold vestments will be used during the Christmas season and throughout the year when the liturgical season calls for these colors. Thank you for helping us beautify the Advent & Nativity services!

CLASSROOM ESSENTIALS DRIVE --- Jan. 12 - 26

Sponsored by Annunciation Philoptochos. See flyer for details.

SUNDAY SCHOOL – FREE REGISTRATION STILL OPEN!

Enroll your child(ren) at https://tinyurl.com/amke-ym-signup!

COFFEE SOCIAL --- Contact the Office (414-461-9400) to sponsor Coffee Social on Jan. 5 or Feb. 9.

2025 PHILOPTOCHOS MEMBERSHIP FORM --- Available in the January Koinonia, in the display bins opposite the bookstore, & online.

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, Dec. 19, 2024, we received 325 Stewardship Pledges totaling $416,811.80 (Received $418,430.87). By the end of 2023 we had 367 pledged households, & with your help, we can still exceed 350 Pledged Households & hopefully reach our stewardship goal of $500,000. Please submit your pledge now!!!

+++ BEYOND OUR PARISH

PAN-ORTHODOX CHRISTMAS FOLK CELEBRATION --- Fri, Dec. 27 - 6:00pm

St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church in Des Plaines, IL --- In addition to the Pan-Orthodox Choir of Greater Chicago, the program features traditional dances, carols, & songs from Greek, Romanian & Serbian groups. Proceeds will benefit the Des Plaines Food Pantry and Martha & Mary Maternity Ministry. See flyer for details.

UPCOMING FANARI CAMP EVENTS --- Visit www.fanari.camp to register for the Fanari Reunion Dance (Dec. 30), Winter Camp (Jan. 17-22), and more! See flyer for full calendar.

METROPOLIS OF CHICAGO VASILOPITA CELEBRATION --- Sun, Jan. 12 - 6:00pm

St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Oak Lawn, IL --- Benefits St. Basil’s Academy and Youth & Young Adult Ministries. See flyer for details.

CROSSROAD 2025 --- Are you an 11^th or 12^th grade high school student? You are invited to the CrossRoad Summer Program! Ask hard questions, build lifelong friendships, and explore your calling as an Orthodox Christian in the 21^st century. Register for a Zoom Information Session & submit an application at crossroadinstitute.org! See flyer for details.

Priority Deadline: January 21, 2025  |  Regular Deadline: February 18, 2025

PANHELLENIC SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE – www.panhellenicsf.org/

Applications due January 31, 2025. See flyer for more details.

YAL CHICAGO CONFERENCE 2025 --- Fri, Feb. 14, 2025 – Mon, Feb. 17, 2025

Register at www.chicago.goarch.org/yal-chicago-conference-registration.