The Messenger - Our Sunday Bulletin

Sunday, September 7, 2025

Sunday Before Holy Cross

FIRST DAY OF SUNDAY SCHOOL --- Join us in Worship & the Fall Community Breakfast!

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

- https://dcs.goarch.org/goa/dcs/indexes/20250907.html (follow liturgical text online)

• The Forefeast of the Nativity of the Theotokos
• Sozon the Martyr
• Kassiani the Hymnographer
• Mode: Plagal 4^th |  Matins Gospel: 2^nd  
• Matins Gospel Reading : Mark 16:1-8
• Epistle Reading : St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians 6:11-18
• Gospel Reading : John 3:13-17

- Matins: Chanter  Divine Liturgy: Choir  |  Epistle Reader: Grace Busse

- Prosphora: Tom Draelos and Amara Vassilew   |  Greeter: Chase Haggard

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

- Special Prayer for the Beginning of the Sunday School Year will be offered before Holy Communion. Sunday School Students & Teachers will receive Holy Communion first and then proceed to their respective classes in the Cultural Center immediately after Holy Communion.

- 6-month Memorial Service for Sandy Draelos, offered by Tom Draelos and Amara Vassilew.

- 11:00am Fall Community Breakfast hosted by the Philoptochos for the beginning of the new Ecclesiastical Year and the Sunday School Year! Donations encouraged!

- 6:00pm Vespers for the Nativity of the Theotokos

+++ UPCOMING EVENTS

Sun, Sept. 7, 2025 --- FIRST DAY OF SUNDAY SCHOOL & REGISTER YOUR CHILD(REN) NOW! Registration for K3 – 12^th grade is open online, go under the FORMS tab on our website at www.annunciationwi.org and register your child(ren). Sunday School is also looking for teachers and subs, please contact Patty Frangopoulos at sundayschool@annunciationwi.org

ANNUNCIATION FOUNDATION RAFFLE --- WIN FOUR PACKERS TICKETS! Packers vs Bengals game October 12^th! Not only will you receive four tickets, limo service to this game is included. Tickets are $100 and all proceeds go towards the Foundation! Ticket sales are going on until Sept. 20^th! To purchase a ticket, go online to www.annunciationwi.org/foundation-packers. You do not have to be present at the drawing to win. Only 100 tickets will be sold.

TASTE OF GREECE DRIVE-THRU --- Join us for a flavorful journey through Greece right from your car on Sat, Oct. 4^th 11am-6pm and Sun, Oct. 5^th 11am-4pm see flyer for menu.

INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING FOR DRIVE-THRU? Fill out to form on our website at www.annunciationwi.org/taste-of-greece or talk to Greg Papachristou 

+++ PARISH ANNOUNCEMENTS

LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE FAITH (for adults) --- Both, the Tuesday (10:30am) Orthodox Life Class and the new Wednesday (7:00pm) Bible Study Class have begun and Fr. Ciprian was pleased to see parishioners make the time to attend, learn and contribute to the classes. Fr. Aurel will be teaching on Sept. 9, 10 & 16 because Fr. Ciprian is out of town, but Fr. Ciprian looks forward to seeing the number of attendees for these classes grow. Especially for the New Wednesday Evening (7:00pm) Bible Study, were we have started covering and discussing the Sunday Epistle Readings for each following Sunday.

INTRO TO ORTHODOXY CLASSES --- are available at Sts. Constantine & Helen on Mondays at 7:00pm and at St. Nicholas on Tuesdays at 6:00pm – everyone is welcome. After the month of September, we will offer one of our own.

CONGRATULATIONS JOHNNY KOREMENOS --- for being appointed to the Wisconsin Vicariate Council by Metropolitan Nathanael of Chicago.

BOOKSTORE CLEARENCE SALE --- All prior year festival wear is reduced to $5 for t-shirts and $10 for sweatshirts. All 2025 t-shirts are $10. Long-sleeve t-shirts are reduced to $15.

STEWARDSHIP --- As of Thursday, September 4th, we have received 245 Stewardship Pledges totaling $355,274.80. To date, we received $263,371.74 from Pledged Households and $43,602.25 from non-pledged households and donors. 2025 Goal: 400+ Pledged Households ($450,000) – Submit your Pledge Now! The 2025 Stewardship Pledge Form is available in the Office, in each Koinonia edition, and you can also submit your pledge form ONLINE on our website www.annunciationwi.org.

VOLUNTEER AND CREATE COMMUNITY --- Host a coffee social 9/14, 10/12, or 10/19!

Eleni Dalianis, our Church Office Administrator, can be reached at info@annunciationwi.org

Sarah Kojis, our part-time Financial Admin, can be reached for all financial and stewardship matters at accounting@annunciationwi.org or 414-279-0379 on Mon, Thu, & Fri.

+++ BEYOND OUR PARISH

OCWA BI-ANNUAL RETREAT FOR ALL ADULTS, YOUNG AND OLD --- Sat, Oct. 4 --- Topic: “Let your light shine before men.” --- Retreat includes, coffee and snack, speakers, lunch, and a panel discussion. See flyer for more details. Please register by Fri, Sept. 19.

SUPPORT ASSUMPTION IN MADISON -- Join Assumption Greek Orthodox Church in Madison on Saturday, Sept. 6th, for their Annual Greek Fest. From 11am-7pm there is dancing, music, food, coffee, and sweets! See flyer below for more details. agocwi.org/

PRAYERS FOR SOPHIA FORCHAS & EVERYONE AFFECTED by the shooting in Mpls, MN --- On August 27th 2025, the school shooting at a Catholic School in Minneapolis resulted in the death of 2 children and 18 others were physically injured - including 12-year-old Sophia Forchas, a bright, kind, and full of life young girl from our sister parish St. Mary’s Greek Orthodox Church. Following surgery on her head & brain, Sophia is now stable and fighting for her life. You can read more details about her status online and choose to make a donation either by using the gofundme link provided below or by sending your donation to St Mary’s, who like many other parishes (together with Philoptochos), will be providing more help directly to Sophia’s family. Needless to say, personal prayers for everyone are requested!

https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-sophia-and-the-forchas-family-recover

Message by Fr. Tim Sas, Sophia’s priest https://www.facebook.com/share/19bHm958Uw/