Art and Craft Women’s Fellowship - Fall Report, submitted by Veronika Anysenko
This fall, our Art and Craft Women’s Fellowship continued to grow as a warm and supportive space for women of our parish to connect, create, and deepen their spiritual lives together. Through simple art projects, reflective conversation, and shared prayer, we aim to help participants explore their inner life, strengthen community bonds, and find peace and inspiration through creativity.
Our gatherings offer women an opportunity not only to learn new artistic skills, but also to experience fellowship in an encouraging, faith-centered environment. Each meeting includes a short spiritual reflection, a guided creative activity, and time for open sharing and connection.
We look forward to continuing this ministry throughout the year and welcoming more women into this circle of creativity, faith, and friendship.
November Update from Saint Innocent Orphanage
Prayer Shawl Ministry
The Saint Anna Prayer Shawl Ministry gathers for prayerful fellowship to knit and crochet prayer shawls that will be blessed and given to those in need of healing. We have been meeting on the first Saturday of select months and continue to welcome new volunteers. Starting in December, we will plan to gather on the second Saturdays and may alternate our meeting times to be close to a Liturgy or Vespers. Please refer to the weekly bulletin and church calendar for dates and times. Our next meeting is scheduled for Saturday, December 13th, following Liturgy, approximately 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Prayer Shawls are sent throughout the United States and even internationally, whenever a need is identified, and are packaged with prayer cards and holy oil. The ministry of St. Anna Philoptochos is sustained through donations.
How to Request a Shawl:
When an individual needs spiritual, physical, and emotional prayers and healing, he/she may benefit from a Prayer Shawl. To request a Prayer Shawl, please don't hesitate to contact the church office at (916) 772-9372 or a member of the contact team listed below.
Prayer Shawl Contact Team:
Vassie Kyritsis, kyritv2@gmail.com
Stella Sideris, stellasideris@yahoo.com
Angeliki Rosenberg, rosenberg369@msn.com
St. Anna’s Young Adult Ministry | Presented by: Natali Avelino
Over the past several months, the Young Adult Ministry at St. Anna’s has experienced steady growth in attendance, spiritual engagement, and parish participation. Our primary focus has been cultivating a community where young adults are integrated into the liturgical, sacramental, and social life of the parish.
Key Developments
Consistent Growth: Average monthly attendance has increased since July 2025, with both cradle Orthodox and converts represented.
Strengthened Spiritual Engagement: Members are regularly participating in parish worship, feast days, and fasting seasons. Many have begun seeking confession and spiritual guidance more frequently.
Major Events:
Participation in the Archdiocesan Young Adult Retreat, with additional attendance planned for the upcoming December retreat.
Local fellowship gatherings (coffee shops, restaurants, parks) encouraging connection outside Sunday services.
Visits to monasteries, parish feast days, and diocesan events that reinforce Orthodox identity and community life.
Community Integration: Young adults are volunteering at parish events, assisting with hospitality, helping during festal seasons, and inviting friends and newcomers to attend services.
Current Needs & Opportunities
Stronger Parish Visibility: A dedicated announcement schedule and bulletin presence would help sustain momentum.
Structured Leadership Support: A small leadership team would allow for more consistent planning and delegation.
Facility & Resource Support: Occasional use of parish space for meetings, plus modest hospitality funds, will enable regular programming. Priestly presence is needed as well.
Long-Term Goal: Develop a rhythm of quarterly retreats, monthly spiritual discussions, and regular social fellowship to form a stable ministry foundation.
The Young Adult Ministry continues to grow in depth and reach, contributing meaningfully to the life of St. Anna’s. With continued parish support and pastoral guidance, we are positioned to strengthen the spiritual formation of our young adults and further integrate them into the life and mission of the Church.
Men’s Fellowship (submitted by Keaton Landenberger)
The Men’s Group meets weekly as a space for young Orthodox men to strengthen their stability, community, and faithfulness to the Church’s way of life. Each gathering focuses on the Scripture readings from the previous week, reflecting together on how the Church understands these passages through worship, teaching, and practice. The environment is warm and welcoming, providing men with the freedom to speak openly, ask questions, and support each other as they learn to live out the Gospel in their daily lives.
The conversations develop naturally, meeting each man where he is, while still keeping Scripture at the center. Once a month, a priest or deacon joins the group to offer guidance and help connect what the men are learning to the larger tradition of Orthodoxy. The goal is to create a steady, welcoming space for young men to continue their formation after catechism—strengthening their connection to Christ, His Church, and to each other.
Fall General Assembly
2025 Greek Food Festival
Submitted by Paul Pegadiotes
The 2025 Greek Food Festival was a beautiful weekend event where we enjoyed a terrific turnout from the Saint Anna Church community and our friends and family.
The festival gross income was $274,070.96, expenses $145,581.17, for a net income of $128,489.79. As always 10% of our net income was donated to charities. A more complete breakdown is available for those interested.
We welcomed thousands of folks to our Church grounds, and they got to experience our faith, hospitality, and great food.
Mark your calendars, the 2026 Greek Food Festival will take place on September 5th and 6th.
The 2026 festival planning committee members are Jason Huls, Jerry Mathew, Phillip Moldoff, Rick Rosenberg, Zach Stamas, and Mitch Word. Please be ready to support them and this event.
May our Lord, through the intercessions of Saints Joachim and Anna, continue to bless us and this event.
Stewardship Report
Respectfully submitted by Hannah Lorenz
It has been my pleasure to continue the work of the stewardship committee, inspired by the work of Gary Arnold of blessed memory and our very own Marci Pelka. Gary inspired us to be faithful stewards of all the gifts that God provides: our time, talent, and treasure. We give and serve because of the joy that giving brings. Our community at Saint Anna’s is blessed with 225 regular financial donors who have made it possible for us to exceed our $500k stewardship budget by $67,938 as of the end of November. These donations not only provide for the day-to-day needs of this parish, but importantly, we are also able to offer financial support to the greater community locally and abroad.
Many of our stewards also give of their time and talent, whether it’s cooking for a fundraiser, making coffee for coffee hour, cleaning the church, working at the bookstore, chanting, pruning the roses, tending the bees, visiting the sick or homebound, serving at St. Vincent de Paul, arranging flowers, the list is endless. Each person’s unique contribution makes our parish a joyful and dynamic community.
In an effort to make giving as simple as possible, we have expanded access to the Church Center app via a QR code at the candle stand. The drop-down menu on the app makes stewardship the default donation, but also candles and many other giving opportunities can be accessed through the app.
I want to thank the members of the stewardship team for all their efforts this year, Marci Pelka, Renie Carr, Ava Romero, Christine Lovett, and Chrysi Word (thanks for the Post Office run!).
