The Holy and Great Council, Pentecost 2016

The Holy and Great Council will address important issues of concern to Orthodox Christians and all people. This includes the mission of the Orthodox Church in the modern world, the Orthodox diaspora, autonomy, marriage, fasting and relations with other Christians. Rev. Dr. John Chryssavgis tells why these are matters important not only to the Orthodox, but to the entire world.

The Holy and Great Council gathers in Crete in the latter part of June 2016. It is the first time in 1200 years that 14 autocephalous Orthodox churches are meeting. Approximately 500 individuals will be part of this historic gathering, with a common desire to reinforce their relations and address contemporary spiritual and social challenges in the world.

For more information, please visit: https://www.holycouncil.org

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"Mochas for Missions"

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The Metropolis of San Francisco Commission for Orthodox Missions and Evangelism (C.O.M.E.) has launched her annual Mochas for Missions campaign! Formerly known as Pennies and Prayers, this effort is dedicated to raising awareness about individual, parish and Metropolis Missions and Evangelism programs. The concept is to encourage people to voluntarily sacrifice small treats – like a $4 mocha – during the three-month campaign period and direct those funds to support growing Orthodox Christianity instead. Mochas for Missions is the primary fundraising campaign to support missions and evangelism efforts throughout the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of San Francisco.

"This is a unique opportunity for all of us, as individuals and as communities, to support this important effort. Spreading our faith is paramount to our mission as Orthodox Christians," stated His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos. "There is no better way to begin our journey through Great and Holy Lent than with charitable giving focusing on sharing the love of Jesus Christ through His Gospel."

In 2015, 53 parishes participated in the campaign, raising $34,203 for Missions and Evangelism. This year’s goal is $45,000 which can easily be accomplished if all parishes use the resources provided through C.O.M.E. to educate their faithful about the Metropolis' vision to grow Orthodox Christianity. Mochas for Missions is also an ideal time to highlight the parish’s efforts to share the Gospel and recruit new membership and participation in the parish Missions and Evangelism Ministry.

For more information or additional assistance with Mochas for Missions, please contact our Parish Missions coordinator, Shaine Kennedy, shaine.kennedy@gmail.com or Thomaida Hudanish, C.O.M.E. Assistant Director, come@sanfran.goarch.org, 503-277-3928.

Veneration of St. John Maximovich of Shanghai and San Francisco

 Saint Anna Church Pilgrimage to Venerate

Saint John Maximovich the Wonderworker

Archbishop of Shanghi & San Francisco

 

Tour the church of the  Old Holy Virgin Russian Orthodox Cathedral Molieben (Service of Intercession) 

Visitation to the Chapel of St. Tikhon of Zadonsk Visit the chapel & orphanage established by St. John & the office where he studied & prayed and 

tour the new Holy Virgin Russian Cathedral See and Venerate the Relics of St. John and visit the Cathedral Bookstore

Our pilgrimage will be lead by Rev. Hiermonk James of the Old Holy Virgin Cathedral

Sat., June 18th

Depart St. Anna Church, 8:00AM

Return between 7:30-8:00 PM

Donation $35  (Includes bus transportation) 

Please bring a bag lunch & dinner

Please contact the Church Office to reserve your seat(s) at 916.772.9372 or secretary@saintanna.org

Space is limited!

Preparing for Long-term Missions- St Anna Steward & Soon-to-be graduate of Holy Cross, Jennifer Rice

A bit about Jennifer: 

During the summers of 2014 and 2015, Jennifer Rice participated in several short term mission teams offered through the Orthodox Christian Mission Center which assisted in discerning her call to serve the church as a missionary upon graduation from Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology. Jennifer partnered with the newly Orthodox faithful in Guatemala in the pioneering efforts of the first music ministry mission team sent to offer catechetical instruction on the hymns of the church.

She was fortunate to return the following summer to collaborate with local communities by assisting in the renovation of a building into a future medical clinic in an ongoing effort by the Orthodox Church in Guatemala to tend to both the bodies and souls in the communities she serves. Jennifer is appreciative of these opportunities as well as the blessing to continue to serve in a long term capacity with the Orthodox Church in Guatemala by drawing on her experience and love for singing the hymns of the church.

Jennifer has been very grateful for your prayers, enthusiastic encouragement, and support in sending her on behalf of St. Anna’s to serve the Church. While attending Holy Cross, Jennifer also completed coursework towards a certificate from the Boston Theological Institute in Missions and Ecumenism. In addition to her studies, Jennifer served as President of the Missions Committee, assisted in the Office of Student Life, tutored students in the campus Writing Center, and was a staff member for the CrossRoad Institute.

Jennifer also holds a Master of Science degree in Higher Education from Drexel University, as well as a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential and a Bachelors of Art in Studio Art from California State University, Sacramento. Prior to attending Holy Cross School of Theology, Jennifer assisted in many facets of the youth and young adult ministries and was involved in the chanting of the services at St. Anna’s in addition to her responsibilities as a high school English teacher. Jennifer is currently seeking your continued prayers and support of mission work as she prepares to serve as a long term missionary through the Orthodox Christian Mission Center.

If you would like to offer your financial support, please visit here.

Volunteer for ushering and candle duties

Hello volunteers,

Thank you for considering helping with candle duty. We greatly appreciate that you are taking your time to volunteer. If you choose to take part in this volunteer opportunity please take a look at what this duty entails and then choose a date that works best for you! Again, we appreciate the time you are taking to help our church!

On your day, Please arrive before 9:00 am as to make sure you are there to greet parishioners as they enter the church. You will be assisting them to get their candles and bulletins.

If a person asks for a large red candle to be taken to the Theotokos or Jesus side of the altar that is to be done when the clergy are in the altar area. Please make sure not to walk in front of the altar if you are delivering a candle to either side.

Prior to communion you will count the money that was donated for candles according to the directions posted on the candle room door and place in one of the two money bags provided in the candle room.

You will also be the person who serves as a guide during communion and will let each row know when it is time to leave their pew area. Usually, the children take communion first as they are on their way to Sunday school.

Finally, you would  take the stewardship baskets up, say the stewardship payer and distribute the baskets to each row in the church.

I know this sounds like a big job, but don't let that detour you from giving it a try. There are always 3-4 people assigned any given week and the veterans will walk new people through the process.

Serving on candle duty is a wonderful way to get to know our parishioners and help out at the church! We thank you for your time and consideration!

If you find that you are unable to make it on your intended day, please make arrangements to have your slot filled or contact Christy Moustris.

If you need help signing up please call 530-368-6475 or click on the small envelope below to send an email. 

Project Mexico

 

“Lift up and stretch your hands, not to heaven, but to the poor; for if you stretch forth your hands to the poor, you have reached the summit of heaven; but if you lift up your hands in prayer without sharing with the poor, it is worth nothing…”

~St. John Chrysostom

 

 

As we traverse the days of the Great & Holy Lent, in addition to our commitment to increased prayer and a dedicated fast, we, the clergy and laity of St. Anna Parish, will support the children of St. Innocent Orphanage.   Each week, we will ask for alms in support of these adolescent or teenage boys who are in the care of the Orphanage because they were either removed from their home by social services, ran away from home due to abuse or their parents are deceased or imprisoned.  On Sunday, April 17th, we will receive Rev. Fr. Nicholas Andruchow, the Chaplain and Associate Director of the St. Innocent Orthodox Orphanage & Project Mexico.  During his visit, we will learn more about this ministry, offer our monetary support, consider the “pantry partners program” and discuss our first home building trip, to be scheduled for 2017. May our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ keep the children and the staff of St. Innocent Orphanage in His care as we lift up and stretch out our hands to the summit of heaven!

 

 

 

About Rev. Fr. Nicholas Andruchow, Chaplain & Associate Director

After finishing his undergraduate degree in Restaurant Administration at Widener University, he joined the United States Peace Corps and served the impoverished for 2 & ½ years in the Caribbean. Although baptized and raised in the Russian Orthodox Church, it was here in the jungles of the Caribbean that Fr. Nicholas fully committed himself to Christ.  Shortly after finishing his service with the Peace Corps, he was asked by Project Mexico to lead their business development program. He worked for the orphanage for three years, running the onsite pig farm and training the orphan boys in basic entrepreneurial skills. During that time he married his wife, Merilynn Kouris, of Salt Lake City, and started their family living two of the three years at the Orphanage.   Thereafter, Fr. Nicholas began his studies for the holy priesthood at St. Vladimir’s Seminary. Upon graduating from Seminary, Fr. Nicholas was assigned to the Holy Cross Greek Orthodox mission in Flagstaff, Arizona, where he served for 9 ½ years.  In this time, he was approached by Project Mexico to serve as the spiritual director for the only Orthodox Christian Orphanage in North America. After much prayer and contemplation, Fr. Nicholas and his family, with the blessing of Metropolitan Gerasim

A Journey of Faith to Northern Greece & Cyprus

A JOUNEY OF FAITH TO NORTHERN GREECE & CYPRUS 

Join Reverend Fr. Christopher Flesoras of St. Anna Greek Orthodox Church in Roseville, California, on an unforgettable Spiritual Odyssey! 

 October 10-20, 2016

 11 Days/9 Nights

 

GREECE: Visit the most important sites in Northern Greece. Begin with a visit to the Monastery of St. John the Theologian in Souroti to venerate the relics of St. Paisios. Visit the Monastery of Vlatadon. Continue to Greece’s second largest city, Thessaloniki. Enjoy a tour of Thessaloniki including Liturgy at the Cathedral of St. Demetrios. Visit the Rotunda Church of St. George, Holy Wisdom Church and the Arch of Galerius. Enjoy a visit to an iconography workshop, a woodwork and silversmith shops. Visit Ouranoupolis and enjoy a private boat ride around Mt. Athos. Continue to Veria and Kalambaka to visit the magical Meteora Monasteries. You will receive a very warm welcome at the Monasteries and venerate relics and icons usually not brought forth.

CYPRUS: Experience Cyprus’s physical and spiritual beauty! Spend two night at the Kykkos Monastery. Visit the Troodos Mountains and the Monastery of the Holy and Life-Giving Cross in Omodos Village. Visit Panayia Angeloktisi Byzantine Church, St. Lazarus & St. George Church in Larnaca and the Derynia Culture Center of Famagusta. Continue on to the ancient city of Salamina, just north of Famagusta, and the Monastery of Apostle Varnabas, Tour the ancient site of Curium and its museum. Visit Saint Kyriaki-Kato Paphos church and Saint Neophytos Monastery and the spectacular geological formation of Petra Tou Romiou.

Rates: Air & Land: Double occupancy, per person: $3580*

& Single Occupancy: $4100*

*All rates reflect a 4% check discount which does not apply if payment is made in any other way. Air tax/fuel surcharge of $710 is included in the above rates and not guaranteed until ticketing takes place.

SPACE IS LIMITED and on a FIRST COME BASIS
Deposit of $500 due by May 20, 2015 or late booking fee of $50 per person will apply!

TOUR INCLUDES: 

  • International air SFO/MUC/SKG & LCA/ATH/FRA/SFO on Lufthansa Airlines
  • International air from SKG to LCA on Aegean Airlines
  • First class hotel accommodations in Greece & Cyprus: 4 nts. Thessaloniki, 1 nt. Kalambaka, and 2 nts in Limassol
  • 2 nights at the Kykkos Monstery in Cyprus 
  • All hotel taxes, service fees and daily breakfast & four dinners and one lunch
  • All private arrival and departure transfers with English/Greek-speaking escorts
  • Private boat ride around Mt. Athos
  • Eight days of sightseeing in air-conditioned motorcoach with English/Greek speaking Orthodox guides & all entrance fees
  • Private cruise around Mt. Athos

Cloud Tours Inc. 31-09 Newtown Ave. Long Island City, NY 11102 Tel: 718-721-3808 Toll Free 800-223-7880 Fax: 718-795-4356 Email: stephen@cloudtours.com

Pan Orthodox Christian Great Vespers

Join us as we celebrate the triumph of Orthodoxy. 

Saturday, March 19 6PM

Saint Anna Parish 1001 Stone Canyon Dr Roseville 916.772.9372

www.saintanna.org

As the Prophets saw, as the Apostles taught, as the Church has received, as the Teachers express in dogma, as the inhabited world understands together with them, as grace illumines, as the truth makes clear, as error has been banished, as wisdom makes bold to declare, as Christ has assured, so we think, so we speak, so we preach, honoring Christ our true God, and his Saints, in words, in writings, in thoughts, in sacrifices, in churches, in icons, worshipping and revering the One as God and Lord, and honoring them because of their common Lord as those who are close to him and serve him, and making to them relative veneration. This is the faith of the Apostles; this is the faith of the Fathers; this is the faith of the Orthodox.

Homilist: Rev. Fr. Gregory Edwards St. Sava Parish Jackson Guests Speaker: Dr. Frank Papatheofanis, President & Founder, St. Katherine College

Join the Pan Orthodox Christian Church community of Northern California as she gathers on the first Saturday evening of Great & Holy Lent to commemorate the solemn proclamation of a regional Synod of Constantinople in 843, convened under Empress Theodora, concerning the veneration of icons. We will gather as clergy and laity, young and older, to celebrate the restoration of icons to their rightful place…we will gather to celebrate anew the Triumph or Orthodoxy…we will gather to celebrate the newest accredited Orthodox Christian College in America, St. Katherine College!