SUNDAY, JANUARY 5 - Sunday before Epiphany

Eve of the Theophany of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and The Holy Martyrs Theopemptus and Theonas

EISODIKON/ENTRANCE HYMN

Δεύτε προσκυνήσωµεν καί προσπέσωµεν Χριστώ. Σώσον ηµάς Υιέ Θεού, ο αναστάς έκ νεκρών, ψάλλοντάς σοι, Αλληλούϊα.

Come, let us worship and bow down before Christ. Save us, O Son of God, risen from the dead. We sing to You, Alleluia.

APOLYTIKION (Resurrectional Hymn of the day)

When the women Disciples of the Lord had learned from the Angel the joyful message of the Resurrec-tion and rejected the ancestral decision, they cried aloud to the Apostles triumphantly: Death has been despoiled, Christ God has risen, granting His great mercy to the world.

APOLYTIKION OF THE ANNUNCIATION

Σήμερον της σωτηρίας ημών το Κεφάλαιον, και του απ’ αιώνος Μυστηρίου η φανέρωσις, ό Υιός τού Θεού, Υιός της Παρθένου γίνεται, και Γαβριήλ την χάριν ευαγγελίζεται, Διό και ημείς σύν αυτώ τη Θεοτόκω βοήσωμεν, Χαίρε Κεχαριτωμένη, ό Κύριος μετά σού.

Today is the beginning of our salvation,* and the revelation of a mystery which was hidden;* the Son of God* becomes the Virgin's Son,* and Gabriel announces the grace of this good news,* let us also join with Him,* to the Theotokos calling;* Hail to you O Lady full of Grace,* the Lord is with you.

KONTAKION (Hymn of the season)

To the flowing streams today * of River Jordan * comes the Lord and cries aloud * to John the Baptist, and He says, * "Be not afraid to baptize me now; * for I have come to save Adam, the first-formed man."

Office: (336) 765-7145 wsgoc.office@gmail.com Website: www.wsgoc.org

Welcome Visitors We extend a warm welcome to visitors worshipping with us today. We would like to remind you that Holy Communion is reserved for those who have been baptized or confirmed in the Orthodox Church, and who have prepared themselves to receive the Eucharist. All visitors are welcome to receive the blessed bread (Antidoron) at the end of the Divine Liturgy. After the Divine Liturgy this morning, please join us in the Breezeway for fellowship and delicious refreshments.

THIS WEEK AT ANNUNCIATION….

USHERS – Sammy Gianopoulos, Pete Bobotsiares, Paula Christakos, Johnny Kortesis, Ilias Vlachos CHURCH SERV COMM Team 2 – Vi Nichols, Chris Gallos, Teddy J. Tsiolkas, Tony Vlasis MAIDENS FOR CHRIST Team 7 – Mary Vlachos, Katherine Liontis, Emma Stuart Satterfield READER - Will Moye ALTAR BOYS Team 3 - Stavros Karagiorgis, Angelo Petropoulos, Nicholas Woody, Panagiotis Vgenopou-los, Parker Moye, Evangelos Kortesis, Christos Katsoudas, John Spinosa, Tyler Goodin, Alexander Warren NURSERY – Mary Paloumbas, Christina Soriano, Lisa K. Roussis

Infants/Children As a Church family, we will be patient and prayerful with our children, because we know that they can be fidgety at times. We also support parents when they need to take their children out for a break in order to calm them down. We love having infants and young children in Church, being immersed in wor-ship, because their sweet, pure and angelic souls thirst to be in communion with our Lord Jesus Christ.

Proistamenos - Fr. George Kouzelis Priest - Fr. Constantine Shepherd Deacon - Chris Burdette Parish Council President - Sammy Gianopoulos Philoptochos President - Kiki Gonzales

Sunday School Coordinators - Zoe Bobotsiares, Helen Karagiorgis, Heather Vlachos

TODAY

Eve of Theophany - Great Blessing of the Waters - Strict Fast Day - Regular Schedule Adult Sunday School 9:15am. No Sunday School except for 3 & 4 yr. olds

Fellowship Hour is offered by the Parish Council

Poinsettias may be taken home after services.

Mon Jan 6

Theophany - Great Blessing of the Waters Matins & Divine Liturgy 8:45am

First day of school after the holidays for Annunci-ation Christian Academy

Tue Jan 7

St. John the Baptist Matins & Divine Liturgy 8:45am

Philoptochos Board Meeting 6:00pm

Byzantine Music Lesson 7:00pm

Wed Jan 8

First day of Greek School after Christmas Holidays

Thu Jan 9

Men’s Discussion Group Meeting at 7:00am

Paraklesis 6:00pm

Greek Bible Study 7:00pm Sat Jan 11

Senior Basketball 9:00am vs Central Grove Baptist at Knollwood Baptist Church

Junior Basketball 10am vs Old Town Baptist at College Park Baptist Church

Sun Jan 12

Regular Schedule Adult Sunday School 9:15am.

25yr Memorial - Nicholaos Hodges

At the conclusion of services, the Parish Council will receive the Oath of Office. A special presentation will be made to the mem-bers of the Parish Council ending their term.

Fellowship Hour is offered in loving memory of Nikolaos by his loving family in the Hall.

Vasilopita Luncheon - The traditional Vasilopita and Luncheon will take place after services. All proceeds benefit St. Basil’s Orphanage. The ladies of Philoptochos cordially invite the com-munity to attend.

Please see back of bulletin for calendar information

We are still accepting contributions for the Youth Icon and Column Decorations. ********************* St. Irene of Mytilene (Lesvos), Youth Icon *************** Please ask your child(ren) to clearly print their name(s) and phone number(s) below if they wish to donate $50 each ($100 for two or more children per family) to the St. Irene of Mytilene (Lesvos) Youth Icon.

____________________________; __________________________

________________________________; _______________________________

________________________________; _______________________________

******** Column Decorations below the large Sanctuary Wall Icons ********

I or my household (print your name and phone number)

______________________________________ ___________________ would like to donate $_______ (amount of your choice) for all the decorative artwork being painted below all of the large icons on the sanctuary walls. ***All Donors for the Youth Icon and the Column Decorations will have their names engraved on a plaque in the Narthex.***

The Gospel According to Mark 1:1-8

The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in the prophets, 'Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who shall prepare your way; the voice of one crying in the wilderness: prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.' John was baptizing in the wilderness, preaching a bap-tism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And there went out to him all the country of Judea, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel's hair, and had a leather girdle around his waist, and ate locusts and wild honey. And he preached, saying, "After me comes he who is mightier than I, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

Σῶσον, Κύριε τὸν λαὸν σου καὶ εὐλόγησον τὴν κληρονομίαν σου. Στίχ. Πρὸς σἐ, Κύριε, κεκράξομαι ὁ Θεός μου.

Πρὸς Τιμόθεον β' 4:5-8 τὸ ἀνάγνωσμα

Τέκνον Τιμόθεε, νῆφε ἐν πᾶσιν, κακοπάθησον, ἔργον ποίησον εὐαγγελιστοῦ, τὴν διακονίαν σου πληροφόρησον. Ἐγὼ γὰρ ἤδη σπένδομαι, καὶ ὁ καιρὸς τῆς ἐμῆς ἀναλύσεως ἐφέστηκεν. Τὸν ἀγῶνα τὸν καλὸν ἠγώνισμαι, τὸν δρόμον τετέλεκα, τὴν πίστιν τετήρηκα· λοιπόν, ἀπόκειταί μοι ὁ τῆς δικαιοσύνης στέφανος, ὃν ἀποδώσει μοι ὁ κύριος ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ, ὁ δίκαιος κριτής· οὐ μόνον δὲ ἐμοί, ἀλλὰ καὶ πάσιν τοῖς ἠγαπηκόσιν τὴν ἐπιφάνειαν αὐτοῦ.

O Lord, save your people and bless your inheritance. Verse: To you, O Lord, I have cried, O my God.

The reading is from St. Paul's Second Letter to Timothy 4:5-8

TIMOTHY, my son, always be steady, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfil your ministry. For I am already on the point of being sacrificed; the time of my depar-ture has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of right-eousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.

Ἐκ τοῦ Κατὰ Μᾶρκον 1:1-8 Εὐαγγελίου τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα

᾿Αρχὴ τοῦ εὐαγγελίου ᾿Ιησοῦ Χριστοῦ, υἱοῦ τοῦ Θεοῦ. ῾Ως γέγραπται ἐν τοῖς προφήταις, ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ ἀποστέλλω τὸν ἄγγελόν μου πρὸ προσώπου σου, ὃς κατασκευάσει τὴν ὁδόν σου ἔμπροσθέν σου· φωνὴ βοῶντος ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ, ἑτοιμάσατε τὴν ὁδὸν Κυρίου, εὐθείας ποιεῖτε τὰς τρίβους αὐτοῦ, ἐγένετο ᾿Ιωάννης βαπτίζων ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ καὶ κηρύσσων βάπτισμα μετανοίας εἰς ἄφεσιν ἁμαρτιῶν. Καὶ ἐξεπορεύετο πρὸς αὐτὸν πᾶσα ἡ ᾿Ιουδαία χώρα καὶ οἱ ῾Ιεροσολυμῖται, καὶ ἐβαπτίζοντο πάντες ἐν τῷ ᾿Ιορδάνῃ ποταμῷ ὑπ᾿ αὐτοῦ ἐξομολογούμενοι τὰς ἁμαρτίας αὐτῶν. Ἦν δὲ ὁ ᾿Ιωάννης ἐνδεδυμένος τρίχας καμήλου καὶ ζώνην δερματίνην περὶ τὴν ὀσφὺν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐσθίων ἀκρίδας καὶ μέλι ἄγριον. Καὶ ἐκήρυσσε λέγων· ἔρχεται ὁ ἰσχυρότερός μου ὀπίσω μου, οὗ οὐκ εἰμὶ ἱκανὸς κύψας λῦσαι τὸν ἱμάντα τῶν ὑποδημάτων αὐτοῦ· ἐγὼ μὲν ἐβάπτισα ὑμᾶς ἐν ὕδατι, αὐτὸς δὲ βαπτίσει ὑμᾶς ἐν Πνεύματι ῾Αγίῳ.