Service Schedule for the Dormition of the Theotokos Fast 

Our service schedule for the Dormition of the Theotokos Fast is as follows:

Tues		Aug 1	Paraclesis, 6:30 PM
Wed		Aug 2	Paraclesis, 6:30 PM	
Thurs	        Aug 3	Paraclesis, 6:30 PM
Fri		Aug 4	Paraclesis, 6:30 PM
Sat		Aug 5	Great Vespers, 5 PM
Sun 		Aug 6	Orthros/Liturgy (Feast of Transfiguration, 8 AM)
			Parish Lenten Potluck following Divine Services
Mon		Aug 7	Paraclesis, 6:30 PM
Tues		Aug 8	Paraclesis, 6:30 PM
Wed		Aug 9	Paraclesis, 6:30 PM
Thurs	        Aug 10	Paraclesis, 6:30 PM
Fri		Aug 11	Paraclesis, 6:30 PM
Sat		Aug 12	Great Vespers, 5 PM
Sun		Aug 13	Orthros/Liturgy, 8 AM
Mon		Aug 14	Great Vespers, 6:30 PM
Tues		Aug 15	Orthros/Liturgy (Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos) 9 AM

May this holy season be blessed, through the intercessions of the Theotokos,


Dinner Honoring the 25th Anniversary of the Ordination of Dn. Joseph to the Holy Diaconate

We will gather to honor and celebrate the ministry of our most beloved Dn. Joseph on August 19, following Great Vespers (5pm). Ordained to the Holy Diaconate in 1997 at the OCA Holy Trinity Cathedral in San Francisco, Dn. Joseph, Diakonissa Anna, Bethany, Tony, Felicia, Sophia and Eleni relocated to our region in 2002.  Since this time we have all benefited from his heartfelt prayers, joyful demeanor, pastoral sensibility, and beautiful family. It is, therefore, most fitting for us to thank God for Dn. Joseph, his family, and his over 25 years of ministry.  

To assist with the evening or to RSVP, please contact Hannah Lorenz at lorenz12600@gmail.com. May our Gracious Lord continue to inspire the ministry and bless the family of our dear Dn. Joseph.

Cocktails for a Cause: A benefit for International Orthodox Christian Charities

MISSION: In the spirit of Christ’s love, IOCC offers emergency relief and development programs to those in need worldwide, without discrimination, and strengthens the capacity of the Orthodox Church to respond.


FACTS: IOCC provides aid to families and communities in over 60 countries, including Greece and the Holy Land. IOCC is world-renowned for its strong financial oversight, with 92 cents of every dollar going to good works. In addition to responding to emergencies and crises, IOCC commits long-term to communities through development programs like health, water, sanitation, hygiene, food, security, education and literacy, community development, and self-reliance.


HOW TO SUPPORT: Visit IOCC.org for donation and volunteer opportunities, connect with Annunciation's IOCC Parish Ambassador, Dr. Nick Rotas, and attend the upcoming Cocktails for a Cause event on November 4.

Learn more by visiting IOCC.org and watching IOCC in action at the video links below:

https://youtu.be/etpguyJhuuA                       https://youtu.be/wIqxG864uJ8

God bless America!


Each day of our ecclesiastical calendar commemorates holy men and women and events that remain holy and noteworthy unto our salvation.  A great blessing is that we, as Americans, can celebrate these feasts without fear or persecution.  Freedom is a gift of God and is paramount to our lives in Christ.  It is also an essential part of our identities as Americans.  

As much as freedom is a blessing, it can also be a curse.  There are moments when we choose wisely as individuals or as a nation and moments when we choose poorly.  If choosing wisely was easy, then God wouldn’t have needed to redeem us; we would have remained in the Garden!  Wisdom is ideally maintaining what is good. It is also repenting when we fall short, asking God to restore us fully to His likeness and image, bringing us into deeper communion with Him, His creation, and one another.  

Today is a day that we celebrate the freedom of our Nation.   The Library of Congress concisely details “This day in history.”  Other helpful links are found therein as well.  

As we fittingly celebrate, let us pray that our Gracious Lord will continue to bless us with holy wisdom as individuals and as a nation.  May His Grace sustain us, and may Ss. Joachim and Anna and the Saints of America, ever intercede on our behalf!  God bless America! 



O Lord, our God, You hold together the universe by Your power, and by Your Divine and Almighty Will You govern the universe; You created from one blood all the nations that inhabit the face of the earth, and have assigned to each its boundaries; You have conferred special blessings on this our country the United States of America, and helped it develop into the foremost nation of the world, a champion of freedom and democracy; a haven for the oppressed and a refuge for those who look for the opportunity to live in dignity. You have kept the United States of America free for 247 years by Your Divine Grace and preserved and saved it through many wars and upheavals.

Do You, Yourself, All-Holy Master, accept our prayers of thanksgiving for the liberation and birth of our nation on the Fourth of July who in faith fervently pray to You.        

Heavenly God, give rest to the souls of our fathers, mothers, brothers, and sisters who have nobly fought and gloriously died for its freedom. Make us all not only worthy of this freedom, but make us aware of the responsibilities that flow therefrom, preserve us in peace and concord, and guide us unto every good work pleasing to You. Give steadfastness to every civil authority and power in our great nation and make them well-disposed towards the God-given rights of all Your people.

For You are the Prince of Peace and the Savior of our souls, and to you we ascribe glory to the Father, and to the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and forever, and to the ages of ages. Amen!

The Opening of the Doors of our Holy Sanctuary

Thanks be to God for such a blessed day in our region.  Today, we gathered for our final service in Founders’ Hall, a space that has served us well for many years.  At the close of Orthros, our acolytes processed us to the courtyard where His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos of San Francisco, His Grace Bishop Ioannis of Phocaea, and our Vicar, Rev. Fr. Jon Magoulias led us in prayer, opening the doors to our Holy Sanctuary.  His Eminence blessed us with Holy Water, and then as the bell rang out, he blessed the Sanctuary as we entered to celebrate the Divine Liturgy. At the close of Liturgy, we offered memorial prayers, including Fr. Demetrius and Presvytera Eleftheria and the founders of our Holy Church; may the Lord grant them rest! We were then humbled to have the Medal of St. Paul, the highest honor bestowed on the Orthodox Christian laity by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, presented to Joe Fancher, Jason Jurrens, and Sia Efstathiu.  They are worthy!  And, as we departed the Church, we took a collection for the recently established parish of St. Anna in the Diocese of Eldoret and Northern Kenya; we raised over $1,500.00 (a link is now available at https://saintanna.churchcenter.com/giving/. Again, thanks be to God for such a blessed, memorable, and beautiful day.

As we begin this next chapter in the life of our parish, let us pray that our Lord, through the intercessions of Saints Joachim and Anna, grants us every blessing unto salvation.  With much gratitude to Fr. Seraphim, Dn. Joseph, our Parish Council, our Building and Capital Committees, and the faithful for your common love of Christ, His Church, and our parish.  

Funding the building of the Parish of St. Anna in the Diocese of Eldoret, Kenya

We will be taking a special collection for a recently established parish of St. Anna served by Fr. Methodios in the Diocese of Eldoret and Northern Kenya, overseen by His Grace Bishop Neofitos. Some years ago, we built the temporary church and committed to funding the ministry at St. Anna on Mount Kenya (now in the spiritual care of His Grace Bishop Panaretos).  As His Grace Bishop Neofitos begins his ministry in this new diocese, we can again support his work by helping the faithful of St. Anna Parish transition from meeting under a tent to meeting in a church.  He writes:

 “The parish has approximately 80 faithful, with the majority being young people.  One of the faithful donated the plot of land where we are going to build the church.  When the church is built, many people will come in because it is the only church in the valley.  People walk up to the hills but forget that the God in the mountains is still the God in the valley!  So, let’s put a roof over their heads for worship, rather than a tent.  And may St. Anna intercede for all of us!”

Although we have a financial need to fund our construction, we are truly blessed to have a permanent home.  We must never forget our brothers and sisters in Christ (and those who have yet to be received into the Church) who are in greater need than us.  Although the miles may separate, by God’s Grace, we remain near in prayer.  And whether or not we fund the entire amount ($20,000), whatever we collect will be a blessing for this new community!  Therefore, as we prepare to “Open our doors,” I ask you to please support and pray for St. Anna Parish in the Eldoret Diocese and the faithful of the parish of St. Anna on Mount Kenya. May St. Anna ever intercede on behalf of us all!

The Service of the Opening of the Sanctuary scheduled for July 2, 2023

On June 22, 2023, our parish received a Certificate of Occupancy for the Holy Sanctuary. We will therefore pray the Service of the Opening of the Holy Sanctuary on July 2, 2023; His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos of San Francisco will be the Chief Celebrant. Divine Services will begin at 8 AM. May our Lord, through the intercessions of Saint Anna, continue to bless and inspire our ministry to His glory forever and ever!

2023 Trek4Missions


2023 Trek4Missions

Virtual Trek4Missions begins on Aug. 6th to Sept. 17th. OCMC invites you to set an activity challenge (walking, running, cycling, etc.) for yourself and your parish community to help spread awareness and raise funds for Orthodox Missions. Your efforts support the recruiting, training, sending, and ministries of missionaries. Join us and keep track of your progress. Our goal is to reach 20,000 miles and raise $165,000!

The website is:  https://www.ocmc.org/Trek4Missions