November - December 2012 Promise

The Promise

InsIde thIs Issue

Pastoral Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2a griM ChristMas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Fighting For Christ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8Parish asseMbly agenda . . . . . . . . . . . . 11honoring holy Cross seMinary . . . 12FaMily giving & reCeiving . . . . . . . . . 14haPPy birthday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16thanksgiving Plans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 young adult league . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22sPeaking to god . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23in the PalM oF our hand . . . . . . . . . . 26Calendars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

dates to RemembeR

novembeR 18th

Thanksgiving Luncheon & ouTreach sunday

decembeR 2nd

Parish assembLy & Parish counciL eLecTions

decembeR 9th

Parish chrisTmas cookie ParTy 6:00Pm

decembeR 23Rd

chrisTmas Luncheon & Program

JanuaRy 6th

PhiLoPTochos vasiLoPiTa evenT

JanuaRy 27th

ceLebraTing youTh sPagheTTi Lunch

WIsdom:

If any man serve me, let hIm follow me;

and where I am, there shall also my servant be:

If any man serve me, hIm wIll my father

honour. JOHN 12: 26

novembeR - JanuaRy 2013

THE PROMISE

As Orthodox Christians we are very familiar with the Lord’s clarion call to take up the Cross and follow Him (Mark 8:34-38; 9:1). But familiarity with the call to follow Jesus

Christ does not automatically mean comprehension or acceptance. So let us be perfectly clear, to honestly follow the Lord means that we must walk the path that He has forged; even if we do not always understand it, completely agree with it or know every twist and turn that lays ahead.

Now this rudimentary understanding of Orthodox Christianity is in stark contrast to the ways of the world which tell us it’s enough to simply ‘observe Christianity;’ but that it is really too extreme, too old fashioned and/or too suffocating to really live out. Furthermore, it is understood in Orthodox Christianity that to follow Christ means that we worship and serve Him even when our heart is heavy, our mind is distracted, our body yearns for rest and or our spirit longs for fun. This too contradicts the popular notion that ‘church’ must somehow always be entertaining and fun. As if the way of the Cross was ever entertaining or “fun.” In fact, it may come as a surprise to many in the world today to realize that the Cross by definition is neither comical nor amusing. The only people that were entertained by the Cross were those who did not know, understand or care about Jesus Christ. And the only people who had fun at the Crucifixion of Christ were the people who sought to kill Him. Following our Lord and Savior is as serious as it is sacred!

The reality is that being a devout Christian has never been a so-called, ‘walk in the park.’ Not because the message or life in Christ is flawed, but because this fallen world accepts neither God nor His Way. The truth of the matter is that at no point in time has society truly

been pleased to have faithful Christians in its midst. Throughout history, all those who have earnestly lifted up the Cross of Christ and followed Him have either been persecuted or prosecuted. The only free speech followers of Christ have always enjoyed have been the words: Guilty as charged.

Now this does not mean that we do not rejoice in Christ with the family and friends that He has provided us; hence the desire to expand our fellowship at the Annunciation. And this does not mean that we do not rejoice in the Church that He has given us;

hence, the commitment to make the Annunciation as beautiful as possible. This also does not mean we live our life waiting for the ‘other shoe to drop’ and or dreading the bitter end; hence, the commitment of the Annunciation ministries to make this city and this world a better place for all. Filled with the Holy Spirit and determined to follow Christ – we savor the laughter and joy of working with fellow parishioners for the glory of God. The Annunciation Church family members look to enjoy

every day for the occasion to repent; the opportunity to do His Will and the time it provides us to share His love. Faithful Orthodox Christians cling to the Cross not because crucifixion was beautiful by design, but because Jesus Christ has transformed the Cross into the way to eternal life.

Nonetheless, society is trying very hard to sell us a ‘bouquet of roses.’ It constantly tell us that we need to make our faith in the Lord arbitrary and convenient. It continually suggests to us that we pick and chose what we like about being a Christian and leave the rest behind. The fallen world advises us to individually create a bouquet that is pleasing to our eye alone and has the intoxicating scent of self-satisfaction. When the fact of

(Continued on page 4)

PastoRal message

IWill

Follow!

November - JaNuary 2013

“I will turn their mourninginto joy,

I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow.”

Jeremiah 31:13

Make your legacy of love for your parish

eternal, remember

the Annunciation in your Will.

deeP thought

“When you were born, you cried and the world rejoiced.

Live your life so that when you die,

the world cries and you rejoice.”

ouR condolences

It is with sorrow that the Annunciation family notes that our brother in Christ, James Kenneth

RaybuRn, the beloved brother of very own Helen Hronas, has fallen asleep in the Lord.

It is with sorrow that the Annunciation family notes that our sister in Christ, AthAnAsiA GeAnopulos, the beloved sister of our very own George Plastiras and sister-in-law of Kiki Plastiras, has fallen asleep in the Lord.

It is with sorrow that the Annunciation family notesthat our brother in Christ, steliAn “puiu” GriGorescu, the beloved father of our very own Liliana MacPhee, has fallen asleep in the Lord.

It is with sorrow that the Annunciation family notes that our sister in Christ and ever faithful parishioner, nArjis Meti, beloved mother of Linda Fellone, Lina Sharp & Laura Meti, has fallen asleep in the Lord.

Let us all keep the departed in our prayers and beseech our loving Lord to extend His comfort and strength to the bereaved family and friends.

“May their memory be eternal.”

THE PROMISE

the PastoRal message(Continued from page 2)

the matter is that only when we fully take up the Cross as faithful members of His Church and devoutly follow all that the Lord teaches – even the hard sayings – can we be sure to ‘smell the roses for eternity.’

Sinful culture also tries to entice us with ‘a box of chocolates.’ It tells us that only the random sweets of loose morality, outright rebellion, personal irresponsibility, abject greed and so called ‘recreational’ drug use can provide us with a lush and savory existence. Wrapped in a package of ‘you only live once’ and ‘freedom knows no bounds,’ many men and women are choosing to put down the Cross only to find out when its too late, that the secular world’s so called chocolaty choices ultimately melt one’s soul and constantly leaves a mess. Following the Lord and lifting up His Cross is the only way of life that always fills the heart and soul with the peace and joy that never confuses, abuses or ends.

Finally, society tries to seduce us with a way of life composed of ‘wine, women and song.’ It bombards us withthe message that only those things that bring us pleasure, make us feel important or entertain us are of great value or worth genuinely pursuing. We are continuously told to ignore the notion of fidelity, look for loopholes in our oath to God and our fellow man and by all means ignore and avoid the blessed labor that comes with being a steward of Christ’s Church and a member of His Church family. After all, it has always been easier to drink and be merry than to take a single step in the way of the Lord. It has always been ‘cooler’ to tell jokes than to honestly proclaim the Gospel, invite lost souls to the Church and really follow Him. It has always been more comfortable to stay on the sidelines and hope someone else will toil, sacrifice, contribute and sweat for the cause of Christ and His Church. But in the end, the wine ultimately runs out, the women eventually leave and the songs always come to a conclusion; leaving behind little more than a hangover and a powerful sense of guilt and shame.

By contrast, those who reject society’s ‘bouquet of flowers’, the “box of chocolates’ and the emptiness of ‘wine, women and song’ but instead regularly partake of the cup of life that is the Eucharist, faithfully congregate in Church in order to sing high praises unto the Lord and strive to truly follow Christ always find eternal life. Devout Orthodox Christians always enjoy the eternal love of God and the endless solace that is only made possible by lifting up the Cross and following Jesus Christ.

So, is the Divine Liturgy always entertaining? Maybe not. But it is not supposed to entertain us. It is our spiritual work, it is our labor of love, it is the way by which we meet and follow the Lord as He has directed.

Is it always fun to work for Christ and serve His Church? Probably not. But just as the Lord did not enjoy the nails piercing His flesh to save us, it is safe to say that our personal contributions towards sharing the salvation in Christ with the world will not be ‘fun and games,’ but it is always sanctifying.

And is it always easy to be an Orthodox Christian? Is it always comfortable to fast regularly, attend the Holy Services consistently, to reject the allure of sin and stand out from the crowd? Definitely not. But we are not expected to forge a new way, we are not asked to re-invent either Christianity or the Church; and we are certainly not permitted to make a private peace with sin and the devil in order to ‘fit in’. Rather, we are all called on to follow the Lord in the footsteps of all the


“If anyone

wishes to come after me, let him

deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”


Page 5

a neW yeaR’s Poem

Lord, let me stand in the thick of the fight,Let me bear what I must without whining;Grant me the wisdom to do what is right,

Though a thousand false beacons are shining.

Let me be true as the steel of a blade,Make me bigger than skillful or clever;Teach me to cling to my best, unafraid,

And harken to false gospels, never.

Let me be brave when the burden is great,Faithful when wounded by sorrow;

Teach me, when troubled, with patience to waitThe better and brighter to-morrow.

Spare me from hatred and envy and shame,Open my eyes to life’s beauty;

Let not the glitter of fortune or fameBlind me to what is my duty.

Let me be true to myself to the end,Let me stand to my task without whining;

Let me be right as a man, as a friend,Though a thousand false beacons are shining.

~ Edgar Guest ~

“No act of kindness, however small, is ever wasted”

~ Aesop ~

“PIctuRIng” ouR

last 100 yeaRs Part of our plans to herald the Annunciation’s 100th Anniversary include showcasing the people and life of our parish through the years. for tHis to Happen, we need our cHurcH family’s direct Help. If you have pictures of Weddings, Baptisms, Sunday School programs, Family moments and/or Festival endeavors at the Annunciation, we desperately want to make copies of your best pictures to include in a Commemorative Album and/or DVD.

heRe is how you can help:1) Select some of the best pictures in your collection of

family moments at the Annunciation. (For example, a wedding portrait taken in a studio is not applicable, a picture of the wedding service or reception in the Church is perfect!) Remember scenes from a Baptism, your “baby” graduating Sunday School, working at the Festival or having fun at a Church dinner are great windows into parish life. please include the date, oR at least the yeaR of the pictuRe.

2) Place your pictures in an envelope with: a. your name b. your e-mail & phone number. c. The number of photos submitted (This information is critical if we are going to be able to return the photos.) d. The date, or at least the year, of the scene captured in your photo.

3) There will be a bin on the cHurcH office credenza labeled ‘Incoming Pictures’ - place your envelope in it.

The parish will make copies of the pictures and will, within a few weeks, contact you when they are ready to be picked up from the bin on the cHurcH office credenza labeled ‘Outgoing Pictures.’

For a complete picture of life at the Annunciation in Little Rock over the last 100 years, we need images of your life at the Annunciation. please, Help us today!!!

THE PROMISE

a gRIm chRIstmas

by Srdja Trifkovic(first printed December 2011)

This Christmas let us spare a thought and say a prayer for the countless Christian victims of Muslim brutality, over the centuries and in our own time.

An explosion ripped through a Catholic church during Christmas

Mass near Nigeria’s capital Abuja on Sunday morning, killing at least 25 people. A radical Muslim group, Boko Haram, claimed responsibility for the attack and another bombing in the city of Jos, as explosions also struck the nation’s predominantly Muslim northeast. The Christmas Day attacks show the growing national ambition of Boko Haram, was responsible for some 500 murders this year alone. The assaults come a year after a series of Christmas Eve bombings in Jos claimed by the militants left at least 32 dead and 74 wounded.Nigerian Explosion

Egypt’s dwindling Copts have seen their position deteriorate over the past year from precarious to perilous. Already facing discrimination and harassment from Mubarak’s secular regime, they now see that things could get a lot worse under the Islamists who are poised to take power. Their annus horribilis started on New Year’s Day 2011, when a powerful car bomb targeted a Coptic church in Alexandria, killing 25 parishioners and wounding nearly 100 just as they were finishing midnight Mass. The next turning point was the Maspero massacre on October 9, when 27 unarmed Christian protesters were killed and hundreds more injured, not by some shadowy Islamic extremists but by the military. An official commission—established

by the Army—has unsurprisingly absolved the Army of all responsibility for the killings.

The country’s eventual transition to what passes for democracy in the Muslim world is going to make matters far worse for the Copts, who are fearful the army and courts will no longer be able to shield them from ever-greater discrimination and harassment. The writing is on the wall. The Freedom and Justice Party, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Muslim Brotherhood, won the second round of the three-stage parliamentary elections last Wednesday and Thursday, taking 38 of the 59 seats contested; an even more radical group, the Salafist Nour Party, won 13 seats. The adherents of political Islam, in other words, have captured 86 percent of all seats contested. Their spiritual leader is Sheikh Ali Gomaa, the Grand Mufti of Egypt, who in a recent video reminded the faithful that Christians are kuffar, or infidels. After quoting Quran 5:17 (“Infidels are those who declare God is Jesus, son of Mary”) he went on to declare that any association between a human and God (shirk) is the greatest sin: “Whoever thinks Christ is God, or the Son of God, not symbolically—for we are all sons of God—but attributively, has rejected the faith which God requires for salvation.”

The Sheikh’s position is eminently mainstream in the Muslim world, which may explain the fact that he is still hailed in the West as a moderate. Three years ago, in a U.S. News article titled “Finding the Voices of Moderate Islam,” Lawrence Wright described him as “a highly promoted champion of moderate Islam”: “He is the kind of cleric the West longs for, because of his assurances that there is no conflict with democratic rule and no need for theocracy.” His assurances, indeed… On this form watch out for the Coptic Exodus of 2012, on par with that of the Christians in Iraq since the “liberation” of 2003.

Iraq’s dwindling Christian population marked Christmas on Sunday with religious leaders calling for peace, days after attacks across Baghdad killed dozens. A week after US forces completed their withdrawal from the country, a senior bishop noted that little



hoW to Please the loRd

Of the many ways we can show the Lord just how important He is to us and our life, perhaps notHing is as meaningful as when we come to worship Him at His House at tHe appointed time. To do this regularly is an unquestionable expression of love towards the Lord. It speaks volumes about the content of our heart, the fervor of our faith and the importance of Christ in our life. Let us all strive to attend the Holy Services of the Church from the very beginning and thereby glorify the Lord all together as a Christ-centered church family.

SUNDAY SERVICES

matins, 9:00am divine liturgy, 10:00am

the PastoRal message(Continued from page 4)

saints that have gone before us. They authenticate the trail and the worthiness of the effort, while Jesus Christ validates the struggle and guarantees the outcome.

Finally, is it always possible for us to be 100% focused on the Lord and appreciate His presence in our life? Perhaps not. But if we always strive to take up the Cross and are serious about following Him in our life, one thing is certain; Jesus Christ will never leave us behindor allow us to be utterly lost.

My brothers and sisters in Christ, God is so very good to us! It may seem He asks much of us in order to follow Him, but at the same time we must bear in mind that He in turn loves us more than we know how to love. Therefore, let us deny ourselves the fleeting pleasures of sin and rebellion. Let us take up the cross, and for the love of Jesus Christ, for the love of all that is Holy and right, let us follow Him!

Rev Dr. Nicholas J. Verdaris

thanksgIvIng seRvIce

There is no better way for Orthodox Christians to celebrate and honor one of the most noble of national holidays than to gather as a Church family and praise God for all the blessings He has given us - in His Holy Church. This year before you finish or start to cook the turkey, mash the potatoes, and prepare the table for family and friends, let us gather at the Annunciation on wednesday evening, November 21st, and together as a faithful Church family, let us offer the Lord our God true thanks.

The Divine Liturgy will begin at 6:00pm. Let us all make some time to thank the Lord this Thanksgiving.

save the date

Parish Assembly

Sunday,December 2nd, 2012

THE PROMISE

FIghtIng FoR chRIst

at chRIstmasby Fr. George Morelli

Orthodox Christian parents (and all Christian parents) are approaching the Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ. You would never know this however, by watching secular media. Most in the media see Santa and shopping as the start and end of Christmas, now renamed as the bland and non-descript “Holiday Season” (will it still remain a Holiday when the Holy Day of Christmas is finally forgotten?).

Think back when poems like Clement C. Moore’s “A Visit from St. Nicholas” (we know it as “Twas the Night Before Christmas”) was part of the cultural mainstream. Today political-correcteness prohibits any mention of the poem because of its implicit religious tone. Consider just the first few verses: Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house, Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there. The children were nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.

Two sins against politically correct dogma are already committed in these opening lines. The first is the mention of the word “Christmas,” and the second is the word “Saint.” “Sugar-plums” passes muster of course.

Sound extreme? It shouldn’t. Poll children under fourteen and see how many of them know the Christmas standards like “Joy to the World” or “O Little Town of Bethlehem.” You will find that most don’t know them at all. They will, however, be able to sing “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer,” “Jingle Bells,” maybe even “Sleigh Ride” with no problem at all. There is nothing inherently wrong with these songs, but Christmas is more than innocuous fun -- or so we once believed.

a “Holiday” Quiz

Parents, take this quiz and then give it to your children:> What are you thinking about, what are the “Holiday visions” dancing in your head?> What are you really looking forward to as the “Holidays” are approaching?My experience as a parish priest is that most answers

from our children would be: the toys, gadgets or clothes they want to receive. Most adults would answer the family meal and getting together with relatives and close friends.

In the secular world the answers above merit an “A+.” If life has no religious dimension, if God is not a part of personal life, then He will be abstracted from the culture as well. What then is left, except the accumulation of more things? From a Christian perspective however, the answers merit an “F.” Remember the words of Christ: “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also,” (Mt. 6: 21). These words of Christ were actually part of the “Sermon on the Mount, in which Jesus expounded on what the Kingdom of God required. “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal,” (Mt 6: 19-20). How far we have strayed from the teachings of Our Lord on His Kingdom!

tHe ortHodox cHristian domestic cHurcH

In Orthodox teaching, all commitment to Christ must begin in the home. All teaching about what is the essence of the Kingdom of God, must begin in the home. Thus, if the handing over of Tradition begins in the home, so does the breaking with the past that leads to the home becomes secularized. In Orthodox Christianity, the home is called the domestic church, correctly implying that all Christian teaching is first cultivated in the home, and then in the parish community.

The conception of the domestic church arises from home churches of early Christianity. As Christians were no longer welcome in the Jewish temple, they brought vestiges of synagogue worship into their homes along with the early prayers of the church and the Eucharist (the structure of this early worship is still evident in the Orthodox Divine Liturgy today). St. Paul talked about these home churches in his epistle to the Romans, when he said: “Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus ... greet also the church in their house” (Romans 16: 3-5). To the Corinthians he wrote: “The churches of Asia send greetings. Aquila and Prisca together with the church in their house, send you hearty greetings in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 16:19).After the Roman persecution of Christians was lifted and Christianity ceased being an outlaw religion with


Constantine’s Edict of Milan in 311, Christians were able to build their own churches. Nevertheless, the centrality of family as the center of church life was maintained. Even today the leaders of the domestic church are the husband and wife, mother and father. The words of Christ as recorded by St. Matthew (18:20): “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20), are especially relevant to His presence in the domestic church.

Husbands and wives are uniquely suited and equipped for domestic ministry. The inherent dignity and importance of the Christian parenting is revealed through a prayer read by the priest in the Orthodox wedding service when a couple is first married: “Unite them in one mind and one flesh, and grant unto them fair children for education in the faith and fear ...” This prayer embodies the Christ-centered parental vocation and reveals the theological underpinnings of the domestic church.

parents are tHe leaders and teacHers in tHe domestic cHurcH

Previously I wrote that ideally, a true Orthodox Christian domestic church in our day should look like (but is not limited to) something like this: Jesus Christ is at the center or hub. Husbands, and wives, as such, and as fathers and mothers, should be the leaders of the “church at home” in Christ’s name. They should bless one another and their children, bless the food which is partaken, give thanksgiving for all that God has provided (house, furnishings, etc.), thank God for health and talents, and lead by the sanctity of their conduct as well as their words.

We nurture the spiritual vitality of the domestic church in several ways. For example, parents can remember the Feasts of the Church with prayers, and the recitation of hymns used in the Orthodox Church that explain the significance of the feast, as well as the Epistle and Gospel readings of the day.

Daily scripture can be read and discussed. Daily prayers, at least at morning and evening should be part of the domestic church activities. All family members should take part in these prayers and readings. Following the Sign of Cross made by the father and/or mother, each family member may take a turn reading a line from the

prayers, scripture or reading texts of the day. The leaders of the domestic church should also be theologians and educators of themselves and their children imparting knowledge and practice.

How many know the full theological meaning of the Nativity Feast? If we don’t, we become susceptible the secularizing energy (fed by a commercial spirit) of the culture. Put another way, one of the most powerful things we can do for our families to counter the slide into the spiritual wasteland of the commercial culture is to deepen our understanding about the Nativity of Christ. Parents must teach themselves first, and then they can teach their children.

It starts way back in Genesis. Adam and Eve were made in God’s image and called to be like Him. They start out in Paradise with the potential of full union with God but still experienced testing. They failed the test by the sin of pride. They are cast out of paradise into the world and are disordered -- inclined to sin and destined for death. We are the offspring of Adam and partake of these same maladies.

God responded to this deep existential catastrophe in many ways -- all leading to the Incarnation of His Son. A signature event was the calling of Abraham (then called Abraam) our of a land riddled with paganism and polytheism. God made a covenant with Abraham that made him the leader of God’s people -- the people of the First Covenant (Genesis 17) -- and the “father of many nations.”

As the people grew in number and over the course of centuries various prophets emerged, among them Isaiah, who said that God would send a Messiah (a deliverer and king): Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, a young woman shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanu-el. He shall eat curds and honey when he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good (Isaiah 7: 14-15). The prophet described Immanu-el: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government will be upon his shoulder, and his name will be called “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David, and over his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and for evermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this” (Isaiah 9: 6-7).


THE PROMISE

a gRIm chRIstmas(Continued from page 6)

was being done to prevent a continuing Christian exodus from Iraq. As worshippers gathered for Sunday morning Christmas services, their churches were guarded by armored security vehicles, heavily-armed soldiers and policemen patrolling the surrounding streets and guarding rooftops. “Our faithful are like everyone in Iraq—they have fear,” Chaldean Bishop Shlemon Warduni told AFP. “They feel there is no peace, no security, so they go where they can live in peace. We don’t agree, we don’t want them (to go), but they say, ‘If we don’t go, can you ensure my life, can you ensure my job, can you ensure the future?’ … The government cannot ensure their lives, how can we ensure their lives?”

The Christian community in Iraq was some two million strong before the US-led invasion of 2003. Up to four-fifths are estimated to have left the country in recent years following a series of attacks by Muslim extremists. On October 31, 2010, an Al-Qaeda assault on a Baghdad church left 44 worshippers, two priests and seven security force members dead. “We have concerns about the US withdrawal, despite the security forces saying it will be safe,” says Louis Sako, Chaldean archbishop of Kirkuk. “There has been a failure to ensure the safety of Christians—the security forces are not sufficiently prepared to ensure the protection of Christians. Even though we have repeatedly asked to raise the level of security, the results are not encouraging.” According to Sako, 57 churches and houses of worship in Iraq have been attacked since the invasion, with more than 900 Christians killed and more than 6 000 wounded.

Syria has the largest Christian community in the region, some 2.5 million strong. Most of them are supporting President Bashar Al Assad amidst ongoing protests in the country. A Syrian Christian explained that they prefer “a brutal dictator who guarantees the rights of religious minorities to the uncertain future that Assad’s departure might bring.” It is not to be doubted that if the Obama Administration is successful in its stated

objective of bringing Assad down, the Christians in Syria will follow their Iraqi brethren into exile.

Two thousand miles further east, Asia Bibi, a mother of five children, is one of a dozen Christians in the province of Punjab currently awaiting appeal or execution under Pakistan’s scandalous blasphemy laws. On Christmas Day, after a year in jail, she will not be able to say prayers or to see her children and husband. She is being held in isolation, has not been allowed to bathe for over two months, and cannot stand unsupported. It is worthy of note that Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer was assassinated last January and Federal Minorities Minister Shahbaz_Bhatti was killed in March for defending Asia Bibi and criticizing Pakistan’s blasphemy laws.

Pakistan has a constitution that guarantees religious freedom, but murders, discrimination, and violent harassment of its small Christian minority are persistent. Any dispute with a Muslim—most commonly over land—can become a religious confrontation. Christians are routinely accused of “blasphemy against Islam,” an offense that carries the death penalty. Charges of blasphemy can be made on the flimsiest of evidence—one man’s word against another, and since it is invariably a Muslim’s word against that of a Christian, the outcome is preordained. The ease with which blasphemy charges can be made to stick has led to a spate of malicious complaints motivated by personal enmity and greed, especially for the Christians’ land. On many occasions Christians charged with blasphemy have been murdered before their cases reached the courts.

The scene is the same in Alexandria, Aceh, Istanbul, Prishtina, Karachi, Nazareth... Heavily armed police guard churches as hostile crowds look on. Wherever Muslim numbers dominate, Christians have reason to fear for their safety. The majority know Sheikh Ali Goma is right. The refusal of the People of the Book to acknowledge him, Muhammad, as the messenger of God doomed them to unbelief and eternal suffering after death (Kuran 5:72-73). Christians are mortal sinners and their condemnation is irrevocable: “God



youth mInIstRIes shIne at the 2013 chRIst encounteR Weekend

The weekend of October 20th-21st was certainly a blessed one for our Youth Ministries! Our GOYAns & jr. GOYAns explored some of the issues that they confront in the world and their relationship with Christ and His Church. Then as a dynamic extension of the theme of our retreat, participants visited Dorcas House to share some of our blessings by delivering a host of stuffed animals, board games and cosmetics, and then spending a few hours playing and interacting with children, babies and mothers there. To become a reality, this ministry completely depends on advisors, parents and volunteers to give up a huge chunk of their time and energy, and we are so very thankful to all those adults who offered their best for the cause of Youth Ministry at this year’s retreat. Thanks be to God and to all those who worked so hard to make it a Christ-centered and blessed weekend!

annuncIatIon

PaRIsh assembly

decembeR 2, 2012

AgendA

I. call to order & opening prayer

II. presentation and approval of minutes from General Assembly meeting on September 23, 2012, and from Special Assembly meeting on October 28, 2012

III. priest’s report

IV. parisH council report (including 2013 Budget)

V. treasurer’s report

VI. stewardsHip report

VII. sunday scHool report

VIII. scHolarsHip foundation report

IX. festival and golf tournament report

X. centennial project update

XI. old Business

XII. new Business

xiii. adjournment

THE PROMISE

celebRatIng

the 75th annIveRsaRy oF hellenIc college &

holy cRoss

at the annuncIatIon

“75 for 75”75th Anniversary Commemorative Album Contract

Payment Information(please PRINT clearly)

Name/Message as it will appear in the Album (please PRINT clearly)

For more information, contact Helen A. Carlos at (404) 790-3361 or via email at [email protected] local contact person is

Support Levels(please indiate level of support)

q INDIVIDUAL NAMEq EIGHTH PAGE q QUARTER PAGE q HALF PAGEq FULL PAGEq SILVER (full page)

q GOLD (full page)

$ 75$ 175$ 375$ 750 $ 1,075$ 3,750$ 7,500

q

st

s1937

HELLENIC COLLEGE

HOLY CROSS GREEK ORTHODOX SCHOOL OF

THEO

LOGY

1937 2012

Name

Address

City, State, Zip

Contact Telephone Email Address

Amount Enclosed $75 $175 $375 $750 $1,075 $3,750 $7,500

My Check payable to Hellenic College, Inc. is enclosed.

Please charge my credit card American Express Master Card Visa

Card Number _____________________________________________ Expiration Date____________________ Card Holder Signature ____________________________________________ Date ______________________

Hellenic College Holy Cross50 Goddard AvenueBrookline, MA 02445(617) 731-3500www.hchc.edu

Photos are accepted for full and half page ads only

Original Top Copy - Hellenic College Holy Cross Pink Copy - Donor

Copy and Contract Regulations: All copy and sponsorships are subject to the approval of the 75th Anniversary Committee. Commemorative Album photos will be repro-duced in black and white. Sponsors agree to protect the publisher from legal action based upon libelous statements or unauthorized use of photographs and other material in connection with sponsorships placed in the Commemorative Album. Please furnish “camera ready” ad if possible. If “camera-ready” ad cannot be supplied, the ad will be set in type specified by the 75th Anniversary Committee. Payment must accompany this form.

Many thanks to Gus & Irene Vratsinas and everyone in our Church family who made the memorable and historic visit of the Holy Cross Seminarians and Fr. Nick Triantafilou possible! It was a great blessing to have them all with us for a weekend and an even greater reminder of the joyful privilege it is to support Hellenic College & Holy Cross. As they celebrate their 75th Anniversary, let us keep in mind the wonderful work of our seminary and support it however possible.


FIghtIng FoR chRIst(Continued from page 9)

The Prophet Jeremiah added: Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: “The Lord is our righteousness” (Jeremiah 23: 5-6).

The prophet Micah told us the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem: “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days” (Michah 5:2).

King and Prophet David, in his beautiful Psalm 72 foretolds kings bringing Jesus gifts: “Give the king thy justice, O God, and thy righteousness to the royal son! ... may the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts! (Psalm 72:1,10).

When Jesus was born, He took on our flesh but remained God thereby enabling us to partake of His nature. In his second epistle St. Peter (1: 2-4) wrote: “May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, that through these you may escape from the corruption that is in the world because of passion, and become partakers of the divine nature.”

The whole life of Jesus, His teachings, the Last Supper, Calvary, His Death and the Resurrection is tied to this. Parents, the leaders, and teachers of the domestic church have to work with their children to make these connections between feasts such as the Nativity, all the other feasts of the Church.

some practical suggestions

Practical suggestions are always useful. Eastern Christians are well aware that the Advent Season starts on 15 November (about two weeks longer than Western Christianity). Religious Western Christians have a beautiful Advent practice: the Advent Calendar. This tradition has and can be modified for the longer Eastern

pre-Nativity Season. One such Orthodox publication to help in developing an Eastern Advent Calendar is by Speier and Finley. Many domestic church families will find this book helpful in constructing an Eastern Christian Advent Calendar. An alternative and fun project for some families would be to modify an already existing religious Western Advent Calendar themselves, with added quotes, from the Old and New Testament Scriptures such as the ones above, augmented with relevant sections of the Nativity icon.

Family prayer time and discussion of the passages is a beautiful way to prepare for Christ’s birth. The meaning of the gifts of given by the Magi (prophesized by Micah) and the giving and receiving of gifts today could be one topic addressed in the Domestic Church.

The quotes from the Church Fathers on the Feast of the Nativity, may be especially helpful. Some parents may need a refresher course in making such connections themselves. Ask the religious instruction school staff or the teachers in your parish community, or even your parish priest any questions you may have. They may also be a wonderful source for other discussion topics or projects.

Discussing within the domestic church how to keep the spirit of Christmas alive throughout the year would also be in order. Ask the children how to put into practice the often quoted phrase: “it is better to give than receive”. This spirit goes completely against the self-centered and materialistic culture we live in. It will probably be an uphill battle but always point to Christ as our model.

When gifts are received, tie this into being thankful and giving glory to God for all things. In this guise children can also be taught how to share what they have been given. Sharing can start first among family members and then extended to others.

tHe joy of cHristmas

In no way do I want to take away the joy of Christmas, especially for children. The cheer and glee on the faces of children, when they first look at the Christmas tree and the presents is so precious. The words of Our Lord who so loved children, comes to mind: Then children were brought


THE PROMISE

FamIly gIvIng and ReceIvIngBy Melissa K. Tsongranis

They shall not appear before the Lord empty handed; every man shall give as he is able, according to the

blessings of the Lord your God which he has given you. – deuteronomy 16:16-17

We are an indulgent society. If we want something, we get it. We love receiving gifts—gifts for birthdays, gifts for holidays, gifts for jobs well done, and even gifts for no reason whatsoever. Sometimes, we even indulge by buying ourselves gifts! Let’s face it—if we want something, we will usually get it. Unfortunately, this attitude rubs off on our children. So, how do we teach our children to give generously and receive humbly in an age of materialism? How do we let them experience the grace that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ described when he said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive”(Acts 20:35)? The first step is to make giving an important part of your family life. Modeling is critical—you can teach more with actions than with words. Lactantius, an early father of our church wrote, “Things that parents teach their children cannot have any weight unless they are the first to practice them.” Let your children see you giving to others. Let them see the joy it brings you. Let them become involved in giving in any way they are able from the time they are very young. Support charities by giving of your time, talents, and treasures as you are able. As your children grow, let them help you decide ways to give. Remind your children that there are no small gifts—to illustrate this read the Gospel lesson of the widow’s mite to them (Luke 21:1-4). She had nothing, but gave all for God. Even though her donation seemed insignificant next to the others, it was more significant to Christ because, “she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had.” Giving isn’t just charity—we regularly give to our loved ones for various occasions. Involve your children in buying presents or have them make gifts for them. The

most treasured gift doesn’t need to beexpensive but itshould be somethingthat has been givensome thought. If your children are buying a gift, onlygive them a certainamount to spend. Should the gift they choose cost more, have them earn the money through helping out around the house. Depending on their age, you may want to have them earn all of the money for the gift. Just as important as teaching your children about giving, is conveying the importance of proper receiving. It is not wrong for children to want gifts, nor is it wrong for them to accept gifts. However, there are a few helpful things to consider. First, just because your child wants something and you can afford it, doesn’t necessarily mean they should get it. Learning that what they want isn’t always what they need is an essential part of maturation. Children also need to learn that they can’t have everything immediately. If the item is appropriate for them to have, they can save their money if they really want it. In the process, they will learn vital lesson about money and its value. Research has shown that children who get everything they want have a higher incidence of antisocial behaviors as they grow into teenagers and adults (for more on this topic, read the book too mucH of a good tHing by Dan Kindlon). When your children receive presents, teach them to be grateful for them by sending thank-you notes—or if they are very young, draw thank-you pictures. It is necessary for them to understand that a special thing has been done for them. The final, but most important, thing for your children to understand is that everything we have has been given to us by God. He entrusted us with these things so that we can be good stewards of them. To be a good steward means we use our gifts in a way that would please God. A great story to illustrate this point to your children is The Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30). Remember, children love to give—think



check us out

Don’t forget our website: oRthodoxchuRch.com! It has an up to date monthly calendar, the latest edition of the Promise, sermons and all sorts of information. You can even contribute to the Church online! Find us on faceBook at “Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church” and “Like” us!

If you know someone who might be interested in being a vendor at the 2013 Festival, have them visit greekfoodfest.com - application forms and information are available online.

explore the Orthodox

Christian Faith

Let’s go deeper into the Word of the Lord and

the teachings of the Church!

We are going to continue to explore our

Orthodox Christian Faith in the light of

the Book of Acts.

All are invited - no previous experience or

expertise required, just a desire to grow in Christ!

WednesdAy, November 7th at 6:30pm

November 14th at 6:30pm

“Kindness is a language

the deaf can hear

and the blind can see”

- Mark Twain

2013 PaRIsh councIl electIon notIce

Elections for the Annunciation Parish Council will be held on sunday, decemBer 2, 2012. Please note that candidates and nominating witnesses must be members in good standing with the Parish for at least one year immediately preceding the date of the election and register as candidates in person.

Those men and women who love the Lord, are active in the life of the Annunciation, and have a sincere desire to serve Christ and His Church at the Annunciation and would like to be a candidate for a seat on the Parish Council must register as a candidate in person along with a witness by sunday, novemBer 18, 2012.

Then, in accordance with the Archdiocesan Uniform Parish Regulations, ALL candidates are required to meet with Father Nicholas on Sunday, novemBer 18tH for a review of expectations and duties of a Parish Council Member in order to be eligible to serve and be placed on the official ballot.

Joy chRIstmas PaRty

On sunday, decemBer 2nd, immediately fol-lowing the Divine Liturgy, we are planning a special afternoon from 12:30pm-2:00pm with a Christmas gathering to kick off the season. It will be an afternoon of games, crafts and Christmas fun. Please make sure to sign-up on the bulletin board if you plan to attend.

THE PROMISE

Happy BirtHdayto our parishioners celebratingduring the upcoming months!

NovemBer

November 1st . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lynn McDowellNovember 2nd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stephan MelnykNovember 3rd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cherine MattaNovember 4th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Peter Gess Mary HenryNovember 5th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stephanie WilcoxNovember 6th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Clair AlleyNovember 7th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .John Masching Irene VratsinasNovember 11th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sophia BuhayevskaNovember 12th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Morgan Bailey Andrew Bene Paul BeneNovember 13th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lyle Glass Gabrielle TurjmanNovember 14th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Helaina Harb John TerleaNovember 15th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Isabel WilcoxNovember 16th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jonathan Alley Jamie FotiooNovember 19th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Christina MyersNovember 20th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Pat ClowersNovember 22nd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Melissa HurstNovember 26th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Joyce HarbNovember 28th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hallie Ramser Kyro Sadaka

decemBer

December 1st . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cathryn Gillaspy Jana HunterDecember 3rd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kate MartinDecember 9th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ron HarbDecember 12th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Daniel KassissiehDecember 14th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pat Pappas

December 15th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Randy KassissiehDecember 17th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Grant AlleyDecember 19th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Elizabeth Hunter Presv . Maria VerdarisDecember 20th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pete StathakisDecember 21st . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jesse BurksDecember 22nd . . . . . . . . . . . . .Daniella Buhayevska Raouf KassissiehDecember 23rd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Susan McDowellDecember 26th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Toni StaleyDecember 27th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Grace Tidwell Stephanie VerdarisDecember 28th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kristin AlleyDecember 29th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Benjamin Alley

JaNuary

January 1st . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Eleanora DalyJanuary 3rd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Amberley Turjman John VerdarisJanuary 4th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nisreen Akel William Hronas Jeanne SpencerJanuary 5th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jason AlleyJanuary 7th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . James NixJanuary 8th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mary KarrantJanuary 10th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Heather AlleyJanuary 11th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Chris PappasJanuary 13th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jaegar Burks Josie Ging-Glass James RutterJanuary 17th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chad ButtsJanuary 18th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Steve VadenJanuary 21st . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Adam GianulisJanuary 23rd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Christopher HaddadJanuary 25th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mark Hunter Sophie SargentJanuary 28th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ammini MathenJanuary 29th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Randy AkelJanuary 30th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Essa Alley


centennIal uPdate

January 1, 2013 marks the 100th Anniversary of the

Annunciation in Little Rock!

gIvIng & ReceIvIng (Continued from page 14)

about all the drawings or trinkets made in school that your child has proudly presented to you. If we use our children’s natural inclinations toward giving and make a conscious effort to foster this, they will, as St. Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 9:7, “give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.” Here are a few ideas to get you started:

clean House - Periodically go through your house as a family and get rid of things you are no longer using—clothes, toys, etc. As a family, take these items and donate them to a local charity.

give tHanks - Always have thank-you notes handy and make a point to use them. If your child is old enough to write their own, take them to pick out their own stationary to write thank-you notes or have them make their own.

gift certificates - Get modestly priced gift certificates from local restaurants or fast food chains ($2-$5 dollar amounts) and carry them with you to hand out to homeless people asking for money. In this way, you can assure you are helping them to get a good meal and responding the Jesus Christ’s command to love your neighbor as yourself. If you want to know who your neighbor is, read The Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37).

create or Bake - Consider making gifts for people that you love. Create original Christmas ornaments to give to family members. You can visit a craft store for tons of ideas—you don’t need to be an artist to make something nice. Consider making cookies or other goodies to give out. Deliver them as a family whenever possible.

plan a “giving party” - Invite your family and friends over and ask them to bring a donation of some sort (toys, canned food, clothing, etc.).

As we head into this Christmas season, we challenge you to refocus your priorities. Put the attention on the Birth of Christ—preparing your children for the Feast of the Nativity rather than feasting on gifts. Give to the Lord by fasting, praying, and giving alms. Remember and teach your children that we have already received the greatest gift—Jesus Christ! The question we need to ask is what are we going to give Him?

Melissa Tsongranis is the associate director for The Center for Family Care of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.

THE PROMISE

a gRIm chRIstmas(Continued from page 10)

will forbid him the garden and the fire will be his abode… They blaspheme who say: Allah is one of three in a trinity; for there is no god except One Allah. Christ the son of Mary was no more than an apostle; many were the apostles that passed away before him.” (5:75)

As he progressed from a moral teacher to the secular ruler of Medina and master of people’s destinies, Muhammad made the final break with the Jews and Christians, who are fiercely denounced. The Muslims must be merciless to the unbelievers but kind to each other. (48:29) “Whoso of you makes them his friends is one of them.” (5:55) The punishment for resistance is execution or the cutting off of hands and feet from opposite sides. (5:33) Muhammad was no longer trying to convert; Allah is a repetitive polemicist rejoicing in infidel suffering.

Thirteen centuries of Islam have effectively eliminated Christianity from the land of its birth. The terminal decline of the Christian remnant in the Middle East has been accompanied by the indifference of the post-Christian West to its impending demise. Once-thriving Christian communities are now tiny minorities, and in most countries of the region their percentages have been reduced to single digits. Whether they disappear will partly depend on Western leaders belatedly expressing their outrage at Christian persecution. According to David Parsons, media director for the International Christian Embassy in Jerusalem, there is clear historic precedent for such outside intervention in the Arab/Muslim world to protect Christian communities:As Ottoman rule over the Middle East began to wane, the Great Powers moved into the region, each concluding deals with the Sultanate in Istanbul to provide protection to various imperiled Christian denominations. British envoys arrived to safeguard Protestant interests, France the Lebanese Christians, Russia the Orthodox folds. The Vatican also stepped in to aid certain sects… These Western interlocutors all brought with them schools, hospitals and other modern institutions, thus vastly improving the

education, health and job opportunities of the local Christians. With this benevolent influx also came advances for all peoples of the region. Some locals are sure to object to any renewed Western intervention on behalf of Middle East Christians as a form of neo-colonialism. But no one has territorial designs here anymore.

It is just a matter of plain human decency, Parsons concludes: “No coddling of Islamist regimes! Sanctions if necessary! Someone has to do something to help stop the endless bleeding of Eastern Christianity.”

It is a near-certainty, however, that that “someone” will not be the U.S. Administration of President Barack Obama.

If the Jewish or Muslim population of America or Western Europe were to start declining at the rate at which Christian communities are disappearing in the Middle East, there would be an outcry from their coreligionists all over the world. There would be government-funded programs to establish the causes and provide remedies. The endangered minority would be awarded instant victim status and would be celebrated as such by the media and the academy. By contrast, when the President of the United States visited Jerusalem in October 1994, he was steps away from the most sacred Christian shrines but did not visit any of them. He did not meet a single representative of the Christian community, which remained invisible to him. A decade later, as bus loads of American evangelicals stare at the Western Wall dreaming of a rebuilt temple that will provide an eschatological shortcut through history, the remnant of that community is on the verge of extinction—unseen and unlamented.

The one crucial difference between the Gospels and the Koran is God’s love and His desire to redeem sinners by way of sacrifice. Without sacrifice there is no forgiveness, no atonement and no reconciliation that gives meaning to life and creation. Without it, there is no salvation....

Dr. Srdja Trifkovic, an expert on foreign affairs, is the author of The Sword of the Prophet and Defeating Jihad. His latest book is The Krajina Chronicle: A History of the Serbs in Croatia,

Slavonia and Dalmatia.


AnnUnCIATIOn thanksgIvIng luncheon

sunday, novembeR 18th

Let us celebrate our blessingstogether!

AnnUnCIATIOn thanksgIvIng eve lItuRgy

Wednesday, novembeR 21st

Let’s Come Together and Give Thanks to the Lord!

you aRe InvIted!

tHe annunciation scHolarsHip foundation

invites you to a

wine tasting event on Saturday,

January 26, 2013

Tickets for this special occasion will soon be available for purchase from Scholarship

Board members. Save the date, invite a friend and

make plans for a wonderful evening that will help a wonderful cause.

thanksgIvIng Plans As we all plan to enjoy a splendid Thanksgiving Luncheon together as a Church family and thank God for our many blessings on Sunday, November 8th, we thank the wilcox family for underwriting this blessed gathering.

Let us also make that Sunday an

outreacH sunday!We all know a family member or a friend who has fallen away for the sacramental life of the Church or someone who might be curious about Orthodox Christianity. We are encouraging all of our parishioners to actively reach out and personally invite family members, friends and neighbors to join us for the Divine Liturgy (10:00am) on the 18th and then enjoy the Thanksgiving Luncheon with us.

“Each of us has an apostolic mission to

arouse the fervor of the Spirit in our brothers and

sisters.”~ St. John Chrysostom 396 A.D. ~

THE PROMISE

FIghtIng FoR chRIst(Continued from page 13)

to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people; but Jesus said, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” And he laid his hands on them and went away” (Matthew 19: 13-15). The important thing is to Christify all things. Keep Christ in Christmas. It adds to the joy.

tHe my-way secular Holiday

Unfortunately, as aggressive secularism takes hold in the culture, families leave off the important spiritual dimensions of family life. There are to be no mention of Christ, no blessings or prayer, worship, praise or thanksgiving. Names are changed (“Holiday Season” for example) to purposely eradicated the holiness of ancient Holy Days like Christmas from the cultural memory.

I wonder how many secularists know that the United States has an official legal holiday called “Christmas.” (U.S. Code TITLE 5 > PART III > Subpart E > CHAPTER 61 > SUBCHAPTER I). I fear a spate of apoplexy may break among secularist if they realized it. They would try to change Christmas to the Winter Solstice or some such neo-pagan celebration. Ever notice how neo-pagan terminology is perfectly fine for public use but references to anything Christian is met with vituperation? The evil one is alive and well.

a courageous cHristian response

Not too many years ago any public display of commitment to Christ was considered to be spiritually inappropriate. Reticence was prescribed and any behavior short of it was seen as hypocritical and pharisaical. This practice was based Christ’s indictment of the Pharisees: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness” (Matthew 23: 27).

Our Holy Spiritual Father St. Peter of Damaskos warned:Approval and gratitude, however, are due not to the man who receives the gifts but to Him who bestows them. ... Should such a person

thank the Giver, he does so in the same way as the Pharisee in the Gospel, and ways to himself, ‘I thank Thee, O God that I am not like other men’ (Luke 18: 11). The Evangelist -- or, rather, God, who know men’s hearts -- was right to say that he spoke “to himself,” for the Pharisee was not speaking to God .. God knew his self-applauding soul...(Philokalia, III).

Today, publicly acknowledging being a follower of Christ is considered socially and politically despicable. While martyrdom in today’s society is not physical, to witness Christ is to suffer psychological and social torture. True Christians are assailed, laughed at, mocked, reviled, verbally defied, and the brunt of scatological humor.

The root of the word “witness” is from the Greek word martaria. Thus to be a modern martyr for Christ is simply to declare oneself to be His follower and stand up for His teaching.

How do we witness for Christ? We can put a Nativity Scene on lawns or windows, as to be able to be seen by passersby. We could wear a Christ-birth centered pin on our clothes. When someone greets us with “Happy Holidays” we could answer: “Indeed Christ is Born -- Glorify Him (the standard greeting in Orthodox countries). We could start out a meeting with others with a similar statement: Have a glorious Feast of Christ’s-birth (some may not know the meaning of the word ‘Nativity’ -- ‘Christ’s birth’ is a phrase that should be understood by all). Children could be greeted with a phrase like: “Happy birthday Jesus.” Finally, let’s bring back “Merry Christmas!”

During a meal with family, friends, or acquaintances, one can say I would like to say prayer or blessing (this can be done throughout the year). Among non-Christians, or un-Churched people a simple statement can be very powerful: “I would just like to call to mind the birth of my Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ -- blessings to all.” Among those who are committed Christians, of course, recall of one of the scriptural passages referring to Our Lord’s birth can be recited and a more direct prayer can be prayed.

A personal rule of life I have adopted during this Nativity season is that I let no secular greeting by anyone go unanswered. My responses to secular greetings are given in charity but I too want to witness to Our Lord’s Birth: CHRIST IS BORN! GLORIFY HIM!


congRatulatIons!The Annunciation family joyously congratulates

nicK & KRisten plastiRas

who were joined in blessed

matrimony at the Church on Saturday,

September 29th. Mark & Jana Hunter

served as their sponsor.

May God grant you

many years of love & happiness!

abIde In me

Our personal commitment to the Annunciation determines what kind of parish we will personally maintain and grow to the glory of God in 2012. As the Lord’s cheerful and faithful “givers” let us all actively contribute to God’s work in the world through our parish with our 2012 Stewardship Commitment. Visit our website: www.ortHodoxcHurcH.com and find our 2012 Presentation, Stewardship booklet & card. One can complete a Stewardship commitment online or contribute directly to the parish via PayPal. We ask everyone who loves the Annunciation to please complete a 2012 Stewardship card and all together help to ensure that our parish is able to operate and minister to the glory of God through our individual commitment of faith, love and stewardship.

dallas touRnament tRaveleRs

Remember:We are leaving

on Friday, January 18th and returningon Monday,

January 21st.

The Travel & Hotel Payment is DUE to the Church no later than

Sunday, December 16th!

Keep an eye on the Sunday Bulletins andParish e-mails for all of the details!

a thought....

Anyone can love a thing because.That’s as easy as putting a penny in

your pocket.

But to love despite...To know the flaws and love them

too...

That is rare and pure and perfect.

- Patrick Rothfuss

THE PROMISE

WIsdom oF the FatheRs:

“A rich man is not one who has much,but one who gives much. For what he gives away...

remains his forever.”

- st John Chrysostom

the 2013annuncIatIon

chRIstmas cookIe PaRty

Is decembeR 9th!

The entire Annunciation Church family is invited to our annual chRistmas cooKie paRty! We want to get into the Christmas spirit together as well as explore everyone’s wide variety of Christmas cookies. The evening’s festivities will include a special performance and the best collection of homemade cookies to be found in Little Rock! This promises to be another memorable evening replete with Christmas music, joy and treats. the pRice foR admission to this exciting event - three dozen homemade cookies per household. please note, stoRe bought cooKies aRe not welcomed! We want to enjoy each other’s family recipes - not what the Keebler Elves or Sam Walton’s staff can make in a factory! Festivities will begin at 6:00pm. So prepare those 3 dozen cookies and let’s have some fun together.

annuncIatIon

young adult league

We are pleased to announce the launch of a new ministry at our parish, aimed at our parishioners ages 18-35, a young adult league (YAL): an opportunity for those who have graduated college and are starting their careers in Little Rock, along with our college students who come back to Little Rock during breaks & holidays to get together.

A preliminary round of emails has been sent,but please help spread the word about thisnew ministry!!! And if you have not been contacted or know someone who fits this demo-graphic, please forward new email addresses to Presbytera Maria: [email protected]. We are scheduling our first event in December to get everyone together around the holidays and plan for an active Centennial year.

Please remember to submit your 2013 annuncIatIonstewardshIp card


vasIloPIta - saInt basIl’s bRead

On sunday, JanuaRy 6th, the Annunciation Church family will celebrate one of the most beautiful and inspiring traditions of the Orthodox Church, the observance of the Vasilopita (Saint Basil’s Bread). It is an annual observance, together with many other traditions of our Church, which joins our Orthodox Faith with the history of the Christian religion itself. Our Ladies Philoptochos (Friends of the Poor) Society will use this blessed occasion to raise funds for the Saint Basil Academy - an Archdiocesan project to support and nurture youth & families in crisis. An auction will take place immediately following the Divine Liturgy. Donations will be taken and slices of Vasilopita will be available for our Parishioners to take home. The Annunciation Ladies Philoptochos wishes everyone a very Happy New Year!

WIsh ameRRy chRIstmas to

youR annuncIatIon FamIly

Help support the ministries of the Annunciation as well as share your Christmas love with your Church family by including your family name in the

annunciation community cHristmas card.

For $15 you can support the work of the parish and spread some love. Sign up and you can rest assured that everyone in our Church family receives your loving Christmas wishes. The LAST DAY to sign up for the Card is Sunday, December 16th - see Anna Clift or Eva Sargent.

“sPeakIng to god” by aRchbIshoP demetRIos

Speaking to God is a collection of more than 70 prayers written by His Eminence Arch-bishop Demetrios of America. The book was originally written in Greek in the 1960s. In its third edition in Greek (2010), the book has been re-cently translated into English and was released by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America on October 15th. An ebook edition will follow later this year. In addressing the focus of the book in the Introduction, Archbishop Demetrios states, “We should speak to God. We should present our problems to Jesus. We should set in front of Him our hard times and our disappointments. We should place our plans, our worries, and desires in His hands. This is the meaning and message that this book wishes to bring to the world.” Speaking to God has five sections or cycles, which include prayers on general themes and specific topics: (1) asking God to teach us how to pray; (2) talking to God about ourselves and our problems; (3) singing the praises of His glory and majesty; (4) entreating Him on behalf of our brothers and sisters; and (5) addressing the need for a real understanding of the Gospel. Speaking to God is a helpful resource for daily prayer. It offers strength and inspiration through prayers that guide conversation with God and find in Him the love, wisdom, and peace needed in all of life’s experiences. This new resource is available in both print and digital editions through the Orthodox Marketplace at www.orthodoxmarketplace.com. The proceeds, as with all the other publications authored by Archbishop Demetrios, will fund the Archbishop Demetrios Benevolent Fund.

THE PROMISE

house blessIngs!If you would like your home to be blessed for the New Year... this announcement is for you! As is the tradi-tion of the Church following the feast of Theophany, Ortho-dox Christians mayask to have their homesblessed by the priest with holy water. Be-ginning December 2nd and ending December 23rd, a sign-up sheet will be posted in Gabriel Hall for all those in the Church family who would like to have their home blessed for the New Year after Theophany.

please Help make tHis enormous undertaking orderly By registering during tHe montH of decemBer. All those who kindly register their name by December 23rd, will then be contacted by Father Nicholas after the feast of Theophany to make arrangements for a blessing.

seRvIces FoR the

Feast oF theoPhany &st. John the baPtIst

eve OF TheOphAnysmall blessIngs oF the WateRs

Saturday, January 5th 9:30am

TheOphAnythe gReat blessIng oF the WateRs

Sunday, January 6th

FeAsT OF sT. JOhn the BApTIsT:

Monday, January 7th 9:30am

2013 FestIval neWs

Everyone in our Church family is invited to attend a Festival Meeting on monday, novembeR 12th at 5:30pm with fellowship and Coney Island hot dogs, etc to follow. Furthermore, we are asking our Church family to help spread the word to any local non-denominational charity that would like to be considered for inclusion in the 2013 Festival and encourage them to submit a letter to the Church Office expressing their interest along with a description of their work. all applications must be received at the Church Office by December 30th. Then we will all meet to get feedback on the Charities. This project is enormous, the more we all participate, the better off the parish, the charities and the Festival will be.

reMinder:all cHarity application letters for tHe

2013 festival must Received by decembeR 30th

for consideration!

you are InvIted!We are celebrating 100 years of Youth

Ministry at the Annunciation on

sunday, January 29th with a very special ItalIan spaghettI

luncheon!

All together let’s celebrate & honor the

JOY, Jr. GOYA andGOYA ministries!


chRIstmas seRvIces

With the celebration of Christmas we jubilantly celebrate and proclaim the fact that the Lord God Himself has miraculously condescended to take on our flesh in order for us, (His creation), to know Him better, draw closer to Him and be saved by Him. The celebration of such a momentous event naturally calls us together into His Holy House in order to sing His praises, express our love for Him and partake of His life-giving Body and Blood..

There simply is no Christmas holiday without worshiping Jesus Christ. There is no Christmas joy without assembling in prayer within His Holy Church. We as the Annunciation Church family, will have the great and high privilege to herald the birth of our Lord & Saviour together as follows:

monday, decembeR 24th

Christmas EveCandlelight ServiceVesperal Liturgy - 6:00pm

tuesday, decembeR 25th

The Feast Day of the NativityDivine Liturgy - 9:30am

annuncIatIon

chRIstmas luncheon

& PRogRam

The Annunciation will be hosting its annual Christmas Luncheon on decembeR 23Rd, immediately following the Divine Liturgy. You & yours are warmly invited!!!

During this very special luncheon our Sunday School students will also be presenting their annual Christmas Program - you will not want to miss it. It is also rumored that a very jolly fellow may even pop in for a visit. Please join us!!!

Let’s Have a Merry CHristMas

togetHer!

‘For to us a child is bornto us a son is given,

and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be calledWonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.’- Isaiah 9:6

THE PROMISE

technology and PRayeR In

the Palm oF youR hand

Since the beginning of this millennium, computing has rapidly broken free from the desktop computer and has extended to mobile phones and tablet devices. Here is a sample of easy-to-access content for mobile devices:

tHe daily readings appYour mobile device is the easiest way to access the day’s Bible readings prescribed by the Lectionary of the Greek Orthodox Church. This app also lets you read about the lives of the saints or look up fasting

guidelines for each day right on your device.

====

arcHdiocesan scHool of Byzantine music’s Byzantine music & tHeory guide for ipadAn interactive edition of the Byzantine Music and Theory Guide is now available for Apple’s iBooks on the iPad. Embedded

audio examples accompany the music and text to assist you in learning Byzantine chant.

====

my ortHodox prayer Book - eBook editionThe eBook edition of the top-selling My Orthodox Prayer Book is now available. The cover was given an upgrade to match its new digital platform, but it contains the same great content. Full of the beautiful prayers of the Orthodox church, you can now take it with you on

your iPhone, iPad, Kindle, Nook and more!

arcHBisHop demetrios’ ways of tHe lord - eBook editionWays of the Lord: Perspectives on Sharing the Gospel of Christ by His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios is now available for all major eBook platforms such as the Kindle, Nook, iPad, iPhone and

Sony eBook Reader. Ways of the Lord is available at the Orthodox Marketplace, the official online store of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.

====

tHe Orthodox Christian Network The OCN, an agency of SCOBA, has been established to create a national, sustainable and effective media witness for the Orthodox Christian Church in North America. OCN produces high-quality programs and media tools for local parishes that reach people for Christ 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

current programs and services:

The Rudder: Features Liturgical Chant

The Ark: A 24/7 Internet radio station with contem-porary Orthodox music and teaching programs with some of the best Orthodox speakers in North America.

The Anchor: A 24/7 internet radio talk show station featuring the best of broadcasting of our numerous podcasts and interviews.

MyOCN.net: A popular Web site that hosts the programs listed above and other material, including The OCN Blog and articles from a number of Orthodox scholars, priests and lay theologians.


ancient faitH radioAncient Faith Radio is an application for the iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. The app gives you access to all kinds of Orthodox Christian content as well as our streaming radio stations. After you’ve downloaded and enjoyed the content, you can share it with your friends via Twitter, Facebook, or email. WiFi internet is required for iPod touch. For more information about Ancient Faith Radio, please visit: www.ancientfaith.com

Only JESUScan turn...

a mess to a message,

a test into testimony,

a trial into a triumph,

a victim into a victory,

HE is worthy to be praiSEd!

THE PROMISE

ouR centennIal

Our time has come to shine! And there are several ways for us to all commemorate our 100th Anniversary. If there is a way in which you can help us all honor the legacy of our parish, please step forward and or attend an upcoming Centennial Meetings.

1) puBlicity

We need a chairperson to help coordinate efforts to work with the press and community about this milestone.

2) commemorative alBum & dvd Having begun the process to collect pictures and

material. We want to explore the potential of off-setting the cost of the Album with advertising. We need someone to explore and advance this aspect of the project.

3) icon sHow

Father, Peter Gess & Robin Jones are exploring a venue for such an event that would expand its out-reach opportunities.

4) ortHodox cHristian forums

Invite (2-3) clergy to make presentations on Ortho-doxy one specific weekend for parishioners & gener-al public to discover more about our legacy of Faith.

5) a missions trip In celebrating our 100 years, to help sow the seeds in

order for others to one day celebrate a Centennial. Peter Gess is exploring this possibility.

6) parisH picnic

Presv. Maria is looking at have a “tasty” fellowship picnic in the park after a Divine Liturgy.

7) cultural nigHt Haitham Alley is exploring an evening fellowship

event featuring music, dancing, ethnic Hors d oeuvres or Pot luck.

8) a special taste of tHe mediterranean & golf tournament:

april 14tH & 15tH

Sam & Janet Alley / Steve & Anna Clift are heading up a very special “Taste of the Mediterranean” & Golf Tournament with Arkansas Children’s Hospital & Community Connections.

9) parisH centennial gala: septemBer 21-22, 2013 The Parish Council will heading up an evening for

our Church family to formally celebrate our blessings with the Archbishop & Metropolitan.

10) courtyard

To highlight and commemorate the legacy of the parish, the October Parish Assembly has approved the development of a Centennial Memorial Courtyard. An effort is underway NOW to raise commitments from parishioners for the Courtyard, and a meeting will also be scheduled for all those interested in participating in the process of making final selections from our designer’s and architect’s recommendations. If we raise the necessary com-mitments, then this proposal will be submitted to the Metropolis of Detroit for approval. If approved by the Metropolis, then construction would com-mence in order for the project to be completed by September 2013.

Our NEXT Centennial Meeting:

December 5thAll are encouraged to participate

and contribute!


the annuncIatIon thanksgIvIng & chRIstmas

chaRIty PRoJect

This year our Church family is invited to focus its spirit of generosity on a parish project that will directly help share the Gospel and spread the Good News of Christ amongst children in Albania.

In the 20th century, Albania fell under a dark veil of communism and suffered the most severe religious persecution in the world; all forms of religion were constitutionally prohibited and by 1991, more than 1,600 Orthodox churches and monasteries had been destroyed, and only 22 elderly clergy remained. Today, under the guidance of His Beatitude Anastasios, Archbishop of Tirana and All Albania, along with the help of Orthodox missionaries from the ortHodox cHristian mission center, the once decimated Orthodox Church in Albania has been resurrected and is beginning to flourish. Nonetheless, the effort to bring the light of Christ to a country where Christianity was ravaged and 60% of the population is now Muslim, is a herculean task.

This year, through the grace of God and with a lovingheart, the Annunciation Church family has the oppor-tunity to directly share the Gospel with the children of Albania through our 2012 Thanksgiving & Christmas Charity Project. The goal is to purchase Orthodox Chil-dren’s Bibles translated into Albanian for the children of that nation. If we are able to raise $5,000, nearly 2,500 Children’s Bibles will be purchased and distributed by O.C.M.C. missionaries. So for the next few Sundays, a Second Tray will be passed to try and raise the funds neces-sary to help bring the Good News to children who may have never heard the Truth. We have set a high bar, but the thought of 2,500 children able to discover the life in Christ is just too great of an opportunity for us not to aim high. In the loving spirit of the season, let us directly contribute towards spreading the Word of the Lord and extend the joyous light of Jesus Christ to the needy young people of Albania.

Let us help Spread the

Word of the Lord

Please bring an Extra Donation to offer for the Second Tray in order to purchase Albanian

Children’s Bibles.Checks should be made out to the annunciation

(and the memo should note the Albanian Bible Project)

Every donation will Help!

This Holiday Season Let’s share the

Good News!

THE PROMISE

Sun Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat

5

Parish Council Meeting6:00pm

45th Sunday of LukeMatins 9:00amDivine Liturgy 10:00am

Daylight Savings Time Ends

Luncheon Discussion


Philoptochos Meeting


Parish Thanksgiving Luncheon

PC Candidates Meeting


19

26

7

Orthodox Bible Study6:30 p.m.

14

Orthodox Bible Study6:30 p.m.

21

Entrance of Theotokos

& Thanksgiving Eve Divine Liturgy 6:00pm

28

6

13

20

27

1

8

15

22

HappyThanksgiving

29

2

9

16

23

30

3

10

17

24

dec. 1

AnnUnCIATIOn gReeK ORThOdOX ChURCh1100 nApA vALLey dRIve, LITTLe ROCK, AR 72211

Rev. DR. Nicholas J. veRDaRis, PastoR

novembeR 2012


3

10910th Sunday of Luke Matins 9:00amDivine Liturgy 10:00am

Parish Christmas Cookie

Party


Parish Assembly &Parish Council Elections


23Sunday Before NativityMatins 9:00amDivine Liturgy 10:00am

Christmas Luncheon & Program

30Sunday After Nativity Matins 9:00amDivine Liturgy 10:00am

24

Christmas Eve Liturgy6:00pm

31

New Year’s Eve Liturgy6:00pm

5

Centennial Meeting 6:30 p.m.

12

19

26

2

4

11

18

25Christmas Liturgy

9:30am

Merry Christmas!

1Happy

New Year!

6Feast of St. NicholasDivine Liturgy 9:30am

13

20

27Feast Day of

Saint StephenDivine Liturgy 9:30am

3

7

14

21

28

4

8

15

22

29

5Eve of TheophanyLiturgy 9:30am


AnnUnCIATIOn gReeK ORThOdOX ChURCh1100 nApA vALLey dRIve, LITTLe ROCK, AR 72211

Rev. DR. Nicholas J. veRDaRis, PastoR

decembeR 2012

THE PROMISE


7Feast of John the Baptist

Liturgy 9:30am

6Feast of TheophanyMatins 9:00amDivine Liturgy 10:00am

Philoptochos Vasilopita Celebration

1413 Sunday after Theophany Matins 9:00amDivine Liturgy 10:00am

20 12th Sunday of Luke Matins 9:00amDivine Liturgy 10:00am

GOYA Basketball Trip


Celebrating Youth Luncheon

21GOYA Basketball Trip

28

2

9

16

Orthodox Study Class6:30pm

23

30

Orthodox Study Class6:30pm

1Happy

New Year!

8

15

22

29

3

10

17

24

31

4

11

18

GOYA Basketball Trip

25

February 1

5Eve of TheophanyLiturgy 9:30am

12

19 GOYA Basketball Trip

26Scholarship Foundation

Wine Tasting Event

2Presentation of the Lord

Liturgy 9:30am

AnnUnCIATIOn gReeK ORThOdOX ChURCh1100 nApA vALLey dRIve, LITTLe ROCK, AR 72211Rev. dR. nIChOLAs J. veRdARIs, pAsTOR

JanuaRy 2013

November - December 2012 Promise

Documents

Transcript of November - December 2012 Promise