The Promise

maRch - apRIl 2013

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

dates to RemembeR
Great Lent BeGins annunciation Feast Day Luncheon Feast oF the annunciation PhiLoPtochos Lenten Luncheon hoLy Week BeGins

InsIde thIs Issue

Pastoral Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 2013 oCMC Mission teaMs . . . . . . . . . . 6 My VoCation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 news & notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 goya tournaMent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 lenten serViCes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 the enthroneMent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 haPPy Birthday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Pursuit of gods PeaCe . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 holy week . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Parish asseMBly agenda . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Calendars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
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maRch 18th

maRch 24th maRch 25th apRIl 21st

apRIl 27th may 5th

Pascha

THE PROMISE

n reconsidering the Gospel according to Matthew Chapter 4, Verses 12-17, and with respect to our celebration of our parishs centennial year, we do well to prayerfully reflect upon the commencement of Christs public ministry, consider the ways each of us will build up the body of Christ in Little Rock through the application of our God given talents, and ultimately rejoice as the words of the Prophet Isaiah are fulfilled culminating with the statement: light has dawned. But to consider all of these things is obviously much easier said then done. Down through the ages, one of the great follies of mankind has been to consider Jesus Christ in terms of a distant and long-past presence; to regard following the Lord as a futile and burdensome attempt to swim against the tide of a sophisticated society and conclude that genuine rejoicing is the by-product of man-made efforts or concoctions. Such errors in perception and understanding make it hard to be an honestly faithful Christian in the 21st century. After all, no one wants to be found clutching at straws or clinging to faded memories.

pastoRal message
The reality is that the kingdom of heaven is in the process of unfolding as we speak. The sin and turmoil that rages can neither thwart His kingdom nor extinguish His light. Instead, all of the evil and depravity that assaults us are the last gasps of a fallen world whose time is running out. The hatred that assails us, the moral ambiguity that surrounds us and our personal up and down daily battle with sin is NOT evidence that the light of Christ is in danger of fading. We are NOT in the midst of a period in which the light of Christ is struggling to remain lit! Instead, the fact of the matter is that every single day the darkness and decay of the fallen world is actually losing ground to the coming fullness of His Light. Hence, we do NOT hope for the light to dawn, we know that the light of Christ has dawned.

The Light Has Dawned!

Just as the first rays of the sun start to crack the pitch dark skies in the wee hours of the morning, Christs light has dawned and there is no stopping it. And if we know enough not look at the sunrise and wonder if the morning will ever come, neither should we doubt that the day of the Lord is emerging... even as we speak. The light has dawned! We must be more than hopeful or even cautiously optimistic. We must walk confidently in His light. The world is far from perfect, it is certainly still draped in darkness, but that does not mean it has prevailed or that it will reign forever. Jesus Christ has come! The light has dawned! He cannot be contained or constrained. His kingdom Has no end! (Continued on page 4)

So despite the avalanche of struggle, sorrow and strife around us, the fact of the matter is that Orthodox Christian men and women do not cling to a remote hope that the light will someday perhaps appear. No! To the contrary, we recognize the fact that Christ has indeed come and the light has dawned! Our Lord and Savior is not a distant historical figure! He is present amongst us right now. We do not wrestle with the question of IF He will save us. What we must ask ourselves is whether WE will choose to walk in His Light.
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ouR condolences

The Annunciation family notes with sorrow that our brother in Christ, RichaRd TuRney, the beloved brother of our very own Darla & brother-in-law of Mike Harb, has fallen asleep in the Lord.

Make your legacy of love for your parish eternal, remember the Annunciation in your Will.

The Annunciation family notes with sorrow that our brother in Christ, Thurlo lee, the beloved grandfather of our very own Sarah Lee, has fallen asleep in the Lord.

WIsdom
If you love Christ God, then endure as He endured, and do all that is pleasing to Him. He taught and did. Unfailingly your love also should be such as does good, endures, is disturbed by nothing present, and in everything ever thanks Him not with words and tongue, but with very deeds. You must love Him with heart, with mind, with your whole soul, strength, and mind.
~ Abbot Nazarius of Valaam ~
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The Annunciation family notes with sorrow that our brother in Christ, GeorGe Kassissieh, the beloved brother of our very own Issa & brother-in-law of Sultaneh Kassissieh, has fallen asleep in the Lord.

The Annunciation family notes with sorrow that our sister in Christ, aspasia DiamonDuros, the beloved sister of Presvytera Harriet & sister-in-law of Fr. Pierre Delfos, has fallen asleep in the Lord.

The Annunciation family notes with sorrow that our sister in Christ, sara Thomas, the beloved mother of Joe & mother-in-law of Deena Chacko, has fallen asleep in the Lord.

May their memory be eternal.

THE PROMISE

the pastoRal message

(Continued from page 2) We need to be confident. NOT because our life is perfect or easy, but because our faith tells us that His Word is Truth and our hope in Him is real. We must be buoyed by the fact that because the light has dawned, Christ is actually in our midst! As long as we commit ourselves and our whole life to Christ, we cannot be overcome or defeated by the gasps of a fallen world whose time is running out. So now is the time for the frustration and anger in our life to give way to peace for the light has dawned. Now is the time for all of our arguments and complaints to be cast aside because the light has dawned. Now is the time for the spirit of laziness and indifference to be abandoned for the light has dawned. Now is the time for idle talk to yield to the truth of Christ, and idle hands and minds to find ways to productively serve His Church of the Annunciation. Because there is no doubt or question, the light has dawned. None of us know for sure what lies ahead of us, either individually or as a parish. But if we need assurance, the fact of the matter is that the Annunciation in Little Rock is dynamic proof that the light has dawned. By mortal standards there is no logical reason for this parish to be standing in the middle of Little Rock, more than 2,000 years after its leader was crucified. And there is not enough luck in the universe for a small community of Orthodox Christians to survive, let alone thrive, in the middle of Arkansas for 100 years. There is simply no explaining us or this parish except for the simple fact that the light has dawned. Our Orthodox Christian faith does not endure because the slogans are special, the organization is unique or the stories are compelling. It thrives because Christ, the light of the world, has come. Our parish has not reached its Centennial Anniversary because it has found a secret winning formula. It stands today through the
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Grace of God as indisputable proof that the light of Christ has indeed dawned. Beloved, let us bask in His light and embrace His Way. Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us rejoice in the fact that the light has dawned and will never end!

Rev Dr. Nicholas J. Verdaris

a hIstoRy lesson....
Of all the dispositions and habits, which lead to political prosperity, Religion and MoRality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of Patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of Men and Citizens. The mere Politician, equally with the pious man, ought to respect and to cherish them. A volume could not trace all their connexions with private and public felicity... Let us with caution indulge the supposition, that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect, that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.
President George Washington, September 17, 1796

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pIctuRIng ouR past 100 yeaRs

If you have pictures of weddings, baptisms, Sunday School programs and/or Festival endeavors at the Annunciation, we want to make copies for the historical record of the parish and for use in the celebration of our Centennial. Time is runninG ouT for submissions! Please offer 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, while a picture of the wedding service or reception at the Church is perfect! Remember that 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.

thank you!!!
The Annunciation Church family extends its heartfelt thanks to all those who offer their time and talent to ensure that all of our holidays at the parish are such a joyous blessing to all. We thank all those who prepare and clean-up after Luncheons and who organize the programs. We also want to especially thank gordon & martHa tyer who underwrote our 2012 Christmas Card. We are a very blessed Church family!

here is how To help:

1) Select some of the best pictures in your possession and try to 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.

Our very own Mary Cantrell enjoys a private audience with His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.

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!!!
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THE PROMISE

2013 ocmc oRthodox mIssIon team oppoRtunItIes noW avaIlable!

In 2012, 135 Orthodox Christians shared their faith through loving service as part of an OCMC (Orthodox Christian Mission Center) Mission Team. They witnessed baptisms, healed the sick, strengthened the foundations of the Church, and brought the love of Christ to people around the world. They answered the call to make disciples of all nations. Is 2013 your time to share in this journey of faith? OCMC is excited to announce the 2013 Orthodox Mission Team opportunities. This year, team members will have the opportunity to share the Orthodox Christian faith by offering evangelism, catechism, health care, construction, and youth ministry in seven countries around the world. 2013 Mission Team dates and opportunities include:

annuncIatIon stewardshIp card!

congRatulatIons!
The Annunciation family joyously congratulates

Please remember to submit your 2013

Offer workshops on Christian stewardship to both clergy and laity in four regions of Uganda.

uganda - teacHing (3/8/2013)

Earn credit hours while immersed in the daily renewal of faith in Albania.

albania - teacHing (5/20/2013)

who were joined in blessed matrimony at the Annunciation on Saturday, January 12th. Benjamin Diggins served as their sponsor.

Daniel & nina Sbanotto

The Annunciation family joyously congratulates who had their marriage blessed at the Annunciation on Saturday, February 9th. Brock & Christina Martin served as their sponsor.

uganda - HealtHcare (5/28/2013)

Provide healthcare services to the people of Uganda.

Jr & CryStal MCCoy

alaska - teacHing (6/9/2013)

Teach in three Bethel-area villages that will come together for catechetical seminars.

may god grant you many years of love & Happiness!

(Continued on page 25)

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annuncIatIon FelloWshIp gRoup shInes

hoW to please the loRd

cooks FoR the aR pedIatRIc FacIlIty

ouR young adult league

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

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THE PROMISE

my vocatIon In the FamIly

by Albert S. Rossi, Ph.D.

Man enters deeply into the texture of the world through his family alone.
- Fr. Alexander Elchaninov

to live in tHe kingdom of god, now

In the Our Father, I am taught to pray, Thy Kingdom come, the strong implication is (as C.S. Lewis notes) that the Kingdom can and should come here and come now, in my heart and in the world at large. The Divine Liturgy is replete with similar invitations calling everyone to enter into the Kingdom of God, here and now. What, precisely, is the Kingdom of God? And, even more pointedly, how do I enter it? Reflecting on the meaning of the Kingdom of God by looking at St. Pauls epistles, one Orthodox theologian explains that from the human perspective and experience, the Kingdom of God is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17). He goes on to say that my experience of the Kingdom is a special kind of joy, namely, joy which is a gift from God and often found in affliction and suffering for others. St. Paul states this clearly: Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake (Colossians 1:24). This is a rather eloquent statement of what I can expect and how I am to live in our family life. I can expect from my family, both family of origin and present family, deep joy mixed with intense suffering. Within family ties, life is often most personal and most emotional. The personal and emotional suffering may come from a brother or sister, father or mother, husband or wife, son or daughter. Of one thing I can be rather sure, that some of my family members are likely to break my heart, over and over. Any other expectations seem to be unbiblical. The suffering may come from the realization that some of my unrealistic expectations
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are being emphatically dashed to the ground. I may realize that my marriage partner is, unabashedly, not a living knight in shining armor or a precious princess in distress [as in Disney fairytales or other fallacies of our popular culture. - NTK]. I may gradually understand that my sister or brother is doing a whole lot of narcissistic damage to a whole lot of people. The agony might come from a deteriorating parent, from an acting-out teenager, or from a chronicallyill or alcoholic sibling. The upset may be of a more generalized and free-floating type. I may be keenly aware that much of the time the fragmentation of my home bears little resemblance to a symphony playing harmonious music. The excruciating emotional pain tears at the heart of the person(s) lives so close to my heart. Precisely in family distress and family affliction can the New Testament message ring most real, most profound. In the family, the question How do I enter the Kingdom of God? finds an answer. I enter the Kingdom of God by finding joy, overflowing joy, superabundant joy, the joy found in the Holy Spirit, because of and within the heart-ripping suffering experienced and the blessings given in my family. The joy of the Holy Spirit is inextricable based upon suffering. But I am not here to look for suffering or to create it, only to live it as it enters my life. I turn from suffering to joy by accepting, embracing, and working with the reality that these persons are my family, and therefore Gods family for me. My family members are weak and sinning human beings who, by definition of living in a fallen state, will wound and seriously offend me. My vocation is to live fully within this sometimes fractured and sometimes united lifestyle, love all my family members through it all, and to try to sustain the gift of a joyful disposition which is from the Spirit. The Orthodox view of the family, then, stands in polarized opposition to the prevailing American cultural view of family. For the Orthodox Christian, a family is not primarily a group of persons who provide mutual comfort, ease, predictability, and security from loneliness. The family is not primarily a warm hearth and the smell of baking bread. The family can be those

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things, but hopefully it is much more. Infinitely more. Primarily, the family is a God-chosen group of persons with whom I most intimately live the life of Christ, that is the agony of Christ and the joy of the Resurrection, simultaneously at times. back from going over the edge and, if I did go over the edge for a time, it was He who sustained my very life, being more present to me than I was to myself. For me, those times of beautiful weakness (the weakness St. Paul mentions) may be times when I learn that indeed I can live and love here and now, with these flawed family members, and that I can love boundlessly. I experience this because I can yield to the infinite, wondrous love of God living through me and directed toward my family members. Precisely in my vulnerability and sheer inability can I accomplish what my love limits would not otherwise allow me to accomplish. At these moments I can experience the fullness of casting my burdens on the Lord. At these moments I can know, with the marrow of my bones, that it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. This becomes an experience of a miracle in my life, of being personally touched by the hand of God and enabling me to love more than I ever thought was possible. I become a sign of contradiction because I perceive, probably erroneously, that I am loving in certain ways that other members of my family are not. In reality, all of us in the family may be living signs of contradiction, living a life of love maximally within each unique personality structure. Each may be living apparently unrequited love in different ways. Gods ways are not my ways. Gods calling to each member of a family will be uniquely personal, and probably quite misunderstood by some other members within my family. I am called to try to live according to Gods ways, not mine.

to be a sign of contradiction
Jesus life was a sign of contradiction and, likewise, so must mine be. As life unfolds I realize I am called, within my family, to love as God loves. As this is progressively more understood, the power of the insight can be quite disarming, threatening to dismantle my defense system. This insight slowly evolves away from a meat-the-center perspective to a family-member-at-thecenter perspective. Basic questions begin to change. I can no longer ask, When does my turn come? or How about my fair share? or [as the song says] What about me?. Now I realize that I am called to give in some areas which will be quite unrequited, or so it will seem. This might be financial, social, sexual, occupational, educational, religious, psychological, or spiritual. Of one thing I can be rather sure, that it will seem to me that in certain ways I will be giving to my family members and it is quite unreciprocated. As the God-life grows within me toward my family members, I can also be rather certain that I will come to the point where I feel I have no more to give. Maybe I feel Im getting older. Maybe I feel Ive gone to the well once too often. Maybe I feel Im already beyond my real love limit. Regardless of the reason, most adults arrive at the cutting edge, the flash point where they become aware that they may not have enough to give to ensure that they, and those around them, can maintain a sane lifestyle. Its an overwhelming terror to come up against the parameters, the barbed-wire fence around ones capacity to love. Adults are then over the edge, living in a temporary state of suspended animation. This experience may open the door, be the connection, enhance my relationship with the Infinitely Sustaining God. I am aware, cogently, that it is and has been God who, all along, is the one who has continually kept me

to be a living pray-er
I, like everyone else in my family, have a grand task, the royal calling, the priestly vocation to pray arduously for the other members of my family, especially the alienated and alienating members. This is a nononsense calling which I am probably not fulfilling adequately, probably not even minimally. If I think I am, (Continued on page 18)
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THE PROMISE

2013 Great & Holy Lent BEGINS March 18th

Philoptochos * Lenten Luncheon * Sunday, March 21st

embRacIng the beauty oF the annuncIatIon

One of the great feasts of the Holy Orthodox Church and the blessed feast day of our parish is on the horizon! On March 24th & 25th let us pause to honor the example of steadfast faith and obedience embodied in the person of the Theotokos as well as celebrate the gift of salvation that unfolds with the great feast of the Annunciation. It is the feast day of our parish and a celebration of an exquisite way of life.

The Feast of the Annunciation

maRk youR calendaR!

HiS eMinenCe arCHbiSHop DeMetrioS of aMeriCa anD HiS eMinenCe Metropolitan niCHolaS of Detroit are scheduled to visit the Annunciation to celebrate our Centennial FeaST day Luncheon GReaT VeSpeRS aT 6:30pM

Sunday, MaRch 24Th

SepteMber 21St & 22nD

Come and join us in thanking God for the Annunciation in Little Rock, Arkansas!
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diVine LiTuRGy FoR The annunciaTion 9:30aM

Monday, MaRch 25Th

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the FestIval pastRy pRoject needs Your help!

We are asking for members of our Church family to please find some time Monday through Friday between 9:30am - 2:30pm to come to the Church kitchen and help prepare some of our delicious pastries for the Festival. This monumental project cannot be fulfilled without everyones help. The more people who come to help with this endeavor, the more manageable the entire mission.

ouR paRIsh councIl

With the blessings of His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas of Detroit, the following men and women have accepted the task of serving the ministry of the Parish Council at the Annunciation in Little Rock. ricHard akel mike bailey anna clift peter gess ron Harb raouf kassissieH dean moutos eva sargent kevin wilcox We thank the aforementioned brothers and sisters in Christ who have offered themselves to labor for the good of our parish and to the glory of God. By working together with Father Nicholas, the future of the Annunciation in Little Rock remains bright.

Cant commit to a week? How about a day? How about a few hours?
Please see Anna Clift or Pat Diggins if there are any questions

the annuncIatIon needs heR Flock!

On holy friDay, may 3rD, EVERY able man, woman and child is invited to help decorate the Sepulcher & Church in anticipation of the Lamentations and Pascha Services. It is a tradition in our Church to make Holy Friday a day of prayers and service centered at the Church. It will begin with the service of the Royal Hours at 9:00am and then all together we will help prepare the House of the Lord for the great and sacred events that unfold within it thereafter. Please plan to attend the service at 9:00am in the morning and then stay afterwards to participate in this sacred undertaking. As we hear at every Liturgy, the Lord blesses and sanctifies, those who love the beauty of His House.

May our Lord bless His servants on the Parish Council!

save the date

Parish Assembly
Sunday, March 31, 2013
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THE PROMISE

2013 ament l To urn sketbal a

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many thanks!
As the pictures highlight, a great time was had by all who participated in this years GOYA Basketball Tournament in Dallas. While athletic ability on the basketball court is by no means necessary to participate and enjoy this wonderful outing, we are pleased to announce that some our youth were recognized by the Tournament: Oksana Pavliv and Hayden Huckabay were selected as mosT Valuable players. Above all, we are pleased to note that again this year all of our GOYAns beautifully embodied the very best attributes of our Church family in all facets of the trip and Tournament. Our Church family must also make sure to give special thanks to the adults who, along with Fr. Nicholas, made this worthwhile excursion possible: heaTher alley, sTephanie alley, lee bailey & chrisTopher mouTos (graduates of our GOYA ministry), along with mike bailey, catHerine burks & presv. maria, and our very special assistant coach Jaeger Burks. Our Church is not only blessed to be able to provide our youth with such opportunities, but we are also fortunate to have adults willing to make such events feasible. Without the commitment of our entire parish, the Christian integrity of our youth and the sacrifice of parents, GOYA graduates and advisors, such events would be impossible. Thank God for the Youth Ministry at the Annunciation!

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THE PROMISE

ouR covenant WIth chRIst

On the Sunday of Forgiveness, we were all invited to consider the great love of God and the manner and means by which we will choose to respond to Him. In order to help us focus on this blessed endeavor and put this spiritual journey in its proper perspective, everyone in our Church family has been invited to make a personal covenant with the Lord. Hopefully, this call to action will help those who choose to participate to grow in their relationship with Christ through the instructions and disciplines of the Holy Orthodox Church. This covenant is meant to be a source of motivation to greet each day of Great Lent with even greater determination than the day before. The call to fasting, prayer and almsgiving is open to all. Hopefully, the covenant witH cHrist will again motivate everyone in our Church family to embrace the services and work of Great Lent & Holy Week to the glory of God. We especially invite the younger members of the Annunciation, ages 12-18 (with a little help from their parents) to establish some important Lenten goals if they choose to participate in the covenant witH cHrist. In addition to their faithful Sunday Divine Liturgy attendance and whatever other means they will personally employ to honor our Lord and Savior during this most sacred season, our young people are being asked to attend at least one lenten service eacH week of great lent: Wednesdays Presanctified Liturgy at 6:30pm or Fridays Salutation Service at 6:30pm, for a minimum of four services during great lent. (There are 11 evening services in Lent and taken into account is a possible absence for those going out of town for Spring Break). In addition, during Holy Week the youth are asked to commit themselves to attend every single evening service of Holy week (this means seven evening services in addition to the two day services of Holy Friday which are a part of their responsibility in attending the Good Friday Retreat), for a grand total of nine services during Holy week. Then in order to support and acknowledge such a faithful commitment, the Annunciation Church family will present those members of the GOYA who choose to complete
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this covenant witH cHrist at the conclusion of the Resurrection Service on Holy Saturday with a blessed symbol of love. parents, as you personally strive to fulfill your own covenant with the Lord, please help your child grow closer to Christ by encouraging them to embrace this spiritual challenge. Nothing would be more beautiful than for men and women of all ages who consciously walked the Lenten journey to herald the Resurrection of Our Lord during the wee hours of Pascha 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: the young adult league (YAL). The YAL is 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 and holidays, to get together. A preliminary round of e-mails have been sent, but please help spread the word about this new ministry!!! If you have not been contacted or know someone who fits this demographic, please forward new e-mail contacts to Presv. Maria: mariaverdaris@gmail.com.

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Well Done!
It is with great joy that we note that the Annunciation Church family was able to raise $5,000 during the holidays for the purchase 2,500 chilDrens bibles to be distributed by O.C.M.C. missionaries to orphans in Albania. Such faithful kindness enabled our parish to plant the Word of the Lord amongst those who need it the most. It also speaks to the beautiful fruit that is possible whenever we personally contribute to advancing Gods Holy Church. May this spirit of Christian generosity continue to flourish in all of us and manifest itself at the Annunciation.

A VErY SPECIAL INVITATIoN To THE ANNuNCIATIoN CHurCH FAMILY:

On sunday, may 12th immediately following the Divine Liturgy, in the Cultural Center A Luncheon Honoring our Graduating Sunday School Seniors! Perfect Attendance Awards and Class Promotion Certificates! Teacher Recognition and Appreciation!
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Every donation Helped to Share the Good News of Christ!

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THE PROMISE

the upcomIng lenten seRvIces

MONDAY, March 18th

FRIDAY, March 29th Salutation Service: 6:30pm

Great Compline: 6:30pm SUNDAY, March 31st Matins: 9:00am / Divine Liturgy: 10:00am

Clean Monday

WEDNESDAY, March 20th Presanctified Liturgy: 6:30pm

sunday oF st. GreGory Palamas

FRIDAY, March 22nd Salutation Service: 6:30pm

WEDNESDAY, April 3rd Presanctified Liturgy: 6:30pm

FRIDAY, April 5th Salutation Service: 6:30pm

SUNDAY, March 24th

of

Sunday

orthodoxy

Matins: 9:00am / Divine Liturgy: 10:00am Great Vespers for the Annunciation: 6:30pm

SUNDAY, April 7th

Sunday

of the

holy CroSS

Matins: 9:00am / Divine Liturgy: 10:00am

MONDAY, March 25th

WEDNESDAY, April 10th Presanctified Liturgy: 6:30pm

Feast oF the annunciation

Divine Liturgy: 9:30am

FRIDAY, April 12th WEDNESDAY, March 27th Presanctified Liturgy: 6:30pm

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Salutation Service: 6:30pm

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SUNDAY, April 14th

makIng lent gReat

St. John CliMaCuS

Great Lent give us the opportunity to change for the glory of God! The choice for us this Lenten season is to either continue to follow the flawed routines of the past that have kept us from glorifying the Lord regularly and at the appointed hour OR to meaningfully change our ways and honor the Lord by attending the Divine Services faithfully and on time. Our spiritual life is in the balance! Either our life in Christ can be refreshed by faith in action, or we can fail to be vigilant about our spiritual life and keep His love at bay. This Lenten season, let us all redouble our efforts to gather at the Annunciation at 10:00am at the latest in order to worship our Lord and draw closer to Him and one another.

Sunday

of

Matins: 9:00am / Divine Liturgy: 10:00am

WEDNESDAY, April 17th Presanctified Liturgy: 6:30pm

FRIDAY, April 19th The Akathist Service: 6:30pm

SUNDAY, April 21st

Sunday

of

St. Mary

of

egypt

Matins: 9:00am / Divine Liturgy: 10:00am

easteR FloWeRs aRe needed!

In the celebration of Christs Holy Resurrection, flowers play a special role in the Churchs expression of profound joy. Not only is the Church beautifully adorned with flowers, but the very services and customs of Holy Week mandate the use of flowers. With that in mind, we can help support the liturgical expressions of Holy Week and Pascha by making an extra donation for these flowers that will play an integral role in heralding the life-giving news of Christs Resurrection. We seek extra donations for the following: $300 FoR hoLy Week $300 FoR paScha 24 poTTed FLoWeRS aT $10 each If you can make a donation of any kind to help the Annunciation meet this need, please see a Parish Council member or submit an offering noted as such to the Church Office.
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a youth choIR
We are exploring the potential of forming an Annunciation Youth Choir to sow the seeds of our Church Music unto the next generation as well as enhance the voices of praise from our beloved Choir right now. A sign-up sheet is posted in the hall for youth to register in order to gage interest, and then establish practice times. For more information or questions see William Hronas.

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THE PROMISE

my vocatIon In the FamIly

(Continued from page 9) that may be the clearest sign that I am not. Abba Agathon says that prayer is the hardest of all tasks. If we do not find prayer difficult, perhaps it is because we have not really started to pray. And Bishop Kallistos Ware continues this idea by saying, Prayer means that each day we renew our relationship with others (family members) through imaginative empathy, through acts of practical compassion, and through cutting off of our own self-will. Prayer, as the Fathers remind us, is first and foremost a way of life. As Theophan the Recluse states, But do not forget the chief thing, to unite the attention and mind with your heart, and remain there unceasingly, before the Lord. I know I am called to pray always and I know that I am called to love my neighbor (family member) as myself. It is also true that more than likely I grossly underestimate the real, practical, beneficial influence my prayer has on others (family members). I probably grossly underestimate the amount of love I deliver to my family members when I sincerely pray for them. As one theologian said, Prayer is the greatest gift that one friend (family member) can offer to another. Maybe when I pray for them, I am doing as much good for them as putting ointment on their bruises, or buying a useful item, or being physically and mentally present when someone has the need to talk. Praying for a family member does infinite good in some sense for that person. Praying for a family member can also help provide me the strength to put the ointment on the bruise, buy the desired item, and be authentically present with even more graciousness. Praying for a family member can enable me to have more imaginative empathy and practical compassion which Bishop Ware suggests. Of all my roles in my family, I still have the most to learn about how I am called to pray for my family members. Summary My vocation towards my family members is, in one sense, no different from my vocation towards every other living human being. With and towards everyone,
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I am called to live in the Kingdom of God now, to be a sign of contradiction, to be a living pray-er. However, as I specifically focus on my family and the tremendous undertaking God has called me to accomplish, I most assuredly can get a clearer sense of my vocation in the world-at-large. In the living of my vocation in my family, I can begin to experience what St. Paul means when he said, dying, and behold we live (II Corinthians 6:9-10).

As for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.

JosHua 24:15
Dr. Albert Rossi is a professor of psychology at Pace University, Pleasantville, NY, and has a private practice in family counseling.

We make a by what we get; we make a by what we give.

Winston Churchill

living

life

And the world passes away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. 1 John 2:17

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march - aPril 2013

the enthRonement oF the heavenly judge

carrying tHe cross toward exaltation by George Parsenios, PhD Every Gospel opens with the ministry of John the Baptist, who is the forerunner of Christ. But in the Gospel of John, the Baptist is more than a forerunner. He is called a witness. And he is not the only witness. Moses is also called a witness. The Scriptures are a witness. Even God the Father is a witness. Indeed, the entire Gospel is cast as the witness testimony of another John, the Evangelist (21:24). The language of witness suggests a legal tone, and is actually an important part of what scholars call the lawsuit motif in the Gospel of John. John has cast the entire ministry of Jesus as a trial. Jesus is constantly interrogated and challenged, and other legal terms like judgment or condemnation appear throughout the Gospel. For, Jesus opponents believe that they are gathering evidence and building a case against him that will lead to his crucifixion. But the central irony of the Gospel is that Jesus is not the one on trial. He is the judge. There is certainly a trial taking place, but Jesus is the one conducting it. The Father judges no one, Jesus says, but has given all judgment to the Son (5:22). It is in his final trial before Pontius Pilate that his role as judge becomes most clear. For, it is here that Jesus is enthroned on his judgment seat as King of the Jews. But he is enthroned in a particular way. A closer look at the Johannine Passion account will make clear the special character of his enthronement. The other Gospels tell us that Jesus is beaten, crowned with a ring of thorns and clad in a royal robe. Marks Gospel emphasizes that this is done to mock Jesus for claiming to be a King. The Roman soldiers are having fun with the would-be King of the Jews. John also includes the crown of thorns, the beatings and the royal robes, but he does not call them a mockery of Jesus. John understands the crown of thorns and the purple robe, not as the distorted ridicule of Jesus kingship, but as its very essence. This is what his kingship entails: to be beaten and to be given a crown of thorns. These are the required tools of his

office. This is the kind of King he is. And then, an even more surprising thing appears to happen. John 19:13 is usually translated as follows: When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus outside and sat on the judges bench at a place called The Stone Pavement, or in Hebrew Gabbatha. I have put in italics the phrase sat on the judges bench, because this typical translation is very likely incorrect. It assumes that Pilate himself sat down to judge Jesus. But it is possible to read the verse slightly differently, so that Pilate sat Jesus down on the judges bench. And, if Jesus is now seated on the judges bench, we see yet again that Jesus is not the one on trial, but the King on his judgment seat. This tribunal is led not by Pilate, but by Jesus, while Pilate and the Lords accusers are the ones facing a moment of judgment. And now that he has been invested with the tools of his office, we might expect Jesus to be recognized by his people. A worldly King, for instance, might be greeted with the acclamation Long Live the King. This is not what we get in John. Instead, when Pilate tells the people, Here is your King (19:14), they respond, Crucify Him! (19:15). But in keeping with all that we said above, the crucifixion is actually his exaltation. The Gospel of John often refers to the crucifixion of Jesus as his being lifted up. The Greek verb translated lifted up has two senses. The first sense refers to the physical act of his being raised up on the cross. But, the second sense of being lifted up implies that he is exalted and elevated in status. Through the humiliation of being lifted up on the cross, therefore, Jesus is really lifted up in royal exaltation. To make this even clearer, John never tells us that Jesus purple robe was removed before he was crucified. He is crucified with the robe still on his back, suggesting that his crucifixion is his very enthronement. The cross is the throne of his glory. So again, this is not a mockery of his kingly role, but its very essence. He is the Good Shepherd, who lays down his life for the sheep. This is the kind of King that Jesus is. And this is also the kind of disciple that Jesus requires. When he washes his disciples feet in John, Jesus tells the disciples that he has given them an example to follow. But it is not only an example of humble service. The foot (Continued on page 21)
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THE PROMISE

the satuRday oF lazaRus & you!

saTurDay, april 27Th 9:30am
This great and high feast day will begin with a very special DiVine liTurGy aT 9:30am. Not only does this service mark the dawn of Holy Week, but it is also our tradition at the Annunciation to celebrate this service in a manner that allows all those in attendance to better see and comprehend the elements of the service. Immediately following the Divine Liturgy, all those in attendance our invited to attend our annual annunciation youtH communion breakfast. After some refreshment and fellowship, our GOYA ministry will host our youngest parishioners in our annual youth easter egg Hunt. (All of our Youth are encouraged to prepare to receive Holy Communion on the Saturday of Lazarus together.) Finally, EVERY man, woman, and cHild will be needed to help prepare tHe palm crosses that are distributed on Palm Sunday. There is no expertise required to make this important religious symbol, only a willing spirit. If everyone will sacrifice a small portion of their day after the Communion Breakfast, this critical endeavor will be completed with ease to the glory of God.

holy FRIday youth encounteR

Every member of the Annunciation Goya & Jr. Goya is reminded that on Holy friday, May 3rd, we will be conducting our annual Holy Friday Youth Encounter. The program begins at 9:00am sharp, with the service of the Royal Hours and it will end at the conclusion of the Service of the Descent from the Cross in the afternoon. This annual tradition of the Annunciation is a perfect way for us to serve Christs Church as well as remain in His Holy Presence as we commemorate the Lords Crucifixion and Burial. In addition, this gathering is a perfect opportunity for us to spend some time with each other, work together and give glory to God. If you require a letter for school, please submit you name to the Church Office ASAP!!! Please note that all GOYAns are expected to be present at and participate in the Holy Friday Youth Encounter. Attendance is part of our Scholarship Foundation requirements.

aTTenTion Goyans! We need you to not only set the example by attending the Divine Liturgy on Saturday morning, but we also need you to share some of your precious time and many talents with the Annunciation to help ensure a special Saturday of Lazarus for all. We will need you to help make Palm Crosses and to conduct the Easter Egg Hunt. Please set aside some of your Saturday morning for the Church.
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This holy day by every definition is a day of prayer and a time for people to gather together at the Church in order to serve the Lord in word, thought and deed.

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march - aPril 2013

the enthRonement
(Continued from page 21) washing is a symbolic depiction of his death. For, when he washes his followers feet, Jesus first lays down his outer garments and then takes them up again. The phrases given here in italics call to mind what Jesus said a few chapters earlier, that the Good Shepherd lays down his life, in order that he might take it up again. The parallel phrases - lay down and take up - tell us that, when we see Jesus laying down his garments, we should hear the Good Shepherd speaking of laying down his life. When he washes the disciples feet, and tells them to do likewise, Jesus is really telling them to lay down their lives for one another, and to take up the cross and follow him. He is telling them that the servant is not greater than the master, and that, if the world hated him, it will also hate them. The followers of Christ must nevertheless be faithful as they approach and carry the cross, though its burden is sometimes great. For, we do not carry the cross aimlessly. Like John the Baptist and John the Evangelist, we are witnesses to Christ. And we do not carry the cross toward defeat. We carry it toward exaltation, for the Lord has reassured us with the triumphant promise, In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart, I have overcome the world! (John 16:31).
george l. parsenios assistant professor of new testament at princeton tHeological seminary

RemembeRIng ouR past

On Sunday, March 3rd, we offered a special Memorial Service for the very first priest of the Annunciation tHe very rev. arcHimandrite kallinikos kanellas along with all of the clergy who have ministered unto the Annunciation Church family over the past 100 years and now find rest in the kingdom of the Lord.

at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, the Annunciation Church family will offer a Memorial Service for the past Presidents of the Parish Council who have gone to pious rest as well honor all of the past Presidents who are with us and continue to serve the Annunciation in a variety of ways.

on sunday, april 21st,

Let us gather to thank God for our blessings.

is

a blessIng!
Congratulations to fuad & marena faraH who recently were blessed with a beautiful baby boy they named George, and then observed the ancient Old & New Testament custom of the Forty Day Blessing. May the Lord bless the Farah family as we herald this great joy. 21

check us out
Dont 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.

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THE PROMISE to our parishioners celebrating during the upcoming months!

Happy BirtHday

april
April 1st . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Liz Masching April 3rd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lisa Alley Katherine Verdaris April 4th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Kerri Moutos April 5th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Oleksandra Pavliv Brooklyn Zraick Kaitlyn Zraick April 6th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Caroline Lewis April 8th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Courtney Akel April 10th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Linda Haycook Sultaneh Kassissieh April 11th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Joseph Alley April 12th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Brody Arman Cindy George April 13th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Christopher Huckabay Ana Stathakis April 14th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jessica Alley Jerry Melnyk Grace Rutter April 15th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Kevin Wilcox April 16th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Garland Hurst April 24th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Art Mnatzaganian Will Ramser April 25th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Janet Miron April 26th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sam Cimino Kiki Plastiras Roxana Terlea April 28th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Antoine Yared April 29th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Madeleine Gess April 30th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Terry McCoy

MarcH
March 1st . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Catherine Burks Jacob Farah March 3rd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Nicholas Bell March 6th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Edward Farah March 8th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .K .V . Mathen March 9th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Monica Sadaka March 11th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Andreea Terlea March 13th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kristen Mirontschuk Sarah Paslidis March 15th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jim Pappas Martha Tyer March 16th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Nikolas Petropoulakos March 17th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Peter Petropoulakos March 18th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Forrest Abdo March 20th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Allison Freeman March 22nd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Amelia Bice Haytham Safi March 23rd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Helen Hronas March 24th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Tyler Alley Lee Bailey March 25th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mihaela Coman March 26th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Presv . Harriet Delfos Simon Gess March 27th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mark Mercer Matthew Wilcox March 28th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Giovana Stanford March 29th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jack Anaissie March 30th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Christina Hronas March 31st . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Zain Fanek Dean Moutos
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oRthodoxchuRch.com
FoR neWs, InFoRmatIon & tRIps doWn memoRy lane!
As we proceed to commemorate the 100 year legacy of our parish, we have set up a page on our website to help mark the fantastic occasion. It is under continuous development, but we currently have a historic time line of events and some picture pages, as well as ways to participate in our Centennial celebrations and commemorations.

Celebrating Century of ServiCe

Marking a MileStone: the Centennial MeMorial Courtyard

With the hope of honoring all those who have gone before us and with the intent of permanently marking the historic achievement of the Annunciations Centennial, we are inviting Church family members and friends to make a donation towards a Centennial Memorial Courtyard at the Annunciation. It is with great joy that we have reached our initial goal of $150,000 in pledges!!! We are now submitting the project to the Metropolis for approval and hope to collect the remaining amount so as to completely cover the costs of this historic project. Because of peoples faithful generosity, we can all look forward to September 21st & 22nd when Archbishop Demetrios of America and Metropolitan Nicholas of Detroit will bless this enduring reminder of the Annunciations Centennial. No matter the amount of the pledge, for the love of the beauty of Gods House and in honor of the Annunciations 100th Anniversary, please make a joyful commitment to the Annunciations Courtyard project!

In commemorating our Centennial year and in line with our parishs legacy, we have partnered with Arkansas Childrens Hospital and Community Connections for two very special fund raising events in April: the CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION GALA on Sunday, April 14th, and the CENTURY CLASSIC GOLF TOURNAMENT on Monday, April 15th. Our Church family members are asked to help spread the word as well as consider participating in these special events. For further information and/or tickets please see Eva Sargent. By contributing our blessings towards these two special events, we Honor the Lord our God, meaningfully Help children in Arkansas and beautifully commemorate the 100 year legacy of the Annunciation! Come celebrate with us!

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THE PROMISE

the puRsuIt oF gods peace In an anxIous WoRld

By Fr. Joshua Makoul The world in which we live is an anxious one, rife with fear and doubt. Economic markets rise and fall, employment fluctuates, conflicts erupt in unexpected places, and each year seems to bring a threat of some new virus that threatens mankind. We are all continuously faced with events outside of our control. As time passes the future takes on greater uncertainty. Indeed, it is often our struggle with uncertainty that plagues our spiritual life and gives birth to fear and worry, Our society today has seen a dramatic spike in what psychologists call anxiety disorders. Many who struggle with these conditions wrestle with trusting, with uncertainty, with not having control. Not all who struggle with fear and worry, however, have a disorder, for such struggle is universal and comes with living in the world. There are many secular treatments and potential remedies for anxiety. As Christians we have all these, and much more, at our disposal in our fight against fear and anxiety. To the challenge of not having control, we have the ultimate answer and solution: God is in control. Those who deny Gods existence or who do not turn to Him in their lives, deny themselves the greatest treatment for fear, anxiety, worry and doubt.
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Our God offers us something that the world cannot give us, and that is His peace. In the Gospel of John, our Lord tells us during the Last Supper, Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; . . . not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid (John 14:27). Gods peace is real and tangible. It is there for all who desire it. Jesus posits His peace as the opposite of fear, and says that His peace counters fear and a troubled heart. We also know that Gods peace has protective qualities to it. St. Paul writes in Philippians 4:7, And [may] the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, guard your minds and hearts through Jesus Christ our Lord. Gods peace is a gift of God and part of His grace. The peace of God is more than just a mere feeling, it is something given to those who genuinely desire God and a life in communion with Him. The peace of God comes from continual awareness of God, of His presence, and from communion with Him through prayer. It is a quiet contentment and joy that comes from knowing that God is present. To define Gods peace completely, however, would be an impossible feat, as confirmed by the Apostle Paul. The peace of God, and fear or anxiety, cannot coexist. Fear, doubt, and mistrust are of the devil. As Christians, we may fluctuate with having and preserving Gods peace inside us, only to lose our focus on God and become filled with fear and doubt. It is a struggle, but there are steps one can take to obtain and preserve the peace of God in our hearts. Indeed, the peace of God must be desired, pursued, and maintained. Prayer is the single most important activity we can do to obtain the peace of God inside of us, and to reacquire it if lost. When we go into our room, close the door, and genuinely seek God, we are opening ourselves for an encounter with the peace of God. Our God is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. The events in the world and at times even in our lives may seem chaotic and out of control, but they are not, for there is a beginning and an end. He is in control. When (Continued on page 26)

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FestIval notes
Attention Annunciation family: our Festival is quickly drawing near and if you are looking for a place or way to help this years Festival, please come forward! Some points to remember:

2013 ocmc oppoRtunItIes

(Continued from page 6)

albania - youtH work (6/14/2013)

Help administer a summer camp program at the Childrens Home of Hope in Shen Vlash.

Help the Church in Alaska enhance its youth ministry in the Kodiak Deanery.

1) pray.

alaska - youtH work (7/19/2013) kenya - teacHing (7/22/2013)

Without deference to God nothing is possible. Pray for good weather. Pray that He will help us bear this labor well in order to shine for Him.

2) VolunTeer.

This blessing and responsibility of our parish can not succeed without all hands on deck!

Teach the Orthodox Faith in Lodwar where a catechetical training seminar will be offered.

You can help the Festival by telling friends and neighbors, putting up posters and helping to distribute brochures via e-mail or Facebook. We all have to make sure that the Little Rock area knows about our Festival and you are our best source of promotion!!!

3) help spreaD The worD.

Offer seminars for church leaders of the Metropolis of Mwanza.

tanzania - teacHing (7/22/2013)

4) be a sponsor.

Help defray soaring food costs by purchasing a sponsorship in our forthcoming Festival Brochure. Details will be forthcoming, but keep in mind that every dollar donated helps the Festival ensure the continued growth of our parish and the wonderful charities we are sponsoring this year.

Work with OCMC missionaries in the western highlands of Guatemala to build housing at an Orthodox training center.

guatemala - construction (7/31/2013)

Share the Gospel and help plant the seeds of Christianity in Mongolia by teaching and evangelizing those in Ulaanbaatar who have begun to respond to the Good News of Christ.

mongolia - teacHing (9/23/2013)

Please remember that Festival Money will only be pre-sold. It will not be available for purchase during the Festival. These funds are non-refundable and can not be changed for cash. To place a minimum order of $100 please see Raouf Kassissieh.

5) fesTiVal money.

Work with local healthcare workers at the newly established Orthodox Health Clinic in Bukoba.

tanzania - HealtHcare (10/15/2013)

Please prayerfully consider your participation on an Orthodox Mission Team in 2013. Visit OCMC.org or contact Teams Director Andrew Lekos, by phone at 877/463-6784 ext. 140, or by e-mail at teams@ocmc.org, for more information or to apply.
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6) fesTiVal pasTry pacKinG.

When the time comes to start packing pastries, please pitch in! The more parishioners who help pack the pastries, the sweeter it is for our entire parish.

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THE PROMISE

the WoRd oF the loRd

Let not your hearts be troubled: believe in God, believe also in me.

In puRsuIt oF gods peace

(Continued from page 26) we bring ourselves into contact and dialogue with God, we are bringing balance and stability into our lives. That balance and stability, however, must be maintained. St. Isaac the Syrian often made analogies between how a ship sails from island to island, taking on supplies, and how we pray. We go through our lives sailing from prayer to prayer until we reach our destination. Each time we pray, we are taking on the peace of God which gives us balance and stability. Archimandrite Sophrony, a student of St. Silouan the Athonite, speaking of prayer, said, Prayer affords an experience of spiritual liberty of which most people are ignorant. The first sign of emancipation is a disinclination to impose ones will on others. The second is an inner release from the hold of others on oneself. It could be stated that Archimandrite Sophrony is speaking of the effects of the peace of God on ones soul. The peace of God has a liberating effect, for to allow oneself to fear what others think or to be driven to impose our opinion or will on others is to lose our spiritual and emotional balance. Indeed, the peace of God has a balancing effect on our lives as well. One step we can take to preserve the peace of God in us is to be cautious about what we expose ourselves to. As a society, we have become increasingly dependent on the media to keep us informed. We are depending, however, on a media that exploits our fears in order to boost ratings. It is to the medias benefit to create fear, doubt, and worry. To be dependent upon an institution that encourages fear and uncertainty is disastrous for our spirituality and brings us much unnecessary struggle. It is good for us as Christians to be informed, yet we must stay balanced, and beware falling into fear and worry and then repeatedly returning to the news for reassurance. Those who do this will only find more reinforcement for their fear. If we find ourselves in distress about something on the news, it is important only to give ourselves small doses, remembering always to turn it over to prayer. If a potential danger is (Continued on page 29)

John 14:1

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 2013. As the Lords cheerful and faithful givers let us all actively contribute to Gods work in the world through our parish in the midst of our Centennial year. Visit our website: ortHodoxcHurcH.com to find more information, complete a Stewardship commitment online or contribute directly to the parish via PayPal. We ask everyone who loves the Annunciation to please complete a 2013 Stewardship card and all together help to ensure that in our 100th year, our parish is able operate and minister to the glory of God, through our individual commitment of faith, love and stewardship.

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
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march - aPril 2013

SUNDAY EVENING APRIL 14

MONDAY APRIL 15

Centennial Celebration Gala

Century Classic Golf Tournament Chenal Country Club

Proceeds benefit:

SPONSORSHIPOPPORTUNITIES: Gold SponSor: $10,000

Includes participation in both the Centennial Celebration Gala and the Century Classic Golf Tournament ponsornameandlogo prominently positioned on S signage at all events ameandlogoprominently displayed on the website N ameandlogo in event program and promotional N materials ameandlogoon Community Connections website N ole sponsorship at Century Classic Golf Tournament H wogolfteams (total of 8 players) T wotablesattheCentennialCelebrationGala T (with16 admission tickets) ightVIPpassesto an exclusive private wine-tasting event E

Bronze SponSor: $3,000

Includes participation in both the Gala and the Golf Tournament ponsornameandlogo on signage at all events S ameandlogodisplayed on the website N ameandlogoprominently displayed in event program N ameon Community Connections website N ole sponsorship at Century Classic Golf Tournament H olfteam (4 players) G ourtickets to the Centennial Celebration Gala F woVIPpasses to an exclusive private wine-tasting event T

AdditionAl SponSorShip opportunitieS:

Century Classic Golf Tournament Team: $2,000 olf team of four players G

Silver SponSor: $5,000

Includes participation in both the Gala and the Golf Tournament ponsornameandlogo on signage at all events S ameandlogodisplayed on the website N ameandlogoprominently displayed in event program N ameandlogoon Community Connections website N ole sponsorship at Century Classic Golf Tournament H olfteam (4 players) G ableattheCentennialCelebration Gala (with 8 T admission tickets) ourVIPpasses to an exclusive private wine-tasting event F

Century Classic Golf Tournament HoleSponsorship:$500 ame placement on individual hole or tee sign N CenturyClassicGolfTournamentPlayer:$500 ndividual player in the tournament I ach tournament player goodie bag includes a baseball E autographed by Arkansas native and MLB pitcher CliffLee. CentennialCelebrationGalaTableSponsorship (seatseight):$1,600 ndividual tickets to the Gala: $200 (admits one) I

Events and participating charities are 501(c)(3) entities. As with any other tax-deductible contributions, please consult your tax adviser.

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THE PROMISE

2013 holy Week & pascha at the annuncIatIon

Saturday of LazaruS
April 27th divine Liturgy ~ 9:30am

may 2nd divine liturgy of SAint BASil the greAt ~ 9:30Am the Service of the crucifixion & pASSion of chriSt ~ 7:00pm

hoLy thurSday

PaLm Sunday
April 28th
Matins ~ 9:00am / Divine Liturgy ~ 10:00am

hoLy friday
may 3rd royAl hourS ~ 9:00Am (Youth Retreat ~ 9:00am) the Service of the deScent from the croSS ~ 3:00pm the office of the lAmentAtionS & the proceSSion of the Sepulcher ~ 7:00pm

the Bridegroom Service: 7:00Pm

PaLm Sunday evening

April 29th the Bridegroom Service ~ 7:00pm

hoLy monday

may 4th divine liturgy of SAint BASil the greAt ~ 9:30Am mAtinS & divine liturgy of the reSurrection of our lord JeSuS chriSt ~ 11:00pm

April 30th the Bridegroom Service & hymn of KASSiAni ~ 7:00pm

hoLy Saturday

hoLy tueSday

mAy 1St the liturgy of the preSAnctified giftS ~ 9:30Am the SAcrAment of unction ~ 6:00pm
(note the time change)
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holy WedneSdAy

great & hoLy PaScha

may 5th the AgApe Service ~ 11:30Am

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march - aPril 2013

In puRsuIt oF gods peace

(Continued from page 26) resolved, the media will not offer reassurance, but will often simply cease to report on the topic, as it has then become insignificant. As part of maintaining Gods peace, we do not want to feed our fear. Another step to preserve the peace of God in us is to walk and live according to Gods will, not just following His commandments, but also walking the path that He calls us to walk. As we hear noise when a car starts going off the road, so in our life we hear noise when we stray off the path that God has prepared for us. The noise in this case would be the loss of Gods peace. We then reacquire it once we have corrected our straying or wandering. Our work here is twofold: first we do

details. Sometimes we try to control even the events in our life that we clearly can have no control over. Indeed, the more we try and control things we cannot control, then the more out-of-control we may feel. This is one of the fastest ways to lose the peace of God in our hearts. Many feel that, by worrying, they are somehow doing something about the problem, and as a result get a false sense of control. In the end, however, the worrying exhausts them and leaves them void of Gods peace. The peace of God is a beautiful thing; it is there for each of us if we desire it. Assuredly, just as we miss the sound of a gentle wind blowing through the trees during a busy day, so we miss and take for granted the peace of God that is all around us. Pray in silence, flee from sin, stay on the path that is according to Gods will, guard your senses, and allow yourself to give up control and trust God. Truly then we can have the peace of God which surpasses all understanding, and which will fill our minds and hearts.
First published in October, 2011.

our best to flee from sin moment to moment in our life; and second. we keep our life on the path that is according to Gods will. When we sin, it is like the car going off the road; however, we can also lose our way completely and begin heading down a path that can lead to us becoming entirely lost. Such is the case when we try to live a life that is other than what God called us to live. We need to strive to live in a state of being attuned genuinely to Gods will. Such an open heart would readily become a dwelling place of the Holy Spirit, and not be subject to any distress from a lack of direction. Finally, and especially in todays world, we need to recognize the source of our anxiety, and consciously give up control, trust God more, and tolerate uncertainty, being at peace with not knowing all the
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THE PROMISE

paRIsh geneRal assembly maRch 31, 2013 agenda

I. call to order & opening prayer II. presentation & approval of minutes from 12/02/12 General Assembly III. priests report IV. parisH council report V. treasurers report VI. stewardsHip report VII. sunday scHool report VIII. scHolarsHip foundation report IX. festival & golf tournament report X. centennial proJect update XI. old business XII. new business xiii. adJournment

phIloptochos packs some love FoR ouR college students

outReach commIttee
meet & gReet schedule
March 3rd . . . . . . . . . . . Christopher Huckabay March 10th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jack Weatherly March 17th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Susan McDowell March 24th . . . . . . . . . . Christopher Huckabay March 31st . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jack Weatherly April 7th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Susan McDowell April 14th . . . . . . . . . . . . Christopher Huckabay April 21st . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jack Weatherly April 28th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Susan McDowell
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march - aPril 2013

ANNuNCIATIoN GrEEK orTHoDoX CHurCH

1100 NAPA VALLEY DrIVE, LITTLE roCK, Ar 72211

rev. dr. niCholaS J. verdariS, paStor

m aRch 2013
Sun Mon Tues Wed Thurs 1 Fri 2 Sat

Sunday of the Prodigal Matins 9:00am Divine Liturgy 10:00am

Memorial for the Clergy of the Annunciation

6
Metropolis of Detroit Clergy Retreat

7
Metropolis of Detroit Clergy Retreat

8
Metropolis of Detroit Clergy Retreat

9
Metropolis of Detroit Clergy Retreat

Parish Oratorical Festival

Parish Council Meeting 6:00pm

10

Judgement Sunday Matins 9:00am Divine Liturgy 10:00am Daylight Savings Time Begins

11
Centennial Meeting 6:30pm

12

13
Orthodox Bible Study 6:30pm

14

15

16

Saturday of the Souls Liturgy 9:30am

17

Forgiveness Sunday Matins 9:00am Divine Liturgy 10:00am

18

GreaT lenT beGins

Great Compline 6:30pm

19

20

21

22
Salutation Service 6:30pm

23

Saturday of the Souls Liturgy 9:30am

Presanctified Liturgy 6:30pm

24

Sunday of Orthodoxy Matins 9:00am Divine Liturgy 10:00am Annunciation Luncheon Great Vespers 6:30pm

25

Feast of the Annunciation Liturgy 9:30am

26

27

28

29

30

Presanctified Liturgy 6:30pm

Salutation Service 6:30pm

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THE PROMISE

ANNuNCIATIoN GrEEK orTHoDoX CHurCH

1100 NAPA VALLEY DrIVE, LITTLE roCK, Ar 72211

rev. dr. niCholaS J. verdariS, paStor

a pRIl 2013
Sunday of St. Gregory Matins 9:00am Divine Liturgy 10:00am Parish Assembly Presanctified Liturgy 6:30pm Salutation Service 6:30pm

Sun 31

Mon April 1

Tues 2

Wed 3

Thurs 4

Fri 5

Sat 6

Sunday of the Cross Matins 9:00am Divine Liturgy 10:00am

10

11

12

13

Presanctified Liturgy 6:30pm

Salutation Service 6:30pm

Sunday of St. Climacus Matins 9:00am Divine Liturgy 10:00am Centennial Celebration Gala

14

15
Century Classic Golf Tournament

16

17

18

19

20

Presanctified Liturgy 6:30pm

The Akathist Service 6:30pm

Sunday of St. Mary Matins 9:00am Divine Liturgy 10:00am

21

22

23

24

25

26

27
Saturday of Lazarus Liturgy 9:30am Youth Breakfast & Easter Egg Hunt

Memorial for the Past Presidents of the Annunciation

Philoptochos Lenten Luncheon

Palm Sunday Matins 9:00am Divine Liturgy 10:00am

28

29

30

Presanctified Liturgy 9:30am

May 1

St. Basil Liturgy 9:30am

Royal Hours 9:00am Descent from the Cross 3:00pm

Divine Liturgy 9:30am

Bridegroom Service 7:00pm

Bridegroom Service 7:00pm

Bridegroom Service 7:00pm

Unction Service 6:00pm

Passion Service 7:00pm

Lamentation Service 7:00pm

Pascha Services 11:00pm

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