The Promise

April / May 2011

Words of Wisdom
“Oh, what great happiness and bliss,
what exaltation it is to
address oneself to theEternal Father.
Always, without fail,
value this joy which has been accorded
to you by God’s infinite grace
and do not forget it during your
prayers;
God,
the angels and God’s holy men
listen to you.”

St. John of Kronstadt

Dates To Remember Inside This Issue

April 16th
Saturday of Lazarus & Communion Breakfast
Divine Liturgy 9:30am
April 17th
Holy Week Begins
May 14th
Taste of the Mediterranean
May 15th
Sunday School Graduation & Luncheon
May 20th, 21st & 22nd
International Greek Food Festival
Pastoral Message .....................................2
Reminders ......................................................5
Response to the Resurrection ...........7
Our Arkansan.............................................8
Lent & Holy Week Schedule ............10
Extinction Explosion ...........................13
Festival Reminder ...................................15
I am a Christian .......................................17
News & Notes ...........................................23
Youth Scenes............................................24
Birthdays ....................................................26
April & May Calendar .........................27
Page 1
THE PROMISE
Pastoral Message
A
s we continue our journey through Lent
and enter into the joy of Pascha, we are
reminded in dramatic fashion of our call
to take up the cross and follow Christ our
God. To most Orthodox Christian men and women
this commission does not sound particularly new or
dramatic. For the most part, we would like to think
that we all genuinely strive to follow the Lord. So it
may come as a surprise to realize, that despite the
growing number of Americans that claim no religious
allegiance whatsoever, a large segment of our society
generally describe themselves as followers of the
Lord. The problem is that there
is a world of difference between
being a “fan” of the Lord, and
a “follower” of His.
All those people who choose
Are We
to remotely appreciate what
Jesus has to say are “fans”, not Fans
followers. All those people who
look at the cross as a symbol
of Western culture or little
or
more than a trinket are “fans”,
not followers. And all those Followers
people who are vaguely familiar
with some of the customs
and traditions associated with
the Christian faith may be “fans”, but they are not
followers. After all, anyone who sits on the sidelines
and casually observes the action from a comfortable
distance is by every definition a “fan.”
Meanwhile, followers are always in the thick of the
action. Followers, take the words of the Lord to heart
and commit their whole way of life to Him and His
teachings. Followers look at the Cross and not only
see the sacrifice of Christ, but also understand the
personal responsibility that it represents. Followers
understand the practices and worship of the Church
are not quaint traditions, but instead the very manner
and means by which we walk in the company of God.
Unfortunately, many in the world would be shocked
Page 2
to learn that Christians are called to actively follow
Christ, not simply to like Him. Far too many people
on earth are literally betting their life that being a
“fan” of Christ will suffice. And such stunning risk
taking is perhaps best explained by virtue of the fact
that being a faithful follower of the Lord is indeed no
small task; it is a cross. Followers are commissioned
by Christ to go and make more people followers; while
“fans” find it easier to show up every now and again,
when the mood suits them. Followers are ordinary
men and women who choose to put themselves in
God’s hands, and look to be His instruments of peace
and love. “Fans” tell themselves
that they are fine just as they
are, and that the work of serving
Christ is better left to somebody
else.
As Orthodox Christian men and
women, we cannot overlook the
fact that the Apostles and the
Saints in every generation were
not observers, they were doers
of His Word. They were neither
genetically predisposed towards
holiness nor intrinsically smarter.
They were not born perfect
or given greater opportunities.
That which makes the Apostles, Saints and Orthodox
Christians in every generation different is the decision
to really follow Jesus Christ, rather than be mere “fans”
of His.
Obviously, the world may look at us (let alone all of
the renowned figures in the history of Christianity),
and snicker that based on our background, our
education or our past failures, we would be lucky
to be considered fans; but hardly capable of being
anything more. But knowing that in Christ, weakness
can be turned into strength, and that past sins can be
forgiven we have the confidence to follow Him. It is in
the realization that the new life in Christ depends on
(Continued on page 4)
 April / May 2011

Wisdom of the Fathers

Holy Friday
Youth Encounter
Every member of the Annunciation GOYA and
Jr. GOYA are reminded that on Holy Friday,
April 22nd, 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 the program 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 Christ’s Church as well as remain in His
holy presence as we commemorate the Lord’s
Crucifixion and Burial. 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 and participate in the Holy Friday Youth
Encounter: attendance is part of our Scholarship
Foundation requirements.
JOY members are also reminded that we have
planned a very special Lenten program just
for them on Holy Friday that will also begin at
9:00am with the service of the Royal Hours and
conclude with the Service of the Descent from
the Cross.
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.
“Every day you provide your bodies with
good to keep them from failing. In the same
way your good works should be the daily
nourishment of your hearts. Your bodies
are fed with food and your spirits with good
works. You aren’t to deny your soul, which is
going to live forever, what you grant to your
body, which is going to die.”
St. Gregory the Great
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 as an expres-
sion of love speaks
volumes about the
content of our heart, the fervor of our faith and the
importance of Christ in our life. Just as when our own
children do something we ask of them, not because
they “have to” but because it will please us, so too will
the Lord be moved by an ongoing commitment to
attend the services at the Annunciation punctually
with ready hearts, minds and souls. Let us all strive
to attend the Holy Services of the Church from the
very beginning and thereby glorify the Lord with
our worship as a Christ-centered church family.

SUNDAY SERVICES

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

Page 3
THE PROMISE
The Pastoral Message
(Continued from page 2)
Him and is maintained through faith in action that we
all know the way to be much more than fans of His.
The never changing truth of the matter is that one
cannot honestly be a follower of Christ without
actually following Jesus Christ. This means that we do
not merely gaze upon the Cross with a tender eye, we
are committed to lifting it up. It means that we do not
annually commemorate the Resurrection, it is a way
of life. This also means that we are only be mindful of
the sacrifice of the Lord, but for us and our sake, but
we are willing to pay any price for Him and His sake.
As followers, instead of “fans”, we cannot simply say
that Jesus Christ is our Savior; we must obey Him and
actively serve His will. As followers of Lord instead of
“fans”, we cannot remotely speak of the Church as the
Body of Christ; we must actively fulfill our part within
it. And though it may seem that being a follower of
Christ is a quite a challenge – let us be mindful of the
words of the Lord in the Gospel according to Mark
8:36: “What will it profit a man to gain the whole world and
forfeit his life?”
Brothers and sister in Christ, in the midst of this
most glorious season, let us renew our commitment
to truly follow Jesus Christ. Let us take up the cross
as followers of the Lord, and not merely be “fans” of
it. If necessary, let us lose our old way of life for the
sake of the Lord and as His followers, gain eternal
life. Let us from this day forward, let us look to obey
Him by boldly embracing, and then proclaiming,
His words to this ‘sinful and adulterous generation’.
In this way showing ourselves to be followers of the
Lord and not merely “fans” of His. Let us from this
day continuously rise up as followers of the Lord and
forever refuse to sit back as “fans” of His.
Rev. Dr. Nicholas J. Verdaris
Page 4
The Saturday of
Lazarus & YOU!
Saturday, April 16th
9:30am
The great & 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 are 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.
cd
Attention GOYAns: we need you to not only
set the example by attending the Divine Liturgy
on Saturday morning, but also 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 conduct the Easter Egg Hunt;
please set aside some of your Saturday morning
for the Church.
 April / May 2011

Our Condolences Congratulations!

The Annunciation family notes with deep sadness TheAnnunciation family
the passing of our beloved sister in Christ, Sue joyously congratulates
Akel, who has fallen asleep in the Lord. Timothy Assiter &
Michelle Roy, who
 were joined in blessed
matrimony at the
The Annunciation family notes with deep sadness Annunciation on Sat-
the passing of our beloved sister in Christ, Naimeh urday, February 12th.
Alley, who has fallen asleep in the Lord. Kaye & Mike Rutter
served as their sponsor.

As our heavenly Father receives the soul of these
His servants, let us continue to pray that all those May God grant you many years
who mourn will be comforted by the bountiful of love & happiness!
love of our Savior.

Let us keep all of these families in our prayers and

beseech the Lord to offer them His comfort and strength.
“May their memory be eternal.”
Thoughts on Motherhood
“On a flight to Florida, I was preparing my
notes for one of the parent education seminars
I conduct as an educational psychologist.

The elderly woman sitting next to me

explained that she was returning to Miami
after having spent two weeks visiting her six
children, eighteen grandchildren and ten
great-grandchildren in Boston.

Then she inquired what I did for a living.

“I will turn their mourning I told her, fully expecting her to question me
into joy, for free professional advice.

I will comfort them, Instead she sat back, picked up a magazine

and give them gladness and said, ‘If there’s anything you want to
know, just ask me.’”
for sorrow.”
Jeremiah 31:13 Happy Mother’s Day!
Page 5
THE PROMISE

The Annunciation’s
Lenten Charity Project:
Three Missions Priests in Kenya
"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father and of
the Son and of the Holy Spirit, "
Matthew 28:19

Orthodox Christianity came

to the people of East Africa,
not through the efforts of
a single missionary but
through Africans themselves
searching for the Church.
Fr. Elias In the 1920s a group
began corresponding with
the Patriarch of Alexandria
and in 1946 they were
formally received into
Orthodoxy. In 1958, the
Patriarch appointed the
first Metropolitan of All
Fr. Makarios East Africa and in 1972,
three African priests were
ordained bishops and
the construction of an
Orthodox seminary began.

Today, while the Church

in Kenya is growing, the
Fr. Thaddeos
needs have also grown ex-
ponentially. Mercifully, the
Lord has called men like Fr. Elias Mutsoto, Fr.
Makarios Ngugu and Fr. Thaddeos Wachira,
to serve. The need for priests is universal and the
tasks of these clergy are enormous. For in addition
to their own families, these priest are responsible
for the care of hundreds of parishioners in one
of the poorest regions on earth. This year the
Annunciation Church family has the opportunity
to not only celebrate the Risen Christ, but
through our generous support of these priests,
we can help share to the Good News with others!

Page 6

Our Response to the
Resurrection
by Fr. Stavros Akrotirianakis
Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen!
As it is every year, Holy Week was again a joyful time
for me. I’d almost call it a vacation. Some complain
about the long services—I rather enjoy them. Some are
glad when the week has come and gone. Oftentimes,
I am sad. Holy Week is supposed to be a time of self-
examination, reflection and renewal. For many people,
it is a time of obligation—we have to trudge to church
more than usual. For those who don’t attend often, it’s
maybe the one time a year they make the journey down
to church and when the week is over, many breathe a
sigh of relief—“Now I can eat meat again! I got my life
back!” And for those who come out of the woodwork
for Pascha, they recede back into it, not to be heard from
or seen again until Christmas or perhaps a wedding or
funeral.
Imagine someone giving you ten million dollars, just
because. That would demand a response, wouldn’t it?
Having received ten million dollars, it wouldn’t just be
business as usual, would it? Of course not! Life would
change. Perhaps you wouldn’t quit your job, but there
would certainly be new-found freedoms that you didn’t
have before.
And there would certainly be gratitude towards your
benefactor. And as you looked at your new-found riches,
which would impact your life on a daily basis, you
would be grateful to your benefactor on a daily basis
I would think. And I would think that that gratitude,
that recognition of this great gift would last for your
entire life. I would think that fifty years later, you’d still
be grateful and you’d still be thinking about the day you
received such a great gift. I have a hard time believing
that even one day would go by that you didn’t think
about your benefactor or the gift you received.
What is of more value, $10 million, or the Resurrection
of Christ? The answer is the Resurrection, because the
$10 Million will do you no good when you are dead.
April / May 2011
Faith in the Resurrection certainly will. But compare the
two events—a benefactor giving you ten million dollars,
and THE BENEFACTOR, Christ, giving you a path
to Paradise and hope for salvation. Having beheld the
Resurrection of Christ, if we truly believe in God, does
that demand a response? The week after Holy Week, is it
back to business as usual? Does life change at all because
we go through Holy Week each year? Just like the person
who receives the $10 Million, you don’t quit your job
because you witness Holy Week, but for the person who
truly believes in God, there are certainly new-found
freedoms that others do not have—freedom to hope,
freedom from fear, freedom from sin and guilt through
confession and repentance.
And there certainly should be gratitude towards our
benefactor. Just like the new-found material riches would
affect a life on a daily basis, spiritual treasures should also
affect our lives on a daily basis, and one would think that
there would be gratitude towards our Benefactor, the
Lord, on a daily basis. I would think that that gratitude,
that recognition of His awesome Gift to us during Holy
Week, would last a lifetime. I would think that at any
age, be it 25 or 55 or 95, you’d still be grateful and you’d
still think about the great gifts we have received from our
Lord—on the cross 2,000 years ago; our adoption as His
children at our baptisms; the beautiful world we enjoy
each and every day; and the chance for renewal that we
receive at the Resurrection.
At the Matins of Pascha, we hear a hymn which states,
“Let all things begin anew in the Resurrection of Christ.” It
doesn’t say “Continue business as usual tomorrow.” The
Resurrection demands a response, not because we are
obligated to do so, but because this event is so big in the
history of humanity and in each individual human life.
During Lent, the suggested book for my parish was “The
Way of a Pilgrim.” If you’ve never read this book, it is
a very easy read and I highly recommend it. The story
is about a wanderer in 19th Century Russia who seeks
the meaning of the phrase “Pray without ceasing.” (I
Thessalonians 5:17) He learns the Jesus Prayer (“Lord
Jesus Christ, son of God, have mercy on me a sinner.”),
which is also called “The Prayer of the Heart.”
(Continued on page 15)
Page 7
THE PROMISE

Page 8
 April / May 2011

Our Arkansan of the Year

(Reprinted from the March 2011 issue of Little Rock Soiree Magazine)

Page 9
THE PROMISE

2011 Holy Week & Pascha

The Upcoming Lenten at the Annunciation
Services



SUNDAY, April 3rd Palm Sunday Evening

Sunday of St. John Climacus April 17th
Matins: 9:00am / Divine Liturgy: 10:00am The Bridegroom Service ~ 7:00pm

 
WEDNESDAY, April 6th
Presanctified Liturgy: 6:30pm Holy Monday
April 18th
 The Bridegroom Service ~ 7:00pm

FRIDAY, April 8th

The Akathist Service: 6:30pm 

 Holy Tuesday

April 19th
SUNDAY, April 10th
Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt The Bridegroom Service &
Matins: 9:00am / Divine Liturgy: 10:00am Hymn of Kassiani ~ 7:00pm


SATURDAY, April 16th
Saturday of Lazarus Holy Wednesday
Divine Liturgy: 9:30am April 20th

 The Liturgy of the

Presanctified Gifts ~ 9:30am
Sunday, April 17th
Palm Sunday The Sacrament of Unction ~ 6:00pm
Matins: 9:00am / Divine Liturgy: 10:00am (note the time change)



Page 10
 April / May 2011




Holy Thursday
Holy Saturday
April 21st
April 23rd
Divine Liturgy
Divine Liturgy
of Saint Basil the Great ~
of Saint Basil the Great ~
9:30am
9:30am

The Service of the Crucifixion

Matins & Divine Liturgy of the
& Passion of Christ ~
Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ ~
7:00pm
11:00pm




Holy Friday
Great & Holy Pascha
April 22nd
April 24th
Royal Hours ~
The Agape Service ~
9:00am
11:30am
(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



Page 11
THE PROMISE
ty
uni s
mm on
Co necti
Co
n
If you are passionate about Golf and want to help a
critical fund-raiser for the Annunciation along with
super charities like Easter Seals & Community
Connections, consider supporting the 2011
GreekFest Golf Classic on May 16th! It is a
fantastic time that does great things for a player’s
body and soul. In these troubled financial times,
our participation and sponsorship are needed now
more than ever!
cbd
In addition, mark your calendars for Saturday,
May 14th and the Taste of the Mediterranean
Bash! This is going to be another “tasty” evening
that you will not want to miss. This annual event
is not only delicious and fun, but it also goes a long
way towards helping support the work of Easter Seals
& Community Connections and the ministries of the
Annunciation. Tickets go on sale soon!
cbd
If you would like to help with these critical
fundraisers of the Annunciation, please see
Haitham Alley, the more the merrier!
Page 12
A VERY SPECIAL
INVITATION
TO THE
ANNUNCIATION
CHURCH FAMILY
On Sunday, May 15th
immediately following the Divine Liturgy,
A Luncheon Honoring our Graduating
Sunday School Seniors!
Perfect Attendance Awards and
Class Promotion Certificates
Teacher Recognition and Appreciation!
Our Stewardship
As we prepare to herald the Resurrection of our
Lord & Savior Jesus Christ, let us keep in mind and
close to our heart the Holy House that the Lord has
entrusted unto us - the Annunciation. Through
our prayers, our presence, our generosity and our
service to the Church, together we can continue to
lift up the Resurrected Light of Christ before the
world. These are indeed challenging times, but inspired
by the love that Lord shows us every day, let us generously
contribute to the well-being of the Church that He has
entrusted to us here in Little Rock through our Stewardship.
With everyone’s Stewardship commitment to the
Annunciation we can truly help our corner of the
world to “Come & See” Christ in action at our
parish. With every Church family member joyously
sharing their time, talent and treasure with Christ
at the Annunciation, we all can honor the Lord
and keep the doors of His House open unto
the world.

Preparing for the
Extinction Explosion
by Fr. George Morelli
Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them; for to such
belongs the kingdom of God
(Luke 18: 16).
In previous essays on marriage and parenting I pointed
out the importance of parents perceiving the spiritual
and the psychological implications of their vocation. A
male and female, blessed by God in Holy Matrimony,
are called up to be “[united] in one mind and one flesh,
and grant them fair children for education in Thy faith .
. . .” This has to be in the context that the married couple
are individuals themselves, as are their children, made in
God’s image and called to grow in Divine illumination
and become like Him.
Neglecting our intelligence: Sin
The Church Fathers told us that intelligence is one
characteristic of God’s image in us. Thus, by the very
fact that we are made with intelligence, it behooves us to
use the findings of scientific researchers which have been
shown to be effective in behavioral control. It is morally
necessary to use the scientific techniques which have been
found to be beneficial in helping raise Godly, morally and
socially responsible children. Not to do so, in fact, would be
neglecting an important gift given to us by God. It would
be “missing the mark:” Not to use the results of efficacious
scientific behavioral research would be an illness and
infirmity, that is to say, it would be sinful parenting.
One aspect of disciplining children which remains a
problem for many Orthodox Christian parents is the
use of effective punishment techniques. In actual fact,
correct use of punishment actions can be a very effective
form of behavior control. The operative term here is
“correct use” of punishment. It must be psychologically,
emotionally and spiritually ‘correct.’
April / May 2011
The Punishment tool
Psychologically correct means that punishment is
but one of a myriad of tools of discipline in a total
program of behavioral intervention. Punishment is to
be applied after a behavior is evaluated as inappropriate.
This paper is going to focus on preparing the parent
who uses negative punishment, also called extinction,
for one of its major effects, the extinction explosion. This
effect, if a parent does not expect it and is not helped
to deal with it, can sabotage the correct use of negative
punishment in behavioral control and, in fact, can make
an inappropriate behavior even stronger. However,
before considering the extinction explosion an overview
of negative punishment (extinction) in the context of the
total behavioral intervention program is useful.
Behavioral Intervention overview
Behavior is shaped by its consequences. There are four
consequences which influence behavior.
Consequences which increase behavior:
* Positive Reinforcement: after a behavior occurs
(whether or not the behavior is good or bad) a pleasant
event occurs. The behavior increases.
* Negative Reinforcement: after a behavior
occurs (whether or not the behavior is good or bad) an
unpleasant event is taken away. The behavior increases.
Consequences which decrease behavior:
* Positive Punishment: after a behavior occurs
(whether or not the behavior is good or bad) an
unpleasant event occurs. The behavior decreases.
* Negative Punishment (extinction): after a
behavior occurs (whether or not the behavior is good
or bad) a pleasant event is taken away. The behavior
decreases.
Parents who are following Christ and His Church should
want to increase good or appropriate behavior, but at
times (hopefully inadvertently) good behavior is punished.
For example, a child who is showing a proficient school
project to their parent (an appropriate behavior) is told
(Continued on page 14)
Page 13
 THE PROMISE
Extinction Explosion
(Continued from page 13)
how awfully (even if objectively true) they are dressed.
This ‘put down’ is found to be very unpleasant by the
child and thus in the long run decreases his doing good
schoolwork. [Hint: Better Parental procedure: praise the child for
the school project; address his or her dress at a later, more appropriate
time].
Important psychological caveats
Use behavioral pinpointing, that is to say, be concrete-
specific. Never give general-abstract instructions or
comment in general-abstract terms. Never tell a child to
“be good” or “do better,” rather say: “sit in your chair
for the next 15 minutes,” or “check the spelling of the
words in this line,” etc.
Spell out the behavioral contract ahead of time.
Tell the child what specific behaviors are expected, or
are not to be done, and what the consequences will be.
If the child does a ‘new’ inappropriate behavior or fails
to do an appropriate behavior they have previously
performed, do not ‘shoot from the hip’ and say something
like: “Ok! No TV this evening!” Rather, tell the child the
consequence for the next time the ‘infraction’ occurs and
be sure to follow up. Punishment temporarily decreases
or suppresses behavior. Right after applying punishment
is the opportunity to catch the child doing something
good and reward the child for doing it. This is especially
effective if it is a good behavior which would substitute
for the inappropriate behavior the child was performing.
Be consistent. Do not give a consequence which will
occur and then not follow-up and apply it. Furthermore,
for teaching new behaviors or modifying the behavior
of children who display inappropriate behavior, there
must be no exceptions. The consistency of rewards and
punishments must be 100%
Pleasant or unpleasant consequences must be defined
from the child’s point of view not that of the parent
(or teacher). In fact, what a parent may think is pleasant
or unpleasant may be quite different from the child’s
Page 14
idea. For example, a child may do a good job fixing a
broken fence. His/her parent may say “Great! you did
such a good job, I’ll give you a really challenging job
now; you can repair the broken window frame in the
living room.” The parent may think they are rewarding
the child; the child may feel they are being punished by
this difficult ‘extra’ chore. They may feel it is better not
to do a good job ever. Why try hard, since more will be
loaded on?
Punishments should only be introduced by parents who
are in total emotional control. Not only do anger,
anxiety and/or depression prevent parents from effective
behavioral management of their children, but children
cognitively focus on the inappropriate out-of-control
parental emotion and how awful it is to be yelled at, and
do not attend to their own good and/or bad behavior
and its consequences.
Critical spiritual caveat
Also needing to be overcome are fundamentalist and
literal misperceptions of the teachings of Christ and His
Church, specifically individualistic interpretations of scripture
passages. In the Orthodox Church, scripture comes from
tradition and can only be interpreted in union and in
conformity with the Holy Spirit-inspired Church. If
scripture is to be followed literally, without the Holy
Spirit inspired Body of Christ, the Orthodox Catholic
Church, it is without the Holy Spirit. Christians trace
their founding to Jesus Christ, by His sending (descent) of
the Holy Spirit on His apostles and disciples at Pentecost.
According to St. Paul we know that the teachings of
Jesus were understood by Christians by their being
sanctified by this same Holy Spirit. St. Paul did much
to spread the teachings of Jesus throughout the Roman
world and writing to the Corinthians concerning the
teachings which Jesus passed in tradition to His Church
he says: “I commend you because you remember me
in everything and maintain the traditions even as I
have delivered them to you” (1 Corinthians 11:2).
Many who are sincere, well-meaning religious
individuals, but who are seriously misguided and not
in conformity to the Church, believe that corporal
punishment is mandated by Holy Scripture, and that,
(Continued on page 16)

May 20 - 22, 2011
As we prepare this parish-wide herculean effort,
everyone in our Church family is urged to get involved
in this dynamic and powerful ministry tool! With your
help, our Church is going to have another outstanding
International Greek Food Festival!!
As we all know, this grand project is a critical component
of the financial wellbeing of our parish. The proceeds
of our annual Festival help ensure that our parish is able
to share the Good News of Christ by helping to meet
some of the financial obligations necessary for continued
growth. By volunteering at the Festival, we ensure
that the ministries of the Annunciation are never stunted
by a lack of funds. And because our Church is always
mindful of the broader community which we endeavor
to minister to, every year through the grace of God we
highlight the work of local non-denominational charities
and share a portion of our bounty from the Festival with them.
In addition to the Annunciation Scholarship
Foundation, this year we as a parish have selected the
following charities to support and increase the awareness
of their good works:
Love, Truth, Care Ministries
Centers for Youth & Family
Easter Seals
Harmony Health Clinic
CARTI
Community Connections
CASA
Let’s do our part towards helping
the Annunciation to shine!
April / May 2011
Our Response to the
Resurrection
(Continued from page 7)
It is called the prayer of the heart because when one
prays this prayer, invoking the name of Jesus Christ over
and over again, hundreds of times a day, the prayer
moves from the mouth, to the mind and eventually
into the heart, which it literally takes up residence, and
transforms the heart, the mind, the mouth and the entire
human being into a vessel of God’s grace.
You might ask, “How can I be a successful professional, or
an accomplished businessman, a dedicated teacher, or be
raising three kids—with all the associated challenges and
stresses—and still maintain a prayerful life?” The answer
is easy. I’m convinced that all of us have a lot of mental
free time, more than we think we do—standing in the line
at the grocery store, sitting in traffic, folding the laundry,
mowing the lawn, getting dressed in the morning.
And here’s where the Prayer of the Heart comes in. Start
saying “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on
me a sinner” during your mental free time. Start praying
for people in your life during your mental free time. And
the prayer you offer with your lips will become a prayer
that enters your mind and takes residence in your heart
and then you also will be transformed into a Godly
person, full of God’s grace and goodness.
We need more soft hearts in our world. We need more
people who look out for others rather than looking out for
themselves. Walk down a busy sidewalk in the downtown
area of your city and everyone is talking on a cell phone
or listening to an I-pod. They aren’t praying. And they
are walking almost unaware that they are surrounded
by other people. It seems that society’s response to the
Resurrection is not one of joyful expectation or prayer of
the heart, but indifference and self-centeredness at best.
And this is where the church comes in. The church is
supposed to encourage us and support us, as well as teach
us how to transform our hearts into vessels of Christ. We
don’t celebrate the Holy Week services because they are
Tradition, but because they teach us, inspire us, and heal us
(Continued on page 21)
Page 15
 THE PROMISE
Extinction Explosion to a parent that unless they are prepared for this
(Continued from page 14)
‘explosion’ they are likely to give up on the procedure.
The child is also learning that they can persist in the
behavior and the parent will eventually ‘give-in.’
if they be parents, they would be negligent in not
Effectually this makes the child’s behavior even stronger.
employing corporal punishment in their families. The
typical verse quoted in justifying corporal punishment is
For example, suppose
supposedly from the book of Proverbs: “Spare the rod
a child is constantly
and spoil the child.” This is actually a misquote from the
yelling out, a bad behavior,
scriptural passage: “He who spares the rod hates his son,
and interrupting his/ It is morally necessary
but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him” (Pv 13:
her parent. Each time
24). There is another passage from the book of Proverbs
the parent would to use the scientific
which is also quoted in support of corporal punishment:
“Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you beat
answer the child’s techniques which
query (a pleasant have been found to be
him with a rod, he will not die. If you beat him with
event for the child).
If the parent were to beneficial in helping
the rod you will save his life from Sheol” (Pv 23:13-14).

Consider the wisdom of our holy Church Spiritual

be keeping a record raise Godly,
of the number of morally and socially
Father St. Isaac of Syria. Archbishop Hilarion Alfeyev
such interruptions
and then instituted a responsible children.
summarizes St. Isaac’s discernment: “...the Old Testament
understanding of God as a chastiser of sinners... does not
negative punishment
correspond with the revelation we have received through
(extinction) procedure
Christ in the New Testament ...one should not interpret
involving not paying
literally those Old Testament texts...they are being used
any attention at
in a figurative sense...” Thus it is the ‘spirit’ of the Old
all to the child’s interruption, they would note a
Testament message we have to discern in light of the
dramatic increase or burst of the child’s bad behavior
mind of Christ and His Church. The spirit of the “rod”
interruptions. If unprepared for this ‘extinction
is not its use in corporal beating, but in effective behavior
explosion’ a parent may well give in and respond again
management informed by the science of the day.
to the child’s inappropriate behavior. The child will
continue interrupting. The bad behavior will not only
The Extinction Explosion persist, but will more likely be harder to extinguish in
The extinction explosion is a result of using negative the future. Extinction bursts will be more intense and
punishment. As defined above: Negative Punishment pronounced. On the other hand, if the parent expects
(extinction) is the removal, taking away, that is to the extinction explosion and is prepared to “wait it out,”
say subtracting, a pleasant event following a bad (or the bad behavior, as is shown in the graph below, will
inadvertently a good) behavior. The result is that the eventually diminish.
behavior decreases.
Case Study
The behavior decreases if the removal (of the pleasant
Extinction explosions can last from several minutes to
event) is consistently applied over whatever time period
several hours. One of the most severe clinical cases I
it takes for the behavior to significantly diminish or
had involved a 6 year old male child who due to previous
disappear completely. However, in practical use of
ineffective extinction attempts (one parent was in the
this punishment technique a temporary surge, burst or
field of education and had minimal and inadequate
explosion of inappropriate behavior occurs when the
training in use of the procedure) had temper tantrum
pleasant event is removed. This can be so unsettling
(Continued on page 18)
Page 16

I am a Christian!
by Genvieve Holland.
All of us say these words, all of us call ourselves by the
name of our Lord, but are we worthy of the name?
What have we done, what feats of virtue have we
accomplished, to merit calling ourselves Christians?
Where is our faith, that faith which is the hallmark of
a true Christian? In what way have we emulated the
true Christians of old, Christians in deed as well as in
word, whose Christianity was everything to them?
When the Christians of old, enduring martyrdom for
their confession of the Faith, were asked their names
by the torturers, they answered, "I am a Christian."
When asked if they were slave or free, they replied, "I
am a Christian. I am a slave of Christ." When asked
of their families and parentage, they said, "I am a
Christian. God is my Father; the Church, my Mother;
the saints, my brothers and sisters." When asked by
their puzzled torturers how they could reject life and
honor for death and dishonor, they explained, "We
are Christians. Our sole desire is to die for Christ that
we may reign eternally with Him."
The Christians of old, the saints, performed exalted
feats of virtue and endurance for the sake of and
through the power of Christ's name. What have I
done? What have I done to merit calling myself a
Christian? What struggles and battles have I to show
my sincerity?
The saints welcomed torture and death for making
the sign of the Cross; I hesitate to thank God for my
meal in public.
They endured hunger and thirst for the Gospel's sake;
I complain about fasting for a month.
They gave away the last of their sustenance for the sake
of the One Whose Name they bore; I am reluctant to
surrender even one penny.
A true Christian has faith enough to move mountains;
April / May 2011
my faith is weak, smaller than a mustard seed.
A Christian truly loves his neighbor and serves him,
even at cost to himself; I scorn my neighbor, living
only for myself.
A Christian gladly obeys our Lord's command to pray
unceasingly; I struggle to say morning and evening
prayers.
A Christian yearns with all his heart to spend every
moment worshipping his Creator; I begrudge every
moment not spent satisfying my own desires.
And I call myself a Christian.
The Fathers teach that it is not our success in the
Christian life, but our effort which God sees and values;
that it doesn't matter so much that we fall, but that we
get up, repent, and try again, each time we stumble.
It is the trying again; the repeated effort and struggle;
the faith which makes a man continue to fight and not
despair; the trust in God's mercy; the hope of eternal
life, that make a Christian. I call myself a Christian,
but do I fulfill these requirements? Do I have efforts
and struggles to show? Or do I fall and stay down,
wallowing in filth and despair, not even aware of my
depravity?
Millions of faithful have died for the name of
Christ, the name which I so carelessly dishonor, and
their blood adorns the title of Christian with more
nobility and beauty than the richest gems or the most
prestigious medals. The title of Christian is honor
enough to lift the head of the most wretched beggar,
and shame enough, if the inherent vow of Christ-
likeness is unfulfilled, to bow the head of the most
powerful king.
So, at the same time as I raise my head because of the
dignity of the name of Christian, I prostrate myself to
the earth in shame because of my unworthiness.
(Continued on page 20)
Page 17
 THE PROMISE
Extinction Explosion
(Continued from page 7)
outbursts which lasted 6-7 hours. His inappropriate
behavior included yelling, screaming, throwing
objects through glass windows, turning over kitchen
and dining table set with dinnerware and food, etc.
Before I had the parents employ an ‘effective extinction
procedure,’ I had to thoroughly train the parents and
some extended family members. This training involved
a didactic phase explaining all aspects of negative
punishment (extinction) and probable consequences
(extinction explosion), role playing, an assessment of
the home, rearranging furniture and safety-proofing
objects. It also involved stripping bare one room in the
house which would serve as a “time-out” room.
Upon the first outburst of a temper tantrum the child
would be escorted (or carried) to the time-out room. The
door to the room would be held shut by a family member.
All family members were instructed not to answer the
child at all or open the door until the child was quiet for
5 minutes. Upon opening the door the adult would, in
a pleasant tone of voice, praise the child for how ‘quiet
they are now.’ The program was explained to the child. I
made myself available for telephone consultation during
this week. Family members would take turns holding
on to the door handle. The child’s first temper tantrum
lasted 6 hours. Over the next few days he continued
to have temper tantrums, but the time-out period
significantly diminished. Within two weeks there were
no reports of outbursts. The parents came in for support
counseling for consistency in continuing the procedure
for several more weeks. A follow-up several months later
indicated no more behavioral outbursts.
Body, Mind, Spirit
Elder Paisios of the Holy Mountain reminds earthly
physicians: “You must have a practical mind. Generally
speaking, every one of us must take advantage of his
mind which is a gift from God.”
It must be considered that in the Orthodox tradition
Page 18
the body and the mind, that is to say psychological
procedures, do not exist separately from their synergia
with the spirit. As St. James tells us:
Is there any one among you suffering? Let him pray... Is any
among you sick? Let him call for the presbyters of the Church,
and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name
of the Lord; and the prayer of faith will save the sick man, and
the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will
be forgiven (Jas 4:13 - 15).
St. John Chrysostom presented us with the idea that the
entire Church of Christ is a hospital, thereby expressing
in clearer theological terms the relationship between the
healing of body and soul practiced by the early healers. A
prayer by St. John Chrysostom which is included in “The
Book of Needs” concisely states the goal of our earthly life:
O Lord Jesus Christ...We beseech You, look mercifully upon him
(or her), and in your great love grant him (or her) relief from his
(or her) pain... that restored to the vigor of health, he (or she)
may... serve you faithfully and gratefully all his (or her) life, and
become heir of Your Kingdom,
For You are the Physician of our souls and bodies, O Christ.
Kid Logic
After the Baptism
of his baby brother
in church, little
Jason began to
sob uncontrolla-
bly.
Alarmed, his father
& mother asked
him repeatedly
what was wrong.
Finally, the boy
replied:
“The priest said he wanted us
brought up in a Christian home...
and I want to stay with you guys!”
 April / May 2011

Our Covenant with Christ 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
During Great Lent, the Holy Church offers a series of
asked to commit themselves to attend every single evening
evening services to nourish our souls in anticipation
service of Holy Week (this means seven evening services in
of the Resurrection of Christ. Again this year, the
addition to the two day services of Holy Friday which are a
Annunciation invites young and old alike to make a
part of their responsibility in attending the Good Friday Retreat,
special commitment to our Lord and Savior this Great
for a grand total of nine services during Holy
Lent through what we like to call the Covenant with
Week.) Then in order to support and acknowledge
Christ.
such a faithful commitment, the Annunciation Church
family will present those members of the GOYA that
On the Sunday of Forgiveness, Sunday, March 6th,
choose to complete this Covenant with Christ at
we were all invited to consider the great love of God
the conclusion of the Resurrection Service on Holy
and the manner and means by which we will choose
Saturday with a blessed symbol of love.
to respond to Him. In order to help us focus on this
blessed endeavor and put
Parents, as you personally
this spiritual journey in its
strive to fulfill your own
proper perspective, everyone
“covenant” with the Lord,
in our Church family was
please help your child
invited to make a personal
develop into a faithful
“covenant” with the Lord.
Orthodox Christian by
Hopefully, this call to action
encouraging them to
will help those who chose to
embrace this spiritual
participate to grow in their
challenge. Nothing would
relationship with Christ
be more beautiful as we
through the instructions
herald the Resurrection of
and disciplines of the Holy
Our Lord during the wee
Orthodox Church. This
hours of Pascha than to be
covenant is meant to be a
able to gather together (young and old alike) as a people
source of motivation to greet each day of Great Lent
who are consciously walked together the journey that
with even greater determination than the day before.
His Church has prescribed for centuries. Consider
the spiritual joy we will experience in proclaiming
For the younger members of the Annunciation, ages
His Glorious Resurrection and knowing that we have
12-18 (with a little help from their parents) we hope
seriously sought to prepare our heart, body and soul
that they are pursuing some important goals with
and that of our children for Him and Him alone.
the Covenant with Christ. As always, part of their
commitment in this covenant is between them and God
(prayer, almsgiving, fasting), but there is a part of this
pledge that can be observed, and that is their attendance Festival Divine Liturgy
of Church services. So in addition to their faithful
Sunday Divine Liturgy attendance and whatever other means on May 22nd,
they will personally employ to honor our Lord and Savior during the Sunday of the Festival,
this most sacred season, our young people are being asked
to attend at least one Lenten Service every week the Divine Liturgy will be
of Great Lent: Wednesday’s Presanctified Liturgy at celebrated at 9:30am.
6:30pm or Friday’s Salutation Service at 6:30pm for
Page 19
THE PROMISE
A Thank You Note
to the
Annunciation
Church Family
The entire Naimeh Alley Family would like to
extend our heartfelt appreciation for all of the
love, prayers and comfort that everyone has
shown us during this very difficult time. We are
deeply humbled and take much comfort in all
of your kind words, deeds, and memories of our
beloved Mother and Grandmother.
Our mother loved the Annunciation Church
and its parishioners with all of her heart. We are
truly blessed to have so many loving friends. Our
mother and “Tata” will be dearly missed.
May her memory be eternal.
In Christ,
The Alley Family
The Annunciation Needs
Her Flock!
On Holy Friday, April 22nd, 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 and
then stay afterwards to participate in this sacred
undertaking. As hear at every Liturgy, the Lord
blesses and sanctifies, “those who love the beauty of His
House.”
Page 20
Wisdom:
“Let our throat become hoarse from
crying out the sweetest name of Jesus
all day long,
and it will become “sweeter than
honey and honeycomb”
to the noetic larynx-the heart. With
no other name
will we be able to overcome the
passions within us,
except with the name of Jesus.
With no other name
will we be able to expel the darkness
from our heart and to have the
radiance of luminous knowledge shine
forth in our mind,
except with the name of Jesus.”
Elder Ephraim of the Holy Mountain
(Mt. Athos)
I am a Christian!
(Continued from page 17)
And yet - all of us are unworthy. The greatest of the
saints was not truly worthy to bear Christ's name. "Be
ye perfect," we are told, and not one man ever born,
save Christ Jesus Himself, the God-man, has completely
fulfilled this commandment.
Yet, I am a Christian. I am a Christian, not through any
virtue or merit of my own, but through God's infinite
love, grace, and mercy, and His acceptance of my
struggles, poor as they are. Because of His care for me,
I may truthfully and proudly and humbly cry: I am a
Christian!
I Cor 15:9 -10
For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be
called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But
by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which
was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I labored more
abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which
was with me.

Our Response to the
Resurrection
(Continued from page 15)
when we celebrate them in the proper spirit. In setting up
churches, the intention is not to set up an organization
that is supported with dues and with activities, but rather
to set up a heaven on earth, that is part classroom (where
we learn), part hospital (where we find healing), and part
heaven (where we leave our earthly cares so that we may
receive the King of All.)
In the 21st Century, sadly, we do not find our churches as
bastions of faith, or safe havens for those seeking spiritual
renewal and inspiration. We find them more as clubs.
I remember a children’s book in the bookstore at the
Seminary which was entitled “The World, My Church.”
Indeed, that is supposed to be the focus of the world,
making it like what the church is supposed to be—a place
where we commune with God through prayer constantly.
A more proper title might be “The Church, my Club.”
Most churches are closer to country club than they are
to church. People sit at the same tables with their same
friends. There are people who will participate actively
in certain “clubs” of the church, but not partake in the
sacramental life. And various ministries will see themselves
as “special interests” rather than as extensions of the Altar.
The mission statement for every group in our church is
supposed to be bringing the Gospel of Jesus Christ to its
members. Each group just uses a different grab—the choir
through singing, the youth group through youth activities,
the Ladies Aid Society through philanthropy—but the
purpose of each should be the same, growth in faith.
After all, what good is it for the youth group to provide
a place for our children to play basketball if it is not
concerned with our children developing a genuine
relationship with Christ? Or for the choir to sing God’s
praises and not live lives that praise God? Or for a
member of the dance group to dance dozens of Greek
dances but not have read the Bible or rarely attend the
Liturgy? Or for a Parish Council member to count the
money in the tray but never approach the Chalice or go
to confession?
April / May 2011
And so we come now to the question, “What is your
response to the Resurrection of Christ?” Is it business as
usual? Indifference? Thank God that’s over? Does your
response last a day? A week? The 40 days until Ascension?
I’ve been preaching in my parish that goals without
plans are fantasies. A goal without a plan, or without an
appropriate plan will never be achieved. (i.e. The person
who wants to lose ten pounds by doing nothing will never
achieve that goal. Neither will the person who wants to
lose ten pounds by eating a pint of ice cream each day
achieve that goal). If our goal is to go to heaven, the plan
must be appropriate - not coming to church except during
Holy Week, never praying, never reading the Bible, never
going to confession, these are not plans that will lead to
our goal of salvation.
Does God want His Churches to grow? That is a yes or
no question. The answer is yes, it says so in Matthew 28:
“Go therefore and baptize all nations.” Christ wants His church
to grow, to be alive, to be vibrant. And this doesn’t mean
just to have great social activities, a successful festival and
various clubs and groups. It means for people, individually
and collectively, to be alive in their faith, in Christ’s love,
and not just lip service, but as we sing in the Matins service,
“Let every breath praise the Lord.”
As we look to Holy Week and beyond, it really is a time
to assess what is your spiritual goal in life, and where are
you in your spiritual plan. Is your spiritual plan/goal-
appropriate or not? And then you not only take a reflective
look at your life, but at the life of your parish, and re-orient
ourselves so that we are going in some direction towards
God, not just at Holy Week, but each day of our lives.
Just like the man who receives $10 Million should be
grateful to his benefactor each and every day and should
honor the gift, so should each of us, having been given the
opportunity for salvation and eternal life, be grateful to
our Benefactor, the Lord, each and every day and should
honor the gift, with each day, with each thing that we do.
We hear in the hymns of Pascha, “Let everything begin anew
in the Light of the Resurrection.” It doesn’t say, “Let us rest on
our laurels until next year,” or “let us self-congratulate,”
but rather, take up the Cross of the Christian life with
renewed energy, enthusiasm and purpose.
Page 21
THE PROMISE
Holy Week
BEGINS
April 17th
Making Lent Great
There is still time to make Great Lent and Pascha, a
blessed opportunity to change!
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 we
will keep His love at bay.
Let us live in the Resurrection of our Savior
by redoubling 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.
2011 Parish Assembly
Sunday, April 3rd
“Working together for the glory of
God and His Holy House!”
Page 22
Easter Flowers
are Needed!
In the celebration of Christ’s Holy Resurrection, flowers
play a special role in the Church’s 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 the
flowers that will play an integral role in heralding the
life-giving news of Christ’s Resurrection.
We seek extra donations for the the following:
$300 for Holy Week
$300 for Pascha
24 potted Lilies for $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 such a specific offering to
the Church Office.
Memorial Day
“Most of those who died in defense
of our country were boys when they
died, and they gave up two lives - the
one they were living, and the one they
would have lived. They gave up their
chance to be husbands and fathers and
grandfathers. They gave up everything
for their country... for us.
All we can do is remember.”
Ronald Reagan
 April / May 2011

Making A Splash! Pack Your

Attention JOY Bags!
members and
parents! On Attention GOYA & Jr. GOYA 
members and their families!
Tuesday, May
We are planning a fun filled
31st at 4:30pm excursion to...
we have
scheduled a San Antonio, Texas
Pool Party at June 20th - 23rd!
the Arkansas
The plan is for us to depart
Valley Pool for from the Church via motor
all to attend. coach on Monday morning (6/20) and make our way
We will provide to the Hyatt Regency Riverwalk in San Antonio. On
the Lifeguards Tuesday (6/21), we will spend the day exploring Sea
& Pool - all you World! On Wednesday (6/22), we will have guided
need to do is tours of The Alamo, San Jose Mission, San Fernando
come with a Cathedral, plus shopping at the Mercado Mexican
spirit of fun. Market, a riverboat cruise and then enjoy dinner
all together at the Mi Tierra Restaurant. Finally, on
Save the date!!! Thursday (6/23), our exhausted group will return to
Little Rock.
The bus, hotel and tickets to all the events are all
included for the heavily discounted amount of $250.
(So please make sure to set some time aside to help with the Youth
Festival Booth and our Summer Garage Sale.) For parents
1 1 S t. J o hn who would like to attend and prefer two to a room,
2 0 m there will have to be an additional fee of $100 per
y s osto val! person. Registration forms are available and space will
Ch r
Fe s ti be limited! So check your calendar and let’s plan on
t o rical having a great time together with our Church. The
Or a
Oratorical Festiv
al
’s REGISTRATION FORMS & FEE are due no later
tom rch
t. J o h n Chrysos acy of our Chu ge than Sunday, May 15th on a first come, first served
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Page 23
THE PROMISE

JOY Movie Night

Page 24
 April / May 2011

Youth Gathering!

Page 25
 THE PROMISE

Happy Birthday
to our parishioners celebrating Outreach Committee
during the upcoming months! Meet & Greet Schedule
April 1st . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Liz Masching April 3rd. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Robin Jones
April 3rd. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lisa Alley April 10th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Susan McDowell
Katherine Verdaris April 17th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sharon Johnson
April 4th. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kerri Moutos April 24th . . . . . . . . . . . . . Christopher Huckabay
April 5th. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Oleksandra Pavliv
Kaitlyn Zraick May 1st. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Carole Hawkins
Brooklyn Zraick May 8th. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jack Weatherly
May 15th. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mark Hunter
April 6th. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Caroline Lewis
May 22nd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Robin Jones
April 10th. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Linda Haycook May 29th. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Susan McDowell
Sultaneh Kassissieh
April 13th. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ana Stathakis
April 14th. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jessica Alley
Jerry Melnyk
Grace Rutter c Fellowship Hour d
April 15th. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kevin Wilcox
April 19th. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Graham Campbell If you or your family would like to commemorate
April 24th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Will Ramser a special event, honor the memory of a loved
one or would simply like to after a gift to the
April 25th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Janet Miron
Annunciation family... you too can sponsor a
April 26th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sam Cimino Fellowship Hour!
Diana Mann
Roxana Terlea Please check the Bulletin Board
April 29th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Madeleine Gess and sign up today!
May 1st. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Julie Blackwell
May 3rd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Harley Burks
May 7th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kaitlyn Akel
Many Thanks!
Lauren Bailey As we look forward to heralding the Resurrection
May 11th. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alex Harb of Christ together as a Church family, we must also
May 13th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bobby Bishara take this opportunity to offer our profound thanks
May 14th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . John Hawkins May to everyone who made our annual Parish Feast Day
Luncheon such a blessed occasion. From the creative
May 15th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ian Ramser
decorators, the talented cooks, dedicated clean-up
May 19th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Erin Kaiser crew, the generous Harb family who underwrote
May 20th. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Elias Bishara the event, to all those loving men and women who
May 29th. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Andrew Cora attended - we give thanks to God!
Anna Cora
May 30th. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ken Haycook May the Lord continue to bless the
Annunciation in Little Rock!
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 April / May 2011

ANNUNCIATION GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH

1100 NAPA VALLEY DRIVE, LITTLE ROCK, AR 72211
REV. DR. NICHOLAS J. VERDARIS, PASTOR

A pril 2011
Sun Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat
1 2

4th Stanza Salutations

6:30pm

3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Sunday of John Climacus
Matins 9:00am
Divine Liturgy 10:00am
Parish Assembly
Presanctified Liturgy
The Akathist Service
6:30pm
6:30pm

10 11 12 13 14 15 16
Sunday of the Publican
Matins 9:00am Saturday of Lazarus
Divine Liturgy 10:00am Quiet Week Quiet Week Quiet Week Quiet Week Quiet Week Liturgy 9:30am

Youth Breakfast
Parish Council Meeting Easter Egg Hunt
6:00pm & Palm Cross Making

17 18 19 20 21 22 23
Palm Sunday The Royal Hours
Matins 9:00am Presanctified Liturgy Liturgy of St. Basil 9:00am Liturgy of St. Basil
Divine Liturgy 10:00am 9:30am 9:30am 9:30am
The Descent from the Cross
3:00pm
Bridegroom Service Bridegroom Service Bridegroom Service Unction Service The Passion Service Services of the Resurrection
The Lamentations Service
7:00pm 7:00pm 7:00pm 6:00pm 7:00pm 11:00pm
7:00pm

24 25 26 27 28 29 30
Pascha

Bright Week Bright Week Bright Week Bright Week Bright Week Bright Week
The Agape Service
11:30am
Stewardship Meeting
6:00pm

Page 27
 THE PROMISE

ANNUNCIATION GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH

1100 NAPA VALLEY DRIVE, LITTLE ROCK, AR 72211
REV. DR. NICHOLAS J. VERDARIS, PASTOR

M ay 2011
Sun Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat
1 23 4 5 6 7
Sunday of Thomas
Matins 9:00am
Divine Liturgy 10:00am

89 10 11 12 13 14
Myrrhbearers Sunday
Matins 9:00am
Divine Liturgy 10:00am 2011
Taste of the Mediterranean
Mother’s Day
Parish Council Meeting
6:00pm

15 16 17 18 19 20 21
Sunday of the Paralytic
Matins 9:00am 2011 2011
Divine Liturgy 10:00am GreekFest Golf Classic International International
Greek Food Festival! Greek Food Festival!
Sunday School Graduation
Presanctified Liturgy
6:30pm

22 23 24 25 26 27 28
Sunday of the Samaritan
Divine Liturgy 9:30 am

2011
International
Greek Food Festival!

29 30 31 May 1 23 4
The Sunday of Blind Man
Matins 9:00am
Divine Liturgy 10:00am Memorial Day

JOY Pool Party

4:30pm

Page 28