2008 December Promise

THE PROMISE

DECEMBER 2008 “God did not tell us to follow Him because He needed our help, but because He knew that loving Him would make us whole.”

St. Irenaeus

DATES TO REMEMBER: DECEMBER 7 PARISH ASSEMBLY

DECEMBER 21

INSIDE THIS ISSUE: A Message from our Pastor.....................2 Holiday Services.......................................3

PARISH CHRISTMAS LUNCHEON & PROGRAM

News & Notes...........................................5

GOYA CHRISTMAS PARTY

Our IOCC Project....................................6

DECEMBER 24

A Christmas Sermon................................7

CHRISTMAS EVE CANDLELIGHT SERVICE 6:30PM

Fighting For Christ at Christmas..............8

DECEMBER 25

Carnival Scenes.......................................10

FEAST OF THE NATIVITY LITURGY 9:30AM

DECEMBER 31 DIVINE LITURGY OF ST. BASIL FOR THE NEW YEAR 6:30 PM

New Mexico Travelers...........................12 JOY Scenes.............................................17 Kids Page................................................18

JANUARY 4

A Christmas Carol.................................19

PHILOPTOCHOS VASILOPITA GOYA BB TOURNAMENT FEE DUE!

December Calendar...............................20 PAGE 1

THE PROMISE

PASTORAL MESSAGE These are tumultuous days. A host of fears and anxieties continue to seep deeper into the American psyche: rollercoaster stock markets, bailouts, terrorism, job losses and home foreclosures. Despite the joyful season of Christmas that we are in, these issues are creating an undercurrent of palatable despair. Indeed there is no question that these issues are cause for genuine concern, the problems that confront us are very real, but as faithful Christian men and women we can no more turn a blind eye to these serious matters than turn a deaf ear to the calm, still voice of our Lord and our God. For the fact of the matter is that in spite of the trepidation that swirls all around us, and despite the thunderous roar of uncertainty, before His Holy Altar, we hear the soothing voice of God echoing from the Scriptures and telling us: “Do not be afraid. For I, the Lord God am with you.”

it even more obvious that our good and gracious Lord is keenly aware of the power of fear to limit our goodness in the course of our life. After all, it is fear that kills hopes and dreams, just as it is fear itself that withers the flower of faith. It is fear - both real and imagined - that more often than not prevents people from truly trusting God. In fact, our fears are the single greatest obstacle to growing in Christ and accomplishing the things He intends for us and His plan for the salvation of the world. Being afraid of what might be expected of us, not wanting to take risks, and being shackled by the uncertainty generated by sin and evil, has led people throughout the ages to instead invent convenient gods and create false religions.

WHAT DO WE REALLY WANT TO DO

These are not the words of a politician or an accountant. But this is the promise of a loving God who knows every hair on our head, and is not indifferent towards us or our plight. The Word of the Lord telling His children “do not be afraid” has girded Christians for for over 2000 years, and it is this very pledge that has comforted men and women of God since the beginning of the Old Testament. The Lord assuring mankind not to be afraid is a hallmark of His Divine Revelation and has never been taken lightly. At all times and in all places, it has been received by people of faith as a clarion call to not only trust Him, but whole heartedly embrace His everlasting love and His strength Now, no less than ever, the words of the Lord (do not be afraid) must be kept close to our heart and echo in our thoughts if we are to aptly face the challenges that lay ahead; let alone honestly respond to God's invitation to life in Him! It is therefore perhaps not by coincidence that the phrase “do not be afraid” occurs 365 times in the Holy Bible (once for every day of the year). This makes PAGE 2

The fact of the matter is that for us to allow fear to paralyze us and become our constant companion, is to hand over control of our life to it. Allowing our fears to direct our ways and sole inform our perspective, gives them the power to drive us away from Christ. Fear will shadow us for as long as we draw breath, this is the sad reality of living in a world full sin and evil; but we cannot allow it to destroy us or our faith. As someone once said, “Fear is a darkroom, where negatives are developed!” To which the Church responds in no uncertain terms that the light of Christ alone, has the power to destroy all of the negatives. Do we fear what our future holds? Do we fear that things are beyond our control? Do we fear the machinations of the financial markets? Or do we fear the scheming of Al Qaeda? Are we afraid of disappointing others? Are we afraid of being rejected? Are we afraid of being alone? Or are we afraid of death? These are all natural emotions in a fallen world! But we cannot allow them to become the masters of our life, and in the process have such trepidations deny us eternal life.

(Continued on Page 4)

THE PROMISE

THE FEAST OF THE NATIVITY SERVICES The sacred and blessed essence of Christmas is far greater than any other conceivable family tradition or obligation. The Lord God taking on flesh in order to know Him better, draw closer to Him and be saved by Him is awe inspiring in every sense. Hence, the Nativity of our Lord & Savior naturally calls us together as an Orthodox Christian Church family in His Holy House in order to sing His praises and partake of His life-giving Body and Blood at Holy Communion. There simply is no Christmas without Christ. There is no Christmas joy without assembling in prayer within His Holy Church. We at the Annunciation will have the great and high privilege to herald the birth of our Saviour together as follows:

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24TH -

Christmas Eve Candlelight Service Vesperal Liturgy - 6:30 pm

HHHH DECEMBER 25TH -

The Feast of the Nativity Divine Liturgy - 9:30 am

NEW YEAR’S SERVICE The Annunciation family will welcome the dawn of a New Year and celebrate the feast day of St. Basil the Great with the OF

DIVINE LITURGY ST. BASIL FOR THE NEW YEAR on

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 31ST AT 6:30PM. LET US PRAISE OUR LORD TOGETHER AND WELCOME

2009

WITH PRAISES TO OUR

LORD!!!

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 expression of love and not just because it is our obligation as Orthodox Christians, speaks volumes about the content of our heart 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 on time. MATINS, 9:00AM / DIVINE LITURGY, 10:00AM PAGE 3

THE PROMISE

PASTOR’S MESSAGE (Continued From Page 2)

Fear is a genuine feeling; but so is the fact that “God is with us!” The Lord telling us “Do not be afraid” are scattered throughout the Scriptures as 'stars' are sprinkled throughout the night sky, but these words shine only because they are based on the truth that God is with us. In the words of the great prophet Isaiah, the only cure for the fever of fear is the promise of the Living God who says: “Do not be afraid, I AM with you.” And then as if His words were not enough, God sent us Jesus Christ and established His Church - the very fulfillment of His Word. In Christ and His Church, no matter what storms may rage around us, we share in His love and life, and we are thereby able to overcome any fear that intends to drown us. In Christ and His Church, come what may, we are not crippled by fear but are made complete in Him. Indeed one could easily argue that our Orthodox Christian faith can be surmised in one simple sentence - “Do not be afraid! God love us, Christ is with us!” So as we face a new and particularly uncertain year, let alone the remaining days of our life on earth, may the words of Lord: “Do not be afraid, for I am with you” and the reality of Jesus Christ strengthen us, support us, embolden us and comfort us. For the only way to meet and endure all of the problems that we face is with the faith in the Lord! The only way to balance our concerns is by an abiding relationship with God! The only real antidote to fear is the life of Christ that His Holy Church provides. In the Holy Trinity, we find the Truth that alone can fortify our sorely tested spirit. In the Lord God, we attain the confidence needed to meet the new day. In His Church, we behold His promises fulfilled. As St. Paul to the Romans 8:14-18: “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons and daughters of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery in order to fear, but you have received the spirit of adoption by Him who we cry out, "Abba! Father!" The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if we indeed suffer with Him, we will be glorified with Him.” Brothers and sisters in Christ God has indeed visited His people, Be not afraid, God is with us!

Rev. Dr. Nicholas J. Verdaris PAGE 4

FOR THOSE WHO LOVE THE BEAUTY OF HIS HOUSE Pending the approval of Metropolitan Nicholas the Annunciation will be able to continue to enhance the beauty of this His Church with the purchase of two Cross icons to be installed withIconographer’s example of the in the two blank icons that would be installed panels at the back of the Sanctuary as one exits the Church. It is with great joy that we are pleased to announce that these two icons have been donated by Gordon and Martha Tyer! Our entire Church family owe the Tyer’s a great debt of gratitude for their faithful generosity above and beyond the call of duty!

Thank You Gordon & Martha!!!

Father Nicholas, The Parish Council, The Annunciation Staff, and ALL of the Ministries of the Annunciation Wish you and yours a Most Blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year!

THE PROMISE

OUR STEWARDSHIP Without the faithful dedication of the members of the Annunciation Church family manifesting the light of Christ in word, thought and deed, our parish would be lost. Our goal for 2008 is $320,000 thus far our Church has received $190,000. We thank all those who faithfully submitted their 2008 Stewardship Card and hope that those who have not yet done so, will choose to respond to the Church soon. Our annual Stewardship commitment is tangible evidence of our love and devotion to God and His Church, and the fact of the matter is that each and every one of us is an integral part of God’s plan for the Annunciation in Little Rock. With every Church family member joyously sharing a portion of their time, talent and treasure with Christ at the Annunciation, we will certainly accomplish much to the glory of God.

“Let us commit ourselves and our whole life to Christ our God” Please remember to submit your 2009 Stewardship Commitment on Sunday, December 21st!

UPCOMING GOYA PLANS SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7TH - after Sunday School we need to stay and help decorate the Church Hall for Christmas during the Parish Assembly.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 21ST - Our annual Christmas Party. Check your email for more details.

JANUARY 4TH - The travel fee for the 2009 Basketball Tournament in Albuquerque,, NM is due

JANUARY 15-119TH - The annual Basketball Tournament in Albuquerque,, NM.

ANNUNCIATION CHRISTMAS LUNCHEON & PROGRAM The Annunciation will be hosting its annual Christmas Luncheon on December 21st immediately following the Divine Liturgy. You & yours are warmly invited!!! During this very special luncheon our Sunday School students will also be presenting the annual Christmas Program - you will not want to miss it. Rumor has it that a very jolly fellow may even pop in for a visit. Please join us!!!

Lets Have A Merry Christmas Together at the Annunciation!

SERVICES FOR THE FEAST OF EPIPHANY AND ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST EVE OF EPIPHANY:

Monday, January 5th 9:30am

EPIPHANY: Tuesday, January 6th 9:30am

FEAST OF ST. JOHN: Wednesday, January 7th - 9:30am PAGE 5

THE PROMISE

OUR IOCC SCHOOL KIT MISSION PROJECT Can you imagine going to school without a pencil or a notebook? Well, in most of the countries where the IOCC (International Orthodox Christian Charities) works, there are children who do not have even these basic school supplies. We at the Annunciation have a wonderful opportunity to provide the tools needed for these children during the Christmas and New Year’s season through the IOCC. By putting together these school kits, we can give less fortunate children the basics tools they need to do well in school. These are the items needed for each kit: Š ONE pair of blunt scissors (rounded tip) Š THREE 70-count spiral or tape-bound pads of 8inch by 10.5-inch ruled paper or pads with 200210 sheets (please do not provide loose-leaf or filler paper) Š Š Š Š Š

SIX new pencils with erasers ONE hand-held pencil sharpener ONE 2.5-inch pink eraser ONE 12-inch ruler (30 centimeters) ONE box of 24 crayons (24-count box only!)

You can bring these supplies to the church beginning the week of Thanksgiving and continuing through January 10th. The bags that will contain these supplies are being graciously provided by Philoptochos. We will have a day in January at the church to pack up the supplies and then send them on to the IOCC which will make sure these bags reach the children where they are needed.

CHRISTMAS HUMOR Q: What kind of candle burns longer, a red candle or a green candle? A: Neither - Candles always burn shorter! Q: How do sheep in Mexico say Merry Christmas? A: Fleece Navidad! Q: What do elves learn in school? A: The elf-abet! Q: What is the difference between the Christmas alphabet and the ordinary alphabet? A: The Christmas Alphabet has “No L” (Noel)! Q: What do snowmen eat for breakfast? A: Frosted Flakes! Q: What does a cat on the beach have in common with Christmas? A. Sandy Claws! Q: Why was Santa’s little helper depressed? A. He had low elf esteem! Q: What did the ghost say to Santa Claus? A. “I’ll have a boo Christmas without you...” Q: What do you get when you cross a snowman with a vampire? A: Frostbite! Q: Why does Santa have 3 gardens? A: So he can hoe, hoe hoe! Q: What Christmas Carol is a favorite of parents? A: “Silent Night” Q: What do you call people who are afraid of Santa Claus? A: Claustrophobic!

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THE PROMISE

CHRISTMAS MORNING SERMON by St. John Chrysostom

BEHOLD a new and wondrous mystery. My ears resound to the Shepherd's song, piping no soft melody, but chanting full forth a heavenly hymn. The Angels sing. The Archangels blend their voice in harmony. The Cherubim hymn their joyful praise. The Seraphim exalt His glory. All join to praise this holy feast, beholding the Godhead here on earth, and man in heaven. He Who is above, now for our redemption dwells here below; and he that was lowly is by divine mercy raised. Bethlehem this day resembles heaven; hearing from the stars the singing of angelic voices; and in place of the sun, enfolds within itself on every side, the Sun of justice. And ask not how: for where God wills, the order of nature yields. For He willed, He had the power, He descended, He redeemed; all things yielded in obedience to God. This day He Who is, is Born; and He Who is, becomes what He was not. For when He was God, He became man; yet not departing from the Godhead that is His. Nor yet by any loss of divinity became He man, nor through increase became He God from man; but being the Word He became flesh, His nature, because of impassability, remaining unchanged. And so the kings have come, and they have seen the heavenly King that has come upon the earth, not bringing with Him Angels, nor Archangels, nor Thrones, nor Dominations, nor Powers, nor Principalities, but, treading a new and solitary path, He has come forth from a spotless womb. Since this heavenly birth cannot be described, neither does His coming amongst us in these days permit of too curious scrutiny. Though I know that a Virgin this day gave birth, and I believe that God was begotten before all time, yet the manner of this generation I have learned to venerate in silence and I accept that this is not to be probed too curiously with wordy speech. For with God we look not for the order of

nature, but rest our faith in the power of Him who works. What shall I say to you; what shall I tell you? I behold a Mother who has brought forth; I see a Child come to this light by birth. The manner of His conception I cannot comprehend. Nature here rested, while the Will of God labored. O ineffable grace! The Only Begotten, Who is before all ages, Who cannot be touched or be perceived, Who is simple, without body, has now put on my body, that is visible and liable to corruption. For what reason? That coming amongst us he may teach us, and teaching, lead us by the hand to the things that men cannot see. For since men believe that the eyes are more trustworthy than the ears, they doubt of that which they do not see, and so He has deigned to show Himself in bodily presence, that He may remove all doubt. Christ, finding the holy body and soul of the Virgin, builds for Himself a living temple, and as He had willed, formed there a man from the Virgin; and, putting Him on, this day came forth; unashamed of the lowliness of our nature'. For it was to Him no lowering to put on what He Himself had made. Let that handiwork be forever glorified, which became the cloak of its own Creator. For as in the first creation of flesh, man could not be made before the clay had come into His hand, so neither could this corruptible body be glorified, until it had first become the garment of its Maker.

A NEW YEAR’S PRAYER: Let this be a year that moves us one step closer to each other. Let this be a year that brings us understanding in our hearts. Let this be a year that fills us with a yearning, burning feeling for peace with one another and a oneness, Lord, with You! PAGE 7

THE PROMISE

FIGHTING FOR CHRIST AT CHRISTMAS COMBATING SECULARISM Fr. George Morelli Orthodox Christian parents (and all Christian parents) are approaching the Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ. You would never know this however, by watching secular media. Most in the media see Santa and shopping as the start and end of Christmas, now renamed as the bland and non-descript "Holiday Season" (will it still remain a Holiday when the Holy Day of Christmas is finally forgotten?). Think back when poems like Clement C. Moore's "A Visit from St. Nicholas" (we know it as "Twas the Night Before Christmas") was part of the cultural mainstream. Today political correctness prohibits any mention of the poem because of its implicit religious tone. Consider just the first few verses: “Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house, Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there. The children were nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.” Two sins against politically correct dogma are already committed in these opening lines. The first is the mention of the word "Christmas," and the second is the word "Saint." "Sugar-plums" passes muster of course. Sound extreme? It shouldn't. Poll children under fourteen and see how many of them know the Christmas standards like "Joy to the World" or "O Little Town of Bethlehem." You will find that most don't know them at all. They will, however, be able to sing "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer," "Jingle Bells," maybe even "Sleigh Ride" with no problem at all. There is nothing inherently wrong with these songs, but Christmas is more than innocuous fun -- or so we once believed. A "HOLIDAY" QUIZ Parents, take this quiz and then give it to your children: 1.) What are you thinking about, what are the "Holiday visions" dancing in your head? PAGE 8

2) What are you really looking forward to as the "Holidays" are approaching? My experience as a parish priest is that most answers from our children would be: the toys, gadgets or clothes they want to receive. Most adults would answer the family meal and getting together with relatives and close friends. In the secular world the answers above merit an "A+." If life has no religious dimension, if God is not a part of personal life, then He will be abstracted from the culture as well. What then is left, except the accumulation of more things? From a Christian perspective however, the answers merit an "F." Remember the words of Christ: "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also," (Matthew. 6: 21). These words of Christ were actually part of the "Sermon on the Mount, in which Jesus expounded on what the Kingdom of God required. "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal," (Matthew 6: 19-20). How far we have strayed from the teachings of Our Lord on His Kingdom! THE ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN DOMESTIC CHURCH In Orthodox teaching, all commitment to Christ must begin in the home. All teaching about what is the essence of the Kingdom of God, must begin in the home. Thus, if the handing over of Tradition begins in the home, so does the breaking with the past that leads to the home becomes secularized. In Orthodox Christianity, the home is called the domestic church, correctly implying that all Christian teaching is first cultivated in the home, and then in the parish community. The conception of the domestic church arises from home churches of early Christianity. As Christians were no longer welcome in the Jewish temple, they brought vestiges of synagogue worship into their homes along with the early prayers of the church and the Eucharist (the structure of this early worship is still evident in the Orthodox Divine Liturgy today). St. Paul talked about these home churches in his epistle to the Romans, when he said: "Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow (Continued On Page 13)

THE PROMISE

OUTREACH COMMITTEE MEET & GREET SCHEDULE December 7th . . . . . . . . . . . . Jack Weatherly December 14th . . . . . . . . . . . . Jarrod Russell December 21st . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mike Rutter December 28th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Amy Bailey January 4th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Robin Jones January 11th . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sharon Johnson January 18th . . . . . . . . . . . . . Carole Hawkins January 25th . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jeannie Newton

F

FELLOWSHIP HOUR G

NOV. 2ND

NED & JOE ALLEY

NOV. 9TH

NAIM & GHADA HADDAD

NOV. 16TH DUKE & JAMES NIX hosted a luncheon in honor and memory of beloved wife and mother, SARA NIX NOV. 23RD THE WILCOX FAMILY sponsored the Thanksgiving Luncheon NOV. 30TH ANNUNCIATION CHURCH FAMILY

WE

NEED SPONSORS

FOR THE COMING MONTHS ! ! !

SUNDAY SCHOOL SCHEDULE DEC. 21ST Christmas Program (Pre-School - 5th Grade will rehearse in the Ballroom; classes in session for 6th - 12th Grade) DEC. 22ND Christmas Break Begins JAN. 4TH

If you or your family would like to commemorate a special event, honor the memory of a loved one or would simply like to offer a gift to the Annunciation family. . . you too can sponsor a Fellowship Hour!

PLEASE

CHECK THE BULLETIN

B O A R D A N D S I G N U P T O D A Y!

Classes Resume; there will be a Staff Meeting immediately following class in the 4th-5th grade classroom

T HE P ROMISE : J AN . 2009 Please note that articles and information for the January 2009 edition of The Promise are due no later than December 10th! This bulletin is the primary means of communication within our Church family:

T OGETHER , WE MAKE IT S H I N E ! ! ! PAGE 9

THE PROMISE

A Carnival of FUN!

PAGE 10

THE PROMISE

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THANK YOU!!! The Annunciation Church family extends its heartfelt thanks to all those who offered their time and talent to ensure that our annual Thanksgiving Luncheon and Stewardship Presentation was a wonderful event. The abiding manifestation of Christian love, faithfulness and creativity always make such nice gatherings possible. As a Church family we must also take this opportunity to offer our profound thanks to the Wilcox family, who in their love for the Annunciation graciously donated the dinner so that the proceeds of this event may further the ministries of this parish. United in Christ, we all give thanks to God as His faithful servants.

ATTENTION NEW MEXICO TRAVELERS Please note that the final fee for all those registered to attend the 2009 Basketball Tournament will be $250. The fee includes hotel rooms for four nights, airfare and all of our ground transportation needs. A check made payable to the Annunciation GOYA is due no later than Sunday,, January 4th. We shall be taking off with Southwest Airlines #898 on Thursday, January 15th @ 3:25pm and returning on Southwest Airlines # 194 on Monday, January, 19 @ 9:40pm. Travelers, you will be getting specific details shortly - stay tuned. Finally, The Tournament’s charity will be to support victims of domestic violence. They are asking each participant to bring a $5 or $10 gift card from Walmart,, Target or Kmart. The gift cards will be collected at Registration and presented at the Awards Banquet to the Director of S.A.F.E. House. Learn more about S.A.F.E. House at www.safehousenm.org. PAGE 12

HOUSE BLESSINGS! If you would like your home to be blessed for the New Year... this announcement is for you! As is the tradition of the Church following the feast of Theophany, Orthodox Christians may ask to have their homes blessed by the priest with holy water. Beginning December 7th and ending December 28th, a sign-up sheet will be posted in Gabriel Hall for all those in a Church family who would like to have their home blessed the New Year. PLEASE HELP MAKE THIS ENORMOUS

UNDERTAKING

ORDERLY BY REGISTERING DURING

THE

MONTH

OF

DECEMBER. All those who kindly register their name by December 28th will then be contacted by Father Nicholas after the feast of Epiphany to make arrangements for a blessing.

THE ANNUNCIATION BOOKSTORE Looking to learn more about your Orthodox Christian faith? Check out the Annunciation Bookstore! Shopping for that perfect and unique gift for someone special? Check out the Annunciation Bookstore! Are you looking for a beautiful icon to adorn your home or prayer corner? Check out the Annunciation Bookstore!

The Annunciation Bookstore It Has Something For Everyone!

THE PROMISE

FIGHTING FOR CHRIST AT CHRISTMAS (Continued From Page 8)

workers in Christ Jesus ... greet also the church in their house" (Romans 16: 3-5). To the Corinthians he wrote: "The churches of Asia send greetings. Aquila and Prisca together with the church in their house, send you hearty greetings in the Lord" (1 Corinthians 16:19). After the Roman persecution of Christians was lifted and Christianity ceased being an outlaw religion with Constantine's Edict of Milan in 311, Christians were able to build their own churches. Nevertheless, the centrality of family as the center of church life was maintained. Even today the leaders of the domestic church are the husband and wife, mother and father. The words of Christ as recorded by St. Matthew (18:20): "For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them" (Matthew 18:20), are especially relevant to His presence in the domestic church. Husbands and wives are uniquely suited and equipped for domestic ministry. The inherent dignity and importance of the Christian parenting is revealed through a prayer read by the priest in the Orthodox wedding service when a couple is first married: "Unite them in one mind and one flesh, and grant unto them fair children for education in the faith and fear ..." This prayer embodies the Christ-centered parental vocation and reveals the theological underpinnings of the domestic church. PARENTS ARE THE LEADERS AND TEACHERS IN THE DOMESTIC CHURCH Previously I wrote that ideally, a true Orthodox Christian domestic church in our day should look like (but is not limited to) something like this: Jesus Christ is at the center or hub. Husbands, and wives, as such, and as fathers and mothers, should be the leaders of the "church at home" in Christ's name. They should bless one another and their children, bless the food which is partaken, give thanksgiving for all that God has provided (house, furnishings, etc.), thank God for health and talents, and lead by the sanctity of their conduct as well as their words.

We nurture the spiritual vitality of the domestic church in several ways. For example, parents can remember the Feasts of the Church with prayers, and the recitation of troparia and kontakia (special hymns used in the Orthodox Church that explain the significance of the feast), as well as the Epistle and Gospel readings of the day. Daily scripture can be read and discussed. Daily prayers, at least at morning and evening should be part of the domestic church activities. All family members should take part in these prayers and readings. Following the Sign of Cross made by the father and/or mother, each family member may take a turn reading a line from the prayers, scripture or reading texts of the day. The leaders of the domestic church should also be theologians and educators of themselves and their children imparting knowledge and practice. THE FEAST OF THE NATIVITY The Nativity of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ How many know the full theological meaning of the Nativity Feast? If we don't, we become susceptible the secularizing energy (fed by a commercial spirit) of the culture. Put another way, one of the most powerful things we can do for our families to counter the slide into the spiritual wasteland of the commercial culture is to deepen our understanding about the Nativity of Christ. Parents must teach themselves first, and then they can teach their children. It starts way back in Genesis. Adam and Eve were made in God's image and called to be like Him. They start out in Paradise with the potential of full union with God but still experienced testing. They failed the test by the sin of pride. They are cast out of paradise into the world and are disordered -- inclined to sin and destined for death. We are the offspring of Adam and partake of these same maladies. God responded to this deep existential catastrophe in many ways -- all leading to the Incarnation of His Son. A signature event was the calling of Abraham (then called Abraam) our of a land riddled with paganism and polytheism. God made a covenant with Abraham that made him the leader of God's people -- the people of the First Covenant (Genesis 17) -- and the "father of many nations." (Continued on page 15) PAGE 13

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2009 ANNUNCIATION PARISH THERE IS STILL TIME! COUNCIL ELECTION NOTICE Help support the ministries of the Annunciation as well Elections for a position on the Annunciation Parish Council will be held on SUNDAY , D ECEMBER 7, 2008. Please note that with four positions on the Parish Council available and only four candidates running, the Parish Council election will simply take place during the Parish Assembly on December 7th. We thank Haitham Alley, Ron Harb, Rick Newton and Eva Sargent for their continuing service.

SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION BOARD ELECTIONS The Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church Scholarship Foundation will conduct an election for its Board of Trustees on Sunday, December 7, 2008 (the same day as the Parish Council elections). There are five open positions, and each Board member serves a two-year term. In order to serve on the Board, you must be a member in good standing of the Annunciation. If you have any questions about the Scholarship Foundation, please see George Plastiras, current president of the Board. Thank you for considering service on the Scholarship Foundation Board of Trustees.

WORDS OF WISDOM: "'There is not peace on earth,' I said 'For hate is strong and mocks the song Of peace on earth, good will to men" "Then pealed the bells more loud and deep 'God is not dead, nor doth He sleep, The wrong shall fail, the right prevail With peace on earth, good will to men.'" PAGE 14

as share your Christmas love with your Church family by including your family name in the ANNUNCIATION COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS CARD. For $15.00 you can support the work of the parish and spread some love. Sign up now, and you can rest assured that everyone in our Church family receives your loving Christmas wishes. For further details and / or to register your name, see Anna Clift or Eva Sargent.

EXPLORE THE ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN FAITH! Sometimes we don’t know when and where to ask questions and thus we weaken our own ability to better testify to the faith that we hold and that we ourselves sometimes struggle to grasp. The solution? Orthodox Study Class! We will be meeting again this month with our own Fr. Nicholas in order to further explore our Orthodox Christian Faith in light of the Gospel according to Matthew. We will use the Gospel as the cornerstone of our study, but questions and discussions will not be limited, they will be as broad as YOU want. Anyone & Everyone are invited to attend - no previous experience or expertise is necessary!

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3RD AT 6:30 PM Through study and discussion, together we can expand our faith!

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FIGHTING FOR CHRIST AT CHRISTMAS (Continued From Page 13) As the people grew in number and over the course of centuries various prophets emerged, among them Isaiah, who said that God would send a Messiah (a deliverer and king): “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, a young woman shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanu-el. He shall eat curds and honey when he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good (Isaiah 7: 14-15). The prophet described Immanu-el: "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government will be upon his shoulder, and his name will be called "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David, and over his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and for evermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this” (Isaiah 9: 6-7). The Prophet Jeremiah added: “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: "The Lord is our righteousness" (Jeremiah 23: 5-6). The prophet Micah told us the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem: "But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days" (Michah 5:2). King and Prophet David, in his beautiful Psalm 72 foretold of kings bringing Jesus gifts: "Give the king thy justice, O God, and thy righteousness to the royal son! ... may the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts! (Psalm 72:1,10). When Jesus was born, He took on our flesh but remained God thereby enabling us to partake of His nature. In his second epistle St. Peter (1: 2-4) wrote: "May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine

power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, that through these you may escape from the corruption that is in the world because of passion, and become partakers of the divine nature." The whole life of Jesus, His teachings, the Last Supper, Calvary, His Death and the Resurrection is tied to this. Parents, the leaders, and teachers of the domestic church have to work with their children to make these connections between feasts such as the Nativity, all the other feasts of the Church. SOME PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS Practical suggestions are always useful. Eastern Christians are well aware that the Advent Season starts on 15 November (about two weeks longer than Western Christianity). Religious Western Christians have a beautiful Advent practice: the Advent Calendar. This tradition has and can be modified for the longer Eastern preNativity Season. One such Orthodox publication to help in developing an Eastern Advent Calendar is by Speier and Finley (2005). Many domestic church families will find this book helpful in constructing an Eastern Christian Advent Calendar. An alternative and fun project for some families would be to modify an already existing religious Western Advent Calendar themselves, with added quotes, from the Old and New Testament Scriptures such as the ones above, augmented with relevant sections of the Nativity icon. An excellent comprehensive list of general Advent resources can be accessed at: www.goarch.org or www.antiochian.org Family prayer time and discussion of the passages is a beautiful way to prepare for Christ's birth. The meaning of the gifts of given by the Magi (prophesied by Micah) and the giving and receiving of gifts today could be one topic addressed in the Domestic Church. The quotes from the Church Fathers on the Feast of the Nativity (and the other feasts of the Church), may be especially helpful. Some parents may need a refresher course in making such connections themselves. Ask the religious instruction school staff or the teachers in your parish community, or even your parish priest any questions (Continued On Page 16) PAGE 15

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FIGHTING FOR CHRIST AT CHRISTMAS (Continued From Page 15) you may have. They may also be a wonderful source for other discussion topics or projects. Discussing within the domestic church how to keep the spirit of Christmas alive throughout the year would also be in order. Ask the children how to put into practice the often quoted phrase: "it is better to give than receive". This spirit goes completely against the self-centered and materialistic culture we live in. It will probably be an uphill battle but always point to Christ as our model. When gifts are received, tie this into being thankful and giving glory to God for all things. In this guise children can also be taught how to share what they have been given. Sharing can start first among family members and then extended to others.

I wonder how many secularists know that the United States has an official legal holiday called "Christmas." (U.S. Code TITLE 5 > PART III > Subpart E > CHAPTER 61 > SUBCHAPTER I > § 6103 [http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/5/6103.html]). I fear a spate of apoplexy may break among secularist if they realized it. They would try to change Christmas to the Winter Solstice or some such neo-pagan celebration. Ever notice how neopagan terminology is perfectly fine for public use but references to anything Christian is met with vituperation? The evil one is alive and well. A COURAGEOUS CHRISTIAN RESPONSE Not too many years ago any public display of commitment to Christ was considered to be spiritually inappropriate. Reticence was prescribed and any behavior short of it was seen as hypocritical and pharisaical. This practice was based Christ's indictment of the Pharisees: "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within they are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness" (Matthew 23: 27).

THE JOY OF CHRISTMAS In no way do I want to take away the joy of Christmas, especially for children. The cheer and glee on the faces of children, when they first look at the Christmas tree and the presents is so precious. The words of Our Lord who so loved children, comes to mind: Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people; but Jesus said, "Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven." And he laid his hands on them and went away" (Matthew 19: 13-15). The important thing is to Christify all things. Keep Christ in Christmas. It adds to the joy. WAY SECULAR HOLIDAY THE MY-W Unfortunately, as aggressive secularism takes hold in the culture, families leave off the important spiritual dimensions of family life. There are to be no mention of Christ, no blessings or prayer, worship, praise or thanksgiving. Names are changed ("Holiday Season" for example) to purposely eradicated the holiness of ancient Holy Days like Christmas from the cultural memory. PAGE 16

Our Holy Spiritual Father St. Peter of Damaskos warned: “Approval and gratitude, however, are due not to the man who receives the gifts but to Him who bestows them. ... Should such a person thank the Giver, he does so in the same way as the Pharisee in the Gospel, and ways to himself, 'I thank Thee, O God that I am not like other men' (Luke 18: 11). The Evangelist -- or, rather, God, who know men's hearts -- was right to say that he spoke "to himself," for the Pharisee was not speaking to God .. God knew his self-applauding soul...” (Philokalia, III). Today, publicly acknowledging being a follower of Christ is considered socially and politically despicable. While martyrdom in today's society is not physical, to witness Christ is to suffer psychological and social torture. True Christians are assailed, laughed at, mocked, reviled, verbally defied, and the brunt of scatological humor. The root of the word "witness" is from the Greek word martaria. Thus to be a modern martyr for Christ is simply to declare oneself to be His follower and stand up for His teaching. (Continued On Page 19)

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Giddy-U Up JOY!

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A PAGE FOR KIDS...

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FIGHTING FOR CHRIST AT CHRISTMAS (Continued From Page 16)

How do we witness for Christ? We can put a Nativity Scene on lawns or windows, as to be able to be seen by passersby. We could wear a Christ-birth centered pin on our clothes. When someone greets us with "Happy Holidays" we could answer: "Indeed Christ is Born - Glorify Him (the standard greeting in Orthodox countries). We could start out a meeting with others with a similar statement: Have a glorious Feast of Christ's-birth some may not know the meaning of the word 'Nativity' -- 'Christ's birth' is a phrase that should be understood by all). Children could be greeted with a phrase like: "Happy birthday Jesus." Finally, let's bring back "Merry Christmas!" During a meal with family, friends, or acquaintances, one can say I would like to say prayer or blessing (this can be done throughout the year). Among nonChristians, or un-Churched people a simple statement can be very powerful: "I would just like to call to mind the birth of my Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ -blessings to all." Among those who are committed Christians, of course, recall of one of the scriptural passages referring to Our Lord's birth can be recited and a more direct prayer can be prayed. A personal rule of life I have adopted during this Nativity season is that I let no secular greeting by anyone go unanswered. My responses to secular greetings are given in charity but I too want to witness to Our Lord's Birth: CHRIST IS BORN! GLORIFY HIM!

A CHRISTMAS CAROL EXPLAINED Ever wonder what in the world do leaping lords, French hens, swimming swans, and especially the partridge who won't come out of the pear tree have to do with Christmas? Well, the beloved “Twelve Days of Christmas” carol in fact has an interesting history and a powerful hidden Christian message. From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly. As a result someone during that era wrote this carol as a way to teach the principles of the Christian faith. Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality, that even a child could learn, remember and love. > THE PARTRIDGE IN A PEAR TREE was Jesus Christ. > TWO TURTLEDOVES were the Old and New Testaments. > THREE FRENCH HENS stood for faith, hope and love. > THE FOUR CALLING BIRDS were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John. > THE FIVE GOLDEN RINGS recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament. > THE SIX GEESE A-LAYING stood for the six days of creation. > SEVEN SWANS A-SWIMMING represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit: Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy. > THE EIGHT MAIDS A-MILKING were the eight beatitudes. > NINE LADIES DANCING were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control. > THE TEN LORDS A-LEAPING were the ten commandments. > THE ELEVEN PIPERS PIPING stood for the eleven faithful disciples. > THE TWELVE DRUMMERS DRUMMING symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles' Creed. So the next time you sing this carol or hear it performed you now know ...the rest of the story! PAGE 19