2009 December Promise

THE PROMISE

DECEMBER 2009 “Hark the herald angels sing "Glory to the newborn King! Peace on earth and mercy mild God and sinners reconciled" Joyful, all ye nations rise Join the triumph of the skies With the angelic host proclaim: "Christ is born in Bethlehem" Hark! The herald angels sing "Glory to the newborn King!"

DATES TO REMEMBER:

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

DECEMBER 13

A Message from our Pastor.....................2

THE LAST DAY TO DONATE TO WOMEN & CHILDREN FIRST

DECEMBER 20 PARISH CHRISTMAS LUNCHEON 2010 STEWARDSHIP CARDS ARE DUE GOYA CHRISTMAS PARTY

DECEMBER 24

The Ladder of Marriage..........................3 Mission Teams ........................................5 Save The Date.........................................6 Making History........................................8

CHRISTMAS EVE CANDLELIGHT SERVICE 6:00PM

Holiday Services....................................10

DECEMBER 25

News & Notes........................................14

FEAST OF THE NATIVITY LITURGY 9:30AM

DECEMBER 31

Not For Lightweights.............................17

NEW YEAR’S EVE ST. BASIL LITURGY 6:00PM

A Visit To St. Nicholas.........................21

JANUARY 5 & 6

Halloween Memories............................26

THEOPHANY CELEBRATIONS Divine Liturgy 9:30am

December Calendar..............................28 PAGE 1

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PASTORAL MESSAGE Whenever we see or do something often enough, we eventually become so accustomed it that we lose sight of that familiar thing's original meaning and significance. Recognizable customs, no matter how beautiful or substantial initially will quickly fade from focus and ostensibly become invisible, whenever we are not vigilant. This is especially true with regards to practically every one of our most beloved and familiar Christmas traditions. For nearly every traditional Christmas decoration and custom is in one way or another intrinsically rooted to conveying faith in the truth of Jesus Christ. They may now be commonplace, and in some segments of our society they may even be considered “politically correct and sanitized” expressions of Christmas (seemingly devoid of any Christian meaning) - but in truth, many of the most familiar and beloved Christmas expressions in the world today (certainly to the chagrin of the secular humanists who are so quick to dismiss Christianity’s impact on the human race) are indeed beautiful and timeless expressions of ardent faith in Jesus Christ as the Incarnate Son of God.

modern day Germany in order to proclaim the Gospel and establish the Church when he came across some men who were preparing to sacrifice a child to the pagan god of Thor. St. Boniface stopped the murder of the child and pointed to a small fir tree saying: “This tree does not die in winter like others but lives and it symbolizes the eternal life offered to all through Jesus Christ.” He then went on to explain how even the very shape of the fir tree (a triangle), beautifully represents the Holy Trinity. The men were so moved by the courage and wisdom of St. Boniface that they repented, spared the life of the child and became Christians. Soon thereafter, throughout that region, especially during the winter celebration of Christmas, the fir tree became a ‘converted’ symbol of the enduring life and strength of Jesus Christ. Eventually, many throughout Christendom began to appreciate how “a Christmas tree” could serve as a potent sign of life-giving power of Christ and His sacrifice on a tree for the salvation of the world. Inspired by faith and the Grace of God, it bears remembering that the Christmas tree is NOT really a commercial tool, but a rather striking symbol of Jesus Christ and His sacrificial love for humanity. While our secular society may think that it has found a politically safe way to undermine and dismiss the religious significance of the season, we can instead look at all of the Christmas trees around us and relish in their true significance as we recall the words of St. Peter in his First Epistle (ch. 2: 24): “He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds, you have been healed.”

CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS

To begin with, even the ever present familiar Christmas tree is a very basic Christian symbol. The evergreen tree, especially in Northern Europe, was for the longest time considered an apt symbol of strength and hope. The tree’s ability to survive the bitter winter and stay green amazed the pagan Vikings and led them to consider it as a sign of life and good fortune. Well before the Vikings ever received the Good News of Christ, they would chop down a fir tree and put it in the middle of their hut in order to fortify the family’s spirit during the long and harsh winter months. But as the Christian faith moved its way north, this basic pagan symbol was transformed as ancient associations with fir trees were imbued with even greater significance. It is said that in the 7th century St. Boniface went into PAGE 2

Then there is the Christian symbolism that permeates the use of that ole favorite - mistletoe. Here again, mistletoe was first used as a form of decoration in people’s homes because of its natural ability to thrive when everything else seemed to be dead and barren. Christians in many parts of the world saw in the plant a reminder

(Continued on page 4)

THE PROMISE

THE ANNUNCIATION BOOKSTORE IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS! Just in time for the Christmas season the parish bookstore is open for business. We have many new items with more coming in the next couple of weeks. There are beautiful new Icons in stock as well as new books, music and spoken word cd's, crosses, pendants, and other gift items. There are many great possibilities for giving Orthodox gifts this holiday season. Many items are marked down in price. Christmas ornaments are on sale at 50% off! Leather bound editions of “The Orthodox Study Bible - Old & New Testament” are coming soon.

TheParish bookstore is open during the Fellowship hour every Sunday after the Divine Liturgy or by special appointment. WE WANT TO HELP AS A ONE STOP SOURCE FOR ANY OF YOUR CHURCH RELATED NEEDS. We can special order Icons for specific saints, events, or feast days. We can help with finding assistance in preparing kolyva for memorial services or in obtaining wedding crowns or baptismal items. We can also help to find and order specific books or Orthodox related gift items. Please refer any questions or needs to Christopher Huckabay at 501-563-8726 or at [email protected].

THE LADDER OF DIVINE ASCENT FOR MARRIAGE by Fr. George Morelli

You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect (Matthew 5:48). Some who are called to salvation through the vocation of marriage may consider it inferior to the monastic life. In part this attitude is shaped by descriptions that compare the monastic vocation to angelic life, particularly the abstinence from sexual relations. "Moreover the renunciation of the monk… includes not only these but in accordance with the strictest teaching of Jesus all sexual relations or emotion arising therefrom. The monastic idea of chastity is a life like that of the angels".

FOCUS: DEPARTURE FROM "THE WORLD" MARRIED OR MONASTIC? Marriage was considered to be a secondary vocation by spiritual writers of both East and West following St. Paul's instruction to the Corinthians, "So that he who marries his betrothed does well; and he who refrains from marriage will do better" (1 Cor 7:38). The description arises from the central focus of monastic life: the voluntary renunciation of "worldly" preoccupations. Before St. John Chrysostom matured into the great pastor he became, he too recommended monastic over married life. He wrote to his friend Theodore who was contemplating leaving monasticism, "…it is no longer possible for thee to observe the right conditions of marriage. For if he who has been attached to a heavenly bridegroom deserts him…"

FOCUS: PERFECTION IN CHRIST: IN HARMONY WITH HIS TEACHINGS IN THE WORLD Later on, however, St. John's attitude changed. After more experience and greater contact with godly people, (Continued on page 11) PAGE 3

THE PROMISE

PASTORAL MESSAGE (Continued from page 2) of Christ's presence even in the midst of the cruelest of circumstances. Furthermore, in places like Scandinavia, the plant was also seen as a symbol for the Lord's peace. It is said that Scandinavian warriors would actually not fight under any tree with mistletoe on its branches. Because they believed that to fight under such a “God given plant of life” was an affront to the Lord. Building off of such sentiments, in Great Britain, the use of mistletoe further evolved into a useful symbol of the Lord’s blessings. It was thought that whenever a couple kissed under mistletoe, the kiss would be seen by God and He in turn would bless them with everlasting love. Today, many may try to bury mistletoe message of Christ’s peace and love under layers of commercialism and debauchery. But as Christian men and women, every time we hear mistletoe mentioned in songs, see it decorating clothes and packages or hanging over doors, we can enjoy it as a symbol of the sustaining faith, hope and love in Christ that it is. Then then there is the religious significance of another seasonally popular plant, the Poinsettia. A common plant in South America, it is said that at some point a very poor Mexican girl named Pepita went into a Church to look at the Nativity that was displayed and began to cry. When concerned adults asked her what was wrong, she explained that she had no gift by which to honor the birth of Christ. Someone knelt beside the little girl, and told her that any gift given in love would indeed be well received by the Lord at Christmas. Not knowing what else to do, Pepita left the mission grounds and desperately searched for something to honor the Lord on His birthday. In the dead of winter, she eventually came across some common looking weeds - green plants growing along the side of the road. She carefully picked them, fashioned them into a small bouquet and humbly returned to the Church that Christmas Eve to place them at the foot of the Nativity scene. When to everyone's surprise, the green plant she had placed before the manger turned into a vivid red - leading everyone to believe that they were witnessing a Christmas miracle. The priest came forward, studied the plant and declared that Pepita had in fact discovered the “flores de Noche Buena” or the PAGE 4

“flowers of the Holy Night”. Thus, in a land without many fir trees, Christians found yet another way with which to highlight the birth of the Savior. Ultimately the plant's Christ-centered association was brought to the United States in1824 by the American Ambassador to Mexico Dr. Joel Poinsett - hence their English name “Poinsetta”. Even the traditional colors used at Christmas are instilled with Christian meaning. Stores may not care, secular humanists may be oblivious, but it is good for our soul to remember the underlying meaning behind the colors that we so intimately (and casually) associate with the Christmas season. For when the Church and her people started to use red, green and gold during this period it was with a blessed purpose. The color RED is considered symbolic of the blood that Jesus shed on the Cross for us and our sake. GREEN is said to represent eternal life in Christ, and the color GOLD is regarded as an apt way to highlight the Glory of God and the joy of Heaven. So with every Christmas ornament, package or house adorned in red, green, and or gold, we as faithful Christians can recognize and glorify the One who took our flesh, sacrificed Himself on the Cross and rose from the dead; thereby enabling us to find eternal life in Him. Needless to say, this list of meaningful Christmas traditions is by no means complete. But it hopefully serves to highlight the fact that every thing we do at Christmas can and should point to that Jesus is the Son of God. Only in the birth of Christ, can a fir tree become reminder of Cross and an apt symbol of the Holy Trinity. Only in the birth of Christ, can mistletoe become an enduring sign of the peace, hope and love that flows from the Lord. Only in the birth of Christ, can an innocuous and strange plant like a poinsettia become a reminder of the Holy Night when God Himself took on flesh, let alone an indication of the faithful gifts that truly please the Lord. Only in the birth of Christ, can the colors red, green and gold represent the holy and eternal Good News of Jesus Christ. In a world so eager to dash peoples hopes and squash people's faith, how good it is to know that no matter what, the Christian faith at Christmas will always find ways to shine.

HAVE A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS! Rev. Dr. Nicholas J. Verdaris

THE PROMISE

OCMC INVITES FAMILIES TO EXPERIENCE AN ORTHODOX MISSION TEAM

All of the 2010 Family Teams have been carefully chosen to allow youth to develop relationships with their Orthodox peers and learn about new cultures. Language barriers melt and horizons are broadened as families put their faith into action and share their Orthodox faith.

by Pres. Renee Ritsi

For the first time, OCMC is offering families the opportunity to participate together on Orthodox Mission Teams. Four 2010 OCMC Mission Teams are open to parents and youth who are prayerfully seeking exposure to the important work of making disciples. Family Teams allow youth (13 and above) to travel with a parent to offer their time and talents as living witnesses to the Orthodox Christian Faith. If you want your teen to have an opportunity to serve others around the world and to be involved in missions, then consider joining a 2010 Orthodox Family Mission Team. This year's Family Team destinations are: Eklutna and Old Harbor, Alaska; Shen Vlash, Albania; and Cluj, Romania. The Eklutna Team will travel to the oldest continuously inhabited Athabaskan Indian settlement to work on light general maintenance to the church of St. Nicholas (cutting shrubs, trimming grass, painting the cemetery, and fence and walkway repairs,) and by offering historic tours of the Church. The Albania Team will assist in the daily activities and ministries of the Children's Home of Hope in Albania. The Romania Team will join ASCOR (the Student Association of Orthodox Christians in Romania) in offering a Youth Camp outside of Cluj to middle school-aged youth. The Team to Old Harbor will participate in the annual Family Camp offered to youth and adults on Sitkalidak Island. The theme of the camp will be "Christ in the Eucharist, Truly a Subsistence Food."

An Orthodox Mission Team can be a life-changing experience. Family Teams are perfect if you have teens who love Christ and helping others and if your family is seeking spiritual growth and a deeper understanding of the universality of the Orthodox faith. An OCMC Family Mission Team is a great way to begin a journey that will have a profound impact on your lives and the lives of others.

For more information or to apply for one of these Family Teams log on to www. teams.ocmc.org, or contact OCMC by phone at 1-8877-G GO-F FORTH or by email at [email protected].

MINISTRY OPPORTUNITY With the Orthodox Christian calling to serve the Lord through His Church of the Annunciation, we are continually challenged to personally discover ways to personally better serve Christ, His Church and His world. And the more people directly involved in the work of the Lord, the greater the outpouring of God’s love and grace. It is with that in mind that our parish continues to look for an individual to come forward and serve as a FOREIGN MISSIONS LIAISON. This position will work with Father Nicholas to help put into motion opportunities for our Church family to be even more involved in spreading the Good News of Christ around the world. If someone is interested in expanding our involvement in foreign missions, please contact Father. Nicholas. PAGE 5

THE PROMISE

SAVE THE DATE!

On Sunday, January 24th we will be celebrating the 40th anniversary of the ordination of

Father. Pierre Delfos. The entire Church family is invited to attend this special event so that together we may herald this wonderful milestone and thank God for the very special shepherd He called to serve within His vineyards. Metropolitan Nicholas of Detroit will be visiting in order to lead the festivities and all that will be missing is YOU!

SAVE THE DATE Parish Assembly Sunday, December 6th PAGE 6

OUR STEWARDSHIP OF THE ANNUNCIATION As we prepare to soon herald the birth of our Savior, let us merrily manifest our abiding faith in the Incarnation of our Lord by joyously "giving" our time, talent and treasure, to this His Holy Church at the Annunciation. Let us continue to manifest the light of Christ through our prayers, our presence, our gifts and our service. Working together and personally striving to help make sure that the Annunciation meets its 2009 Stewardship goal is not only a noble task, but a blessed calling. In that same vein, it is also important for us as a Church family to look ahead to 2010 and our Stewardship commitment to help ensure that our friends and neighbors may “Come & See” Christ at the Annunciation. Please make your contributions for this year, and prayerfully consider your commitment to Christ and His Church for 2010. We ask that everyone in our Church family please submit their 2010 Stewardship card to the Annunciation by SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20TH. Ultimately, no matter what the year, our stewardship of the Annunciation is our response to God’s love as well as the means by which we personally help to bring others to the light and new life in Christ through this His Church in Little Rock.

WE CAN MEET OUR 2009 STEWARDSHIP GOAL! AND ON DECEMBER 20TH, LET US RENEW OUR

STEWARDSHIP COMMITMENT TO CHRIST AT THE ANNUNCIATION FOR 2010

THE PROMISE

WISDOM OF THE FATHERS ON MARRIAGE: “Tell her that you love her more than your own life, because this present life is nothing, and that your only hope is that the two of you pass through this life in such a way that in the world to come, you will be united in perfect love. Say to her, "Our time here is brief and fleeting, but if we are pleasing to God, we can exchange this life for the Kingdom to come. Then we will be perfectly one both with Christ and with each other, and our pleasure will know no bounds. I value your love above all things, and nothing would be so bitter or painful to me as our being at odds with each other. Even if I lose everything, any affliction is tolerable if you will be true to me." Show her that you value her company, and prefer being at home to being out. Esteem her in the presence of your friends and children. Praise and show admiration for her good acts; and if she ever does anything foolish, advise her patiently. Pray together at home and go to church; when you come back home, let each ask the other the meaning of the readings and the prayers….If your marriage is like this, your perfection will rival the holiest of monks.”

ATTENTION DALLAS TRAVELERS Please note that the final travel fee for all those registered to attend the Dallas, Texas, Basketball Tournament is $150. The fee includes hotel rooms for three nights and all of our transportation needs. Because of all of the GOYAns hard work in conjunction with the commitment of the entire parish, the travel fee for this year trip are fairly reasonable. A check made payable to the ANNUNCIATION GOYA IS DUE NO LATER THAN SUNDAY, JANUARY 3RD . We will meet at the Church to depart for Dallas on Friday, January 15th at 4:30pm sharp and returning on Monday, January, 18th in the evening. Travelers, you will be getting specific details shortly - stay tuned. In the meantime, make plans for a great time!!!

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!

ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM, HOMILY 20 PAGE 7

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WITH FAITH IN ACTION, DREAMS COME TRUE On Sunday, November 22nd, the Annunciation Church family gathered together to thank God in the true spirit of Thanksgiving and to formally retire its 1.3 million dollar mortgage for the Vision 2000 expansion project. With confidence in the Lord’s will and every one in our church family embracing the task at hand, we were able to do much to the glory of God. We transformed the entrance to the Church, added Sunday School classrooms, added offices & meeting rooms, remodeled & updated our kitchen, created a gym and bookstore, built a Fellowship hall along with a beautiful Ballroom that has been a blessing to many within, as well as outside of our Church family. All of these things serve to glorify the presence of the Lord in West Little Rock. Then, in a manifestation of faith, dedication and a lot of hard work, our parish was able to retire this debt years ahead of schedule. This historic occasion does not mark the end of our story, but only the close of one chapter and the beginning of a new one. Thank God for days such as this! Thank God for our many blessings; and Thank God for the Annunciation Church family in Little Rock!

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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 6:00PM. LET US EMBRACE THE LORD TOGETHER AND

2010 WITH HYMNS OF PRAISE & HOLY COMMUNION WELCOME

ANNUNCIATION CHRISTMAS LUNCHEON & PROGRAM The Annunciation will be hosting its annual Christmas Luncheon on December 20th immediately following the Divine Liturgy. You & yours are warmly invited!!! During this very special luncheon our Sunday School students will also be presenting their annual Christmas Program - you will not want to miss it. Rumor has it that a very jolly fellow may even pop in for a visit. Please join us!!!

WISH A MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOUR ANNUNCIATION FAMILY Help support the ministries of the Annunciation as well as share your Christmas love with your Church family by including your family name in the ANNUNCIATION COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS CARD. For $15.00 you can support the work of the parish and spread some love. Sign up and you can rest assured that everyone in our Church family receives your loving Christmas wishes. The LAST DAY to sign up for the Card is Sunday,, December 13th - see Anna Clift or Eva Sargent.

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Lets Have A Merry Christmas Together at the Annunciation!

THE PROMISE

THE LADDER FOR MARRIAGE (Continued from page 3) especially the holy widow Olympias, we see a new recognition in St. John's writings that marriage is also an esteemed path to salvation. In a letter to Olympias about the raising of children St. John wrote: "Bring him up in the chastening and admonition of the Lord. Never deem it an unnecessary thing that he should be a diligent hearer of the divine Scriptures. For there the first thing he hears will be this, 'Honor thy father and thy mother;' so that this makes for thee. Never say, this is the business of monks. Am I making a monk of him? No. There is no need he should become a monk". The Golden-Mouthed saint understood why Olympias was able to lead a holy life in Christ, while in the world. He wrote, "But you know how to dwell in great and populous cities as if they were uninhabited, spending the whole of your time in quietness and rest, and treading worldly ambitions under foot… the perfect training which renders you insensible to any terror at the hands of any one, the power of standing on a rock in the midst of mighty billows of tribulation, and sailing in a calm with a favorable breeze when the sea is raging around you." Standing up to the afflictions and tribulations of the world produces virtue. St. John continued, "For such is the nature of affliction—when it lays hold of a brave and noble soul, this is what it is wont to effect. And as the fire makes the piece of gold, when it is applied to it, of better proof: so also affliction when it visits golden characters renders them purer and more proven. Wherefore also Paul said 'affliction worketh patience, and patience probation…More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope…"

PERFECTION: HARMONY WITH CHRIST CONTINUED Clearly St. John came to the point of view that whether a person is married or a monastic, both paths can lead (Continued on page 12)

THE FEAST OF THE NATIVITY SERVICES The sacred and blessed essence of Christmas is far greater than any conceivable tradition or gift. For In these holy days we celebrate and proclaim the fact that the Lord God Himself has miraculously condescended to take on our flesh in order for us, (His creation), to know Him better, draw closer to Him and be saved by Him. Hence, the celebration of Christmas naturally calls us together into His Holy House in order to sing His praises, confirm our love and faith in Him and partake of His lifegiving Body and Blood at Holy Communion. There simply is no Christmas without worshiping Jesus 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:

THURSDAY DECEMBER 24TH -

Christmas Eve Candlelight Service Vesperal Liturgy - 6:00 pm

 DECEMBER 25TH -

The Feast Day of the Nativity Divine Liturgy - 9:30 am PAGE 11

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THE LADDER FOR MARRIAGE (Continued from Page 11)

to holiness. He wrote, "I shall therefore quote you examples from the saints of the ancient times. How many, who had wives to keep and children to bring up, were inferior in no respect…But would you know why it was? It was for his hospitality, for his contempt of riches, for his chastened conduct. For what, tell me, is the duty of a philosopher [one committed to Christ]? Is it not to despise both riches and glory? Is it not to be above both envy and every other passion?” He also warned all his readers, "Do not imagine that the monk alone stands in need of these lessons from Scripture. Of all others, the children just about to enter into the world specially need them"

A PRACTICAL EXAMPLE Would St. John feel at home in our world 1700 years later? Most likely he would – and this does not speak well of us. It does, however, make his teachings all the more relevant. In his letter to Olympias, St. John spoke of the "court," by which he meant the ruling courts of Emperors and Empresses and their legates. We could replace the reference today with government leaders such as legislators or judges, or even business and cultural leaders. Most important, we can still apply the moral imperatives to the relationships we have with others. St. John wrote: “Thus the more distinguished he is in the present life, so much the more he stands in need of this education. If he passes his life in courts, there are many Heathens, and philosophers, and persons puffed up with the glory of this life. It is like a place full of dropsical people. Such in some sort is the court. All are, as it were, puffed up, and in a state of inflammation.

There is then every need of much discipline of this sort to those that are to mix in the present world, because such an one has a stronger temptation to sin than the other. And if you have a mind to understand it, he will further be a more useful person even in the world itself. PAGE 12

For all will have a reverence for him from these words, when they see him in the fire without being burnt, and not desirous of power. But power he will then obtain, when he least desires it, and will be a still higher object of respect to the king; for it is not possible that such a character should be hid. Amongst a number of healthy persons, indeed, a healthy man will not be noticed; but when there is one healthy man amongst a number of sick, the report will quickly spread and reach the king's ears, and he will make him ruler over many nations. Knowing then these things, “bring up your children in the chastening and admonition of the Lord."

DESERT IN THE CITY St. John gives us a monastic ethos while living in the world – a desert in the city so to speak. It's a model we see practiced elsewhere. St. Paul, for example, was directed to venture into cities, "(R)ise and enter the city and you will be told what you are to do" (Acts 9:6). In fact, in early Christianity, the first Churches were home churches, and although not properly a "Eucharistic assembly", it certainly is the center of sanctification of a man and woman in blessed married and their children. A prayer that is read for the couple during the wedding service affirms the inherent importance and dignity of Christian parenting. "Unite them in one mind and one flesh, and grant unto them fair children for education in the faith and fear ..." the prayer reads. This prayer reveals that the vocation of marriage and parenthood must be Christ-centered and thus marriage and parenting is Godordained.

MARRIAGE AND THE DOMESTIC CHURCH: A LADDER OF DIVINE ASCENT IN THE WORLD If the writings of St. John Chrysostom reveal that the ethos of the married and monastic vocations are similar in that both offer opportunities for sanctification, we can look to monasticism for guidelines on how to apply personal (Continued on page 15)

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ATTENTION ANNUNCIATION CHURCH FAMILY: Under the guidance of Father Nicholas we are beginning an ongoing series of home mission projects in our local area. It is the goal of Annunciation Home Missions to spread the love of our Lord Jesus Christ in our local community through the work and shared resources of His Holy Church. If you know of a local charity that could benefit from our help, please contact Fr. Nicholas or Christopher Huckabay with details.

Our Home Missions project for November /December 2009 will be a collection to benefit Women and Children First. The mission of WCF is to empower women and their children to live independently and free from domestic violence by providing crisis intervention, safe shelter, social/legal advocacy, transitional housing, and support and prevention services. WCF has served women and children in Little Rock for over 30 years and serves over 400 women and children annually. They operate a 44 bed shelter as well as 16 transitional housing apartments and assist their clients with financing for up to two years after moving from the shelter. To try and help this important cause Annunciation Church family is invited to embrace the challenge of donating 409

CLEANER and or WAL-MART, TARGET OR KROGER GIFT CARDS. Until Sunday,, December 13,, 2009 a box will be set up in the Fellowship Hall for the 409 Cleaner and the gift cards will collected in bookstore. This is our opportunity to share with families in crisis in the name of our Lord and Savior - let us make our love and our faith shine! In the months to come we will be developing new home mission projects to benefit local charities and causes. Your generosity and care in serving our community in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ is greatly appreciated. May you all have a joyous and blessed Christmas!

FROM THE WORD OF THE LORD: “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” - HEBREWS 10:23-25

TIME IS RUNNING OUT Sunday is the Lord’s Day! It is therefore incumbent on us as not to allow the stress, distractions and temptations of life to interfere with our punctual and faithful attendance of the Liturgy. If the Lord our God is not a top priority NOW, when will He be? Because our time is precious and life is all too short,, let us all redouble our efforts to gather here at 10:00am at the latest in order to worship Him. Let us attend the Divine Liturgy together on Sunday as if it were our first or last.

SUNDAY SERVICES: MATINS, 9:00AM / DIVINE LITURGY, 10:00AM PAGE 13

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SERVICES FOR THE FEAST OF EPIPHANY AND ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST EVE OF EPIPHANY: Tuesday, January 5th 9:30am

EPIPHANY: Wednesday, January 6th 9:30am

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 6th and ending December 27th, 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

FEAST OF ST. JOHN: Thursday, January 7th - 9:30am

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 , Stewardship Presentation & Mortgage Burning was a beautiful historic moment for all to enjoy. 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 give all thanks to God. PAGE 14

HELP MAKE THIS

ENORMOUS

UNDERTAKING

ORDERLY BY REGISTERING DURING THE MONTH OF

DECEMBER. All those who kindly register their name by December 27th will then be contacted by Father Nicholas after the feast of Epiphany to make arrangements for a blessing.

GOYA CHRISTMAS PARTY We are going to get together on evening of SUNDAY ,

DECEMBER 22ND! Details will be provided in upcoming Sunday Bulletins, but in the meantime, keep the night free for some good ole GOYA fashion fun!

Let share some Christmas cheer together!

THE PROMISE

THE LADDER FOR MARRIAGE (Continued from page 12)

discipline in the world. St. John Climacus' "The Ladder of Divine Ascent" is considered one of the classics of Orthodox spiritual teaching. Unknown to many however, is that St. John was asked by married couples how they could apply his teachings if they were not monks. He responded: “Some people living carelessly in the world put a question to me: "How can we who are married and living amid public cares aspire to the monastic life?" I answered: "Do whatever good you may. Speak evil of no one. Rob no one. Tell no lie. Despise no one and carry no hate. Do not separate yourself from the church assemblies. Show compassion to the needy. Do not cause scandal to anyone. Stay away from the bed of another, and be satisfied with what your own wives can provide you. If you do all this you will not be far from the kingdom of heaven.” In the introduction to the book Metropolitan Kallistos pointed out that people do not necessarily ascend the steps in order. The ladder is not to be taken literally; but sets "a standard and model for the whole Church." In our case, we can see the book as a guide to living a Godly life in the domestic churches – the families who live in the world.

THE FIVE ELEMENTS OF GODLINESS LOVE St. John Climacus ("Of the Ladder") structured his instruction as a ladder that he called the "divine ascent." They are steps that, if practiced, can lead us to God. The pinnacle of the ascent is love. Love is what fills life with meaning because, as the Holy Scriptures teach us, "God is love" ( 1 John 4:8). When we strive for love, we strive for God, and we become aware of how God "fills all in all" St. John used the image of a ray of light to describe God. The ray (God) makes all things, light: mercy encircling the ray, and a disk that represents love's unceasingness which appears as a "single radiance and a single splendor." In a sense we emulate or replicate this divine

activity "insofar as is humanly possible." We are not God, but the creation is such that even human actions find some congruence with the divine activity of God. One example is child bearing. A man and woman joined in blessed marriage become "one flesh" out of which a new person is created. This example of creative love continues after the birth of the child. The parents are commissioned to bring the child into "Godliness" as the prayers of the marriage service exhort. This should also extend from the family – the domestic church – to all people to whom they come in contact, thereby fulfilling the commandment of Christ that we should love our neighbor as ourselves. This is accomplished through kenosis (self-sacrifice, emptying oneself) for the good and welfare of others.

PRAYER Another primary element is prayer. "Prayer is by nature a dialog and a union of man with God…Its effect is to hold the whole world together." Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ taught us to pray. He told his disciples, "Our Father, who art in heaven…" Jesus also told his disciples that, "Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it, that the Father may be glorified in the Son" (John 14:13). Prayer is a critical block in the foundation of the domestic church. Reflect on the words of Christ: Every one then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house upon the rock" (Matthew 7:24). Prayer holds a family together. Prayer unifies people with God. A daily cycle of prayers can be performed including morning prayer, mealtime prayers, evening prayer, reading of the epistle and gospel of the day, as well as spiritual reading. Of course, all these practices are the "overflow" of sharing in the Eucharistic banquet on Sunday and Feast Days of the local parish. They have their origin to early Christian practice, "…they devoted themselves to the breaking of bread…and they sold their possessions and goods and distributed them to all, as any had need" (Acts 2: 42,45).

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THE PROMISE

OUTREACH COMMITTEE MEET & GREET SCHEDULE December 6th. . . . . . . . . . . . Carole Hawkins December 13th . . . . . . . . . . . Jeannie Newton December 20th . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rick Newton December 27th . . . . . . . . . . . Jack Weatherly January 3rd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mark Hunter January 10th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Robin Jones January 17th . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sharon Johnson January 24th . . . . . . . . Christopher Huckabay January 31st . . . . . . . . . . . . . Carole Hawkins

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THE COMING MONTHS ! ! !

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!

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CHECK THE BULLETIN

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T HE P ROMISE : J AN . 2010 Please note that articles and information for the Jan. 2010 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 ! ! !

DID YOU KNOW? You can always read the current issue of The Promise online at the Annunciation’s website! orthodoxchurch.com/parish/promise

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THE PROMISE

NOT FOR LIGHTWEIGHTS By Gordon Atkinson (Baptist minister of the “Covenant Baptist” Parish in San Antonio, Texas)

Last Sunday was the 4th of 13 in my sabbatical time. Each of them is precious to me. Each week I am choosing a place and a way to worship. I’m not a church tourist, hoping to see new things. I’m seeking spiritual experiences. I want to worship. Saturday night Jeanene and I still hadn’t decided where to go. I experienced something common to our culture but new to me. The “Where do you want to go to church? - I don’t know, where do YOU want to go to church?” conversation. I found the Saint Anthony the Great website. It’s an Orthodox church that has beautiful Byzantine art in the sanctuary. We decided to go there. Shelby and Lillian went with us. On the way we warned them that this was going to be different. “They might not have changed their worship service much in a thousand years or so,” I told the girls. That was an understatement. Saint Anthony the Great isn’t just old school. It’s “styli and wax tablets” old school. We arrived 10 minutes early for worship and the room was already filled with people lighting candles and praying. There was one greeter. I said, “We don’t know what to do.” She handed me a liturgy book and waved us inside. Pews? We don’t need no stinking pews! Providing seats for worshippers is SO 14th century. Gorgeous Byzantine art, commissioned from a famous artist in Bulgaria. Fully robed priests with censors (those swinging incense thingies). Long, complex readings and chants that went on and on and on. And every one of them packed full of complex, theological ideas. It was like they were ripping raw chunks of theology out of ancient creeds and throwing them by the handfuls into the congregation. And just to make sure it wasn’t too easy for us, everything was read in a monotone voice and at the speed of an auctioneer. I heard words and phrases I had not heard since seminary. Theotokos, begotten not made, Cherubim and Seraphim

borne on their pinions, supplications and oblations. It was an ADD kid’s nightmare. Robes, scary art, smoking incense, secret doors in the Iconostas popping open and little robed boys coming out with golden candlesticks, chants and singing from a small choir that rolled across the curved ceiling and emerged from the other side of the room where no one was singing. The acoustics were wild. No matter who was speaking, the sound came out of everywhere. There was so much going on I couldn’t keep up with all the things I couldn’t pay attention to. Lillian was the first to go down. After half an hour of standing, she was done. Jeanene took her over to a pew on the side wall. She slumped against Jeanene’s shoulder and stared at me with this stunned rather betrayed look on her face. “How could you have brought us to this insane place?” Shelby tried to tough it out. We were following along in the 40-page liturgy book that was only an abbreviation of the service we were experiencing. I got lost no less than 10 times. After 50 minutes, Shelby leaned over and asked how much longer the service would be. I was trying to keep from locking my knees because my thighs had gotten numb. I showed her the book. We were on page 15. I flipped through the remaining 25 pages to show her how much more there was. Her mouth fell open. “Are you serious?” “Yeah. And I think there’s supposed to be a sermon in here somewhere.” “They haven’t done the SERMON yet? What was that guy doing who said all that stuff about… all that stuff?” “I don’t know?” I said. I have to go to the bathroom,” she said. I looked around and saw the door at the back of the sanctuary swinging shut. And then there was one. I made it through the entire 1 hour and 50 minutes of worship without sitting down, but my back was sore. Shelby came back toward the end. When it came time for communion I suggested that we not participate because I didn’t know what kind of rules they have for that. We

(continued on page 20) PAGE 17

THE PROMISE

THE LADDER FOR MARRIAGE (Continued from page 15)

WORK Work too is an indispensable to creating the domestic church. We at least know about two works of the Holy Trinity. One is the active relationship of love that the three Persons of the Holy Trinity have among themselves. Another is the individual work of each Person of the Trinity – what we call in theological terms the Divine Economy. For example, the Father creates and upholds the creation. The work of the Son is to mediate the Father to the believer, and the believer to the Father – a work accomplished through His Divine Incarnation. He reveals the Father during his sojourn on earth where he worked as a carpenter in Nazareth (c.f. Matthew 13:55), preaching in the synagogues and countryside (c.f. Luke 4: 14-15), and finally through his passion, crucifixion, and resurrection. The work of the Holy Spirit is to rest on the Son, "For in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell…" (Colossians 1: 19). The domestic church also must be engaged in work. The work of running a household – the cooking, cleaning, study, employment, etc. – must in some measure emulate the work of the Holy Trinity, which means it must be done in love. But love flows forth only where God is, and one must pray to come into the presence of God. Here too St. John offered invaluable practical counsel, "Pray in all simplicity. The publican and the prodigal son were reconciled to God by a single utterance… heartfelt thanksgiving should have first place in our book of prayer."

SILENCE Silence is considered a jewel of the spiritual life but one difficult to achieve in the domestic church often because of the press of schedules and responsibilities. Nevertheless PAGE 18

silence must be cultivated. St. John taught that, "The lover of silence draws close to God. He talks to him in secret and God enlightens him." The good saint links lack of silence to vainglory and passing judgment on others. We measure people and events from our own prideful viewpoint instead of listening to God who told us: "Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get" (Matthew 7: 1-2). By holding our tongues, we can listen to what God tells us. So how do we achieve silence in our world of sensory overload and the unrelenting demands on our time? When I counsel families I frequently tell them they must start making recreation a priority. They often respond with a quizzical stare. Not until I explain what recreation is for do they begin to comprehend why recreation is necessary. Look at the word, I tell them. The term "recreation" means to "re-create" — to make new. Parents in particular must renew their relationship in order for the family to be healthy. Think of the flight attendant when she gives the safety instructions to the passengers. "Parents traveling with young children should put on their masks before putting on their child's." Why? Because if the parent is not healthy, the child cannot be cared for. We all need re-creation. We all need time out from the outer and inner distractions. I instruct family members to "set time each day to be in silence. Say a simple prayer, become aware of the presence of God, and let go of even this and stare off as if focusing on nothing around you." These practices are favored by monastics and others schooled in the discipline of silence. I have discovered that these simple instructions are sufficient for the blessed members of the domestic church in today's society. St Isaac the Syrian wrote, " … there is no end to wisdom's journey. Wisdom ascends even till this: until she unites with God him who follows after her. And this is the sight that the insights of wisdom have no limit: that wisdom is God himself." St. Peter taught, "Let not yours be the outward adorning … but let it be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable jewel of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious" (1 Peter 3:3-4).

THE PROMISE HOSPITALITY At first it might seem strange to consider hospitality a step in the Divine Ascent. Remember however, the example of Abraham. Genesis recounts the visit of the Lord to Abraham and the hospitality accorded to the visitors: "And the Lord appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the door of his tent in the heat of the day. He lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men stood in front of him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed himself to the earth, and said, "My lord, if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by your servant" (Genesis 18: 1— 33). In Orthodox iconography this is depicted as the "Hospitality of Abraham." This sharing comes from the sharing that God shows us. God shared his only begotten Son with us, "Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men" (Philippians 2: 5-7). Is it surprising then St. Paul would instructed us to, "Welcome one another, therefore, as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God" (Romans 15:7). St. John of the Ladder affirmed the directive "When people visit you, offer them what they need for body and spirit. If they happen to be wiser than we are, then let our own silence reveal our wisdom." St. Paul told the Ephesians be hospitable "…with all lowliness and meekness, with patience, forbearing one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (Ephesians 4: 2-3). In this spirit St. John reminded his readers that when serving others be sure to avoid self-centeredness as "vainglory induces pride." With this in mind we — the little church in the home — can exercise hospitality, giving to others motivated by the love of Christ. Family members can keep in mind St. Paul's words, "What have you that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if it were not a gift" (1 Corinthians 4:7)? In hospitality, let not the poor be forgotten. Our Lord told us: "But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed,

because they cannot repay you" (Luke 14: 13-14). How we can accomplish this can be the subject of a family spiritual discussion and project. For example, several years ago during Thanksgiving season I was completing a family counseling session and asked, "How are you going to spend Thanksgiving? With other members of your family"? "Oh no", they answered. "We go to our local soup kitchen and cook and serve the homeless." Here in San Diego, I know of families that show the same hospitality serving the Project Mexico mission that helps the poorest of the poor. Such is the hospitality of God. "He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives him who sent me" (Matthew 10: 40).

GOD THE SOURCE OF MARITAL GRACE In its Divine Ascent all the members of the domestic church can meditate on the words of Isaiah the Prophet: "I am the Lord your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you in the way you should go" (Isaiah 48:17). The family has to be the source of "newness of life" in Christ, and not conformed to the world. Once again the teaching of St. Paul, "Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect" (Romans 12:12). This commitment to have an Orthodox Christian household is enlivened by the grace of baptism. As we joyfully sing in the Paschal Season: "For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ" (Gal 3: 27). As is read in the epistle of the Orthodox Marriage Service: "For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This mystery is a profound one, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church". (Eph 5: 31-32). A blessed marriage is also enlivened by a special grace prayed for in the marital service: that "Thou [God] be present here [in the marriage] with Thine invisible protection."

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THE PROMISE

NOT FOR LIGHTWEIGHTS (continued from page 17) stayed politely at the back. A woman noticed and brought some of the bread to us, bowing respectfully as she offered it. Her gesture of kindness to newcomers who were clearly struggling to understand everything was touching to me.

I’m going back again on Sunday. I started to write, “I’m looking forward to it.” But that’s not right. I’m feeling right about it. And feeling right is what I’m looking for.

UPDATE: This was actually written on May 26th or 27th. I went back to Saint Anthony the Great on Sunday. I found I was following along a little better. I am REALLY getting a lot out of Orthodox worship.

Okay, so I started crying a little. So what? You would have too, I bet. After it was over another woman came to speak with us. She said, “I noticed the girls were really struggling with having to stand.” “Yeah,” I said. “This worship is not for lightweights.” She laughed and said, “Yes;” not the least bit ashamed or apologetic. So what did I think about my experience at Saint Anthony the Great Orthodox Church? I LOVED IT! Loved it loved it loved it loved it loved it. In a day when user-friendly is the byword of everything from churches to software, here was worship that asked something of me. No, DEMANDED something of me. “You don’t know what Theotokos means? Get a book and read about it. You have a hard time standing for 2 hours? Do some sit ups and get yourself into worship shape. It is the Lord our God we worship here, mortal. What made you think you could worship the Eternal One without pain?” See, I get that. That makes sense to me. I had a hard time following the words of the chants and liturgy, but even my lack of understanding had something to teach me. “There is so much for you to learn. There is more here than a person could master in a lifetime. THIS IS BIGGER THAN YOU ARE. Your understanding is not central here. These are ancient rites of the church. Stand with us, brother, and you will learn in time. Or go and find your way to an easier place if you must. God bless you on that journey. We understand, but this is the way we do church.” Page 20

THE BIBLE AND A HAIRCUT A teenage boy had just gotten his driver’s permit and inquired of his father if they could discuss his use of the car. His father said he’d make a deal with his son. “You bring your grades up from a C to a B average, study your Bible more, get your hair cut and we’ll talk about the car.” The boy thought about that for a moment, decided he’d settle for the offer and they agreed on it. After about six weeks his father said, “Son, I’ve been real proud. You brought your grades up and I’ve observed that you have been studying your Bible, but I’m very disappointed you haven’t gotten your hair cut.” The teenager paused a moment then said, “You know, Dad, I’ve been thinking about that, and I’ve noticed in my studies of the Bible that Samson had long hair, John the Baptist had long hair, Moses had long hair and there’s even a strong argument that Jesus had long hair.” To this his father replied, “Did you also notice they all walked everywhere they went?”

THE PROMISE

CHRISTMAS IN TURKEY; A VISIT TO ST. NICHOLAS Twas the night before Christmas, and rather than wait for St. Nicholas to visit us, my husband, son and I were visiting him instead - in a warm, dusty town called Demre on Turkey's southern shore. Demre is the site of the ancient city of Myra, once a prosperous port in Lycia, a province in Asia minor that was settled by Greeks. According to tradition and the church, the original St. Nicholas was bishop of Myra in the fourth century. His church and sarcophagus are still there, though his bones have been scattered from France to Flushing. We spent last Christmas Eve at the church of this holy man renowned for selfless charity centuries before he was transformed by legend, custom and commerce into the overgrown elf called Santa Claus. We left Antalya, Turkey's major Mediterranean resort, on the morning of December 24 in a rented Anadol, a Turkish Ford. The coastal road to Finike the largest town near Demre, is incomplete, so we had to take a 120-mile detour inland through the mountains. Isolated Moslem villages were scattered wherever the land was arable. In the fields, the men wore the caps with which they outwitted Ataturk's edict against the fez; the women were in baggy pants, their faces concealed by the shawls that have replaced the veil in rural Turkey. About 20 miles from Finike it was still cold enough in the mountains for the road to be frosted. Then we passed through a forest and began to descend rapidly. As we neared the coast, we could see the oranges, bananas, figs and olives that grow there all year long. About noon, we checked into a small hotel on the beach in Finike, and then set out for our visit to St. Nicholas. There are no signs to Demre, but any man or child will point the way: 10 miles on a rocky, rutted road that winds precariously along the shore of the deep blue Mediterranean, always threatening to tip you in. Eventually, the road heads inland and abruptly there is a gas station. You have reached the outskirts of Demre.

We drove slowly through the town, past the inevitable shop where only men sat drinking small glasses of bitter tea. Beside us a woman with a young boy harnessed to her back led a camel. Since both hands held the reins, she kept her face covered by clenching her shawl between her teeth. Behind the camel strolled her husband, his hands clasped thoughtfully behind him. Myra was an important city, but Demre is no more than a tight cluster of one and two-story shops and buildings which service the local farmers. Artisans line both sides of the main street. At the first and only intersection we asked for directions and were pointed left. A very short distance down the road there is a hand-painted wooden sign that reads, "Saint Nicholas." The first thing you see is barbed wire; a fence has been put up to keep looters out, although the gate is wide open, and there is very little left to loot. Within the barbed wire enclosure are a caretaker's cottage and a small shed. Down a steep incline, some 15 or 20 feet below ground level, stands Hagios Nikolaos, the Church of St. Nicholas. In the centuries since Nicholas served as bishop here, silt carried down from the mountains buried the city of Myra and formed a new coastline. The church was buried along with the city and the work of digging out the church is not yet complete. In the 19th century the Czarist Russians, for whom Nicholas was a patron saint, came to Demre to excavate and restore the church. Eventually the Turks took over the task. We were told that a team of archeologists from the University of Ankara works at St. Nicholas intermittently; the problem is not lack of interest but a shortage of funds. There is also competition from more exciting digs. Within walking distance of the church are a Roman theater and an extraordinary Lycian necropolis with tombs carved directly into the face of a cliff. Part of the left side of the church of St. Nicholas is still buried under silt, and the original entrance is inaccessible. Access now is down the incline, past fallen columns and other archeological rubble, through an arch in the right wall. Inside, the church looks as though it was accreted rather than built; one can only guess what it might have looked like in the fourth century.

(Continued on page 22) PAGE 21

THE PROMISE

A VISIT TO ST. NICHOLAS (Continued from page 21)

The original roof is gone except for one small dome, and a new brick roof covers most of the building. It would appear that the original church had a lofty nave, or center aisle, flanked by two side aisles. There were later additions to both sides of the church which have left it architecturally and esthetically unbalanced. The mosaic tiles on the floor are broken, filthy or missing; the frescoes that remain on the walls arc faded and decayed; interior columns and capitals lie where they have fallen. The altar is a plinth with a tall stone mounted atop it. Behind the altar is a series of 10 steps which rise in a semi-circle from the floor to the curved wall, giving the impression of a miniature amphitheater, although the steps are so narrow it is difficult to imagine anyone sitting on them. After we had prowled around the church for a while, the caretaker or guide entered. In three trips to Turkey we have found bilingual and multilingual Turks in the most remote areas, but at the major Christian shrine in Anatolia the guide speaks only Turkish. Anxious to help, however, he took us to the sarcophagus which we had already recognized as the one usually identified as the original tomb of St. Nicholas. The guide pointed to it and spoke the only English he knew, "Senta Klos." Though as bishop of Myra, Nicholas was undoubtedly buried in the church, no one knows exactly where. This particular sarcophagus has been chosen because it has a gaping hole in its side, and when men from Bari stopped at Myra in 1087 to steal St. Nicholas's body they smashed open his tomb. However, an early account suggests the tomb the Barians broke into was beneath the floor of the church and that they shattered the lid "to dust." The sarcophagus identified as St. Nicholas's is not only above ground but has been smashed in at the side rather than the top. In fact it is the only sarcophagus in the church that still has a lid, and the lid adds to the mystery of who was buried within because it has two figures on PAGE 22

it, not one. The head of the larger figure rests on a pillow and the head of the smaller figure seems to rest on the shoulder of the larger one. Both faces have been chipped away. The Venetians sailed to Myra in 1116 and not only brought back what they said were the true bones of St. Nicholas but the body of his uncle as well. When the Russians arrived centuries later to restore the church, they looted another sarcophagus and sent the bones to St. Petersburg as the real St. Nicholas. The French claim a part of one of his fingers, and the Turks not to be outdone on their own territory, have a reliquary with some of St. Nicholas's bones in their new museum in Antalya. In 1972, in an ecumenical gesture, the Archbishop of Bari presented a few fragments from the skull in Bari to the Greek Orthodox community in America. Some of these fragments were placed in a reliquary in the Greek Orthodox Church of St. Nicholas at 196th Street and Northern Boulevard in Flushing, N.Y.; the rest are in a reliquary in the Greek Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity at 319 East 74th Street in Manhattan. We counted six sarcophagi in the church at Demre, plus one in the courtyard. It seems likely that as each raiding party arrived, it cracked open another sarcophagus and claimed St. Nicholas's bones. Who was correct and which tomb was his is impossible to say. After showing us the smashed sarcophagus, the guide led us to a steep staircase on the left side of the church. At the top of the stairs he unlocked a door and we walked onto a balcony within the church that is being used for storage. A Roman frieze was propped against the wall. A bell with a Greek inscription dated 1876 rested atop a small Byzantine sarcophagus. Sitting on the ledge of the balcony was a skull. I pointed to it. "Senta Klos," said the guide helpfully. We examined the next item on the ledge, a pile of broken dishes in the pattern known as English willow, a pattern we recognized instantly. Years ago every Jewish household had two sets: red pattern for meat, blue for dairy. These were blue for dairy. I pointed to the dishes. "Senta Klos," said the guide. We went back down to the nave of the church. It was dim (Continued on page 24)

THE PROMISE

THE STORY BEHIND THE PHOTO In early October 2009, Dr. Nick Paslidis, physician and CEO of the Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care, was invited as Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe’s personal guest to represent him and Arkansas at a meeting with President Obama in Washington, DC. As you see, a few meeting participants were given a photo opportunity with the President. Regardless of our individual political leanings, it is important to recognize that President Obama was elected to serve us all, and holds one of the most important and perhaps most difficult jobs in the world. During his time with President Obama and others at the luncheon, Dr. Paslidis had the opportunity to participate in an open discussion of health care reform and shared a table with Governor Purdue of North Carolina and Governor Switzer of Montana. Spirited and lively discussions occurred throughout the afternoon.

You are Invited to

A Very Special Christmas Program presented and performed by

The Annunciation Sunday School Sunday, December 20th (immediately following the Christmas Luncheon)

“After the meeting,” Paslidis reflected, “I was struck by the intellectual and communication gymnastics that the Office of The President of The United States must develop and maintain in order to keep all the plates spinning. They must continually hone skills to seek out, receive, integrate, impact and sustain information in an incredibly demanding environment. And, I thought my job was complex!”

SUNDAY SCHOOL CALENDAR December 20th . . . . . Annual Christmas Program December 21st . . . . . Christmas Break Begins January 3rd . . . . . . . . Classes Resume January 3rd . . . . . . . . Staff meeting immediately following class in the 4th/5th grade room

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THE PROMISE

THE LADDER FOR MARRIAGE

A VISIT TO ST. NICHOLAS

(Continued from page 19)

(Continued from page 22)

THE

THE PARISH CHURCH: CHANNEL OF SANCTIFICATION, THE LADDER TO SALVATION

The family as the domestic church cannot foreclose on its obligation to be Christ-centered. Parents cannot assign their obligation to others, be it the parish priest, teachers, or youth workers. Christ must be present in the home from marriage, conception, birth, growth, until all fall sleep unto the Lord in the hope of eternal salvation. Furthermore, the family cannot be Christ-centered unless it is also actively connected to the local parish community. Christ meets us in the Church. He feeds us with His heavenly and immortal Mysteries so that our paths may be straight, our lives guarded, and our steps firm[ii] in all we do especially in the domestic church.

Father,, I desire that they also,, whom thou hast given me,, may be with me where I am,, to behold my glory which thou hast given me in thy love for me before the foundation of the world (John 17: 24).

WORDS TO PONDER

The only real blind person at Christmas-time is he who has not Christmas in his heart. - Helen Keller

and desolate. Carved into the walls in Greek are graffiti dating back to 1870. On the floor were orange peels, chicken feathers, cigarette butts, film boxes, and other signs of indifference and neglect. Centuries ago people came here to seek St. Nicholas’ intercessions; now they go to Macy's to see Santa Claus. Yet there is a link. Nicholas was born in Patara, another important Lycian port, about the year 270 or 280. Although many miracles would be attributed to him, his most enduring deed was done before he became holy; when he was merely good. His parents died in a plague, leaving Nicholas a very wealthy young man. He felt he should give his money to the needy, but he also felt it should be done anonymously. In Patara lived an impoverished nobleman who, unable to provide dowries for his three daughters, had decided to sell them into prostitution. Nicholas was horrified. One night he came silently to the nobleman's house and tossed some gold wrapped in a cloth through the window. The grateful father used the gold to marry off his eldest daughter. Nicholas came a second night and threw in another bag of gold, which become the dowry for the second daughter. By this time the father wondered who his mysterious benefactor was. Every night he waited and when the third bag of gold came through the window he rushed outside and saw Nicholas. Later, Nicholas went on a pilgrimage to Palestine. When he returned, he settled in Myra, where he was bishop until he died around the year 350. In the centuries after his death his fame spread from Lycia through Byzantium and then into Europe. He was taken as patron by such disparate groups as virgins (the three bags of gold), thieves (because he was imprisoned by Diocletian), students (for restoring to life three students who had been murdered, dismembered and pickled in brine), and sailors (for calming seas in storms). Possibly because Nicholas was bishop in a major port, sailors often prayed to him and those who

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THE PROMISE

A VISIT TO ST. NICHOLAS (Continued from page 24)

survived brought word of his miracles wherever they traveled. The church at Myra became a famous shrine and the object of many pilgrimages, and thousands of other churches were dedicated to St. Nicholas. In much of Europe the Christmas celebration was a month-long festival beginning with St. Nicholas Day on Dec. 6 and ending on Jan. 6 with Epiphany, which marks the visit of the three wise men. It was on Dec. 5, St. Nicholas Eve, rather than on Christmas Eve, that many European children hung up their stockings. The Reformation attempted to curtail the cult of saints, and the giving of gifts was moved to Christmas Eve because the Protestants said that all good things came from the Christ child, the Christkind or Christkindel. But whatever St. Nicholas lost in reverence he gained in folklore, and Christkindel somehow became Kris Kringle, another name for St. Nicholas. St. Nicholas probably came to America with the first Dutch colonists, but Washington Irving's tales of his being patron saint of New Amsterdam and the object of public celebrations are dismissed by scholars as spoofs. In the course of centuries the name of St. Nicholas has been twisted by many tongues into such variations as Santiklos, Samiklaus and Sinterklaes. In America it found its final distortion as Santa Claus. Clement Moore's "The Visit of St. Nicholas" has no trace of the Anatolian ascetic but does distill many elements of European folklore. Illustrator Thomas Nast took Moore's description of St. Nicholas and created the Santa Claus we know today. The jolly old man immediately caught on, because he filled the need of commerce for a Christmas symbol - someone who could push the merchandise. St. Nicholas was benevolent but holy; Santa Claus is benevolent but secular. Yet in his own way Santa Claus continues the spirit of anonymous giving embodied by St. Nicholas 16 centuries ago.

It was evening when we left the church of St. Nicholas Christmas Eve. Millions of children were waiting for Santa Claus to bring them gifts, joy and laughter. In Demre, we had been the only visitors to the church. The guide locked the barbed wire gate behind us and, except for the distant sound of a muezzin calling the Moslems to prayer, the church of St. Nicholas was as silent as his empty tomb.

Lord,, we pray,, that the celebration Of the birth of Your only-b begotten Son may ease our struggles; Whose heavenly mystery is our Food and drink

CHRISTMAS THOUGHT: “Since You came into the world for all, O Savior, therefore You came for me, for I am one of all. You came into the world to save sinners, therefore You came to save me also, for I am one of the sinners. Listen, my soul: God has come to us; Our Lord has visited us. For my sake He was born of the Virgin Mary, He Who is born of the Father before all time. For my sake He was wrapped in swaddling clothes, He who covers heaven with the clouds and vests Himself with robes of light. For my sake He was placed in the lowly manger, He Whose throne is in the heavens and Whose feet rest upon earth. For my sake He was fed with His mother's milk, He Who feeds all creatures. For my sake He was held in His mother's arms, He who is borne by the Cherubim and holds all creatures in His embrace. [...] Thus I stand before You, I for whose sake You came to earth. Beholding in me nothing but my need of salvation, You have come to seek me." - ST. TIKHON OF ZADONSK PAGE 25

THE PROMISE

Halloween Fun PAGE 26

THE PROMISE

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THE PROMISE ANNUNCIATION GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH 1100 NAPA VALLEY DRIVE, LITTLE ROCK, AR 72211 REV. DR. NICHOLAS J. VERDARIS, PASTOR

DECEMBER 2009 Sun

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Sat

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10th Sunday of Luke Matins 9:00 am Divine Liturgy 10:00 am Parish Assembly

Parish Council Meet 6:00pm

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11th Sunday of Luke Matins 9:00 am Divine Liturgy 10:00 am Last Day for Women & Children First Collection

20 Sunday Before Nativity Matins 9:00 am Divine Liturgy 10:00 am

Christmas Eve Vesperal Liturgy 6:00pm

Parish Christmas Luncheon & Stewardship Cards Due

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Sunday After the Nativity Matins 9:00 am Divine Liturgy 10:00 am

Christmas Services 9:30am

31 Jan. 1st 2010

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New Year’s Eve Liturgy 6:00pm

3 Sunday Before Epiphany Matins 9:00 am Divine Liturgy 10:00 am

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5 Eve of Theophany Liturgy 9:30am

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Feast of Theophany Feast of St. John the Liturgy 9:30am Baptist Liturgy 9:30am

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