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From our Pastor

Protecting our Youth

Greetings in Christ!

I often hear the youth of a parish being described as “the future of the Church.” While I understand the

sentiment, I would say that our youth are the Church. We love our young people, and their presence

reflects the life of the parish – from teenagers down to the smallest infant. As the old saying goes, “What is

worse than a crying baby in church? No crying babies in church!”

Our Archdiocese has been working on policies to protect our young people for several years. These

policies were put in to place for the camping ministries across the Archdiocese a few years ago, and now

they are being applied to the parishes.

The implementation of these policies is going to take some time. Direction is slowly coming from the

Archdiocese, and while we know much of what is expected, there is still much we do not know, and we

still have many questions. Here is what I can tell you … In general, these policies are a good thing.

Protecting our youth and providing the most optimal environment for our young people to learn their

faith and grow closer to Christ is a priority for our parish. Applying practices and policies that ensure their

safety and create a healthy environment is something we are willing to do.

To that end, there may be some changes to how we do things. There will be

training sessions for all youth ministry leaders, as well as background checks.

There will be a lot more paperwork for all of us (we are making every effort to do

as much electronically as possible).

With regard to anyone’s sensitive personal information, none of us want the

responsibility of having access to that. We will be using Praesidium, a national

corporation that has more than 25 years of experience in the field of youth

protection. Any information we do keep will be basically what we already have

in the parish database. I ask for your patience as we continue to implement the youth protection policies. As

we learn more, we will pass that information on to you.

With Love in our Lord,

Rev. Father Simon Thomas,

Parish Priest

“Fathers and mothers: Go

and lead your child by the

hand into the church.”

St John Chrysostom

“The primary lesson for

life must be implanted in

the soul from the earliest

age. The primary lesson

for children is to know the

eternal God, the One Who

gives everlasting life.”

St Clement of Alexandria

“With us everything

should be secondary com-

pared to our concern with

children, and their up-

bringing in the instruction

and teaching of the Lord.”

St John Chrysostom

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About the Epistle

The Epistle is the monthly publication

of the Annunciation Greek

Orthodox Church of Memphis,

Tennessee, which is solely

responsible for its content.

The Epistle is circulated to stewards

and friends of the Community by:

Editor

Father Simon Thomas,

Parish Priest

Church: (901) 327-8177

Production

William A. Kallas,

Pastoral Assistant

vasilioskallas@gmail.com

About the Parish

Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church

573 N. Highland Street

Memphis, TN 38122

Phone: (901) 327-8177

Fax: (901) 327-4440

www.goann.net

The Annunciation Church is a parish of

the Holy Metropolis of Detroit and the

Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of

America, under the spiritual

jurisdiction of the Ecumenical

Patriarchate of Constantinople.

2019 Parish Council

Executive Board

John Kay, Sr.—President

Diane Kavaleras—Vice President

Endy Carter—Secretary

Naji Nassif—Treasurer

From our President

On behalf of the Parish Council, please allow me to

extend a big THANK YOU to every person who

helped make our annual parish Greekfest a success!

Your continuous support and contributions permits our parish to offer a

wide range of ministry programs in our beloved parish and local

communities.

Our parish will be working on multiple projects behind the scenes during

the summer months. These projects will continue with our efforts to

beautify our parish campus, make necessary parish improvements, and

continue to support the welfare of our parish events and ministry

programs. Details will become available soon.

Also happening this summer will be the roll-out of our the new Policies

for the Protection of our Youth and Children by the Greek Orthodox

Archdiocese of America. Our parish has been instructed by the

Archdiocese to begin making preparations to implement these new

policies into our parish by September 1st. Our ministry leaders, Sunday

School Teachers, and parents will receive future instruction about these

policies in the upcoming weeks.

Finally, on behalf of the parish, we would like to thank the Kish Family for

generously donating their services in cleaning all the rugs throughout our

parish (i.e. Narthex and Holy Altar). Their annual contribution helps keep

our parish clean and presents a welcoming atmosphere.

In the Service of our Lord,

John Kay

Parish Council President

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Youth Ministries

Saint John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival

We are proud of Ms. Sophia Douglas who placed 3rd

at the National Archdiocesan competition in the Senior

Division. She represented the Detroit Metropolis after

ranking 1st place in the Metropolis competition. We

are very proud of all our children who participated.

Pictured right: Mr. Nicholas Douglas,

Ms. Katherine Hoover, His Eminence

Metropolitan Nicholas of Detroit, Ms. Sophia

Douglas, and Ms. Isabella Donnelly

Ionian Village

On Sunday, June 16th, Father Simon offered a prayer

after Divine Services to the children travelling to the

Ionian Village Summer Camp. They will be begin their

three week session on Sunday, July 23rd. We pray that

have a spiritually edifying experience.

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2018 Parish Registry Statistics

Baptisms: 17 Chrismations: 10

Marriages: 5 Deaths: 9

2019 Parish Registry Statistics

Baptisms: 4 Chrismations: 1

Marriages: 3 Deaths: 0

Parish Sacraments

Parish Announcements

THANK YOU to every person and family that supported our annual Greek Fest!

Our parish was able to receive approximately $75,000 in income for our two-day event!

Our parish is currently preparing to register all Youth

Workers for the 2019-2020 Academic Year. A youth worker is

any person who works directly with the youth (i.e. Sunday

School Teacher, Event Chaperones or Advisors) and any

person who is in a leadership position of a parish ministry.

According to Archdiocesan policies, only registered Youth

Workers will be able to work with youth in our parish.

Each youth worker will undergo a background check and

receive on-line training regarding the policies being

implemented within our Archdiocese.

For more information, please visit: www.goarch.org/safety

Sunday School and Youth Ministry Registration for 2019-2020 has been mailed to our stewards.

Please email our Pastoral Assistant for more information: vasilioskallas@gmail.com

As of June 30, 2019:

2019 Stewardship Cards: 76

Stewards: 184

2019 Amount Pledged: $132,690.20

Amount Received to Date: $146,931.80

Amount Received in May & June: $40,188.40

As of June 30, 2018:

2018 Stewardship Cards: 86

Stewards: 200

2018 Amount Pledged: $226,405.00

Amount Received to Date: $134,830.00

Amount Received in May & June: $34,463.00

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Concerning the Dormition of the Theotokos,

this is what the Church has received from

ancient times from the tradition of the Fathers.

When the time drew nigh that our Savior was

well-pleased to take His Mother to Himself, He

declared unto her through an Angel that three

days hence, He would translate her from this

temporal life to eternity and bliss. On hearing

this, she went up with haste to the Mount of

Olives, where she prayed continuously. Giving

thanks to God, she returned to her house and

prepared whatever was necessary for her

burial. While these things were taking place,

clouds caught up the Apostles from the ends of

the earth, where each one happened to be

preaching, and brought them at once to the house of the Mother of God, who informed

them of the cause of their sudden gathering. As a mother, she consoled them in their

affliction as was meet, and then raised her hands to Heaven and prayed for the peace of

the world. She blessed the Apostles, and, reclining upon her bed with seemliness, gave up

her all-holy spirit into the hands of her Son and God.

With reverence and many lights, and chanting burial hymns, the Apostles took up that

God-receiving body and brought it to the sepulchre, while the Angels from Heaven

chanted with them, and sent forth her who is higher than the Cherubim. But one Jew,

moved by malice, audaciously stretched forth his hand upon the bed and immediately

received from divine judgment the wages of his audacity. Those daring hands were

severed by an invisible blow. But when he repented and asked forgiveness, his hands

were restored. When they had reached the place called Gethsemane, they buried there

with honor the all-immaculate body of the Theotokos, which was the source of Life. But

on the third day after the burial, when they were eating together, and raised up the artos

(bread) in Jesus' Name, as was their custom, the Theotokos appeared in the air, saying

"Rejoice" to them. From this they learned concerning the bodily translation of the

Theotokos into the Heavens.

These things has the Church received from the traditions of the Fathers, who have

composed many hymns out of reverence, to the glory of the Mother of our God.

Dormition of the Theotokos

August 15th

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Books New to the Library

SPIRITUAL WISDOM The Field: Cultivating Salvation by St Ignatius Brianchaninov The Mystery of Faith: An Introduction to the Teaching and Spirituality of the Orthodox Church by Metropolitan Hilarion Alfeyev The Sayings of the Desert Fathers: The Alphabetical Collection translated by Benedicta Ward Monastic Wisdom: The Letters of Elder Joseph the Hesychast St Anthony’s Greek Orthodox Monastery, Arizona

BIOGRAPHIES Ascetics in the World: Vol.1 Translated by Fr. Nicholas Palis This book contains inspirational biographies of contemporary clergy and lay peo-ple from the Turkish Occupation to today. Saint Paisios of Mount Athos by Hieromonk Isaac This is a beautiful biography of one of my favorite saints, canonized 1/13/2015 Saint Nikiforos, the Leper & Wonderworker by Simon the Monk Eternity in the Moment: The Life and Wisdom of Elder Arsenie Papacioc by Sorin Alpetri A Little Corner of Paradise: The Life and Teachings of Elder Paisius of Sihla by Archimandrite Ioanichie Balan Visions and Miracles: Of the Great Martyr and Miracle Worker, Ephraim Neophanoys Volume A & B By Mother Superior Makaria Despiri This Beautiful Saint is one that can be petitioned to intercede in all manner of ad-diction

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PHILOPTOCHOS, ELPIS CHAPTER #7041

Save the Dates

July 21st: More than a Meal (Grace St. Luke’s):

Cooking Team (3:00pm—5:00pm)

August 10th: Summer Garden Party (2:00pm—

5:00pm)

August 18th: Dormition Reception following Divine

Liturgy

General Update—New Officers

We are excited to announce the election of the

2019-2021 Philoptochos Advisory Board:

Cyndi Detty—President

Joy Touliatos—Vice President

Anne Schmitt—Treasurer

Joanne Gikas—Corresponding Secretary

Stephanie Poplas—Recording Secretary

Elizabeth Hawkins—Advisor

Melissa Berretta

Bethany Paulus

Suzanna Peters

Marianthe Pilcher

Luane Semos

Sophie Theodore

Angela Tobias

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PHILOPTOCHOS, ELPIS CHAPTER #7041

Visitation Committee

Our Visitation Committee is currently seeking volunteers for 2019. Please contact Kristine Wagner

for more information or if you are interested in volunteering. This is a very rewarding ministry!

Current Schedule

July 1-15: Need Volunteers

16-31: Diane Kavelaras & Maria Moore

August 1-15: Need Volunteers

16-31: Debbie Bookas, Linda Nichols, & Anne Schmitt

September 1-15: Need Volunteers

16-30: Need Volunteers

October 1-15: Cary Chiungos & Mary Katherine Taras

16-31: Sophie Theodore & Kristine Wagner

Join us each third Sunday of the month—July 21st and August 18th —to serve at

Grace-St. Luke’s More Than A Meal. This is a wonderful time to enjoy

fellowship and make a difference here in Memphis! All are welcome to join us.

We will meet at GSL at 3pm to serve. We hope to see you there!

More Than A Meal

The following members of our parish have requested visitation. For address and/or contact

information please check your parish directory or contact the Church Office.

Alec Collis Niki Gikas Maria Hetos Stella Nichols

Kosta Taras Georgia Smith Jimmy Smith (New visitation: Angelo Pantos)

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PHILOPTOCHOS, ELPIS CHAPTER #7041

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PHILOPTOCHOS, ELPIS CHAPTER #7041

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PHILOPTOCHOS, ELPIS CHAPTER #7041

Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church

573 N. Highland Street

Memphis, TN 38122

Your generous contribution to our parish permits us to provide many

different ministries within our parish and our community at-large.

We thank you for your support!