Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church

"In the spirit of adhering to the government’s directive on the urgent need to prepare and put all logistics in place before the reopening of schools, our Executive Board met today to deliberate on the way forward. The greatest challenge is the construction of the dormitory for our girls. Friends, join hands with Kansas City for Kenya to raise the funds needed to construct the dormitory. May God help us." - His Grace, Bishop Neofitos, Bishop of Nyeri and Mt. Kenya Join Kansas... City for Kenya on Saturday, October 17th at 1 P.M. Central as we gather virtually to honor and act upon this call for prayerful financial support. Hosted by Fr. Christopher Rowe and Dr. Betsy Wickstrom, this livestream event will feature esteemed guests, video postcards from Kenya and a very special keynote address and live Q&A with His Grace, Bishop Neofitos. Join us for this unique Saturday afternoon program and presentation or, depending on your time zone, "Saturday Night Live" from Kenya! DONATE NOW: http://secure.ocmc.org/KC-For-Kenya

"My beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God." 1 John 4:7 Though this is a timeless message in ...Scripture, it is especially prudent to remember during these divided times we are living in, within our nation today. We encourage you to show LOVE to everyone you encounter, not because it is an ever-present feeling you happen to feel in every circumstance, but because it is our calling to do so. We love, because Christ first loved us, and He did so, without condition. So, whether in your family, at your workplace, or on social media, remember we are commanded to love one another as Christ has loved us. Let us strive today, to follow His example.

The Light of Christ is so powerful. Its presence speaks volumes in the lives of everyone we come across, whom we decide to share it with. Consider how you can s...hare your light with someone today. Maybe it's a phone call you have been wanting to make, but haven't had time for. Perhaps it's a hand-written card to someone you know, or a surprise meal you drop off on the doorstep of a neighbor in need. Or better yet, maybe it's a sincere compliment you share with someone who unwrapped their true gifts in the world right before you. Maybe you share your warmth with an elderly person in the grocery store who could use your smile. Whatever it is, make it a point to share the light that Christ gave you, in order to bring healing, renewal and joy to the greater world around you.

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Today’s Reading: Luke 11 47 Woe to you! For you build the tombs of the prophets, and your fathers killed them. 48 In fact, you bear witness that you approve the deeds of your fathers; for they indeed killed them, and you build their tombs. 49 Therefore the wisdom of God also said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they will kill and persecute,’... 50 that the blood of all the prophets which was shed from the foundation of the world may be required of this generation, 51 from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah who perished between the altar and the temple. Yes, I say to you, it shall be required of this generation. 52 Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter in yourselves, and those who were entering in you hindered. 53 And as He said these things to them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to assail Him vehemently, and to cross-examine Him about many things, 54 lying in wait for Him, and seeking to catch Him in something He might say, that they might accuse Him. Luke 12 Against Hypocrisy 1 In the meantime, when an innumerable multitude of people had gathered together, so that they trampled one another, He began to say to His disciples first of all, Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. Orthodox Study Bible Notes: 11:51 Zechariah: Some of the Fathers teach this was the prophet at the time of Joash the king (2Ch 24:20-22), while others say it refers to the father of St. John the Baptist, who, according to tradition, was also murdered in the temple.

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Today’s reading: Luke 11 34 The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore, when your eye is good, your whole body also is full of light. But when your eye is bad, your body also is full of darkness. 35 Therefore take heed that the light which is in you is not darkness. 36 If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, the whole body will be full of light, as when the bright shining of a lamp gives you light.... The Pride of the Pharisees 37 And as He spoke, a certain Pharisee asked Him to dine with him. So He went in and sat down to eat. 38 When the Pharisee saw it, he marveled that He had not first washed before dinner. 39 Then the Lord said to him, Now you Pharisees make the outside of the cup and dish clean, but your inward part is full of greed and wickedness. 40 Foolish ones! Did not He who made the outside make the inside also? 41 But rather give alms of such things as you have; then indeed all things are clean to you. Orthodox Study Bible Notes: 11:34-36 The mind (Gr. nous) is the spiritual eye of the soul; it illuminates the inner man and governs the will. Keeping the mind wholesome and pure is fundamental to the Christian life. 11:39-52 Because the example of a leader can be so influential, leaders who do not love God can hinder others from finding Him as well. Thus, leaders are held to a higher standard (Jam 3:1). Woe: A term indicating complete and devastating destruction (6:2426; see Is 5:1824; Am 5:18, 19; Rev 12:12).

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Wishing His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros Many Years on the Feast of his Patron Saint!

Building Confidence Much of what we think we need is born from our own immaturity When we find ourselves caught up in what we want, or what we think we need, we... become despondent that things are not going the way we'd hoped. Disappointed, we start to wonder why God has failed to give us that which we've so sought after, that thing, or situation, that became the dominant theme of our prayers. Caught up in trying to reach a goal, and failing, we forget that it may not have been God's will for us from the very beginning. Relying on our own notion of what we need, we end up disappointed, or even disillusioned, and we blame God. Much of what we think we need is born from our own immaturity, for as we've focused on what we think we need, we fail to quietly surrender to the will of God, and fail to trust in the knowledge that God knows what we really need. We fail during such times to trust God, and surrender to His will for us. We forget that God knows what we really need, and fail to consider the long term good. When we quit struggling against the will of God, we find the grace sufficient to prayerfully enduring our trials, knowing that God gives us that which is salvific. Like a loving earthly father, our God allows us to endure that which will make us strong, and He will lead us to victory over our fallen nature. Prayerfully enduring trials will, in God's time, make us stronger, and we will become more faithful children of the Most High. This kind of faithful living leads us to know the truth of the words, And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). When we trust God, those moments of disappointment make sense, and the bigger picture is clearly set before us. "Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise (Hebrews 10:35-36)." With love in Christ, Abbot Tryphon Photos: Thanks so very much for your prayers and love. This old monk will try to continue his blog articles from the hospital bed.

"God has permitted and does permit us to be shaken by adversity. Difficult times lie ahead. We will be greatly tested. We have to take this warning seriously an...d live spiritually Many saints would have loved to have lived in our times and have had our chance to struggle for Christ Our struggle matters because it is not a struggle against an Ali Pasha, or a Hitler and a Mussolini, but a struggle against the devil himself. For this reason, our wages will be heavenly The saints will become more holy and the vile will become more vile. Yet I feel great consolation inside. This is only a storm; like past storms, it will pass. May the Good God take evil and turn it into good. Amen." https://otelders.org Saint Paisios the Athonite, Spiritual counsels, I See more