About the Church of
the Annunciation
CONTRIBUTING TO THE MINISTRY OF
THE CHURCH CHRISTIAN STEWARDSHIP
God has no need for anything from man, in fact, it is
impossible to give to God except indirectly, by ministering to the needs of His children.
Giving is not for God's benefit, but for our own. The only way for God to assist us in
actualizing the likeness we have to Him, is to guide us in developing His unselfishness.
With perseverance and patience He waits for us to learn to give. Therefore, one of the
primary processes of transforming man into His likeness is by Stewardship.
Like our time and talents, our material possessions, what
we earn and call our own, are a gift from God who makes them possible, and are given to us
as a sacred trust. We need to be honest with God. Each and everyone of us is on trial. As
Christians we all have the responsibility to our Lord to support and make possible the
continuance of the work of His Church in the world. Our response to this call is by giving
in an open, direct, and honest manner. The attitude that we should be interested solely in
the spiritual aspects of the Church and not the material side of life is pure folly. Our
spiritual life is simply the way in which we order our material lives.
The Psalmist says, "The earth is the Lord's and the
fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein" (Ps. 24:1). The idea that
you can separate the spiritual from the secular did not originate with God. The spiritual
and material are inseparable; each area affects the other. Jesus Christ is Lord of all of
life, including our money and our possessions. Our Lord is interested in how we make our
money and how we spend it, both as individuals and as a Church. The Church needs the most
dedicated and spiritual people to administer to her financial matters. Laymen dedicated to
Christ that have the ability to manage the business aspect of the Church.
There are three attitudes we may have toward our
possessions in this world of abundance. We can squander it, like the prodigal son (Lk.
15:11-32); we can hoard it like the rich fool (Lk. 12:13-21); or we can use it for God,
like the good steward (Mt. 25:14-30, Lk. 16:10-13). Our Lord talked freely about
possessions and money and their potential effect on human life. He knew that money and
possessions represent our effort, energy, time, and talents. When we are selfish with our
many possessions we are withholding ourselves. Since money represents power, prestige, and
security, our attitude toward money can become a spiritual God, through His Church, makes
no unreasonable demands on us. We are all asked to share for the good of our community in
Christ. Considering what we spend on ourselves in terms of achieving and maintaining a
comfortable standard of living, personal entertainment, and assuring a materially secure
future, God really asks for very little. A standard of living without a commensurate
standard of giving demoralizes and corrupts us spiritually. We must accept the
responsibility and importance of supporting fully the work of the Church, our parishes,
and their needs. We share together the calling to be responsible and faithful stewards of
Christ's Church.
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PARISH PROJECTS
1957 - 2009
CHURCH OF THE ANNUNCIATION
ESTABLISHED IN 1930
Purchased the old Pioneer School on 6th and I Streets for the church.
In
1957, built the existing church complex on Tokay Avenue at a cost of $140,000 under the spiritual leadership of the Very Rev. Emmanuel Papageorge. The Church Complex includes a House of Worship (seating capacity 350) and a Church Hall, kitchen, and meeting rooms.
In
1970 the Office and Classroom Building was built at a cost of $125,000.
In
1975 an outdoor pavilion was constructed at a cost of $25,000.
1.
1979 - Expansion of the Church Cultural Center and Kitchen
Price of Construction: $125,000
Fund Raising: Donations were received in one evening to meet the cost of the Project
Parish Priest: Rev. Fr. John Asimacopoulos
Parish Membership: 225 Families
Project: Expand the existing hall and kitchen to meet the growing needs of the parish. Seating capacity expanded from 300 to 500 in the Church Hall.
2.
1980 - Renovation and expansion of the church choir loft
Price of Renovation: $20,000
Fund Raising: Private Donation
Project: To upgrade and expand the size of the existing choir loft.
3.
1987 - Renovation Committee selected to discuss the needs of the House of Worship
Parish Priest: Rev. Fr. Jon Magoulias
4.
1987 - Stewardship Program Begins
Parish Membership: 275 Families
5.
1989 - Renovation of the church interior begins
Price of Renovation: $200,000
Fund Raising: Donations and Renovation Banquet collected $175,000. All ecclesiastical items: icons, furniture, woodcarvings, marble, etc. donated by parishioners. The balance, to cover mechanical and electrical changes, was paid from the parish treasury.
6.
1990 - Church Landscaping
Price of Landscaping: $15,000
Fund Raising: The success of the Stewardship Ministry enables the Parish Council to budget the cost without seeking contributions
7.
1991 - Church parking lot expanded and repaved
Price of paving: $35,000
Fund Raising: The success of the Stewardship Ministry enables the Parish Council to budget the cost without seeking contributions
Parish Membership: 300 Families
8.
1992 - Carillon Bell System installed in the church by the Verdin Bell Co.
Price of Installation: $10,000
Fund Raising: Private Donation
9.
1992 - Church Offices refurbished and upgraded
Price: $25,000
Fund Raising: Private Donations
10.
1992 - Icons (Pantocrator & 32 saints) installed in Church ceiling
Price: $42,000
Funda Raising Private Donations
11.
1994 - Church Complex completely reroofed
Price: $100,000
Fund Raising: A Banquet was held in the Church Hall where the stewards of the parish contributed $103,000 for this project.
Type of Roof: A metal roof was selected that resembles Spanish Tiles.
12.
1995 - Narthex Iconography completed
Price: $35,000
Fund Raising: Private Donations
Project: After years of considering to expand the church, it was decided that the size of the church was adequate. Research was done to study the proper iconographic guidelines for icons in the Narthex. It was decided to do the life of the Virgin Mary on the walls and ceiling of the Narthex.
Parish Membership: 325 Families
13.
1996 - New Church Sound System installed
Price: $5,000
Fund Raising: Private Donation
Parish Membership: 325 Families
14.
1997 - 40th Anniversary of the Building of the Church Complex on Tokay Avenue. Life of Christ Iconography Project Begins.
15.
1998 - Church Proper Iconography completed
Price: $120,000
Fund Raising: Private Donations
Project: The final phase of the church renovation which began in 1989 was completed. The iconography depicting the Life of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was completed by iconographer Demetrios Mourlas of Athens, Greece.
Parish Membership: 335 Families
16.
1999 - Church Library
Price: $15,000
Fund Raising: Parish Budget Capital Improvement
Project: The need to provide an updated library facility with computers, books and videos pertaining to the Christian Orthodox Faith was realized.
17.
1999 - Renovation of the outdoor pavilion
Price: $25,000
Fund Raising: Private Donations
Project: The outdoor pavilion was renovated to portray scenes from Greece. Decorative columns and paintings were installed to beautify the pavilion for activities that are held in it.
18.
2000 - Video Production of the Church interior entitled, Byzantine Iconography: Visions of Victory
Project: Realizing a need to teach the importance of Iconography and to detail the meaning of the iconography found in the Annunciation Church, a 60 minute video was produced. Upon completion of the video, it was awarded a Telly Award Finalist for amateur video productions.
19.
2000 - Remodeling of cabinetry in the Church
Price: $5,000
Fund Raising: Parish Budget Capital Improvements
Project: Beautiful oak cabinetry for the Sacristy, Vestry, and Choir Room was installed.
20.
2002 - 2003 - Remodeling of Church Hall
Price: $225,000
Fund Raising: Private Donations
Project: The renovation of the Church Hall and Kitchen that included flooring, ceilings, chandeliers, a larger walk-in refrigerator and a walk-in freezer, and renovation of the Refreshment Center.
21.
2003 - Church Iconography
Price: $40,000
Fund Raising: Private Donations
Project: The completion of Iconography for the Holy Sanctuary that included: 2 Scenes depicting the Holy Communion of the Holy Apostles; The Divine Liturgy of the Angels; the icons of St. John of Kronstadt; St. Nicholas Planas; St. Romanos the Melodist; and St. Lavrentios the Deacon
22.
2005 - Church Mosaic Iconography
Price: $75,000
Fund Raising: Private Donations
Project: The installation of a mosaic icon of the Annunciation that included the arch over the church entrance.
23.
2005 - Church Iconography
Price: $120,000
Fund Raising: Private Donations
Project: Seventy-two icons of saints were written to complete the Nave of the church.
24.
2005 - 75th Anniversary Video
Project: A one hour and forty minute video was produced to detail the history of the Parish. This was completed in conjunction with the 75th Anniversary of the establishment of the Parish in 1930.
25.
2005 - Sound System
Price: $15,000.00
Fund Raising: Private Donations
Project: The installation of two separate sound systems: 1.) Church Exterior and 2.) Fellowship Hall.
26.
2005 – Storage Facility
Price: $7,500.00
Fund Raising: Parish Capital Improvement Budget
Project: Build a storage unit off of the kitchen to store equipment.
27.
2005 – New dinnerware for the Church Hall
Price: $17,000.00
Fund Raising: Parish Capital Improvement Budget
Project: Replacing existing dinnerware with new china and glassware to serve 500 people.
28.
2006 – New dome installed on bell tower
Price: $30,000.00
Fund Raising: Private Donations
Project: Replacement of the old dome that had begun to collapse and replace crosses on the church that match.
29.
2007 – New church doors
Price: $17,000.00
Fund Raising: Private Donations
Project: Replacing the front church doors that had deteriorated with new decorative steel doors.
30.
2007 – Seal and repair the church parking lot.
Price: $5,500.00
Fund Raising: Parish Maintenance Budget
Project: Repair cracking and graveling of the parking lot and seal the entire area.
31.
2007 – Church Sign
Fund Raising: Private Donations
Project: Following vandalism of the sign, a new design and lettering that cannot be easily removed.
32.
2008 -- Church Hall Audio/Visual Equipment
Fund Raising: Private Donations
Project: Installation of three 60 inch plasma televisions; video/dvd player; with ability to connect a video camera to three different locations for viewing purposes.
33.
2008 -- Kitchen upgrades
Price: $22,000.00
Fund Raising: Parish Capital Improvement Budget
Project: Install two new convection/baking ovens; a new stove with 8 burners and two more convection ovens below.
34.
2009 -- Church cameras and Internet Broadcasting
Fund Raising: Private Donations
Project: Install two video cameras for the purpose of recording and broadcasting services live via the Internet.
35
. 2009 -- Paving the Parking Lot behind the Church
Price: $225,000.00
Project: Re-landscape and pave the open field area behind the Church, and build a 6' brick wall around three sides of it to replace the old wooden fence.
Fund Raising: Private donations.
Parish membership: 350 families
PARISH ORGANIZATIONS
PARISH COUNCIL
Twenty stewards of the Annunciation Church are elected (10
each year) to assist the Parish Priest in the administration of our sacred ministry.
PHILOPTOCHOS
The Philoptochos Society encourages ladies of our parish to
join in this philanthropic organization of the Church.
ACOLYTES
Young men, ages 10 and older, are invited to assist the
priest as Altar Boys.
CHOIR
The Annunciation Choir is comprised of parishioners
desiring to use their gift of music to enhance the beauty of our worship service.
The Dynami Choir is the youth choir of our parish that
strives to learn a variety of ecclesiastical, cultural, and contemporary Orthodox songs.
RELIGIOUS STUDIES
Sunday Church School is the religious education ministry of
our parish for young people ages 3 through high school.
We also provide an Adult Religious Education forum that
meets regularly to discuss and learn more about our precious Orthodox Christian Faith.
GREEK STUDIES
Greek language classes for young people and adults are held
to teach conversational Greek and Hellenic Culture.
GREEK FOLK DANCE
A beautiful aspect of the rich Hellenic Culture is folk
dancing. There are more than 1,000 different Greek dances. Each region of Greece has a
distinct expression of the culture and this program is offered to learn the songs, dances,
and costumes of these regions.
G.O.Y.A.
The Greek Orthodox Youth of America is a youth program for
young people in high school. The opportunity is given for them to gather in fellowship and
learn about the Orthodox Christian Faith.
H.O.P.E.
The Hellenic Orthodox Primary Enrichment program invites
young people, grade 3-5, to join in Orthodox fellowship. Events are planned to help the
young people develop leadership skills and build character.
J.O.Y.
The Junior Orthodox Youth includes young people in grades
6-8. The primary goal of this ministry is to develop the ability to make proper decisions
as they enter the teenage years.
Y.A.L.
The Young Adult League encourages young adults to accept
greater responsibility as stewards of the Church. Their involvement in our parish ministry
as youth directors, choir members, religious education teachers, etc. is beneficial in
developing a total ministry for our parish.
M.O.M.
The Mothers of Orthodox Minors is a support group for
mothers. They gather to discuss topics about raising our children in an Orthodox home.
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COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS
A.H.E.P.A.
The American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association
is a national organization for men that promotes the Hellenic ideals. It serves to promote
educational and cultural programs locally and throughout the country.
D.O.P.
The Daughters of Penelope is the national organization for
women, which along with A.H.E.P.A., strives to preserve the Hellenic heritage.
LEFKA OREE
The Lefka Oree is a fraternal organization for men whose
heritage is from the island of Crete. As a member of the National Pancretan Association of
America, the local chapter encourages fellowship and support among the people of Cretan
descent.
SISTERHOOD ELEFTHERIA
The Sisterhood Eleftheria is the women’s organization
of the National Pancretan Association of America. They, too, strive to preserve the
heritage and the concerns of the Cretan people in America.
APOGONI TIS KRITIS
The Apogoni Tis Kritis is the youth organization of the
National Pancretan Association of America. The young people gather in fellowship to share
and preserve their common heritage and traditions.
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