Church guide

Sunday of Orthodoxy 2019! Good strength as we continue on our Lenten Journey to Pascha!

Our Christmas Pastry Sale is next Saturday, December 15th. Look for the Facebook Event that is being shared regarding our upcoming Bake Sale! Here is the information for now!

Since the Feast of the Transfiguration on August 6, an icon of the Theotokos of the Burning Bush has sat on top of Mount Sentinel, where it was placed by Father Rob and a group of parishioners for our protection during the fire season. Yesterday, before the icon was brought down from the mountain, Father Rob once more offered prayers on top of Mount Sentinel, asking for God‘s mercy and for the protection of our most Holy Lady for the people of California, who continue to suffer through devastating fires. Most Holy Theotokos, protect, guard, and keep your servants safe!

"We call upon all Christians and all people of good will to stand in solidarity with the families of the victims and the survivors. We pray fervently to the Almighty God for the spiritual healing of the entire congregation and community, especially those in Pittsburgh. In this era of frequent and unprecedented attacks on basic freedoms, especially freedom of religion, it is through love and harmony that hearts might be softened and transformed. For only through love will evil be neutralized, violence cease, and peace prevail." - Excerpt from Statement from Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops on Recent
Attack on Tree of Life Synagogue. Click link below to read full statement.

Congratulations to Stavros and Mary Tsakarestos on the celebration of their 50th wedding anniversary! And a BIG thanks to them both for providing such a beautiful luncheon for the Church today as we also remembered the Feast Day of Saint Demetrios as well as OXI Day. May God grant Stavros and Mary many more years! Χρόνια πολλά!

Thank you!! It is hard for us to believe that 5 years have already passed since we first arrived to Missoula in October of 2013. And yet, at the same time, it feels like we have been here for so much longer given how connected we feel to each of you, to our Church, and to Missoula. We are so very blessed to be a part of this church family and we thank you for the love, support, and generosity that you have shared with us. Thank you for honoring us in such a beautiful way this past Sunday and for the beautiful vestments and wind chime. May God continue to guide us all to every good and perfect gift that leads us to oneness in Him! Very gratefully, With love in Christ, Fr. Rob, Presbytera Sophia, Eleni, Julia, Agape, Amalia, and Andreas

What a beautiful two days we had this past weekend! From our Eritrean Coffee Ceremony on Saturday to the two 40-day blessings and baptism on Sunday, it was a full and joyous two days. Congrats to Winter and Anna on the 40-day blessing of Lucia, as well as to Desbele and Adhonan on the baptism of Salamawi.

Tonight! Financial Peace University begins here at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church. We have been able to arrange to provide the first class for free, so if you are on the fence about signing up, you can try the first class tonight at 6:30 PM before signing up. We will meet in the Church Hall. Here is the website for more information or to signup: https://fpu.com/1070924

Financial Peace University starts this Tuesday at 6:30 PM here in the Church Hall. Want to give it a try for free? Come to the first class to check it out! What if you could be debt-free with an emergency fund of 3–6 months of expenses saved, all while investing for retirement and planning for your family’s future? Sound impossible? It’s not! With Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University, you CAN take control of your money. Sign up at https://fpu.com/1070924

In case you missed the opportunity to read this Patriarchal Encyclical that was included in our Sunday Bulleting this past weekend, please take a moment to read the encyclical by visiting the link below. If you only have a moment, here is the invitation that His All Holiness offers to us: "...the Mother Church calls upon its Archdioceses and Metropolises, as well as its parishes and monasteries throughout the world, to develop initiatives, coordinate projects, organize conferences and activities that foster environmental awareness and sensitivity, so that our faithful may realize that the protection of the natural environment is the spiritual responsibility of each and every one of us. The burning issue of climate change, along with its causes and consequences for our planet and everyday life, offer an opportunity to engage in dialogue based on principles of theological ecology, but also an occasion for specific practical endeavors. It is vitally important that you emphasize action at the local level. The parish constitutes the cell of church life as the place of personal presence and witness, communication and collaboration—a living community of worship and service. Special attention must also be directed to the organization of Christ-centered educational programs for our youth in order to cultivate an ecological ethos. Ecclesiastical instruction must instill in their souls a respect for creation as “very good” (Gen. 1:26), encouraging them to advocate and advance creation care and protection, the liberating truth of simplicity and frugality, as well as the Eucharistic and ascetic ethos of sharing and sacrifice. It is imperative that young men and women recognize their responsibility for the practical implementation of the ecological consequences of our faith, while at the same time becoming acquainted with and promulgating the definitive contribution of the Ecumenical Throne in the preservation of the natural environment."

The Greek Festival is almost here! Please share this poster and please share the Greek Festival Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/MontanaGreekFestival

Five families have signed up for Financial Peace University which is starting September 26th here at our church. See the video below to learn more, and sign up today! Use THIS LINK - https://fpu.com/1070924 - to sign up!

Sign up for Financial Peace University! What if you were following a plan for your money that you KNEW worked? With Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University (FPU), you CAN take control of your money, get out of debt, and create a plan for your future. The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese has recently partnered with FPU for it's clergy, and now we are excited to announce that Amy and Dennis Leonard will lead our community through the 9-week FPU course starting on September 25th. Click the link below to learn more and to sign up!

For the fourth year in a row, our community has partnered with the Salvation Army, the United Way, and many other community groups for the Back to School Bash, which helps to make sure all of Missoula's children are ready for the new school year. Our Orthodox Church served 480 chicken pita sandwiches, providing a healthy meal to the students and their families, and sharing in the fun of this event. Thank you to all of the volunteers who helped cut and prep the chicken the day before, those who cooked, and those who served. And a special thanks to Mary and Stavros Tsakarestos for leading the effort. What a blessing for our community to continue being a part of this amazing event!

Yesterday afternoon, as the day we celebrate the Feast of the Transfiguration of our Lord was coming to an end, a group of 15 parishioners and Fr. Rob ascended to the top of Mount Sentinel here in Missoula, where we then chanted the service of Paraklesis for the Dormition Fast. What a blessing for us to have a mountain to ascend here in Missoula, providing the opportunity for a physical ascent to open our hearts to also embrace a spiritual ascent of our lives to Christ. “Come, let us ascend the mountain of the Lord, even unto the house of our God, let us behold the glory of His Transfiguration, glory as of the only-begotten of the Father. Let us receive light from His Light, and with uplifted spirits, let us forever sing the praises of the consubstantial Trinity.” - Hymn from Vespers of the Feast of the Transfiguration

ARCHDIOCESE STATEMENT IN DEFENSE OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES NEW YORK (June 18, 2018) – In recent days, the words of St. Paul in the 13th chapter of his Epistle to the Romans have been circulating in the news. We are concerned and alarmed at the use of this biblical quote being used out of context to justify the strict application of a policy occurring at our southern border, which is detrimental to family life. The numerous challenges of today’s world weaken the already strained bonds of every modern family. Family—a divine institution (cf. Ephesians 3:14)—is something that we as Orthodox Christians cherish and hold as sacred. Furthermore, when our Lord came into this world as a human being, he entered it as a child and part of a family. As a special creation of God the Father, no family deserves to be separated. The institution of the family is found from the beginning of the Book of Genesis (chapter 2). In love and harmony, the family finds joy, each member in the other. Reflecting this joy, the Psalmist proclaims, your children will be like olive trees around your table (Psalm 127/128:3b). Let us bear in mind that the branch of an olive tree is a universal symbol of peace, not something to be torn apart and broken. It is for peace and for a dignified and humane solution to this unfortunate situation that we, together with people of good faith across our great nation, urgently entreat. Children should not, under any circumstances, be punished for things that are beyond their control. Our hearts go out to those suffering under these terrible conditions. We pray for them, that their families soon be restored, and pray that the proper authorities find a swift and just solution to this unfortunate and very painful situation. GREEK ORTHODOX ARCHDIOCESE OF AMERICA 8-10 East 79th St. New York, NY 10075 Tel: (212) 570-3530 Email: [email protected] www.goarch.org

Blessed Memorial Day Weekend! Thank you to those who joined us for the memorial service today at the Missoula cemetery. May the memory of all of our departed loved ones be eternal!

This Sunday is Holy Pentecost, the Great Feast of the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the Church. Join us this Sunday for Divine Liturgy at 10:00 a.m. as we celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit, which renews our hearts, gives us peace, and enables us to love! Watch this video to learn more about the feast in preparation for our worship.

Our church has been blessed to be able to welcome four families from Eritrea who have come to Missoula through our refugee resetlement office as well as a family from Ethiopia who has arrived to Missoula through the Fulbright scholar program to teach at the University of Montana. Both the Eritrean and Ethiopian Orthodox Church follows the Old Calendar and are just now starting the celebration of Christmas. This past Sunday we were able to share in their Christmas joy as they shared this beautiful Christmas song! Glory to God for the joy His Nativity and Theophany bring to our lives!

Wow! Check out this amazing video of the new bells that St. Herman Orthodox Church in Kalispell, MT just installed at their church! The sounds of Orthodoxy ringing through Kalispell...Amazing!!!

Χριστος Ανεστη! Christ Is Risen! El Maseeh Qam! Христос воскресе!