Come Receive the Light
The Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church located at 1100 Napa Valley Drive in Little Rock, is a place where the light of Christ is accessible to all. At the Annunciation (the Church name commemorates the event in Scriptures in which the Archangel Gabriel was sent to announce to the Virgin Mary that she was to bear the Christ) you will find a warm and welcoming place where people of all ages and backgrounds are able to develop a dynamic relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This parish was formally established in 1920 and has been at the top of Napa Valley hill since 1983. The parish today aptly reflects America and is comprised of more than 200 families from a broad variety of nationalities and walks of life, all witnessing to the Good News and striving to reflect the love of God to all people. Our parish continually strives to provide a holy place of worship that is inviting to all – men, women and children alike. Though perhaps not as well known as some other Christian denominations, Orthodox Christians belong to the body of Christ that strive to vibrantly maintain sacred traditions that are concurrently Scriptural, Traditional, Apostolic and Eucharistic as have been passed down for more than 2000 years. While visitors to the Annunciation initially cannot help but notice the way in which the Church uses art in the form of Byzantine icons to teach and inspire people in their spiritual journey, the faith experience does not end there – it’s all about how people united in Christ are able to grow as Christians with the help of timeless traditions. In fact, the best way to appreciate exactly what the Orthodox Church teaches and how it strives to help build a person’s relationship with the Lord and with one another is to attend a Sunday service at 10:00am. Personally experiencing the hymns, prayers, Scripture readings and ceremonies is the best way to appreciate why the Annunciation means so much to our family, and why we encourage others to come and experience our Church.
Being an active part of the Annunciation Church family is about receiving the light of Christ and then making sure to let it shine. To that end, our parish is very active in many ministries on a local as well as global level. Locally, we have very active youth ministries. With three age-appropriate youth groups and a vibrant Sunday School program which weave together the elements of faith and fellowship, we try to give our children not only the tools to meet the challenges of life, but a loving Christian community in which to grow. In addition to our youth programs, there are also plenty of ways for adults to get involved. From a vibrant ladies philanthropic organization, Bible study classes, to ongoing charitable projects, there is always room in our parish for new ideas and plenty of ways for a person to become fully engaged in meaningful and edifying ministries. Indeed, the passionate commitment to share our blessings with all in Little Rock is perhaps best expressed in the form of our annual International Greek Food Festival held every year the weekend before Memorial Day. For more than 25 years our church family has sought to transform some tasty ethnic delights into proceeds that help a host of local charities do what they do best. Then not long ago, when our priest Father Nicholas Verdaris realized the passion for golf that exists in our area, we developed a beautiful partnership with Easter Seals of Arkansas and created the GreekFoodFest/Easter Seals Golf Classic which is played annually at the Chenal Country Club. Over the years, our golf tournament has grown tremendously and continues to flourish in its mission to raise money for Easter Seals of Arkansas as well as the ongoing ministries of the parish. While our church is continually looking for ways to use its talents and traditions towards making Little Rock a better place for all, it also strives to share the light and love of Christ beyond our borders. Globally, our parish has been active in supporting people in places like Turkey and Guatemala, as well as helping establish an Orthodox Church in Pakistan. Whether it is assisting the victims of Hurricane Katrina, or sending care packages to our troops serving overseas, the question is never what to do with the light of Christ, it is a matter of what can we do to help His light shine even brighter through us.
As you can tell, our family loves the Annunciation and we are eager to share it with others. We feel that this parish is a special place where all people can come together to develop a dynamic relationship with the Lord, experience new life in Him, raise a family in faith, and help others in His name. A welcoming spirit, along with faithful traditions have enabled the church we call home to embrace newcomers and thrive in Little Rock for more than 90 years, and it leads us to look forward to the future with great enthusiasm. We hope everyone will feel free to pray with us at a Sunday service at 10:00am and “come receive the light.”
