Joy sponsors the annual pancake breakfast / Palm tying event Saturday, April 3, 2004. The pancake breakfast will begin immediately following the Divine Liturgy on this Saturday, when we remember the raising of Lazarus.

Service 10:00 am
Breakfast 11:00 am

The youth (ages 10 – 18) will be encouraged to participate in confession (one on one with the priest) during the palm tying in preparation of Holy Week. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to participate.

SUNDAY SCHOOL NEWS

As we continue our Lenten Journey, the Sunday School program will be very busy. Please try and make the classes during the remainder of Lent, as they are sequential. All classes will have lessons Lent specific. For all parents, please take time to go to our cathedral website (www.annunciation.org) and look at our new Sunday School page. All important dates and information are listed there and you will also find links to help you raise your children in an Orthodox home. A special thanks to Jim Loukas for bringing this page to reality.

The St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival was held this year Sunday, March 28, 2004 immediately following the Divine Liturgy. The purpose of the Oratorical Festival has been to give our youth (ages 9 – 18), the opportunity to learn, write, and speak about their identity as Greek Orthodox Christians. It cultivates growth and maturity, while the Festival atmosphere minimizes the competitive spirit and emphasizes a joyful learning experience. All along, our students have been listening to a variety of speakers. These speakers have offered suggestions both as to public speaking and on religious topics. In the next issue of the Herald, we will print a list of the participants, and the winners of the festival at the parish level, as well as photos. Meanwhile, the winners from our Oratorical Festival will go on to compete in the Regional Festival, which will take place on Sunday, April 25, 2004 at the Nativity Church in Marin County. The Metropolis Festival will take place Saturday, May 15, 2004 at the St. Nicholas Ranch and Retreat Center.

Presancified Liturgy on Friday, April 2, 2004. The children of Sunday School normally do the readings in this service and we follow the service with a wonderful Lenten meal cooked by Mr. & Mrs. Vellis. (This year a number of adults participating in the Lenten Program will also participate in the Liturgy and in the readings, as well.) The Presanctified Liturgy and the supper following will be an even more wonderful family event. We will begin at 6:00 PM, so that we may eat dinner at 7:30 PM. The readings were passed out for children to take home and practice. Everyone is welcome to join us; the Lenten dinner is, of course, complimentary.

TGI Pascha, Friday, April 9, 2004. Children ages 4 – 12 years old participate in a wonderful day of crafts and religious education. Youth ages 13 and older are encouraged to volunteer in the classrooms. Flyers will be sent home. See Denise Yeilding for more information.

MEANWHILE, DOWN AT THE RANCH...

The Memorial Day Weekend Family-Building Alternative Spring Family Camp: Remake the Lake!

Come to the Ranch this Memorial Day Weekend (May 28-31) for a program of family fun and adventure! The weekend's program will include archery, canoeing, fishing, ice-cream making, hayrides, campfires, a BBQ, field trips to Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Parks, and more! Participate with other families in a Ranch lake restoration project that will include building a boat dock and renovating the lakeside fire pit and stage. For more information and a registration form, please visit the Ranch's website at http://www.stnicholasranch.org/GroupCamp.htm , or contact the Ranch at (559)338-2103, or info@stnicholasranch.org.

Summer Camp 2004:" From Creeds to Deeds"

St. Nicholas Ranch has announced the dates for Summer Camp 2004. The three weeks of summer camp are July 11-17, July 18-24 and July 25-31. The theme of this year’s camp is From Creeds to Deeds. Application forms will be available in the Church office as of April 1- also available online at http://www.stnicholasranch.org/summercamp.htm