Due to the Covid-19 virus and for the safety of our parishioners, our Church will remain closed until further notice.
We are currently accepting your donations via our PayPal service:
We are currently accepting your donations via our PayPal service:
We thank you for your support.
May God Bless you!
May God Bless you!
STEWARDSHIP 2020
January 2020
Dear Fellow Parishioner,
Christ is in our midst; He is and always shall be!
In the province of Elias in Greece is the small monastery of Panaghia Eleosa. Desolate for some time prior to 1985, it has recently been inhabited by nuns who, through their gentle stewardship, have rebuilt and maintain the grounds.
Through the years of changing inhabitants, many things have remained constant at the monastery. One of these is the offering of olive oil found in the back of the church. Local olive farmers bring in the oil to the monastery church in whatever glass containers they have; large, small, liter sized and Coca Cola bottles. Regardless of the container, the oil is always of good quality, a rich, beautiful green color and is used to fill the lamps, primarily lit by oil. This oil is a love offering of the humble villagers who are farmers with olive tree groves. They press the oil, and the oil of highest quality is put into a container and brought to the church in the monastery. This is their love offering, given in selflessness.
How does this translate into today's times? What is the difference between the bottle of oil and dollars? The difference is the mechanism, but in modern times it is the dollars that sustain the church and turn on the electricity and pay the bills. Our dollars, however, must be given with the same attitude, with the same feeling of love, the same honesty, the same sense of commitment as the olive farmers. And, as villagers in Greece still offer olive oil, we in the western world must give of our time and talents and our financial resources. Most of all, the example to emulate is that we must do these things in love.
As Christians who are concerned with the Church of today and tomorrow, we must become Stewards in every sense of the word. We must willingly give of our time, abilities, services and resources to see that the work of our Lord is done. Stewardship is a serious business; and we must take the work of the Church seriously, in order to promote its growth and development.
We ask that in viewing your role as a Christian Steward, you reflect upon our Church not as mortar and bricks, but rather a meeting place for the faithful to gather together and drink from the cup of Life. As Stewards, we have no set dues for membership. We are asked to give as we are able, according to the blessings He has given us. A guide for Stewardship giving is a minimum of 2% of your family's yearly income. You may offer your gift weekly, monthly, quarterly or in a lump sum. Any questions or concerns you have may be directed to myself.
Offering envelopes are available for you. I ask that you please see me after Church so that you may pick them up. If you have already fulfilled your 2020 Stewardship, I thank you for your generous and continued support of our parish.
With Love in Christ,
Father Sotirios Dimitriou
Protopresbyter
