Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church
Stewardship
For those of you who have not yet pledged please click here to download the 2009 pledge card below and return it with your (best gift).
Fellow Stewards of Annunciation, it’s important to begin this edition of the Observer with “Thank you.” Thank you for continuing to believe and trust in the mission of our Stewardship ministry through your involvement and service in his church. Yes, being active and involved is one of the key tenets of Christian Orthodoxy as well as an obligation as a steward.
Involvement in church life can take many forms, volunteering for the Greek Festival, becoming active participants in working out our salvation as members of the Orthodox Church through the nurturing of children, regular worship and fellowship, spiritual formation through on-going adult education, service to one another and to the poor, sick, and needy and cooperating to make our parish a vibrant source of faith and work. It can also take the form of supporting the Metropolitan, Archdiocesan, and International Ministries that link us to the world wide Church. (We are one Church after all).
This involvement or “service” is our rendering to his Church. The following is from part of a sermon given by Fr. James Dokos of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
“Our whole being must praise and worship the Father who provides for us all. Indeed, a great invitation as we offer service to the Church with a grateful heart; we realize our time mission as baptized Orthodox Christians. To be amongst a community of people who choose to live not only in the world, but also for the world. To offer outreach and service to proclaim the Good News of not only what God has done, but also what he is doing in our time. We proclaim our faith, service, and stewardship of life not only to ourselves, our families, our church communities; but also to society as we realize our Orthodox Mission Works!”
“The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45). When we love people, we are drawn instinctively to help them, to give them service as best we can. But if love is service, sin is the refusal to serve. It is proud, vain, arrogant, self-centered. We Christians are called to share in the life of Christ. Service to his Church and his people is our discipleship to Christ. It’s real and inspires these people of God to offer their very best of time, talent and treasures which are abundantly blessed. Truly, service bears fruit!
“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you.” (John 15:16).
As Orthodox; we bear the fruits of God’s love. “Freely you have received. Freely give.” (Matthew 10:8)
This involvement or “service” that Fr. Dokos speaks of certainly captures the essence of true Christian Stewardship. We as parishioners of Annunciation should ask ourselves this question. Are we up to the task?
Thank you,
George Dariotis
Stewardship Chairman
If you would like to make a 2009 Pledge Payment please click here.