The Light is published monthly by the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church P.O. Box 1491 Tulsa, OK 74101

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1 TULSA, OKLAHOMA SEPTEMBER 2014 The Light is published monthly by the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church P.O. Box 1491 Tulsa, OK TITHES AND PROMISES Giving of a tithe (which we in modern times call stewardship) is an ancient practice going back thousands of years. Very often we think of the support of the Church in secular terms. In other words seeing the Church as a charitable organization as if the Internal Revenue Service defines who and what we are. However, if we look into the Scriptures and life of the Church, supporting the ministries of our Lord are not something optional, but essential to our life as a Christian. The paying of the tithe throughout history was first and foremost an act of worship, not merely a duty. When it comes to finances, we often tend to think in secular, rather than religious concepts. We owe money to the bank, the credit card company, or the IRS. God, on the other hand, gets the spiritual things which some think ex-cludes material resources. I would say to you, the way we use our material resources says a great deal about our spiritual state. The perspective of the Mosaic Covenant was much more holistic when it came to such matters. Rather than a nagging debt to be settled over and over again, year after year, the payment of the tithe was seen to be a privilege an act of worship, a reasonable sacrifice, a giving back to God of a portion of that which He has given to His people. In an encyclical sent to the parishes from our Metropolitan Isaiah a few years ago, he said, All we have comes from God, and He asks us to keep 90% of what we gather, while willingly and freely setting aside a tithe which is 10% for His Church. Actually, the tithe was established for the people of Israel. It was an obligatory donation to the priestly tribe of Aaron. However, from the very beginning of the Church, our Lord established the principle of freewill giving. This means that church members can give twenty and even thirty percent of their income to the Church, and even more, in response to our love for God and the Church. The ideal for Christian giving is not a legalistically required number, but a recognition that we are caretakers of God s creation and that we are to maximize, not minimize, the flow of resources for the ministry of His Church. Giving to the Church is not a donation to an organization, but rather an act of love in which we support the life of God s Church to spread the Gospel and provide relief to those in need. Just as we need to pray, fast, participate in the Sacraments and worship of the community of faith, Continued on Page 3 1

2 community Best Wishes Thoughts and continued prayers for: Dortha McCullen Chuck Kingsley Angie Petros Jim Economou Regina and Charles Samuels Prayers for a Speedy Recovery: Stephen Morgan Mason, Amanda and Justin Teague Lee Nelson Darlene Sakaleris Reminder! If you haven t already made your stewardship commitment, please do so as the year is coming to an end. Thank you to all who have generously made theirs. Congratulations to Stephen & Jennifer Hughes on the Birth of their daughter Abigale on August 18 Mark Your Calendars! September 18, 19, 20 Holy Trinity Greek Festival September 28 Sunday School begins Best of Luck We are proud of our New College Freshmen: Bailee Henr y attending Hellenic College Luke Kingsley attending Kansas University Holy Trinity Sunday School Don t forget that Sunday School will begin Sunday, September 28.

3 TITHES AND PROMISES Continued from Page 1 we also need to realize that the material support of the Church is essential to both the Church s mission, but also is an expression of our love for God and the needy ( As you have done to these, the least of my brethren, you have done it to me. Matt. 25). We need to perceive our giving in spiritual rather than merely worldly terms. Along those lines, we have some people in the parish who have decided to convert their gifts to the Lord from the spiritual to the political. We learn from the world to use money to reward or punish. Do this and I ll give you money don t do what I like and I ll withhold it. This changes the whole nature of what our tithe or offerings to God are all about. Our offerings to the Lord, whether they be our time, talent, or treasure are gifts of ourselves that we owe to God and His Church. God created the world and all that is in it. Everything we have is due to the blessings He has given us through the gift of life and material gifts that accompany that life. We say in the Divine Liturgy, Thine own of thine own, we offer unto Thee, in behalf of all, and for all. If we parse this out, we see that what we offer to God is in actuality God s to begin with. Thus, we see ourselves as caretakers, or stewards, of God s bounty, not the owners. In gratitude for the gift of life and all we have, we ensure that a goodly portion of God s blessings to us are returned to God for the benefit of all. We must see our support of the Church, not in terms of us being generous with our possessions, but as seeing everything we have in this life comes from God s bountiful love and generosity. The bottom line is that to curtail, restrict, or withhold our offerings to God in order to get our way, shows a lack of acceptance of the spiritual principles and teachings of the Church with regard to those material things to which God has entrusted us. In the New Testament Book of Acts, chapter 4, verse 32, closes by stating that the first followers of Jesus did not consider their possessions to be their own but rather held in common, in order to use what they had on behalf of those in want. For example, Barnabas, a Levite from Cyprus, sold a plot of land and donated the proceeds to the apostles. As told at the beginning of Acts chapter 5 Ananias and Sapphira, following Barnabas' example, also sold their land but secretly withheld a portion of the proceeds they had promised. Ananias presented his donation to Peter. Peter replied, "Why is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit?" Peter pointed out that Ananias was in control of the money, but had withheld a portion of it. Peter stated that Ananias had lied not to men, but to God. Ananias died on the spot and was carried out. Everyone who heard about the incident feared the Lord. Three hours after Ananias' death his wife arrived, unaware of what had happened. Peter asked her the price of the land that she and Ananias had sold, and she stated the same untruthful price that Ananias had given. She also fell dead, apparently a punishment for deceiving God. This is one of the most disconcerting things we read about in the New Testament, however there is a very important point being made. That is, to make a promise to the Church of a material donation is not a promise to some non-profit corporation or worldly enterprise, it is a promise to the Church which makes it a promise to God. Thus, to make a pledge and then subsequently back away from that pledge is not something that should be done lightly. It s one thing to not fulfill a pledge due to a devastating change in economic status, and quite another to renege as if we can take our Christian obligation and debase it as a political tactic. To break one s pledge is not simply changing our minds towards a worldly organization, but is to break a promise we made to God. It is quite simply a great sin. And if you disagree, I suggest you refer back to Acts chapter 5 mentioned above and see that it is an issue that is deadly serious and not as trivial as some might have you believe. As spiritual advice, I would suggest that some people need to rethink/repent in this regard. 3

4 SEPTEMBER 2014 Sunday & Weekday Orthros 9 am Sunday & Weekday Divine Liturgy 10 am Holytrinity.ok.goarch.org Contact SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY MONDAY Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Ecclesiastical New Year Prosforo: A Caplanis 5:30 Vespers 7 Proforo: P Mihos Altar: Group 3 Narthex: Group 3 Coffee: Philoptochos 3 pm: Wedding 8 Nativity of the Theotokos Prosforo: Athena Michalopulos 7 pm Philoptochos Church Hall :30 Vespers 14 ELEVATION OF THE HOLY CROSS Prosforo: K Parperis Altar: Group 4 Narthex: Group 4 Coffee: Megali Ellas G R E E K F E S T I V A L 21 Proforo: S Bryant Altar: Group 1 Narthex: Group 1 Coffee: Daughters FESTIVAL TEAR DOWN 12:30 pm: Baptism St. John the Theologian Prosforo: M Valkanas 27 5:30 Vespers 28 Proforo: A Zaferes Altar: Group 2 Narthex: Group 2 Coffee: AHEPA 29 30

5 TRASH: Greek Festival September2014 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 1 : MONDAY 2 Tue 3 Wed 4 Thu 5 Fri 6 Sat Retrieve storage Dipping Finikia Feta delivered PSO Power items (AM) Drain Feta Olives & Dolmathes 7 Cut Feta 8 Baking Baklava Take letter to bank for start up cash 9 Cupping Baklava 10 Cupping Baklava TENT SET UP 11 STAGE SET UP SECURITY BEGINS 12 Pepsi delivers Fridges 13 SKEWER 14 CONTINUE SKEWER Set up in hall begins Set up at SLC/Church 15 BANNERS & LIGHTS SOUND SYSTEM GREASE BARRELS 16 ABCO Tables & Chairs Set up Port O Johns ATM/Credit Cards 17 PICK UP CASH FINISH PREP WORK am to 9 pm am to 10 pm G R EE K F E S T I V A L am to 10 pm 21 Start teardown Clean & Store items 22 Security Ends Pepsi Fridge p/u 23 Tear down tent Request Turn off power (1208 S. Gurthrie) Prepare for after church sale. 28 Sale of goods to parishioners after church 29 30

6 HOLY TRINITY GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH 1222 South Guthrie Ave. P.O. Box 1491 Tulsa, OK Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Tulsa, Oklahoma Permit No CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED Label Here We appreciate your feedback to the monthly newsletter. For input, ideas, or to advertise within, please contact the parish office at or Father at Deacon Michael at or Susan Costakis-Boone at Submission for next month s issue is the 16th of the month. Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church 1222 South Guthrie Ave. Tulsa, OK Phone: (918) Website: Priest: Father William M. Christ Deacon Michael Stevenson PARISH COUNCIL President: Vice-President: Dean Roilos Treasurer: Greg Sorenson Secretary: Paul Mihos Members Sarah Collier Dr. Michael Karathanos Dr. James Kufdakis Peggy Mihos John Sakelaris Rachel Welch Demetrius Zaferes Ginger Zaferes COMMITTEE CHAIRS Long Range Planning - Stewardship - Greek Festival - Dean Roilos Maintenance - Greg Sorenson Icon Renovation - Finance - ORGANIZATIONS/ADMINISTRATIVE A.H.E.P.A. - Dean Roilos Daughters of Penelope - Martha Metevelis Megali Ellas - Pope Kingsley Office Manager - Freda Boyaci Parish Nurse - Sondra Claxton, RN MINISTRIES Prison Ministry - Tian Boyaci Sunday School - Deacon Michael G.O.Y.A. - Gina Kingsley JOY/HOPE - Christina Kearns Philoptochos - Ruth Chiconas Outreach - Choir - Pope Kingsley Greek School - Renee Michalopolos The Senior s - Tian Boyaci NCD Spokesperson - Barbra Kingsley Miranda NCD Young Adult - NCD INreach - NCD Education - Deacon Michael