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1 Sts. Pet er & Paul Greek Or thodox Chur ch Inside t h is issue: St. Basil the Great 1 Epiphany 3 Philoptochos 6 News & Events 7 Youth Corner 10 Monthly Calendar 12 Stewardship 13 Petra News A ministry and monthly publication of Sts. Peter & Paul Greek Orthodox Church. Supported by the stewards of the parish Petra News J a n u a r y St Basil the Great: The Heavyweight Champion of the World Do you remember the person who was famous for saying, Fly like a butterfly and sting like a bee. Most of the over 50 crowd would remember the words came from the famous champion boxer great Mohamed Ali. Boxing Great Mohamed Ali was not the first person to use this famous phrase. In the 4th Century there lived a Great Hierarch, teacher, theologian, philanthropist and missionary, St Basil the Great. It is doubtful St Basil entered the boxing ring, but was courageous in the arena of life defending the Orthodox Christian Faith. St Basil perhaps did not say the famous words, but lived the phrase, Fly like a butterfly and sting like a bee. He is called the bee of the church because he brought honey, that is the teachings and traditions to the faithful, and famous for his knock out punch that stung the heretics. St Basil was known as a protector of the poor. He built homes for the poor, and established a home for repentant prostitutes. He would preach to the wealthy and encourage them to give to the poor. There would be neither rich nor poor, if everyone after taking from his wealth enough for this personal needs, gave to others what they lacked, wrote St Basil. He put his words into action. St Basil would feed the poor with his own hands. The young Basil came from a pious Christian home. Like many of us, during his college years drifted away from the Orthodox Faith. His sister, Macrina, who would later become the founder of monastic communities, reached out to her younger brother. St Macrina wrote to her brother, and accused him of being puffed up beyond measure with pride. During this time their younger brother, known for being pious and humble, died at a very young age. The falling asleep of his brother changed Basil and opened his heart. Basil served the Lord his entire adult life with boldness, kindness and faith. We received the same gift that forever changed the person of St. Basil. The Nativity of Jesus Christ celebrates Emmanuel, God with us. The Baptism of Jesus, the Great Feast of the Epiphany we celebrate on January 6, celebrates the gift which will change us forever. Every Christian shares a life with Jesus through the sacrament of Baptism. Fr Thomas Hopko, blessed memory, shares the gift of baptism. Divine grace shines forth so that something can happen in the lives of people while still living in this world. We are to react

2 P a g e 2 St Basil the Great: The Heavyweight Champion of the to God s grace by specific works of conversion. Fly like a butterfly and sting like a bee. He is called the bee of the church because he brought honey, that is the teachings and traditions to the faithful, and famous for his knock out punch that stung the heretics. Can a person change? Instead of only making New Year s resolutions to eat less, and exercise, add to the top of the list spiritual resolutions. We can make spiritual changes this year. Let us take the example of the shepherds who were guided to the Christ Child by the song of the angels. They witnessed the Christ Child, and became the first to share the message of Emmanuel. The shepherds returned to their flock and fields, but they were not the same men. They returned glorifying and praising God. We will return to the same routine this new year. We do not have to return to the same routine the same person. Jesus began His public ministry at His Baptism in the River Jordan. The gospels point out how the people s lives began to change after the Baptism of our Lord. As we get ready to close the past year, let us first give thanks to God for His many blessings. Let us begin the new year with a new Christian life committed to sharing and living the gospel of Jesus Christ. Father Jordan P a g e 2

3 On The Great Feast of Epiphany (Theophany) By Protopresbyter George Dion Dragas Theophany (or Epiphany) and Christmas Theophany is one of the great Feasts of the Lord of the ecclesiastical year. It is also called Epiphany and the Day of Lights and is celebrated on the 6th of January. The names of this Feast indicate the understanding of the ancient Church concerning this Feast. This understanding is connected with the revelation of God, that is, the manifestation of the One God in Trinity through the Incarnation of the Son of God, our Lord Jesus Christ. Consequently, Theophany comprises the birth of Christ and the related events (e.g. the visitation of the Magi) and also the beginning of the public manifestation of the incarnate economy of the Son of God which is connected with the Baptism of Christ in the Jordan by John the Baptizer. In the 4th century AD, Christmas was separated from Theophany and constituted a separate Feast, which was celebrated on the 25th of December. This separation had been adopted in the Western Church, which was at that time united with the Eastern Churches. Since then Theophany was specifically connected with the Baptism of Christ, i.e. with the commencement of the public ministry of Christ through which he became the Savior and Redeemer of the world. The question that arises here is why was Christ baptized? Why did this take place and what is its deeper meaning? The Baptism of Christ and the Sacrament of Baptism In the Gospel of St. John we find the first hints regarding the relation between the Baptism of Christ and the Sacrament of Baptism. St. John the Forerunner speaks about the Baptism in water which he administered according to the divine calling and explains that the coming Christ would transform it into baptism in the Spirit so that through it human beings would enter into the kingdom of God: "John bore witness and said that he saw the Spirit descending like a Dove from heaven and resting upon Christ. He also said the he did not know him [i.e. Christ - until that point], but He who sent him to baptize had said that on whom he would see the Spirit descending and resting upon him, he would be the One who will baptize in the Holy Spirit. John also said that he saw this and bore witness to it, namely, that he is [the Christ] the Son of God" (1:32-34). Exactly the same was confirmed by the Lord himself when he said to Nicodemus: "Amen, amen I say to you, unless one is born of water and Spirit, one cannot enter the kingdom of God" (3:5). These words of the Lord constitute the institution of the holy sacrament of Baptism, through which human beings become Christians. The descent of the Holy Spirit, then, at the Baptism of Christ, revealed the sacrament of Christ which Christ instituted and operates through the Holy Spirit. It is the Baptism which the Lord delivered to his holy disciples as a basic element of their ministry in the world. In the two synoptic Evangelists, Matthew and Mark, there is an explicit statement about the necessity of the sacrament of Baptism as a means of participation of human beings in the salvation which Christ offers. This appears in the command of the Risen Lord to his Disciples to preach the Gospel and baptize human P a g e 3

4 On The Great Feast of Epiphany (Theophany) By Protopresbyter George Dion Dragas beings throughout the world. In other words, he asked them to initiate human beings into their new and saving relation with the one God in Trinity which was definitively revealed at his Baptism in the Jordan by John the Baptizer in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. "Go, then, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all those things which I commanded to you" (28:18-20). Mark the Evangelist states the same in a briefer way. "Go to the whole world and preach the Gospel to the entire creation. Whoever believes you and is baptized will be saved" (16:15-16). It is clear, then, that the sacrament of Baptism which Christ instituted by fulfilling and transforming the Baptism of John the Baptizer is the commencement of our reconnection with our creator, who is the leader and perfecter of our salvation. To understand the deeper meaning of this salvation we must pay attention to the details that the Gospel narratives supply concerning the Baptism of the Lord in the Jordan. The Deeper Meaning of the Baptism of Christ and the Sacrament of Baptism Man's return to the true God. The Baptism of the Forerunner was a "baptism of repentance," which signaled man's return to God by obedience to the divine will. It was necessary in view of the coming of the Messiah and the kingdom of God which He would bring into the world. It was a kind of prelude and preparation which looked towards God's intervention through the Messiah, that is, the justification of human beings and the gift of the Holy Spirit. This is most clearly manifested in the words of Christ to John the Baptist, "This is necessary, so that all righteousness might be fulfilled" (Matth. 3:15). So, when Christ came forth to receive the baptism of John as a man, he accepted the divine will on behalf of the entire humanity. And then, the witness of the heavenly Father which recognized him as His beloved Son and the descent of the Holy Spirit in a bodily manner "in the form of a Dove" signaled the acceptance of Christ by the Father as the Messiah who would bring the kingdom of God into humanity. This kingdom was mainly and primarily represented by the communion of the Holy Spirit, as the prophet Isaiah had foretold: "Jacob is my son and I will take him up. Israel is my elect, whom my soul has accepted, and to whom I gave my Spirit so that he might judge among the nations"(42:1). The humanity of Christ as the basis of man's salvation. Both the acceptance of Jesus as the Messiah as well as the descent of the Holy Spirit upon him refer to his humanity, which he assumed for our sake, and made it the basis of our justification and salvation. As the ecclesiastical hymnology declares: "Having put on the form of the servant, O Christ, you came forth to be baptized by a servant in the waters of Jordan, so that you may redeem from the ancient slavery and sanctify and enlighten all of us human beings" (Vespers of the eve of Theophany). "It is redemption that Christ is coming forth to bring to all believers through his baptism. Because through this, he purifies Adam, he raises the fallen, he puts to shame the tyrant who caused the fall, he opens the heavens, he brings down the Holy Spirit, and he grants incorruption and participation" (8th Praise). "Today the Lord comes to the waters of Jordan, and says to John: Be not shy for baptizing me, because I came to save Adam the protoplast" (Oikos). P a g e 4

5 On The Great Feast of Epiphany (Theophany) By Protopresbyter George Dion Dragas As man you came to the river, O Christ, King, and you hasten to receive baptism from the hands of the Forerunner, for our sins, O Lover of mankind" (Sophronios of Jerusalem)! The revelation of the one God in Trinity and his communion with man. In the last analysis, however, what happened in the Jordan refers to the divinity of Christ, and especially to his eternal filial identity, which reveals the mystery of the Holy Trinity. Christ is the eternal Son of the Father who also became man in order to bring man back to the kingdom of the Holy Trinity. It is for this reason that the Sacrament of Baptism which grants to us regeneration and brings us into the life of Christ is celebrated in the name of the Holy Trinity, of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. The feast of Theophany, then, refers not only to man's return to the true God, the creator and Savior through Christ, but also to the revelation of the mystery of God, i.e. to the truth that God is one in Trinity and as such he must be worshiped. As the ecclesiastical hymnology states it: "When you were baptized in the Jordan, O Lord, it was then, that the worship of the Holy Trinity was manifested. Because it was then that the voice of the Begetter bore witness by calling you His Beloved Son. And then also, that the Spirit in the form of a Dove confirmed the assurance of the word. We glorify You in Your Epiphany, O Christ, as the God who enlightens the world" (Apolytikion). "You manifested yourself to the world today, and your light, O Lord, was marked upon us who praise you with full understanding" (Kontakion). The enlightenment about the One God in Trinity is also the reason for the feast of Theophany being called the feast of "The Lights." The Lights in this case are the three blessed persons of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, who are one divine Light unapproachable! The Great Sanctification of the Waters The Great Sanctification of the Waters, which is observed on the eve and on the day of Theophany, is a calling to remembrance of the Baptism of Christ in the Jordan by John the Baptist and the sanctification of the waters which was done by Christ at that time. Saint John Chrysostom speaks about this Great Sanctification of the feast of Theophany and says that the sanctified water was kept by the faithful and used for purifications, support, healing, etc. We realize its importance when we recall the words of the prayer which the priest offers at the epiclesis (invocation) of the Holy Spirit and the sanctification of the water: ".and make it a source of incorruption, a gift of sanctification, a release of sins, a cure of maladies, a extermination of demons, unreachable to the opposing powers, a plenitude of angelic potency." What is particularly important in this case is the repentance and the fasting which is observed on the eve of the Feast. When we receive the sanctified water of the Great Sanctification with contrite spirit and true faith, then it truly becomes a healing means of soul and body and undoing of all opposing powers. The feast of the Theophany is an invitation to renewal and return to the Lord of glory, who humbled himself, though he was God, and became man - a true man, sinless, forgiving and merciful, the way, the truth and the life. Let us follow him on the path of righteousness, along with his allholy Mother the Theotokos, St. John the Baptist, the holy Apostles and all the Saints. P a g e 5

6 Philoptochos Happy New Year! This New Year look for new things from the Philoptochos. We will be doing more volunteering in the community and more sisterhood events. Please plan on attending! Christmas was amazing and thanks to all for donating and buying gift for the Head Start Angels! It was a great success. Cheers to many more great things to come! Happy 2016 Ashley Dzilvelis Philoptochos President 2016 Membership Drive If you would like to read about all of the great things that Philoptochos does (and has done), there is a flier in the bookstore with more information. See Kiki Cheronis to get signed up today! Grocery Gift Cards Grocery gift cards are an amazing way to raise money for Philoptochos! King Soopers, Safeway, Vitamin Cottage, Sprouts, Lucky's Market or Whole Foods are available. Please stop by the Philoptochos bookstore where you can purchase gift cards (used same as cash) in $25, $50 or $100 denominations. Pizza Palz Old Chicago Pizza Palz Purchase a gift certificate for $11 and redeem it at Old Chicago restaurant by ordering any large pizza valued up to $25! Eat in or Carry out. These also make great gifts! Remember teachers, friends, family, co-workers, etc Church Bookstore Stop by the Bookstore in the fellowship hall to browse at all of the many items in stock. We have Icons, prayer ropes, prayer bracelets, crosses, baptismal candles, Orthodox books, Orthodox Old & New Testament Study bible, and various other items. If you don't see what you are looking for, we can special order. If you can t decide what to get for that special occasion, why not purchase a Bookstore gift certificate in any amount you would like. See Nancy Houghton or Lis Troicky. P a g e 6

7 News & Events Theophany House Blessings Father Jordan will begin blessing homes (and businesses) after the 6th of January. Father will be blessing homes in January and February. Please take a blessing form. They are available in the Narthex of the church. You can contact Father Jordan to schedule a blessing (frjordan@stspeterandpaulboulder.org or ). Stewardship Sunday January 10th On Sunday, January 10th, we will celebrate the blessing of the Vasilopita. Please bring your Stewardship 2016 Commitment Pledge Cards to church. We will offer a special prayer for our stewardship 2016 commitment. There will be a Vasipolita Luncheon immediately following services. Soup & Saints: An Adult Book Study Class Wed. Evenings Beginning January 13th Please join us this new year for a new class. Soup and Saints will be a book study class and discussion. The Paraclesis Service will begin at 6 pm. The Paraclesis Service is a beautiful service dedicated to the Mother of God. We pray for the health and well being of our loved ones, especially those in the hospitals, nursing homes, prisons, and experiencing difficult times. Class will take place in the parish 7pm. Please bring a lenten soup or salad. Father Jordan will be leading the discussion during dinner. Soup & Saints will meet Wednesday evenings beginning January 13th. (The book will be available in the bookstore after the 1st of the year.) Wednesday Morning Bible Study Wednesdays, January 13th & 27th Please join us for the Wednesday morning Bible Study. The Bible Study takes place in the parish hall. Coffee and refreshments are provided. Class 10 am and 11:15 am. Class is open to all adults who have the desire to prayerfully study the Holy Scriptures and Feast Days of the Church. The Wednesday morning bible study is a wonderful opportunity to grow in the faith and make new friends. Father Jordan will be leading the Bible Study. Sts. Peter & Paul Choir Practice Starting January 9th Choir practice will meet in the church every Saturday at 4 pm. We invite both young and old to join the choir. This will be a wonderful opportunity to learn the traditional music of the Orthodox Church. We will meet prior to practice in the parish hall for a fellowship 6:30 pm. Pres. Marika (720) ; marikadb@aol.com / Pres. Kedrann - (303) ; kedrann@gmail.com There will be no practice on January 2nd. Icons Available for Donation This past year iconographer Emmanuel Kavalis from Glyfada, Greece wrote three new icons for the Iconstasis; The Mystical Supper, Christ and the Virgin Mary. Emmanuel is presently working on the icons of Saint John the Baptist and Sts Peter and Paul. A special icon brochure will be available in the new year. If you have any questions regarding the donation of icons for the Iconstasis, please contact Father or frjordan@stspeterandpaulboulder.org. Monastery Pilgrimage Father Jordan will be leading a pilgrimage to the St Johns Greek Orthodox Women s Monastery March 10-12, There will be a meeting to discuss the trip on Sunday, January 10th. The monastery is located in Goldendale, Washington. The pilgrimage is open to both men and women. We will be staying at the monastery. Space is limited. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to personally contact Father Jordan. P a g e 7

8 J a n u a r y News & Events P a g e 8 The CU welcomes all college students to join us and be a part of the OCF Ministry. The OCF ministry meets twice a month on Tuesday, 6:00 the St.Thomas Catholic Student Center located on the corner of 15th and Euclid. Please join us for prayer, dinner and fellowship. We begin our fellowship in the Adoration chapel located in the Catholic Student Center. Dinner and Fellowship is offered in the cafe section of the St. Thomas Center. Please make sure and check out the OCF CU facebook page for additional social gatherings with the Boulder Colorado OCF. The OCF will also be hosting a ski retreat in February January 26th 6 pm St. Thomas Center February 2nd 6 pm St. Thomas Center February 16th 6 pm St. Thomas Center February OCF Ski Retreat P a g e 8

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10 Youth Ministry Corner GOYA The Greek Orthodox Youth of America, or GOYA for short, is a youth ministry serving our young people attending both middle and high school. GOYA Fireside chat Saturday, January 6 pm Saturday, February 6 pm Saturday, March 6 pm Save the Date!!! Lenten Retreat to Estes Park - April 1-3 Metropolis Oratorical Festival - April 8-10 Saturday of Lazarus Retreat - Saturday, April 23rd Summer Camp Dates Goya Junior camp (6th-8th ) -June Goya Senior camp (9th-10th) - June (Fr. Jordan will be serving at the Jr. camp. Parents, please do not hesitate to contact him with any questions) P a g e 1 0

11 Christmas 2015 Head Start Angels For over 20 years, the parishioners of Sts. Peter & Paul Greek Orthodox Church have generously purchased gifts for the children of the Boulder Head Start Program schools. And 2015 was no exception! Parishioners of all ages participated in the giving of gifts to needy families within our community. The children and their parents were so grateful for the generous gifts from the parishioners of Sts. Peter & Paul. Amanda Nader had this to say: It is always such a fun and beautiful day! The kids bring tears to my eyes and they are so darn cute! Santa even decided to pay everyone a visit! Thanks to everyone for making this such a big success! 1st Annual Ugly Sweater Christmas Party Everyone had a great time at the 1st Annual Church Christmas Party! The night included an incredible meal, great company, and the singing of Christmas Carols in many different languages. I almost forget to mention that there were a lot of ugly Christmas sweaters too! Between Head Start Angels and our Christmas Party, Santa has been paying us a lot of visits lately! He came bearing gifts for all of the girls and boys! A big thank you to Jacques & Amanda Nader, as well as the entire Elias family for organizing and hosting the event! We are already looking forward to next year! Petra News Page 11

12 January 2016 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 31 New Year s Eve St. Basil 5 pm Orthros 6 pm Divine Liturgy 1 New Year s Day 2 5 pm Great Vespers 3 8:45 am Orthros 10 am Divine Liturgy 4 6 pm Epiphany Royal Hours 5 Eve of Epiphany 7 am Vesporal Liturgy 6 Holy Epiphany 8 am Orthros 9 am Divine Liturgy 7 St. John the Baptist 8 am Orthros 9 am Divine Litrugy pm Great Vespers 10 8:45 am Orthros 10 am Divine Liturgy 12 pm Vasilopita blessing :30 pm Philoptochos am Bible Study 6 pm Paraclesis 7 pm Soup & Saints Class pm Great Vespers 17 8:45 am Orthros 10 am Divine Liturgy pm Great Vespers 6 pm GOYA Fireside Chat 24 8:45 am Orthros 10 am Divine Liturgy pm CU am Bible Study 6 pm Paraclesis 7 pm Soup & Saints Class Three Hierarchs 8 am Orthros 9 am Divine Liturgy 10 am PC Retreat 5 pm Great Vespers 31 8:45 am Orthros 10 am Divine Liturgy Shaded Days = Fasting Days Visit rch.org for specific fasting criteria.

13 P a g e 1 3 Jesus Feeds Stewardship the A Children s Stewardship Sermon Our Orthodox Church has a special service of the Artoclasia, in which we offer five loaves of bread to be blessed and given to each of us. (if possible, show them the bread, wine, oil and wheat from the service). We share with each other the blessings from God. Did you know that a long time ago because a young boy shared his food a great miracle occurred? It is a story that comes from the Gospel of Matthew. One day Jesus was preaching to great crowd of people, and the people got tired and began to get hungry, and there was over five thousand people. Have any of you seen five thousand people together at one time? Jesus told the people to sit down and rest, some of the Apostles wanted the people to go home and get their own food, others wanted to go out buy some food to give the people. But one boy came up and gave all that he had, five loaves of bread and two fish. He shared what he had with Jesus. Jesus then performed a great miracle. He blessed the five loaves and the two fish and they started passing the baskets of food around. Everyone ate and ate until they were full and the food multiplied from a small amount to feed over five thousand people. This was all possible because someone shared what they had. This is what being a good Christian is about, sharing what we have with others. Another word for this is stewardship. Stewardship means giving back to God a little bit of the many gifts he gives us all the time, it means sharing our time, talents and treasure with others. What are some ways we can share with others? I will tell you a story of a mother who taught her son an easy way to give back to the Church and be good stewards. Everyone here likes to get money as a gift on their birthday, or from their allowance. There was a boy who would ask his mother for her spare change after leaving the grocery store. He ended up having three quarters and also two dimes and a nickel. His mother had taught him to always save some of the money he was given in his piggy bank. He put in one of his dimes and the nickel, the three quarters he was able to spend and buy some candy. Then he had a dime left over. His mother had taught him to also save some of his money to give back to the Church. So he had his dime which was left over to place in the tray to support the church. It is not how much we give that matters, it is how much out of what we are given are we willing to share and give back to Christ. This is what is true stewardship. We thank our Lord for giving us service of the Artoclasia by example of your miracle in blessing the five loaves and multiplying them to feed the five thousand. We ask God to also multiply our own gifts that we are willing to give as you blessed the loaves. To you do we give praise, honor and glory to the ages of ages. Amen. Father John Ketchum P a g e 1 3

14 Those that Seek the Lord Stewardship Shall Never 2015 be in Want of P a g e 1 4 any Good Thing We don t give out of fear of judgment in the afterlife. We give with joy as part of our spiritual growth, putting the emphasis on experiencing heaven now. Stewardship of our gifts can help shape our world and ourselves in such a way that we can experience God s grace, love and communion in the present. This perspective on Christian Stewardship emphasizes that which is possible for us as humans now rather than later. It shifts our focus from fear to the potential for experiencing joy. Do Your Best A traditional American proverb says, God makes this request of his children: Do the best you can where you are, with what you have, now. The story of Jesus Christ feeding the 5,000 illustrates this through the boy s offering of all that he had five loaves and two fish. This boy did his best with what he had, and Jesus used it to perform an incredible miracle. The Economy of Heaven The disciples had wanted to send the people away to get something to eat, but Jesus responds, There is no need for them to go away; give them food yourselves. The disciples approached the issue from the point of view of earthly economics. To buy food for the people assembled would be too expensive 200 days wages. Jesus response is simple. He asks, What do you have? But the disciples don t realize that they are being called to participate in a miracle by simply giving what they have. Bring Them to Me Jesus Is concerned about the 5,000 men plus women and children that are with him in the wilderness. His disciples tell him that all they have are five loaves and two small fish that a boy has offered. Jesus response is the phrase, Bring them to me. Jesus then takes the loaves, blesses and breaks them, and feeds 5,000 men plus women and children. We also bring what we have to Jesus. We offer bread and wine. He returns it to us as His body and blood in Holy Communion. We offer ourselves and we become the Church, His body on earth. No matter how much we give, He cannot be outdone. Just like the boy who offered the loaves and the fish, if we offer what we have however great or small our gift with prayer and humility, God will receive our gifts and multiply them to feed His people. Stewardship is about Joy We don t give out of fear of judgment in the afterlife. We give with joy as part of our spiritual growth, putting the emphasis on experiencing heaven now. Stewardship of our gifts can help shape our world and ourselves in such a way that we can experience God s grace, love and communion in the present. This per- P a g e 1 4

15 Those that Seek the Lord Stewardship Shall Never 2015 be in Want of P a g e 1 5 any Good Thing spective on Christian Stewardship emphasizes that which is possible for us as humans now rather than later. It shifts our focus from fear to the potential for experiencing joy. Hard work may bring power and success. Only God can bring us joy, peace and love. American writer, Frederick Buechner has written, Greed is the mathematical truism that the more you get, the more you have. The opposite of greed the selfless love of God and neighbor is based on the truth that the more you give away in love, the more you are. Put away the Pie Chart Stewardship is not about calculations, portions or percentages. It cannot be reduced to a number of hours of service or dollars offered. We can t reduce our responsibilities as members of the Body of Christ to paying the bills. Christian Stewardship is a mindset a way of life. In true stewardship, we do not give to the Church for any specific purpose. We are giving back to God with joy in thanksgiving for what He has done for us. God is never outdone in generosity. Grace The true motivation for giving is grace. Giving is an act of worship is response to the generosity of God. You are to give, says Saint Paul, as God has prospered you. His Second Letter to the Corinthians (9 & 10) teaches us clearly, He who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. God blesses those who give with generosity. Thanking God The question is not, How much do I give to stay in the club? or What are the dues? The real question we need to ask ourselves is How do I thank God for my many blessings? As Orthodox Christians, we are called to a new way of seeing things a new way of life. Stewardship is obedience to the greatest commandment to love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. We are called to bring ourselves and others to commit their lives to Jesus Christ in such a way that leads to the joy of knowing him personally and profoundly. God s Generosity Saint Gregory the Theologian writes, You will never overcome God s generosity, even if you give away all that you have.. And however much you bring to him, always more remains. Nor will you give anything that is your own; for all things flow from God (Or 14.22). Leave the Rest to God You cannot do everything, but you can do something. God wants you to do your best and leave the rest to him. Saint Theofan said, Exert all your strength, but rest your concern for success on God. The Lord doesn t expect any more from us than what we have to offer. But He does expect us to be faithful and that we do our very best for Him. We do our best and leave the rest to Him. P a g e 1 5

16 Sts. Peter & Paul Orthodox Church The mission of Sts. Peter and Paul is to be a beacon of Orthodox Christian spirituality in the greater Boulder area. Our diverse church family encompasses many converts to the Faith, as well as Greek, Arab, Romanian, Serbian, and Russian Orthodox members. We strive together to live our Orthodox Christian Faith by having a devoted prayer life, through fasting and almsgiving, and by participating regularly in the services and Sacraments of the Holy Orthodox Church. We welcome everyone to visit our parish to experience the ancient forms of worship that existed in the early centuries of the Christian Church - which we continue to practice unchanged today. Please take a moment to look through our website to learn more about our parish and our Faith, and if you have any questions, feel free to call Fr. Jordan at Sts. Peter & Paul Greek Orthodox Church 5640 Jay Rd. Boulder, CO 80301