“Brethren, I appeal to you, by the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree and that there be no dissension among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. “(the Epistle for Sunday)
Dear to Christ the members of St. George,
Peace be with you.
The greatest gift that Christ can give to a community is unity. Dissension and divisions come from the devil. The Priest, the Father is the unifying person around the Lord altar. Unity happens when the people are united around their Pastor and with their Spiritual Father. In the Church of Christ there are no titles and positions of power but positions of service for the salvation of our souls and others. The Priest has spiritual powers not to dominate or control, but to bring everyone to Christ to be saved. The Canons of the Church are not punishment but medicine. That is why we should refrain from big titles and teach our children the same that titles such as “board, executive” are worldly titles and do not reflect the Church Spirit of what Jesus taught ” you call me Master and I washed your feet, you ought to wash each other feet”.
Jumbling around from one church to another. Going around every Sunday to attend different parishes are damaging to your spiritual life and to your family. Going from one Priest to another is very harmful to your salvation. If St. George is your family and community, then attend only St. George. You will grow spiritually with your family of St. George. Try to know the people and members of your community.
Why we baptize babies? Because the parents are Orthodox, members of St. George Church, committed to raise their children in the Orthodox Church at St. George, attend church regularly, partake of the sacraments including confession, married in the Orthodox Church and they support their parish of St George through time, talents and financial support. When we are baptized, we join the Orthodox Church but also our local church. We become members of our local community. We need a guarantee that the child will be raised Orthodox.
Next week we will have Paraklesis on Monday and Friday at 7 PM. The Feast of the Transfiguration will be celebrated on Wednesday August 5th with Orthros at 6:30 PM followed by the Divine Liturgy. Bring fruits specially grapes with you to be blessed.
“Taking the five loaves and the two fish He looked up to Heaven, and blessed, and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds.” The disciples gave to the people after they received from our Lord the loaves and the fish. In the Orthodox Church the blessing of God and his Gifts come to us from God through the Priest who feeds us the Manna from Heaven who is Jesus himself.
Come this Sunday and receive the Bread of Life who is our Lord Jesus Christ. Without Him we can do nothing.
Your Father in Christ and your servant who is willing to wash your feet,
Rev. Fr. Dr. George Dahdouh, Priest
~Pastor’s Message of July 31, 2020~