“Faith, hope, and love abide; but the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:13
Saint Paul tells us in his first letter to the Corinthians that faith, hope, and love abide; these three endure amidst all kinds of adversity and trials. But why is love the greatest? Faith is our unwavering commitment to Christ, our belief that He is almighty God who has chosen us and loved us. Hope is like the propeller we need to get through storms and stay focused on Christ and ignore the stormy waves around us. But love, we are told, is the greatest. Why? Because love is inseparable from action; love is inseparable from giving; love is something that is shared with another person.
The love that Saint Paul describes in his letter to the Christians at Corinth is an expression of stewardship. Love and stewardship are inseparable when we consider God’s blessings in our lives and the way we use these gifts with love and compassion for others and to honor, worship, and give thanks to God.
We come to you now, inviting you to be a lover, a supporter, a steward of Christ’s Church. Giving to His Church is a way to thank God for His grace and generosity. The question is not, “What are the dues, or what is the minimum?” but “How can I thank God for my many blessings?”
Before completing the enclosed Commitment Card and Information Form, please give prayerful consideration to the commitment you are making. A check mailed to the church is most meaningful when accompanied by your presence and by your prayers.
This past year we were challenged to transform our ministry programs in the areas of our parish life: the services have been live-streamed, our women’s prayer group and bible study meet via video conference. In the coming year, we expect to launch and continue the following ministry initiatives: live streaming of services; virtual Bible Study open to all parishioners; a new, informative website; small discussion groups; socially distanced youth ministries; and safe outreach to the isolated and distanced of our community.
Likewise, we are trying to improve our outreach this year by expanding our email base within our community. Please use this opportunity to provide your contact information as well as that of family members and children, especially for our Sunday School ministry.
Your involvement in our community is critical for the health of our parish family. We hope you will join us at St. Philip to offer and receive all that you can. Your financial contribution is not a substitute for commitment – it is an expression of your commitment and an expression of thanks for the many blessings in your life.
God has prepared a place for you in the Church, and we anxiously await your presence with us. With this in mind and in appreciation of all the ways you give to our community, we invite you to our annual Stewardship Sunday on Sunday, Dec. 20th. Please come with your 2020 Commitment Card filled out completely and sealed in the enclosed envelope, so that we can all offer our collective commitments in prayerful unison at the end of Divine Liturgy.
