Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Last Sunday, we welcomed His Eminence Metropolitan Constantine of Denver to celebrate the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy with a combined Metropolis Choir of over 60 people. Our parish hosted the Metropolis of Denver Church Musicians Conference and had a wonderful time doing so. The love, energy, hospitality and creative energies of our welcoming community was acknowledged by all of our visiting friends. I am so proud of, and thankful for this loving parish who always exhibits open arms. God bless you for your gracious and benevolent hearts. And first among you, I thank our dedicated St. Anna Choir for your example of sacrifice and love. You are all so lovely and our parish is blessed with your sacred ministry.
Now that this Conference is in the rear-view mirror, I wish to call your attention to another Metropolis Ministry; one that will benefit the growth and development of our spiritual wellness for generations to come. I am referring to our Metropolis of Denver Retreat Center in Golden, Colorado.
Our Metropolis recently purchased and began the herculean task of renovating and updating the facilities on 58 beautiful acres. This camp and retreat center is available now for small retreats and will be housing our Metropolis Camp Emmanuel by the summer of 2026. There is endless potential, and much has already been done (recall, our parish pledged $30,000 over three years to assist in this effort) to move the Retreat Center in the right direction. But the assistance of every parish in our Metropolis is greatly needed.
Tomorrow is the designated Camp for the Future Sunday throughout our great and expansive Metropolis. There will be brochures available tomorrow in the narthex to learn more about this vital and vibrant ministry of the Metropolis of Denver. And there will be opportunities to contribute to the Retreat Center. As you depart from the Divine Liturgy, there will be a collection basket in the foyer of the building, and there are QR Codes placed around to make direct contributions if you so desire. I personally look forward to leading retreats there and participating in summer camp on these beautiful grounds. Please, support this new and worthy effort. Ours is the last Metropolis to obtain its own retreat center. Let’s invest in the spirituality of our young people and provide them a camp that reflects our commitment to them. But also remember, this facility is not just a youth camp. It is a place for all of us to gather, to grow, to commit, and to engage.
Camp for the Future is now!
Also, please remember that tomorrow is our Fall Parish Assembly. Come with your comments and questions and be prepared to fulfil your responsibility as the governing voice of our parish. As I always remind you, the bishop is not the voice of the parish. The priest is not the voice of the parish. The parish council is not the voice of the parish. You, the collective general assembly of parishioners in good standing is the voice of the parish. We have accomplished a great deal in a very short amount of time. Now, to the glory of God, we will continue down a path of service, witness, worship and fellowship. God bless you and keep you in His mercy. I remain,
With Much Love in XC,
Fr. Anthony Savas
Protopresbyter