St. Anna Greek Orthodox Church

“Now in Joppa there was a disciple whose name was Tabitha, which in Greek is Dorcas. She was devoted to good works and acts of charity. At that time she became ill and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in a room upstairs. Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, who heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him with the request, “Please come to us without delay.” So Peter got up and went with them; and when he arrived, they took him to the room upstairs. All the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing tunics and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was with them. Peter put all of them outside, and then he knelt down and prayed. He turned to the body and said, “Tabitha, get up.” Then she opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up. He gave her his hand and helped her up. Then calling the saints and widows, he showed her to be alive.” – Book of Acts 36-41

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I have cherished the above-referenced portion of Scripture for many years. Within context, it helps to paint a vivid picture of the early Church, and bears witness to the power of God as expressed through the work of the disciples. Just before Peter came to Joppa and raised Tabitha from her death bed (just after she had been ritually cleansed and prepared for burial), he had performed another miracle; healing a man who had been paralyzed for some, eight years.

To be sure, the excitement of the embryonic Church, as She began to emerge on the world scene, alter the course of history and influence countless cultures throughout the world was self-evident in size and scope. But as thousands were baptized, the saints engaged in missionary journeys, the Gospel was preached and the news of the Resurrection was spread in every known language, all of these dynamic realities came down to personal relationships. Nations were converted, but individuals were saved. The Church grew in numbers, only because each of those numbers, in reality, were people who heard the Word of God and responded to their newly-received gift of salvation.

And one of those people: mentioned in Scriptures, but lost in the masses is St. Tabitha (who actually celebrates her Feast on October 25^th). She was a woman who was continually working to serve the needs of the poor. Her mission in life was to engage in acts of charity and perform good works unto the glory of God. Scripture tells us specifically that she made clothes for the poor. By her own hands, she labored for the sake of God’s kingdom as she crafted, knitted and sewed.

We know that she was much-loved. Upon her death, her partners in kindness, her sisters in ministry, summoned the Apostle Peter, in order that he might perform a mighty miracle of resurrection. I understand this to mean that her companions recognized that there was no one on earth that could possibly serve the needs of the poor as she did. They saw her ministry as unrepeatable, and simply could not bear to have her acts of kindness cease to exist. It would seem that the Lord would agree with their plan!

St. Tabitha represents the dedication, kindness, empathy, generosity and love that can only come from the Lord. And through her person, and her God-crowned and precious soul, we have an example to lift up, and a life to emulate. There is no doubt in my heart, that the ladies of our St. Anna’s Women’s Ministry Team have channeled the actions of this great saint, and continue her legacy of service, sacrifice and most especially love.

When there is a need, we call upon the Women’s Ministry. When there is suffering or despair, we call upon the Women’s Ministry. When the tender hand of God is required to provide comfort, offer dignity, ease a pain or round and edge; we have, by God’s grace our Women’s Ministry, ready and available.

There function in the parish is not to bake or to serve. Theirs is a ministry; a ministry in the truest and fullness of any understanding of the word. They are generous with their time, their energies, their emotions and their resources.

But, as is always the case in any organizations which strives to serve the greater good, resources are never in abundance and always highly sought-after. This is where we all come into the picture. While St. Tabitha made the tunics, she needed others to assist her in funding her projects, perhaps organizing their distribution and weighing the needs. She couldn’t do it all alone. She, and all the women and widows gathered around her, needed support.

So it is with our own Women’s Ministry.

Saturday evening, October 15^th, you will have the opportunity to help them in their mission. Their Stifatho (you’ve seen it spelled differently, this is my preference) Cook Off will be held in the foyer of St. Thomas More’s Meyer Hall. A few men, myself included, will square off in the spirit of healthy competition to battle over the adoration of your taste buds. My recipe is not an ancient, family treasure, but rather the combination of what two, favorite cookbooks have to share. Please join us…

THIS IS THEIR PRIMARY FUND RAISING EVENT OF THE YEAR.

You may not like Stifatho, that’s OK, come anyway for the pilaf and the company.

You may not like onions, that’s OK, pick around them, and join the aforementioned individuals around the pilaf table.

You may not have ever even heard of this dish (a savory meat ragout served with/over rice), but be adventurous! Pretend it’s a County Fair Chili Cook Off and join the festivities. Did I mention?…

THIS IS THEIR PRIMARY FUND RAISING EVENT OF THE YEAR.

There is still plenty of space available and there will be plenty of food, wine and laughter. St. Tabitha needed supporters and sponsors. Our women are no different. Read the flyer in the Bulletin, please participate and pretty please, be generous. I believe that we are blessed with at least one “St. Tabitha’s” in our midst. Let’s not let our ladies go at it alone. I remain,

With Much Love in Christ,

Fr. Anthony

Orthodox Married Life (OML) Begins Friday, October 14, 2016 at 7:00 pm. Married and Engaged Couples, Please Join Us!

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Given the enormity of details concerning the visit of His Eminence and the preparations for the Ordination that will take place this blessed Sunday, I ask your forgiveness for not providing a proper, pastoral message this week.

I do, however ask that you pray most earnestly for the servant of God, Gregory Jerry Floor, his family, their well-being, Godly protection and salvation. May He also, and always bless his ministry. Please keep in mind a few thoughts…

There will NOT be Sunday School Classes this weekend due to the Ordination and the presence of His Eminence.

Due to the enthusiasm of your participation in our weekly Bible Study, we have moved the class to the Fellowship Hall on Wednesday evenings. We busted out of two classrooms! Now, even more of you can participate! Please join us as we study St. John’s Apocalypse, also known as
The Book of Revelation.

Support our Women’s Ministry Team with your participation in the Stifado Cook-Off next Saturday, October 15th. Our women are able to be generous to those in need if we are generous towards their efforts. Let’s be partners in bringing comfort, joy, and assistance to those in need.

Please keep in mind that our Introduction to Orthodox Spirituality Class will begin Thursday, October 20th. Please invite your friends, family members who have fallen away from the Church, and anyone you know that is interested in Christ’s One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. Let us continue to grow this parish through the natural means of Orthodox Christian evangelism and love for the Lord. Bring someone to St. Anna’s!

Well, there you have it; announcements, rather than a sermon. God is good!

With Much Love in Christ,
Fr. Anthony

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Thursday afternoon was a special time for the people of Cottonwood Heights, the state of Utah and our St. Anna Greek Orthodox Church. After twelve years of municipal incorporation, nearly three years of planning, the purchase of eight, separate, residential properties and the excitement/stress of a massive, building project, the city held the Ribbon Cutting Program for its new City Hall Building.

Our parish cannot cease to express thanksgiving and gratitude to the fine people of St. Thomas More; their clergy, leaders and parishioners who continue to embrace St. Anna’s with Christian love, support, fellowship and general enthusiasm. And really, both of our communities are blessed to be located in this beautiful city.

Several weeks ago, I was asked to give the Invocation at the Cottonwood Heights Police Department Awards Banquet. It was a lovely evening. The city reached out to our parish once again, and asked that I give the Invocation at their Ribbon Cutting Ceremony. To be sure, any time we can offer an Orthodox presence, witness the love we have for our Savior, Jesus Christ, or thankfully oblige the request of the police chief or mayor, we begin to be contributors to our surrounding area. We can be counted on for doing good things with, and for our neighbors.

Following is the prayer which was offered to the people of Cottonwood Heights on the occasion of their City Hall’s opening:

“Let us Pray to the Lord. Lord Have Mercy.

God Almighty, who made the heavens in wisdom and set the foundations of the earth firmly in place, who through our Lord, Jesus Christ, establishes us, unshaken upon the rock of faith, do You, the same Lord, the benevolent creator, the imaginative Architect, the master Builder, the generous Provider, the ultimate Sustainer of this world and the entire universe…look down and bless these grounds, this building, those whose hands shaped and formed it, those who will work here, and those who will be served here – the citizens of Cottonwood Heights, Utah.

Let the pathways that lead to this City Hall be paved with the purest of intentions to fulfill the needs of the people. Let the doorways that lead into this building be portals of humility and dignity. Let the walls of this building support the ideals of a model municipality. Let the windows of this building allow us to look upon the picturesque and formidable mountains which define our lovely city, and allow these same windows to serve as symbols of transparent practice, clear vision and honest government.

Good and gracious Lord, allow this building not to have been built upon the sand, but upon You, the ever-stable and steadfast rock. If the rains should pour, if the rivers overflow, if the snow weighs down, if the wind blows, if the earth trembles, may it never fall or be disturbed in any way. For this land was not acquired by fire or the sword, but rather through the peaceful undertakings of a city whose purpose is to serve, inspire, protect and promote. You have richly blessed, and bestowed great trust in your faithful Stewards… the mayor, council, executives, employees, officers, firefighters, citizens, community volunteers and all associated with the City of Cottonwood Heights.

This is their building. This is their legacy. This is the work of their hands.

Bless, Oh Lord, this work, for to You belong all glory…our Father who is in Heaven, Your only-begotten Son and creative Word, together with your holy and life-giving Spirit. Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.”

I gratefully crafted this prayer with the intention of imparting God’s blessing upon their efforts, hoping that those who work there will always be safe, and those who are in need of the city’s services will always be attended to with joy and humility. I also wanted the people of our city to hear how we pray. To understand the Lord’s presence in our lives, the way we do. To give Him the praise, credit, honor and glory for any accomplished task; great or small. It was also a prayer of anticipated joy.

Anticipation of what?

I truly believe, that it was no small coincidence, that in one hour I was blessing the completion of a municipal building project, then nearly the next hour, I was blessing the first steps of our own aspirations, dreams and goals. Last night, for the first time, our joint committees of Capitol Fund Raising, Long Range Planning and Real Estate came together to plot our course for the future.

By God’s grace, I believe that we will continue to grow, that the spiritual hunger of our parish will continue to rise, the pastoral needs of our people will continue to increase, and that God will demand more of us in terms of outreach, Orthodox evangelism and service to the greater community.

It is one thing to pray for the completion of a secular building (as beautiful as it is). How much more, must we pray for our own house of worship? Can we hope to sustain our vision? Can we count on continued enthusiasm? Will we acquire an even greater sense of sacrificial awareness and commitment? The answer to these questions is, of course, “yes” of we are with God, doing it for God and wishing to serve God.

Pray for our efforts. As specific plans, goals and needs arise, please get intimately involved. This blessed task will most certainly take the dedication of every one of us who are blessed to call St. Anna our Matron Saint, and who lift her up in prayer as our great Intercessor.

The Cottonwood Heights City Hall is a most spectacular building. Today we prayed for its success. Let us continue to pray for the safety of the police officers who are dispatched from there, and the firefighters who are attached to there.

Let us also pray for ourselves. Let us pray for our endeavors. Let us pray for our blessed future.

With Much Love in Christ,

Fr. Anthony