The Light of Orthodoxy is not lit for a small circle of people. . .it is our obligation to share our spiritual treasures, our truth, our light, and our joy with those who do not have these gifts. This duty lies not only on pastors and missionaries, but also on lay people, for the Church of Christ, in the wise comparison of St. Paul, is a body, and in the life of the body every member takes part.
– St Tikhon the Patriarch of Moscow, and Enlightener of North America
We at St. John the Evangelist Orthodox Church strive to fulfill the words of our Lord written by St. Matthew who wrote in the Gospel, “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven” (St. Matthew 5:16). To that end, we find sage direction in the words of St. Tikhon who said in his farewell address to his people in America as he prepared to return to Russia:
Let us all bear this yoke of responsibility to use our God-given talents for His Glory. The Ministries programs can provide you with the opportunity to contribute by using your talents. Importantly, a first step in ensuring the success of each ministry outreach or activity is to commit our ministries to prayer and to seek the blessings of God and of our pastor. In this way all may be done in harmony in the Church and to the glory of our Savior Jesus Christ.
It is this Ministry Program’s goal that every member of the church body, from our children to our grandparents, finds a ministry in which to participate. In the following pages, you will find the stated objectives of each formal ministry within our parish. As you peruse this directory, seek to find those places where your talents can best be used. Then call or e-mail the ministry leader and volunteer so that your “light may shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
