Saint Sophia Giving Opportunities

Christian Stewardship

A rich person is not one who has much, but one who gives much, for what we give away remains ours forever.

–St. John Chrysostom

The ministry of Saint Sophia is made possible by its faithful and generous stewards. Stewardship is much more than a noun describing our annual giving program; it is a verb describing a way of life. Christian Stewardship involves our purposeful giving back to God in gratitude for all He has given to us. God commands believers to be good managers of all of their resources and to give their "first fruits" for His work. When we give prayerfully and in proportion to our means, we grow closer to the Lord by letting go of something that has the power to enslave us spiritually: material possessions. Christian stewardship is not the same thing as "giving to a charity.” It is a spiritual discipline, like prayer and fasting. The Lord calls His followers to make good stewardship a holy habit.

Get Involved

Whoever loves little, gives little. Whoever loves more, gives more. And those who love beyond measure, what do they give? They give themselves! –St. Porphyrios

Our highest purpose in life is to love God and people. This mission naturally leads to the joyful service of others, both inside and outside the church. A great way to pursue and live out our love for God and one another is through volunteer opportunities.

I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.

–John 8:12

Upon entering an Orthodox church, it is customary to light candles, asking Christ to illumine our hearts, minds, and souls with His eternal light. We also offer prayers for our personal needs or for those of a family member or a friend. Candles are also lit as memorials to our departed relatives and friends who have fallen asleep in the hope of the resurrection. In practice, when lighting a candle in church, the faithful usually make a small financial gift. We prefer to welcome you to Saint Sophia in person, but if you cannot make in person, we will be glad to light a candle(s) for you.

Designated Gifts

Saint Sophia is very grateful for the generous gifts from many parishioners and friends who prefer to direct their gifts to a specific need of the parish. Sometimes donors have a particular area of interest they choose to support, such as building projects, special ministries, scholarships, iconography, kitchen equipment, etc. Others have offered people have graciously donated their specialized form of labor or expertise to the the church.

Legacy Society

Saint Sophia, has been greatly blessed by generous visionaries who had the foresight many decades ago to create a permanent endowment to provide supplemental income for Saint Sophia in perpetuity. The mission of the Legacy Society is to build on the foundation of prior and current generations by ensuring the permanence and progress of Saint Sophia’s ministry for generations to come. Funds received from legacy gifts will be invested in Saint Sophia’s permanent Endowment Fund unless the donor chooses to direct their gift to another parish need.

Memorial Gift

Memorial gifts are a commonly given upon someone's passing. However, you are free make a gift in memory of a deceased loved one or friend at any time. Memorial gifts are a way to support the mission of Saint Sophia and to honor the fact that faith was an important part of the life of a beloved friend or family member. May God grant your loved-one forgiveness of sins and eternal life, in a place of light, in a place of green pasture, in a place of refreshment, from where pain, sorrow, and sighing have fled away. Memory Eternal! Αἰωνία ἡ μνήμη!