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Jesus Washes the Disciples’ Feet
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SERVICE

Whoever gives a hand to help his neighbor is helped by God’s own hand. – St. Isaac the Syrian

We are called to a life of service as Christians—serving our family, our neighbor, and the world that God has entrusted to us. In service, we use our time, talents, and treasures to give glory to our Lord. Our hands are the hands of Christ, and we must reach out and help those in need, beginning in our homes and communities and extending worldwide. Consider the example of Christ’s humility when he washed the feet of the disciples, an amazing lesson for how we view service to humanity. We are to aid EVERYONE, regardless of ethnicity, race, age, or social status.

Ways to build on service

  • Take an inventory of the different talents and gifts with which God has blessed your family. Consider how best you can use these blessings for His glory thereby strengthening the Orthodox Church.

  • Consider taking on a long-term project—serving at a soup kitchen monthly or giving a certain amount of your income to support some effort of Orthodox charity (that is above and beyond your stewardship responsibility to the Church). Get every family member involved in these projects maximizing each person’s abilities.

  • Consider ways you can serve others on a daily basis—cleaning up dishes after dinner or making cookies for the local firehouse to say thank you for all they do. These are small, but thoughtful gestures that show great appreciation.

Resources

  • International Orthodox Christian Charities–Learn what the Orthodox community is doing to assist those in need throughout the world and how you can help.

  • Department of Stewardship Ministry– Learn more about what it means to be a steward of the faith and why it is important.

  • Orthodox Youth Outreach– Orthodox Youth Outreach is a ministry of the Antiochian Archdiocese. It has been developed to provide local parishes with the resources necessary to involve junior and senior high students in local community service and short-term mission projects.

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