Dear Parishioners of our Beloved Assumption,
Have you ever stopped to think about how much can change in just one year?
One year ago, we were standing on the site of our old Fellowship Hall, watching its demolition begin. It was exciting, but also a little strange. We were tearing down something that had served our parish faithfully for many years, trusting that God was leading us toward something new.
Today, just one year later, Phase One of our new Fellowship Hall is nearly complete. But the building is only part of the story.
One year ago, we had three Sunday School classes. Today, we have four, with more children and more teachers. Approximately eighteen people have been received into the Orthodox Faith, with another eight currently in Catechism. Our Sunday attendance has grown to the point that we now need two chalices. And every week, we continue to meet new people who are inquiring about the Orthodox Faith and looking for a place to call home.
When we stop and take all of this in, it is truly remarkable.
Yet St. Paul reminds us where the credit belongs: “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.” (1 Corinthians 3:6)
We have planted. We have watered. We have prayed, taught, served, sacrificed, welcomed, and worked. So many of you have given your time, your talents, your resources, and your love to this parish. Much of that work happens quietly, often without anyone noticing. But God sees it all. And ultimately, it is God who gives the increase.
That is something worth remembering. Our growth is not simply about bigger numbers, a fuller church, or a new building. It is about people finding their way to Christ. It is about children learning their faith. It is about families growing together in the life of the Church. It is about people discovering the beauty and fullness of the Orthodox Faith and finding a spiritual home here at Assumption.
And with growth comes responsibility. The more God entrusts to us, the more faithfully we are called to serve. A growing parish means more people to welcome, more children to teach, more souls to encourage, and more opportunities to show the love of Christ to those who walk through our doors.
One year ago, we could see the beginning of something new. Today, we can see much more clearly what God has been doing among us.
So let us give thanks—and then get back to work.
There is still much to build, much to teach, much to serve, and many more people to welcome. May we continue to plant and water faithfully, not becoming distracted by what has already been accomplished, but looking forward with faith to what God will do next.
Praying that God continues to bless our beloved Assumption family, I remain,
In His Service,
Fr. Jon
