Mother of God Joy of All Who Sorrow is a community of believers called into unity by the Holy Trinity to become saints; to be the “Body of Christ” and to manifest the Kingdom of God here and now. We are a local parish of the Orthodox Church in America; which by virtue of the Holy Spirit and by continuing in the teaching and experience of the Apostles is a visible and historical continuation of the early Church of Christ.
“Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son” (2 John 1:9).
St Paul refers to the Church as the “Body of Christ” (1 Cor. 12:27) thereby, revealing its very nature. The Church is not just another human institution. Nor is it simply a collection of people who believe in Jesus. The Church, by virtue of the gift of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost Sunday, forever remains to be the very presence of Christ. As Church, we are called to fulfill the sacred mission to manifest Christ!
Jesus Christ is the savior of the world! Thus, the Orthodox Church is dedicated to the purpose of salvation; that all people may be saved through personal communion with the Father, made possible through His Son Jesus Christ and in His Holy Spirit.
“For so the Lord has commanded us: I have set you as a light to the Gentiles that you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth” (Acts 13:47).
By God’s grace and in the power of the Holy Spirit, our Church community seeks to live in accordance with God’s Will; to manifest the fullness of the Gospel; to be faithful to the Tradition of the Holy Orthodox Church; to worship in Spirit and Truth; and to be to the world a source of life, light and hope by revealing Christ’s way of sanctification and eternal salvation to all!
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:19-20).
Jesus told His disciples to go out into the world and to preach the Gospel, and to baptize… In obedience to our Lord, our Church community continues to make God know through the ministry of
Preaching the Gospel and the administration of the Sacraments. Together with the ministries of Spirit filled
Fellowship and
Diakonia (service to others), our community stands on the four ministerial pillars of the New Testament Church.
The writer of Proverbs wrote, “Where there is no vision, the people perish” (29:18). Thus, the importance of vision! The concept of vision asks the fundamental question: What is God calling us to become? This question is not static, but dynamic. That is to say, we continually ask ourselves this question because God is constantly calling us to an ever-deepening relationship and existence in Him. Our parish community plans to revisit this question, and process of discernment, regularly in order to remain faithful to God’s call.
Vision is something that is not just taught, it must be caught! Vision is a mental picture of the future, which finds its realization in the hands of those who “own” it. The actualization of a Church vision is a synergistic reality that involves us and God. A Godly vision must find its origin in God, be inspired by God and be accomplished by God’s grace. However vision also involves our personal decision, effort and dedication. It is our desire, that the Mother of God Orthodox Church vision become your vision; something you “own” and are passionate about. In essence, our vision for a Christ centered Church community must become incarnate in you and me.
“The Church is one and the same with the Lord – His Body, of His flesh and of His bones. The Church is one living vine, nourished by Him and growing in Him. Never think of the Church apart from the Lord Jesus Christ, from the Father and the Holy Spirit.” (Father John of Kronstadt)
SCRIPTURE & TRADITION - We believe that God has called us to be steadfast in the Apostles Doctrine. Acts 2:42
Goal: To develop an Orthodox Biblical World View in all of our people. 1 Peter 2:9
FELLOWSHIP - We believe that God has called us to be steadfast in Christian Fellowship. Acts 2:42
Goal: To provide an understanding and overall experience of Koinonia - Fellowship in the Spirit.
WORSHIP - We believe that God has called us to be steadfast in the “breaking of bread” (Eucharistic Celebration). Acts 2:42, John 6:54
Goal: To develop a Eucharistic perspective and worship experience grounded in the Spirit, Truth and beauty of our Lord - called to live out our baptismal promise.
PRAYER - We believe that God has called us to be steadfast in Prayer. Acts 2:42
Goal: To be a Church that is characterized by prayer - filled with God’s Spirit, Love, Truth and Life.
DIAKONIA - We believe that God has called us to serve the needs of others revealing to the world His love for us and our witness to His eternal Kingdom here and now. Matt 25:35, Acts 2:44
Goal: To encourage our people to be selfless; to serve God by using our gifts for His glory and to seek to meet the needs of our neighbor. Diakonia: Lit. Service to others. Matt 25:31-46
EVANGELISM - We believe that God has called us to build up His Church through evangelism and discipleship - that the gates of Hades shall not prevail. Acts 2:47, Matt 28:19, Matt 16:18
Goal: To be the holy people God has called us to be and to make that reality known to others in an appropriate and Godly manner.
SACREDNESS OF LIFE – We believe that God created us in His image and likeness. Life therefore, is of inestimable worth and significance in all its dimensions, including the preborn, the aged, the mentally disabled, those deemed unattractive, the physically challenged, and every other condition in which humanness is expressed from the single cell stage of development to natural death. Christians are therefore called to defend, protect, and value all human life.
Goal: To teach an Orthodox Christian view of Anthropology that respects life from the womb to the grave.