St. Mina and St. Abanoub Coptic Orthodox Church

We would like to take this opportunity to ask those who did not commit themselves to any pledge for the new church or have not had the chance to contribute to the church to remember the blessings received due to offerings.  It is a golden opportunity for us to be given a chance in contributing for building the house of prayer for our Lord and Savior.  The Holy Bible and the books of the church narrate for us the great blessings received by many who contributed offerings to God.  Some examples of blessings received due to offerings are quoted below:
 

1. The woman who anointed our Lord
   When in Bethany at the House of Simon the Leper, the Lord, with His disciples, rested prior to the celebration of the Passover. There came an unknown woman full of love and honor to the Savior, offering the most expensive and precious item she possessed. The woman entered the house carrying an alabaster flask of very costly fragrant oil and she poured it on Christ’s head (Matthew 26:7). This oil was preserved by the Israelite women to be used on their wedding day. Christ accepted and blessed her offering saying: “Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.”
2. Cornelius
   Cornelius was an Italian Centurion whom St. Luke describes as a devout man and one who feared God with his entire household. He gave alms generously to the people and prayed to God always (Acts 10:1-2). The Lord blessed his almsgiving and answered his prayers and sent him an angel saying: “Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God” (Acts 10:4). Thereafter, the Lord directed St. Peter in a vision saying: “What God has cleansed you must not call common” (Acts 10:15).  When St. Peter met Cornelius said, “But God has shown me that I should not call any man common and unclean.” God’s grace descended upon the household of Cornelius and was baptized and saved and became the first of the Gentiles to confess that Christ is the Son of God and the Savior of the world. How great are the blessings of God upon His servants and children who make offerings.
3.  Muallem Ibrahim Al-Gawhary
   He was born in the eighteenth century of poor, humble and pious parents. He was known for being diligent. He mastered writing and mathematics since his early childhood. He used to transcribe the religious books and present them to Pope Yuanis XVIII (107th Pope). The Pope was pleased with his piety and zeal, drew him near to himself, and used to say to him, "May the Lord exalt your name, bless your work and preserve your remembrance forever." Ibrahim began to glitter until he became the Chief Scribe for the whole of Egypt, a post which nowadays is equivalent to that of prime minister. This position increased his humility and generosity, and all the hearts of Egyptians were attracted to him.  He had a deep love for the church. Nobody can forget his services in building monasteries, Churches and helping the poor in a way which puts him above many servants.

We need always to remember that the only instance where God allowed us to test Him is by giving tithes. It is written in the Holy Bible, “Bring all the tithes into the storehouse”, says God, “that there may be food in My house and try Me now in this”, says the Lord of Hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of Heaven and pour out for you such blessings that there will not be room enough to receive it.” (Malachi 3:10).
 
We ask our Lord and Savior to bless the service of our church and touch our hearts with true generosity as we seek to build His house of Prayer, Amen. 
 
In Christ
 
George Sorial
Secretary of the Board of Deacons