How much Does Holy Communion for children cost in the Orthodox Church?
We welcome a new contributor to our blog, Fr. Methodius Jm Kariuki, director of the St. Barnabas Orphanage and School in South Kinangop, Kenya.
Most
people do not realize there is a financial expense associated with
serving Divine Liturgy. There are candles on the altar. There is flour
and yeast needed to make the bread for prosphora and communion. Wine is
needed for the chalice. Many churches purchase their own supplies, but
more churches accept donations from the people.
God gives us fruit of the vine for wine, wheat for bread and bees who make wax for candles. As an offering of thanks to Him, people bring wine, flour and yeast to the church as a donation so it is used for communion. He provides for us. We bring first fruits to Him in thanks. And our Loving God takes our small offerings, consecrates it and gives it back to us as His Divine and Holy Body and Blood in the Holy Eucharist.
The majority of the people who attend our Divine Liturgy are young children, unable to bring those first fruits. How then do we manage?
A dear friend has offered to donate the necessary funds so I can purchase wine, flour, yeast and candles. Papadhia Everlyne makes the bread, which I use for proskemedia and the Holy Eucharist. Without this person’s generosity, what would we do? God provided. God always provides. And we thank Him for sending this dear friend to help in this most holy way.
We thank Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ for you also, dear Ones. We count on your prayers for St. Barnabas Orphanage and Education Center.
Like
our dear friend who gives out of her love for God, we hope and trust
God that you will do the same with on-going donations to help us buy
food, clothes and educational supplies for the orphans through our
website donations link orthodoxmissionkenya.org/
Note; Orthodox Africa is helping build St. John Maximovitch Secondary School to provide continued education for the upper grades. Any long-term donations for building the secondary school are going towards that project through Orthodox Africa (orthodoxafrica.org)
God bless you all.
In Christ Service
Fr Methodius JM Kariuki