From the Chair Return to Welcome

“No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the Kingdom of God.”

These words of the Lord have punctuated many events in my life. The Lord compels us each to cultivate the land, that is our soul, always moving forward, creating an environment in which the seed of God, the divine Word can spout and take root.

The resent initiatives of STAS and the continuing activities with in the Archdiocese of Canada, is indeed a processes of putting the blade of the plow to the earth that is our country.  The enthusiastic embrace of STAS since last summer, and the presentations since STAS Sunday, are a witness by the faithful across this country, working to cultivate the rich soil surrounding the cross planted on this continent over 200 years ago by St. Herman.

But it is just the beginning.

As any farmer, or gardener knows, flowers, fruits, vegetables, do not appear over night, the next day or even week. The constant attention to watering, weeding, fertilizing etc., is needed to insure a healthy and strong plant(s). In short it takes dedication, and time, to bring forth good fruit.

Our collective work in the Archdiocese through STAS has started to till the rich earth of our country, from the rich Fraser delta, through the prairies, to the groves of Ontario, and the valleys of the Maritimes. Thus creating an opportunity for the cultivation of the faith in our lands through the preaching and witnessing of the Gospel.

Although on the surface, the hard work and labour might not appear to have addressed all the needs of our growing mission Church, I believe that they will in time provide in abundance for us, for our children and our children’s children.

For those who have contributed, I thank the Lord for your vision of an Orthodox country where Bishops can be fathers, where missions can be communities, and seminarians can be our future fathers without distraction.  May the Lord bless you all with many years!

For those who are unable to contribute at this time, I ask you to pray for us, and for the Church, asking the Lord for the abundance of His mercy and bounties, in hope of one day, contributing to the building up of the Church in Canada.

And for those new to these labours, I ask that you consider putting your hands on the plow, alongside the hands of our brothers and sisters, from across this Archdiocese, in the future hope that is a harvest of mercy and joy, through contributing to STAS.

Thank you all again for your time and contributions, May the Lord bless you.

By your prayers, and through the prayers of St. Tikhon.

Dcn. Gregory Scratch
STAS vision committee chair

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