A Call for Service St. Mary & St. Mina Coptic Orthodox Church Youth Meeting

What is Christian service The essence of service is a heart full of love toward God – a heart who tasted how good the Lord is, and would like to inform everyone about this The essence of service is a heart full of love toward God – a heart who tasted how good the Lord is, and would like to inform everyone about this Service is not bound to a specific place or time. Instead, it works everywhere at all times Service is not bound to a specific place or time. Instead, it works everywhere at all times The bible teaches us that “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35) The bible teaches us that “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35)

What is Christian Service True joy comes from sharing what I have with others – not keeping what I have for myself True joy comes from sharing what I have with others – not keeping what I have for myself When the heart is on fire with the love of God, that heart cannot stop to tell people about what he has within him When the heart is on fire with the love of God, that heart cannot stop to tell people about what he has within him

What is Christian Service 31 “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy [a] angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. 33 And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 31 “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy [a] angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. 33 And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:a

What is Christian Service 35 for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ 37 “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ 35 for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ 37 “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’

What is Christian Service True service does not pay attention to challenges and difficulties True service does not pay attention to challenges and difficulties “ 22 And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, 23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. 24 But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, [a] so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” “ 22 And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, 23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. 24 But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, [a] so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.”a

The blessings of service A servant is calling people to get reconciled with God A servant is calling people to get reconciled with God A servant is a fellow worker with God A servant is a fellow worker with God –“ 9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building.” (1 Cor 3:9) In service, we become like Christ who came to serve not to be served In service, we become like Christ who came to serve not to be served

The blessings of Service 26 If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.” (John 12:26) 26 If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.” (John 12:26)

Who is called for service ? We all are !!! Our Lord Jesus Christ said We all are !!! Our Lord Jesus Christ said –“ 37 Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. 38 Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” (Matt 9:37-38) We are all called to imitate Christ, and Christ came to serve, not to be served We are all called to imitate Christ, and Christ came to serve, not to be served

Who is called for service The greatest of all Christians virtues is charity or love, and service is the way to express such love The greatest of all Christians virtues is charity or love, and service is the way to express such love God bestowed on each one of us certain gifts and skills, and His intention is for us to use these skills to serve others God bestowed on each one of us certain gifts and skills, and His intention is for us to use these skills to serve others

Who is called for service “There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: “ (1 Corinthians 12: 4-8) “There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: “ (1 Corinthians 12: 4-8)

Who is a servant ? A person who has experienced the beauty of the Lord and the joy of the Christian life, and wants everyone else to share in his/her joy A person who has experienced the beauty of the Lord and the joy of the Christian life, and wants everyone else to share in his/her joy A person who LOVES God, and through God loves everyone else A person who LOVES God, and through God loves everyone else A person who is full of holy zeal, and cannot sleep until he has found a place for the Lord in the hearts of the people A person who is full of holy zeal, and cannot sleep until he has found a place for the Lord in the hearts of the people

Who is a servant? A person who wants to make his Heavenly father happy ! A person who wants to make his Heavenly father happy ! A person who feels responsibility toward the salvation of people around him/her A person who feels responsibility toward the salvation of people around him/her

Sources of Strength in Service Prayer Prayer –The power of prayer in the life of the church in modern times Faith and trust in the Lord Faith and trust in the Lord –The example of St. Mark Love Love –“ 16 By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. (1 John 3:16)

Examples of Service Three Ideas: Three Ideas: –Magazine –Campus Ministry –FTFT

Magazine Title and logo Title and logo Topics Topics Graphical Design Graphical Design

UB Campus Ministry Serve Coptic students Serve Coptic students Raise awareness Raise awareness Work with other fellow Christian organizations Work with other fellow Christian organizations Bible study and prayer meetings Bible study and prayer meetings Lectures, exhibits, trips, sports, Lectures, exhibits, trips, sports, Liturgies on UB campus Liturgies on UB campus

FTFT John Shenouda and David Ayad John Shenouda and David Ayad Examples of service Examples of service –Visitations of sick and elderly –Service of the poor and neglected How can we get organized? How can we get organized?