One of the first questions a new person who comes to Church asks is: "What does it mean, and how do I become a member?" The prompt answer to this question is: "Believe and be baptized" (Acts 2:38). Our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, our Baptism in the name of the Holy Trinity, the seal of the Gift of the Holy Spirit through which we are marked by the anointing with Holy Chrism—this is how we become members of the Church. Most of us were baptized in the Orthodox Church as infants, through the faith of our parents and godparents, our spiritual parents. Some, for various reasons, were not baptized as children. This was the case in the early Church when adult baptism was very common, and it is becoming increasingly common today.

The first sign of our contribution is participation in the Divine Liturgy and Communion with the Body and Blood of Christ. Since the beginning of Christianity, members of the Body of Christ gathered every Sunday to participate in the Divine Liturgy. Many of us take this for granted. But in places where the Church was and still is persecuted, this simple act could bring danger or even death. In America, even though we are free to choose and practice religion, many of us feel the pressures and obligations society places on us, which could hinder us from going to Church. We must remember that participating in the Divine Liturgy is a powerful testimony of our faith to those around us.

The Church carries with it serious responsibilities. God offers us this great grace, and we must respond to this calling in various ways. We maintain our connection with God through regular prayer and the Holy Sacraments. We nourish our spirit by reading the Holy Scriptures and other spiritual readings. We strengthen our character by loving those around us, including our enemies. We show ourselves to be faithful children of the Heavenly Father by helping those in need and sharing with others what God has blessed us with. In short, we must keep in our hearts the words of the Lord who said: "You are the light of the world... Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:14–16)
 

At the center of our life in Christ is the Church itself. The Church is not just a simple organization within society but a divine-human institution. As a divine institution, the Church is God’s gift to the world. In and through the Church, we are nourished as Christians. As a human institution, the Church has been preserved by the faithful for over two thousand years. It is now our responsibility to preserve and strengthen this treasure for ourselves and for future generations. One way we do this is by supporting the work of the Church. We also do this by voluntarily offering our time, talents, and financial gifts. All of these are important. Each person gives as they are able, according to their means.

 

We pray that the Good and Loving God continues to look after and care for the vineyard that His right hand has planted. (Psalm 80:14–15)
 

The Romanian Orthodox Church “The Life-Giving Fountain” needs people to serve on the Parish Council and other committees, to teach Sunday School, to prepare food for fundraising events—these are just a few of the needs of a newly established parish.

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In the United States, churches have the status of non-profit organizations and are funded solely by parish members, receiving no funds from the state or the Archdiocese. Therefore, the members themselves have the duty to cover the parish’s operating expenses, and any additional income goes into the church’s maintenance fund.

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Some members can contribute more, others less. "Let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity" (2 Corinthians 9:7). For the proper functioning of any parish, there must be a budget on which various activities (spiritual, philanthropic, cultural) can be carried out. For this reason, we have created a form entitled "Membership Form" through which each person expresses their desire to contribute financially each year.​ The Membership Form is available in the Church and online on our Church’s website. We encourage the completion of this form so that we can better assess the financial situation of our Church.

 

Often, the Church’s financial needs exceed the estimated funds from these membership forms. This is why various activities (banquets or festivals) are organized to supplement these funds.

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Checks should be made payable to: “The Life-Giving Fountain Romanian Orthodox Church.” If you are mailing a check, please use the following address: 132 Califon Rd., Long Valley, New Jersey.

 

Thank you!

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