“You are no longer strangers but citizens with God’s people, members of God’s holy family, and residents of His household; built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone that holds all the parts together. We see it taking shape day after day—a holy temple built by God, all of us built into it, a temple in which God is quite at home.”
Ephesians 2:20

To our dear St. Stephen’s Family,

For nearly 70 years, St. Stephen’s Armenian Apostolic Church of Greater Boston has been the bedrock of our community, serving as the spiritual and cultural home to thousands. It is a place of prayer, comfort, community and for many, like a second home.

Like our own homes, it requires constant care and maintenance. Every year we are faced with multiple and often expensive repairs that require prioritization – and are sometimes delayed – because of the lack of necessary funding. 

So today we turn to you for help – our faithful parishioners and friends, who love and enjoy the services, schools, bazaars, picnics and other programs delivered on the grounds of our Church – to support their sustainability through the necessary maintenance of our buildings.

Examples of projects requiring support include:

1. Parish House and Church Office – Preparation of the Parish House for our new Pastor as his living quarters, as well as our Parish Office, require extensive work to include plumbing, electrical, appliances and furniture. Our Parish House is over a century old, and was fully relocated from Artsakh Street to Elton Avenue during Church construction in 1956. It has served us well but is also in need of much maintenance. Estimated investment: $40,000.
   
2. Repair of Church Stairs – We have been blessed with a donation of $55,000 to repair and rebuild the front steps of the Church, which has been leaking water into the Church Hall.  We are still in need of additional funds to replace the heating systems beneath them that melt snow and ice in the winter months for the safety of our parishioners. Estimated investment: $30,000.
3. 3. Kitchen – Anyone who has attended an event in our Church Hall knows our kitchen is a work horse. The industrial dishwasher is leaking, and its lifespan is nearing its end.  Replacement of the unit, in addition to other necessary improvements, are critical to support our continuing social and cultural programs. Estimated investment: $30,000.
   
4. Church Heating & Cooling System – The Church air conditioning system, which is nearing 50 years old, has broken down.  Replacement of the system and upgrading it to pair with the Church’s heating system will bring both to current standards of energy efficiency which will also save hundreds annually on utility bills. Estimated investment: $100,000.
   
   Our Church is a not-for-profit organization whose operations are supported solely by donations, events and our endowment fund, from which we withdraw $100,000 annually simply to break even. Drawing more from our endowment fund would negatively impact on the Fund’s ability to provide continued support to the Church annually. Our goal is to raise $200,000 to cover all the work described.
   
   We know it is a lofty goal, but with your generosity and support we feel confident it is achievable.  Every project directly benefits you, our parishioners and friends.
   
   We all have a role to play in keeping our Church active and sustainable well in the coming years.

How You Can Help

There are many ways you can give:

• Cash or check. (or donate online by clicking here.)
• There are also tax efficient ways* to donate,
  such as:
  • Appreciated stock or mutual funds from your taxable account**
  • Up to $108,000 annually as a Qualified Charitable Distribution***

Our beloved Church has served as our spiritual home for nearly 70 years, bearing witness to our family Weddings, Baptisms and Funerals. With your generous support, it will continue to serve as a foundation and beacon for all, for generations to come.

With our sincere gratitude,

St. Stephen’s Armenian Apostolic Church Board of Trustees

Two cents: A Spiritual and Etymological Reflection

Dear Faithful,

An interesting fact about the English language is that many of its expressions have a Biblical root, even though they are used more often than not without that prior knowledge. One such expression is “my two cents,” a way to give a humble opinion in a conversation. It derives from the story of The Widow’s Offering that is found in the gospels of Mark (12) and Luke (21):

 “Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts.  But a poor widow came and put in two very
 small copper coins, worth only a few cents. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, ‘Truly I tell you, this poor
 widow has put more into the treasury than all the others.  They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything — all she had to live on.’”

The story’s intention, of course, is not to discourage generous and wealthy donors. Jesus encourages those who have been blessed with much to give generously: “Who then is the faithful and wise manager…whom the master finds doing well when he returns. Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions…From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much
more will be asked” (Luke 12). Our church has known many such donors. Very recently we were able to renovate our cupola and our altar, as well as many other urgent needs, thanks to the generosity of our dedicated members.

Rather, the lesson behind the story is to encourage everyone, whether they have very little or a lot, that their “every 2 cents,” no matter how humble, goes a long way.

And so dear friends, on behalf of our Board of Trustees, who have been entrusted and elected by you to care for our Church, and on behalf of every member, as well as every individual who sets foot in Soorp Stepanos, I would like to thank you for everything you’ve done in the past to support our home, whether it be a financial donation, volunteer work, prayers in support, and your love and dedication.

And in closing, I would like to encourage you to give according to your ability, so that together we may reach this goal.

Blessings to you and your loved ones.

Prayerfully,

Your Pastor
Hayr Hrant Tahanian