January 2004
Glad Tidings
September 2004
Glad Tidings
Page 3
Persons who pledge and give
131
Persons who give but don't pledge
97
Persons who fill out pledge cards but do not give
14
Persons who do not pledge or give
33
Total Members
275
Number
Over Budget
Over Budget
of
July
July
or
Year-to-Date
Year-to-Date
or
Year
Contributors
Actual
Budget
(Under Budget)
Actual
Budget
(Under Budget)
2004
228
$ 8,381.00
$15,206.58
$ (6,825.58)
$95,949.19
$106,446.06
$ (10,496.87)
2003
221
9,499.67
14,713.00
(5,213.33)
88,274.20
102,991.00
(14,716.80)
Church Fathers Speak
Blessed is the one who loves
good and fair words and
hates base and destructive
speech, because he will not
become a prisoner of the Evil
One.
—St. Ephraim the Syrian
Stewardship
H
is Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America, in his encyclical marking the beginning of
the New Ecclesiastical year, wrote: “‘Whatever a man sows that he will also
reap’ (Galatians 6:7). Yet the task of sowing and reaping is a work that moves beyond the
scope of the personal. Within parishes, the task of sowing seeds of growth takes on a communal and
social dimension. More than a physical setting, the parish is a space of sacred communication and
unity, defined by the intersection of the person, family, and community into a single body of worship
and ministry.
The parish is foremost a spiritual entity, a microcosm of the entirety of the Church, the Body of
Christ. It is in the parish where we grow as persons and families through corporate prayer and
worship. The beginning of the Ecclesiastical New Year accords our communities the opportunity to
grow in new, challenging, and ever-expanding directions.” By these [spiritual and physical] labors,
we may be assured of an abundant harvest of spiritual fruit, rightfully honoring God’s creation, and
we may rest securely in the knowledge that “he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.” (2
Corinthians 9:6)
As Jesus washed the feet of His disciples, He calls us to serve others by empowering, augmenting and
sharing the ancient truths of our Faith in modern times through the ministries of our Church.
Page 4
Glad Tidings
September 2004
Parish Council Minutes (DRAFT)
August 12th, 2004
St. George Greek
Orthodox Church
St. Paul, Minnesota
(Input not yet corrected
and approved)
1. Secretary's Reports
•
The June and July minutes were accepted with edits.
2. Treasurer's Report was accepted.
•
Year-to-date (through July 31) income is below budget by
$16,646.70.
•
Year-to-date expenses are below budget by $4,342.20.
•
Given that income and expenses are both below budget, the year-
to-date deficit is $12,304.50.
3. President's Report was accepted.
•
It was noted that we have more than $20,000 in proceeds from
the Art Auctions, and that this money is earmarked for Youth
Ministries.
4. Father Rick's Report
•
Vacation Church School was held the first week in August, from
9 AM to Noon all week. More than 35 children participated, and
it was an excellent program. The Father thanked all the
volunteers who participated. Denise Smith did an excellent job
of planning and organizing this year's program.
•
The 37th Biennial Clergy-Laity Congress was held in July in
New York City. Father shared
some words from Archbishop
Demetrios, and talked about the educational opportunities and
Committee work that was done at the Congress. Copies of the
new Charter of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
were passed out. The Charter is available on-line at the
Archdiocese website. (Web address: http://www.goarch.org/en/
archdiocese/documents/)
•
Our annual Church picnic is Septmeber 12th, and overlaps with
St. Mary's Festival this year.
•
Our Annual "Golf Outing" is Sunday September 19th.
•
Three resumes for the Youth Director position have been
received to date. No suitable candidates have been identified
yet.
•
The Parish Council should encourage greater commitment and
participation in the church's Family and Youth programs.
5. Standing Committee Reports
Building and Grounds
•
Two bids to repair the roofs of the church, kitchen, social hall,
and entry have been received, and a third is pending.
•
A recommendation for fixing the roof will be presented at the
Parish Council meeting in September.
•
The air conditioner needs to be fixed. An amended motion was
made to have Father contact DC Sales
and Quality Refrigeration
to ascertain what needs to be fixed, and to authorize the
expenditure to fix the air conditioner. The motion was seconded
and the motion passed.
Stewardship Committee
•
It was reported that to date $33,621.00 has been contributed and
pledged. We need to raise an additional $16,379.00 before the
end of August to get the full $50,000 of the matching challenge.
•
Pendy encouraged the eight Parish Council members who have
not yet pledged to contribute, and related that he has solicited
another 18 parishioners who are believed to be good prospects to
pledge.
Greek Festival
•
The Festival plans are proceeding actively, and very well.
By-Laws Committee
•
The Committee had its first meeting on July 15th. Issues were
identified and discussed.
•
We have also learned that the
Archdiocese is amending the
current UPR, and that we expect that the Archdiocese UPR
(Uniform Parish Regulations) will be final in two or three
months.
•
Since our revised By-Laws will be consistent with the new,
revised UPR, the Committee cannot complete its work until the
revised UPR is published and final.
Clergy-Laity Update
•
A report was distributed of the 37th Clergy-Laity Congress. A
summary of the Congress will be presented at the next Parish
Assembly.
Website Committee
•
The Committee is using the new "Web Builder" tool that was
provided by the Archdiocese.
OLD BUSINESS
•
The final financial report of the 2004 Festival of Nations was
distributed. Net profit from this year's Festival of Nations was
$13,758.80.
FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER
•
This year's Art Auction is on October 16th at the Macalister
College Ballroom. The purpose of the event is to sell art, which
generates funds for our Youth Ministries.
•
A letter from the University of St. Thomas outlining a training
program, from The Institute for Ministry Leaders "Bringing
Your Vision to Reality." Attendance in the program by any
Parish Council member who is interested was recommended.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:10 PM with The Lord's Prayer.