Sunday Bulletin - September 8/21, 2008: 14th Sunday after Pentecost
Tone: V
Saints: Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos
Epistle: Galatians 6:11-18; II Corinthians 1:21-2:4; Philippians 2:5-11
Gospel: John 3:13-17; Matthew 22:1-14; Luke 10:38-42; 11:27-28
Sunday Hymnography: http://www.saintjonah.org/lit/lit_nattheot_sun.htm
Upcoming Services:
**Exaltation of the Cross**:
-Friday, Sept 26: 6:30pm – Vigil
-Saturday, Sept 27: 8:40am – Hours; 9:00am – Liturgy
**Next Weekend: 15th Sunday after Pentecost**
-Saturday, Sept 27: 6:30pm – Great Vespers
-Sunday, Sept 28: 9:15am – Confessions; 9:40am – Hours; 10:00am – Liturgy
Updates:
-Collection at the kissing of the Cross is for the 2009 Wall Calendars ($200.00 needed)
-Please fill out the contact forms for the fundraising mailing list and turn them in to Subdeacon Columba by Oct 5 (extra forms are on the candle desk in the Narthex)
-Please fill out the pledge forms and return them to Josh Shaw or mail them to the church by Oct 5 (extra forms are on the candle desk in the Narthex)
-Cleaning Saturday: Next Saturday at 1:00pm we will be cleaning the church, please volunteer
-Potluck Meal next Sunday after Liturgy; please bring a dish to share for the meal
-Parish Council Meeting: Next Sunday during Coffee Hour
-Office Hours for Counseling and Confessions on Saturdays at 5:00pm
-Trapeza (Coffee Hour) Rota: Sept 21 - Mancuso; Sept 28 - Potluck Meal; Oct 5 - Shaw; Oct 12 - Bursac; Oct 19 - Wilson; Oct 26 - Potluck Meal
Church Needs:
-Please remember to keep your tithes and donations to the church consistent
-Liturgical needs: large and small candles from the Unexpected Joy; Extra-virgin olive oil; Maneshevitz Grape Concord wine
-Household needs: Paper or styrofoam plates
Prayer List:
Metropolitan Hilarion & bishops of ROCOR; Archimandrite Maximos & brotherhood of Holy Cross Monastery; Archimandrite Nazarios & brotherhood of Ascension Monastery; Igumen Joachim & the brotherhood of St Mary of Egypt Monastery; Rdr. Alexei; Gregory & family in Palestine; Igor & Tatiana; Igor; Svetlana; Dusan; Quartus; Jovanka; Maximos; Martha; Subdeacon Columba & Danielle; Joshua & Helen & newly born child George; Amelia & family; Katherine & family; Nicholas; Gabriel; Tatiana; Cyril & Natalia & the child Elizabeth; Michael & Elizabeth; Soja; Galina; Olga; Apolinaria; Matushka Anastasia; Jonathan; Andrey & family; Fr Christopher & faithful in Uganda; Perpetua; Seraphim; Nicholas & family; Bosko; Methodius; Valentina; Joshua & Mary & family; Svetozar & family; Newly ordained Deacon John & family
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Notes from the Priest’s Address at the Annual Parish Meeting – September 1/14, 2008
**The Year in Review**
(These are just a few notable things.)
-Repose of Met Laurus (Fr Mark and Sbdn Columba attended funeral at Jordanville)
-Enthronement of Metropolitan Hilarion (Fr Mark and Sbdn Columba attended)
-Fr Mark’s meeting with Metropolitan Hilarion (talked about parish, a bishop’s visit, and the ordination of Sbdn Columba to the diaconate)
-New Web Site (continues to be updated)
-Ordination of Columba Wilson as Reader and Subdeacon
-Beginnings of a Building Plan
-Worked on Parish By-Laws and Incorporation (council has a better understanding of these issues)
-Developed Parish Council to function in greater accordance with Normal Parish By-Laws of ROCOR
-Established improved accounting techniques
-Grew the Building Fund
-Establishment of CD accounts
-Conducted another successful BBQ fundraiser
-Painted portions of the Nave
-Sisterhood learned how to sew liturgical fabric
-Now have 2 “expert” proshora bakers
-Simplified Coffee Hour Rota
-Hosted a visiting priest in Fr Mark’s absence
**Introduction of Parish Council and Officers**
-Fr Mark: Rector
-Subdeacon Columba Wilson: Warden
-Paul Witt: Assistant Warden
-Adrian Polit: Secretary
-Joshua Shaw: Treasurer
-Reader Antonius Baird
-Maximos Locke
**Church Growth Issues**
(Church growth is God’s business, but Evangelism is our duty. These are some tips on how we can fulfill our Christian duty.)
-Preparing for and partaking of the Eucharist as often as possible
-Regularly coming to Confession
-Coming to Liturgy every Sunday
-Making a special effort to attend the divine services of the Great Feasts (esp. the services connected to Nativity, Theophany, Holy Week and Pascha, and our parish feast)
-Saying your Morning and Evening Prayers every day (families should do this together)
-Spiritual reading every week
-Fasting according to the church calendar to the best of your ability
-Practicing the virtue of charity, especially helping those in need
-Praying for those on the parish’s prayer list (found in the Sunday Bulletin)
-Learning more about the Orthodox Faith
-Reading the Sunday Bulletin (theirs is much about the Orthodox Faith in the bulletins)
-Sharing the Orthodox Faith with others (even inviting them to church, esp. on Nativity and Pascha)
**Stewardship**
(These are some things that should be done by members of the Faithful in order to sustain the church.)
-Participating in the Sisterhood (Myrrhbearing Women) or Brotherhood (St Joseph of Arimethea)
-Donating the things mentioned in the Sunday Bulletin under the headings of “Liturgical Needs” and “Household Needs” (such as candles, olive oil, wine, plates, napkins, paper towels, cups, coffee, etc.)
-Volunteering to be on the Coffee Hour Rota
-Baking prosphora
-Participating in “Cleaning Saturdays” and other church work days
-Men: volunteering and learning how to chant the Epistle and serve in the Altar
-Volunteering to sing in the Choir and learn church music
-Helping out with Sunday School
-Visiting (and even preparing meals for) parishioners who are sick
-Working at the church BBQ and other fundraisers
-Tithing
-Donating to the Building Fund and to the special collections throughout the church year
**Goals for the New Year**
-Increase church membership
-Grow the Building Fund
-Host an Episcopal visitation
-Incorporate and acquire 501 C3 status (as a non-profit organization)
-Continue to bring the parish’s organization into line with the Normal Parish By-Laws of ROCOR
-Apply for a church grant
-Send out a Building Fund Appeal
-Continue to develop the Sisterhood
-Revive the Brotherhood
-Establish a consistent Sunday School program
-Continue with church sewing projects
-Paint sections of the church (floor, decorations, Altar)