SaintBarbaraGreekOrthodoxChurch—Stewardship2013

Ifnotyou...

WHO?

Ifnotnow...

WHEN?

SettingOurPriorities

Thereisasessionstarterthatisusedtobeginretreatsorseminarswheretheparticipantsareaskedtoformalistofthetenrelationshipsthataremostimportanttothem.Eachparticipantreactsdifferentlytothisrequestastheybegintoformulatetheirlist.Someworrythattheywillnotbeabletoproducealistoften,othersinsistthatitwillbedifficultforthemtolimitthelisttojustten.Sotheybeginbylisting:Parents,Friends,Brother,Sister,Teacher,Co-worker….HopefullyGodhasalsomadethelist–althoughmanytimesHeisnotinthetopfour!Thinkaboutthis,isthisyou?

InthetenthchapteroftheGospelAccordingtoMatthew,Jesuscallsour

attentiontothis“list”bypresentinguswiththefollowingstatement:“whoeverconfessesMebeforemen,himIwillalsoconfessbeforeMyFatherwhoisinheaven.ButwhoeverdeniesMebeforemen,himIwillalsodenybeforeMyFatherwhoisinheaven.HewholovesfatherormothermorethanMeisnotworthyofMe.AndhewholovessonordaughtermorethanMeisnotworthyofMe.AndhewhodoesnottakehiscrossandfollowafterMeisnotworthyofMe.”(Matthew10:32–33;37-38)

Throughthesestatements,Jesusisguidingustotakeamorein-depthlookatourlistandtoseewherewehaveplacedourrelationshipwithGod.IfwetrulybelieveinHim,thenGodneedstobefirstonourlist.Heisourtoppriority,today,tomorrow,forever.

Still,therearemanywhowillstatethatitisdifficulttoputGodaheadofourspouse,ourparents,orevenourchildren.WhydoesGodneedtobefirstanyway?WhyisHemakingusquestionourpriorities?Theanswertothesequestionsaresimpleandquiteunique:

ChristremindsusthatifweloveHimfirst,ifweplaceGodfirstinorderofpriority–thenourexperienceinthisworldwillbeintensified.ChristremindsusthatourloveforGodwillbeovershadowedbyGod’sloveforusanditisthroughGod’soverwhelmingloveandforgivenessthatwehavetheabilitytobeHischildrenandfollowHisexample.

OurPersonalCallToAction

Recently,therewasameetingthattookplaceatourparishaboutafairlyseriousissue.Afterdiscussingtheissue,everyoneagreedthatsomeoneneededtodosomethingaboutit.Aweekwentbyandsomeonehadn’tdoneanything. Sopeoplestartedtobecomefrustratedthatsomeonehadn’tdonesomething.“Whyisn’tsomeonedoingwhatthey’resupposedtodo?”,theybegantosay.

Othersthenstartedtolookaroundandstartedtowonderwhysomeonewasn’torganizingagrouporministryattheChurch.Whysomeonehadn’tsetthingsupproperlyandthenbrokenthemdown;whysomeonehadtimetodothisandnotthat;whysomeonedidn’tunderstandwhatwasreallyimportanttodoaroundhere.

Bynow,weallhavestartedtocometotherealizationthatthere’sneverbeenanyonenamed“Someone”. Infact,thegeneralized“Someone”isactuallytheindividualized“everyone”ofus! Andifwewantsomethingtogetdonethenwecan’tleaveitfor“someone”todo,becausethere’snosuchperson.

Soanychange,anydifference,anyministryoranyfutureinthiscommunitybeginswitheachandeveryoneofus,youngandold,doingourpartandworkingtogether!

HaveYouNoticed?

•TheincreasingnumberoffaithfulattendingourLiturgicalServices

•ThenumberofactivitiesofferedthatencourageourSpiritualGrowth

•Thenumberofeventsforallagesthatseektoadvancecommunityfellowship

•Theimpressivegrowthandexpansionofourparishministries

•TheincreasednumberofchildreninourSundaySchool

•Themanytalentedparishionerswhovolunteertoteachourchildreninour

SundaySchoolandGreekLanguageSchoolprograms

•ThenumberofactivitiesavailableforouryoungestChurchmembers

•ThegrowthandevolutionofourGOYA(teen)ministryprogram

•Theopportunitiesthataremadeavailabletolearnmoreaboutourheritage

•ThequalityofourafternoonGreekLanguageSchoolProgram

•TheincreasednumberofeventsfortheYoungAdultsofourParish

•ThenumberofAltarBoysassistingthepriestsintheAltar

•ThreeofourparishionersarecurrentlystudyingatHolyCrossTheologicalSchoolinBrookline,MA

•ThewonderfulandactiveGoldenYearsMinistryofourparish

•TheincredibletalentofourvolunteerChoirMembersandChanters

•ThecohesivenessofourparishionersasweworktogetherforourOdysseyFestival

•TheinvolvementofouroutreachministriesintheGreaterNewHavenArea

• Howourparishcontinuestobeinvolvedinlocalandglobalphilanthropicinitiatives

•TheoutreachexpanseofourladiesPhiloptochosSociety

•ThecommunityinvolvementofourAHEPAChapter

• HowintegralourinspiringSaintBarbaraSummerCampministryhasbecome

•Thatourparishhasexpandedourrecyclingprogram

•Thegrowthanddevelopmentofourwebsite

•ThatourwebsiteattractsvisitorsfromdozensofcountrieswhowanttolearnaboutourOrthodoxFaith

•Thatourcollegestudents,infirm,andthehomeboundviewourchurchservices“liveandon-demand”

onourwebsite

•ThatwenowoffermusiclessonsthroughtheSuzukiSchoolofMusic

•ThecompletedHolyTrinityChapelandhowwehaveintegrateditintotheLiturgicalCycleofourparish

•TheintegrationofourvariousParishClergyinservingthevaryingneedsofourcommunity

• Howfullourmonthlycalendarhasbecome

•Yourownpersonalgrowthinfaith

ButHaveYouAlsoNoticed?

•Thatyougetlessforadollarthaninthepast

•Thatouroperatingexpenseskeepincreasingeachyear

•Thattomaintainandexpandourministries,yourfinancialcommitmentmust

increase

•Thatitcostsapproximately$49,900eachmonthjusttoputthe“keyinthedoor.”

•Thatwestilloweapproximately$3milliontopayoffourbeautifulsocialhall

•ThatourEndowmentFundandHerisEstatecontinuetooffergrantstofurther

thereligiousandeducationalministriesofourFaith.

•Thatwestillneedtocompletetheplannedconstructionofourgymnasium

DoYouKnowThatTheseCapitalImprovementsAreNeededNow?

• RepairtheexteriorstepsandplazainfrontoftheChurch

• Correctandrepairtheidentifiedwaterleaksinthenave,narthex,stairway,andlowerlevelofthechurch

• Replacethe58-yearoldfurnace,theAChandler,andtheslatewalkwayattheLightleCommunity

Center.

• Replacethe28year-oldACunitoftheChurch

• FinishcorrectingandrepairingexistingconditionsattheChurch’srentalproperty.

• Replacesomeofthedouble-glazewindowsoftheChurch

•Thatweneedtocompletetheconversiontogasheatingtotakeadvantageoflessexpensivenaturalgas

pricesandreduceourcommunity’scarbonimprint?

Thesenecessarycapitalimprovementsarenotincludedintheannualbudgetandhavebeendelayedforlackoffundsinthepastbuthavereachedthepointwheretheymustbetakencareofimmediately.Thatmeansnow,notwaituntileachsituationlistedabovebecomesanemergency.WemustproactivilytakecareofourParish.Wearethecaretakers–eachandeveryoneofus.

AnyChange,

AnyDifference,

Beginswithus!

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WhatisStewardship?

StewardshipisasystemofproportionalgivingtotheChurchinwhicheachmemberexaminestheir

conscienceandoffershis/hersupportinaccordancewiththeirindividualmeansandcircumstances.Thisoftenconfusespeoplebecauseaspecificamountisneversolicited.Thissystemisfairbecauseitacknowledgestherealitythatthepensionedwidowandtheprosperousbusinessownerdonothavethesameresourcesattheirdisposal. Onehasmore,theotherhasless;toaskthembothtosupporttheChurchequallyaswedidundertheold“dues”systemisterriblyunfair.Itburdensthepensionerunbearably,anddiscountsthegenerosityofthosewhoaremoreprosperous.WithStewardship,therefore,wedonotgiveinaccordancewithanartificiallysetamount,butratherinaccordancewithourtrueabilitytoshare.

HowMuchShouldIGive?

Forthosewhoinsistinhavingsomeguidelines:TheaverageStewardshippledgeintheUnitedStatesis$1,200

permarriedhousehold;andwearetryingtoraiseourstewardshiptomeetandeventuallyexceedthenationalaverage.Asasuggestedguide,familiesshouldworktowardsinitiallypledging1%-2%oftheirgrossincomeandworkingupto5%overathreetofiveyearperiod.Somefamiliesfinditeasiertostartbypledging$20/week.Youcanevenmakeyourpledgeonlineviacreditcardat.Pleaseprayerfullygiveinproportiontowhatyouhavebeengiven.

IsStewardshipJustAboutMoney?

Ofcoursenot.WedonotsupportourChurchsimplybymailingacheckandthathasneverbeenourmessage

atSaintBarbaraChurchandthatisnotwhoweareasacommunity.Inadditiontoourmaterialresources,

wealsohavebeengiventimeandtalents.TheChurchprosperswithpeoplewhoalsodonatetheirtimeandskillstotheserviceoftheparish.Wecanserveonboardsandcommittees;wecanvolunteertohelpwiththebulletinmailings;wecanpaintanddocarpentry;wecansinginthechoir;wecanworkatthefestivalandvariousparishfunctions;wecankeeptheparkinglotsspotlesslycleanandtidy.TheopportunitiesareasendlessasthetalentsofourpeopleandtheirwillingnesstobeinvolvedandengagedinthelifeandministriesofourChurch.Remember:buildingourparish’svolunteerismintimeandtalentandenhancingourparishministrieshasbeentheexplicitandpubliclystatedstrategicgoalofourcommunitythisentireyear.

WhatAboutMyChildren?

WeneedtoteachourchildrentoalsobegoodstewardsoftheChurch,sothattheyunderstandthatour

offeringsoftime,talentandtreasurehelptheChurchwithhermissioninthisworld.WeneedtobeginencouragingourchildrentobecomestewardsatayoungagesothattheyunderstandtheChristianconceptofgiving.WeneedtoencourageourchildrentogiveaportionoftheirallowanceorapercentageoftheirbirthdayorChristmasgiftstotheChurchsothattheycandeveloptheunderstandingthatitis‘notallaboutus.’Payingachild’sstewardshipforthemdoesn’thelpthemtounderstandthebasicChristianconceptofgiving;ofofferingaportionofwhatwehavefreelyreceivedfromGodbacktoHimandHisministrythroughtheChurch.

I’mOnePerson.CanIMakeADifference?

Yes,youcan. Historyisfullofindividualswhoactingalonemadeallthedifferenceintheworld.Yourgood

example,multipliedbyhundredsofothersactingtogether,willbethecatalystthatwillrevitalizetheparish.Becomeadonor,butmoreimportant,becomeadiscipleandapostleofGod’struthbyencouragingothers,friends,children,brothers,sisters,nieces,nephews,andgodchildrentoalsobecomestewards.Apositivewordofencouragement,togetherwithyourownpersonalexampleofgenerosity,canperformmiraclesofchange.

WhyDoesTheOrthodoxChurchEncourageAnnualStewardship

CommitmentsFromItsMembers?

ThephilosophyoftheOrthodoxChurchistotakeasmuchofthedailyfocusofffinancesaspossible.Bymakinganannualcommitment,youprovidethesecuritythatoperatingexpensesoftheChurchwillbeunderwrittenthroughstewardship.Thiswillallowustomoveforwardwithourrealworkofbeingdisciples

ofChrist,whichincludesnotonlyevangelizationandcommunityservice,butalsotheeducation,nurturance,andsupportofourownparishcommunity.

WhatIsTheBestWayToFulfillMyStewardshipPledge?

Stewardshipismostappropriatelyunderstoodasanobligationnotunlikeutilitiesandrent.Soweencourageyoutomakeregular,weeklyormonthlypaymentsatthesametimeyousitdowntopayyourotherbills.TheSaintBarbaraParishhasmadefulfillingyourpledgesoeasywithavarietyofpaymentmethods:thesimplestandeasiestisbycreditcardonlinethroughourwebsiteat.Fromthere,youcanmakeweeklyormonthlypledges.Ofcourse,youmayalsopaybyautomaticbankwithdrawalorbycheck.

WhatIfIMakeACommitmentAndMyCircumstancesChange?

Godasksonlythatyouenterintoagood-faithcommitment,notalegalcontract.Youcanmakechangesbroughtaboutbynewcircumstances(positiveornegative)simplybycontactingthechurchofficeandspeakingwithFatherPeter.

IsMyCommitmentThatImportant?

Absolutely.WeallwanttheChurchtobethereforus.IfourOrthodoxcommunityistoremainhealthy,weeachneedtocontributeourfairshare,understandingthattheexpensesandworkofthechurchgoonwhetherornotweareinattendance.Moreimportantly,demonstratingthanksgivingtoGodinaconcretewayisthebestwayofgoingthroughlifewithan“attitudeofgratitude”forallthatHehasgivenus.

AFinalReflection

MydearparishionersofSaintBarbara,myconfidenceisineachofyou.InmymanyyearsofservicetotheChurchIhavelearnedfirsthandthatweareagenerouspeople.Ourmutualsupportofourcommunityisworthyandnoble;andourneedistrulyandhonestlygreat.

IaskthatyourespondtotheChurchofficeassoonaspossible.Asyoudoso,Iaskyoutoprayerfullyconsiderwhatincreasedamountmosthonestlyrepresentswhatyoucanoffer.

ThankyouforyourcontinuedsupportandyourheartfeltefforttolistentotheLord’smessagetoyoudailyas

youofferprayersofthanksgivingdailyforallofyourgifts.

SaintBarbaraGreekOrthodoxChurch

Stewardship2013

MyCommitmentofTreasures

ForChristandtheMinistriesofHisChurch

Yes!IwanttosupportGod’sworkthroughmyChurchofSaintBarbara.HereismyCommitmentof

Faithfor2013representingmybesteffortstoreturntoGodaportionofthatwhichbelongstoHim.

Name: (pleaseprint)

HomePhone:()

CellPhone: ()

Address:

City:

State:

Zip:

E-MailAddress:

Work Phone:()

Thisrepresentsmyindividualstewardshipcommitmentfor2013(TheNationalAverageis$1,200PerCouple)

Ipledgetogive:

$250/month

$100/month$75/month

$other/month

Υπόσχομαιναπροσφέρω:

$250/μήνα

$100/μήνα

$75/μήνα

$άλλο/μήνα

PaymentOptions:

IwillmailorbringmymonthlystewardshipcontributiondirectlytotheChurchOffice.

IwillpaymystewardshipcontributionbycreditcardonlinethroughtheChurch’swebsiteat

.

Note:Thisisapromiseofintentions.ItcanbechangedatanytimebycontactingthePriestorStewardshipChairperson.

PleasecompletethisformandreturnittotheChurchOfficeat480RacebrookRoad,Orange,CT06477.