Parish Council President's Letter

November 29, 2006

Dear Friends,

I first wish to thank you all for a truly blessed November.  It was wonderful to see such great attendance..  We were blessed to see robust participation in Sunday School, the General Assembly, and the Faith Fair.  Thank you all!  I so appreciated the participation at the General Assembly, where many offered their input and efforts to continue the work of our parish.  Please know that your attendance, participation and fellowship are warmly appreciated! 

I remind you to vote in parish council elections on December 3rd.  We must elect four new members, and are blessed to have five outstanding candidates.  This being the case, your votes and participation are especially important.

The year has been one of many weddings, baptisms and great events.  We have gained new members and new friends.  As members, each of us saw good days and bad this year.  Through all of these things, let me say that I have been so very grateful for our community and for His Church in my life this year.  I sincerely hope that each of you have experienced blessings through your work and participation.  In short, I wish to simply thank everyone for their efforts, kindnesses, prayers and thoughtful participation to this end.

I appreciate you all putting up with me, my wife says it is not an easy thing!  Thank you for allowing me to serve your wonderful Parish.

Sincerely,

Danny H. Thiros
Parish Council President

Stewardship Program Update

November 28, 2006

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Thanks to many good stewards, we are well within reach of our best stewardship year ever!  God Bless!  We urge you to use this last month of the year to ensure your name on the steward list, and to offer a portion of this year’s blessings to God who has bestowed them upon you by His grace. 

Our goal remains $40,000 in total stewardship.  Is this “realistic?”  Please consider how realistic it truly is based upon the following points.

• A total of $40,000 requires only 80 stewards at $500 annually.
• $500 annually is $41 a month.  Less than cable.  Likely, this is less than you spend on movie tickets, basketball tickets, video rentals, symphony tickets, or even Diet Coke!  How can this NOT be possible?!
• MANY are capable of far more than $500 annually, some less. If each family were to honestly and prayerfully consider the most appropriate offering according to their gifts, we would more than double our goal.
• Through Christ, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE.  Again, how can this small goal be “unrealistic?!”

If it is to be realistic to have a permanent priest, this goal, too, must become a reality.  The two are not independent of one another.  Step forward and do your best for God and His Church.  If our expectations of His Church have increased, and they have, our expectations of support must also increase.

In this last month of the year, and this, our final message of 2006, we ask each member to complete a fitting offering to His Church.   Give the gift of stewardship to yourself and your family!  Thank you all for a wonderful year.

In His service,