The Messenger May 2023 St. Thomas Orthodox Church PO Box 1042 1100 Jones St. Sioux City, Iowa 51102 +1(712)258-7166 info@stthomassiouxcity.org https://stthomassiouxcity.org
IF your birthday is in May but is not listed here, please let Fr. Peter so know we can update our records.
2 Scan this code with your smartphone to access your own personalized church Web page! Our Mission Growing in compassion, mercy, and love with a foundation in Christ Weekly Schedule Sundays Orthros & Divine Liturgy 09:00 Wednesdays Daily Vespers 18:00 Saturdays Great Vespers 18:00
Birthdays 2 Ashley Stevens 5 Gerry Stevens 3 Paul Lammers 21 Mark Lockwood
Fr. Peter Cox 22 John Corey
May
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Orthodox Evangelism (abridged)
A brief resource guide for Orthodox Christians
Produced by the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese Department of Missions and Evangelism
Preparing and Giving Your Personal Spiritual Journey
from Fr. Peter Gillquist
One of the easiest and most effective ways to share God with others is telling them about your own experience of God — what I call giving your personal spiritual journey (often this is referred to as giving your testimony). This could involve explaining how you came to believe in Jesus Christ, why you became Orthodox, or simply how God has impacted your life.
Giving one’s testimony is a traditional and very ancient Orthodox Christian method of evangelism. St. Paul writes about his conversion several times in Acts, the man born blind testifies before the Sanhedrin to what Jesus did for him, and the emissaries of St. Vladimir report their experience of the Kingdom of God when they worshipped in Constantinople.
Here are a few ideas to help you prepare and give your personal spiritual journey:
If you converted to Christianity/ Orthodoxy, explain:
1) your spiritual life before converting
2) how you converted
3) your spiritual life after converting
If you grew up Christian/Orthodox, describe one or more of these:
1) your childhood, youth, and adulthood
2) what Christ means to you
3) a life changing event (spiritual awakening, lifting up of one’s soul)
4) what you know about God, and how you know it
Key elements for everyone:
1) Keep it brief (3 minutes is ideal)
2) Make it personal
3) Tell a story or dialogue
4) Include elements to which the listener can relate
5) Give 3 reasons why you believed in Christ, or converted to Orthodoxy, or renewed your commitment to Christ
6) Point out the one most significant event/influence on the journey
7) Struggles along the way
See the article by Fr. Jon Braun on the back of this sheet for more about sharing how God has worked in your life.
HELP!
For help with missions, evangelism and questions about the Orthodox Christian Faith:
The Department of Missions and Evangelism
777 Camino Pescadero
Santa Barbara, CA 93117-4908
(805) 685-5400
missions@antiochian.org www.antiochian.org/missions
A Starter Recommended Reading List
Here are some good literature ideas for introducing others to the Orthodox Christian Faith, better understanding your own Faith, and learning more about Orthodox evangelism.
1) The Orthodox Study Bible
2) Becoming Orthodox by Fr. Peter Gillquist
3) Introducing the Orthodox Church by Fr. Anthony Coniaris
4) The Orthodox Church by Bishop Kallistos (Timothy) Ware
5) Thirsting For God in a Land of Shallow Wells by Matthew Gallatin
6) A Sorrowful Joy by Albert Raboteau
7) Orthodox Alaska by Fr. Michael Oleksa
8) Facing East by Frederica Mathewes-Green
9) Topical Booklets Series from Conciliar Press (over a dozen booklets on topics such as Church history, the Bible and Tradition, worship, the Theotokos, and more)
And here are a couple more titles particularly well-suited for those who already are Orthodox.
1) The Orthodox Faith by Fr. Thomas Hopko
2) Divine Energy by Fr. Jon Braun
3) The Apostolic Fathers edited by Fr. Jack Sparks
(The above can be purchased through Conciliar Press (look under "HELP!"). They also might be available from your parish bookstore, and some might be found at your college library.)
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St. Thomas on the Internet
Check out our Web site at https://stthomassiouxcity.org as well as our other pages:
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/St.ThomasOrthodoxChurchSC/
Siouxland Orthodox Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/689850188457371/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sathorch/
SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/sathorch
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sathorch
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@sathorch
In Memoriam
Remembering those who reposed in the month of May:
Stephen Michael Stevens, Selma Bashara, Mena Risk, Jennie Marie Abdouch, Bernice George, Edith Ellis, Ferris Nicholas, Mary Saide, Jeanine Melham, Joseph Butrous, Bess Headid Skaff, Nick Gosen, Abe J. Skaff, Fred A. Ness, Wadia Bouziane Headid, Gladys H. Dawdy, Mary Hanna Haberer, Fred F. Alberts, Carla J. Bryce, Gerald V. Border, Maheeba Mabel Ellis, Solomon Murad, Donna R. Brienzo, Mariam ”Mary” I. Stevens, Katharine Hanna, Leo (Louie) Bitsos, Esther McDaniel
Ladies’ Club
The Ladies of St. Thomas had their fatayer sale on April 22. The proceeds from the sale were $1,000 which the ladies voted to donate to the NAB for earthquake relief.
Our next meeting will be at 6:00 p.m. at the Glen Oaks Clubhouse on a date in July to be determined. God bless.
Judy Stevens
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PARISH LIFE CONFERENCE
June 14-17, 2023
Hilton Dallas Lincoln Centre
Bishop Thomas is coming to the PLC!!!
Souvenir Journal
Sponsorships
R E G I S T E R N O W
PARISH COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Wednesday May 3, 2023
The meeting was called to order at 6:30 PM by Frank. Father Peter gave the opening prayer.
Present were: Father Peter, Frank, Judy and George
George moved to approve the previous minutes and all reports. Judy seconded. Passed.
Detail on Committee Reports:
1. Pastor’s Report – Fr. Peter
Treasurer’s Report – no questions.
2. Maintenance Report – Frank reported the heat will be converted to the chiller on May 4 th The new circulation pump will be installed at the same time.
3. Ladies Club – Judy reported the Ladies profit from the fatayer sale was $1000 which they voted to donate to NAB for earthquake relief. The Ladies also purchased an icon of St Thomas to give the Sneha and Manoj on May 21 st .
New Discussions
1. Next Meeting Date: June 7th
2. Hollie will join by video conference. Her topics:
a. Attending to church guest and catechumens
b. Final mission statements and goals from Ladies Club, Cemetery Committee, and Crop Walk.
3. Frank reported on the fund raising for heating and air conditioning.
a. Letter finished
b. Sending out mailing first week in May.
c. Plan to submit grant request in July to MHRD.
4. High School Graduates
a. Bibles are in.
5. Going away luncheon for Virippils May 21 st
Judy moved to adjourn. George seconded. Passed. Father Peter gave the closing prayer.
Maintenance Committee Update 5.3.2023
Current Projects:
Issues/Upcoming Projects:
1. Convert to cooling pump. Need to schedule.
2. Installation of new circulation pump and ventilators. Need schedule from Mpire.
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Project Original Estimate Actual Cost to Building Fund Retaining wall $14781 Not funded Resurface parking lots $11215 Not funded Freezer not working properly Will not repair at this time Dishwasher soap solenoid bad $500 On hold. Ventilators in Narthex and Mother’s Room need replacement $8000 16 week lead time ordered Feb 3, 2023 Replace Circulation Pump $5472 On order Heating and cooling unit for Choir Loft Looking for unit Open
Treasurer’s Report – April 2023
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Income 2023 Pledges 4,558.40 Miscellaneous 1,022.20 Other Donations 275.00 Other Income 0.00 Total Income $5,855.60 Expenses 401 Maintenance 0.00 402 Lawn & Snow 0.00 403 Education 0.00 404 Internet -135.23 406 Trash Pick-Up -113.40 407 Insurance on Church Property -287.00 408 Church Utilities -965.64 409 General Expenses -616.73 410 Office Expense 0.00 411 Copier & Copy Expense -91.66 412 Benevolence -500.00 413 Transfer between Accounts 0.00 416 Travel and Conferences -765.00 431 Priest Base Salary -2,900.00 432 Priest Cell Phone -100.00 433 Priest Health Insurance -800.00 434 Priest Life Insurance -135.00 436 Priest IRA -200.00 437 Priest Medical Expense 0.00 438 Priest Auto Allowance -400.00 439 Priest Auto Insurance -50.00 440 Priest SS & Medicare 0.00 441 Priest Housing & Utilities -1,050.00 442 DOWAMA 0.00 451 Archdiocesan Assessment 0.00 460 Online Fees 0.00 Total Expenses -$9,109.66 Net -$3,254.06
Let no man's place, or dignity, or riches, puff him up; and let no man's low condition or poverty abase him. For the chief points are faith towards God, hope towards Christ, the enjoyment of those good things for which we look, and love towards God and our neighbor.
ORDER OF ST. IGNATIUS OF ANTIOCH
ANTIOCHIAN
ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN ARCHDIOCESE
8 The
theorder@antiochianvillage.org Ph: (724) 238-3677, ext 410
Order of St. Ignatius Of Antioch 140 Church Camp Trail Bolivar, PA 15923
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- Saint Ignatius of Antioch
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