The Messenger 2023-09

Helping Those in Need

With many finding their economic situation becoming increasingly difficult, we often receive requests for financial assistance from those in the community. To meet this need, the parish council created a Benevolence Fund in June, 2020, with a budget of $500 per month; that money comes from your pledges and contributions as well as a few special contributions made by individual parishioners.

That assistance has gone towards many things over the past three years: partial rent payments, temporary housing, medical bills, car repair, gas for those passing through, and other necessities. It usually takes the form of Hy-Vee or Save-a-Lot gift cards for help with groceries. Each transaction with the type of assistance but not the name of the recipient is logged in a spreadsheet available to the parish council.

Since June 2020, your financial support has helped those in the Siouxland community in the amount of $22,493.07; this year alone, we have helped those in the community in the amount of $4,572.16. This is in addition to the 100+ pounds of food donated by St. Thomas parishioners so far this year to the Food Bank of Siouxland.

We will soon have another opportunity to help the community on October 15th by participating in the upcoming CROP Walk; please see Frank Brienzo for details.

This is the work of the Church; thank you all for your generosity.

2023-08 Income Statement

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 September:

Elias Solomon, George Nimmer, Nicholas Correy, Mary David, Shaheen Jacobs, Jack Jacobs, George K. Miller, Sr., Delia Ferris, Samuel Nimmer, Mary George, Charles M. Saide, Thomas Duane Corey, Jr., Mary Abdouch, Mary K. Abdouch, Donald D. Kivlighn, Mary A. Haddad Kruse, Mary Sellers, Roxelle Kay Gioccone, Ceroga George Dorashkevich, Fr. John Barrett, Murrish J. Yanney, John Stanley Bekish, Joseph Kott, Lorene M. David, Florence Counter

Ladies’ Club

The Ladies of St. Thomas had their September meeting at the home of Frank and Barb Brienzo. We were treated to a wonderful supper with dessert provided by Theresa Muhe. We are still working on getting rugs for the altar. We discussed upcoming events such as the Crop Walk which is October 15th and a Chili Cook-Off with cornbread and desserts that will be held on the 29th of October. We are also looking into a social activity as well. Barb Breinzo gave each of the women a cross that she had tatted. Next meeting will be November 7th at Glen Oaks clubhouse.

Judy Stevens

Message From the Parish Council Chairman

September 2023

We were very blessed at the beginning of this month to have our choir, organist, chanters, and altar servers back full time at St Thomas. For the past three years, our beloved Denny, Debbie, Karen, Dorwin, Mike, and Kane have been assisting Father Luke at Holy Trinity. They were very graciously filling in as Holy Trinity was short of members for those positions. As you may know, Denny, Karen and Debbie would do Orthros and Divine Liturgy at Holy Trinity and then rush over to St Thomas for our Divine Liturgy. With Father Luke being transferred and the availability of a Greek chanter that Denny has trained at Holy Trinity, our Parish Council requested they serve both Sunday services at St Thomas with De and John. With the addition of the choir and organ during Orthros, the service is unique and even more beautiful. I strongly encourage you to attend on Sunday mornings.

Over the past several months, our Parish Council has been searching for ways to reduce our operating expenses since we anticipate it will become more difficult for us to afford a full-time priest given the size of our congregation. We pay our priest per the Archdiocese Guidelines and the total compensation is about 80% of our current operating budget. Father Luke proposed that one Orthodox Priest serve both congregations, alternating churches each week. Our Parish Council was very supportive of that plan, but unfortunately, the Parish Council of Holy Trinity rejected the proposal.

Our financial position for this year is on track to the budget we approved back in January. If everyone fulfills their pledges for the remainder of this year, we should break even and not use our savings. We will do our yearly Stewardship Campaign in the last half of October and November and propose a budget for 2024 at the annual meeting in January. The results of those two items will determine if we can continue to fund a full-time priest. Until then we continue to explore alternatives.

The Crop Walk is coming up on October 15 th. We would love to have several of our members join Barb and I in the 3.5-mile walk. If you choose not to walk, please consider sponsoring one our members so we can raise money for this local charity. Information will be available in the Fellowship Hall.

Finally, the Ladies Club is planning several fun events and activities in the next few months. I am sure Judy will be providing more details soon. I encourage all ladies in the church to get involved in the Ladies Club. They provide an important contribution to our church and outside charities.

Please continue to pray for our parish.

In Christ,

Frank Brienzo Chairman Parish Council

2023-08 Year-to-Date Income Statement

PARISH COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES

Wednesday September 6, 2023

The meeting was called to order at 6:40 PM. Father Peter gave the opening prayer.

Present were: Father Peter, Frank B, Judy S, George S Jr. and Julie K Others present: George Stickney Sr. Judy moved to approve the previous minutes and all reports. George seconded. Passed. On 8-16-23 Frank made the following motion via e-mail to council members.

I move that the Parish Council request that the St Thomas Choir, Organist and Readers serve Orthros and Divine Liturgy only at St Thomas each Sunday beginning at 9:00 am. The choir, organist, and readers may be available for weekday services at Holy Trinity or any Orthodox Church or Mission if their personal schedules permit. This change is effective September 3, 2023.

Board members voted yes on above. Motion passed. Frank followed up with a letter of notifying Fr. Luke at Holy Trinity of this change.

C Committee Reports:

1. Pastor’s Report – Fr. Peter Parishioner update: Ron Carlson is now residing at The Pointe at Sunrise. Dorwin is at UnityPoint Hospital recovering from hip repair.

New Catechumen: Chase McClesky who is a senior at Northwestern in Orange City

2. Treasurer Report: See August Reports.

Fr Peter will be traveling To Minot, ND to attend a Missions Summit from September 18 th through the 22nd. This will be at no charge to the church.

3. Maintenance Report: See August Report.

Frank submitted 2 MHRD grant applications. MHRD redefined their guidelines to how many people in the organization will be impacted. It’s questionable if we will receive grant.

4. Ladies Club: See Report. Next meeting November 7 th

N New Discussions:

1. Fr. Peter asks resolution to support a full time Priest through Pascha which is on May 5, 2024. George S. Jr. makes motion for St Thomas to guarantee to support a full time Priest through the end of 2023. We will then re-evaluate our ability to support a full time Priest once we formulate a budget for 2024. Motion seconded by Judy S. Motion passed.

2. Fr. Peter moves that the Parish Council recommends that the cemetery board opens up cemetery to all Orthodox Christians. Judy seconds. Motions passed.

O Other Discussions:

1. Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God to Visit Holy Annunciation Sept 24-25. Due to limited space at Holy Annunciation, St Thomas will offer assistance with hosting an open house and provide refreshments. Frank will contact Fr. Kevin.

2. Frank would like to set up a Stewardship Committee and will asking for volunteers to assist. George Stickney Sr. volunteered to be on committee when available.

3. Information regarding Dues. Invoices to be paid: Diocese: $350.00, Ladies Club $300.00 and Mission Fund: $150.00

4. Judy would like to have a coffee/social hour honoring Alice Sailors, Ron and Vickie Carlson, Dean Lockwood and other elders in our Parish. More to come on this.

7:30 PM Judy makes motion to adjourn meeting. Fr Peter seconds. Motion passed. Fr. Peter closes with prayer.

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

- Saint Ignatius of Antioch

Syrian Relief Fund, Project Mexico, Retired Clergy Housing Fund

Camping Scholarships, OCF College Conference, SOYO Leadership Training, International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC)