The Messenger 2023-11

The Messenger November 2023

St. Thomas Antiochian Orthodox Church

PO Box 1042 — 1100 Jones St. — Sioux City, Iowa 51102-1042 +1(712)258-7166 — info@stthomassiouxcity.org https://stthomassiouxcity.org

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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

November Birthdays 18

Aminadab Yohannes

22

Mike Antonovich

29

Frank Brienzo

If your birthday is in November but is not listed here, please let Fr. Peter so know we can update our records.

Maintenance Update 11.8.2023 Current Projects: Project Retaining wall Resurface parking lots Replace circulation pump Refrigerator repair

Original Estimate $14781 $11215 $5472 $500 2

Actual Cost to Building Fund MHRD Grant denied MHRD Grant denied $5144

One Flock Reason-endowed sheep This is what St. John Chrysostom called the faithful. I was raised in the rural American South (where there are plentiful pigs, cows, and chickens, but few sheep), so I looked up what it is about sheep that caused this phrase to make sense for St. John’s audience.

Turns out sheep are herd animals, most comfortable with other sheep. A sheep usually doesn’t get into trouble unless it gets separated from the flock. Also, sheep are docile, mellow animals — who ever heard of attack sheep? Finally, sheep need a shepherd to keep them from wandering off and getting into trouble. Leaderless sheep rarely survive.

I used to wonder, “Why sheep? They seem so wimpy.” I preferred the image of a lion or an athlete.

But, truth be told, it is the humility of sheep that allows them to live so peacefully in community.

Unfortunately, we so often insist on our own way and our own importance — how very different from the attitude of our Lord Jesus who, as God, humbled Himself and became obedient to death on a cross.

His very humility and selflessness became the source of our healing and new life.

God refuses to force you to humble yourself. Oh, He may allow your choices to place you in humbling situations, but even that can be resisted. Acquiring humility is up to us. If we are willing to be simple, reason-endowed sheep, we tap into heavenly resources that fuel spiritual growth. Conversely, our stubborn insistence on our rights will only guarantee that we will be enslaved by our anger, depression, and pride. How’s that working out for us?

Today: Are you willing to be a simple sheep in Christ’s flock? Look at the many invitations of faith offered in this life of community. Frequent liturgies, times of prayer, seasons of fasting and feasting, the lives of the saints, Holy Scripture, and Holy Tradition guide and instruct us. The Shepherd is leading His flock to paradise; He will give you the strength to be a humble, reason-endowed sheep in the flock of Christ.

Fr. Barnabas Powell, A Faith Encouraged

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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: Instagram: SoundCloud: Twitter: YouTube:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/689850188457371/ https://www.instagram.com/sathorch/ https://soundcloud.com/sathorch https://twitter.com/sathorch https://www.youtube.com/@sathorch

In Memoriam Remembering those who reposed in the month of November: (baby) Stevens, Josephine Lamane, Philip Abdouch, Anna M. Jacobs, Isaac Abdallah, Theresa Ann Skaff, George E. Skaff, Rosa Leah Gill, Kelly Ellis, John Gary Haggar, Paul Jakes, Anna Nassiff, George E. Bashara, Mabel Risk, Tillie Ellis, Julia Love, Arthur D. P. Nimmer, Ferris Skaff, Thomas Haddad, Alex Malenosky, Oscar Joseph Nassiff, John E. David, Sr., Elsie M. Smith, Sophie Weaver, Sadie Johnson, Amelia Bashara, Thomas G. Bashara, Jason Phillip Stevens, Mazie David, Edwin F. Swanson, Arthur G. Ellis, Selma Corey, Floyd Counter, Patricia Ann Gebran Thibodeau, Blanche A. Corey, Jacqueline Larsen, Ethel Agerson

Ladies’ Club The Ladies of St. Thomas had their November meeting at the Glen Oaks Apartments Clubhouse. We were treated to a wonderful supper with Jane’s chicken salad, Elaine’s broccoli salad, and Theresa’s fruit pizza. We are still working on getting rugs for the altar, and passed a motion to spend up to $450–$500 for this. We also passed a motion to pay for the repair part for the fridge in the kitchen. We were very pleased with the turn out we had for the chili cook-off. The winner was Theresa Muhe. We are hoping to have an event for the ladies during the Christmas season. We will also be having a lunch for our meeting with Fr. Jeremy Davis during our Parish meeting this Sunday, November 12th. Susie brought gifts for all the ladies because the church and its people mean so much to her. God be with us and guide us.

Judy Stevens

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Parish Council Meeting with Fr. Jeremy Monday October 30, 2023

The meeting was called to order at 1830. Father Peter gave the opening prayer.

Present were: Father Peter, Frank B, Judy S, George S Jr. and Julie K Others present: Pat Corey.

Fr. Jeremy attended via Zoom Discussions/Questions/Notes/Motions 1. Fr. Jeremy’s E-mail sent to Parish Council. Council felt it was very clear and had no questions. Fr. Jeremy will visit St Thomas on November 12, 2023 2. Fr. Kevin from Holy Annunciation and Mike Jacobs from St Thomas will be collaborating on lease.

3. Fr. Jeremy asks if the members of Fr. Kevin’s mission are aware of the transition of Parishes. Fr. Kevin has kept his members up to date.

4. Fr. Kevin will be attending Eastern Rite intensive training in a few weeks.

5. Goal is to make transition of Church by December 31, 2023. Frank reports we have had unexpected expenses this past week and the finances will be a challenge.

6. Fr. Jeremy requests financial reports. Pat will have balances for the Cemetery, Stifel and Church accounts this week. Frank will send Financials to Fr. Jeremy at the end of this week.

7. Council requests to keep St Thomas as name of the Church. Reasons: St Thomas has a 110-year history. The ROCOR Metropolitan likes to visit their churches on their Saints Name Day. ROCOR does not have a St Thomas. This would be a benefit. Fr. Jeremy will ask Metropolitan Saba and will let us know 8. St Thomas Cemetery would fall under Archdiocese. Archdiocese would appoint 2-3 local parishioners to care for cemetery. Pat feels this is the correct move. St Thomas has opened up the cemetery to Holy Trinity and Holy Annunciation. Western and Eastern Rite Orthodox can be buried there.

9. Fr. Jeremy requested appraisals of St. Thomas. Frank is working on this.

10. Frank (?) moved to dissolve St Thomas on December 31, 2023. Second(?) Council was in favor. Motion passed 11. Frank motions to have General Assembly on November 12th. Judy seconds Motion passed.

12. If Metropolitan Saba agrees to keep St Thomas as name, Mike Jacobs will move forward with legalities and work with Fr. Kevin and ROCOR to change the name from Holy Annunciation.

Judy motions to adjourn meeting Motion carried. Council thanks Fr. Jeremy for his time and input.

Fr. Peter closes meeting with prayer at 1900

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2023-10 Year-to-Date Income Statement INCOME Operating Income 2023 Pledges Benevolence Donations Memorial Miscellaneous Other Donations Archdiocesan Special Offering Cemetery Food for the Hungry Patriarch Priest Seminarians TOTAL INCOME

General Fund In and Out Fund Building Fund $188.24 $96,064.40 -$500.00 $500.00 $170.00 $2,636.27 $7,699.88 -$471.00 $341.00 $70.00 $50.00 $220.00 $279.00 $106,378.79 $869.00 $0.00

TOTAL $188.24 $96,064.40 $0.00 $170.00 $2,636.27 $7,699.88 -$471.00 $341.00 $70.00 $50.00 $220.00 $279.00 $107,247.79

EXPENSE Maintenance Lawn and Snow Internet Trash Pick-up Insurance on Church Property Church Utilities General Expenses Office Expense Copier and Copy Expense Benevolence Transfer Between Accounts Travel and Conferences Priest Base Salary Priest Cell Phone Priest Health Insurance Priest Life Insurance Priest IRA Priest Auto Priest Auto Insurance Priest SS and Medicare Priest Housing DOWAMA In and Out Expenses Priest Donation Patriarch Tray Seminarians Tray Food for the Hungry Building Fund Income Building Fund Building Fund Expense TOTAL EXPENSE

General Fund In and Out Fund Building Fund -$8,415.80 -$133.75 -$1,352.30 -$485.10 -$5,756.50 -$10,383.49 -$3,604.13 -$2,103.68 -$1,673.70 -$4,362.63 -$1,070.00 -$4,157.80 -$37,800.00 -$600.00 -$4,800.00 -$1,350.00 -$2,800.00 -$2,400.00 -$300.00 -$2,250.00 -$6,300.00 -$500.00 $471.00 -$120.00 -$100.00 -$50.00 $20.00 -$299.00 -$70.00 $2,000.00 $6,700.00 $200.00 -$8,151.00 -$100,748.88 $2.00 -$1,251.00

TOTAL -$8,415.80 -$133.75 -$1,352.30 -$485.10 -$5,756.50 -$10,383.49 -$3,604.13 -$2,103.68 -$1,673.70 -$4,362.63 -$1,070.00 -$4,157.80 -$37,800.00 -$600.00 -$4,800.00 -$1,350.00 -$2,800.00 -$2,400.00 -$300.00 -$2,250.00 -$6,300.00 -$500.00 $471.00 -$220.00 -$50.00 -$279.00 -$70.00 $8,700.00 $200.00 -$8,151.00 -$101,997.88

NET POSITION

$5,629.91 6

$871.00

-$1,251.00

$5,249.91

2023-10 Income Statement INCOME Operating Income 2023 Pledges Memorial Other Donations TOTAL INCOME

General Fund In and Out Fund Building Fund $108.81 $8,252.36 $20.00 $600.68 $8,981.85 $0.00 $0.00

TOTAL $108.81 $8,252.36 $20.00 $600.68 $8,981.85

EXPENSE General Fund In and Out Fund Building Fund TOTAL Maintenance -$5,144.87 -$5,144.87 Internet -$135.23 -$135.23 Trash Pick-up -$226.80 -$226.80 Insurance on Church Property -$206.50 -$206.50 Church Utilities -$1,043.09 -$1,043.09 Office Expense -$41.65 -$41.65 Copier and Copy Expense -$91.66 -$91.66 Priest Base Salary -$5,100.00 -$5,100.00 Priest Life Insurance -$135.00 -$135.00 Priest IRA -$400.00 -$400.00 TOTAL EXPENSE -$12,524.80 $0.00 $0.00 -$12,524.80 NET POSITION

-$3,542.95

7

$0.00

$0.00

-$3,542.95

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Let no man's place, or dignity, or riches, puff him up; and let no man's low condition or poverty abase him.

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- Saint Ignatius of Antioch

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ORDER OF ST. IGNATIUS OF ANTIOCH ANTIOCHIAN ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN ARCHDIOCESE The Order of St. Ignatius Of Antioch

140 Church Camp Trail

Bolivar, PA 15923

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theorder@antiochianvillage.org

Ph: (724) 238-3677, ext 410