Happy New Year!!!
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The Mary and Martha Volunteers
As we begin the new calendar year, I am creating a new parish organization called The Mary and Martha Volunteers. Mary and Martha were the sisters of Lazarus, the good friend of Jesus who Jesus raised from the dead, the event we commemorate on Lazarus Saturday the day before Palm Sunday.
One day when Jesus came by with a large number of people Martha was quite busy in the kitchen preparing food and drink for the guests. Mary was sitting at the feet of Jesus listening to every word. At one point Martha, out of frustration, complained to Jesus that her sister was not helping her. Jesus pointed out that Mary had chosen the right thing to do. This was not to criticize Martha but to point out that the word of God takes precedence in all we do.
To that end, this new group will have two components ... to assist in hospitality coordinating and hosting the social fellowship times following services and to do outreach to our visitors and parishioners in a positive, healthy expression of fellowship.
I am pleased to announce that coordinating this group will be Linda Wells. To become part of the group of volunteers please speak with Linda or contact her at linda@lindawells.net.
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Parish Record Form
As I mentioned at the Parish Assembly on June 24th, the parish records are lacking and need to be updated. Everyone will need to complete a Parish Record Form (click on link below for the form) in order to be certified as eligible (upon review) for membership in the parish. Only Orthodox Christians in good standing are eligible to be members of the parish. Completed Forms are to be returned to me. Only I will be seeing them and after review, keeping them with the Sacramental Records. You may drop them into the slot at the top of the locked box located on the wall next to my office door if you like or mail them to the church.
Please review the following information from the Uniform Parish Regulations...
Article 18, Section 7
Each Parish shall maintain a Parish Record which shall include, at a minimum, the following information concerning each parishioner: baptismal and family name, occupation (optional), dates of baptism and/or chrismation and marriage, complete family record of spouse and children, date of entry into the Parish indicating if transferred from another Parish, date of death, and such other information that shall be deemed appropriate.
Article 18, Section 1
Every person who is baptized and chrismated according to the rites of the Orthodox Church is a parishioner. The religious, moral and social duties of a parishioner are to apply the tenets of the Orthodox Faith to his/her life and to: adhere to and live according to the tenets of the Orthodox faith; faithfully attend the Divine Liturgy and other worship services; participate regularly in the holy sacraments; respect all ecclesiastical authority and all governing bodies of the Church; be obedient in matters of the Faith, practice and ecclesiastical order; contribute towards the progress of the Church's sacred mission; and be an effective witness and example of the Orthodox Faith and Traditions to all people.
A parishioner in good standing practices all the religious and moral duties as described in this Section 1. At a minimum, a parishioner in good standing must: be eighteen years of age or over; be current in his or her stewardship and other financial obligations to the Parish, abide by all the regulations herein stated and the Parish Bylaws; and cooperate in every way towards the welfare and well being of the Parish. (Stewardship is recommended to be ten percent (10%) of one’s annual income as stated in Holy Scripture to help meet the financial obligations of the Parish, the Metropolis and the Archdiocese.)
Parish Record Form