PARISH COUNCIL MEETING WITH BISHOP APOSTOLOS
On Sunday, March 14th, we welcomed His Grace Bishop Apostolos of Medeia, our new bishop who is responsible for the Metropolis of New Jersey. The members of the Parish Council had a good and productive meeting and look forward to his support and leadership in our future.
UPDATE: SOUND SYSTEM DOLLAR-FOR-DOLLAR CHALLENGE
We made the $5,000.00 goal and more before the month is out! Congratulations to all who contributed to the sound system!!! The total collected is $7,085.00, $2,085.00 more than the estimate. The dollar-for-dollar challenge was exceeded by $400.00. Contributions are still welcome till the end of the month to ensure we have adequate funding. A listing of contributors will be posted after the end of the month. Please send your donation earmarked for SOUND SYSTEM to the Church Office. Thank you!
As St. John Chrysostom reminds us, "A rich man is not one who has much, but one who gives much. For what he gives away remains his forever!"
Are you a 2021 Steward of St. Demetrios?
We now have 60 Stewards of St. Demetrios with 39 stewardship pledges towards our 2021 goal of 100 and totaling $79,755. This is almost 40 percent of our goal of $200,000.00 for 2021 and 39 percent of our stewardship pledge goal of 100 stewardship pledges. Bishop Apostolos, in his meeting with the Parish Council, could not underscore enough the need for all parishioners to be active stewards
If you are already a steward, encourage your church friends and family to join you! If you are not a 2021 steward please become one! It takes all of us for stewardship to do the work of the church in our community of salvation in Jesus Christ our Lord. All gifts to St. Demetrios are truly appreciated! The stewardship pledge allows the Council to plan financially for 2021. Even though you may have already decided what you plan to give each week, month, or annually, without a stewardship form completed the Council has no way to accurately understand where we are headed.
If you can’t find your stewardship pamphlet/card or need a new one there are additional stewardship forms and envelopes available as you enter the church on the left along with a drop box for your completed stewardship pamphlet/cards. You can also send a letter to St. Demetrios with Stewardship noted on the front. Please complete a stewardship form and be counted on the Stewards listing inside the glass doors as you enter the building.
As St. Paul (Corinthians 9:6-7) admonishes us, "He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So, let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver."
Although Church services are now available, the collection tray is not being passed and many are not attending out of abundant caution. With limited attendance, our collections are still down. You can continue to contribute through our web page www.stdemva.com, send your weekly offering checks by mail, or use PayPal for your convenience.