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a letter from the Very Rev. Father Daniel
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IN FAITH WE GROW
join those
WHO ARE ALREADY HELPING US GROW
Eight Years Ago a major fundraising campaign—In Faith We Grow—
was put into place to expand our modest
facilities. Parishioners were asked to make a longterm
commitment to help take St. Gregory’s to
the next level of growth.
The generous pledges of a committed group have
allowed us to beautify the sanctuary, expand our
‘Good Shepherd’ Church School facilities,
purchase the ‘St. Leo’ property next door, and
provide an adequate space for fellowship and
special events in our ‘Upper Room’.
In fact, just in 2007, over $24,000 was collected
from these pledges. Over the course of the pledge
period of twelve years, approximately a quarter
million dollars will be received from parishioners
who have pledged above and beyond their annual
pledge to the church. While this is a significant
financial resource for our parish, our monthly
operating expenses are $12,000, which means this
funding is critical to the growth of our parish.
As good stewards, the Parish Council believes the
next step should be reducing the current debt
incurred in purchasing our properties and
constructing our fellowship area.
Current Loan Balances
Church Building :: $82,900
St Leo (Property next to Church) :: $100,500
Good Shepherd (Education Building) :: $68,500
Endowment Fund (Fellowship Area loan) :: $75,000
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The Long-term Benefits of paying down our debt as quickly as possible means being good stewards, avoiding high interest payments, and freeing up our money for more viable causes that could possibly include but is not limited to:
- Purchasing additional properties to provide adequate parking, strengthen our ministries and provide a positive presence in the neighborhood
- Secure a part-time secretary to assist in the ever-increasing load of responsibilities a parish of this size entails
- Hire an on-site caretaker to provide the care necessary for the parish, including security measures
- Create a third-floor apartment for guests, students, etc. to increase our hospitality to those in need
- Further develop our bookstore and library—already consisting of an enviable 2,000 + volumes
- Enhance our exterior façade to include appropriate entry doors for the sanctuary and ‘annex’, and awnings for protection from the elements and to clearly mark our entries.
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We Invite You
to consider joining the group of committed
parishioners to help reduce our debt and pave
the way for more good work. Your five-year commitment — however large or small — will make
an impact on the future of St. Gregory’s. Please
join us in making a difference for our children, ourselves, and Orthodoxy in America. |
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“You cannot lock up your Christianity at noon on Sundays when you are a member of St. Gregory’s.
It just does not work that way.
The vibrancy of this parish’s life thumps you on the head. You cannot help but notice that the
liturgical cycle is full, the choir is nearly always present, anguished souls seek—and get—prayers on
behalf of their failing loved ones, the neighborhood’s poor and homeless are met with outstretched arms,
funds are raised or donated to carry on good works, and newcomers are really, really welcome.
You join in one worthy project, then another, take leadership roles bit by bit. Eventually
you recognize that others around you are working harder than you.
The sum of having four priests is that as each man brings his unique perspective to the pulpit,
moral dilemmas and religious issues in our daily lives are addressed. You catch a word, a phrase, a concept
and you confront yourself with questions: Is this for the glory of God? Is this what God wants? What did
Jesus say about this situation?
Not every work is successful, nor is every relationship with others. Sometimes participation
lags, people sometimes stay away in droves for worship services, and not everyone is delighted with
every facet of parish life. But make no mistake: This is a God-centered community, and all that we do is our frail effort to live through Him.”
—Nadine |
“Having come to St.Gregory's for the first time
eight years ago, I was like any other young modern
Russian woman-- half-believer, half-atheist, not sure
of anything, rejecting or scrupulously testing
everything that came my way, including church life.
A cultural shock was very much part of my
first impression of St. Gregory’s. Surely so, as the
Orthodox culture in America is different from what it
is in Russia or the Ukraine, and I mean mostly a
visual perception of it.
Yet, the result is overwhelming: I count my
ninth year of coming to St. Gregory's, and, despite our
physical remoteness from the church, it is chosen to
be our spiritual home. I find and feel the fruit of the
work of the Holy Spirit within me, as It gradually
transforms me and my beliefs. I feel spiritual
closeness and the sense of oneness with the
St.Gregory's community. I feel Christian love
encompassing everyone involved in worship, good
deeds, and everyday activities. Unlike before,
I also share the desire to give love back to people
around me.
Thanks, St. Gregory's, for restoring
Orthodoxy within me!”
Luba
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