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Pastor's Message
Fr. Alexander Goussetis This past season of blessing homes at Epiphany again proved to be a tremendous delight. Visiting with so many of you allowed for extended conversations about life and faith. These private dialogues in your homes brought out what was important to you and your families — and how the Church can be of service in your continued spiritual growth. One by-product of these pastoral visits was the opportunity to view family pictures displayed throughout your homes. These photos told a fascinating story of your family’s past and present. These pictures illustrated the history of your families; parents and grandparents that shaped your life and faith. Other photographs shared the joys of your children and grandchildren. I found it quite revealing in these photos that the Orthodox faith played an important role in so many of your family histories — generation to generation. The Church guided and supported your family’s development. In fact, the Orthodox Christian faith can be considered the cornerstone of your family’s lineage. As we look into the future, will the Church continue to play a major role in your family’s lives? Will the clergy of this parish one or two generations from now still see photographs of committed Orthodox Christians on the walls of your homes? We must plan from now for the future stability of our parish. The parish council has approved a plan to secure the financial viability of our community for generations to come. Please review carefully the categories of endowment funds found below. Should you be moved to support one or two of these areas, or you would like more information about this plan, please speak with me or with our parish council president, Nicholas Veronis. Endowment for Youth Ministry (Pat Petrakes Fund)
The proceeds of these endowments are to be used for youth scholarships to attend the Camp Nazareth Summer Camp program and/or weekend retreats. Endowment for Spiritual Development
The proceeds of these endowments are to be used to enrich the spiritual dimension of our parish (and Lancaster County) through retreats, speakers, media outlets, & conferences that focus on the Orthodox Christian faith. Endowment for Hellenic Studies
The proceeds of these endowments are to be used to promote Hellenic language, cultural, and historical programs in the parish. Examples include speakers and conferences on specific Hellenic issues and the expansion of the youth/adult Greek language classes. Endowment for Property & Facilities
The establishment of endowments for facility improvements and/or renovations that have been (or are to be) approved by the congregation. Endowment for Philanthropy
The proceeds of these endowments are to be used to supplement the parish philanthropy account. “A gift opens doors; it gives access to the great” Proverbs 18:16 |
