From Fr. Angelo
PROGRESS REPORT – 2023
2023 has been quite a year! Finally, we turned the corner on the COVID pandemic to the joyful return to not only our church life but also a return to a vibrant community. As I have done in previous years, I want to present a summary of the wonderful things that have happened this year along with some of the ongoing challenges we still face. All of us should be proud of the wonderful accomplishments this year and that this energy continues in 2024.
PARISH OVERVIEW
Attendance on Sunday, has returned to almost pre-COVID levels averaging between 120-180 people. During the last 12 months, we performed eighteen (10) Forty-Day Blessings, 13Baptisms, and 5 weddings. Out of 950 potential families on our current mailing list, we still stand at a bit over 500 members in good standing. For a definition of good standing see our website or the Good News. Stewardship continues to be strong and we have seen a significant increase in new (mostly younger) people from outside the Orthodox faith who are exploring Orthodoxy either formally through Catechism or because of exposure to our Thursday Night Orthodoxy Q&A live stream and our other videos on YouTube. However, these efforts only invite people to come see our church. The real transformation comes from the welcoming attitude of our community and I am proud that our parishioner’s hospitality has extended to inviting them to the many events we offer. I continue to entreat all of us to reach out to those members who don’t attend regularly for whatever reason. Take them to lunch or dinner and talk with them to let them know the latest happenings. Ask them what keeps them from becoming more involved in our church and community. I realize that not everyone will respond favorably but through personal experience I know that there are many who would respond to words of encouragement to reconnect with our wonderful community…