Dear Parishioners of our Beloved Assumption,

“For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience that we have behaved in the world, and still more toward you, with holiness and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God.” (RSV 2 Corinthians 1:12)

A time, not so long ago, the faithful of the Orthodox Church relied on God, first and foremost, and then on their talents and abilities, which they also recognized as God-given.  Today, the opposite is true.  Most now rely on themselves and when things get too rough, then they call on God.  They believe that they have all the answers within themselves and don’t even think about God until they have exhausted all other options.  Their expectation is that God will listen and respond to every supplication regardless of the sincerity of their belief or depth of faith.  This must be how in the last minute of a football game, the very long end-zone pass became known as the “Hail Mary.”

How do we face the challenges in our lives that will inevitably be placed before us? For the Lord tells us that we will be constantly harassed by Satan just as we shall harass him: “he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel." (RSV Genesis 3:15)  How we choose to face our challenges is what defines our character.  Do we have faith in God that He will provide us with all that we need?  For as Christ said, “ Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” (RSV Matthew 6:26).  Or do we try to depend on our “earthly wisdom” without relying on the Lord or simply try and run away. Unfortunately, we can try and avoid the challenges that are before us, but they remain with us and reappear in the form of our imperfection until we allow them to be perfected in our faith.

We must understand that our faith in God is not an answer, it is the answer!

Thanking the Lord for His Blessings on us, I remain, in His Service,

Rev. Father Jon Boukis

NOTICE OF PARISH ASSEMBLY TO BE HELD NOVEMBER 10, 2024

 An assembly of all the stewards* of the parish will occur on Sunday, November 10, following the DIVINE LITURGY at 11:30 AM. The draft agenda will be as follows:

1. Call to Order / Opening Prayer
2. Determination of Quorum* requirement of parishioners**
3. Adoption of Agenda
4. Appointment of Assembly Chairperson and Assembly Secretary
5. Amendment/Approval of Spring 2024 General Assembly Minutes
6. President’s Report
7. Treasurer’s Report (Financial Position, Proposal of 2025 Parish Budget, Stewardship Report)
8. Church Hall, Administration & Classroom Building & Capital Campaign Report
9. Ministry Reports (Youth, Philoptochos, Sunday School, Greek School, Festival, GOGO, Glendi, Cemetery, etc.)
10. Nomination of 2025 Parish Council
11. Election of 2025 Election Committee
12. Election of 2024 Audit Committee
13. Pastoral Remarks
14. Adjournment / Closing Prayer 

*Quorum

To be legally binding, a quorum must be present before any meeting of the Parish Council or the Parish Assembly.

A majority of the Parish Council shall constitute a quorum. The minimum affirmative vote to pass a motion in a meeting of the Parish Council shall be a majority of a quorum.

For a Parish Assembly, at least twenty-five percent (25%) of current members in good standing shall constitute a quorum, except in matters pertaining to the purchase, sale or encumbering of Parish Property, which require a quorum of the current members in good standing per Part One, Article VI, Section 5 of the UPR. The minimum affirmative vote to pass a motion in a Parish Assembly shall be two-thirds (2/3) of a quorum.

**Parishioners

Parish membership is in accordance with the Part One, Article V of the UPR. An eligible Orthodox Christian may become a member in good standing of this parish by:

1. Submitting a signed yearly Stewardship Pledge card reflecting a contribution that is sacrificial in nature, and;
2. Meeting one’s financial obligation in a timely fashion, including an initial remittance at the time of initial yearly pledging.

To maintain member in good standing status for the purposes of the two annual Parish Assemblies, a parishioner should fulfill at least 25% of their annual Stewardship Pledge prior to the first annual Parish Assembly and at least 75% of their pledge before the second annual Parish Assembly.

To maintain member in good status for any Special Parish Assemblies or ecclesiastical services (such as weddings and baptisms), a parishioner will need to have their pledge current as of the annual quarter in which the Assembly or service takes place.

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TO USE THE KROGER COMMUNITY REWARDS PROGRAM:

· Go to www.krogercommunityrewards.com and register your Kroger Plus Card (if you are already registered, click “Sign In” instead of “Create an Account.”)

· Sign up for a Kroger Rewards Account by entering zip code, clicking on favorite store, entering your email address and creating a password, agreeing to the terms and conditions

· You will then get a message to check your email inbox and click on the link within the body of the email.

· Click on My Account and use your email address and password to proceed to the next step.

· Click on Edit Kroger Community Rewards information and input your Kroger Plus card number. If you use your phone number at the register instead of a card, call 800-576-4377, select option 4 to get your Kroger Plus card number.

· Update or confirm your information.

· Enter “Assumption” or our NPO number of AT066 and select us from the list and click on confirm.

· If enrollment is complete, you will see Assumption’s name on the right side of your information page.

· That’s it!!! Use your registered Kroger Plus card or phone number at the register and our parish benefits!!!

By registering online, coupons can be electronically attached to your Plus Card. Not only do you help the Church, but you save money. Talk to everyone you know about registering to benefit our parish!!!