HOW DO I BECOME A STEWARD OF THE CHURCH?

Like most Christian congregations, St. George Greek Orthodox Church is supported entirely by the tithes and offerings of its members. We do not generate income for the operation of the church through sales, festivals or any other program. Our operational budget therefore depends directly upon the annual pledges of our church members.

As a newcomer to St. George, we ask you to consider making a pledge as soon as possible. You may do this by contacting a member of the parish council or by filling out the Pledge Form which is enclosed in this packet. You will be assigned a pledge number which also identifies you as a regular member of this church.

How much should you give? In the Bible, “tithes” are the percentage of our regular income that we pledge to the church, usually a tenth. “Offerings” are special gifts that we choose to give over and above our tithe. A good way to think of the tithe is to realize that all we have is a gift from God; therefore, it is not that we are giving God a tenth of what is ours, but that God is giving us one hundred percent. We give back a portion in order to further the work of the Gospel in the world.

If you have never tithed before, the prospect may seem difficult at first. A good way to begin is to set aside a portion of your monthly income as soon as you are paid, so that the household budget adjusts to the remainder. Before long you will find that you do not miss this “extra” income. Gradually you can expand this amount to reach ten percent. (This can be done with extra clothing and other belongings as well: set them aside for several months, and if you see that you do not miss them, give them to the poor!)

The Philoptochos women’s organization of the church raises money which is given directly to the poor or to agencies which help the needy. (Philoptochos is Greek for “friends of the poor”). Our local chapter of the Philoptochos gives away tens of thousands of dollars annually for projects around the country and around the world. If you would like to contribute to the Philoptochos, please ask one of the church members to identify the Philoptochos president for you so that you can become acquainted.

Once you have filled out the pledge form, try to send in your pledged amount each month, at the beginning of the month. This will help St. George to pay its bills on time and to carry out its monthly programs.

Finally, remember that tithes and offerings do not simply refer to our monetary gifts. Our time and talents are equally important. You may have talents which are needed for the ministry of the church. Once you have settled in to the St. George congregation, plan to see Fr. Brendan to talk about what talents you could offer to God’s work. God’s work needs you! We need:

XSunday School teachers

XVolunteers to give rides (to church, to doctor’s appointments, etc.)

XOffice helpers

XVolunteers to assist the priest in other capacities