YOUR 2003 STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM

What is a Steward?

As Christians, we believe that God is the giver of all good things. This is what we profess in the closing prayer of the Divine Liturgy. Christians are stewards of God’s world. We return to God a portion of our time, talents, and resources to advance His Church on earth.

A steward knows of the need to give. In this way, a steward emulates God, that is, a steward does as God does. At the Annunciation Cathedral, we are all stewards. That is, we give of our time, our talents, and of our resources. Some of us give more than others. A few of us tithe. That is, we give 10% of our income to the Church. Many more of us may not give 10%, which is the Biblical norm on giving, but we do our best within our means. Some of us don’t give much at all. In fact, we don’t even send in a pledge card, except when it’s time to marry or baptize, dance or play basketball. Or, if we do, we give the least. A few people give amounts under $100 for the year. And this is not because they cannot afford to give more. It’s because giving to the Church is not important for them. More than likely, they don’t understand why they need to give. In order to help them, and to inform all of us, your Stewardship Committee offers the graphic shown on page 2..

How much is the parish budget?

Annunciation Cathedral’s operating budget for 2003 is just under $600,000 ($598,675 to be exact). This includes paying on what we owe on the building, which is just over $1 million.You can look at the graphic below and see that 38% of our budget goes to salaries. You might say that’s a lot of money, but it’s actually the very least that it takes to operate our community. While some area parishes have several paid staff members in various positions, the Annunciation Cathedral has only 1 priest, only 1 secretary (who is also the bookkeeper), only 1 custodian, and only 1 youth director (who also doubles up as the catering manager). Thank God for the many volunteers. Otherwise, the Cathedral would not be able to offer the many programs that it does.

The expenses shown on the chart on page 1 are offset by income, the biggest portion of which--$225,000--is slated to come in from stewardship pledges. (The rest is scheduled to come in as follows: $25,000 from Sunday Collections, $25,000 from Pangari, $16,000 from Christmas and Easter offerings, $90,000 from the Food Festival, $65,000 from rental of the hall, and the rest from renting the facilities to the school.) Even at that, we will not be able to make ends meet. Therefore, we ask you to study the graphic below and ask yourself, “am I giving what I should be giving to my Church?” If you, as a family, are giving less than $100 a month, the answer is, “no.”

How much should I be giving to my church?

We mentioned tithing (giving 10%) above. This is how much the Bible says we should be giving to our Church. When we go out to a restaurant, for example, we have a guide: 15-20% of the bill. We have a guide when we go to pay our income taxes. A formula is used, based on our income, less our deductions. Most of us pay between 25 and 50%. When we go shopping, we pay sales tax. In San Francisco, that tax is 8.5% of our taxable purchases. One local parish has even adopted a guide of giving $1 a week for every $1000 of annual income after taxes. According to this guide, if your annual income is $40,000 after taxes, then you would give $40 a week. Whatever you do, please sit down and calculate your 2003 stewardship pledge using a guide.

Can I change my commitment?

Of course you can. (And you may.) One of our parishioners (we don’t use names) sent in the family’s 2003 stewardship pledge in January, along with a check for payment in full. Then, after speaking with the folks at the Stewardship booth one Sunday, this person raised the family’s stewardship pledge for 2003 to $5,000. And this is not a rich person, just a hard-working person who loves the Lord and the Church and appreciates what the Church means for that family.

Our goal for the year.

The Stewardship Commi-ttee’s 2003 campaign intends to sign up no less than 600 stewards. Ideally, the entire budget of $600,000 should be covered by our stewardship, if we truly pledged and gave what we can afford to give.

You will be acknowledged.

The Stewardship Comm- ittee is not going to use categories or amounts (its job is to inspire and motivate, not to embarrass). In the next issue of the Herald, it will list, in alphabetical order, all those who
have made a Stewardship Pledge for 2003. It wishes to acknowledge and thank you for your ongoing support. After all, Annunciation Cathedral is you, our parishioners. The article by our Stewardship Chairman, Gus Vouchilas, says it all.

My Fellow Stewards:

Although it seems difficult to believe, Great Lent is nearly upon us. The Lenten season offers us an opportunity to reflect on all aspects of our lives relative to our Christian faith. It is a time to renew our faith with conviction and with humility. It is a time for us to examine ourselves introspectively and to ask ourselves, among other things, “Am I a true Steward of my faith and of my church?” You see, I believe that in order to embrace our faith we must “live” the faith. It is not enough to “go through the motions.” We must set the example for our fellow Christians as well as Non-Christians.

Stewardship is a multifaceted concept that encompasses all areas of “living the faith.” We count on our church to fill our hearts and our minds. In the same way that we count on the church, the church counts on us. Our cathedral is only as strong as its Stewards are. Without our combined efforts and commitment, our cathedral would cease to exist, as we know it. What would our lives be like without the Annunciation? I would venture to say that we would feel lost and even abandoned. Without proper financial support, the church also feels lost and abandoned. How does the Annunciation survive without its Stewards?
In an effort to keep our hope, faith, and love alive, I ask you to look inside yourself. Are you the best Steward you can be? Have you increased your 2003 pledge to offset the increases in costs to the Cathedral for services, supplies, and the like? Our operating budget for the year is over a half million dollars and our annual Stewardship collected this past year was not even half of that amount. So how do we sustain ourselves?

Until we can rise to the occasion by pledging according to the gifts God has provided all of us with, we will continue to run a deficit. The essence of giving is an “attitude.” It is an attitude in the sense that we must feel good about giving so that God acknowledges our gifts with great joy. Imagine how He must feel when you give openly to support your church.
Another facet of Stewardship is giving of your time and talents. The Annunciation needs you in that respect as well. Imagine, if each of us gives according to what we have been given, we could reach heights we have never seen before.
So please ask yourself again, “Am I a true Steward of my faith and of my church?”......then give all that you can.

Gus Vouchilas, Stewardship Chair

ARCHITECT DELIVERS DESIGN/COST OPTIONS

The long-awaited architectural alternative schemes ordered by the Parish Council were presented by Goldman Architects at a meeting of the Parish Council on February 19. Essentially, the scenarios are as follows:

1. Extending the present chapel into the courtyard, thus increasing the seating capacity to 324 (at 21” per seat, or 400, at 18” per seat), developing a proper altar area, and building two levels of parking below the current level, for three levels of parking. The estimated cost for this scenario is $3,836,960.

2. Building a Cathedral church along the lines of the model (located in the entrance lobby), along with ancillary facilities, to accommodate 438 worshippers (at 21” per seat, or 528 seats, at 18” per seat), along with two levels of parking below the Cathedral. The estimated cost for this scenario is $5,881,645.

3. Building the Cathedral, described in scenario 2 and adding a loft level to accommodate the choir and an additional 232 seats (at 21” per seat, or 258 seats @18” per seat), for a total of 670 and 786 seats, respectively. For this option (which can also be built at a later time), as phase IIA, add $1,619,770 to the cost in scenario 2.

Before these options can be considered, however, a soils study needs to be done to determine the number of parking levels which can be built, among other things. When this study is done, the DEB (Development, Expansion and Building Committee) will convene to discuss the options. Meanwhile, fund raising strategies and options are being discussed.

(We ought to mention at this point that there are no new developments, as this issue of the H:erald went to press, concerning the garage located opposite the Cathedral. Interest was expressed in acquiring this property for the purpose of building housing for the elderly and parking for use by the Cathedral.)

MARCH 9: GODPARENTS/ SPECIAL FRIENDS SUNDAY

This year’s Godparent’s Sunday will take place on Sunday, March 9, the eve of the Great Lent. Because some individuals may not be able to come to church that day with their Godparents or Godchildren, as the case may be, this day was expanded to include a special friend. During the Liturgy, prior to Holy Communion, we will recite our baptismal vows, as a reaffirmation of our faith. Then, we will all receive Holy Communion together. Following the Divine Liturgy, a complimentary brunch will be served in our community center. The brunch and the day itself are being sponsored by our Stewardship Committee. As a Godparent nurtures a godchild, so the Stewardship Committee nurtures our church and its people.

MARCH 25TH: THE FOUNTAINHEAD OF OUR SALVATION

March 25th marks the day when the Archangel Gabriel appeared to the Virgin Mary and announced the good news of her becoming the “Mother of God.” It is a great Christian Holy Day. It is especially meaningful for us, the parishioners of the Cathedral, because it is the Name Day of our Church. Great Vespers will be celebrated on Monday, March 24th, begining at 7 p.m. The Philoptochos will host a coffee hour following the Great Vespers. On Tuesday, March 25th, the service of Orthros will be celebrated at 9 p.m., and will be followed by the Divine Liturgy, beginning at 10:15 a.m. A luncheon, also sponsored by the Cathedral Philoptochos, will follow the Divine Liturgy. During the Luncheon, the 2003 Woman of the Year will be proclaimed.

We thank you for being sensitive to the prayerful atmosphere of the Divine Liturgy for yourself and for others by turning off your cell phone upon entering Church.

On Saturday, March 1, the Metropolitan Philoptochos will present A Taste of Mardi Gras, a gala fund raiser, to be held at the Cathedral, beginning at 6:30 p.m. A dinner, prepared by Kokkari Estiatorio, will follow at 7:30 p.m. In addition, there will be a fine art auction a balloon raffle, a live entertainment, and dancing to the music of Kymata. There will also be valet parking. Costumes are encouraged. The donation is $75 per person and will benefit the Philoptochos Library Fund. To make reservations, please call Patricia Aleck at the Philoptochos office, 415 431-2600.

GREEK INDEPENDENCE DAY PARADE TO BE HELD MARCH 30th/GLENDI TO FOLLOW

This year’s Greek Independence Day Parade will follow last year’s format. It will begin at 2:30 p.m. at San Francisco’s Civic Plaza. Paraders will begin arriving at the Cathedral at 3:30 p.m. A Glendi, similar to that of last year, with tiropites (cheese pies), spanakopites (spinach pies), gyros, pizza, salad, and refreshments, available for purchase, complete with music and dancing to the music of the Greek Compania, will follow, concluding at 8 p.m. Join us for what promises to be a wonderful celebration.

SUNDAY OF ORTHODOXY TO BE OBSERVED AT ASCENSION

Sunday of Orthodoxy Vespers will take place at the Ascension Cathedral, Oakland, on Sunday, March 16 at 5 p.m. Following the Vespers a light meal will be served in the fellowship hall. The proceeds will benefit IOCC (International Orthodox Christian Charities). Area clergy, choirs, and faithful, all worshipping together bear witness to the timeless message of the Church as well as our unity as Orthodox Christians.

The Annunciation Cathedral will host this year’s IOCC annual dinner in November.

Easter Breads are being offered by the Philoptochos, at $10; Koulourakia (cookies) are also offered at $6 per dozen; Red Colored Eggs are $4 per dozen; hand-decorated red eggs are $5 per dozen. To place an order, please complete a special order form, found at the pangari, or call the Cathedral office at 415 864-8000. Your order will be ready for pick-up Friday, April 25 and Saturday, April 26. The proceeds help fund the many philanthropic projects of the Philoptochos.

RECENT SACRAMENTS AND SERVICES AT THE CATHEDRAL

MARRIAGE

On February 15, the marriage of Ronny Louie Mogannam and Antoinette Wadih Malouf was blessed at the Cathedral. Atina Salih served as sponsor.

Na mas zisoun! Mabrook! Congratulations!

FUNERALS

Vasiliki Triant Prepouses, who died on January 12, was buried January 17. Next of kin listed is her son, Nicholas Prepouses.

Demetra Panagakis, who died February 7, was buried February 12. Next of kin listed are Ann Eckelhoff and John Panagakis, children.

Aionia afton i mnimi! May their memory be eternal!

LOOKING AHEAD

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March 2003 Herald
Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral.