Fellow Parishioners and Friends of St. Anne,
It should be obvious to a believer that everything we have is a gift from God. Our life, our health, our family, and all of those things that make life possible all come from God. They are given to us for our benefit, but also for us to share with others. Above all, they are given to us so that, in offering them to God, we may have communion with Him.
Each Sunday, bread and wine, representing all that we have been given, are offered back to God. Through Christ, He receives them and gives us, in turn, His own Body and Blood. This essential action we call the "Eucharist," a Greek word that means "thanksgiving." It is, and should be, the pattern of our life at all times.
Another representation of all we have been given is our financial support of the Church and our offerings for the poor. The traditional offering was (and is) the
tithe, a tenth of our income. Archbishop Dmitri, of blessed memory, often spoke of the tithe and encouraged this practice among the faithful. Those who find the tithe beyond their ability are still encouraged to practice “proportional giving.” In this we intentionally set aside a fixed portion of our income for the Church and charity in thanksgiving to God. Such a practice is foundational in the spiritual life.
The parish begins a new budget year in January. We ask each year that members of the parish make a pledge, or offer some indication of their financial support, for the coming year. This information allows the Parish Council to make a reasonable plan for the next year.
A link to the 2018 Stewardship form is included with this letter. You can indicate your pledge or intention of financial support by filling it out and returning it (just click on the “submit” button). It is emailed directly to the Treasurer, who maintains our records.
All gifts to St. Anne are tax-deductible. The treasurer maintains records for you that can assist during tax season.
Please help the Council by indicating your pledge or support and by returning this form. Our pledges and giving remain confidential.
May God bless you in your giving! Give thanks to God for all things!
In Christ,
David Heise, Treasurer
Adam Davis, Senior Warden
Fr. Stephen Freeman, Rector
Stewardship Facts at St. Anne
- St. Anne is supported entirely through the donations of its members and friends. We receive no support from the Diocese. We have been fully self-supporting since 2003. In 2006 St. Anne was elevated to parish status from its former mission status.
- Our annual income has grown over the past several years. The Council has done a wonderful job of holding our expenses at a very steady level. Reports for income and expenses and the various finances of the Church are published every month on the parish website.
- All parishes in the Diocese of the South tithe to the diocese. That is, 10 per cent of our receipts are given to the diocese. Those funds support the work of the Bishop and the National Church. In the South, 25 percent of the Diocese’s budget is put back into the work of mission planting and evangelism.
- The priest’s salary is the largest single expense in our budget. The standard in the Diocese of the South is that a priest’s salary should be roughly equivalent to that of a public school teacher with similar education and experience. Our priest’s salary is follows that guideline.
- The second largest expense in the budget is the debt for our building and land. We pay just over $2,200 per month on a debt that is now roughly $125,000. We have hopes of working with the Diocese to reduce this debt or refinance in the coming year.
- Money designated for “Outreach” is managed by the Parish Council and given to charitable needs outside the parish, such as the Food Bank, Choices Resource Center (Crisis Pregnancy support) or the Knox Area Rescue Ministries.
- Money designated for the “Building Fund” is set aside in savings for future Capital Projects (buildings, land, etc.). We currently have about $56,000 in the Building Fund. That fund can only be spent for fixed capital items (buildings, etc.).
- There are approximately 75-80 active families in the parish.
Your giving is a vital and essential part of the Orthodox life and mission. By God’s grace, we are blessed with a Church through such generosity!
