THE POWER OF THANK YOU
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In our article on bulletin content we note the importance of saying thank you in bulletins and newsletters. Priests need to hear it. Lay persons need to hear it. Parishes need to hear it.
So, we'll take our own advice and offer a thank you to all the clergy, and laity in our Diocese that work so hard - sometimes 3 steps forward and 2 ½ steps back - to build up and strengthen their parishes.
And, thank you to our entire Diocese for endorsing this Parish Health Ministry for another two years! |
IMPROVING PARISH COMMUNICATIONS
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| New Articles Focus on Parish Bulletins: Content and Layout
 Having recently offered opinions on good and bad
qualities of parish websites we now take on another area of parish communications.
The Sunday Bulletin and its companion piece the Parish Newsletter.
A priest in our Diocese recently attended a workshop on
church communications. When he shared the workshop handouts with us it didn't take
long for this statement to catch our attention:
"The
bulletin is the second most important piece of Christian literature after the
bible."
Oh my! As Orthodox we
could offer...
to finish reading this article dealing with bulletin/newsletter content click here. To read the companion article dealing with improving formatting and layout of newsletters and bulletins click here
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MUSIC AND ORTHODOX WORSHIP
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Liturgical Music Workshop Huge Success 
An enthusiastic crowd of 80 persons attended a workshop titled "Heaven and Earth! Music and Orthodox Worship" on Saturday December 1 at Holy Trinity Orthodox Church in Parma OH. The workshop was presented by David Drillock, retired Professor of Liturgical Music at St Vladimir's Seminary and currently chairperson of the OCA's Department of Liturgical Music and Translations.The workshop, which included brief presentations on music and its relationship to liturgy, practical tips for improving the ministry of choral singers as parish leaders, significant time to practice proper choral technique and lto earn new music, concluded with the group singing at vespers. Attendees represented almost all parishes in the Cleveland deanery as well as non-OCA parishes. Attendees came from as far away as Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and Tennessee. |
CLERGY COMPENSATION POLICY FEEDBACK REQUESTED
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Policy to Be Adopted at 2008 Diocesan Assembly
At the 2007 Diocesan Assembly the Clergy Compensation Committee presented a draft of a new clergy compensation policy for Diocesan parishes.
Feedback is being requested from parishes and deaneries.
Read more here.
The proposed policy can be found here.
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AUDIT GUIDE AVAILABLE
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Please Use It!
 The new Diocesan Finanacial Audit Guidelines were delivered at the Diocesan Assembly. We'll try not to sound amazed, but, we've been told by a number of parishes that:
- They used it.
- They liked it and it was helpful.
So we feel confident in recommending that all parishes follow these guidelines in preparing financial audits for 2007.
We're sure the document is not yet perfect. Pass your improvement suggestions to parishfacilitator@midwestdiocese. org.
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WINTER YOUTH RETREATS IN DIOCESE
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If you are looking for opportunities for youth programs over the holidays or dinner winter months we are aware of three such activities.
- A Youth Retreat for ages 13-19 will be held at Archangel Michael Orthodox Church in Broadview Hts OH. More info can be found by phone at 440-526-5192 or email via this link
- St John the Forerunner parish in Indianapolis will host a Winter Youth Retreat for ninth grade and older from Saturday December 29 to Tuesday Jan. 1 at Camp Riverdale in Southwestern Indiana.Click here to register
- The Chicago deanery will hold its Winter Youth Camp from February 8-10 at Edwards YMCA Camp in East Troy WI. For info contact Fr Steven Hryciniak.
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THE CORINTHIANS ARE COMING
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Beginning in January a three part series exploring the the first and second books of Corinthians as an insight into modern parish life -- good and bad -- will be presented in Parish Pulse and on the Diocesan website.
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MISCONDUCT GUIDELINES
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 Feedback Solicited
Noting the availability of new materials to guide parish implementation of the OCA Sexual Misconduct Policy, the Diocesan Council has asked us to recommend what information, if any, should be provided by parishes to the Diocese to establish that parishes are in compliance with the policy. Our initial thought would be that parishes should indicate compliance with at least a subset of the items shown on the Parish Implementation Checklist. You may have different thoughts. Feel free to let us know. This topic will be discussed at the next Diocesan Council meeting in May.
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As we talk to priests and laity in the Diocese two topics concerning parish life seem to come up often. One is improving parish communications. Another is improving stewardship -- primarily financial but extending to all forms of Christian stewardship and discipleship.
