Parishioners at Ss. Peter & Paul Moundsville WV offer service as Shoebox Santas

One clear indicator of renewed vibrancy of a Diocese is the level of charitable outreach activity by its parishes. We're aware of three important such efforts. No doubt there are more -- let us know.

For the past three years members of Saints Peter & Paul Church (Moundsville WV) have packed personal hygiene "Santa Shoe Boxes" for needy persons. Boxes are distributed as part of the Appalachian Outreach Project.  Parishioners realize their modest effort is a drop in the bucket, however when combined with similar efforts from others "it can add up".

St Nicholas Church DuBois PA  offered a Christmas music program to benefit "Make a Wish"

Christmas Music Program -- St. Nicholas, Dubois PA

Despite difficult winter weather, singers from St Nicholas Church in Dubois PA presented a mid December Christmas Music program at a local middle school. Costs were underwritten by Penn State Christian Ministry and proceeds went to "Make a Wish".

Stuffed with Love - Holy Assumption, South Side

For some years Pittsburgh police have delivered Thanksgiving meals to needy persons as part of Operation "stuffed with love". Parishioners from Holy Assumption of St. Mary Church in the city's South Side neighborhood have assisted in various ways.

Holy Assumption Church kitchen served as preparation HQ for "Stuffed with Love" 2013"

We've encouraged parishes in the Archdiocese of W. PA (and elsewhere!)

Composite Development Effort List 

While only about one fourth of parishes have openly shared their plans with us -- the info we have still makes an impressive list of efforts to be pursued in 2014 among 14 Archdiocesan parishes:

New lighted sign Participate in neighborhood event Adult group studies book focused on liturgy Strategic growth initiative  Thanksgiving food effort Create welcome materials Stewardship/Pledge Transition Begin community outreach effort   Safe steps for entry Public Christmas Music program Create parish email list

Restart dormant bible study  Plan 100th Anniversary Update By Laws Community PR effort  Facebook page Create parish website Strengthen parish greeter's effort Monastery pilgrimage Explore possibility of neighborhood student coffeehouse

An encouraging list in our opinion. If many of these are accomplished we've started to move in the right direction.  We've received goal descriptions from tiny parishes and large parishes. Old parishes and new parishes. Rural, suburban and urban parishes.

Explore a parish timeline -- what is important to build on as we face forward?

But there is a good chance your parish is not included. Push to have your parish adopt some modest, attainable goals for 2014. Don't just sit back -- help stimulate action. Once you've defined an effort --let us know. We'll try to help you keep on track.

112 Project Ideas  

This potential project list  of 112 projects may help the conversation. Here are five items you'll find if you click on the link. Most of these can apply to parishes of almost any size.  

• Parish Identity - Ask parish neighbors. "Who are we?" "What do you know about us?" Then ask yourselves - "How do we want to be known to our neighbors?" Are you satisfied?  

• Feast Days - Renew parish commitment to feast day celebrations. Ask families or parish organizations to host particular feast days: decorate; special meal.

• Calendar review - Review existing parish activities &calendar items. Which should we stop? Continue? Which % are: purely social? Educational? Growth oriented? Is this profile appropriate? Which activities arebetter suited to PTA, Kiwanis or other secular groups?

• Fix - up - Paint the door.  Plant flowers. (OK, wait 'til spring on that.)  

• Reading Challenge -Create a reading list of books about the Orthodox faith. Challenge various sub groups Women's Club FOCA, Choir, 'Pirogi Pincher's to a good natured contest -- who can read the most about the Orthodox faith in next 3 months? Losers buy lunch.   

Or, try the project in this next article... 

At a past Healthy Parish Summit attended by 14 Orthodox priests from growing parishes a key take away was the simple practice of "saying thank you often".  While this should be a natural personal quality sometimes systematic effort is needed.   

In an article published in the Lewis Center for Church Leadership newsletter, staff member Ann Michel offers the following:   

"Saying thank you promptly and regularly is one of the simplest and most effective things a congregation can do to reinforce good stewardship and enhance giving. When people are thanked regularly, they feel appreciated, valued, and needed - which makes them more likely to support ministry with their time, talents, and financial support. To accomplish this, churches need a thank you system that is personal, prompt, and planned. "

Read her suggestions for accomplishing this here.   

In a related article in the same publication, Celsie Delve Schuermann a stewardship consultant and blogger offers additional suggestions:   

Even when parishes work hard at good communication - someone can find a reason to complain. "I wasn't informed!" "When did that happen?" Nonetheless we've also noticed that when parishes do work hard at communication, particularly harnessing the rapid delivery and low cost of email or other electronic channels, many people notice and appreciate it. The benefits:

• A sense of energy is conveyed.   
• The church feels less fossilized. Particularly to teens, 20 somethings -- and older.  
• A link to absent parishioners is maintained.
• The parish and its mission is not forgotten between Sundays/weekends.  
• Complex topics can be explained and communicated clearly and consistently. And reinforced.  
• And, communication complaints drop. Not disappear --but drop!   

Examples of E-Mail Use in Parishes  

So how do parishes use email? The following summarizes how six OCA parishes use email -- and their variations in frequency, content, tone and author. Many of these ideas can work for Facebook or other social media approaches as well.  (We'll specifically look at Facebook in a future Parish Pulse.)    

Perhaps a more active email communication ministry will require the parish to equip the priest or others with new equipment. Send your Apple IIe to the graveyard!

Parish 1: Keep it Simple

This parish's relatively basic Sunday bulletin is emailed on Saturday as an attached pdf file. Simple right?  You can do this. 

Parish 2: What is Happening Tomorrow  

Formatted text of the parish's  extensive bulletin is pasted into an email and sent every Saturday AM. (No need to click on attachments.) Parishioners --regular and infrequent -- are reminded of tomorrow's Gospel/epistle, commitments for readers, greeters, prosphora, coffee hour and weekly class content. Also included are 2-3 topical, brief articles --often quotes from the Church Fathers, updates on planned use of the parish charities fund and occasionally a brief summary of Parish council meetings. The priest writes a blog (usually 3-4 blog posts per week) and links to the blog posts are included.   

The Parish Communication Ministry? Parishes are learning that most parishioners use email

Parish 5: Daily Bread

Parishioners in this parish receive an email from the rector every morning. It includes the chapter/verse of the day's epistle and gospel along with a brief (1-3 sentence) explanation of a key point. Sometimes these messages answer a faith question from a parishioner. ("Why do we...") The answer is always clear and concise -- yet complete. Slowly the questions get better! A very active Facebook page encourages parishioners to share Q/A's and announcements with 'friends'.

Parish 6 Active Electronic Teaching Ministry 

This parish has a highly active email based communication approach including:   

• A layperson manages a prayer list --receiving and forwarding prayer requests.
• A Monday email from the priest reinforces, often in great depth, key points from the previous day's sermon, gospel or feast. 
• The priest sends 1-2 informational/ announcement emails per week. (Events, reminders of midweek services, "don't forget tonight's class on...")
• One or more emails per week exploring a topic of theological or moral significance to the Church or society are written and shared with the parish.   

Often twenty or more emails per month are received by parishioners. Does everyone read every email? Probably not-- but their faith is regularly explained and continually emphasized in their daily routine. And they certainly know -- their parish has not forgotten them.

We've written often about the importance of good photos in communicating your parish, its people and the beauty of the Orthodox faith.

We suggest you take a quick tour of the scrolling photos on the front page of the parish website.  The site has only about 20 photos. All well composed and clear. Most capturing emotion.

As you receive this issue of Parish Pulse St Nicholas Day 2013 has passed along with Nativity and Theophany. Nonetheless the following article, lifted from a parish bulletin and reflecting upon some important aspects of the Saint's life, should still be helpful to us all.

Most Recognized -- Yet No Writings   

St Nicholas is one of the most recognized and beloved saints in history and there is not a single writing of his that is known to have survived. We must ask ourselves, 'How much do I say and write that is unnecessary (i.e. idle) or loses its impact because my life doesn't match those words and writings?'

Generosity

His generosity and attempts to keep his good works a secret from the eyes of others should make us consider whether the actions we do for others may actually be done more for our self or for the reception of praise from others.

His Love and Defense for the Truth of the Gospel.  

He defended the teachings of the Church that we may regard merely in an intellectual fashion and not allow them to affect and transform each day of our life.  

Holy Father Nicholas, pray for us!!!