ORTHODOX CHURCH IN AMERICA
CHURCH PLANTING GRANT
MONTHLY PROGRESS REPORT
To: Department of Evangelization, Rev John Parker, Chairman
CC: His Grace, Bp Michael, Bishop of New York; V Rev John Jillions, Chancellor of the OCA; V Rev
Joseph Lickwar, Chancellor of the Diocese of New York and New Jersey; V Rev Alexey
Karlgut Dean of the New York State Deanery; V Rev Jonathan Ivanoff, Director of the
Department of Missions and Evangelism, Diocese of New York and New Jersey
From: Holy Apostles Orthodox Church, Rev James Worthington, Rector
Date: February 10, 2013 (Send by the 10th of each month for the previous month)
Last Month's Profile
1
2nd
1-6
1-13
7
5
16
12
st
1. Attendance at:
Saturday Great Vespers
Sunday Divine Liturgy
2. Other Services Held:
Divine Liturgy for Circumcision
Great Blessing of Cayuga Lake 1-6
Molieben for the Sick 1-12
Vasilopita Blessing 1-27
3rd
1-20
5
11
4th
1-27
12
5th
-
Attendance:
5
12
4
12
3. Monthly Income: $5366
Monthly Expense: $4894
(When submitting a Church Planting Grant Monthly Program report to the appropriate
recipients, please attach copies of all current monthly financial reports as well as council meeting
minutes)
4. Total number of visitors to mission last month? 5
How are the visitors greeted and was there any follow-up contact? (use separate sheets if
necessary) For every Divine Liturgy, we have a greeter at the door who welcomes them, gives
the bulletin (which contains troparia, kontakia, prokeimenon and communion verse), and are
warmly welcomed, whether the person is a long time member or first time visitor. We share with
them other literature that is available and the chance to complete a commemoration slip. Our
greeters are trained to welcome them and help them to get settled in for the service, and to
guide them through some of the usual questions the visitors may have. Visitors are asked to fill
out a contact form and to sign the guest book. This is used to make follow-up contact.
5. How were your growth goals prayed for and worked on during the last month? At every
service we use a prayer for Church Growth that I received from Abbot Sergius at St Tikhon's
Monastery. At the social hour, we speak about inviting friends and family to the Church, and
making ourselves good ambassadors for the faith.
6. During the last month, please indicate the number of:
Inquirers
3_________
New Catechumens 1_________
Baptisms
Weddings
Funerals
0_________
0_________
0_________
Chrismations
Memorials
Other
0_________
3_________
0_________
7. Indicate the progress in the past month of the Building Program or Purchase Plan: We have
3-5 years left on our agreement for our current worship space, and have begun to look at the
purchase of an iconostas. We have not yet begun to collect in a special fund for a building
program, though we are in discussion about the best place to locate our parish. All of our
parishioners come from south of the parish, towards Ithaca. This is the population base for the
area, and has a permanent community, whereas Lansing is spread out and is largely a bedroom
community for the two colleges in Ithaca. Our parish is weighing all options considering
location in order to serve the community to the best of its ability.
8. Indicate the progress of the Outreach Program: We continue to advertise in the local paper,
and canvas the available bulletin boards with posters and our events. Fr James is involved with
the Lansing Community Council which provides a level of visibility to the parish throughout the
year, but especially in the summer months. We support the local OCF, and several students are
in attendance at Holy Apostles each Sunday. They, in turn, invite their friends.
9. Indicate the progress of the Stewardship Plan: The parishioners are kept aware of the income
and expenses of the parish. All expenses fall within range for their budgeted amounts.
10. Indicate the progress of the Leadership Development Plan: Several roles within the
community have been claimed recently. One is familiarizing herself with the music books and
websites in order to learn to be a choir director. She will soon be speaking with local choir
directors to broaden her knowledge base. For some months now, another young gentleman of
the parish has been serving in the altar and leading the altar boys in their duties. The Treasurer
has done a wonderful job of attending to the weekly collections.
11. Education Program:
Church School
Number of Classes 1__________
Number of Students 3__________
Average Attendance 3__________
Adult Education
Number of Classes
Number of Attendees
Average Attendance
2_________
6 and 5___
5.5________
12. Remarks (use separate paper if necessary): Sickness hit the parish pretty hard this month,
and it is reflected in our attendance numbers. One family of five was sick every week, and their
children never made it to Church School classes, or to Liturgy.