Stewardship 2025
Highlights of our Stewardship in 2024 - Time, Talent, and Treasure at Work:
• Closed 2023 with a stable number of stewards and with no deficit (despite not having the Greek Festival)
• Continued with baptisms, catechism, marriage preparation, and ministering to the military.
• Worshiped and had Agape Meal every Sunday
• Sanctified time through weekday services on Wednesdays and Fridays and major feast days
• Conducted Strategic Planning focused on 3 major objectives needing priority
• Continued the daily Church university (in its 5th year)
• Held weekly Book Forums which read and studied 4 books
• Embraced the Lenten disciplines – fasting, personal prayer, collective prayer and almsgiving
• Completed another catechism cycle at the end of Lent
• Received two couples into the church on Holy Saturday, one of them got married
• Hosted Bishop Ioannis during Holy Week
• Hosted the sixteen-session Orthodoxy 101 Introductory class
• Offered the ten-session Marriage class
• Continued running the Orthodox Montessori Sunday Preschool
• Increased hosting the Ladies I-Help from 12 to 16 visits per year
• Continued serving monthly at the Food Bank
• Held the Philoptochos Open House and training on Preparedness
• Cleaned up mold contamination at the Salinas Church.
• Supported the Philoptochos Bake Sales
• Put the Salinas Church on the market.
• Pursued opportunities to purchase church property in Monterey
• Developed a Mission and Evangelism team that meet twice monthly
• Launched a two-month Evangelism Season
• Sponsored a Mission Priest in North Kenya through OCMC
• Participated in Project Mexico through donations and sending a parishioner
• Replaced the altar Crucifix
• Introduced new talent at the Chant Stand
• Trained a new team of altar servers, now with a minimum of three servers every Sunday
• Supported philanthropic needs currently budgeted (equal to 2% of our total income) and exceeded by private generosity in the following areas:
Project Mexico ministry, Presbytera Benevolent Fund, International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC), Philoptochos, Falge Farm Workers Ministry (Carmel Mission), Hellenic College Holy Cross, Monterey County Food Bank, and parishioners in need.
In 2025 we expect to launch the Planned Giving initiative and our revised Strategic Plan, while continuing the work listed above.
Please prayerfully count your blessings and join the others who serve the Lord in our community.
Consider where would our community be if all our stewards offered what you offered in 2024.
We strive for giving a minimum of 10% of our income (tithing). If not there, increase gradually.
Looking for a quick and easy way to see what your tithe would be based on your income?
Wondering if you gave “so much a day”, what percent of your income would it be?
Try this handy Tithing Calculator:
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Our VISION:
Our Orthodox community seeks transformation in Jesus Christ and to bring people to Christ.
Our MISSION:
Worship: We worship God in the Divine Liturgy and other services and the Sacraments.
Education: We offer and participate in adult and youth education to enhance our spiritual life.
Living the Gospel: We follow the teachings and commandments of Christ in our lives.
Community: We grow as a family in Christ and we serve Him within and outside the parish.
Our STRATEGIC PLAN (December 9 2020): View Saint John's 2020 Strategic Plan