Comments for http://www.stjohndivine.com . . .a Caring, Christian Family Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:20:05 +0100 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on Latest News by Kirk Faryniasz http://www.stjohndivine.com/2011/07/11/hello-world-2/#comment-27 Kirk Faryniasz Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:20:05 +0000 http://stjohnthedivinechurch.wordpress.com/?p=1#comment-27 I would have voted for you Harvey. I would have voted for you Harvey.

]]> Comment on Latest News by admin http://www.stjohndivine.com/2011/07/11/hello-world-2/#comment-23 admin Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:34:31 +0000 http://stjohnthedivinechurch.wordpress.com/?p=1#comment-23 Hello, Barbara -- Revelations is now available on this website. Go to the main Navigation bar and click on: Communications. That will reveal a drop-down menu that includes two items: Literature Rack and Revelations. Click on Revelations. That will show, to the right, a flag marked: Revelations Feb 2012. Click on that. This opens a page where you will see a hyperlink (in blue): Revelations Feb 2012. Click on that and the file will opne. Thanks. E.B. Hello, Barbara — Revelations is now available on this website. Go to the main Navigation bar and click on:
Communications. That will reveal a drop-down menu that includes two items: Literature Rack and Revelations. Click on Revelations. That will show, to the right, a flag marked: Revelations Feb 2012. Click on that. This opens a page where you will see a hyperlink (in blue): Revelations Feb 2012. Click on that and the file will opne. Thanks. E.B.

]]> Comment on Latest News by Barbara Marafioe http://www.stjohndivine.com/2011/07/11/hello-world-2/#comment-22 Barbara Marafioe Tue, 07 Feb 2012 22:22:26 +0000 http://stjohnthedivinechurch.wordpress.com/?p=1#comment-22 This website - blog is a blessing, thank you. I know there are members of St. John's who do not use a computer, but for those who do, could the monthly Revelations be posted on this site and further reduce the cost? For many of us who are in or around the church some of the articles are already out of date by the time we receive it by post, that to could cut down the extra pages. Regarding the monthly financials they could also be posted and then we would have true transparency for all our members. Barbara Marafiote This website – blog is a blessing, thank you. I know there are members of St. John’s who do not use a computer, but for those who do, could the monthly Revelations be posted on this site and further reduce the cost? For many of us who are in or around the church some of the articles are already out of date by the time we receive it by post, that to could cut down the extra pages.
Regarding the monthly financials they could also be posted and then we would have true transparency for all our members.

Barbara Marafiote

]]> Comment on Latest News by admin http://www.stjohndivine.com/2011/07/11/hello-world-2/#comment-21 admin Tue, 07 Feb 2012 18:01:53 +0000 http://stjohnthedivinechurch.wordpress.com/?p=1#comment-21 Hello — SJD’s mortgage obligation is part of the budget, along with operational expenses and all payments due have been made. The church is not in arrears with any creditor. The separation referred to concerns the way money has been collected through contributions applied to operating expenses and contributions dedicated specifically to the Mortgage Fund which is merely an extension of the original Building Fund to which parishioners have been contributing since the decision was first made to build a new church. The current 3-year Mortgage (Building)Fund Drive for pledges comes to an end this year, so the 2013 Budget seemed like the opportune time to end dual fund-raising accounting to reflect, as I said in my report that, ”a dollar is a dollar and a church need is a church need.” If you have further questions about the budget or any church matter, you can contact me at ebrown09@tampabay.rr.com or at 813-633-1116. Sincerely, Ed Brown, Senior Warden Hello —
SJD’s mortgage obligation is part of the budget, along with operational expenses and all payments due have been made. The church is not in arrears with any creditor. The separation referred to concerns the way money has been collected through contributions applied to operating expenses and contributions dedicated specifically to the Mortgage Fund which is merely an extension of the original Building Fund to which parishioners have been contributing since the decision was first made to build a new church. The current 3-year Mortgage (Building)Fund Drive for pledges comes to an end this year, so the 2013 Budget seemed like the opportune time to end dual fund-raising accounting to reflect, as I said in my report that, ”a dollar is a dollar and a church need is a church need.” If you have further questions about the budget or any church matter, you can contact me at ebrown09@tampabay.rr.com or at 813-633-1116.
Sincerely,
Ed Brown, Senior Warden

]]> Comment on Latest News by A.J. Faryniasz http://www.stjohndivine.com/2011/07/11/hello-world-2/#comment-20 A.J. Faryniasz Tue, 07 Feb 2012 13:57:49 +0000 http://stjohnthedivinechurch.wordpress.com/?p=1#comment-20 Regarding the budget: when the new church was completed and services were begun, you could have bought me with a quarter when I found out the budget did not include the mortgage! I was taught that a budget includes all income and expenses and when I marched into the world as a young adult, budget in hand, I can assure you that my rent was the first line item. When I later taught budgeting skills to people who were transitioning from welfare into the workforce, I can assure you that any rent they were responsible for was their first line item. To this day, I am baffled that our church did not use the same thought process; I consider the method I learned and taught to be pretty much the norm. I was pleased to hear on Sunday that we are moving in that direction, but not so pleased to hear it will take another year. Regarding the budget: when the new church was completed and services were begun, you could have bought me with a quarter when I found out the budget did not include the mortgage! I was taught that a budget includes all income and expenses and when I marched into the world as a young adult, budget in hand, I can assure you that my rent was the first line item. When I later taught budgeting skills to people who were transitioning from welfare into the workforce, I can assure you that any rent they were responsible for was their first line item. To this day, I am baffled that our church did not use the same thought process; I consider the method I learned and taught to be pretty much the norm. I was pleased to hear on Sunday that we are moving in that direction, but not so pleased to hear it will take another year.

]]> Comment on Latest News by Harvey Berk http://www.stjohndivine.com/2011/07/11/hello-world-2/#comment-18 Harvey Berk Mon, 06 Feb 2012 23:59:15 +0000 http://stjohnthedivinechurch.wordpress.com/?p=1#comment-18 Well said,Kirk. I totally agree on the importance of having a variety of candidates for the open vestry positions and not just have election by acclamation-I have expressed my interest in serving in this capacity for 2 years now and so far have never even had the opportunity to be placed on the ballot. There could also be other members of the congregation who would be interested in serving and are not given a chance.I feel that if a person is volunteering to serve, he or she should be given a chance by being placed on the ballot instead of having the nominees just selected and placed on the ballot. Well said,Kirk. I totally agree on the importance of having a variety of candidates for the open vestry positions and not just have election by acclamation-I have expressed my interest in serving in this capacity for 2 years now and so far have never even had the opportunity to be placed on the ballot. There could also be other members of the congregation who would be interested in serving and are not given a chance.I feel that if a person is volunteering to serve, he or she should be given a chance by being placed on the ballot instead of having the nominees just selected and placed on the ballot.

]]> Comment on Latest News by Kirk Faryniasz http://www.stjohndivine.com/2011/07/11/hello-world-2/#comment-16 Kirk Faryniasz Mon, 06 Feb 2012 11:04:29 +0000 http://stjohnthedivinechurch.wordpress.com/?p=1#comment-16 I believe this blog is a great way for our church members to discuss their concerns in an open forum. It would be nice to see some type of dialogue with concerns that parishoners have after Sunday's annual meeting. Senior Warden Ed Brown provided a stirring update during the Sunday service does anyone have any thoughts on what was said? I thought that the fact that the budget will now combine the mortgage fund and operating fund is a great step to see how financially we are doing and not in a split manner as been done the last two years. What do others think? Finally, as I step away from my time on the vestry due to personal reasons, it is sad to see that we had just five candidates running for five positions. Hats off to these folks who stepped up , but we should have had a field of 10 to allow a true election to occur. Selecting by acclamation made be speedy process but it is not the best way to move the church forward. I make these comments motivated by Father Tracy's comments that we are the "thinking person's church." And this blog will allow us to think and exchange ideas. I believe this blog is a great way for our church members to discuss their concerns in an open forum. It would be nice to see some type of dialogue with concerns that parishoners have after Sunday’s annual meeting. Senior Warden Ed Brown provided a stirring update during the Sunday service does anyone have any thoughts on what was said?
I thought that the fact that the budget will now combine the mortgage fund and operating fund is a great step to see how financially we are doing and not in a split manner as been done the last two years.
What do others think?
Finally, as I step away from my time on the vestry due to personal reasons, it is sad to see that we had just five candidates running for five positions. Hats off to these folks who stepped up , but we should have had a field of 10 to allow a true election to occur. Selecting by acclamation made be speedy process but it is not the best way to move the church forward.
I make these comments motivated by Father Tracy’s comments that we are the “thinking person’s church.” And this blog will allow us to think and exchange ideas.

]]> Comment on Latest News by Kirk Faryniasz http://www.stjohndivine.com/2011/07/11/hello-world-2/#comment-14 Kirk Faryniasz Sun, 05 Feb 2012 01:26:20 +0000 http://stjohnthedivinechurch.wordpress.com/?p=1#comment-14 Praying for all of our candidates that are up for election for vestry positions on Sunday. Praying for all of our candidates that are up for election for vestry positions on Sunday.

]]> Comment on Church Officers by Sharon Van Loan http://www.stjohndivine.com/parish-information/church-officers/#comment-13 Sharon Van Loan Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:05:55 +0000 http://stjohnthedivinechurch.wordpress.com/?page_id=391#comment-13 Very professional, very informative and very very helpful! Very professional, very informative and very very helpful!

]]> Comment on Church Officers by admin http://www.stjohndivine.com/parish-information/church-officers/#comment-12 admin Fri, 03 Feb 2012 03:45:04 +0000 http://stjohnthedivinechurch.wordpress.com/?page_id=391#comment-12 e-mail address corrected e-mail address corrected

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