St Michael's Orthodox Church Presidents report 2008-2009

Our priest Fr Ilyan and his health has continued to be of concern over the last year, and in spite of some ups and downs we must give thanks to God and to all those who have supported him, whether with prayers or in other more material ways, that he is still able to serve us. This ill health has meant that Fr is no longer in paid employment, but on a sickness benefit. He has however, been able to continue to serve us as our priest, for which we are all grateful.

While the Archbishop has provided some money when emergencies have occurred, it has really been gifts great and small from our wider Orthodox community that have allowed Fr to obtain some financial support for him to continue ministering to us. With the help and advice of a range of people we have attempted to assist in the management of this donated money. A special thanks must go to Andy who has assisted in the management of these funds using his computer skills. We must keep in mind that the need for such ongoing donations will continue into the near future and I would ask everyone in the parish to continue consider how they can help in this regard, whether through a parish family subscription, one off donation, or with an ongoing monthly automatic bank payment. Remember that a number of small donations is as valuable as one larger one.

I believe that Fr has also had a computer donated to him but will need a newer printer to be compatible with it.

We must also thank Andy for the weekly newsletter he has produced for us this year.(a great new innovation) and also for creating and maintaining our website.

Church life also depends on the physical Church building and its contents which must be maintained.

We are still hopeful that we may, in the future be able to apply for funding to help with Church restoration, but this is dependent on securing the ownership of the church and its deeds.

Jackie St John of Anderson Lloyd has agreed to act for us and is hoping to be given permission by her firm to work for us pro bono, however as usual progress has been slow. I have given her all the information available but when I contacted her recently as to progress she said that the next board meeting would be about 3 weeks away and I should hear from her after that. Dicon Sim has also passed on information to her that he held.

In the mean time our funds have managed to finance some urgent maintenance and painting of woodwork at the front of the church and when funds allow we must look at similar work at the back.

We have also received a bequest from the estate of Olga Barbara and work is underway with the assistance if Fr Jack to create some new service books with some of this money.

Again, as last year, thank you to all those who have assisted in ways large and small this year. Remember you are our church without your gifts of money and time we would not exist.

Prepared by Alice Baird (president)