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March 2004 Report

SANCTUARY COMPLETED – THYRANOIXIA HELD!

 The first Divine Liturgy was held in conjunction with the Thyranoixia on Sunday, February 22, 2004.  His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas of Detroit celebrated the Hierarchical Liturgy with Father John Paul and Deacon Theodor Petrutiu.  Over 500 Parishioners and guests were on hand for the celebration and the long awaited completion of our Sanctuary.

New Church Committee - This milestone brings the function of the New Church Committee (NCC) closer to the fulfillment of its purpose and objective.  In the coming weeks, the NCC will be wrapping up the project through the closure of open punch list items and closure of open contracts, primarily with the Architect and the Construction Manager.  The NCC and the Parish Council have accepted the committee’s recommendation for closure and transferring of the Iconography Committee, the Landscaping Committee and the Capital Campaign Committee to the Parish Council for direct oversight and reporting.  Financial reporting of the New Church Building Fund will continue to be published in the monthly Parish bulletin.  Once the project contracts have been closed out and a final project balance determined, the debt will be retired through a low interest equity line or mortgage.  At that time, the New Church Building Fund financial books will be closed and no longer separately recorded or reported.

Construction Manager – Monthly project coordination meetings ware held on January 16 and February 13 between the NCC and O’Neal Construction, Inc.  Punch list items on the three auxiliary buildings were nearly completed.  In the Sanctuary, all construction activities were essentially completed.  This included the marble work, finishing carpentry work, carpet installation, touch-up painting, ceramic tile base in the Sanctuary bathrooms, chandelier installation, and pew delivery and installation.  Punch lists were prepared by the Architect during walk downs on February 9.  O’Neal has passed these items on to the subcontractors for resolution.  A walk down of the Sanctuary exterior and overall site and grounds will take place when the weather improves.

Iconography - The Iconography Committee took the lead in completing the construction of our temporary Iconostasis through the help of Parish volunteers.  The committee met several times in January and February.  Planning of the Iconography continued.  An interview was conducted with an Iconographer on February 24.  Informational Sessions will be held after Divine Liturgy on the following Sundays:

• March 7 – History of Byzantine Iconography – Paul Moniodis
• April 18 – Traditional Placement of Icons in an Orthodox Church – Michael Challis
• May 16 – Saint Nicholas Program of Iconography – Mike Kapetan

 Please plan on participating in these informative sessions.

Water Quality – Water samples from our water well supply were taken in December 2003 and analyzed.  These results show safe drinking water with zero Bacteria present and no dectectable1,4 Dioxane and Nitrates.  A summary report is included in this bulletin and is posted on the Parish web site.

Financial Position - A summary of the New Church Building Fund dated February 29, 2004 follows this report.  The financial summary illustrating current revenues and expenses versus the project budget has also been updated.  The “Re-Allocated Budget” column indicates that we are presently expecting to run about $95,000 over the project budget.  This increase is due primarily to actual costs for the parking lot extension and front drive drop off being about $25,000 more than estimated and our legal expenses running $30,000 over what was budgeted.  Additional project costs were also incurred for obtaining materials for the furnishings in the Sanctuary such as the temporary Iconostasis, the choir loft risers, and reassembling and installing of the chandeliers.

Our “Gap” or additional pledges and fund raising stands at about $770,000.  Please note that specially funded items also have their dedicated revenue collection line items identified in the summary.  We still have about $385,000 yet to collect on our pledges.  Please consider making payments to help improve our cash flow situation.

Parishioner Participation – Parish volunteers worked very hard to ready the Sanctuary and Hall for the Thyranoixia.  Floors were scrubbed, carpets vacuumed, windows cleaned and furnishings polished for the big day.  Thanks to all the volunteers that came forward and to the Thyranoixia Committee members for all their hard work.  Many Parishioners also came forward and donated food and supplies for the reception.  We thank them for their generosity.  The outpouring of effort was an outward sign of the true love and commitment in the hearts our Saint Nicholas Parishioners.

Capital Campaign – The Capital Campaign Committee met in January and February to plan and coordinate fundraising activities for the Thyranoixia and other project programs.  The Pew Donation Program was a big success.  Every pew in the Sanctuary was donated.  Thanks to all who participated.  Donations received for advertisements and greetings displayed in the Thyranoixia Commemorative Album covered all expenses associated with the event and produced a profit of over $4,000.  The Thyranoixia  ribbon cutting donations netted $20,000.  The Memorial Garden program will be unveiled in the spring.  We thank Parishioners and friends for all their support.

We have reached the final stage of completing the New Church project.  Our construction loan will soon be converted to a low interest equity line or mortgage.  It is highly desirable to minimize this amount to the greatest extent possible.  We do not wish to burden our Parish operating budget with costly monthly loan payments.  Now that we are in our beautiful new Sanctuary, we have truly established our new home and place of worship.  NOW is the time for all Parishioners to step forward and give their fair share.

During our 2004 Lenten Journey, let us each reflect upon our financial contribution to the project.  Is there an opportunity to give a little more?  How can we help reduce the “Gap” so that our end loan is as small as possible?  Thank you again for your loving and generous support to date.

Communications – Please visit our Parish web site at:  www.stnickaa.org  for updates, articles and photographs of related events.

 Submitted by Chris Patselas on behalf of the NCC.

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