Membership

2012 MEMBERSHIP FORM




We are so very blessed at St George Orthodox Church. Having already celebrated 80 years as an Orthodox community, and having steadily grown over the years, by God's grace we remain one loving family. God has blessed us with the vocation of being the Mother Church of other parishes in the surrounding area. Thanks to the prayers, labors, and witness of the faithful of St George, we continue to engage in regular parish ministries for all ages.

May God strengthen and bless our growing family, our children, missions, and sister parishes. More than anything else, our vision is to continue to spread the Orthodox Christian Faith in the greater Houston area; our goal is to do this with deep and humble gratitude for the blessings we have received -- all as one faithful family.

STEWARDSHIP

Thanks to God's providence and your faithfulness, last year saw an increase in the number of households pledging toward the needs of St George Church. We have a full time staff of five, and two part-time workers.  But without the countless volunteer hours put in by faithful parishioners, the fruit of our labors would be far less plentiful. Yet, hoping to get everyone on board so that our ministry can keep up with the growth and needs of our community, the following verses and definitions are provided:

Pledges, Tithes & Offerings
We obligate ourselves to bring the first fruits of our ground and the first fruits of all fruit of every tree, year by year, to the house of the LORD - (Nehemiah 10:35). 

  • PLEDGING, promising to give tithes and offerings, dates back to the time before Christ, when the people of God promised in a written document to give tithes and offerings in the future.  Pledging makes planning possible.

You shall tithe all the yield of your seed, which comes forth from the field year by year - (Deuteronomy 14:22).

  • TITHING, giving ten percent  a tenth  of one's annual increase, predates Christianity and appears 37 times in Scripture:  It has always been a way to express one?s commitment to God. Tithing orders household budgets and our lives.

If you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift - (Matthew 5:23?24).

  • OFFERINGS are gifts to God as a mark of respect and love.  Offering appears 710 times in Scripture. Offerings are gifts to God and godly needs.

Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength!  Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering, and come into his courts!  (Psalm 96 [95 LXX]:7-8).

The question we must ask ourselves is: What do we believe God wants us to lovingly give Him, from what He has lovingly given us? *

*Excerpted from an article by John Truslow  [http://www.antiochian.org/node/18874]

CLAIMING ST GEORGE AS MY CHURCH HOME

God works through people, and our work continues. Now, no more than in the beginning, and no less than yesterday, your help is needed as our one loving family continues its faithful witness to the Orthodox Christian Faith in Southeast Texas.

St George provides services to over 600 families. Yet, only half of these families contribute or pledge any financial amount. Regardless, if you consider St George your church home and haven?t submitted a Membership Form yet, please take a moment to complete the Membership Form below so that we know WHO is a part of our church family. Please drop off completed Membership Forms at the church office or mail to: 

ST GEORGE ORTHDOX CHURCH
5311 Mercer
Houston, Texas 77005

*IF YOU HAVE FURTHER QUESTIONS CONCERNING THE ABOVE, OR ARE INTERESTED IN JOINING THE CHURCH, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO SPEAK WITH A PRIEST AFTER LITURGY OR CALL THE CHURCH OFFICE DURING THE WEEK AT (713) 665-5252*

With love in Christ, thanking you  in advance  for your 2012 St George Pledge,

-- Fr James , Fr Symeon, and the St George Stewardship Committee