Welcome Visitors! We welcome all new visitors who worshipped with us this evening. Please join us next door for some delicious food and fellowship! There is material in the entrance of the church regarding ministries and events of our community. Please sign our guest book! Receiving Holy Communion The sacrament of Holy Communion is reserved for only baptized and/or chrismated Orthodox Christians who have properly prepared by fasting, prayer and confession. The Orthodox Church is not in sacramental communion with any other faith outside the Orthodox Christian Church. If your are not Orthodox, you are invited with everyone to receive the Antidoron (blessed bread) at the end of service. If you would like information about the Orthodox Church and becoming an Orthodox Christian, please see Father Vasileios after services. Prayers for Health Dolly, Betty, Arlena, Sophie, Archie, Lou, Thomas, Kathy, Suzanne, Pat, Steve, Nina, Katheryn, Panayioti, Anna, Margaret, Sami, Ibrahim, Mary, George, Susan, Matthew, Ellen, Katina, Nelda, Nick, Elaine, Malone, Tracy, Richard, Lilly, Kimberly, Dion, Jamil, Dimitrios, Lisa, Maggie, Mindy, Joan, Nakis, Micky, Kiane, Lari, Ed, Sally, Mariana, Brian, Kaeley, Tristan, Matt, Jeff, Sophia, Angela, Jennifer, Romeo, Konstandinos, Elia, Rose Marie, Bilyana, Maria, Susan, Jane, Clara, Costa, Cindy, Philip, Trey, Barbara, Evangia, Michael, Jeffrey, Victoria, Nicole, Anastasia, Katie, Suzanne, Katie, Stella, Michael, Nicole, George, Katherine, Fr. Peter, Venton, Nick, Sandy, Caleb, Pete, Wendy, Lorraine, Tina, Anna, Michael, Anna, Pamela, Shawn, Megan, Leo, Christy, Glenn, Philip, Katelyn, Joshua, Jason, John, Julia, Nick, Maria, Carolyn, Betty, Ruth, Nicholas, Joyce, Connie, Deacon George, Ralph, Vana, Andreas, the Nun Elizabeth, Alexandra, Arsinoi, Sultana, Boyd, Argyre, Carol, Susie, Soultana, John, Eliana, John, Dimitrios, John, Nick, Cecilia, George, Ricky, Mackenzie, Leah, Cynthia, Georgia, Eudoxia, Mark, infant James, Ben, Michael, Rod, Nici, Phyllis, George, Helena, Kinley, Shiloh, Lili, Jacob, Bill, Albina, Allison, Nina, Kimberly Prayers for those in our Armed Forces: Sgt. Jennifer D. Atkinson, Staff Sgt. John Atkinson, Col. Dave Romine, Capt. James Alfaro, Staff Sgt. Deane Anderson, Captain William Willett, Maj. Timothy Ullman, Major Chris Chase, Cadet Mindy Keys, Specialist Andrew Bentzel Thank you! We wish to extend our sincere gratitude to everyone who brought bay leaves, and to those who donated money towards the purchase of the many flowers we use for Holy Week and Pascha. We appreciate your generosity in giving towards celebrating this Holy Feast!
The Paschal Homily of Saint John Chrysostom If you are devout and love God, enjoy this beautiful and radiant festival. If you are a grateful servant, enter, rejoicing, into the joy of your Lord. If you followed the fast, receive your payment now. If you worked from the first hour, receive today your just reward. If you came after the third hour, you are welcomed to celebrate. If you arrived after the sixth hour, have no doubt; for you suffer no loss. If you delayed until the ninth hour, come near with no cause to hesitate. If you arrived even at the eleventh hour, do not be fearful of the lateness; for the Lord is generous and accepts the last as He does the first. He gives rest to him of the eleventh hour, as to him who worked from the first hour. He shows mercy to the last and attends to the first. To the one is given and to the other is granted. He accepts the works and welcomes the volition. He honors the act and praises the intention. All of you, therefore, enter into the joy of our Lord; both first and last, receive your reward. You rich and poor, with one another dance. You who are abstinent and you who are indolent, honor this day. You who have fasted and you who have not fasted, be glad today. The table is richly laden; all of you, feast sumptuously. The calf is plentiful; let no one depart hungry. All of you partake of the banquet of faith. All of you enjoy the wealth of goodness. Let no one deplore his poverty, for the Universal Kingdom has been revealed. Let no one lament for transgressions, because forgiveness has dawned from the Tomb. Let no one fear death, for the death of the Savior has set us free. He subdued it when it took hold of Him. He despoiled Hades when He descended into Hades. He embittered it as it tasted of His flesh. And anticipating this, Isaiah cried out, "Hades was embittered when it encountered You below." It was embittered, (People Respond: "It was embittered!") for it was abolished. It was embittered, (People Respond: "It was embittered!") for it was mocked. It was embittered, (People Respond: "It was embittered!") for it was mortified. It was embittered, (People Respond: "It was embittered!") for it was dethroned. It was embittered, (People Respond: "It was embittered!") for it was enchained. It received a body and came upon God. It received earth and met up with heaven. It received what it saw and stumbled upon what it did not see. Death, where is your sting? Hades, where is your victory? Christ is risen, (People Respond: "Truly He is Risen!") and you are overthrown. Christ is risen, (People Respond: "Truly He is Risen!") and the demons are fallen. Christ is risen, (People Respond: "Truly He is Risen!") and the angels rejoice. Christ is risen, (People Respond: "Truly He is Risen!") and life rules. Christ is risen, (People Respond: "Truly He is Risen!") and not one is to be found dead in the tomb. For Christ rising from the dead has become the First to awaken among those who are asleep. To Him be the glory and the power to the ages of ages. Amen. Text approved 1994 +Bishop Isaiah of Denver WEEKLY ANNOUNCEMENTS for Holy Pascha, April 15, 2012 Break the Fast Altogether following the Paschal Resurrection Service! Please join us tomorrow following the Resurrection Service for a Break the Fast potluck meal! Bring your favorite food that you have missed so much during the fast to share with each other! ANNUAL PASCHA PICNIC! Please join us on Sunday following the 1:00pm Agape Service for a delicious lunch. We will have delicious roasted lamb with all the trimmings, hot dogs and ice-cream for the kids, jumping castles, an egg hunt and many other fun activities for EVERYONE! Tickets are $15 for adults, the hot dogs for children are free! Bright Week Steak Dinner for all of the TGOC men. All men are invited to a steak dinner on WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18TH AT 7:00PM here at Transfiguration. There will be grilled steaks and grilled fish, potatoes, salad, dessert, soda & wine. A free-will offering will be collected to go towards the iconography for the dome in our church. We need a headcount for the food, in particular the steaks, so PLEASE RSVP AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO NICK- nickspiropoulos@yahoo.com Philoptochos News CHRISTOS ANESTI! Thank you to all of the Philoptochos ladies for the wonderful job they did during our journey to Pascha! Many gracious women helped with the beautifully dyed eggs, decorating the many icons with flower frames, decorating the Kouvouklion, baking amazing bread for our home-bound parishioners, cooking for the Wednesday evening dinners, and of course, the many, many beautiful prayers offered up for our friends and families. May God bless you all! TGOC Pastors Benevolent Fund: The mission of the Church is to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all the world. One way we as faithful live out the mission of the Church and the words of Jesus, for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me. (Matthew 25:35-36) is to offer assistance to others in times of great need. The Transfiguration Pastors Benevolent Fund is a way to help those in need. There has been much need with the recent devastating events and economic problems. Please see Fr. Vasileios to make a donation to help replenish the Benevolent Fund!
WEEKLY ANNOUNCEMENTS for Holy Pascha, April 15, 2012 Services for this week Feast of the Life-Giving Font: Friday, April 20 Orthros, 9:00am; Divine Liturgy- 10:00am Join us for the Baptism & Chrismation services on Holy Saturday. The Chrismation of Lynne Bourgeois and Lisa Lozano will begin at 9:30am; and the baptism and chrismation of Reno Lauro will be immediately following the Liturgy. Thank you to the AGAPE choir who will be participating in the Holy Saturday Morning Liturgy of St. Basil! Also, thanks so much to all the parents who provided snacks for the students who were working so hard this morning! 2012 GRADUATES! All high school, college and university graduates will be recognized on Sunday, May 20 in Church, during the Divine Liturgy. All graduates please submit your name, photo, the name of the school from which you are graduating, honors and awards, sports, clubs and overall history. Please include your parents' names and the school to which you will matriculate. You may also include any special message or quotation as well. See you May 20. Please submit this information to the church office at office@transfiguration.org SUNDAY SCHOOL SHOWDOWN! All Sunday School youth, pre-k through high school, get ready for the Sunday School Showdown on Sunday May 20 during coffee hour. This was so much fun last year and will be even better this year. Plan to be there! YAL NEWS Bible Study will continue after Pascha with Father Vasileios; dates and times to be forthcoming. *** Ladies - be on the lookout for further information regarding the newly initiated women's study group led by Presbytera Vasiliki Eckley. We hope to learn from her research and insight onto relationships and lifestyle from an Orthodox perspective. On May 13th a Mother s Day Luncheon will be sponsored by the TGOC Men s Fellowship! Plan to join us! GOLF (Greek Orthodox Ladies Fellowship) GOLF will not be held on Bright Week. Study will resume on Thursday, April, 26th at 10:00am Χρıστòς ανέστη έκ νεκρων, θανάτω θάνατον πατήσας, καì τοĩς έν τοĩς µνήµασı, ζωήν χαρισάµενος. Ο αγγελος εβοα τη Κεχαριτωµενη, Αγνη Παρθενε, χαιρε και παλιν ερω χαιρε, ο Σος Υιος ανεστη, τριηµερος εκ ταφου. Φωτiζου, φωτιζου, η νεα Ιερουσαληµ, η γαρ δοξα Κυριου επι σε ανετειλε. Χορευε νυν και αγαλλου Σιων συ δε, αγνη, τερπου Θεοτοκε, εν τη εγερσει του Τοκου Σου. Resurrection Hymn Megalynarion Hymn Christós anésti ek nekrón, thanáto thánaton patísas, ke tis en tis mnímasi zoin harisámenos. Christ is risen from the dead trampling down death by death, and to those in the tombs He has granted Life. O angelos evoa tee Keharitomeni, Agni Parthene, haire ke palin ero haire, o Sos Yios anesti, trimeros ek taphou. Fotizou, fotizou, ee nea Ierusaleem, ee gar doxa Kiriou epi se aneteele. Horeve nin kai agallou Zion; see de agni terpou, Theotoke, en tee egersee tou Tokou Sou. The angel cried to her who is full of grace O Pure Virgin rejoice and again I say rejoice for your Son has risen from the grave on the third day. Shine, shine, O new Jerusalem! For the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. Dance now and be glad, O Zion; and do you exalt O pure Theotokos in the arising of Him Whom you did bear. Special Communion Hymn Body of Christ receive, the fountain of life, taste the source of immortal life. Soma Christu metalavete pigis athanatu gevsasthe. Alleluia. Pascha Greetings During the forty-day period from Pascha to Ascension, Orthodox Christians throughout the world greet one another with the Paschal Greeting: English - Christ is Risen / Truly He is Risen or Indeed He is Risen Greek - Christos Anesti / Alithos Anesti Spanish - Christo ha resucitado / En verdad ha resucitado Ukrainian - Khristos Voskres / Voistynu Voskres Romanian - Hristos a Inviat / Adevarat a Inviat Arabic - Al masi h qam / Hakan qam Slavonic - Khrystos Voskrese / Voistyne Voskrese Swahili - Kristo Amefufukka / Kweli amefufukka
April 15, 2012 Great and Holy Pascha Scripture Readings Epistle - Acts 1: 1-8 The first account indeed I made for myself concerning all which, O Theophilos, Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which He was taken up, after He gave command to the apostles whom He chose for Himself through the Holy Spirit, to whom also He presented Himself alive after He had suffered by many proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking the things concerning the kingdom of God. And being assembled together with them, He ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, He said, ye heard of Me; for John indeed baptized with water, but ye shall be baptized in the Holy Spirit not many days after these. Indeed therefore, after they came together, they kept on questioning, saying, Lord, dost Thou at this time restore the kingdom to Israel? And He said to them, It is not yours to know times or seasons which the Father Himself put in His own authority. But ye shall receive power, after the Holy Spirit is come upon you; and ye shall be witnesses to Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judæa and Samaria, and unto the ends of the earth. Τὸν µὲν πρῶτον λόγον ἐποιησάµην περὶ πάντων, ὦ Θεόφιλε, ὧν ἤρξατο ὁ Ἰησοῦς ποιεῖν τε καὶ διδάσκειν, ἄχρι ἧς ἡµέρας, ἐντειλάµενος τοῖς ἀποστόλοις διὰ πνεύµατος ἁγίου οὓς ἐξελέξατο, ἀνελήφθη οἷς καὶ παρέστησεν ἑαυτὸν ζῶντα µετὰ τὸ παθεῖν αὐτὸν ἐν πολλοῖς τεκµηρίοις, δι ἡµερῶν τεσσαράκοντα ὀπτανόµενος αὐτοῖς, καὶ λέγων τὰ περὶ τῆς βασιλείας τοῦ θεοῦ. Καὶ συναλιζόµενος παρήγγειλεν αὐτοῖς ἀπὸ Ἱεροσολύµων µὴ χωρίζεσθαι, ἀλλὰ περιµένειν τὴν ἐπαγγελίαν τοῦ πατρός, Ἣν ἠκούσατέ µου ὅτι Ἰωάννης µὲν ἐβάπτισεν ὕδατι, ὑµεῖς δὲ βαπτισθήσεσθε ἐν πνεύµατι ἁγίῳ οὐ µετὰ πολλὰς ταύτας ἡµέρας. Οἱ µὲν οὖν συνελθόντες ἐπηρώτων αὐτὸν λέγοντες, Κύριε, εἰ ἐν τῷ χρόνῳ τούτῳ ἀποκαθιστάνεις τὴν βασιλείαν τῷ Ἰσραήλ; Εἶπεν δὲ πρὸς αὐτούς, Οὐχ ὑµῶν ἐστιν γνῶναι χρόνους ἢ καιροὺς οὓς ὁ πατὴρ ἔθετο ἐν τῇ ἰδίᾳ ἐξουσίᾳ. Ἀλλὰ λήψεσθε δύναµιν, ἐπελθόντος τοῦ ἁγίου πνεύµατος ἐφ ὑµᾶς καὶ ἔσεσθέ µοι µάρτυρες ἔν τε Ἱερουσαλήµ, καὶ ἐν πάσῃ τῇ Ἰουδαίᾳ καὶ Σαµαρείᾳ, καὶ ἕως ἐσχάτου τῆς γῆς. Mrs. Sophie Paulos Mr. & Mrs. John Peet Mr. & Mrs. Chris Petropoulos Mr. & Mrs. Austin Phelps Transfiguration Philotochos Mr. & Mrs. Dionissios Phocas Mr. & Mrs. Ken Pon Fr. Drago & Pr. Milena Popovich Ms. Jennifer Poulakidas Mr. & Mrs. Bruce Read Mr. & Mrs. William Robertson Mr. & Mrs. Shane Sewell Mr. & Mrs. George Simbles Mr. & Mrs. John Sofyanos Mr. & Mrs. Harry Stamatis Mr. & Mrs. Michael Strong Dr. & Mrs. Brandon Suehs Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Suehs Mr. & Mrs. John Tassoulas Mr. & Mrs. Allen Wynn Mr. & Mrs. Stuart Yoder Mr. & Mrs. Elias Zachos OUR YOUTH DONORS: Lauren Apostolakis Alexis Apostolakis Helena Bjeletich Stephania Bjeletich Nikoletta Flegas Charlie Horwedel David Read Sophia Read Athena Skevofilax Costaki Skevofilax Irini Skevofilax Maria Skevofilax Eleanna Terzi Athanasia Zotis
Thank you to all of our families who have pledged to the Dome iconography campaign Fr. Vasileios & Prsv. Stella Flegas Mr. & Mrs. Dennis Ackerman Mr. & Mrs. Rod Ambrose Dr. & Mrs. Jacob Angelo Dr. & Mrs. Lou Apostolakis Mr. & Mrs. Bart Arnold Mr. & Mrs. Vaios Athanasiou Mr. & Mrs. Michalis Bakiris Mrs. Kiki Benson Dcn. George & Prsv. Ria Bithos Mr. & Mrs. Marko Bjeletich Miss Andja Bjeletich Mrs. Lynette Bourgeois Mr. & Mrs. Michael Burns Mrs. Despina Carter Mr. William Chriss Mr. & Mrs. John Chronis Mr. & Mrs. William Colovas Mr. & Mrs. Michael Courtney Mr. & Mrs. Michael Daskalantonakis Mr. & Mrs. R. Dean Davenport Mr. & Mrs. Joseph DeRossi Mr. & Mrs. Alex Demetriadis Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Dow Mr. & Mrs. John Dracopoulos Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Draina Mrs. Judith Eagles Mr. & Mrs. Michael Ebeling Mr. Richard Edgell Mr. & Mrs. John Esper Mrs. Beatrice Ferris Mr. & Mrs. Jason Garwood Mr. & Mrs. Jack Gatlin Mr. Ilias Georgakopoulos Mrs. Mary Georgantonis Mr. & Mrs. Anthony George Mr. & Mrs. James George Mr. & Mrs. George Gianakopoulos Mr. & Mrs. Michael Glaros Ms. Mary Beth Gradziel Mr. & Mrs. Chris Harris Dr. James Hitt Mr. & Mrs. David Horwedel Ms. Eleni Hrissikopoulos Ms. Gwen Elizabeth Jerome Mr. & Mrs. Ralph Jones Mr. & Mrs. Johnny Justice Mr. Ted Kalenterides Ms. Nici Kalogirou Dr. James Kalpaxis Dr. & Mrs. Pete Kangos Mr. & Mrs. George Karides Ms. Elsie Karvelas Mr. & Mrs. Tahseen Khan Mr. & Mrs. Kevin Korioth Mrs. Judith Kountoupis (in memory of Dr. James Kountoupis) Mr. William Leara Mr. & Mrs. Lee Leatherwood Mr. Steve Levendakes Mr. & Mrs. Archie Meador Ms. Pat Mitchell Ms. Olena Nakonechna Mr. & Mrs. Jim Norman Mr. & Mrs. Shawn O Brien Ms. Gretchen Papazis Ms. Valli Pappas April 15, 2012 Great and Holy Pascha Scripture Readings Gospel - St John 1: 1-17 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God; all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came for testimony, to bear witness to the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness to the light. The true light that enlightens every man was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world knew him not. He came to his own home, and his own people received him not. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God; who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father. (John bore witness to him, and cried, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me ranks before me, for he was before me.'") And from his fullness have we all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. Ἐν ἀρχῇ ἦν ὁ Λόγος, καὶ ὁ Λόγος ἦν πρὸς τὸν Θεόν, καὶ Θεὸς ἦν ὁ Λόγος. Οὗτος ἦν ἐν ἀρχῇ πρὸς τὸν Θεόν. πάντα δι αὐτοῦ ἐγένετο, καὶ χωρὶς αὐτοῦ ἐγένετο οὐδὲ ἓν ὃ γέγονεν. ἐν αὐτῷ ζωὴ ἦν, καὶ ἡ ζωὴ ἦν τὸ φῶς τῶν ἀνθρώπων. καὶ τὸ φῶς ἐν τῇ σκοτίᾳ φαίνει, καὶ ἡ σκοτία αὐτὸ οὐ κατέλαβεν. Εγένετο ἄνθρωπος ἀπεσταλµένος παρὰ Θεοῦ, ὄνοµα αὐτῷ Ιωάννης οὗτος ἦλθεν εἰς µαρτυρίαν, ἵνα µαρτυρήσῃ περὶ τοῦ φωτός, ἵνα πάντες πιστεύσωσι δι αὐτοῦ. οὐκ ἦν ἐκεῖνος τὸ φῶς, ἀλλ ἵνα µαρτυρήσῃ περὶ τοῦ φωτός. Ην τὸ φῶς τὸ ἀληθινόν, ὃ φωτίζει πάντα ἄνθρωπον ἐρχόµενον εἰς τὸν κόσµον. ἐν τῷ κόσµῳ ἦν, καὶ ὁ κόσµος δι αὐτοῦ ἐγένετο, καὶ ὁ κόσµος αὐτὸν οὐκ ἔγνω. εἰς τὰ ἴδια ἦλθε, καὶ οἱ ἴδιοι αὐτὸν οὐ παρέλαβον. ὅσοι δὲ ἔλαβον αὐτόν, ἔδωκεν αὐτοῖς ἐξουσίαν τέκνα Θεοῦ γενέσθαι, τοῖς πιστεύουσιν εἰς τὸ ὄνοµα αὐτοῦ, οἳ οὐκ ἐξ αἱµάτων, οὐδὲ ἐκ θελήµατος σαρκός, οὐδὲ ἐκ θελήµατος ἀνδρός, ἀλλ ἐκ Θεοῦ ἐγεννήθησαν. Καὶ ὁ Λόγος σὰρξ ἐγένετο καὶ ἐσκήνωσεν ἐν ἡµῖν, καὶ ἐθεασάµεθα τὴν δόξαν αὐτοῦ, δόξαν ὡς µονογενοῦς παρὰ πατρός, πλήρης χάριτος καὶ ἀληθείας. Ιωάννης µαρτυρεῖ περὶ αὐτοῦ καὶ κέκραγε λέγων οὗτος ἦν ὃν εἶπον, ὁ ὀπίσω µου ἐρχόµενος ἔµπροσθέν µου γέγονεν, ὅτι πρῶτός µου ἦν. Καὶ ἐκ τοῦ πληρώµατος αὐτοῦ ἡµεῖς πάντες ἐλάβοµεν, καὶ χάριν ἀντὶ χάριτος ὅτι ὁ νόµος διὰ Μωϋσέως ἐδόθη, ἡ χάρις καὶ ἡ ἀλήθεια διὰ Ιησοῦ Χριστοῦ ἐγένετο.
As I mentioned in the past, our parish with less than 150 families was able to raise $1.3 million in a 4-year period which built our church building and paid for the existing icons. We need to display that same urgency by pulling together as a church family and raise the funds necessary to finish the Pantokratora and take another step forward in the journey towards consecrating our sanctuary. Again, no matter how big or small the sacrifice; it will help us attain our objective. Please do not hesitate to contact me at 512-263-2568, or anyone on our committee (i.e. Fr. Vasileios, Christine Suehs, Shelley Ebeling, Michael Glaros), if you have any questions, comments, or suggestions. God willing, with your continued financial support, we will be able to look up at the dome of our church and see the icon of Jesus leading us on our journey through life along with a new sound system to beautify the services even more. In His Service, George J. Gianakopoulos Sanctuary Committee Chair
Transfiguration Dome Iconography Project I saw the L ord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up (Isaiah 6:1) Dear Fellow Parishioner, Paschal Appeal As we enter the holiest week of the year, culminating with the celebration of the glorious resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I wanted to provide an update on our Pantokratora Transfiguration Dome Iconography Project. Jesus sacrificed His life for our salvation, so it s appropriate that we are focused on completing the donation campaign for an icon that will glorify Him. Please remember that this fundraising effort includes lighting, scaffolding, sound system, and balcony rugs, in addition to the icons. A special thank you to the 85 families (see back) who have submitted a pledge card for which their generous donations total $313,220. Enclosed is a statement which includes your original pledge and the amount you have paid towards the pledge. As a reminder, our goal is to have all pledges fulfilled by the end of this calendar year (December 31, 2012). If you have any questions, please don t hesitate to contact me. At the same time, it s somewhat disheartening that only 50% of the members have sent in a donation card. If the remaining families would do so, we could easily raise the additional $20,000 that is needed. We would greatly appreciate it if you would take the time to fill out the enclosed donation card and return it as soon as possible. Multi-million dollar churches are built all over Austin by members who make their sanctuary, religious classrooms, gyms, and halls a priority. I would like to challenge all of us to do display the same commitment by raising the additional monies needed to complete this project. I realize some families are reticent to make a commitment; however, no matter how small or large, a completed donation form is invaluable to helping us achieve our goal.