FINANCIAL UPDATE TO MAY 31, 2010: Weekly operating budget envelope givings were $156,540 for the first five months of this year,  and our annual budget for these givings is $400,000. While we are just over one third of the way through 2010, we need to continue to lift up in prayer our own personal commitment, as we strive to meet our annual budget. God loves a cheerful and willing giver.

SUMMER MEMORIAL SERVICES: will be held at the Anglican cemeteries in St. John’s on the following dates: Kenmount Road Cemetery, Wednesday, July 14th, 7:30pm and Forest Road Cemetery, Wednesday, July 21st, 7:30pm. PLEASE BE SURE YOU GIVE YOUR CEMETERY DONATION THROUGH THE CHURCH OFFICE OR THE COLLECTION PLATE SO OUR PARISH WILL BE "CREDITED". THESE FUNDS ARE ALLOTTED TOWARDS OUR ANNUAL ASSESSMENT WHICH IS $3,360 FOR 2010. St. Thomas’ does not receive credit for donations given at the Memorial Service. Cemetery envelopes can be found it today’s bulletin and will be available at the back of the church by the font up until the completion of the Memorial service. Please remember, if you give at the Memorial Service the Cemetery Committee will be responsible for your receipt (please remember to include your full address!) Envelopes are available at the back of the church on either side of the font.

UNAUTHORIZED PARKING: As most of you are aware, unauthorized parking by individuals using our parking lot is becoming a very concerning issue and has been for some time. As a result,City Traffic enforcement has been significantly enhanced and will continue on an ongoing basis.  To ensure that our parishioners do not get ticketed, we are requesting that anyone visiting the church/hall from Monday to Friday, 9am to 5 pm, drop by the office for a parking permit.  Vehicles that do not have a permit displayed in their window will be ticketed and St. Thomas' does not have the authority to cancel tickets.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING: The Annual Congregational meeting took place Sunday, Mar 14 at 7:00pm. Over eighty people were in attendance and all enjoyed the social after the meeting. We would like to say thank you to everyone who helped out in the preparations and on the evening. Our special thanks to all those who put their names forward for election. The new Vestry members are Jean White Coady, Peter Harvey, and Jennifer (Adams) Warburton. Sarah Predham (youth member). Also elected at the meeting were Keith Fillier and Wanda Fitzpatrick to the St. John's Council of Churches; and Kezie Budden and Don Higgins to the Deanery Council. Our congratulations and best wishes to them all.

NCD SURVEY RESULTS ARE IN...:

The results of our NCD survey on May 30, 2010: our new area of focus in the Fall will be Holistic Small Groups. The Vestry has already begun to look at this and will incorporate a plan for the parish to start in September, in conjunction with the beginning of our anniversary year.

The results reveal a strongly "green" church which needs to grow in the "red" and "blue" areas. In theological terms this means we are strong in the areas to do with order and creation and creativity (God the Father) but need to grow in our understanding of God's revelation and how we can reveal God's life in the world (God the Son) as well as experiencing more of God's presence and guidance in our lives personally, in worship and when we gather with other Christians or are on our own in the world (God the Holy Spirit).

Thank You Lord our God, for helping us to understand what our spiritual style as a parish is, so that we can grow and develop into a more balanced and passionate body of believers, drawing all to You through Jesus Christ. Amen!

* The Inner Core leadership team is a bi-monthly gathering of your clergy, wardens, honourary assistants, music director, treasurer and parish administrator, that looks at core spiritual issues and try to keep our parish spiritually 'on track' with what we have discerned to be God's calling on our congregation expressed in our vision and mission statements.