Summer 2024 Update
“Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it;
Unless the LORD guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.” (Psalm 127:1)
- Glory be to God! With God's blessings and the outstanding generosity of our faithful and very supportive Parishioners, as well as the current and past leadership of St. George Church Parish Council. We are providing the following Summer Update.
- Dear St. George Community,
- I wanted to provide a summer update on the fantastic work the Parish Council is doing for our community and exciting new developments at St. George.
- Our new parking lot construction is well underway. You've probably noticed the progress as you arrive at the church. While the playground and basketball courts remain available, the back area is currently off-limits. We look forward to unveiling an impressive space with ample parking, beautiful landscaping, enhanced lighting, and more. This upgrade is essential for our growing community.
- The Parish Council has approved a significant upgrade to our sound system in the church hall. We are installing a state-of-the-art audiovisual technology suite, including a wide-angle zoom lens, a 2x10in subwoofer cabinet, a dual 6.5in 2-way speaker, a 4-channel 600W power amplifier, a 4K laser projector, an 18-channel USB digital mixer, and a dual wireless vocal system with microphones. This new system will be perfect for special events, meetings, streaming church school activities, parties, and presentations.
- The Parish Council has also approved the final bids to move forward with remodeling all our bathrooms. This complete overhaul will begin in mid-July. We will renovate all four bathrooms (two in the hall, one next to the kitchen, and one at the entrance of the church), tackling two at a time to ensure some facilities remain available.
- Additionally, we are conducting crucial waterproofing repairs on all church stained-glass windows, hall windows and on the bell tower. This essential maintenance, the first since our church was built, will help preserve our building's structural integrity. The Parish Council has reviewed and approved the final bids for this project, which is nearing completion.
- Our Sunday School is growing, necessitating an additional classroom. Father Kamal and the Parish Council have decided to convert the current library into a functional classroom for the teens. It's wonderful to see our community so active and vibrant!
- Replacement of our cleaning company. We know have a more skilled and reliable service, available to us not only for regular cleaning, but pre and post event setup. This alleviates some of the pressure on our parishioners hosting events and is a rental perk as well. Thank you Jameel Darine Akel for your work on this!
- Alarm upgrade. After 15 years we upgraded our security system to include wireless control, remote access, fire protection, and all of the bells and whistles, making our church safer and also more accessible. Thank you Jad Hanania for your work on this.
- The Parish Council has approved using our extra hardwood flooring from the main hall project and new materials to refurbish all eight rooms (six classrooms, two offices) in the church hall to match the main hall's elegance.
- Save the date for our Annual $100 Raffle Fundraiser on September 28th at 6 PM. As last year, raffle tickets and dinner tickets will be sold separately. Raffle tickets will be available for purchase in the church hall starting July 14th, and dinner tickets will be available starting August 19th.
- In the fall, as the days grow shorter, we plan to install lighting around the playground and convert our BBQ space into a pavilion for outdoor gatherings.
- We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone on the Parish Council and those volunteering to assist in various initiatives. Special thanks to the project leads:
- Parking Lot: Sam Mousa and Raja Saoud
- Bathrooms: Shirley Kishek and Andy Akel
- A/V Technology Upgrade: Jad Hanania and Bassam Aouil
- $100 Raffle: Hala Salman and Lora Bateh
- Ongoing support on all projects: Father Kamal and Khouriah Ranwa
Your dedication and hard work are greatly appreciated!
Wishing everyone a fun and relaxing summer!
Sincerely,
Justin Bateh, PhD
Parish Council Chairman
St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church