We have the baptism of infant Stephen Scott on Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. followed by fellowship.  We Divine Liturgy on Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. (Hours at 8:40 a.m.)

Our monthly council meeting is this Thursday (July 10th) at 6:30 p.m.

We are off to a good start on the surveys, but we also have many more to go. Catechumens do this too, please!

On June 22nd we launched a strategic planning survey called the Effective Parish Assessment (EPA). We ask that parishioners and catechumens take 30 minutes of their time to complete the survey.  Your responses will be used to determine where our parish is today and where we want to be in the future. All responses are anonymous. 

To access the survey, do the following:

1. Use the QR code to the left of this news item, or use this link: https://effectiveparish.org/survey
2. On the Effective Parish Assessment page, click on the button labeled Take Effective Parish Assessment Now.
3. Once in the assessment, click the green OK button.
4. Answer the question about our parish by selecting WILMINGTON, DE - Saint Michael the Archangel Orthodox Church from the dropdown list. Be careful. There are currently two parishes in the list named Saint Michael the Archangel.
5. Answer the question about our jurisdiction by selecting Orthodox Church in America from the dropdown list.
6. Answer the remaining questions in the assessment.  Answer all of the questions in one sitting.  If you must step away from completing the assessment, then leave your browser open to the assessment.  Don't linger over your answers; go with your first impressions.  
7. All questions may not pertain directly to our St. Michael’s Church operations.  For example, there might be a question about the paid administrative support personnel which our St. Michael’s does not have.  In this case, please answer this question (and any similar non-applicable questions) with either “Neither Agree or Disagree” or “I Don’t Know”.  We will see these responses when the data is compiled and will recognize that this question is N/A.
8. Some questions pertain to the Church Leadership.  This question pertains to any of our internal church leaders such as those who head up our Sunday School, Men’s Group, Women’s group, and others in our parish who have stepped up to serve in some form of leadership in our church.  There will be separate questions that will be asked specifically about the Parish Council.
9. The term “we” in the questions refers to the Parish Council.
10. Question 119 uses a Greek Term, “Philoptochos Society”.  This term refers to our Women’s Group or what used to be known as the Altar Society.

For additional information about this assessment or for assistance with completing it, please see Susan Skomorucha.

Moms, bring your children to weekday liturgy and hang around afterwards for fellowship and let the kids play. Also, keep an eye out for park play dates - next one is Friday, July 11th!

Here is the current schedule of play dates for the summer:

• July 11 at Lums Pond Playground (Bear, DE)
• July 25 at Nichols Park (Landenberg, PA)
• August 8 TBD (possibly at Tice house for a pool party)

The play dates will start at 9:00 a.m. and end at 1:00 p.m. 

Please bring water, snacks, and/or lunch. Contact Christina Tice with any questions. She is also interested in having some help with hosting & planning.

Through the end of this year, every dollar donated to the Growth Fund will be matched dollar for dollar up to $100k! We have the opportunity to have $200k (or more) towards expanding the Kingdom of our Lord here in our area, as we are called to do. Donate online and select the Growth Fund, or write a check with “Growth Fund” in the memo field.  

We need more bread bakers to help with making the small prosphora commemoration breads that are used during Divine Liturgies. Please see Susan Skomorucha to sign-up as well as schedule a training session. Thank you!

Father Silouan uses an opt-in email service to send out his communications (such as the Weekend Update) to the parish.  This is a different service than the parish Listserv.

To sign up, click on “The Latest” in the menu above.  Then click on "Email Signup" which is the first item in the drop-down menu.

Don’t forget you can give tithes and offerings online, including designated funds. There are two ways to do this.  First, you can use the green "Give" button on Father Silouan's "Weekend Update" emails.  Second, you can use the menu on this page.  Click on "The Latest," then click on "Church Connect."  Finally click on the blue "Give Online" button.