European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 10, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Church comes first r ministers by Judy Tarjanyi Toledo Blad Ehold onto your debit card the sunday collection May be going electronic. In an expansion of the automatic withdrawal system now available for Utility Bills and other payments some churches Are offering their members the option of reauthorizing deduction of their weekly or monthly contributions from a checking or savings account. Some religious people say the process of having Money automatically deducted from an account clashes with the traditional concept of presenting ones gift at the altar during a worship service. They also say such plans put the emphasis on the Church taking Money rather than on people giving it. However others counter that the benefits of easing the Transfer of Money from a congregation members pocket to Church Bank account far outweigh such concerns. The Rev. Barry Deshetler senior pastor of Epworth United methodist Church in Toledo Ohio said his congregation is just starting to offer the service through mid american Bank to save members the hassle of writing checks every week or month. A a couple of members on our finance committee wanted to do it because that show they handle most of their banking. We figured if people used it in their households there May be others  although there has been no Strong reaction among Epworth members to the plan Deshetler said he has heard that some people dislike such arrangements be cause they seem to suggest that the Church is a business with Bills to be paid rather than gifts to be offered. Darlene Minnick marketing officer for mid american said the automatic withdrawal program called direct giving has received a mixed reception from churches. Minnick said the program ultimately benefits churches and members because it reduces the Cost of checks and speeds deposits into the churches account. A once the transaction is in the Bank its collected immediately and begins earning interest immediately a Minnick said. Patty Griffin vice president for fifth third Bank a corporate services said churches All Over the country Are just beginning to look at automatic withdrawal As an option for giving. A a it a much easier for both the Church and the individual. Most collections Are done by volunteers. That can take Many Many hous particularly if its a Large congregation. This Means less work for volunteers it evens the Cash flow for the Church and its easier for the individual who does no to have to write a  distributed by Scripps Howard news service a St. Nicholas for everyone dressed As St. Nicholas Aaron Jadofsky hands out crucifixes to 4-year-old Emily Harris left and her sister 6-year-old Stephanie at the Ronald Mcdonald House in Wauwatosa wis. Jadofsky is a jewish St. Nicholas . Orthodox churches plan Union <5 cruising Milwaukee in a red Chevrolet suburban. He visits Catholic schools and establishments such As. The Ronald Mcdonald House which provides accommodations for families visiting their hospitalized children. By the new York times new York the leaders of 11 orthodox Christian churches with 6 million members in North America have come together to establish an administratively United Church with one voice on social religious and political issues. Russian greek serbian and other orthodox churches have grown independently in the United states for 200 years. Each group has historically served immigrant communities and maintained closer ties to its separate Mother Church than to the other groups. A a we a like the american Public to know the orthodox Church has come of age a archbishop Iakovos the Leader of the greek orthodox archdiocese of North and South America said at a news conference thursday at the archdiocesan Headquarters in Manhattan. A the . Is not a foreign land. It is our  the decision to establish a single orthodox body in the united5 states is subject to approval by leaders of the Mother churches overseas. From the associated press. Mishawaka ind. A two ministers say they do not have a problem with people shopping on sundays As Long As the shoppers make it to Church first. Mark Ingle Ana Daniel motto ministers at first United methodist Church in Mishawaka have started a petition drive to get University Park mall to push Back its sunday hours once the holidays Are Over. The malls sunday hours noon to 5 ., were changed to 11 . To 6  In october. But the Holiday season Means longer hours with most stores opening an hour Early and some at 9 . Employees usually have to report an hour or 30 minutes before the store opens so that Means starting at 8 . On sunday for som another area shopping Center Scottsdale mall will be open from 11 . To 5p.m. On sundays after the holidays. A we would like them to go Back to a noon opening after the holidays so people can attend worship services at the Church of their Choice a said Ingle associate pastor at first methodist. Ingle has circulated the petition to More than 100 churches in Osceola Mishawaka Granger and South Bend and asked that signatures be sent to the mall before Jan. 1. First methodist alone has collected 200 signatures. Pope translation in error Rome a the German translation of Pope John Paul ii a Best seller has so Many errors that it will probably have to be reprinted italian newspapers reported sunday. They said the translation errors in crossing the threshold of Hope were pointed out by an italian Catholic monthly 30 Days. The reported errors include mistaking the Date of the Pope s election for the Date of his first encyclical. Religion news offered Dallas a the Dallas morning news is offering a weekly Section with news stories features and regular columns about religion. The Section will focus on spirituality and religion in the Dallas fort Worth Community As Well As across the United state and around the world. Ralph Langer senior vice president and executive editor said he and his staff spoke with people from virtually All religious groups to get ideas for the Section. The Section will include guest columns letters from readers stories of inspiration features detailing current spiritual trends Book and movie reviews calendars of events and a classified advertising directory of worship services. Slain priest canonized Chicago a the Rev. John Kocherov a Chicago priest slain in Russia 77 years ago has been canonized. He is the first russian orthodox Saint from Chicago. Kocherov built holy Trinity orthodox Cathedral on the West Side at the turn of the Century. A committee in Moscow on sunday bestowed him with the Honor. Kocherov was born in Russia in 1871 and came to Chicago in 1895 to be a missionary to immigrants from Russia and the Austro hungarian Empire. His congregation worshipped on the ground floor of a dilapidated rented House Kocherov lived on the second floor. _ in 1907, Kocherov returned to Russia and 10 years later died a Martyr killed during the russian  a a mormons urged to help Salt Lake City a the mormon churches first presidency has encouraged members to help. Those in need during the Holiday season arid to give selflessly the message was delivered by Church president Howard Hunter at sundays annual Christmas devotional which also was attended by his Counselor Thomas Monson and Gordon Hinckley. Hunter urged those attending the devotional at the Tabernacle at Temple Square to remember the purpose of the Holiday season. A this Christmas mend a quarrel. Seek out a forgotten Friend. Dismiss suspicion and replace it with Trust. Write a letter a Hunter said. A forgo a grudge. Forgive an enemy. Apologize. Try to understand. Examine your demands on others. Think first of someone else. Be