In the last month, both sides have been meeting to sort out their differences. But has anything changed? That depends on which side one is talking to.

"We are hoping to compromise to get our project to be a joint project between the church and the neighbors," said the Rev. Slobodan Jovic, the priest at the local Serbian church.

Jovic indicated that the church was looking to change its plans to accommodate the wishes of the neighbors. "I do not know to what extent we are going to change the plans. We haven't made that decision yet," said Jovic. "But it will have something to do with the size and simplification. It is very painful, but we have to think about our neighbors' concerns."

Jovic's comments came after a meeting held between the neighbors, church officials and planning commission members on Sept. 9. Church officials say that after their meeting it was clear how much opposition there is to their current project.

Jan Ivancovich, the building committee chairwoman for the church, said that even with the changes, the building would be within the parameters set by the church's bishop. "This will take a certain amount of time. We have to study the situation, redo what we can do and listen to the parishioners and the neighbors," she said. "We are at the listening stage right now. The redesign is going to take more time and expense."

Ivancovich said that the Serbian community in the area had waited patiently for a proper church for 40 years. "Everyone will have to be a little patient about this," she said.

Ted Macauley, one of the first residents in the area to voice his opposition to the plans, said that the meeting might have helped identify some areas of possible flexibility.

"But we have not seen any tangible changes yet. We have been talking for the last four months," said Macauley. "They did not incorporate our concern into the plan that was sent to the planning commission."

Virginia King, another neighbor who attended the meeting and who lives on Serra Oaks Court, also agreed that the presentation that was made had no changes reflecting the concern of the neighbors. "I am not sure why they need a church to accommodate 250 people when they claim a smaller membership," said King.

"I still want to know if they are going to use the church as a cultural center," added King. "I also want to know the church's plan for the private residence they own at the front of the property."

Macauley, King and several other neighbors also object to the planned ringing of the bell by the church.

"If the city of Saratoga has an ordinance that says that churches cannot ring their bells, we will gladly abide by it," said Jovic. He said that they could even have some kind of a system where they ring the bell inside the church.

Jovic said that he can see light at the end of the tunnel. Macauley said that the neighbors were not opposing the building of the church but just the current design. Both parties are waiting for fresh designs of the church before they meet again.

"I am hopeful; I have a deep faith," said Ivancovich.