Immediate Response Required

 In today’s Gospel we witness Christ calling His first disciples to follow Him. These humble ‘working class’ men were already faithful Jews. As fishermen, they knew hard and about long days. They knew how to put their faith in God to ‘provide’ for their livelihood and fill their nets. They knew that every blessing for God required patience and discipline. All their knowledge prepared them for what was to come next.

 As Christ walked by, He said, “Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men.” That is where everything changed for these men. “Immediately they left their nets and followed him.” Others, even left their father to finish working in the boat, and followed Christ. Time and again, the response to Jesus Christ calling was immediate! There was no delay. There was no pondering. There was no ‘weighing the pros and cons,’ and they were all rewarded. For those who said, “Let us first go and bury our dead,” Christ said, “Let the dead bury their own dead.” (Matthew 8.22)

 These first disciples of Christ were blessed to enter the Kingdom of God, and witness His Power. They witnessed miracle healing and feedings. They even witnessed miracle loads of fish in their nets. All this was to reveal to them the power of God. It was enough to inspire them to leave behind what they knew of ‘how the world worked’ and begin their new lives in Christ.

 Today Christ is calling us to follow Him into a new life, a life filled with blessings. Like the life of the first disciples, it isn’t an easy life. It will require hard work and long days. It will require patience and faith, but most of all it requires an immediate response. If we delay, we risk being left behind.

 Christ didn’t just call anyone to follow Him. He called everyone to follow Him. Yes, some were called as leaders, but among the leaders Christ also was followed by thousands of others as He went from place to place teaching and preaching. Everyone who followed Him, received the same blessing, no matter what their ‘job’ was in the Church. They all received eternal life and union with God in heaven.

 If you are looking for the blessings of God, then be ready to act immediately and follow Him. Don’t just think about Him. Don’t just talk about Him. Follow Him. The first disciples were willing to leave everything they ‘knew’ behind to follow Him. They were rewarded and so will you be rewarded.

Greetings in Christ,

In the last week I have made good progress in meeting with the church ministries. On Monday I met with the leaders of Levendia officially for the first time, though I have already been to dance practice. This meeting gave me the opportunity to hear about Levendia from their leaders, where we discussed its historical propensity as a bastion of our cultural heritage and future opportunities for the growth and enrichment of the program, and there-by its participants. Tuesday I met with the head of technology with whom I will be working closely within the immediate future as I familiarize myself with the church website, and explore our opportunities for ministry outreach through internet mediums. As well, The Day Camps Committee met to discuss and plan future Day Camp opportunities, mirroring and expanding upon the strengths of the previously and largely successful Lazarus Saturday youth event. Wednesday I met with the head of the Women's Book Club, where I learned about the existing program which offers a space for women to read, and discuss a variety of topics concerning faith and life as a Christian. Further, we discussed opportunities to grow this ministry in a variety of ways which could prove beneficial to its present and future participants. As well, I met with the GOYA Advisors, who are working diligently to map out the coming academic years’ events, in order to provide a wide array of events that aim to develop and nurture a love for God, through our Orthodox values. In this meeting, the long pre-existing foundations of GOYA were discussed in the light shed by historical values. This provided insight into the effectiveness, and lack thereof in certain practices found across the country. By raising our standards in bettering our community toward our common Christian goal of Theosis, I have confidence that the children and young adults of our community will be constantly placed in a healthy environment for spiritual, communal, and personal growth. As the week continues, I will have met with and toured the Preschool, the Greek School, the BookStore Committee, and Philoptochos. As well, I will have attended my first Philadelphia Men's Breakfast. I look forward to expressing my experiences of these ministries in my next message to the community, on Sunday July 3.

I am pleased to direct the readers of this message to the advertisement posted within this bulletin announcing the newest Day Camp experience to be enjoyed this coming July, 18th - 22nd. For those interested in having their children participate, please find the registration form on our church website: Stnicholastarpon.org/Chariots.

Update: I will be physically absent next Sunday July 3rd, as I am returning to my family home outside of Pittsburgh Pennsylvania for my fathers one year memorial service.

  *THE DEADLINE IS MONDAY 5PM FOR ALL BULLETIN INFORMATION*

Memorials

 James Andropoulos - 2 years

Angie Andropoulos - 5 years

Drossos Monokandilos - 20 years

Nick Kaloudis - 20 years; Angee Kaloudis - 10 years;

Alexander Kaloudis - 7 years; Kaliopi Sagas - 20 years 

   All ministries wishing to sign up and host the Sunday Coffee Hour please contact Chris Palaidis at 727-808-3895.

                              Memorial & Artoklasia Service Planning