How Will You Help the Lord This Week?

In the Gospel of Luke we hear the calling of the first disciples of Christ while they were “off duty” from their day of fishing. Jesus “saw two boats standing by the lake, but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets.” (Luke 5.2) Their day was finished and I’m sure the fishermen were looking forward to a few moments of rest after a long day at work, but the Lord had other plans. “Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat.” (Luke 5.2-3)

Simon was faced with a common struggle we all face today; whether or not to give our time to the work of God and His Church or rest a bit. The need for rest is the single most common reason people miss Church on Sunday morning. I can’t imagine anyone would have given it a second thought if Simon had said, “Excuse me please, but I just returned from a long time of fishing and we have to fix our nets and get some rest before we go out again. Can you use someone else’s boat?”

In the context of hearing the Gospel this excuse sounds ridiculous but we use it every time we don’t come to Church or refuse to assist the Lord in getting His message to the world. If Simon had said “no,” then the multitudes would not have heard the Gospel from Christ. And if we say “no,” many more will go without hearing the Good News that Jesus Christ has to offer the world.

When Simon allowed God to use him and his boat for the Gospel, many wonderful things took place. “They caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking.” (Luke 5.6) When we allow Jesus Christ and His Church to use our talents and our gifts for His purpose of reaching out to the thousands needing the sort of hope that only God provides, great things will happen also in our lives.

There are many ways we can help the Lord and His Church. We can serve as youth ministry volunteers. We can offer our talents by making basic repairs to our buildings. Even changing light bulbs and air condition filters helps Christ and His Church. You might be thinking that changing light bulbs doesn’t help people hear the Gospel of Christ, but you would be wrong.

Everything the Church does, from routine maintenance to catechism classes helps to bring the Gospel to the world. You wouldn’t think Christ needed a boat to spread the Gospel. The Church needs light bulbs to teach. The Church needs AC to have ministries, especially in Florida. Whether it is volunteering or offering financial assistance so the Church can hire professionals, it is all Stewardship. Stewardship is how we help God and His Church.

How will YOU help the Lord get His message out this week?

Στο ευαγγέλιο αυτής της Κυριακής ο Χριστός δοκιμάζει την υπομονή των μαθητών του. Καθώς οι μαθητές ήταν κατάκοποι από την ολονύχτια προσπάθεια τους να ψαρέψουν μόλις ξημέρωσε ήρθε ο Χριστός και αφού μπήκε μέσα στο πλοίο ώστε να κηρύξει, μόλις τελείωσε τους λεγει τώρα πάμε μέσα στο νερό βαθιά να ψαρέψετε. Οι μαθητές πανικόβλητοι απάντησαν οτι όλη τη νύχτα προσπαθούσαμε να ψαρέψουμε και δεν πιάσαμε τίποτα, τώρα θα ξανά πάμε ?

Αυτό ακριβώς ήθελε ο Χριστός να δει. Την υπάκοή τους.

Ο Χριστός ήθελε να δει αν θα έχουν την υπομονή να κάνουν αυτό που τους λέγει . Οι μαθητές βέβαια πάλεψαν μέσα τους σκεπτόμενοι πως θα ξαναπάνε για ψάρεμα αφού είναι τόσο κουρασμένοι. Παρόλη τη κούραση των και τη σκέψη ότι δεν θα πιάσουν τίποτα στα δίχτυα τους εμπιστεύτηκαν την εντολή του Χριστού και πήγαν μέσα στα βαθιά νερά πιάνοντας πολλά ψάρια !!

Η μαγική λέξη κλειδί στο Ευαγγελικό ανάγνωσμα είναι η  «έμπιστοσυνη»των μαθητών στο Χριστό. Εμείς σήμερα τι εμπιστοσύνη έχουμε όταν μέσα στα προβλήματα μας αντί να προσευχηθούμε σε αυτόν καταφεύγουμε στο ποτό, σε χάπια και σε άλλους εθισμούς . Τα προβλήματα μας δεν λύνονται με το να τα βάζουμε στην ακρη για λίγο . Αντιθέτως μεγαλώνουν. Ο Χριστός μας δεν πιέζει κανένα να τον ακολουθήσει. Ήρθε στη γη να μας πει εγώ είμαι ο δρόμος της σωτηρίας και η λύση όλων το προβλημάτων που θα έχετε στη ζωή σας .Είναι λοιπόν στο χέρι μας αν εμείς οι ίδιοι θέλουμε να ακολουθήσουμε το παράδειγμα των αποστόλων και να δείξουμε εμπιστοσύνη στο πρόσωπο του, αναθέτοντας στη προσευχή μας σε εκείνον να μας λύσει όλα τα προβλήματα της ζωής μας.

Πολλές φορές στη ζωή δεν μας έρχονται όλα όπως θέλουμε και αυτό για να την αναζητήσουμε περισσότερο διοτι μας θέλει παιδιά του δηλαδή κοντά του . Αμην 

Greetings in Christ!

On thursday the 15th of September we had the distinct pleasure of hosting a Pan-Orthodox event on the Feast of St. Nikitas. We came together for Orthros and Divine Liturgy as the Orthodox Community of the greater Tampa Bay area. Our dear Hierarch Bishop Sevastianos of Zelon presided over the service, and offered us all encouragement in our faith during his sermon. Following Divine Liturgy the clergy enjoyed fellowship and Lunch together hosted by our Parish Council President Mr. Nikitas Manias on the occasion of his Name Day. This was a beautiful way to bring our Orthodox family tree together. And as many said that day, it was the first time in recollection for a communal offering of this caliber to be held in the greater Tampa Bay area.

I would like to draw your attention to a couple of calendar events in this coming week. On Monday, our Orthodoxy 101 class will begin! This class is the perfect opportunity to increase your knowledge of our Historical Church, and the fountain of Theology within. Please join us on Monday nights, from 7:30 to 8:30 PM in the Spanos Pappas Community Center Conference Room.

On Saturday the first of October, our Greek Folk Dance Ministry is hosting their first event of the year! We welcome you to join us at the Kalimniko from 7-11 PM  for their Taverna Night! 

My weekly challenge for us this week is to read the lives of the saints. On each day, there is a list of the saints whom we remember. Each saint has a unique story, one that brought them the Crown of Glory, and one that connects all of them to Christ. You can find the saints of the day in a few different ways, but the easiest or most accessible is most likely through a phone application. Some of us may have a book of the lives of the saints which would come in handy. One app that may be useful to those who would benefit from having some Orthodox tools at their fingertips is the Daily Readings App. in this app you can find the scripture readings of the day, the commemoration of the saints, and feasts, our fasting schedule, and a list of common prayers!

So as a way to start or end your day with spiritual nourishment, I am inviting all of us to read the life of at least one saint being commemorated on each day of this week.

If you do not have this application on your smartphone, I highly recommend downloading it.

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

Memorials

 Soussana Susan Delaportas - 40 day

Irene Stamos - 40 day

Tony Giallourakis - 3 months

Nikolaos Maroulis - 3 years

Nicholas Ginnis - 3 years

Fotini Milonakis - 3 years

Petros Psaras - 4 years

Pantelis Koulianos - 4 years

Michael Fountotos - 11 years

Ioannis Zaronias - 14 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