Greetings in Christ,
This past Wednesday we experienced our very first Parish Ministry Night here at our St. Nicholas Cathedral. The event by any standard for first time ministries was a beautiful success, and a good indication of the greater potential for these events and events like it in our community. This event saw nearly 90 parishioners of all ages in attendance. As was advertised, we joined together in worship in the Cathedral, following which we enjoyed fellowship and dinner in the Fr. Tryfon Hall. After Dinner, we Split into various groups where the older groups discussed various topics concerning our faith and the Theology of the Holy Cross. And the younger children followed the same theme but also participated in craft making.
I wish to thank tremendously the Hope and Joy, Day Camps, Sunday School, Little Lambs, Philadelphia Men's Ministry, And the Women's Book Club, Goya, and Greek Folk Dance Ministries respectively for their efforts in coordinating and enacting this incredible start to our Parish Ministry Nights.
As an aside, we are looking for individuals who are interested in joining a committee whose sole purpose is to make sure that there is a meal served at every Parish Ministry Night. If you are interested in participating, please contact me via my email (vikentios@stnicholastarpon.org)
This Sunday we are excited dually by the return of Sunday School, which will be held after Divine Liturgy. And by the beginning of another new ministry of our Church! Following Divine Liturgy from 12-2pm, the High School Upper Class Goyans will have Lunch with the Dean! This ministry is aimed to prepare these young men and women for life after graduation.
With the feast of the Exaltation of the Cross approaching this coming week, I have another friendly challenge for all of us to consider. I would like everyone to contemplate what it means to put on the Armor of God. In Ephesians 6:13 we read; “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” The Holy Cross is the symbol of our faith, and our protection. When we are faced with adversity, we make the sign of the cross over ourselves invoking the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. From our baptism, a cross is placed around our neck dually as a reminder of the weight of salvation, and as protection from harm. The cross is undoubtedly interwoven within the very fabric of our faith. My challenge is to take the time to contemplate these things, and if for any reason you aren't wearing a cross daily, put one on as a reminder of our struggle towards salvation, and as a protection from our adversaries.