I had the wonderful opportunity this past weekend to visit one of our fellow Christian churches in Naples, Saint Katherine Greek Orthodox Church. They were celebrating their heritage with the Naples Greek Festival, a three-day extravaganza of food, music and Greek culture. Father Philemon, the presiding priest of St. Katherine, welcomed my family with open arms and walked us around the church and through the festival. From the bouncy houses and vendors to the music and dancing, to the food, it was a wonderful time. If you have not gotten a chance to visit their church, I would recommend you visit their website and learn about some of their upcoming events, including a symposium on religious freedom around the world (http://stkatherine.net).
What struck me most while visiting St. Katherine’s was the sea of blue t-shirted volunteers, covering every booth, serving the food, and welcoming the influx of people to their campus. While their Sanctuary holds only a few hundred people, they seemed to have the entire population of their church helping out with the event. It reminded me of all the dedicated ministers we have here at Saint John the Evangelist. It can take an army to serve our Parish Family, especially as we have experienced expansive growth over the past years. We need every single member of our parish, including those that are here seasonally, to support our ministries. You may not be aware of the entire breadth and depth of programs that will enable to you to give of your time and talent to the church, the local community, and even to the entire world. We truly make a difference in the lives of hundreds, if not thousands, of people every day through our ministries.
Next weekend is a unique opportunity for you all of us to learn about these opportunities. Our ministries are so varied in their missions and responsibilities that I believe there really is something for everyone. Some help with reflection and prayer, others are focused on community service. Some are action oriented while others provide social activities. There are ministries that do not require significant time commitments, while others allow you to become as deeply involved as you want. The list is too long for me to plug them all, so instead I hope you will all come to the Ballroom on February 28th from noon to 3 PM to visit with them and find a place for you. We will also be providing free food and drinks along with fun, family-friendly activities, so you can have a great lunch while you learn how to be involved here at St. John. Please RSVP to the Parish Picnic here. See you there!