I spent this weekend in the Tampa Bay, Florida area. Today I had the great priviledge of attending Orthros and Divine Liturgy at St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church in Tampa, Florida.
In a Faith and Worship Thread titled "Who is Zacchaeus?" Ebed Melech posted a sermon by Father Stavros Akrotirinakis from St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church in Tampa, Florida.
http://www.orthodoxytoday.org/articles7/AkrotirianakisZacchaeus.phpBelow is a small portion of the "Who is Zacchaeus?" Sermon.
"For instance, what if you knew that a devout member of our community was dying and did not have life insurance? Would you help them? Would you reach in your wallet and take out $100 and say, I'll go without something so you can have a proper funeral? Or would you shake your head and walk away, and tell yourself, "Not my problem." "
The above is not a fictitious account for educational purposes, but rather a true story. Before giving the sermon today (The Sunday of the Publican), Father gave a heart wrenching introduction. It went something like this, "There are two people here today that need a miracle. One wishes to remain anonymous. The other was the last couple in the Communion line today. Christina has cancer. She and her husband Oscar have no blood relations in the Tampa, Florida area. Christina is 5 months pregnant and is refusing cancer treatment in the hope of saving the baby's life. Christina and Oscar have no life insurance, they have no relatives here to care for them. It is up to us to care for them and help them in every way. To pray for them, to share our love with them, and to support them financially. St. John's has an emergency fund. It is times like this when the emergency fund is to be put to good use. Every five or ten years, a parish has an emergency.
This is an emergency. I hope that they never come more frequent than every five or ten years. Today we will have a second collection to help Christina and Oscar. I am putting in $100 right now. I hope you will do the same. If you cannot give $100 now, you can send the money to the Church office marked "emergency fund" when you have the money. Tuesday night I will be having the Paraklesis service for Christina and the baby. I hope to see most of you there."
Please pray for Christina, her husband Oscar, and their unborn child.
Please send financial contributions to:
St. John the Baptist Church
Emergency Fund
2418 Swann Avenue
Tampa, FL 33609-4712
