“This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.” How fitting are these words from the Book of Psalms when thinking about the wonderful day we have shared. As the sun came up over the mountains early this morning, we all gathered to celebrate the beauty of God’s creation in the desert, giving thanks for His abundant blessings in each of our lives, in our parishes, and in our Metropolis

I give thanks to God for each and every one of you, for the extraordinary efforts you have put forth for our first Metropolis Golf Tournament. I offer my special thanks to Fr. Theodore Pantels, Nick Kaperonis and George Argyros who especially offered of themselves to ensure the success of this event. I am very proud of this entire community, and I know that Metropolitan Anthony of blessed memory, to whom this tournament is dedicated, is also rejoicing with us.

Many of you have heard of the newest ministry of our Metropolis, the Family Wellness Center. I would like to take just a few minutes to share with you the purpose of this new project and how it will impact the lives of everyone in our Metropolis. The establishment of a Family Wellness Center is part of the vision I shared at the time of my enthronement as your new Metropolitan. Throughout the years of my ministry, I have personally witnessed the spiritual, emotional and psychological struggles of our people, and it has saddened me that the Church has not been able to sufficiently respond and offer support and guidance, especially at a time when people need help. The Family Wellness Center is just now in its formative stages and we will be developing programs to help people on their journey through life. This includes marriage enrichment programs, grief and bereavement support groups, a cancer ministry, counseling for depression and substance abuse, and programs designed to minister to our youth, singles, and the elderly. Another precious group of people for whom special programs are being offered are our clergy and their families. Our priests are often looked to as the pillar in their respective communities, and we need to do more to support them, their marriages, their Presvyteres and their children, all of whom are partners in their ministry. All of these programs will have at their core our precious Orthodox theology as part of the learning and healing process. Through your hard work and generosity, a majority of the funds raised this weekend will support the Family Wellness Center and the many other ministries of our Metropolis including Religious Education, Music, Missions and Evangelism, and Greek Education and Culture, just to name a few. There is much work to be done in the Lord’s vineyard, and your support is deeply appreciated.

Many of you spent the day playing golf, and it was, indeed, a joy to see everyone out on the course sharing good times with friends. There are many lessons one can learn from sports. While many of these lessons are quite simple, they are actually very powerful when you apply them to our everyday lives. There is the lesson of practice. Practice takes discipline and perseverance. Athletes are not just born; they are cultivated through years of hard work. Nicole Castrale is a perfect example of this. She has worked for many years to develop her skills, and she must continue to practice to keep up her game. Then there is the lesson of teamwork. We must work together towards a common goal. Teamwork is about listening, supporting, cooperating and sharing. If everyone on the team is only looking out for themselves, the team will not get very far. Another valuable lesson is that of sportsmanship. Yes, sports are competitive, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be friendly. We need to treat others with love and respect, and remember that in the end it really isn’t all about winning, but rather, about doing your very best.

These same lessons can be applied to our lives as Christians. We must discipline ourselves to follow God’s commandments. We must discipline ourselves to have a daily prayer life and communicate with the Lord. We cannot expect to enjoy the eternal rewards of God’s kingdom without putting our faith into action everyday of our lives. The element of teamwork can be applied to our families, our congregations, and this Metropolis. We must work together and support each other on our journey toward salvation. We must remain united in the Spirit. And lastly, there is the concept of winning. We are not in this life to compete against each other. We are here to glorify God, and offer ourselves to Him. If we follow His commandments, if we live a life of purity and holiness, we will be received into His heavenly Kingdom. As St. Paul says to the Corinthians, “But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” That is the ultimate prize we should strive to win.

May God bless you abundantly with His goodness and mercy, and may we remain steadfast in praising His Holy name.

Delivered at the 2007 Metropolis Golf Tournament Awards Dinner/Dance
Saint George Greek Orthodox Church in Palm Desert, CA