The economic news continues to worsen. One half million jobs were lost in November. The three largest car manufacturers are on the verge of bankruptcy. It?s official?we?re now in a recession.

   Our economy continues to be troubled and we along with it. As we watch our stocks, our 401k?s and our home prices plummet, we wonder where it will end. We wonder what to do. What are the financial experts saying? One thing they say is don?t panic and don?t start selling-off everything.

   Last night we celebrated a Paraklesis, or Prayer Service of Supplication, to St. Nektarios the Wonderworker. Over sixty people attended and were anointed with the oil near his relics from his shrine in Charlotte, North Carolina.

   Last week Jesus asked the Gerasene Demoniac, ?What is your name?? What?s in a name? A name signifies which person one is talking about and brings to mind all of his/her characteristics. George, I know George. Georgia, she?s a good person.

   A young child came to her mother complaining that her stomach hurt. ?Oh, honey, your stomach is probably empty,? the mother responded.

   A woman who was shopping took a break for some coffee and cookies. She sat in the one unoccupied chair across from a man reading a newspaper. She sipped her coffee and reached for a cookie only to see the man across from her also taking a cookie.

   Did you hear about the fellow who went into business on a shoestring and tripled his investment? Now he?s trying to figure out what to do with three shoestrings! After this past week?s stock market plunge, I?m sure many people feel like all they have left is three shoestrings.

   In today?s Gospel reading, the 2^nd Sunday of Luke 6:31-36, Jesus tells His followers to ?love your enemies? (v.35). Who is my enemy? An enemy is a person who hates us, fosters harmful designs against us or engages in antagonistic activities against us. St.

   There is a story about a monk who despaired of the cross God had given him and complained of it constantly. God finally relented and offered him a chance to select a different cross. He led the monk into a room filled with several crosses from which to pick.

   It is easy to be proud of our own accomplishments like good grades in school, a promotion at work, winning a race or competition.

   Three ministers were talking about prayer in general and the most appropriate and effective positions for prayer. As they were talking, a telephone repairman was working on the phone system on the other side of the room. One minister said that he felt the key was in the hands.

It?s unfortunate that today?s scripture readings, from the 10^th Sunday of Matthew do not coincide with our American celebration of Father?s Day. As we know, the Church has its own sense of time and her lectionary system was constructed many centuries ago. Yet, we have two good examples of fathers today.

   How many of us own a home? Perhaps I should ask how many of live in a home that our bank owns? Many people have mortgages on our homes. If we watch the news we know that a mortgage or lending crisis exists. Several national banks have gone belly-up and closed within the past year.

   During our Greek Festival this weekend we are giving church tours of our temple of worship as tool to share our Orthodox Christian Faith. In today?s epistle reading (9^th Sun. of Matthew from 1Corinthians 3:9-17) St.