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2 THE SHEPHERD • JANUARY 2022 • SAINT SPYRIDON GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH OF SAN DIEGO We find ourselves here again at the start of a new year. Like many of you, I find myself making NewYear’s resolutions. I recently ran across an old journal from 1994 where I writ- ten my goal “to finally get back under 200 pounds.”At that time, the rhythm of my daily routine had been derailed by work. Over four years, I had let the stress of it all balloon me above my “fighting weight.” Well, little has changed in the physical de- partment, but over life, my aspirations have shi ed more to internal change, how can I become a better person? Perhaps with age, the goal of life, salvation, has becomes more focused. With each new year, I find myself longing more and more for the Paschal jour- ney. I have grown to long for the annual so- journ with all its emotional highs and lows and it’s anticipated ending “Christ has risen; truly He has risen!” It is said God has given us time as a gi so that we might use it to order our lives. I have learned over time that the day a er yester- day is the most important day to make a difference. I have learned how much reward comes from serving others. But I have also learned that there is so much more to give. is year I am going to try to put a prayer from my childhood to heart, “Day by day, Oh, dear Lord, three things I pray: to see thee more clearly, love thee more dearly, follow thee more nearly, day by day.” I look forward to continuing the walk with all of you into this new year.While some things haven’t changed, there is still so much to be grateful for. We will be celebrating Epiphany on January 9th and hope you will join us. Many Blessings, Jim Gilpin, Parish Council President Yes, the storage dungeon is fewweeknights and aweeken adjacent to the Kitchen. Reno anddisposalofallcabinetsand walls were prepped and RFP open, and brighter room via u lighting, aswell as heavy duty have a few finishing touches t nextcoupleofweeks. Special thanks for theirhardwo somewell-deserved breaks) fo JimLeventis,CoreyLeventis, a request forall topleasemakea cleanandorganized,whilealso that youmay“forget”behind. Πιστεύουμε ότι θα σας αρέσε στην Κουζίνα. Όλη η ομάδα π διατηρήσουμε και μελλοντικά καθαριότητα αυτού τού χώρο μας! Regards, Vlassiand theTeam WOMEN WORD OF THE We pray that everyone had a most blessed Holy Nativity and eophany during this beautiful Season of Light. Our group has been on a break for the past month. We will resume our meetings on Wednesday, January 12 and will continue to meet over Zoom only for now until further notice. On our first week back, we will be looking at the role of angels in the Crucifix- ion, Resurrection and Ascension. Before we went on break, we had just changed our focus from looking at the pres- ence and role of the angels in the Old Tes- tament to those in the New Testament. One thing we had noticed in the books of the Old Testament was that the appearance of an angel was o en called “the Angel of the Lord” and was sometimes interpreted by the Church Fathers as “a prefiguring of Christ” as when an angel visited the three youths in the fiery furnace. However, a er the Incarna- tion, we see in Holy Scripture how the angels are always attending Christ and very present throughout His trials on earth - in His 40- day fast and Temptation in the desert, with Him in the garden of Gethsemane, and at the Crucifixion. In the book we’re reading, e Holy Angels, the author tells us, “ e victory of man over Satan is the very goal of Christ’s mission…as the Son of Man He took upon Himself the entire life-wrecking sinfulness and weakness of mankind and overcame the Adversary,” and at each circumstance God’s invisible protectors are at His side “in the background ever ready to serve Him, knowing that alone they could not save man from the grasp of Satan, and they rejoiced that the Son of God Himself had personally descended to lead them in their mission.” So Christ shows us in His own trials how to anchor ourselves in God, how to pray through every tempta- tion and tribulation, and trust God’s will in all things, and that we have attending angels whose whole mission is to protect and guide us. May we find solace in God’s love and in His angels’ good care. With Love in Christ, + e Women of the Word Bible Study Group Contact information: susanmiserlis@gmail.com Marian Khoury Dougenis Beautycounter Consultant 619.520.3660 www.beautycounter.com/mariankhourydougenis New Member Exclusive: ComplimentaryThink Clean welcome set $44 value FROM THE PARISH COUNCIL PRESIDENT PHILOPTOCHOS NEWS It was a busy December for our Anthousa Chapter! We celebrated Christmas at Parc Bistro, baked thousands of cookies for our Holiday Bake Sale and hosted Kids ‘n’ Can- cer children and their families at our Angels Christmas party! is could not have been accomplished without the help and leader- ship of our Anthousa Board and St. Spyridon community members. THANK YOU!!! Anne Zouvas has graciously offered to over- see our Sunday Fellowship. Please consider sponsoring a Sunday Fellowship Hour with friends and family by providing simple re- freshments – donuts or bagels, fruit and juice. Visit Signup Genius https://bit.ly/3CXKbRw or call Anne directly at 619-248-6644. Our annual Membership Event is scheduled for Saturday, February 12th . We have a fun morning planned! You will be able to re- new your membership and spend time with friends. Looking forward to seeing you and don’t forget to bring a friend! Please join us as we continue to put faith into action through our Philoptochos ministry. Our work will provide you with many grati- fying opportunities to serve your parish and community, make new friends, embrace and promote the faith of our mothers and fathers in our Orthodox beliefs. So a Samouris, Anthousa Chapter President