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4 THE SHEPHERD • JANUARY 2024 • SAINT SPYRIDON GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH OF SAN DIEGO YOUTH MINISTRIES We hope that you and your families had a Blessed Nativity! As we look toward the new year, I want to reflect on the past year of our youth programs. Words cannot adequately describe the gifts that our community re- ceives when our children and teens are en- gaged in our Church life. Our whole commu- nity can feel the joy and life that our youth have brought to our community this year through service projects, youth groups, small groups, building houses, helping younger children, retreats, camps, the Oratorical Fes- tival, parties, dance performances, singing the Divine Liturgy, and so much more. Our families, children, and teens are truly build- ing up God’s kingdom in our Parish. Our small group for high school juniors and seniors – Coffee and Conversation – will start the next 4-week session at the end of January. Keep an eye on our Youth Ministries calendar for the start date. If you have an infant or toddler and are not on the Youth Ministries email list, please email youthministries@stspyridon.org or 619-940-5167. We will be launching our Moms, Pops, and Tots Program and want to be sure we include all of our youngest mem- bers of our Parish. The Oratorical Festival is coming up in late winter. The theme this year is Boldness of Speech: “Therefore, since we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech.” 2 Corinthi- ans 3:12. The Oratorical Festival is open to all youth and finalists in the Junior and Senior Divisions go on to the District Finals and possibly to the Archdiocese Finals! Be sure to sign up for the Youth Ministries email list on our website: https://sites.google. com /stspyridon.org/stspyridonyouthmin- istries. Follow us on Facebook (St. Spyr- idon GOC San Diego) and Instagram: @ youthstspyridon. To volunteer or get more information on any of the Youth Ministries at St. Spyridon, contact Julie Dennis, Youth Ministries Director, at 619-940-5167 or email youthministries@stspyridon.org GOYA (Greek Orthodox Youth Association) The big upcoming event for our GOYA is the Epiphany Celebration and Cross Dive. We have 17 divers who will brave the cool waters in the harbor! We hope you will come and celebrate this beautiful tradition with us on January 7th. In December, GOYA celebrated Christmas all together at the Maude’s house for our annual Christmas Party! We stuffed stockings for the Angels Christmas Party, ate a delicious din- ner and too much dessert, played a game, had a Blind White Elephant gift exchange (ask one of our kids for a description), danced, and walked to Christmas Card Lane. We also passed out new GOYA t-shirts designed by Luka Maude. The Bible verse on the shirt ex- emplifies our youth group as we go into the new year: “For You are my helper, and in the shelter of Your wings I will rejoice.” Psalm 63:7. Be sure to check out the photos in this newsletter! Mark your calendars for GOYA Game Night on January 27th! HOPE &JOY (Holy Orthodox Primary Education &Junior Orthodox Youth): We enjoyed another year of gingerbread house decorating during December! We talked about ways that we decorate our own homes to show that we are Orthodox Christians with icons and crosses. On January 13th, HOPE and JOY will be baking Vasilopita!