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8 THE SHEPHERD • JANUARY 2025 • SAINT SPYRIDON GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH OF SAN DIEGO Once again, it was a magical December for our Anthousa Chapter. We kicked off the holidays with a festive Christmas luncheon at Parc Bistro, enjoying good food and good friends. We then celebrated St. Spyridon’s Feast Day by offering a Lenten reception fol- lowing Vespers with His Eminence Metro- politan Gerasimos. We were honored to volunteer for the Salva- tion Army/San Diego Bike Club annual toy drive at the Kroc Center. Over 200 partici- pants rode from La Jolla to La Mesa to deliv- er toys for San Diego kids. Throughout the month, we collected gifts in support of the Salvation Army Kroc Center with our Angel Giving Tree. With heartfelt love, the St. Spyridon com- munity didn't disappoint, donating over 100 gifts for needy San Diego children between November 24 and December 15! To top it all off, we hosted our annual Angels Christmas Party on Monday, December 16, for children and their families affected by cancer, as part of our Kids-N-Cancer ministry. This heart- warming and special event is a highlight each year, and we are so proud to be part of it. Through amazing teamwork and a will- ingness to serve, we made it all happen. Of course, we could not have achieved any of this without the assistance and leadership of our Anthousa board members, Anthousa chapter members, loyal parishioners, and all who were willing and able to roll up their sleeves to help. We THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts for your service, devo- tion, and loving support of Philoptochos! SAVE THE DATES IN 2025: SATURDAY, MARCH 1: ANNUAL MEM- BERSHIP EVENT We have a fun morning planned for you! Come and renew your membership and spend time with friends and family. We are looking forward to seeing you, and please bring a friend! SATURDAY, MAY 3: COMEDY NIGHT WITH ANGELO TSAROUCHAS : Join us for an evening of good laughs! Agape Meals are meals offered to our com- munity members who are in need or who have fallen on difficult times. If you know of a person or family who needs help, or if you are interested in helping to prepare home- cooked meals, please reach out to Marian Dougenis at 619.520.3660, mkdougenis@ prodigy.net. Sunday Fellowship is offered most Sundays after church. It is a cherished tradition to gather and visit with our church family, and it is made possible with the support of our parishioners. Please sponsor a Sunday Fel- lowship Hour with your friends and fam- ily by providing simple refreshments such as donuts or bagels, fruit, juice, etc. Please contact Christina Frangos to schedule a date at 858.220.0071, christinafrangos1@gmail. com. Icon Adornments are displayed in the Nar- thex and decorated with beautiful fresh flowers, are another function of Philopto- chos. The liturgical year presents many op- portunities to honor your family members. We invite every family to commemorate a special Feast Day, birthday or memorial in honor of someone special by offering a dona- tion to cover the cost of the flowers (suggest- ed donation is $85). Please contact Soula De La Riva at 619.297.4165, office@stspyridon. org, to reserve your date now! May the New Year bring you and your family health and prosperity! Please join us as we continue to put our faith into action through our many Philoptochos ministries. There are several opportunities to serve your parish and community, make new friends, embrace and promote our faith, and feel a sense of gratification while strengthening our Ortho- dox beliefs. Yours in Christ, Sofia Samouris Anthousa Chapter President 619.518.4537 | ssamouris22@gmail.com PHILOPTOCHOS NEWS