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2 THE SHEPHERD • FEBRUARY 2021 • SAINT SPYRIDON GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH OF SAN DIEGO We are now one month into the New Year. Usually this time of year is lled with our kids preparing for FDF. e Hall and GOYA Room are quiet. County Health Orders still prevent us from indoor services and thanks to so many of you, we have gone forward with outdoor services which we will be hold- ing until we are allowed to open our Sanc- tuary. We have now had several outdoor services which began of Christmas Eve. If you have not been, I encourage you to come and expe- rience. Father Andrew has recreated an out- door St. Spyridon Sanctuary complete with the iconostasis. While we can’t embrace, just being together in space, six feet apart, gives some sense of belonging. anks to the overwhelming response to Fa- ther’s request for donations, we were able to build a stage for the outdoor altar, purchase chairs and audio/visual equipment to lives- tream the outdoor services for those still at home. e Parish Council would like to thank Katina Gatzolis, Ted Panos, Katerina Panos Rawlings, Athena and John Georges, Sara and Christopher Whalen, Angelo and Miriam Cappos, Ioanna and Anastasios Stamoulis, Louis and Joan Dimas, Susan and Anastasios Miserlis, Sam and Christine Lambros, Litsa Preovolos, and Michael and Marilyn Yeatts for their generous nancial support. Our southern California beach weather has proved challenging. On Christmas Eve, our concern was that it would be too cold. By Epiphany, we were experiencing the intense sun. We have ordered a big tent and hope to have it just right. All of this would not be possible, but for the hard work of so many volunteers who have come to set up for every Sunday service. A special thanks to all the volunteers Andreas Capetanakis, Nektarios Tradas, Spero Tza- thas, Ben and Soula De La Riva, Gina and Art Balourdas, Greg Balourdas, Angel Gil- pin, Bill Navrides, Jimmy and Stella Pap- pas, Rhad Brown, Rob Dennis, J Welker, Liz Bagingito, Vlassi Kouris, Konstantinos Sarras, Angelo Cappos, Dino Dougenis, Haralambos Terpo, Christoforos Savvides, Francesca Captain, John and Will Kalas, and Deacon Michael Kallas. ey have all been tireless in their e orts to make the out- door services happen. As we move forward, it appears the restric- tions may continue well into the summer. We are prepared to and will continue with the outdoor services until the pandemic is behind us and we are allowed to return to our Sanctuary. We look forward to seeing you and for your continued support of our beloved St. Spyridon. 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 FROM THE PARISH COUNCIL PRESIDENT WOMEN WORD OF THE We resumed our WOW Zoom meetings in January, and we will continue to meet this way through the next few months up until Holy Week. One of the things that we have been looking at and discussing during January is how a Christian can live both in the world but not of the world. In John 15:19 Christ tells his disci- ples “you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world,” and in another place, Christ continues this teaching, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdomwere of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.” (John 18:36) but Christ makes it clear that the kingdom he is talking about is not some fantasy realm or even one only to be seen in the future a er our lives on earth. He explains “indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.” (Luke 17:21) - that is, the kingdom can be in the here and now, possible for us as we live in this world, very present, even today! So what exactly does this mean for how we are to live and how do we navigate this path? How exactly do we discern what is really “of this world” as distinct from “what is of God?” As always, we can look at Holy Scripture to guide us; we look to Christ Himself and what he teaches us and how He acts in the world. Against all the criticisms of the Pharisees and even his own disciples at times, he does not conform with the world: He goes into the homes and eats with tax collectors and others considered outcasts and sinners by the norms of society; He lets a prostitute wipe his feet with her tears and hair; and He heals a man with a withered hand not only on the Sabbath day but in the middle of the very temple/syn- agogue itself. He feeds the ve thousand even when his disciples protest that there is not enough food to go around; He tells his disci- ples who are arguing over who is greatest to be instead like servants and little children – caring for others, humble and innocent. In Romans 12:2 St. Paul helps us think fur- ther about these things of the world and not of the world: “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” e footnote in the Orthodox Study Bible ex- plains, “A faithful relationship to God changes our relationship to the world. To be conformed to this world is to stand for and pursue the continues 3 STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE We, the Stewardship Committee, rst and foremost, would once again like to say “thank you” for your continuing support of our stewardship ministry. We ended 2020 on a strong nancial footing because of your generosity. So, again, THANK YOU! And further, as we enter this new year 2021, we all face the same political, economic and health issues which roil us emotionally and physically: but, in this moment, our beloved church, St. Spyridon, continues to be a beacon of hope and an ark which shepherds us to calmer seas every day. us, we are blessed to have one another communally and spiritually. is is precious and irreplaceable to each of us. You know this intuitively when you attend an outdoor service and see one another and receive communion. e Stewardship Committee respectfully reminds you once again to please take a moment to ll out a pledge card for 2021 and send it to the o ce and/or sign up through “We Share” online at stspyridon.org to make a monthly payment toward your pledged amount for the year 2021. On behalf of the Parish Council, the Stewardship Committee once again says “thank you” and God bless you during this extraordinary time. John Kalas, Stewardship Committee Chair Fr. Andrew Scordalakis Ben De La Riva, Jim Gilpin, Stephen iros, Spero Tzathas