TSN0422

6 THE SHEPHERD • APRIL 2022 • SAINT SPYRIDON GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH OF SAN DIEGO It’s Membership Season for our Anthousa Chapter! We held our annual Membership Luncheon on Saturday, March 5th. Many thanks to Melanie Anastopulos and Kelly Samouris for their hard work in planning a beautiful and well-attended event which proved to be a wonderful opportunity to embrace the blessing of fellowship. Every detail from the food, décor and program was executed to perfection! ank you to the ladies who prepared our delicious meal and to Marilyn Yeatts and Marian Dougenis for their thoughtful presentations. Marilyn’s overview of Philoptochos and Membership truly reinforced the importance of our orga- nization and the good works we do. Marian introduced us to Beautycounter whose pri- mary mission is to get safer products into the hands of consumers – she highlighted the importance of using clean and safe products. We invite you to join our Anthousa Philop- tochos Chapter. We welcome all – ladies and gentlemen – to help us make a di erence in the lives of many. If you cannot actively par- ticipate, your membership pledge helps to enable us to continue to support many char- itable endeavors within our parish as well as local, national, and international communi- ties. Philoptochos o ers countless opportu- nities to meet new people, share experiences and knowledge, and to ll your heart with the joy and grati cation that come with help- ing those in desperate need while at the same time preserving and sharing our Orthodox outreach and beloved traditions. Your con- tinued love and support are greatly appreci- ated especially as the need is apparent now more than ever. To join, please download, print, ll out, and mail the membership form from our website anthousa.org . ( e National and Metropolis Philoptochos treasuries each receive $15 of every membership donation; any amount over $30 remains in our local chapter’s trea- sury.) Please contact Melanie Anastopulos at melanieanastopulos@gmail.com or Kelly Samouris at nyckelly@cox.net with any ques- tions. Pascha Bake Sale: It’s time to order your tsourekia and koulourakia for Pascha! Made by the loving hands of our Ladies of Philop- tochos, these delicious breads and cookies will be available for pickup on Palm Sunday, April 17th. Please visit www.greekbake.org to order online. Proceeds support our many ministries. Sunday Fellowship: Please consider spon- soring a Sunday Fellowship Hour with your friends and family by providing simple re- freshments (donuts or bagels, fruit and juice). You can honor family members or cel- ebrate special occasions. To sign up, please contact Anne Zouvas at 619.248.6644. St. Spyridon Philoptochos invites you and your family to commemorate a special Feast Day by o ering a donation toward the cost of a beautifully decorated icon displayed in the church Narthex for all to venerate. is o ering, a oral adornment surrounding the blessed icon, is a perfect way to honor your family member(s) as well as to honor an important day in the life of the Church. Please reserve your dates now by contacting the church o ce at: (619) 297-4165 or email at: o ce@stspyridon.org. e suggested do- nation ($75 payable to St. Spyridon Philop- tochos) will be greatly appreciated. As we begin the Lenten season, may you use this time to renew your faith and re ect on the blessings that surround you. Join us as we continue to put our faith into action through our many philanthropic ministries. Yours in Christ, So a Samouris Anthousa Chapter President PHILOPTOCHOS NEWS Four participants spoke on Sunday, March 20th at our parish’s 2022 St. John Chrysostom Ora- torical Competition. Elizabeth Dennis and Maria Paraskevopoulos in the Elementary Division and James Burrell and Sia Paraskevopoulos in the Junior Division. Each speaker received a certi cate and gi card compliments of Sunday School. Michael and Maria Platis sponsored the George M. Platis Scholarship to the rst place speaker in memory of their son. First place went to Sia Paraskevopoulos, but both James and Sia will advance to the district competition on April 3rd at St. Paul’s in Irvine. Good luck to both our worthy participants! SUNDAY SCHOOL Sunday School Updates: New! Kids’ Corner A place for kids ages 4 and under and par- ents! If you have a child or baby, we hope you will join us in the lower room of the education building for Kids’ Corner each Sunday a er Holy Communion. We provide co ee for parents and toys for kids! Saturday of Lazarus Pancake Brunch and Palm Cross Folding – 4/16/22 Join us in celebrating Divine Liturgy, Pan- cakes a er, and Palm Cross Folding. All can join in the folding of Crosses (we will teach you how)! Great and Holy Friday Youth Retreat – Passport to Pascha! 4/22/22 9:30am – 2:30pm. Retreat is for grades TK – 5. Students grades 6 – 12 can participate as Retreat Guides. School excusal letters are available. Lunch will be provided. Email sun- dayschool.stspyridon@gmail.com to register. St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Competition