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9 THE SHEPHERD • APRIL 2022 • SAINT SPYRIDON GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH OF SAN DIEGO 2022 Cooking & Baking Schedule Sunday, May 1 after Church: Prep for Dolmathes Monday, May 2 at 9:00 am: Assemble Dolmathes Sunday, May 15 after Church: Prep for Galaktoboureko Monday, May 16 at 9:00 am: Assemble Galaktoboureko Monday, May 23 at 9:00 am: Koulourakia & Paximadia Tuesday, May 31 at 9:00 am: Kourambiethes & Melomakarona Monday, June 6 at 9:00 am: Baklava Come join in the fun as we prepare the delicious food and pastries that our church festival is famous for. Any amount of time you can contribute is appreciated! Greek Festi v aL san dieGo’s oriGinaL PASCHA PICNIC Sunday April 24, 2022 at the Admiral Baker Park 2400 Admiral Baker Road San Diego, CA 92124 Agapi Service 12:00 noon Traditional Greek music & dancing and picnic to follow until park closing promptly at 4 PM Please bring your own food and drink, as none will be provided at the site. NO GLASS BOTTLES ALLOWED! 2022 Festival Volunteers Needed! Our Greek Festival is June 18th and 19th and we are seeking willing volunteers for over 400 shifts throughout the festival weekend. Please consider volunteering for as many shifts as you can. Your help is tremen- dously appreciated! To sign up by phone, by email, or in person, please contact Soula De La Riva at soula.delariva@cox.net or 760-521-0471. You can also visit our online Sign-up Genius page https://sdgreekfestival.com/volunteer to do it yourself. God bless you for your support! In Christ, Soula De La Riva Festival Volunteer Coordinator our ascent becomes more and more chal- lenging. erefore, every rung we ascend we are reminded to pray all the more fervently for God’s grace. e Fi h Sunday and last Sunday of Great and Holy Lent the Church remembers Saint Mary of Egypt. Saint Mary was a very sinful woman who made a vow to God. Her vow was that if she were allowed to enter into the Church, which was previously denied to her, she would repent from her sins. She was allowed to enter and she kept her vow. She made and kept her commitment to God and we are instructed to do likewise, which, like Saint Mary, may require some self-sacri ce. My Brothers and Sisters in Christ, having ac- knowledged and accepted all that has been set before us these past two months, I pray that we are now ready to enter into Jerusalem and to walk with Christ singing the trium- phant hymn Hosanna in the highest, blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, the King of Israel. But let us take care that in a few days, we do not become one of those who cry out crucify Him, crucify Him. e temptation is to say, never! I will never deny Christ. But let us remember that Peter, one of Christ’s closest disciples, said the same thing and went on to deny Him not once but three times. Are we any better than he who sat, ate, and slept next to our King, the King of glory? e good news is that the God we follow is a good and loving God. Our God is a God who will always forgive us if we honestly, and with a contrite heart and humble spirit ask Him to do so. erefore, as we prepare to let the events of Great and Holy Week unfold; let us gird our- selves with the strength, courage, and protec- tion that Christ our God o ers to each and every one of us. Having now the keys to enter into the city of Jerusalem and proclaim Je- sus as the God of peace and love, may you all experience a spiritual renewal, a true rebirth that only Christ can o er, (which is made available to you through all the divine ser- vices of Great and Holy Week. Kali Anastasi – (May you experience a fruitful and blessed Resurrection). +A 1 FR. ANDREW