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1 THE SHEPHERD • MAY 2020 • SAINT SPYRIDON GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH OF SAN DIEGO The Shepherd I S S U E 2 8 8 • MAY 2 0 2 0 The official newsletter publication for the parish of Saint Spyridon Greek Orthodox Church of San Diego FROM THE DESK OF FATHER ANDREW www.theshepherdnews.com The Shepherd Newsletter IN THIS ISSUE FR. ANDREW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 1 PRESIDENT OF THE PARISH COUNCIL, WOMEN OF THE WORD, HELPING OUR SENIORS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 2 DIVINE SERVICES, BIRTHS, MEMORIALS, NEWS FROM THE LOFT . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 3 PHILOPTOCHOS NEWS, GREEK LANGUAGE SCHOOL, SENIORS . . . . . p. 4 G.O.Y.A., A.H.E.P.A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 5 PARISH CALENDAR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 6 MESSAGE FROM HIS EMINENCE METROPOLITAN GERASIMOS . . . . . . . p. 7 CONTACT INFORMATION. . . . . . . . . . . p. 8 My Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Χριστός Ανέστη! Christ is Risen! By the time you receive this issue of our May Newsletter it will have been at least six weeks since we have been physically together in our Church Temple but for me it seems like an eternity. However, with Great and Holy Lent and Week behind us I pray this time of sep- aration has been fruitful. Hopefully, as we self-quarantined ourselves during this very important time in the life of the Church you were able to re ect and to grow in wisdom and knowledge, encouragement and inspira- tion that will help us “stay the course” with patience and love, mercy and grace, honor and dignity as we await the next chapter of this historic and unprecedented time. Let us be reminded though, that this time of separation has been and will continue to be one of importance and for us as Orthodox Christians, an act of love and concern, yes, for ourselves but more importantly, for the health and wellbeing for the other – “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down his life for the other” (John 15:12) - Which, by the way is one of the main messages of Christ’s Great and Holy Week. However, let us also be reminded that this past six week period is just the beginning of our return back to some kind of recovery from this devastating virus. No one real- ly “knows” what collectively lies ahead and what our recovery back to some kind of nor- malcy will look like until some kind of treat- ment is found or more importantly a viable vaccine is developed for the populace. us, more patience, understanding, en- couragement and consideration for the other is still needed and of the utmost importance lest we relapse and the next chapter be worse than the rst. I know that as a Church fam- ily we ALL cannot wait to be once again all together in our beautiful Church Temple but all in good time. Again from Great and Holy week we are reminded: “I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. Yes a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me; because I live, you will live also” (John 14:18;19). To be sure this time has been quite a test of our Christian character and I can boldly say we have fared well as a community and as citizens as well. e call went out all those weeks ago to “stay at home’ and to “social distance” ourselves and we responded wisely and without hesitation which has served us all very well – thank God. Now, as we await the “complete opening” of our United States, our wonderful city and our beautiful Church Temple, let us be like the Myrrh bearing women, Joseph of Ari- mathea and the Holy Apostles in the upper room as they patiently waited y days for the return of the Lord. Yes, I am sure they were bored, questioning and concerned but they patiently waited all the same. Yes, we are told there was a certain amount of fear and anxiety that they went through as they waited but they were obedient and patient- ly waited just the same. We can do no less having the gi that Christ Himself gave to us from the Gospel of Matthew “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (11:29;30). My Brothers and Sisters in Christ, As we patiently continue to do our part in this recovery from the destructive Corona- Virus and until we are once again together continues 4 Χριστός Ανέστη! Christ is Risen!