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2 THE SHEPHERD • JUNE 2023 • SAINT SPYRIDON GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH OF SAN DIEGO My dad had a saying “good intentions are only that unless we act on them.” This past month, we were celebrating our moth- ers, those still with us and those who have passed. My mother-in-law, who has passed, was and is my spiritual light. Near the end of her life, she was in an assisted living facility and many of her long- term friendships had become limited to talks on the phone. In her conversations, you could often hear her say “I miss you!” She would often say “when are you com- ing?” It would be fol- lowed by “I’ll come see you soon.” It reminded me of His calling to us and our response, that we will come see Him soon. Too often, our good intentions become just that. The opportunity is always present for us to Come and See, but it takes a step that only we can take. In taking the step and continu- ing to take steps, we can come and be part of His work. This past month, one of the people I have longed to see was in church but I was out of town. When I got the news, I had to call her to jokingly say “Of all the days, you came the day I was gone.” She has one of those laughs that is so big it eats you. She laughed from her soul and then told me how good it felt to be in Church and to see people she hadn’t seen in a while. The joy she shared with me in the call was truly moving. It reminded me to double my effort to avoid the nonsense and to focus on what is truly life enhancing, our relationships with one another. Our Greek Festival is right around the corner. Much prepa- ration and help is needed. You can sign up to work on the on- line Sign-Up Genius, please visit www.sdgreekfestival.com/volun- teer or contact Nancy Provataris at 858-616- 7520, or nancyprovataris@gmail.com with any volunteer questions. I hope that if you have been saying “I’ll come see you soon” that you will be motivated to act on your good intentions and Come and Be with Him and feel the true joy He brings to our lives! Many Blessings, Jim Gilpin Parish Council President ‘‘It reminded me to dou- ble my effort to avoid the nonsense and to focus on what is truly life enhanc- ing, our relationships with one another.’’ FROM THE PARISH COUNCIL PRESIDENT Our group usually doesn’t meet during the summer months, so this gives us some time to absorb and reflect on the WORD. In our ministry we focus first on hearing the Word, making a habit of reading it regularly, trying always to understand it better, and most im- portant of all truly incorporating it into our daily lives so that it can abide and grow in our hearts and guide us in our struggles. That is, allowing the Gospel of Christ to transform us. One of our women shared this passage from the Gospel of Mark that has been an anchor for her: “And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” (Mark 11:22-24) She adds that often in challenging and some- times seemingly impossible situations, one must ask God for more faith looking to the man who in pleading for his son cried “Lord, I believe, help my unbelief,” and to the wom- an with the issue of blood and the Canaanite woman who persisted in her trust in the holy goodness of Christ. Always balancing this with the understanding that we cannot know God’s timing and purposes for our salvation and for those we love. Another passage that has been a particular- ly helpful guide for some of us is this one from St. Paul: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let all men know your forbearance. The Lord is at hand. Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understand- ing, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:4-7) Even in adversity we are supposed to rejoice, and not only that but always to be thankful. As hard as that may seem, we are reassured that “the Lord is at hand.” So similar to the passage above in Mark, we are promised that God will help us; we only have to remember to look to Him for help, pray with a grateful heart no matter what, and to trust that He hears us, knows our need, and is always with us in our midst. Wishing everyone a most blessed Holy Pentecost! With All Peace & Love in our Risen Lord, +The Women of the Word Bible Study Group WOMEN WORD OF THE STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE Dear Fellow Sojourner: As the summer season begins, I am again re- minded that this is “God’s Country” – and that all that we have is not only inspired by God but given through God to all of us as emphasized weekly in the Divine Liturgy. So, as our community enters into this sum- mer season full of God’s Blessings and Favor, the Stewardship Committee would like to remind all of you that there are many ac- tivities during the summer months (think away camps, a local summer camp, and oth- er summer activities being sponsored by our Sunday School Director and our Dance & Choral Group), so we ask you, faithful so- journer, to join us in the most honorable and tangible manner in which you may give back to God and His Church: fulfill your monthly pledge or make a contribution, in order to fulfill God’s promise for a fuller and more peaceful Orthodox Christian life. You may do this online at www.stspyridon. org and click the “Stewardship Giving” tab. As Father Andrew has reminded us over the last 17 years, everything begins with the Di- vine Liturgy. Your support of the Steward- ship Program allows us to robustly provide this sacred blessing and all that it entails. Have a wonderful summer season! And do not forget us! Sincerely, The Stewardship Committee John Kalas, Fr. Andrew Scordalakis Chairperson