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2 THE SHEPHERD • JULY 2024 • SAINT SPYRIDON GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH OF SAN DIEGO We are just coming off another successful festival. Every year I am inspired by the hard work and loving hands of all the volunteers; “thank you” to all of you who devoted so much to make it such a special weekend. I was especially inspired watching our young adults who seemed to be everywhere. On Fri- day night before the festival, I was watching some of them prepare for their dance perfor- mance. What was truly inspiring was seeing the connection and bond that has devel- oped between these young people who have grown up in our community. Thank you to Maria , Renee , and Timmy for planting the seed and watering the group with love; what a beautiful fellowship has started to grow! In our house, we have an exchange that goes back to when our boys were little. We would say “Love you!” And they would re- spond “Love you more!” And we would re- spond “Love you infinity!” We all know the feeling of loving our children infinitely. We love them when they are good and love them when they are not. It is like God’s love for us, He loves use infinitely and He shows us in- finite mercy. So why do we struggle to share that same kind of love and mercy with our neighbors? Perhaps it is because we don’t see the person underneath their behavior. We have to re- mind ourselves that we see the person under their behaviors. We see our children under their behaviors and God sees us underneath our behaviors. As a result, we and He are able to love infinitely. If only we could open that window to see underneath the behavior of others, to see their struggles, their pains, their biases, we could find mercy to show them grace and love them infinitely. At the end of his novel, “A Farewell to Arm” Ernest Hemingway said “When you love, you wish to do things for. You wish to sacri- fice for. You wish to serve.” I think when we serve others, a window opens in our hearts. Through the window we can see the whole of others. We can also see a reflection of our- selves, our behaviors. But mostly, we can find the will to forgive and to share with others the grace God is constantly bestowing on us. Sharing grace can inspire goodness which in turn can inspire shared goodness which can create a cycle of goodness and grace and in- finite love. There are so many, many opportunities for us to serve others and to show them grace. In the abundance of the summer sunshine, I pray that we will be inspired to open a win- dow and share our light and love with others. Many Blessings, Jim Gilpin, Parish Council President FROM THE PARISH COUNCIL PRESIDENT What does it mean to have a life in Christ? What do we need to do? What is essential? Through Holy Scripture, Christ Himself shows us the way. First, we are told that we must “hear the Word of God and keep it.” (Luke 11:28) Sounds easy, right? But the problem lies in how we hear and whether we understand correctly, because even Christ’s disciples who were around Him every day, sometimes didn’t understandwhat Hemeant. Thankfully, in our Orthodox Church, we are not left to our own individual misinterpreta- tions, but instead it is part of our Tradition to understand Christ’s teachings through the spiritual guidance of the Church Fathers. In addition to learning what it means to “keep the Word,” we must be very careful about not picking and choosing what it is that Christ tells us we must do. Often it is a temptation to accept the things that come easily to us and either misinterpret or ignore the things we don’t understand or struggle to take on. Christ shows us the way when in the garden He asks His Father to take this bitter cup, but then says, “nevertheless not My will, but Yours be done.” (Luke 22:41-42) So the challenge is how we recognize and accept this reality in our own lives. The next hurdle we encounter in trying to live this life in Christ is thinking or trying to do it all by ourselves. However, even before we realize it, Christ knows we can’t do anything by ourselves and already has a remedy where He invites us in Matt 11:28 to yoke ourselves to Him where He says, “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart… For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” What a blessing to know that He will walk with us, guide our steps, bear our burden with us so we do not become overwhelmed, and show us how to encoun- ter each day with patience and humility. An- other essential factor in keeping in step with and close to Christ is learning how to pray. Christ Himself teaches us how to pray and the ultimate prayer - “Our Father…” (Matt. 6:5-15). Our saints show us that prayer is the way we sustain our relationship with God and that it is through prayer that we connect, speak from our hearts, share our challeng- es, ask for help, and acknowledge our need for the Lord. And as it is prayed in Psalm 24 which is read at the Orthros and at the Third Hour of each day, “To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul, I trust in You…teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth.” With All Faith, Peace, & Love in our Ever-Present Lord, S. Miserlis for the Women of Word WOMEN WORD OF STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE The calendar indicates that summer is upon us. Indeed, the days seem and are lighter, longer, and warmer. The sounds of summer, especially in the evening, come through the windows in the evening as children play out- side later in the evening. Many of you have shared with me at the 2024 Festival the plans that you have as you seek to refresh through a break in your daily routine of work, school, and family responsibilities. My family as well has some summer travel plans. What a de- lightful time of year for us all! However, in talking with some of you, I am mindful of the many challenges we all per- sonally face and the endless number of dis- tractions we wrestle with every day, so many that I cannot remember them all. I am sure that you can each recount the countless ones – TV, sports, phones, emails, texts, social media. Thus, through our communal Church life and its ministries, we find respite in the sanc- tuary and its calling to be a “good neighbor.” For me, it is the camaraderie of working with boys and teens in the holy altar; these boys give me hope for a brighter and better future, not only for our church but the larger soci- ety as well. This is just one ministry amongst many that deserve your support. As chairperson of the Stewardship Commit- tee, I ask you again today to be the “one,” the primary one, in assisting St. Spyridon parish, our church, and your church, to help “Build the Body of Christ” through your honorable and generous pledge toward the thirty-nine ministries of the church. Whether it is as- sisting altar servers, helping to bake (bread), or helping out in the narthex as a volunteer, all are worthy and important. We do this through the giving of our time, our talent, and our financial support. We respectfully ask you to take a moment to refresh your commitment and to fulfill your honorable stewardship pledge to your be- loved St. Spyridon parish. Thank you and God bless you! The Stewardship Committee John Kalas, Fr. Andrew Scordalakis Chairperson