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2 THE SHEPHERD • JULY 2026 • SAINT SPYRIDON GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH OF SAN DIEGO I recently read a post that said, “Today, before asking God for anything new, spend five min- utes reflecting on how He has answered what you’ve already asked. You may be surprised by how much has shifted that you haven’t no- ticed.” There is something special about being grateful for what we have, accepting grateful- ly the gifts He has given us, and, more than anything, sharing our gifts with others. The theme of this year’s Clergy-Laity Con- gress is “Rise and Build” taken from the Book of Nehemiah in the Old Testament. After seeing the crumbling walls of Jerusa- lem, Nehemiah called upon his people to rise up and rebuild the temple. Nehemiah’s sto- ry provides a great example of a lay person’s response in faith. Nehemiah saw a need, his heart was stirred, he prayed for understand- ing and direction, and took action. He knew that true rebuilding, both physical or spiri- tual, begins and ends with God. Nehemiah understood that prayers without action are just words. Through his actions he inspired others; he ignited a spark in their hearts as he reminded them of the importance of sharing their gifts. We are called to be like Nehemiah in our own lives and in the life of our Parish. The words of Nehemiah call to us to renew our commitment to our faith and to use the gifts we have received from God to rise up and build the Body of Christ. His words call us to transform our understanding of the bless- ings we have received and prompt us to put our faith into action. By opening our eyes, we can see the needs of our Church (not just the physical) and we can rise together to continue building the Body of Christ. We can lead by example and inspire one another to participate and offer our unique gifts for the good of our Church. We can respond to the needs of others with love and sacrifice. We can offer our gifts with Christian love; seeing Christ in all people, finding patience, showing compassion, and forgiving others. The story of Nehemiah reminds us that stew- ardship is not just about money, it is about being ready to help, seeing a need, offer- ing our talents, and serving others. Being a good steward is ultimately our response of gratitude and love toward God for the bless- ings He has bestowed upon us. As St. John Chrysostom reminds us, “When we are grateful for what we have, God multiplies what we receive.” I hope the coming month will offer a respite, giving us all time to rest and recharge as we continue our walk to “rise and build” in His name. Many blessings, Jim Gilpin, Parish Council President FROM THE PARISH COUNCIL PRESIDENT Come take a look! The Bookstore has a won- derful selection of books perfect for your child’s summer reading. Is your child learning the alphabet? How about teaching them an Orthodox Christian alphabet? H is For Holy is a wonderful book, for example beginning with A is for altar, to H is for Holy, P is for prayer to Z is for Zacchaeus. The illustrations will inspire your children by visualizing their faith too. This book is a meaningful addition to any child’s library. Want to add some creativity to your child’s summer. Beautiful Days is a 64 page coloring book for children aged 5 to 12. As children color the icon of Christ’s Baptism or a scene of kids flying kites, they cultivate their own beauty, seeing the sacred in both liturgical and everyday moments. May this book bless those children who color and create within its pages. Another book to consider is Shepherding Sam. It is book one of the “Sam and Saucer” series. This book includes thoughtful under- tones that can spark conversations with kids about God and feeling like one doesn’t quite fit in. The author uses a lot of humor and an- imals to draw kids into reading. For ages 7 to 11. Why do Orthodox Christians all over the world dye red eggs for Pascha? The Miracle of the Red Egg is the story of how this tra- dition started- way back in apostolic times, with St. Mary Magdalene and a blessed mir- acle that dazzled the unbelieving Roman em- peror with the reality and power of Christ’s Resurrection. An enjoyable read for both kids and adults. A big thank you to Deanna Spounias for her generous donation to the Bookstore in memory of Steve Gamvrellis , her uncle who BOOKSTORE SUMMER OF BEING AND DOING Our active summer is well under way, and began with the feast day of our patron saints, Mary and Martha of Bethany on June 4th. Then it was wonderful to see so many Wom- en of the Word joyfully hard at work during our successful Greek Festival. And there are still so many wonderful opportunities left to serve the Lord in our parish amid vacations and family projects. But among all the activity, we also have been taking time for our spiritual growth, especially enjoying our summer book club, reading Mother Siluana Vlad’s amazing book Theology of the Ordinary: Finding God in the Turmoil of Everyday Life . Our first meeting was on Saturday, June 27, as we gathered to read the first section of this lively and thought-provoking book. In addition, we have been encouraging one another with lots of other book and study recommendations on topics ranging from growing our prayer lives to discovering the lives and writings of some inspiring saints. Be sure to check out the bookstore to enrich your summer read- ing book bag! Mary and Martha remind us that God’s will can be found in both action and contempla- tion, beginning with sitting at the Lord’s feet in prayer and study that can give us strength and then joy in the work He calls each of us to do. Our book club will meet again on July 25th and August 22nd. All women are invited to attend, so feel free to bring a friend! (See the weekly bulletin for time and place). We will begin our new study on the Holy Spir- it in September, and sign-ups will begin in August. Wishing you a happy July, whether you are at home or travelling! WOMEN WORD OF THE loved gaining knowledge through education and books. All donations go to restocking our wonderful selection of books and lovely icons. Wishing everyone a wonderful and safe summer! Stephanie Mourafetis, Mary Mastorakos, Francesca Captain, Hitomi Shue, and Kaylin Marino