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1 THE SHEPHERD • SEPTEMBER 2023 • SAINT SPYRIDON GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH OF SAN DIEGO FROM THE DESK OF FATHER ANDREW www.theshepherdnews.com The Shepherd Newsletter On September 1st we remember and acknowl- edge the New Ecclesias- tical Year. How appro- priate that the first major feast day to follow the new year is that of the Nativity of the The- otokos, which we remember on September 8th. As we know, the Theotokos was born to her parents Joachim and Anna. Joachim was from the royal line of David, of the tribe of Judah. Anna was from the priestly tribe of Levi. What a beautiful blend of backgrounds. One of the three readings given at the ves- pers service of the Nativity (Genesis chapter 28) relates to us the journey of Jacob who is instructed to leave the “foreign” land he finds himself in and to seek a bride in the land of his forefathers. During his travels Jacob falls asleep and dreams a dream in which he sees God. He dreams about a ladder, hence Jacob’s ladder, and sees the angels of God ascending and descending upon the ladder. There are two verses from this passage that are import- ant to us: one reminds us that in the Old Tes- tament God remains in His heavenly abode. From verse 13 we hear the following “And behold, the Lord stood above the ladder…and spoke to Jacob…” In other words, in the Old Testament God spoke to just a select few from His heavenly abode. We hear from chapter 28:17 of Genesis, that after Jacob awoke from his dream, he says “Surely the Lord is in this place… this is none other than the house of God…” This is significant because the fathers of the Church interpret this passage as relat- ing to the Holy Theotokos in that today she becomes “the house of God” that Jacob speaks about in the same chapter. She who carried God in her womb is truly that place, Beth-el, the house of God. All this is important because we have heard the New Testament tell us that Christ is the fulfillment of the Old Testament. Consequently, from the Gospel lesson asso- ciated with the Nativity of the Holy Theot- okos (Luke 10:38-11:28) we hear that “God took on flesh, in the form of a servant,” Jesus Christ, through the free-will consent of the Theotokos. He thus, descended from his heavenly abode, and has come to speak to all humanity, not a select few, through the hearts and minds of believers, through the mouths and examples of each and everyone of us who call ourselves Orthodox Chris- tians. And what has God said? He has basi- cally repeated what He promised Jacob from Chapter 28 of Genesis verse 15 “Behold I am with you always and will keep you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land, (speaking about heaven), for I will not leave you until I have done that which I have spoken to you,” which is to one day to bring believers into His glorious presence. What joy knowing that no matter what, God is with us (Μεθ’ ημῶν Ο Θεός), and that He is not just speaking to Jacob but to us and to all humanity. What a blessing of peace and comfort, knowing that God will not leave us until He fulfills His promise, until he keeps His covenant. What a blessing of comfort knowing that one day God will lift us into His heavenly abode, escorting us back home with His heavenly angels - for God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). My brothers and sisters in Christ, the recent fatal wildfires and tropical storm/hurricane Hilary is tragic indeed for many, let alone the other tragic events that take place here in the United States and around the globe. But let us not forget or be deceived, the world has The Shepherd The official newsletter publication for the parish of Saint Spyridon Greek Orthodox Church of San Diego I S S U E 3 2 8 • S E P T E MB E R 2 0 2 3 continues 3 IN THIS ISSUE FR. ANDREW ............................................. p. 1 PRESIDENT OF THE PARISH COUNCIL, WOMEN OF THE WORD, BOOKSTORE............................................... p. 2 DIVINE SERVICES, HOLY SACRAMENTS, MEMORIALS, NEWS FROM THE LOFT, STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE .................p. 3 YOUTH MINISTRIES ................................ p. 4 GREEK LANGUAGE SCHOOL ................ p. 5 DANCE & CHORAL CALENDAR ............ p. 7 ELEVATION OF THE HOLY CROSS FEATURE ..................................................... p. 8 PHILOPTOCHOS NEWS .......................... p. 9 PARISH CALENDAR ................................. p. 10 SENIORS ..................................................... p. 11 CONTACT INFORMATION ...................... p. 12 ADVERTISE IN THE SHEPHERD NEWSLETTER! BUSINESS ADS AND PERSONAL GREETINGS & ANNOUNCEMENTS AVAILABLE AT LOW RATES FOR DETAILS, EMAIL INFO@THESHEPHERDNEWS.COM OR CALL 858.292.6070 THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!