TSN0924

1 THE SHEPHERD • SEPTEMBER 2024 • SAINT SPYRIDON GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH OF SAN DIEGO FROM THE DESK OF FATHER ANDREW My Brothers and Sisters in Christ, As we return from our summer vacations, I would like to remind you that the handing down of the Traditions and Practices of our Orthodox Christian faith to our children is one of our greatest and most rewarding un- dertakings and responsibilities, whether you are a parent or not. This includes bringing them consistently to Sunday School. Our Sunday School Program will resume on Sunday, September 8, 2024 . Many have stepped forward throughout the years to help provide an excellent Sunday School Program for our/your children and this year is no different. We will continue dismissing our Sunday School teachers with their children directly after they receive Holy Communion. Again, the teachers with their children will be allowed to receive first and then depart to go directly to their rooms. Once in their classrooms, they will gather before the icons placed there to recite the Trisagion Prayer, the beautiful Thanksgiving Prayers (that all the faithful will be praying inside the Tem- ple); followed by the singing of the hymn of our parish. Then they will be instructed in their holy Orthodox faith by their teachers who have prepared a lesson from one of the many resource materials made available to them by the parish. All the above will be of no consequence if you the parents, godparents, yiayias [γιαγιάδες], papous [παππούδες], etc. don’t continue to make the concerted effort and dedicated commitment to bring your children on time each and every Sunday to the Divine Liturgy and for their Sunday School lesson. I com- mend, support and encourage all those par- ents and families who have made a concerted effort and I look forward to your positive re- sponse once again. I also ask you to join me in supporting others who sometimes need a little more encouragement and support to make that same commitment. My Brothers and Sisters in Christ, the impor- tance of our Sunday School Program cannot be understated. However, of greater impor- tance to our children (and to all the faithful) is being prepared and on time for the start of the Divine Liturgy. Good preparation and being on time will beget a good and proper response from our children as they grow and mature in the years to come. Good practice begets a good response. In my younger days, I was an athlete and I remember my coach- es constantly reminding us that the way you practice will help dictate the way you will per- form on the day of the game. This holds true for our spiritual lives as well: we reap what we sow; and what you put into the Divine Liturgy will dictate what you draw out from it. So, as we lean into September and as fall heads our way let us prepare ourselves and our families more earnestly to practically and spiritually lean into the celebration of the divine services of the Church. As I have said many times before everything flows from the Divine Liturgy. In other words, the saints of the church, our forefathers and mothers, have left us with this great gift, the jewel of Orthodoxy. With all that flows from the Di- vine Liturgy let us prepare ourselves and the next generation to receive its fruit with our positive response today, amen. +A. www.theshepherdnews.com The Shepherd Newsletter The official newsletter publication for the parish of Saint Spyridon Greek Orthodox Church of San Diego I S S U E 3 4 0 • S E P T E MB E R 2 0 2 4 IN THIS ISSUE FROM THE DESK OF FR. ANDREW ...... p. 1 PRESIDENT OF THE PARISH COUNCIL, WOMEN OF THE WORD, STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE .................. p. 2 NEWS FROM THE LOFT, DIVINE SERVICES, HOLY SACRAMENTS, DEATHS, MEMORIALS, BOOKSTORE ...................p. 3 YOUTH MINISTRIES ................................. p. 4 GREEK LANGUAGE SCHOOL, DANCE & CHORAL .................................. p. 7 PHILOPTOCHOS NEWS .......................... p. 8 PARISH CALENDAR ................................. p. 10 YOUNG AT HEART SENIORS ................. p.11 CONTACT INFORMATION....................... p. 12