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4 THE SHEPHERD • SEPTEMBER 2026 • SAINT SPYRIDON GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH OF SAN DIEGO September’s quick tip for families: Download the “Daily Readings” App. There is a Lite ver- sion that is free. Developed by the Greek Or- thodox Archdiocese, this is a great app be- cause it follows the daily Epistle and Gospel readings as they are in our Divine Liturgies and throughout the week. It also has prayers, information on Saints, and a fasting calen- dar. Starting or ending your day with a daily Scripture reading is a great way to start the new school year! If you have questions about Youth Minis- tries at St. Spyridon, call or text Julie Den- nis, Youth Ministries Director, 619-618-5116 or email youthministries@stspyridon.org. Learn more about St. Spyridon Youth Minis- tries on our website: tinyurl.com/stspyridon- youth Follow us on social media: Facebook - St. Spyridon GOC San Diego and Instagram - @youthstspyridon Parents of babies & toddlers The Nursery and Cry Room is available in the Narthex (behind the candle box) and offers a quiet space with toys, books, changing ta- ble for parents with young children during the celebration of the Divine Liturgy. The room is equipped with both video and au- dio, allowing you to follow the Divine Lit- urgy. Toddler Totes are also available in the Narthex the and have engaging activities for young children to use during the celebration of the Divine Liturgy. Ask any volunteer in the Narthex for a Toddler Tote and return it at the end of Divine Liturgy. Kids’ Corner is open each Sunday at the same time as Sunday School (after the reception of Holy Commu- nion) in the Lower Education Building. Par- ents of babies and toddlers are encouraged to check out this great place to meet other parents of young children. There are toys for the kids to play with and coffee/tea for the parents! Little Angels Playgroup dates for September are the 9th, 16th, and 23rd. This playgroup is for kids and parents/caregivers ages 0-4 and is in the St. Spyridon playroom in the Lower Education Building. Sunday School Sunday School got off to a great start on August 23rd! We had over 65 students reg- istered in grades preschool-high school. All grades met in the Youth Room after Holy Communion to meet their teachers, learn the Bible Memory Verse for the year, and create a mosaic. We ended the day with a pizza lunch for fellowship. We are excited for the new year and to launch the new GOC Archdiocese National Sunday School cur- riculum! Sunday School meets on most Sun- days immediately following the receiving of Holy Communion. Room assignments are as follows: • Kids’ Corner: Lower Education Building • Preschool: Room 2, Upstairs Education Building • TK-1st grade: Room 1, Upstairs Educa- tion Building • 2nd-3rd grade: Room 3, Upstairs Educa- tion Building • 4th-5th grade: Room 4, Upstairs Educa- tion Building • 6th-8th grade: Room 5, Upstairs Educa- tion Building • 9th-11th grade: Upstairs Youth Room (above the hall) • 12th grade: Room 6, Upstairs Education Building A note about snacks: All Sunday School students get a small snack as they arrive at Sunday School. We have found that this helps tremendously with engagement and focus in class. Each year, we ask for snack donations from our Sunday School families. This year, we are making it even easier with a Sunday School Snack Amazon Wish List! If you would like to contribute, check out the list and pick one or two items to donate. The snacks will automatically be delivered to Tina Perri, Sunday School Director. The best part is that you don’t even need to have kids or teens in Sunday School to contrib- ute! Here’s the link to donate: tinyurl.com/ snackssundayschool GOYA (Greek Orthodox Youth Association) GOYA had a great start to the new school year with a fun beach party! GOYA would like to welcome all of our new members who have aged up to GOYA this year! If you have a 6th - 12th grader and are not on our email list, email youthministries@stspyridon.org to get signed up. Our GOYA Youth Board will be emailing out our event calendar lat- er this month. Our first activity is coming up soon - Camping at Green Valley Camp- ground in Cuyamaca State Park on Septem- ber 4th-7th! There are a limited number of spots left if you’d like to join! HOPE-JOY Calling all MVPs! Youth Ministries is look- ing for parents who would like to join our Monthly Volunteer Parents and help our ele- mentary aged youth group once per month! This is a great way to get involved at St. Spyr- idon and in your kids’ activities at church. Benefits to joining the MVPs - you get to have a say in the meeting dates and times of the youth group, you get to pick how much or little you are involved, it is a low time com- mitment responsibility, you get to meet other Orthodox parents, and you get to help your child be more connected at St. Spyridon! Join today by emailing youthministries@stspyr- idon.org YOUTH MINISTRIES https://tinyurl.com/spyridonplaygroup Questions: 619-618-5116 youthministries@stspyridon.org Parents of Babies and Toddlers: St. Spyridon GreekOrthodoxChurch at Kids Corner - a place to play and hang out with other parents! Each Sunday after Holy Communion in the Education Building Little Angels - a playgroup with activities and fun! Meets monthly in the Education Building Toddler Totes - quiet activity bags for little hands to use during Divine Liturgy In the Narthex, ask a volunteer for a bag, bring it back at the end of Divine Liturgy. https://tinyurl.com/spyridonplaygroup Questions: 619-618-5116 youthministries@stspyridon.org Parents of Babies and Toddlers: St. Spyridon GreekOrth xChurch at Kids Corner - a place to play and hang out with other parents! Each Sunday after Holy Communion in the Education Building Little Angels - a playgroup with activities and fun! Meets monthly in the Education Building Toddler Totes - quiet activity bags for little hands to use during Divine Liturgy In the Narthex, ask a volunteer for a bag, bring it back at the end of Divine Liturgy. https://tinyurl.com/spyridonplaygroup Questions: 619-618-5116 youthministries@stspyridon.org Parents of Babies and Toddlers: St. Spyridon GreekOrthodoxChurch at Kids Corner - a place to play and hang out with other parents! Each Sunday after Holy Communion in the Education Building Little Angels - a playgroup with activities and fun! Meets monthly in the Education Building Toddler Totes - quiet activity bags for little hands to use during Divine Liturgy In the Narthex, ask a volunteer for a bag, bring it back at the end of Divine Liturgy. https://tinyurl.com/spyridonplaygroup Questions: 619-618-5116 youthministries tspyridon.org Parents of Babies and Toddlers: St. Spyridon GreekOrthodoxChurch at Kids Corn r - a place t play and hang out with other parents! Each Sunday after Holy Communion in the Education Building Little Angels - a playgroup with activities and fun! Meets monthly in the Education Building Toddler Totes - quiet activity bags for little hands to use during ivine Liturgy In the Narthex, a l nt er for a bag, bring it back at t Divine Liturgy.