TSN1122

2 THE SHEPHERD • NOVEMBER 2022 • SAINT SPYRIDON GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH OF SAN DIEGO For me, November has always evoked mem- ories of going home. As a kid, it was going to see my grandparent; as I grew up, it became about going to see my parents, and now it’s about our boys coming home. November has also been a time to slow down and re ect on all the things for which I am thankful. I am truly grateful for the privilege to serve this Community! I am looking forward to the opportunity for us to gather at the Philoptochos anks- giving Luncheon on November 13, 2022 . I hope you will join us as we gather together in fellowship and in giving thanks. It will also give us an opportunity to celebrate our La- dies and express our gratitude for all they do throughout the year. On November 20, 2022 , we will hold our Fall General Assembly. e Master Plan- ning Committee will provide an update on the ongoing discussions with the Develop- er regarding its o er to purchase properties owned by the Church and Foundation. We are a long way from having any proposal for the Community to consider or vote on. As has been said repeatedly, no property can or will be sold unless the Community approves the sale and no action will be taken at the Fall General Assembly. e Master Planning Committee plans to review the Master Plan that was approved by the Community in 2014. e Foundation recently purchased the Cottage Property, which was the last parcel on the Block not owned by the Church or the Foundation. Its purchase provides additional options related to the Master Plan. Our intent is to spend time over the next several months to review the facilities included in the Master Plan and discuss whether they still represent the will of the Community. Finally, I hope you will all join me in congrat- ulating Jimmy and Stella Pappas , this year’s recipients of the Leon Balaban Award. Jimmy and Stella are sel ess in their service to our Community. ey are so involved, working silently and without fanfare. ey are truly humble servants and we are blessed by all they do, but mostly, we are fortunate to see the example they set. As John F. Kennedy reminded our country many anksgivings ago, “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” Many Blessings, Jim Gilpin Parish Council President FROM THE PARISH COUNCIL PRESIDENT continues 3 By the time this column appears in the No- vember Newsletter, our group will already have read and discussed the rst four chap- ters of the epistle to the Hebrews. At the beginning of our introduction to this book, we discussed how we read Holy Scripture in general and also how we are to understand this particular book in its historical context as well as how it applies to our lives. How do we read Holy Scripture? We ap- proach it with humility. As Fr. Andrew re- minded us in our Orientation session: We pray before we read; we have an “awesome approach” – that is, we attend to Holy Scrip- ture with reverence. It is written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and not open to multiple interpretations. at’s one of the reasons we are told to “Be attentive” when hearing the Gospel or as St. Paul warns in many of his epistles to be careful not to preach “a di erent Gospel.” One of the main themes of this book of Hebrews is to understand what is the “Good News” and how to keep it. is par- ticular book was originally addressed to Greek-speaking Jewish Christians maybe in Palestine who were falling back into their Ju- dean roots and old covenant beliefs and were not clear on the superiority of Christ as the ful llment of the Law and the prophets. ey are warned to avoid dri ing away from the truth of Christ and reminded to listen to and be aware of “such a great cloud of witnesses” and to be open to the idea of the Messiah Who has come. is message is true for any hearer of this epistle, us as well. We need to be vigilant, know who and what we are when we hear the message of the Gospel. We have to persevere in our faith, understand how it works in our daily lives, and especially now that Christ has shown us the way of true for- giveness and love. is has been the main focus of our weekly discussions – to under- stand this very great mystery of why God became Man, how his sacri ce on the Cross has conquered darkness and death, and has liberated us. “But we see Jesus who was made a little lower than the angels, for the su ering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.” (Heb 2:9) and “in all things He had to be made like His brethren” (Heb 2:17) e footnote in our Orthodox Study Bible helps us understand this profound truth where it says, “what is not assumed is not healed, and what is united to God is saved.” Such a gi He WOMEN WORD OF THE Each year in concurrence with Church Music Sunday, always observed on the first Sunday in Octo- ber, the National Forum of Greek Orthodox Church Musicians honors those choir directors who have served in their Metropolises for over 25 years. This year, Ms. Kathy Loukatos Meck was presented with the Patriarch Athenagoras Medal for Distinguished Metropolis Service , a special letter of commendation from Archbishop Elpidophoros , and recognition in the National Forum’s yearly Liturgical Guidebook for her role in directing choirs in the Metropolis of San Francisco. As a beau- tiful surprise, Fr. John Karitotakis , former proistamenos of Saint Spyridon was on hand on October 2nd to help present her Patriarch Athenagoras Medallion. Kathy has been directing choirs in our Me- tropolis beginning in 1991 at Assumption Long Beach and at Saint Spyridon San Diego since 2004. Congratulations, Kathy!