RSVP Signup for Sunday's Divine Services
As we continue to move toward some greater sense of normalcy in the coming weeks ahead, and for the time being, we are still asking you to RSVP signup so that we can place you and/or your family in an assigned seat in our continued effort to keep everyone safe while we are seated inside the Sanctuary and/or our Church Fellowship Hall.
Thus, we have created a familiar RSVP signup link below for the divine services of the Church. This will allow us to exercise the six feet of physical distance required by San Diego county while inside our Sanctuary. We are hopeful that change is in the not-so-distant future (June 15th) but, for now, this is the best system that has worked very well for our parish as we continue to move in a very positive direction -
RSVP Signup Link - https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A4EA8A92BA7FF2-stspyridon
As a reminder, you can also RSVP signup from the front page of our website - www.stspyridon.org
Calling All 2021 Graduating Seniors
Please submit your name, the school that you are graduating from, your potential major, and any future plans (college, trade school, career choice, etc.). Call the church office at 619-297-4165 or email office@stspyridon.org at any time, but no later than Monday, June 14th. We would like to recognize and honor our graduating seniors from High School and College/University in our July newsletter. Thank you!
Upcoming Weekday Divine Services
Thursday, June 10th - Holy Ascension of the Lord - Orthros 9:00 am with Divine Liturgy to follow
Sunday School News
The Sunday School Team would like to thank all of the families who participated this year! We are so thankful for everyone’s flexibility this year as we navigated the new zoom world and returning to Church. We had such a fun time this year with our Sunday classes, Zoom Christmas Party, Holy Friday Retreat, and End of Year Celebration! We are thrilled that we got to spend time with your children!
This Sunday we will be celebrating our graduating Seniors! Demetri Maude, Theo Couris, Chrysanthe Frangos, John Burrell, Michael Angeles, Justin Davis, Hannah Kallas, Hudson Lovell, Isabella Lovell, Nicholas Lovell, Ellie Preovolos, Litsa Preovolos, Anastasia Terris, and Evan Vasiliou. Congratulations to them and their families!
Last, I want to extend a huge banner of gratitude to our Sunday School Teachers this year! Without them, Sunday School could not happen. They have gone above and beyond all expectations from learning the new Zoom platform to delivering class supplies to so much more! Ms. Tina even continued teaching after she moved to the east coast! So, if you see Sophia Thiros, Tina Perri, or Franceen Kakavoulis-Perera, be sure to thank them for volunteering! I’d also like to thank the teen volunteers who planned and ran the Holy Friday Retreat: Andreana Frangos, George Dougenis, Zoe Maude, Eleni Arapostathis, and Jack Dougenis. And the volunteers who helped each Sunday in the in-person Sunday School Class, Ms. Maria, Ms. Karen, and Ms. Hermina. Thank you!!!
We will see you all on September 12th!
Julie Dennis, St. Spyridon Sunday School Director
View the June Shepherd Newsletter
Click here: http://theshepherdnews.com/issues/0621/index.html
Upcoming Memorials for June
Sunday, June 27th - Stephanie Navrides - 1 year
Sunday, June 27th - Andreas Kyriakidis - 3 years
Stewardship Corner
Christ is Risen!
As we enter Spring this year 2021, we are slowly leaving behind the historic pandemic and slowly reopening our society and our beloved church, St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Church, to all of you and your families. What a blessing! Father Andrew has spoken to us about the meaning of Pascha many times and, as I understand it, it is a time of renewal- for us, spiritually, as we sharpen our understanding of what it means to be an Orthodox Christian.
Each week we are reminded of the importance of being a “Eucharistic Community”: we gather around the holy altar to praise God and we do it together. We, the Church, may not have heard from you in a while, but you are not forgotten nor are you to be left behind. We count each of you and consider each of you uniquely important in the growth of the Body of Christ, in our beloved St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Church, and thus we are reaching out to you to remind you to not forget us. We look forward to seeing you soon and when we do it will be a time for celebration and renewal!
Thus, take a moment to reflect on the importance of the Church and its impact on your life. And make your contribution to stewardship so we the church can continue to serve you and your family (and the parish) in your momentum need or celebration!
With God’s Blessing - The Stewardship Committee thanks you in advance:
John Kalas, Chairperson Fr. Andrew Scordalakis
Greek Festival Update
Christos Anesti!
I pray this message finds you healthy and blessed. Many of you have probably wondered if we would be able to put on a Greek Festival this year. To this end, a small group of dedicated volunteers have been meeting over the past two months to determine if this was something that we could achieve. Our initial hope was that we would be able to put together some type of festival even if it had to be a scaled-back version of our popular annual event. Due to the many challenges related to health and public safety, however, it was obvious fairly quickly that we would not be able to do anything resembling our normal festival, so we leaned towards a drive-through concept.
As the planning continued, the committee worked faithfully to balance the needs of the community, the long-standing reputation of our annual festival, and the news that the state would soon be relaxing safety restrictions. Unfortunately, as the committee strived to move forward, it became increasingly clear that the benefits of holding a hybrid event were easily outweighed by the risks of uncertainty and the possibility of damaging the proud reputation of our Greek Festival. Reluctantly, and after careful consideration, the committee concluded that a festival event of any type would not be possible.
As we move forward, let us keep our sights set on bringing back our Greek Festival in June of 2022.
Together in Christ,
Ben De La Riva, Festival Chair
Philoptochos Membership - Renew or Become a Member
Xristos Anesti!
Hope you and your families had a blessed Pascha. We are reaching out in hopes of encouraging you to renew your membership or possibly become a potential new member. As a reminder, Philoptochos welcomes men and women over the age of 18. Your membership enables us to continue our good work throughout the year helping those in need, in our community, and beyond.
To renew or join, please visit anthousa.org or send your payment to the church. Please see our attached flyer in the "Inserts & Fliers" section below for details.
Thank you for your continued support of St. Spyridon's Philoptochos.
Melanie Anastopulos [(619) 218-9778, melanie@anastopulos.com]
Kelly Samouris [(619) 871-4702, nyckelly@cox.net]
Membership Chairs
Give Back 0.5% From “Amazon Smile” Foundation
We remind you to please participate in the AmazonSmile program. When you shop on Amazon, the AmazonSmile Foundation will give back 0.5% of your purchase price to St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Church. That’s right, every eligible/registered purchase you or someone else makes at AmazonSmile 0.5% will be donated back to your parish!!!
It's quick and easy to register by visiting AmazonSmile (smile.amazon.com) and select “St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Church” before you make your first purchase (be sure to select St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Church - San Diego, California).
For more information about AmazonSmile, go to http://smile.amazon.com/about
We hope you’ll consider this easy way to support your beloved parish. Everyone is eligible to participate so tell your friends and relatives and spread the word about this wonderful opportunity.
Your Legacy and Your Church
...to whom much is given; from them much more is required (Luke 12:48).
Please remember to include your Saint Spyridon parish in your estate plan and bequest.