This Sunday's Memorial
Dimitrios (James) Vlachopoulos - 4 years
The Fifteen Days of August - Paraklesis Services for Health and Well-Being
On Thursday, August 15th, the Church will remember, honor and celebrate one of the Twelve Major Feast Days of the Church - The Falling Asleep Holy Theotokos. The prescribed two-week fast will end and a celebration will begin; a celebration that marks a new beginning, a new birth.
In the Orthodox tradition, the earthly death of a Christian is viewed as a birthday – a new spiritual beginning. Like our birthday marks the beginning of our earthly existence in this world, death marks the beginning of our spiritual existence beyond the grave. Therefore, on the fifteenth of August, we will celebrate the Falling Asleep of the Holy Theotokos with a Divine Liturgy in her honor. The Orthros/Preparatory Service will begin at 9:00 am followed by the Divine Liturgy.
Therefore, keeping with the Holy Tradition of the Church, in seeking divine help through the intercession of the Theotokos, we will also once again gather for communal prayer as we lift up our voices to her for our health and well-being. Paraklesis services will be offered at 6:30 pm on Friday evening, August 2nd and Wednesday evening, August 7th. The Paraklesis service will also be offered at 10:00 am on Wednesday morning, August 9th and on Monday morning, August 12th. Please make every effort to be present to help pray for the sick, the suffering, and for those held in captivity.
You can find a form to write and offer the names of your loved ones who need prayer for health and well-being from the narthex of the church. Please return your names to Fr. Andrew well before each Paraklesis Service and more importantly, make every effort to be physically present for the services to be part of the prayers for our loved ones.
AHEPA Scholarships
AHEPA Chapter 223 San Diego is proud to announce this year’s scholarship awards to our St. Spyridon community graduates. The recipients are: Theo Huntalas, Alexios Savvides, Andreana Frangos, Jack Dougenis, and Luka Maude. Our chapter would like to offer our hearty congratulations and wish the students all the best in their studies. The scholarships will be awarded this Sunday, July 28th after the Divine Liturgy.
Pop Up Summer Fun this Sunday, July 28th
Family Arts and Crafts! 11:45am - 12:45pm - Immediately after the Divine Liturgy, join us in the hall for arts and crafts projects that you can do with your kids and teens! There will be projects set out for kids and teens of all ages. We will have a treat at the end. Contact Julie Dennis, [email protected] with questions!
See the attached flyer in the Inserts & Flyers section.
Prison Ministry Awareness this Sunday, July 28th
As the national prison ministry of the Orthodox Church, Orthodox Christian Prison Ministry (OCPM) supports prisoners’ unique spiritual needs through long-term case management and provides resources and training to parishes and clergy, enabling them to offer local solutions and fulfill Christ’s command to visit Him in prison. As a result, families are reunited, marriages are
healed, and thousands of incarcerated men and women have a new sense of peace and restored order in their lives. To donate or learn more visit www.theocpm.org or call 347-868-6957.
Young at Heart Seniors
We will meet at Balboa Park’s Fleet Science Center on Monday, August 5th at 10:15 for a 10:30 lecture on Covid-19, followed by the IMAX movie “Beautiful Planet” at 12 noon. We’ll have lunch in Balboa Park after the movie. Parking is directly behind the Fleet Science Center, 1875 El Prado. For questions or information, please call Camelia Clum, 619-806-3920.
GOYA Kick Off Party - August 17th, 4:30pm
We hope to see all of the GOYA members and their families at the annual beach party! Pizza and drinks provided. Bring a side dish or dessert to share. Meet at the south grassy area at La Jolla Shores. RSVP for the beach party! Questions? Contact Youth Ministries Director: Julie Dennis, 619-940-5167 or [email protected].
See the attached flyer in the Inserts & Flyers section.
Dance and Choral School
Whether you're sipping a frappe by the Aegean or enjoying the San Diego shores, we're sure there's some Greek music in your background. And where there's Greek music, there's Greek dance! In just a few short weeks we will begin our Fall Dance schedule on September 8th. Until then, we are looking for more dance instructors as the dance school has swelled in size since the Festival! If you or someone you know would be interested please reach out to Timmy Paraskevopoulos at [email protected] or call 714-931-2431.
Summer Stewardship Reminder
With summer upon us and the days seem and are lighter, longer, and warmer. The sounds of summer come through the windows, especially in the evening, as children play outside until sunset.
I am mindful of the many challenges we all personally face and the endless number of distractions we wrestle with every day, so many that I cannot remember them all. I am sure that you can each recount the countless ones – TV, sports, phones, emails, texts, social media.
Thus, through our communal Church life and its ministries, we find respite in the sanctuary and its calling to be a “good neighbor.” For me, it is the camaraderie of working with boys and teens in the holy altar; these boys give me hope for a brighter and better future, not only for our church but the larger society as well. This is just one ministry amongst many that deserve your support.
As chairperson of the Stewardship Committee, I ask you again today to be the “one,” the primary one, in assisting St. Spyridon parish, our church, and your church, to help “Build the Body of Christ” through your honorable and generous pledge toward the thirty-nine ministries of the church. Whether it is assisting altar servers, helping to bake (bread), or helping out in the narthex as a volunteer, all are worthy and important. We do this through the giving of our time, our talent, and our financial support.
We respectfully ask you to take a moment to refresh your commitment and to fulfill your honorable stewardship pledge to your beloved St. Spyridon parish. You may give online at www.stspyridon.org, pay through your bank, or call the office at 619-297-4165 for assistance.
Thank you and God bless you!
The Stewardship Committee:
John T. Kalas, Chairperson
Philoptochos Decorated Icons
Commemorate a Feast Day by offering a decorated icon to be displayed in the Narthex for veneration. The suggested donation is $85 to: Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos Society. Call 619-297-4165 to reserve.
Icons available for decoration:
The icon used for the Paraklesis services for the "Fifteen Days of August"
8/15 - The Falling Asleep of the Holy Theotokos
8/27 - St. Phanourios the Great Martyr
Pan-Arcadian Federation—Tegea Chapter Scholarship Fund
The completed application and all required documents must be postmarked by Wednesday, July 31, 2024. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered. To be eligible for this scholarship, applicants must meet the following requirements as listed in the scholarship Bylaws:
1. Be active members of the Tegea Chapter of the Pan-Arcadian Federation OR have at least one member of their families or guardians (Mother/Father/ Grandfather/Grandmother/Brother/Sister) who is an active member of the Tegea Chapter and has been a member for at least one year prior to the scholarship application date.
2. Plan to continue their education at a four-year institution of higher learning leading to a Bachelor’s Degree, or at a junior college or trade school.
3. Provide evidence of matriculation at a four-year college/university, junior college, or trade school. This includes student ID and proof of enrollment for the 2024-2025 school year.
4. Be graduating seniors in the current school year from a San Diego City/County high school, or continuing students at an institution of higher learning, junior college or trade school.
5. Submit the following documents (including those of #3 above)
a. A letter from a school official
b. A letter from any other source of the applicant’s choice
c. An official transcript of the current school of attendance
See the attached application in the Inserts & Flyers section below.
Fellowship and Coffee Hour