HELLO DEVOTED PARISHIONERS AND ORTHODOX CHRISTIANS OF ST. JOHN'S. I HAVE BEEN IN MY HOME IN ASTORIA FOR 8 1/2 WEEKS NOW, SINCE I AM OVER 70 YEARS OLD. HARD TO BELIEVE, BUT SINCE WE ARE TOLD TO SELF-ISOLATE I HAVE BEEN AWAY FROM OUR BELOVED ST. JOHN'S AND MY DUTIES THERE. I HAVE BEEN PRAYING FOR ALL OF YOU CONTINUALLY AND HOPE AND PRAY GOD WILL ANSWER OUR PRAYERS SOON.
EVERY THURSDAY EVENING NOW AT 7:30 P.M. I HOST AN ONLINE BIBLE STUDY. IT IS OPEN TO ALL WHO WISH TO ATTEND. PLEASE EMAIL ME AT THE CHURCH EMAIL ADDRESS OR TO MY PERSONAL EMAIL ADDRESS FOR THE WEEKLY LINK.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE AND BLESSINGS!
WE ARE STILL IN NEED OF DONATIONS FOR THE RENOVATIONS. SO PLEASE TAKE THE TIME AND BE AS GENEROUS AS YOU CAN TO HELP KEEP ST. JOHN'S A VIABLE COMMUNITY FOR TODAY AND IN THE FUTURE.
IF YOU HAVE NOT SENT IN THIS YEAR'S STEWARDSHIP 2020 PLEASE DO THAT TODAY. THE 2020 FORM IS ON OUR WEBSITE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY!
THE NEW PROTOCOL FROM OUR ARCHDIOCESE SAYS THAT WE CAN CELEBRATE DIVINE LITURGIES WITH ONLY 10 PEOPLE. HOWEVER, THAT INCLUDES EVERYONE, PRIEST, CHANTER, PARISH COUNCIL AND PARISHIONERS. ALSO, EACH PARISHIONER MUST MAKE AN APPOINTMENT BEFORE HAND SINCE NO ONE CAN ENTER THE CHURCH WITHOUT FIRST REQUESTING IT. WE ARE LOOKING AT OPENING AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AFTER WE TOTALLY DESINFECT THE ENTER BUILDING. WE WILL LET EVERYONE KNOW AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEE ALL OF YOU SOON, I MISS ALL OF YOU!
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CHRISTOS ANESTI! ALITHOS ANESTI!
MEMORIAL DAY
I think all of us can remember the day we took the Oath of Enlistment into the Armed Forces. We all raised our right hands and repeated the follows: “I, (your name), do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to the regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.”
When I was a child oath was a big part of my life. In Public School, we proclaimed the Pledge of Allegiance to the United States of America every day. In the Boy Scouts, we had to learn and recite the Boy Scout Oath, and in Church we all had to learn the Creed with its twelve declarations affirming what we believe as Orthodox Christian. Oaths are what we use to declare our allegiance to something greater than ourselves. They also reflect what we believe and wish to emulate in our character to live a life with values.
This weekend is a time when we commemorate all those who gave their all for this wonderful and great country. The oath they took to defend this country was however to the death, and if you could ask them now would they do it again, I am sure they would answer yes. Even though some of us were drafted into the Armed Forces, that did not preclude our love for this country.
However, this weekend has been turned into barbeques and parties by many Americans with no reflection at all of the patriotic individuals who gave their life for this country of ours. What we have seen recently is a dislike and disdain for the military, and as such many see our patriotism for this country as a hindrance to peace. The Oath we all recited many years ago empowered us to become defenders of this country and to preserve our God-given rights as is stated in “the preamble of the declaration . . . We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”
The freedoms we experience today in America are because of the men and women who answered the call as we did. Patriotism is something not all Americans possess. However, they all want to reap the benefits and rewards of all the sacrifices we made defending “against all enemies, foreign and domestic.” Unfortunately, some gave all, and I know we can place a finger into the names of our fallen friends memorialized on “The Wall.”
Finally, it is a shame that the “Fallen” has been neglected by most in our countrymen today. I can remember as a young boy in Brooklyn seeing all the veterans marching and honoring our “fallen heroes.” The crowds overflowed on the sidewalks cheering them on for their service, sacrifice, and dedication to our country in the face of death. Everyone said they missed their buddies and those who they fought with. Patriotism was honored with tributes and accolades, but today it is seen as something that perpetuates and glorify war. How pathetic some have become. Because without those who stand up and defend our country, even while facing the threat of death, we would not have the freedoms we have today. Moreover, today we would be speaking German or Japanese.
Before ending this message I thought it would fitting to add a short poem taken from the collection of my friend and fellow warrior G.W. Thomas on this Memorial Day Weekend. We served together in Vietnam from 1966-67 and since then we have been in touch until his falling asleep in the Lord in 2005. His wife Belynda sent me the collection after his passing since we were such close friends. However, this particular one was written by GW’s mom and it reflects what I think all moms and loved ones must have prayed when their sons or husbands went to war.
“The Vietnam”
The hours pass slowly,
The minutes drag by.
But keep him Lord,
From the enemy so shy.
I’m begging you Lord,
How Great thy Art.
Watch over our son,
And bless his heart.
Show your love for him,
As I’ve tried to do.
He’s oh so lonely,
So sad and blue.
Lord I prayed for a son,
The day he was born.
We’re so thankful for him,
His life we adorn.
So be Merciful Lord,
For this We pray.
Bring our son home safely,
This coming May. AMEN!