MEMORIALS
Today, we will fray for and chant Memorials for: Nicholas Peroulakis and Bess Kostoglou - one year.
Kalotina Xenakis (Sylvia Santiago's mother) - three months.
Phil Passas (Trisagion) - four years.
May their Memories be Eternal!
LITURGY FOR SAINT NICHOLAS
Tomorrow, December 6 is the Feast of Saint Nicholas. Father Joe DiStefano and the parish of Saint Nicholas invite us all to celebrate their Church name day together the feast of this magnificent Saint with a mono ecclesia. (one service with all churches celebrating together.)
This evening - December 5 at 6:30 pm - Great Vespers with a coffee hour to follw.
Tomorrow, December 6 - Orthros at 9:00 am and the Divine Liturgy to follow (approximately at 10:00 am.).
We hope we all can attend together!
DEMETRIOS CONSTANTINE'S ORDINATION
We want to update you on the ordination of Demetrios Constantine to the Diaconate. As you are probably aware, Demetri's ordination that was to take place the November 13th was postponed. The ordination is now rescheduled for this Saturday, December 11, 2021 here at Saint John the Forerunner. Orthros and the elevation to the sub-deacon will begin at 8:30 and the Divine Liturgy and ordination to the deaconate will follow. A lunch in the social hall will follow. Everyone is invited and encouraged to attend! If you plan to attend the luncheon and have not RSVP'd yet, please respond immediately by emailing Demetri at demetriconstantine@gmail.com. Thank you. Hope to see everyone there!
CHRISTMAS FAST BEGAN
November 15 began the forty day fast for Christmas. According to the Canons of the Church, we are asked to fast for 40 days to prepare ourselves for the magnificent Feast of the Birth of our Lord. This is a joyful feast as we await the coming of our Messiah. During this period, we are asked to abstain from meat and dairy products. Fish is allowed on all days except on Wednesdays and Fridays until December 15. Fasting from food is very important, but what is most important is that we also fast from sins. Let us observe this fast as we await the coming of our newborn King!
COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS CARD AND CHRISTMAS FLOWERS
1) You should have received in the mail forms to include your name on our community Christmas card. This is a wonderful opportunity to wish our parishioners a blessed Christmas Holiday. Please respond to have your name on our community Christmas card! The deadline is December 10.
2) A sign-up sheet is in the narthex for those who would like to donate poinsettias for Christmas. This year we are pleased to have two poinsettia trees that will beautifully display the poinsettias on the solea in church. These trees will hold 70 small poinsettia plants. We will also have a few larger poinsettia plants by the altar. The suggested donation for the smaller poinsettias is 2 for $25, for the larger poinsettias $25 each. We will have more poinsettias this year, but hopefully it will enhance our Christmas celebration. Please consider donating these beautiful plants.
IN PERSON CHURCH SCHOOL HAS BEGUN
We are pleased and excited to welcome back our children to our Sunday Church program. Following Holy Communion, our children are asked to come to the front pews for a talk with Father Tom. We have an exciting program planned and we hope all of our children will participate!
COFFEE HOUR HAS RETURNED!
After church today please join us in the social hall for a coffee hour. This is a wonderful time to be able to fellowship and share with our fellow parishioners.
SOMETHING IS MISSING IN CH_RCH - U
With the scare of the Pandemic that has changed our lives and way of thinking, it is time we try to live our lives normally again. Yes, we all still must take precautions to keep ourselves safe, however staying away from church, in the long run, hurts us more than helps us. We need as a community to pray together and fellowship together. Please encourage your friends and relatives to join us in person in Church on Sundays. We need you, and YOU NEED the Church!
WISH LIST
* St John Commandarie communion wine ($175)
* Eight round Tables ($100 each)
* Twelve 8 foot long tables ($75 each)
DONATIONS CAN BE MADE ON ST JOHN WEBSITE
We are happy to announce that electronic donations are now being accepted on our stjohnboardman.com website. On the lower part of the page, you will notice a donate button. You are now able to make your stewardship payments on the site via paypal. May God bless our Saint John parish.
TO THE FAITHFUL STEWARDS OF SAINT JOHN THE FORERUNNER
In the past few months when some have been limited in their ability to physically attend Church on Sundays, we want to thank especially those who have continued to offer their offerings, pledges and donations to our St John Church. There are a couple of ways to continue contributing to the Church. The first way is by bringing or mailing your contribution to the Church. The other way is by donating through our website - stjohnboardman.com. On the lower left hand corner of the home page there is a yellow "donate" tab. You can donate through PayPal using this method.
Lastly, we encourage everyone to reach out to our members of our Church family to let them know that they are being thought of and prayed for, and, most of all LOVED! Now that the restrictions have been lifted, we encourage everyone to come back HOME – back to your Church – Saint John the Forerunner. Thank you and may God bless you and our Saint John family!!
WELCOME
WELCOME TO ALL – We want to welcome everyone to our St. John Parish. All visitors are asked to kindly sign our guest book. Although everyone is welcome to worship with us, please note that only Orthodox Christians that are properly prepared may receive Holy Communion. HOLY COMMUNION - One of the most sacred acts an Orthodox Christian participates in is the reception of our Lord in the Holy Eucharist at the Divine Liturgy, to receive Holy Communion, one must be prepared through; FASTING; On Wednesday and Friday (Consuming nothing after 12:00 AM on Sunday. PRAYER; Asking for forgiveness of one’s sins and by making frequent use of HOLY CONFESSION. If one is guilty of serious sin, (A violation of the Lord’s 10 Commandments) one must receive Holy Confession before receiving Holy Communion. ATTENDANCE - We encourage everyone to be on time. The Divine Liturgy is an all-encompassing the church preparing for Holy Communion also requires us to be present before the epistle and the gospel reading.
HOSPITALIZATION – Please notify Father or the Church office of any hospitalization, nursing home admissions, or illnesses so that Father can visit and offer the Holy Sacraments to your loved ones. We do not want to ever deprive anyone support and consolation during an illness. If you desire this information kept confidential, please advise us and strict confidence will be maintained. Please keep in mind that according to Federal Law, hospitals are not allowed to give our personal information such as religious affiliating. Hospitals will notify the priest or church only if the patient requests the facility to do so. STEWARDSHIP - An Orthodox Christian Steward is an active participant in the life of the Church. The parish encourages all who accept the Orthodox Faith to become practicing Stewards. Each year the Steward is expected to carefully review his or her personal circumstances and make a commitment of time, talent, and treasure to support the Parish and her Ministries, which in turn support the National Ministries of our Archdiocese, Metropolis, and institutions. Have you pledged to your Church? Pledge cards have been sent out. Please turn them in so we can continue in the work of the church. Think Stewardship!
2022 CHURCH CALENDARS
We have received our 2022 Church calendars and are awaiting to find homes. You may pick yours up from the Narthex desk. Please feel free to take some. May God bless us all.
CHURCH SECRETARY/OFFICE MANAGER AND OFFICE HOURS
Our secretary and office manager is Joanne Martin. Our new office hours are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10 am - 2 pm. Joanne has been a long time friend to Saint John the Forerunner and has bookkeeping experience. She is an asset to our Church family. We are thankful that Joanne is with us!
CALENDAR - UPCOMING EVENTS
Sunday, December 5 - Great Vespers - 6:30 pm @ St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church (220 N Walnut St, Youngstown, OH 44503)
Monday, December 6 - Orthros - 9 am, Divine Liturgy - 10 am @ St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church
Saturday, December 11 - Ordination of Demetrios Constantine - Orthros, Divine Liturgy, Ordination - 8:30 am
UPCOMING MEMORIALS
December 26 -Dorothy and Lewis Sirigas, Emmanuel and Koula Magoulakis and Michael Magoulakis.
May their Memories be Eternal!