Saturday Vespers
5:00 PM
Sunday Liturgies
9:00AM Orthros
10:00AM Divine Liturgy
Parish Calendar: http://saintgregoryofnyssa.org/parish-calendar
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Our parish is complying with the most current requirements and guidance from the State of California and San Diego County with the aim of protecting our congregation from exposure to the Coronavirus SARS CoV-2. The most recent guidance for Faith Based Organizations (FBOs) is available at: https://covid19.ca.gov/industry-guidance/#worship
All parishioners attending services in person should be: (1) without any symptoms suggestive of COVID-19 disease; (2) without increased risk factors for severe COVID-19 disease by reason of age or co-existing conditions (if in doubt, consult your personal physician); (3) enter the Church building or property only with a tightly fitting cloth or medical mask covering both mouth and nose at all times (except when receiving Communion); (4) maintain physical distancing requirements; and (5) use hand sanitizer.
Face shields without also wearing a mask is not an effective or allowed protection against transmitting the virus.
The parish has implemented CDC recommended measures to improve ventilation to minimize the concentration of potentially infectious virus in the Church from persons who may not know that they are infected (which can be up to 50% of all infectious persons). These protective measures include: (1) natural ventilation augmented by a fan venting system; (2) MERV-13 ceiling air filters; (3) ultraviolet germicidal irradiation in the ventilation system; and (4) portable HEPA filter systems strategically located close to the chanters and Communion area. Additional technical information regarding these measures is available at: https://www.ashrae.org/technical-resources/filtration-and-disinfection-faq.
Public health authorities encourage all eligible persons to receive one of the three available COVID-19 vaccines (Pfizer, Modern, Johnson & Johnson) as soon as their turn comes up. Vaccine eligibility in California can be determined by consulting: https://myturn.ca.gov/ or https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/sdc/hhsa/programs/phs/community_epidemiology/dc/2019-nCoV/vaccines/vax-schedule-appointment.html
For those unable to use a computer or with limited internet access, COVID vaccination can be scheduled by calling 2-1-1.
The Lord Jesus was coming from the Temple on the Sabbath, when, while walking in the way, He saw the blind man mentioned in today's Gospel. This man had been born thus from his mother's womb, that is, he had been born without eyes (see Saint John Chrysostom, Homily LVI on Matthew; Saint Irenaeus, Against Heresies, Book V:15; and the second Exorcism of Saint Basil the Great). When the disciples saw this, they asked their Teacher, "Who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?" They asked this because when the Lord had healed the paralytic at the Sheep's Pool, He had told him, "Sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee" (John 5:14); so they wondered, if sickness was caused by sin, what sin could have been the cause of his being born without eyes. But the Lord answered that this was for the glory of God. Then the God-man spat on the ground and made clay with the spittle. He anointed the eyes of the blind man and said to him, "Go, wash in the Pool of Siloam." Siloam (which means "sent") was a well-known spring in Jerusalem used by the inhabitants for its waters, which flowed to the eastern side of the city and collected in a large pool called "the Pool of Siloam."
Therefore, the Saviour sent the blind man to this pool that he might wash his eyes, which had been anointed with the clay-not that the pool's water had such power, but that the faith and obedience of the one sent might be made manifest, and that the miracle might become more remarkable and known to all, and leave no room for doubt. Thus, the blind man believed in Jesus' words, obeyed His command, went and washed himself, and returned, no longer blind, but having eyes and seeing. This was the greatest miracle that our Lord had yet worked; as the man healed of his blindness himself testified, "Since time began, never was it heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind," although the Lord had already healed the blind eyes of many. Because he now had eyes, some even doubted that he was the same person (John 9:8-9); and it was still lively in their remembrance when Christ came to the tomb of Lazarus, for they said, "Could not this man, who opened the eyes of the blind man, have caused that even this man should not have died?" Saint John Chrysostom gives a thorough and brilliant exposition of our Lord's meeting with the woman of Samaria, the healing of the paralytic, and the miracle of the blind man in his commentaries on the Gospel of Saint John.
Saint Hilarion, the fervent zealot for the veneration of the holy icons, was born in 775 and had Cappadocia as his homeland. About 806-811 he became Abbot of the Monastery of Dalmatus (see May 30), but was exiled by the Emperor Leo the Armenian, and later again by Theophilus; he was set free by the pious Empress Theodora, and again became Abbot of the Monastery of Dalmatus from 843 to 845, until the time of his repose.
Sunday of the Blind Man
The Reading is from Acts of the Apostles 16:16-34
IN THOSE DAYS, as we apostles were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by soothsaying. She followed Paul and us, crying, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation." And this she did for many days. But Paul was annoyed, and turned and said to the spirit, "I charge you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." And it came out that very hour. But when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the market place before the rulers; and when they had brought them to the magistrates they said, "These men are Jews and they are disturbing our city. They advocate customs which it is not lawful for us Romans to accept or practice." The crowd joined in attacking them; and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods. And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely. Having received this charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and every one's fetters were unfastened. When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul cried with a loud voice, "Do not harm yourself, for we are all here." And he called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas, and brought them out and said, "Men, what must I do to be saved?" And they said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household." And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all that were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their wounds, and he was baptized at once, with all his family. Then he brought them up into his house, and set food before them; and he rejoiced with all his household that he had believed in God.
Sunday of the Blind Man
The Reading is from John 9:1-38
At that time, as Jesus passed by, he saw a man blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" Jesus answered, "It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be made manifest in him. We must work the works of him who sent me, while it is day; night comes, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." As he said this, he spat on the ground and made clay of the spittle and anointed the man's eyes with the clay, saying to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing. The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar, said, "Is not this the man who used to sit and beg?" Some said, "It is he"; others said, "No, but he is like him." He said, "I am the man." They said to him, "Then how were your eyes opened?" He answered, "The man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and said to me, 'Go to Siloam and wash'; so I went and washed and received my sight." They said to him, "Where is he?" He said, "I do not know."
They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. Now it was a sabbath day when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. The Pharisees again asked him how he had received his sight. And he said to them, "He put clay on my eyes and I washed, and I see." Some of the Pharisees said, "This man is not from God, for he does not keep the sabbath." But others said, "How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?" There was a division among them. So they again said to the blind man, "What do you say about him, since he has opened your eyes?" He said, "He is a prophet."
The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight, until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight, and asked them, "Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?" His parents answered, "We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; but how he now sees we do not know, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age, he will speak for himself." His parents said this because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone should confess him to be Christ he was to be put out of the synagogue. Therefore his parents said, "He is of age, ask him."
So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and said to him, "Give God the praise; we know that this man is a sinner." He answered, "Whether he is a sinner, I do not know; one thing I know, that though I was blind, now I see." They said to him, "What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?" He answered them, "I have told you already and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you too want to become his disciples?" And they reviled him, saying, "You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from." The man answered, "Why, this is a marvel! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him. Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing." They answered him, "You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?" And they cast him out.
Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, "Do you believe in the Son of man?" He answered, "And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?" Jesus said to him, "You have seen him, and it is he who speaks to you." He said, "Lord, I believe"; and he worshiped him.
May 2021 Budget: $21,000
20Monthly Offering to Date: $ 20,529
Remaining Need (Budget minus offering to Date): $ 471
2021 Budget: $ 269,778
2021 Offerings: $122,797
2021 Remaining Need: $146,981
HEALTH & WELFARE:
All affected by the Pandemic, Agnes Kallas, Vernon, Kathern and the Rogers Family, John Findel, Basem and the Tarazi Family, Cyndy, Jana and the Mellis Family, Leilani, Elsa, Nicholas, Yvonne, Minerva and the Kelada Family,Robert and Britany Gardner, Newborn Styliani, Andy and Anna Popescu, Scott, Lydia Corona, Eric Grasser, Britney, Katherine, Michael George Stathorakis, Pres. Eleni ad the Tsigas Family, Matushka Natalia, Marvin Lidner, Juan Garcia, Matushka Natalia, Hetta and Wilma, the Sakkab Family, Michael, Lisa Kotitsa, Jan Manos, Carol, Kelly, Bill and Joy Cox, the Katsaras Family, Carol, Jason and the Lees Family,Katherine and the Limneos Family, Alex, Newborn Christopher (Kristo), Kodee, John, Gabriel, Newborns Vera Wilman and Josiah Jenkins and their Families, Anna Vlachopoulos, Voula Parashos, Pam and the Morn Family, Bill, John and Marina Navrides and the Angeles Families, Kelly Lees and sons Orrin, Nolan, Galloway, Kenneth,-Martin, Alexandra, Stefan, Alina-Gabriela, Mara, Anna, Ana, Cecilia, John, Alexander Sacco, Amy. Amber, Kyriaki, Dawn, Gordon, Spahe, Tessa, Brianna, Josiah, Anne Stropes, Leland, Jennifer, Kadee & Abigail Becker, Micailah, Angelo, and Michelle, Fidias, Andreas, Robby, Trevonia, Samantha, Christine Fanos, Brad Summers, Brian, Connie, Ruby, Iris, Jo Cormier, Katy Brown, Faith St. Thomas, John Vourexis, Linda Bhatia, Elizabeth Terris, Holly, Michael, Lily-Anna, Alexandra (Kyriako's Daughter), Betsy, Tabitha, Mother Susanna, Calliope, Robert, Stephanie and Bennet, Sharon, Tina Frankos, Jack and Tina Stavros, Freda Stavros, Magdalyn Grasser, Maria Del Soccoro, Kevin, Panagiotis, Mari Hanna, James, Natalia, Marika, Rachel, Sylvia Casberg, Angela Stassinopolis, Patrick Thrift, Olga Stephens, Kevin Wallace, Joseph Eyad Zarror, Augustine Ramirez, LaVonne Simonides, Kevin (Amanda's Grandpa), Stephen Awake, Nick, Sophia Busarelos Family, Irene Cantos, Aggie Annis, Lydia Chaconas, Sarah Cronstedt, Michael & the Piliaris Family, Mary Kladouras, Ralph Bradley, Rhonda, Evonne Zouris, Garland, Pierre, Jethmark, Helen & the Eveland Family, Vernon & Kathern Rogers, Alex, Patty, Jimmy, Richie, Margie, Paul Lane, Alexi, Dr. Minerva, Sarah & Malichi, Stan, James, Dora, Julia, Alexandra, Sebastian, Queentina, Diana, Nico, Lillian Ana Grace, Sarah-Betsy's mother, MaryAnn, Gabrielle, Kiki, Father John Pilafas & family, Virginia, Corey & family, Adrienne & Josef preparing for Sweden, George, Maria Hazlaris, Sarah Oftedal & her family, Darin Williams, Dionisios & Eftixia Diakoumeas, Nicky, Michael, Kathy Jean Alexander, Gerontissa Markella & Sisters of Life-giving Spring Monastery. DEPARTED: Ephthymia, Jim (James), Philip, Archpriest Nilus Lerro, Sebastian, Alexa, Fr. George Morelli, Paula Angelos, Ivan, Louis Trantalis, Fr. Tom Hopko and Thomas Munteaeu, Michael, Ansofe Hanna, Mary Jane (Herb’s Mom), Agape (Aunt Aggi) Annis, Sarah Kelada, Tina, Fr. Dimetri Tsigas, Bonnie Lucia Corona, Peter Shenas Sr., Dan Henry, Fr. Hanna Sakkab, Irina Itina, Helen Glyptis,Dennis, Paul, Ken and Ruth Gilliland,Daniel Katsaros, Charles “Robbie” Kelly (Jason’s Dad), John Limneos, Elizabeth Zogob, Stavroula Floros, Mary Gikas, Dr. Al (Evangelos) & Angela Sarantinos, Darla Gliptis, Jimmy (Demetrios) Vlachopoulos, Raeburn McInnes, Dennis (Dionysius) Laskarus, Christopher (Fr. John Pilafas’ nephew), Peter (Panagiotis) Parashos, George Marinos, Eva Angelos (Stamatiades), Christine Tzathos, Cliff Earle Morn, Stephanie Navrides, Alexandru, Maria, Maria, Nichita, Costa, Felipe, Daniel Lees (Jason's Brother), Scott, Fr. Paul Lazor, Fr. Elias Bitar, Fr. Jon Winfrey, Hanna, Helen, Mike Riskas, Zach, Photini (Nickie) Hrountas, Trenton Alexander, Eleni, Areti (Iris) and Georgios Pilafas, Archpriest Patrick, Elder Ephraim, Francis Manos, Nicholas Galaxidas, George Platis; Dimitra Biniaris, Leonidas Biniaris, William Lawrence (Larry) Everitt, Jr.,Senait, Abram Dominguez, Warren (George) Cormier, Laura Pantozoplus,George Mastorakos,Fr. Steven Kozler, Michael Surla, Jim (Dimitri) Costas, Zahwey, John Peters, Wendell Duncan,Theodora, Matushka Andrea, Jerry Costacos, Heidi Angelopulos, Athanasios Angelopulos, Pastor Orville Hiepler, Ioanna Melete (Anna’s sister), Catherine Sullivan, Theophanis Brinias (Maria Gregg’s Father), Victor Nasser, Louis Trantalis, Victor Roick, Christ Fergis, Michael Kladouras, Costa Stephens , Georgia Swisher, Nick Paschalydis, John Manos Sr, Jerry (Gerasimos) Howorth, Lin Judah, Paul James Aceves, Warren George Cormier, Judith Keep, George (Marc's Uncle), Samantha (Marc's friend), Carol Kinan, Athina Cavelaris, Andrew Kyriakides, George Speros, Nick Kosmas, Gigi Campbell, Carl Collard, Jerry (Gerasimos) Filaktu, Doris Holmes, Spyridon, Thomas Munteanu, Sam Mellos, Richard Nicholas Nabhan, Helen Gliptis, George Koulaxes, Bishop Antoun, Eric Nectarios Cochran, Stella Angeles, Nell Thornblad, Katherine Eveland, Carole, Steve Kosic, Effie Matsolis, George, Arety, Manny, Archimandrite Paul Doyle, Eleni (Kyriako's Sister), Gregory Galanis, Deacon Michael, George & Iris Pilafas, Manuel Dragan, Fr. Theodore & Pres. Mary Phillips, Sophia Vourexis, Jason Hyde, Peter Kanelos, Mary Giana, Katherine Armatas, Lana Piliaris, William Piliaris, Katherine Kladouras, Heather Grinnell & Danny Ranglos.
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9:00AM Morning Prayers (Orthros)
10:00AM Divine Liturgy
2:00PM Prayers at Carroll's
Office Closed
6:30PM Vespers for the Leave-taking of Pascha = Paschal Vespers one last time!
9:00AM Leave of Pascha Morning Prayer and Liturgy = last, big CHRIST IS RISEN!
3:00PM FOCUS God's Extended Hand Ministry
6:30PM Holy Ascension Festal Vespers with Litia and Artoklasia
9:00AM Great Feast of the Ascension Morning Prayer and 10ish Liturgy
2:30PM Prayers at Hillcrest Manor
6:30PM Prayer and Bible Study (Catechesis) - Zoom Meeting Room 964 247 0828
5:00PM Great Vespers
5:45PM INQUIERERS CLASS, CONFESSION and Prayers of Preparation
9:00AM Morning Prayers (Orthros)
10:00AM Divine Liturgy
12:30PM Church General Meeting