Welcome to our Parish

Welcome to St. John Chrysostome Greek Orthodox Church

We are a thriving community of 65 families, working to share the Orthodox Faith with the South Florida area. We try to balance our lives with both corporate and personal prayer, philanthropic works to our greater community and common meals together. Our goal is the progression towards the kingdom of God in this life, in loving our fellow man and seeing Christ in the person sitting next to us.

We are pleased that you have joined us today for worship. To receive Communion in the Orthodox Church, one must be Baptized and/or Chrismated in the Orthodox Faith. The Orthodox Church understands Holy Communion as the sign of unity. If you are interested in learning more about the Orthodox Faith, please contact Father Andrew. Whether you are an Orthodox Christian or not, please come forward at the dismissal to receive the blessed bread which is offered to everyone as you leave. May Christ's blessings be with all of you.

MOTHER’S DAY-A MOTHER’S LOVE

I know that many mothers pray. Sometimes they pray out of necessity. Sometimes they pray because motherhood is not easy, but extremely difficult.

Someone wrote, "Mother's Day is traditionally the day when children give something back to their mothers for all the spit they produce to wash dirty faces, all the old gum they held in their hands, all the noses they wiped, & all the bloody knees they 'made well' with their kisses.

"This is the day mothers are rewarded for washing sheets in the middle of the night, driving kids to school when they missed the bus, & enduring all those football & soccer games in the rain.

"It's a day of appreciation for making your children finish something they said they couldn't do, not believing them when they said, 'I hate you,' & sharing their good times & their bad."

What are mothers? Well, mothers are teachers. Mothers are disciplinarians. Mothers are cleaning ladies. Some mothers are gardeners & mowers of lawns. Mothers are nurses & doctors & psychologists & counselors & chauffeurs & coaches.

Mothers are developers of personalities, molders of vocabularies, & shapers of attitudes. Mothers are soft voices saying, "I love you." And mothers are a link to God, a child's first impression of God's love. Mothers are all these things & much, much more.

FATHER ANDREW AND ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE PARISH COUNCIL WISH A VERY HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY TO ALL THE LADIES OF OUR PARISH FAMILY. WE REALIZE THAT THIS IS A DIFFICULT TIME TO CELEBRATE, BUT MAY OUR GOOD LORD GIVE YOU STRENGTH AND CONTINUED GOOD HEALTH.

***THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU ! TO ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE BEEN SENDING IN YOUR STEWARDSHIP, CANDLE MONEY AND DONATIONS BY REGULAR MAIL AND THROUGH THE DONATION BUTTONS ON OUR WEBSITE. YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT IS SINCERELY APPRECIATED AND VERY MUCH NEEDED, ESPECIALLY AT THIS TIME OF THE PANDEMIC CRISES. I CANNOT TELL YOU HOW MUCH I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING ALL OF YOU AGAIN IN WORSHIP. YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT, MORAL AND FINANCIAL CONTINUES TO LIFT US UP, DESPITE THIS TRIALS CREATED BY THIS PANDEMIC. THANK YOU, AGAIN!

***IF YOU HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO DO THAT YET, PLEASE TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO COMPLETE YOU STWARDSHIP PLEDGE, SUNDAY TRAY OFFEREINGS AND CANDLE MONEY TO THE CHURCH.

AN UPDATED STEWARDSHIP LIST IS INCLUDED BELOW. IN ORDER TO SEE YOUR NAME ON THE LIST OF STEWARDS, YOU MUST HAVE COMPLETED A STEWARDSHIP PLEDGE CARD AND WE MUST HAVE RECEIVED IT AT THE CHURCH TO INCLUDE YOU NAME ON THE LIST. WE THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR COOPERATION AND GENEROSITY. BASED ON OUR MOST CURRENT INFORMATION (FRIDAY, MAY 1st). THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE ARE PLEDGED STEWARDS OF SAINT JOHN CHRYSOSTOM CHURCH:

STEWARDSHIP 2020

Alexandrou, Anna & Lazarus

Bakas, Pericles & Panagiota (Toula)

Bourlas, Manuel

Coury, Katherine

Dionisopoulos, Nick & Athanasia (Mimi)

Fitzer, Pamela (Tseklenis) & Peter

Ioannides, Nina Marie

Laskaris, John & Joanna

Lefco, Evelyn & Michael

King, Stephanie

Denise Koltis & Sotiri Dushas

Koumas, Chrysanthe

Kuzemka, Nick & Carole

Lena, Joanne

Loizos, Helen

Mahalares, Father Andrew

Malliaroudakis, George & Doria

Manos, George

Menexis, Michael and Doris

Mihaltse, William & Diana

Monsma, Joel & Constance

Moulis, Peter & Helene

Moulis, Stephanie

Nakos, Peter & Anastasia (Annie)

Neamonitis, Nicholas & Thomae

Nickas, Aristides (Steve) & Barbara

Papadopoulos, Demetrios & Vie

Pappaconstantinou, Cynthia

Pappas, Steve & Rose Marie (Posie)

Pantazopoulos, Anthony & Katherine

Parasco, Odessefs & Mary

Petrides, Pat (Kyriaki)

Reams, Bill & Jodie

Siggelakis, Nikitas and Leona

Tambakis, John and JoAnn

Theodorakis, Marika

Tzellas, Chris

Wilshire, Maria & Alfred

Zafiropoulos, Despina (Debbie)

Zaimes, George & Dena

Saints and Feasts

May 10

Sunday of the Paralytic

Close to the Sheep's Gate in Jerusalem, there was a pool, which was called the Sheep's Pool. It had round about it five porches, that is, five sets of pillars supporting a domed roof. Under this roof there lay very many sick people with various maladies, awaiting the moving of the water. The first to step in after the troubling of the water was healed immediately of whatever malady he had.

It was there that the paralytic of today's Gospel way lying, tormented by his infirmity of thirty-eight years. When Christ beheld him, He asked him, "Wilt thou be made whole?" And he answered with a quiet and meek voice, "Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool." The Lord said unto him, "Rise, take up thy bed, and walk." And straightaway the man was made whole and took up his bed. Walking in the presence of all, he departed rejoicing to his own house. According to the expounders of the Gospels, the Lord Jesus healed this paralytic during the days of the Passover, when He had gone to Jerusalem for the Feast, and dwelt there teaching and working miracles. According to Saint John the Evangelist, this miracle took place on the Sabbath.

Hymns of the Day

Apolytikion of Great and Holy Pascha in the Plagal First Mode

Christ is risen from the dead, by death, trampling down upon death, and to those in the tombs He has granted life.

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Third Mode

Let the heavens sing for joy, and let everything on earth be glad. * For with His Arm the Lord has worked power. * He trampled death under foot by means of death; * and He became the firstborn from the dead. * From the maw of Hades He delivered us; * and He granted the world His great mercy.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Plagal Fourth Mode

Though You went down into the tomb, You destroyed Hades' power, and You rose the victor, Christ God, saying to the myrrh-bearing women, "Hail!" and granting peace to Your disciples, You who raise up the fallen.

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Fifth Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from Luke 24:13-35

At that time, two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, "What is this conversation which you are holding with each other as you walk?" And they stood still looking sad. Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, "Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?" And he said to them, "What things?" And they said to him, "Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since this happened. Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning and did not find his body; and they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb, and found it just as the women had said; but him they did not see." And he said to them, "O foolish men, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?" And beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He appeared to be going further, but they constrained him, saying, "Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent." So he went in to stay with them. When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognized him; and he vanished out of their sight. They said to each other, "Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the scriptures?" And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven gathered together and those who were with them, who said, "The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!" Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Third Mode. Psalm 46.6,1.
Sing praises to our God, sing praises.
Verse: Clap your hands, all you nations.

The reading is from Acts of the Apostles 9:32-42.

In those days, as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints that lived at Lydda. There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden for eight years and was paralyzed. And Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed." And immediately he rose. And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord. Now there was at Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity. In those days she fell sick and died; and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him entreating him, "Please come to us without delay." So Peter rose and went with them. And when he had come, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping, and showing tunics and other garments which Dorcas made while she was with them. But Peter put them all outside and knelt down and prayed; then turning to the body he said, "Tabitha, rise." And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. And he gave her his hand and lifted her up. Then calling the saints and widows he presented her alive. And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.

Gospel Reading

Sunday of the Paralytic
The Reading is from John 5:1-15

At that time, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Hebrew called Bethesda which has five porticoes. In these lay a multitude of invalids, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water; for an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool, and troubled the water; whoever stepped in first after the troubling of the water was healed of whatever disease he had. One man was there, who had been ill for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him and knew that he had been lying there a long time, he said to him, "Do you want to be healed?" The sick man answered him, "Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is troubled, and while I am going another steps down before me." Jesus said to him, "Rise, take up your pallet, and walk." And at once the man was healed, and he took up his pallet and walked.

Now that day was the sabbath. So the Jews said to the man who was cured, "It is the sabbath, it is not lawful for you to carry your pallet." But he answered them, "The man who healed me said to me, 'Take up your pallet, and walk.' "They asked him, "Who is the man who said to you, 'Take up your pallet, and walk'?" Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place. Afterward, Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, "See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse befall you." The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him.

Wisdom of the Fathers

In that case [Matt 9:2] there was remission of sins, (for He said, "Thy sins be forgiven thee,") but in this, warning and threats to strengthen the man for the future; "Sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto you."

St. John Chrysostom

Homily 37 on John 1, 4th Century

Great is the profit of the divine Scriptures, and all-sufficient is the aid which comes from them ... For the divine oracles are a treasury of all manner of medicines, so that whether it be needful to quench pride, to lull desire to sleep, to tread under foot the love of money, ... from them one may find abundant resource.

St. John Chrysostom

Homily 37 on John 5, 4th Century

St John's Prayer Circle

Please pray for our brothers and sisters in our Community and their families, and all those who are in need of our prayers.

Cynthia, Evangelos, Larissa (Larry Tosi's daughter), Chris (Helen Loizos' son), Harry, Mirsini, Peter, Helen, Eleni, Becky, Mary D’Jay, Presbytera Helen, Fr. Constantine, Fr. Demetri Tsigas (Melbourne Priest), SAVAS, Kosta, Demetrios, Mary, Evangelia, Kyriakos (Charley), Danny, Peter, Kay, Linda, Chris, Bill & Diana, Tom and Family, Nick K, Maggie, Helen, Gena Mildner, Joanna, Constantina, Mimi, Virginia, Apostolos, Sophie, Joshua, Despina, Thomas, Jan, Aristides, Lucas, Baby Paul, Leona, Mary, Toula, Eleni, Phylitsa, George Edward, Efrosini, George, Stella, Phyllis, Irene, Georgia, Marcia, Sheila and Maureen, Laura, Sophia.

Liturgical Services

ALL SUNDAY SERVICES 9– 11:15 AM

MAY SCHEDULE OF SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES

Sun. May 10th, Sunday of the Paralytic and MOTHER"S DAY, Orthros and Divine Liturgy 9-11:30AM

Sun. May 17th, Sunday of the Samaritan Woman, Orthros & Divine Liturgy, 9-11:30AM

Thur. May 21st, Sts. Constantine & Helen, Orthros & Divine Liturgy, 9-11:30AM

Sun. May 24th, Sunday of the Blind Man, Orthros & Divine Liturgy, 9-11:30AM

Thur. May 28th, ASCENSION THURSDAY, Orthros & Divine Liturgy, 9-11:30AM

Sun. May 31st Sunday, of Memorial Day Weekend, Orthros & Divine Liturgy, 9-11:30AM

KOUVOUKLION UPDATE

The new Kouvouklion arrived mid March. Unfortunately no one really has had an opportunity to see it given the pandemic crises. We sincerely thank the donors for their kindness snd generosity.

ALSO, as a result of the initial request, I received three other donations and will be purchasing a few more ecclesiastival items for the church such as a Sacrament Table with two new candle holders for it; an Icon Stand and a gospel stand, just to mention a few of the items. I will also be looking at three or four Chalice Cover sets.

Most of the donations are not to be publicized, but we might be able to do a "in memory of" in one of our upcoming bulletins.

Stewardship

Stewardship is our response to God’s grace and moves us from grace to gratitude. Just as we love because God first loved us (John 4:14), we give because God first gave to us. The question of the Psalmist “What shall I give to the Lord in return for all His benefits towards me?” (Ps 116:2), is answered in every liturgy when the celebrant calls us to “offer ourselves and one another and our whole life to Christ our God.”

As Orthodox Christians, we see the world as God’s gift, as a sacrament of God’s presence and a means of communion with Him. And so we are able to offer the world back to God in thanksgiving as we say in every Divine Liturgy “Thine own of Thine own we offer to thee…”

In II Corinthians 9:7 we read “Each person should give what he/she has decided in his/her heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” Consider your weekly expenditures on entertainment, coffee, etc. Keep in mind that the expenses of the Church increase every year. In order to grow our ministries and meet our expenses, stewardship contributions must also increase each year.

If you haven't yet completed your 2019 Pledge yet, please make every effort to do so before we bigne the task of encouraging you to make your pledge for 2020 and remind you to complete your pledge form and begin the fulfillment of the pledge you make (i.e. paying it all at one time or quarterly, monthly or weekly thoughout the coming the year).

You must have completed a Stewardship form and submitted it to be considered a Steward of Saint John's.

Please complete your Stewardship form for 2020

General Information

Contact Information

Services Schedule

Past Bulletins