Many of you may already have learned about a tragic accident which has put the life of this young boy in great danger.  Demitris suffered severe injuries and burns after being electrocuted and is in the ICU.  Dimitris has already undergone two surgeries, one a skin graft, and the other on his skull to remove infected bone tissue.  Please keep Dimitris and his whole family in your prayers for a speedy and full recovery.  In the meantime, Philoptochos is reaching out to the family during their time of need.  We are collecting gas or grocery cards, or cash to purchase these gift cards.  If your family would like to help with this effort please contact me, 619-518-2755, alex@alexandramouzas.com, or mail your donation to Philoptochos, PO Box 5808, Camel by the Sea,  93921 
 
Upcoming Philoptochos Events:
 Board Meeting Sunday, November 10th all board members are asked to be present
Philoptochos Bake Sale Friday, November 16th & Saturday, November 17th at Star Market, Community Bake Sale Sunday, November 18th
Saturday, December 1st Light the Path in Belmont
Sunday, December 2nd Philoptochos Christmas Luncheon at Epsilon
Sunday, December 9th Community Christmas gathering for Salvation Army Angel Tree

Our Fill-the-Gap campaign inches ever closer to meet our 2018 Stewardship budget of $130,000!  We are 5¾% from meeting our Budget Goal. (Oh, yes. I’m counting the quarter percents!!). We still need to raise another $7,068 to close that gap entirely.

Just to be clear: This is to meet our budgeted 2018 Stewardship. It does not mean we will meet all of our expenses for 2018. For the last few years we have had to dip into reserves to pay all the bills. And we will have to do the same this year. To get a better picture of this, it is so important you attend our approaching Parish Assembly. Although we are roughly $7,000 from our Stewardship goal, we need much, much more commitment and involvement before we can take the next step in our community growth.

So many thank you’s to everyone for stepping up and increasing their pledges.

We encourage you to reassess the many ministries now being offered and participate in all the very rewarding encounters we have with each other and with our God.  Consider the many blessing God has granted us, with thanksgiving, let us fill the gap!  Complete a “Fill the Gap” card or stewardship card. Or simply make a contribution and it will be counted toward stewardship. Feel the gap? Then let us fill it!

Our Fall Parish Assembly Meeting scheduled for Sunday, November 18, following Divine Liturgy.  We encourage you to attend this important meeting of all parishioners to learn all the news. You won't want to miss it! Elections for Parish Council members will be held at this time as well. 

Elections for Parish Council will be held Sunday, November 18. If you’re are interested in becoming a member of the Parish Council, please contact Father Ion to complete a candidate application. Qualifications for the position include active participation in the liturgical life of the church and the desire to serve in this ministry for a term of two (2) year’s, beginning in January 2019, you are a parishioner in good standing as stated in Article 18 of the 2007 Regulations of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and that your parish stewardship commitment is current. You will need to attend the Pre-Election Seminar on Tuesday, November 13 (pizza provided) in Saint John's Room, Carmel, prior to the elections, and if elected, will take the Affirmation of Office as stated in Article 26 of the Regulations and that:

-  You have been Baptized in the name of the Holy Trinity.
-  You have been Chrismated into the Orthodox Christian Tradition.
-  You have had your Marriage in the Orthodox Church.
-  You participate in the Sacraments of Holy Confession and Communion.
-  You participate in the Divine Services, observe Fast Days.

"Praise the LORD! How good it is to sing praises to our God; for he is gracious, and a song of praise is fitting." (Psa 147:1 NRS) We encourage congregational chanting at our services. In an effort to make it more accessible, we are beginning to introduce new music to our services following the new Divine Liturgy Hymnal book. This will be a gradual transition for which we will prepare with practice sessions on Tuesdays (11:30am, before noon prayer and Book Forum) and on Saturdays (5:45pm, AFTER Vespers) starting October 27. Always check the schedule online. Music and audio recordings for private practicing can be found at our web site http://stjohn-monterey.org/about-us/chanting-at-saint-johns Join the choir and sing praises to our God!

This Sunday we continue our series of five-minute presentations to take place right after the Liturgy: Give Him Five! brought to us by the Stewardship Ministry, they are part of the FILL the GAP! campaign, pointing to the foundation of our life as stewards of God's creation and Church. The topics are as follows:

1. Prayers 

2. Alms giving- 11/11, this Sunday

3. Fasting - 11/18

4. Church attendance - 11/25

5. Mysteries - 12/2

So, give to the Lord through these five ways and receive from Him in many more and much more!

Only the primary and secondary grades children will enjoy the Sunday School this Sunday. Follow Mr. Jacob and Mr. Daniel to the classroom right after lunch. The preschool is off as the instructor is out of town.

Orthodoxy 301 is a new class to complement our regular catechism training. It is structured as a short lecture given by various people from our community followed by discussion. The topic of Orthodox Spirituality has become more relevant in a world where many consider themselves "spiritual but not religious", finding refuge away from the Church. Open to all. We'll use material from "Orthodox Spirituality - a Brief Introduction" by Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos. The book is available at our bookstore. The class will meet at noon every Sunday in Saint Nektarios Chapel.

Remaining Lectures on Orthodox Spirituality

5. Praxis and Theoria (11/11 by Jamie)
6. Sacraments and Asceticism (11/25)
7. Neptic and Social Theology (12/2)
8. Monasticism and Married Life (12/9)

On Tuesday, November 20, we will begin and end a short book: Pascha Transforms Wolfman Tom - The True Story of a Repentant Murderer. Check the bookstore or see Athanasios for your own copy. The book is NOT available on Amazon.com. Chanting class from 11:30am, 6th Hour Service from 12 noon, Book Forum from 12:30pm. Bring your own lunch.

Let us observe a fast acceptable and pleasing to the Lord.
True fasting is to put away all evil,
To control the tongue, to forbear from anger,
To abstain from lust, slander, falsehood and perjury.
If we renounce these things, then is our fasting true and acceptable to God.
Let us keep the Fast not only by refraining from food,
But by becoming strangers to all the bodily passions.

(From a Lenten Vespers Service)

Our high school and college students and their friends are invited to join the Young Adult Group for Monday evening activities from 6:30pm. Each month we rotate four activities, one per session: lesson, fellowship, worship and an activity/ project. We meet at people's homes and in Saint Nektarios Chapel. The theme for this coming school year is A Life of Offering. The month of November will orient us towards Offering Our Conflicts to God. Our next meeting is on Monday, November 19. Please contact Father Ion for details.

The Ladies of Philoptochos are baking delicious cookies and pastries! Perfect for your Holiday tables and gift giving. Be sure to visit us at Star Market in Salinas Friday November 16th and Saturday November 17th 10 AM until 4PM. Sunday November 18th parishioners are invited to pick up their orders after Divine Liturgy. Accepting pre orders now. Please contact Sandy Sanders 831-229-1937 or Alexandra Mouzas alex@alexandramouzas.com 619-518-2755

Serving this Sunday in church and at the fellowship hour following Liturgy:

November 11
   Parish Council: Euthimios Saites
   Welcoming: Hussam Ibrahim
   Fellowship: Team Pink – always 2nd Sunday of the month.

November 18
   Parish Council: Brian Balcom
   Fellowship: Team Orange – always 3rd Sunday of the month.

The Orthros and Liturgy for the Entrance of the Theotokos will take place in Salinas on November 21.

Father Ion is available to hear confessions after services and also by appointment at other times. If you need to do confession, please contact Father Ion ahead of time.

All Saints Craft Faire is Saturday, November 17 Seccombe Hall  9:00-4:00pm. Once again Saint John's will have a “booth" at the faire. This involves spending the day at our table introducing the community to our church which will have its doors open for visits and tours. Also, if you are a crafter or baker, this is a great opportunity for you. This is a very well attended event. If interested, please fill in the information required bellow and send it to Corkey.

I can work the booth on Saturday __________.

I would like to sell an approved craft and
         donate a portion to the church __________.

I can bake for the sale__________.

Name____________________________________________

Phone____________________________________________

Email____________________________________________

There will be about 40 other booths/tables. Crafts must be approved and we will have limited space. Contact: Corkey Balcom  831-998-2611, corkey819@comcast.net or Corkey Balcom on Facebook

Our brethren from All Saints Church will gather for cleaning once a month as listed below. We were invited to participate and take care of the space that we use and offer support in other areas as needed. Let us join the effort with gratitude and joy on these following Saturdays from 10:30am: November 10 /December 8.

His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos and the Metropolis of San Francisco Philoptochos joyfully invite you to attend Light the Path, a Christmas Luncheon in support of the BISHOP ANTHONY PHILOPTOCHOS STUDENT AID ENDOWMENT FUND.

Saturday, December 1, 2018 from 11am
Greek Orthodox Church of the Holy Cross
900 Alameda De Las Pulgas
Belmont, California
$75 per person

For reservations contact Alexandra: alex@alexandramouzas.com

“The Bishop Anthony Philoptochos Student Aid Endowment Fund started as a small seed, but with faith, nurturing and perseverance, we have been able to secure the future of our faith and culture in this Metropolis. Hundreds of students have received considerable support and are now serving the Greek Orthodox Church as priests, educators, pastoral assistants and youth directors. Since its inception, the Metropolis Philoptochos has been the guardian angel of this important effort. Your support of this event will help them to further expand their efforts and will create a lasting legacy for our future.” His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos

SAVE THE DATE for the 14th Annual Metropolis Young Adult Winter Retreat in Lake Tahoe, January 18-21, 2019!    Join us for this beautiful retreat, located on a private beach on the shore of Lake Tahoe with spectacular views, incredible food, and awesome accommodations! Not to mention, we have a weekend packed full of fun, faith, and fellowship with Orthodox young adults from all over the West Coast! This retreat will sell out with a max capacity of 60, so make sure to register beginning November 1, 2018!

DATE: January 18-21, 2019
LOCATION: Galilee Episcopal Camp & Retreat Center, South Lake Tahoe
ARRIVAL TIME: Friday beginning at 5:30pm
DEPARTURE TIME: Monday 9:30am
SPEAKER/THEME: Coming soon!
AGES: 18-30's
ONLINE REGISTRATION Opens: November 1, 2018 at www.gosfyouth.org
FACEBOOK PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/events/1943883609026865/
RETREAT VIDEO from 2016: https://vimeo.com/153430756

COST: $260 includes 3 nights lodging (Fri, Sat, and Sun) and all meals except lunch Saturday & Sunday since we will be out exploring Lake Tahoe both afternoons. Price does not include lift ticket.

A Pilgrimage to St. Anthony’s Monastery in Florence, AZ is scheduled for the weekend of December 8 – 10.  Visit the grounds, see the churches and chapels or you could have confession with Elder Paisios or one of the other priestmonks, upon request. If you are interested, please call Despina Anagnosotu at 520-457-0000, who will be making accommodations to/from the airport/monastery along with reserving rooms at the monastery for all the pilgrims.  Flights are reserved by each individual but you may contact Despina to obtain the specific flights.