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)

This week has been a time focused on being thankful. And when it comes to Stewardship, we have so many thank you’s for everyone responding to our Fill-the-Gap campaign to meet our 2018 Stewardship budget of $130,000. We now have additional new stewards who have heard the call, bringing our total to 82 families!! God bless them! And we are within 5% of meeting our Budget Goal. We still need to raise another $4,801 to close that gap entirely.

Consider the many blessing God has granted us. 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!

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

3. Fasting - 11/18

4. Church attendance - 11/25, this Sunday

5. Mysteries - 12/2

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

This Sunday we will celebrate the birthday of Athanasios Vasby who will soon turn ... (one of those numbers ending in zero). Athanasios and Greta will be providing lunch for all, giving us the opportunity to thank God together for Athanasios' life and for the two of them being part of our community. The Green Fellowship team should not bring in food this Sunday.

The Sunday School classes will be in session this Sunday after the fellowship time. The children should follow their instructors to class - Presbytera Ana and Carrie (preschool) and Jacob and Daniel (primary and secondary grades).

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

6. Sacraments and Asceticism (11/25 by Kevin Wheeler)
7. Neptic and Social Theology (12/2)
8. Monasticism and Married Life (12/9)

Join us for the Book Forum in December to read and discuss a most beneficial book by Saint Nikodemos of Mount Athos about Holy Communion. It is in line with our previous readings - based on a scriptural and patristic foundation - and it is meant to be part of our fasting/ ascetic labor of preparation for the Nativity of our Lord. The reading will change/ improve our understanding of participating in the Holy Eucharist and even of... the Lord's Prayer as part of the same mystery.

The book has three parts plus a nice Preface, a Prologue and two Appendices that are optional. The schedule is as follows:

December 4 - Part One: Explanation of the Lord's Prayer
December 11 - Part Two: Concerning Frequent Communion
December 18 - Part 3: Objections and Clarifications

Please note that the book can be found in both printed and electronic format. Please let Athanasios know your preference so he can order the books ASAP. The printed version is more suitable for prayerful reading and study.

Our high school and college students and their friends are invited to join the Young Adult Group for Monday evening activities from 6:30pm. 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. Please contact Father Ion for details.

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

November 25
   Parish Council: Corkey Balcom
   Welcoming: Mary Kanalakis
   Fellowship: by Greta for birthday lunch. Team Green OFF.

December 2
   Parish Council: Fotis Papoulias
   Welcoming: Rania Zavitsanos
   Fellowship: Team Gold – always 1st Sunday of the month.

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.

Our appreciation goes to each and every one of you, family, and friends for supporting the bake sale, where the proceeds go to support those who cannot help themselves locally, nationally, and in the time of international disasters.  Under the direction of Bake Sale chair Sandy Sanders, along with her family; daughters Candice & Julie, granddaughter Racheal, mother Elaine Rogers, sister Corkey Balcom, Christina Pressas, and to the village of helping hands and generous hearts. Philoptochos could not have done it without you! 
 
Philoptochos invites you to celebrate The joyous Advent Season. Join us for lunch at Epsilon’s Sunday December 2, beginning at 1:00. Live music, delicious meal, warm fellowship and chances to win prizes. 

December 9th, please plan to join us for Angel tree.  

We thank our 2018 Stewards for their blessing and support of Saint John the Baptist Church. We also thank those who, in addition to their stewardship, contributed to Fill the Gap in our Stewardship Goal. Our pledged total has reached $125,200. This still falls short of our Stewardship Goal of $130,000, so we are looking to those still ready to help us meet our year end target.

Thank you to these generous stewards. We keep them in our prayers, as they continue to offer themselves as the Church, in love and with open arms to those seeking Christ.

His Eminence Metropolitan Nikitas, Patriarch Athanagoras Orthodox Institute  -  Father Ion Coman, Presvytera Ana  -  Balcom, Brian & Corkey - Bachik, Michael - Barou, Rosina - Bekakos, Mary - Bernard, Elaine - Britton, Sophie - Brown, Lawrence - Carter, Allen & Nancy - Cominos, Maria - Cominos, Nick - Cominos, Ted - Conomos, Chrysanthy - Contos, Joann - Delis, Nick & Stephanie - Demakopoulos, Temia - Drumev, Olga - Durante, Joseph & Mimi - Ehab, John & Noelle - Fettis, Nick - Filice, Georgia - Georgalos, Chrisanthi - Georgalos, Michelle - Georgalos, Peter & Kimberly - Georgalos, Simi - Georgariou, Michael - Hahn, Michal - Hatton, Despina - Hallas, Christine - Herrera, Roberto & Nadia - Hoularis, Dimitri - Ibrahim, Hussam - Issvoran, Gerard - Itsines, Nick - Jabbour, Georgette - Kanalakis, Mary - Kastros, Maria - Knighton, Christian - Kouvaris, Sokratis - Ledo, Nick and Sara - Leontis, Charles - Maheras, Angela "Lula" - Manis, Shirley - Mattheakis, Eleni - Mika, Timothy - Mitchell, Kent - Moutos, Gus & Lannette - Mouzas, Alexandra - Muntean, Stephanie - Pagonis, Milton & Joanne - Papoulias, Fotis - Pappas, George - Parsons, Alison - Parsons, Nicholas - Pavlick, Ruth - Politis, Spiro - Pressas, Christina - Rexine, John - Rogers, Elaine - Saites, Euthimios - Salib, Maher & Therese - Saites, Paraskevi - Scourkes, Gus & Ann - Shaw, Katherine - Silva, James - Skerritt, Darold - Stefanou, Maria - Stuhlmiller, Jenny - Tadros, Aida - Tsilipounidakis, Chris & Sara - Van Dam, Georgia Jo - Vanderhoof, Daniel - Vardamis, Frances - Vasby, Carsten - Voyce, Jacob - Wheeler, Kevin & Julia - Wilemon, Marc - Wojtal, Jamie - Zavitsanos, Anne - Zavitsanos, Anthony & Rania

Thank you.

Won’t YOU also join this special and loving group, by becoming a Steward? It is never too late to bring Christ a gift of gratitude for this past year’s blessings.

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 the final Saturday from 10:30am: 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.

Join the 73rd Anniversary of Saint Nicholas Church in San Jose! Save the date:

Sunday, December  9, 2018, Marriott Hotel, 301 South Market, San Jose

No Host Cocktails – 5:30 pm, Dinner - 6:30 pm

To reserve your seats call the church office at 408.246.2770. Tickets for adults are $100, young adults $50, and children $35.