Please remember to turn your clocks BACK 1 hour on Sunday, NOVEMBER 3. You get an extra hour to prepare. You don't want to be late!

The children will meet in Saint Nektarios chapel for the CHOIR PRACTICE from 12 noon with Ms. Abby. After the practice, at 12:30pm, they will go to their classrooms for Sunday School. The children learn hymns from the Nativity season as celebrated in the Orthodox Church and also some popular carols. The class will  be enriching not only musically, but also in the theology and Tradition of our Church, in bringing Christmas to the children and the children to Christmas.

The Catechism/ Orthodoxy 101 Class will meet this Sunday to discuss the material under #8 of the curriculum, The True God. The curriculum including audio resources can be found at our web site under Adult Education.

Our visitors and newcomers are encouraged to attend and participate. The class is also offered as RECATECHISM to all for their own benefit, for connecting with our visitors and catechumens and for strengthening our community. No asked questions are silly. Come, ask, learn, change and be transformed!

The Congregational Chanting Workshop will NOT take place this week. The next class will be on Tuesday, November 12, from 10 am (before the Book Forum). Open to all.

The next book that we will be reading and discussing together starting Tuesday November 12 is The Gurus, the Young Man and Elder Paisios. Get your copy from our bookstore and start reading it. You will not be able to put it down...

This powerful memoir tells the story of a Greek youth who, out of a desire to know the truth empirically, began to experiment in yoga, hypnotism, and various occult techniques. Eventually drawn back to the Faith of his forefathers Orthodox Christianity he visited the ancient monastic republic of Mount Athos in his native Greece, where he was brought to a knowledge of the Truth of Jesus Christ by the saintly Elder Paisios (1924 1994). Nevertheless, believing he had only found part of the truth on the Holy Mountain, he chose to give the same opportunity to Hindu yogis that he had given to Elder Paisios and other Orthodox monks. Thus, at the age of twenty-five, he embarked on a trip to India, where he undertook his search in the ashrams of three famous gurus, one of whom was worshipped as a god. His experiences in India, along with his subsequent encounters with Elder Paisios on Mount Athos, are recounted in the present book in vivid detail. Popular in Greece since its first publication there in 2001, The Gurus, the Young Man, and Elder Paisios is a page-turning narrative of both outward adventures and inward struggles. What stands out most in this book, however, is the radiant image of Elder Paisios, possessed of divine gifts, laboring in prayer for his fellow man, and overflowing with unconditional love. Through this, one sees the uncreated Source of the elder's love and of the author's spiritual transformation: the true God-man Jesus Christ, Who honors man's personal freedom while drawing him, through love, into everlasting union with Himself.

Our Wednesday evening service and dinner have been an excellent venue for building community, growing spiritually and learning the Orthodox faith. We are enjoying a new cycle for these presentations: Contemporary Ascetics of Mount Athos. We will learn about amazing elders from Mount Athos as presented by some of our own parishioners - many thanks to Athanasios and Greta who got us started. Join us for faith, community and the delicious lenten potluck dinner! Wednesdays evening right after Paraklesis. The next lecture will take place on Wednesday, November 6.

On Tuesday, November 5 our community will have the honor to serve the homeless women participating in the I-Help program a delicious hot dinner and to offer them hospitality. Volunteers from Saint John's are asked to arrive at 4:30 pm to cook, set up, serve and visit with our guests. On the menu: Corkey’s tasty tacos.

 ----->   Click on this link   <-----

to sign up for contributing ingredients

God has blessed us to provide healthy dinners and our guests have always very appreciative. Let us offer our gratitude in serving.

The feast of Saint Nektarios the Wonderworker is observed in the Orthodox calendar on November 9, this year a Saturday. He is the patron saint of our chapel since 2016. As we are all in need of healing, we turn to Saint Nektarios with great hope and faith for his intercessions on our behalf.

The Parish Assembly and PC Elections have been rescheduled to take place on Sunday, December 1 after the Divine Liturgy and lunch.

As you know the Big Fall Bake Sale (November 22 & 23 at Star Market, November 24 at St. John’s) is our largest and most successful fundraiser of our year.  Last year under the direction of our sister Sandy Sanders, of beloved memory, she and her family Team Sake ‘n Bake, raised $6,000.00!!  Which 100% goes to God’s Work in helping those who cannot help themselves.  This year Sandy’s daughters, Candace and Julie, will be heading up the Big Fall Bake Sale but they will require help.  Please make a note of baking dates at the Salinas church kitchen, beginning at 10:00:
 
November 4^th – Melamakarouna
November 8^th – Koulouraikia
November 11^th – Kourambedes
November 18^th – Baklava
November 20^th – Cutting and packaging

Our community will be blessd to celebrate together the baptism of Anca Pop Lopez who is 2 months old, the daughter of Ross and Adriana. Anca's family is new to our community. The service will take place on Sunday, November 10 from 9am. The matins that day will begin earlier, from 8pm.

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

November 3
Parish Council member: Jacob Voyce
Greeter: Julia Wheeler
Fellowship: Gold Team – Every 1st Sunday each month

November 10
Parish Council member: Corkey Balcom
Greeter: Temia Demakopoulos
Fellowship: Pink Team – Every 2nd Sunday each 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.

Registration is now open for the 2019 St. Kosmas West Conference "Technology and Orthodoxy - Uncovering the Deeper Implication of Technology in our Lives".  November 15-17th at Wonder Valley Ranch in Central California.  For more information, please visit the website https://saintkosmasconferences.com/

11^th Annual Interfaith Community Thanksgiving Service
“Thanks for Giving”

7:00 pm, Tuesday, 26 November 2019
Hosted by: Carmel Mission Basilica
3080 Rio Road, Carmel CA

Enjoy performances by the Carmel Mission Choir
and the Monterey Peninsula Gospel Community Choir.
Dessert reception follows.
Father Ion will be represent us as one of the guest speakers

* * Please bring non-perishable food items to help fill food barrels for the Food Bank of Monterey County.
   SPONSORED BY: Interfaith Outreach of Carmel