END OF YEAR STEWARDSHIP PLEA
Our 2019 Stewardship campaign inches closer to our 2019 Stewardship budget of $144,000! We are 14.4% from meeting our Stewardship Budget Goal. We still need to raise another $30,000 to close that difference entirely and meet our overall budget.
So, many thank you’s to everyone who has already stepped up and increased their pledges. And there is oh, so much more we need to do.
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 on December 1st. We need your commitment and involvement before we can take the next step in our community growth. 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 God. Let us meet the challenge! Complete a 2019 Stewardship Card available at church or at Saint John's web site. For online donations, go here.
FEAST OF SAINT NEKTARIOS THIS SATURDAY
The feast of Saint Nektarios the Wonderworker is observed in the Orthodox calendar on November 9, this 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. note the vespers time of 5pm.
BAPTISM THIS SUNDAY and EARLIER START OF MATINS
Our community will be blessed 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 at 8am.
KIDS CHOIR AND SUNDAY SCHOOL
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.
PARENTS' CLASS to MEET THIS SUNDAY
The Parents Class has its monthly meeting in the chapel, in parallel with the Sunday School and instead of the Orthodoxy 101/ Catechism Class. Father Ion will be leading the class exclusively for parents. This would be the place to share, ask and learn under the light of the Orthodox Church Tradition. The next meeting is this Sunday from 12:30pm.
ORTHODOXY 101/ (RE)CATECHISM CLASS
The Catechism/ Orthodoxy 101 Class will meet on Sunday November 24 to enhjoy the Presentation by Dr. Michael Bachik 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!
CONGREGATIONAL CHANTING WORKSHOP
The Congregational Chanting Workshop will take place this week. The next class will be on Tuesday, November 12, from 10 am (before the Book Forum). Open to all.
OUR NEXT BOOK FORUM
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.
NEW: CONTEMPORARY ASCETICS OF MOUNT ATHOS
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 27.
NEW DATE FOR PARISH ASSEMBLY
The Parish Assembly and PC Elections have been rescheduled to take place on Sunday, December 1 after the Divine Liturgy and lunch.
COM-2: THE NEXT COUNCIL OF MINISTRIES MEETING
Our Council of Ministries will have their second meeting (COM-2) on December 15 following the brief lunch after Liturgy. This will be a very interesting meeting as we will be resetting our mission and vision. So much has changed in the last 4-5 years! Not only have we met goals set back then, but we are now in a new setting with new parishioners and new missions and new strengths (and weaknesses)... So let’s meet to define our path ahead and what we see for our future. Open to all.
PHILOPTOCHOS FALL BAKE SALE
The Big Fall Bake Sale is happening (November 22 & 23 at Star Market, November 24 at St. John’s).
Last year under the direction of our sister Sandy Sanders, of beloved memory, she and her family raised $6,000.00! These funds help to sustain the chapter and support our numerous ministries of God’s Work ~ helping those who cannot help themselves. This year Sandy’s daughters, Candace and Julie, will be heading up the Big Fall Bake Sale.
We’re asking for your help with baking & packing, and for sponsors for special order items.
Won’t you please help Philoptochos make this their most successful fundraiser of the year?
YES! I want to help Philoptochos by becoming a Sponsor and or Baking & packing
November 18th Baklava 9:30 Salinas Church
November 19th Cut & Cup 9:30 Salinas Church
November 22 & 23 Sale at Star Market, November 24th Sale at St. John’s
Thank you for supporting Philoptochos
SERVING THESE SUNDAYS
Serving this Sunday in church and at the fellowship hour following Liturgy:
November 10
Parish Council member: Corkey Balcom
Greeter: Mary Kanalakis
Fellowship: Pink Team – Every 2nd Sunday each month
November 17
Parish Council member: Brian Balcom
Greeter: Temia Demakopoulos
Fellowship: Orange Team – Every 3rd Sunday each month
FELLOWSHIP HOUR AND WELCOME MINISTRY VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Interested in joining our Fellowship Hour or Welcome Ministry Teams in 2020? There is an opportunity for you to serve!
Our Welcome Ministry greeters welcome guests and parishioners with a smile as they arrive for Divine Services each Sunday. Our Fellowship Hour teams offer hospitality and refreshments following Liturgy so that Saint John’s community can join in fellowship and get to know each other better.
If you'd like to join the Welcome Ministry, please contact Temia Demakopoulos. And if you’d like to join the Coffee Hour team, please contact Corkey Balcom.
CONFESSIONS AT SAINT JOHN’S
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.
SHOPPING ON AMAZON SMILE EARNS DONATIONS TO ST JOHN'S
if you already shop on Amazon, or if you’re looking for the perfect gift for a loved one, we invite you to shop at smile.amazon.com and choose Saint John the Baptist Church Carmel as your charity of choice and 0.5% of your purchase will be donated to Saint John’s. This is no cost to you. Below you can read about how to use Amazon Smile.
How Does it Work?
1. Visit smile.amazon.com.
The entire shopping experience is the same and most products available on amazon.com are available at Amazon Smile. Link to https://smile.amazon.com/ch/94-6136359.
2. Sign in and Choose Saint John the Baptist Church Carmel
The screen will look slightly different depending on whether you’re already signed into Amazon. If you’re already signed in, you’ll see a screen like the one below. Simply search for “Saint John the Baptist Church Carmel” and proceed to step 3.
3. Begin Shopping
NEW ELECTRONIC STEWARDSHIP PAYMENT
We are finally able to receive stewardship payments and any donation through our Facebook page. Go to our page and select the DONATE button for a free-of-charge donation (no fee to be payed). Check it out here: https://www.facebook.com/SaintJohnTheBaptistGreekOrthodoxChurch/
You can also donate through PayPal by visiting our web site or clicking here: PayPal Donation
ST. KOSMAS WEST CONFERENCE - CENTRAL CALIFORNIA
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/
ADVENT RETREAT
ANNUAL INTERFAITH COMMUNITY THANKSGIVING SERVICE
11th 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.
* * Please bring non-perishable food items to help fill food barrels for the Food Bank of Monterey County.
SPONSORED BY: Interfaith Outreach of Carmel