This year we are blessed to have the great feast of the Meeting of the Lord in the Temple (or the Presentation of the Lord at the Temple) on a Sunday, thus making it easier to participate in the joyful celebration.

What to expect:

• 1,400 years continuity of observing the feast;
• a normal schedule services starting with Vespers Saturday evening;
• beautiful Old Testament readings at Vespers and Canon at Matins;
• both Old  and New Testaments coming together to the present moment;
• an amazing witness of the event according to the Gospel of Saint Luke;
• beautiful hymnology;
• a powerful experience of the deep mystery of God;
• and, God willing, Father Mark Vinas' participation on Sunday.

This is a very family friendly episode in the life of the Lord, suitable for sharing with children of all ages.

Learn more from Father Thomas Hopko's podcast Meeting of Christ in the Temple.

Family & Friends of Philoptochos
 
Once again Philoptochos invites the whole community to join us in this annual favorite
Cutting of the Vasilopita & Auction benefiting the St. Basils Academy
Sunday, February 2, after Divine Liturgy
 
This year’s Auctioneers are Philoptochos Associate Members
Thimi Saites & Paul McCrone
As you receive your piece of Vasilopita, please remember the children and give generously
May God be with us all, and especially the children in 2020!!
 
Read more about this beloved ministry of Philoptochos…

 In 1944 Archbishop Athenagoras recommended  that the Philoptochos society purchase the 250 acre estate in Garrison New York located on the shores of the Hudson river directly across from the United States military academy at West Point. With the establishment of the Academy of Saint Basil Philoptochos under took the lasting commitment to the children who reside there. Today Philoptochos remains the major financial supporter of the Academy through two of our ministry commitments Vasilopita and the sisterhood fund provides for the ongoing needs of the children of the Academy.  

Traditionally, Ann Zavitsanos serves as our Vasilopita chair we are looking for at least 6 to 10 Vasiliopita to Auction. Ideally this will include Holyday bread from all of the various countries and ethnicities represented in our community.  Let’s all be a part of this special day.  If you or anyone you know in the community would like to bake and donate a pita please contact Ann (831-375-5549) or Alexandra (619-518-2755 or alex@alexandramouzas.com). 

Our church will hold its parish Oratorical Festival this Sunday, March 24.

The Topics for this year and a collection of hints can be found here. The age categories are as follows: Junior Division (grades 7-9) and Senior Division (grades 10-12). Children of any age may participate outside of the competition. Please see Presbytera Ana for information about participating in this ministry. Visit our Youth Ministry web page for recordings of the last years' participants.

The purpose of the St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival is to give children and teenagers an opportunity to learn, write, and speak about their Orthodox faith, church and heritage. This process will enhance their understanding and appreciation of their identity as Orthodox Christians and cultivate spiritual growth and maturity.

The Catechism/ Orthodoxy 101 Class will continue on Sunday February 2 with topic #10: Jesus Chrsit the Son of God of the curriculum, Man, Sin, Salvation. 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 Book Forum ministry brings to your attention "Wounded by Love" by Saint Porphyrios. This is a magnificent writing perfectly suitable for the Great and Holy Lent which we will soon begin. You may find the book at our bookstore. Consider it an investment to serve you for the rest of your life. Our first meeting to discuss Wounded by Love is scheduled for February 11.

Newly canonized Saint Porphyrios, a Greek monk and priest who died in 1991, stands in the long tradition of charismatic spiritual guides in the Eastern Church which continues from the apostolic age down to figures such as Saint Seraphim of Sarov and Staretz Silouan in modern times. In this book he tells the story of his life and, in simple, deeply reflected and profoundly wise words, he expounds the Christian faith for today.

This book was compiled after his death from an archive of notes and recordings of his reminiscences, conversations and words of guidance, and was first published in Greek in 2003.

The vibrant personality of Saint Porphyrios at all times shines through his words with great transparency and charm. In his introduction to the Greek edition Bishop Irenaeus of Chania writes: ‘The words of blessed Saint Porphyrios are the words of a holy Father, of a man with the gift of clear sight, who was ever retiring, humble, simple and ardent and whose life was a true and authentic witness to Christ, to His truth and to His joy. Through his presence, love, prayer, counsel and guidance he supported an untold number of people in the difficult hours of illness, mourning, pain, loss of faith and death. He is a god-bearing Father of our days, a true priest and teacher who in his ascetic way fell in love with Christ and faithfully served his fellow man. His teaching is deeply impregnated with the ethos and theology of the Orthodox Church and is dominated by the person and image of Christ our Saviour.’

The Congregational Chanting Workshop will take place this week. The next class will be on Tuesday, February 11, from 10 am (before the Book Forum). Open to all.

Tuesday, February 4 Ladies I-Help
4pm - Cook
5:30pm - Serve Dinner + Have Fellowship

6:00 pm - IPray (Small Compline) in Saint Nektarios Chapel

Sign up for your contribution at https://tinyurl.com/ihelp0204

This is an opportunity to build relationships in our community and to live the Gospel offering love without asking anything in return.

Ladies I-Help: enabled by ASC and made possible by the sacrifice of generous servants!

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 the Paraklesis service. Our next one: February 12.

The Divine Liturgy will be celebrated in Salinas on Monday, February 10 (Saint Haralambos) from 8:30 a.m. 

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

February 2
Parish Council member: David Zajicek
Greeter:
Fellowship: Gold Team – Every 1st Sunday

February 9
Parish Council member: Mary Kanalakis
Greeter: Angela Wagoner
Fellowship: Pink Team – Every 2nd  Sunday

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.

 

By God's grace we are about to take a big turn in our spiritual life, to face the great ascent to Pascha. God is giving us another opportunity to engage together in the marvelous Journey to Pascha and beyond. Let us thank Him for this gift! Let us take this opportunity and make these coming months a life-changing experience together. Note that this season around Pascha ends in June!...

On our website, you may find a plethora of excellent audio resources (podcasts) easily accessible and also structured in the flow of our Journey.

Also, the diagram is loaded with hyperlinks to great info about all the events. To be able to use this new feature, you must download the pdf version of the diagram which is attached. Click on the little icon of this message and then learn, prepare and climb up!

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.

Caregiving for the aged - facing challenges, trying to make decisions? Many of us care for loved ones who are ill, aged, or disabled. Maybe you’ve wished you could speak with someone about your feelings, thoughts, and concerns…your prayers have been answered.

Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos Society, Inc. The National Philoptochos Department of Social Services presents a confidential Telephone Caregiver Support Group. Training is offered over six consecutive Thursday Evenings by conference call: February 27 to April 9, 2020, 7:00 to 8:00 pm EST. For more information and to Pre-registration Email: supportgroup@philoptochos.org

The All Saints Church Outreach Committee will hold the annual chili, cornbread, beer and wine fundraiser on Saturday, February 29, 5 pm.  A delicious assortment of spicy, tame, meaty and vegetarian chilis and cole slaw will be served. Tickets are $20.00.  Raffle for a week’s stay in 2021, at a lovely cottage in Hawaii at $25 a ticket. We have been cordially invited to attend.

Every summer, hundreds of children and teenagers from throughout the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of San Francisco gather for summer camp program at St. Nicholas Ranch in Dunlap, CA. Their Orthodox Christian Faith comes alive for young people as they develop lifelong friendships and memories that will last forever. Summer camp activities include: arts and crafts, swimming, canoeing, campfires, archery, nature hikes, Olympics, skit nights, daily worship services, a visit to the Monastery of the Theotokos the Lifegiving Spring, and Orthodox life discussions.

AGES: For children AGES 8-18 years old

The Metropolis will once again offer summer camp “scholarships” (Camperships) to campers of families experiencing financial challenges through the Archdiocese Leadership 100 Foundation.

If you are interested in a “campership”, ask Father Ion to fill out an online Campership Application. The deadline for applications is May 1, 2020.

All requests will remain confidential.

Please note: Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis and camperships are awarded on a first-come first-served basis until the available funds are distributed. Submission of an application does not guarantee that a campership will be granted, or that the entire amount requested will be awarded.

You have heard a lot about Stewardship over the past few weeks and for good reason. Stewardship is an invitation to participate in the vision of Saint John the Baptist Church and to be a part of an exciting transformation of bringing the world to Christ through our Orthodoxy Faith. By making our pledges NOW, and fulfilling them, we don’t have to worry about filling a gap or worry about how each ministry will be met. We can put our focus where it belongs on Christ.

If you haven’t already, you can complete a Stewardship Card by downloading from our web site or completing one waiting for you in the Narthex. Become a bearer of Christ’s message.

This spirit of equality is the way of Christ. It is the life of the Holy Trinity. It is the everlasting glory of the Three Holy Hierarchs and Ecumenical Teachers. Through their intercessions, may Christ our God bless us with the same spirit of humble brotherhood that inspired their holy festival.