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Saint John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2020-08-16
Bulletin Contents
Schedule of Services
Church Attendance
News & Events
Hymns of the Day
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Prayer Requests
Saints and Feasts
Healdemonicboy
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Saint John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • 408.605.0621
  • Street Address:

  • 9th and Lincoln

  • Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
  • Mailing Address:

  • PO Box 5808

  • Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA 93921

Contact Information

Priest: Father Ion Coman


fatherion@gmail.com | 408.605.0621

Services Schedule

 

Weekend services: the weekend schedule is fixed for most of the year. The services take place in Carmel-by-the-Sea, at All Saints Church, lower level, 9th and Lincoln.

Saturdays: 5:00pm Vespers

Sundays:   8:30am Matins

                   9:45am Liturgy

Week-day services: during the week we may celebrate the major feast days of the Church either in Carmel or in Salinas. Please check the calendar! The schedule pattern is:

Wednesdays:  6:00pm Paraklesis

Eve of feasts: 6:00pm Vespers

Feast days:    8:30am Matins

                       9:45am Liturgy

Past Bulletins


Schedule of Services

Note: our services our now open to attendance. We are also continuing posting all the services online via Zoom or Facebook. 

Friday, August 14
    6:00pm  Vigil: Vespers + Orthros + Liturgy
Saturday, August 15  Dormition of Theotokos
    5:00pm  Vespers
Sunday, August 16
    8:30am  Matins
    9:45am  Liturgy
Monday, August 17
    7:30am  Prayers Before School with Kids and Parents
    9:00am  Matins
Tuesday, August 18
    7:30am  Prayers Before School with Kids and Parents
    9:00am  Matins
Wednesday, August 19
    7:30am  Prayers Before School with Kids and Parents
    9:00am  Matins
    10:00am  Book Forum: Chapters 5 and 6
    6:00pm  Paraklesis
Thursday, August 20
    7:30am  Prayers Before School with Kids and Parents - CANCELLED
    9:00am  Matins - CANCELLED
    6:30pm  YOUNG MARRIED COUPLES MINISTRY - VIRTUAL SUMMER SERIES
Friday, August 21
    7:30am  Prayers Before School with Kids and Parents - CANCELLED
    9:00am  Matins - CANCELLED
Saturday, August 22
    5:00pm  Vespers
Sunday, August 23
    8:30am  Matins
    9:45am  Baptism
  10:45am  Liturgy

See the whole calendar at http://www.stjohn-monterey.org/parish-calendar

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Church Attendance

REMINDER OF COVID-19 PROTOCOLS AT CHURCH

We need, really need you to follow protocols at church, or we risk being prevented from having services, or we may have to revert to taking reservations and limiting who can attend.

Please: 

DON'T KISS THE ICONS - even if you are wearing a mask. It requires someone to follow you and wipe down the icons.

FOLLOW THE USHER'S DIRECTION FOR YOUR SEATING LOCATION - The ushers are trained to optimize the seating capacity and safety. If one or two sit in a row of four, that family of four no longer has a place to sit! So, listen to the ushers!

ONCE SEATED, DO NOT RELOCATE -  If one moves, someone has to follow to wipe the chairs down. Stay where you are!

DON'T MOVE CHAIRS. Chairs have been carefully arranged to accommodate families, couples, and singles while keeping accepted spacing. 

IF IN DOUBT, ASK THE USHER. Can I do this? Can I do that? They will help you. Where can I sit? They will help you. Am I standing in front of the ZOOM camera, blocking the view of those watching from home? They will help you.

Christ asks us to love our brothers/neighbors. Be thoughtful in all that you do, setting a Christian example for others. Your love will ensure future liturgical services for all. God bless you.


ATTEND SERVICES IN PERSON

We continue to worship each Sunday and on major feast days on the Patio. Thank you to all for observing and practicing the safety protocols! Please wear the mask and maintain the 6 feet distance to non-members of your family.

Notice of Informed Consent:

We have been asked by our Metropolis to provide the following information for your information prior to attending the live services.

By voluntarily attending Saint John's services in person, you affirm that:

  • You are not currently ill or experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.
  • You agree to abide by the social distancing and safety guidelines as being practiced in our Parish.
  • You acknowledge, that while the recommended CDC, State and Local County safety measures are being taken by the Church, the parish cannot guarantee that there is no risk of infection for attendees.
  • If you are not able to agree with the above statements, we kindly ask that you remain at home to participate in the live-streaming of our services.

We look forward the day when EVERYONE returns home to worship God together!


PREPARE TO RECEIVE HOLY COMMUNION

Father Ion can here confessions at the church. Please contact him directly for an appointment.


ATTEND ONLINE

OUR SERVICES and MEETINGS ONLINE
  • Attend remotely:
    1. Zoom with video here.
    2. On our Facebook page, without the blessing fellowship after the service (only possible through Zoom).
    3. By phone dial - add the following string to your address book: +16699006833,,9475885646#,,1#,871732#
  • Liturgical texts at Ages Initiatives here. Select the date and the service of interest. Then, chose pdf if you want to print, or DCS for viewing on the screen (which also has a night mode).

LIGHTING CANDLES AT OUR SERVICES

Lighting Candles is now possible through our Light a Candle website.

Click this link: Light a Candle

The candles will be lit at the next service after the request was received. The names mentioned in the online order will also be remembered during that week at the Wednesday Paraklesis (the living only), at the next Sunday Liturgy and at any other liturgy that week (both the living and the departed).

This location also gives you an opportunity to help feed the homeless, donate in Memory of a loved one or in honor of a special occasion, and even make a Stewardship payment.


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News & Events

VIGIL TONIGHT FOR DORMITION

Tomorrow is the last day of the Dormition Fast. We will be celebrating the Dormition of the Theotokos on the eve of the feast, tonight, with a vigil from 6pm. It is a hot day, but nice and cool in Carmel, out on the patio, so come for the service! Also available on ZOOM.

The liturgical celebration of this feast is in the pattern of the Holy Friday and Pascha, which is why it is also called the Summer Pascha.

6:00pm  tonight (Friday) Vigil: Vespers with Lamentations + Matins + Liturgy and the Blessing of the Five Loaves (Artoklasia)


NEW: MORNING PRAYERS WITH THE KIDS AND THEIR PARENTS

Our children and their parents are invited to join Father Ion and his family for the kids morning prayers and readings before the school day starts. Please sign up with Father Ion before attending.

  • Staring date: Monday, August 17
  • Time: 7:30am to 8:00/8:05am, Monday to Friday, except major feast days when the liturgy will be served, hopefully with the children there.

JUST FELLOWSHIP

Join us for the next Fellowship time and invite a friend or two. Wednesday, August 19 from 7:00pm, via Zoom.


NEW: UPCOMING BAPTISMS AND CHRISMATIONS

By God's grace, we now have a target date for receiving in the Church the McCrone family: Paul, Sasha, Nicholas and Andrew. The long desired sacraments will take place on Sunday, August 23, right after the Sunday Matins and before the Divine Liturgy. Until then, we continue to pray for all our catechumens:

Lord our God, Who dwells on high and watches over the humble, You sent forth Your only-begotten Son and God, our Lord Jesus Christ, for the salvation of the human race. Look down upon Your servants, the catechumens, and grant them at a proper time the baptism of rebirth, the remission of sins, and the garment of incorruption. Unite them to Your holy, catholic, and apostolic Church, and number them among Your chosen flock.

Amen!


BOOK FORUM

"Time and Despondency: Regaining the Present in Faith and Life" by Nichole M. Roccas. This is a book with powerful messages addressing apathy, restlessness, procrastination - symptoms of what early Christian theologians called despondency (acedia), a spiritual sickness rooted in a lack of care or effort. 

Our Bookstore offers a few copies. You may also purchase this book online through Amazon or the Ancient Faith store.

The next Forum: Wednesday, August 19

  • Meeting time: from 10am, right after the Matins service.
  • To prepare: Chapter 5 from page 104 and Chapter 6.
  • Zoom in at the known link.

SAINTS of OUR TIMES: SAINT IAKOVOS OF EVIA

Continuing the spirit of the last Wednesday presentation by Dr. Michael, we will get together again to learn about another recent saint of the Church, Saint Iakovos of Evia. The distinguished presenter is our beloved Charles Leontis.

Join via Zoom on Wednesday, August 26, 7-7:30pm.


THE CHURCH UNIVERSITY: DAILY SERVICE, PRAYER and REFLECTION

The Church University continues the Zoom webcasting from Saint Nektarios Chapel with the abbreviated Orthros (Matins) Services. At the end of the service Father Ion offers a daily teaching on the readings and the saints of the day. Connect via Zoom to extend Matins with the study of the Scripture readings, great discussion and fellowship time.


PHILOPTOCHOS MESSAGE

 Our sister Sheila was released from the hospital after spending three weeks there recovering from a stroke.  Sheila will be at home alone for the next couple of months while she continues to recuperate.  Philoptochos invites everyone to help Sheila thru this most challenging time.  Please sign up for a meal, you may either make a meal, buy a prepared healthy meal, or have a hot meal sent to her home.  All the instructions are included within this link: MEAL TRAIN.  Of course a visit is the best to cheer her up but phone calls and texts are welcomed to.  Thank you for taking care about Sheila.

 If you, or anyone you know is in need of Philoptochos Covid support please contact us thru this email or call Alexandra at 619-518-2755.  Your Philoptochos with your support is always ready to help. 


SUNDAY SCHOOL

The older middleschool children will meet with Reader Nicholas from 12:30pm.


SUPPORT OUR PARISHIONERS BUSINESSES

Remember our parishioners and support them:

Toula Hubbard:  doTerra Essential Oils 
Lauren Poulos:  Poulos Property Management
George Pappas:  Pappas Family Farms 
George Cominos: Hand Made Horse Gear 
Faisal Nimri:  Dametra’s Café 
Munjed Haddad:  Flying Nuts & Gummies
Hix Family:  Epsilon Fine Dining Restaurant
Alexandra Mouzas:  Coldwell Banker Realtor
Anthony Zavitsanos:  A to Z Design/Architect
John Scourkes:  Architect
Jim Wagoner - Wagoner Management Consulting


BAKING GOODS FOR YOU AND YOUR FRIENDS

Our sister Simi Georgalos is baking special Greek pastries for  the next few weeks. Platters of assorted Greek pastry for $25, cheese cakes, and other baked delicacies await your orders.  Contact Simi at: 831-229-3662.

 


NEW! YOUNG MARRIED COUPLES MINISTRY - VIRTUAL SUMMER SERIES

Summer Series: “Couples’ Communication”: Let’s talk about it!  Introducing a new ministry for Orthodox Young Married Couples with the collaboration of the Metropolis Family Wellness Ministry and the Office of Youth & Young Adult Ministries.

Join us for an open forum for young married couples to gain insight and helpful tools that will cultivate “wellness” in their marriages and family life.  It is also open to engaged couples as well, especially as they are going through their marriage enrichment classes. 

This summer series will be offered once a month on August 20, 2020 at 6:30pm PST on zoom.

George Papageorge MFT, Director of Family Wellness Ministry will share insights from his 30 years of counseling couples. Johanna Duterte Carter, Director of Youth & Young Adult Ministries, will help facilitate our discussions. All together, we will connect, interact, and learn practical principles for healthy communication and conflict resolution.

For more information and to learn about our upcoming fall series, please visit our website www.gosfyouth.org/young-married-couples or contact Johanna Duterte Carter, Director of Youth and Youth Adult Ministries, cell: (408) 712-7658, email: JDuterte@sanfran.goarch.org, website: www.gosfyouth.org.


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Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the 1st Mode

The stone had been secured with a seal by the Judeans, * and a guard of soldiers was watching Your immaculate body. * You rose on the third day, O Lord * and Savior, granting life unto the world. * For this reason were the powers of heaven crying out to You, O Life-giver: * Glory to Your resurrection, O Christ; * glory to Your eternal rule; * glory to Your dispensation, only One who loves mankind.

Apolytikion for Holy Napkin in the 2nd Mode

We worship Thine immaculate icon, O Good One, asking the forgiveness of our failings, O Christ our God; for of Thine own will wast Thou well-pleased to ascend the Cross in the flesh, that Thou mightest deliver from slavery to the enemy those whom Thou hadst fashioned. Wherefore, we cry to Thee thankfully: Thou didst fill all things with joy, O our Saviour, when Thou camest to save the world.

Apolytikion for Afterfeast of the Dormition in the 1st Mode

In giving birth you retained your virginity, and in dormition you did not forsake the world, O Theotokos. You were translated unto life, being the Mother of Life. And thus by virtue of your intercessions you deliver our souls from death.

Apolytikion of Saint John the Baptist in the 1st Mode

The memory of the just is celebrated with hymns of praise, but the Lord's testimony is sufficient for you, O Forerunner; for you have proved to be truly even more venerable than the Prophets, since you were granted to baptize in the running waters Him Whom they proclaimed. Wherefore, having contested for the truth, you did rejoice to announce the good tidings even to those in Hades: that God has appeared in the flesh, taking away the sin of the world and granting us great mercy.

Seasonal Kontakion in the 2nd Mode

The Theotokos is undying in intercession.* Immovable is our hope in her for protection. * Neither death nor burial prevailed over her. * As she is Mother of Life, she was removed to life by Him, * the Lord who lived in her ever-virgin womb.
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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Tenth Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from John 21:1-14

At that time, being raised from the dead, Jesus revealed himself to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he revealed himself in this way. Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We will go with you." They went out and got into the boat; but that night they caught nothing. Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, "Children, have you any fish?" They answered him, "No." He said to them, "Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, for the quantity of fish. The disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his clothes, for he was stripped for work, and sprang into the sea. But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off.

When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish lying on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish that you have just caught." So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three of them; and although there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." Now none of the disciples dared ask him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. 1st Mode. Psalm 32.22,1.
Let your mercy, O Lord, be upon us.
Verse: Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous.

The reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 4:9-16.

Brethren, God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death; because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels and to men. We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are ill-clad and buffeted and homeless, and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we try to conciliate; we have become, and are now, as the refuse of the world, the off-scouring of all things. I do not write this to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. I urge you, then, be imitators of me.

Gospel Reading

10th Sunday of Matthew
The Reading is from Matthew 17:14-23

At that time, a man came up to Jesus and kneeling before him said, "Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and he suffers terribly; for often he falls into the fire, and often into the water. And I brought him to your disciples, and they could not heal him." And Jesus answered, "O faithless and perverse generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him here to me." And Jesus rebuked him, and the demon came out of him, and the boy was cured instantly. Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, "Why could we not cast it out?" He said to them, "Because of your little faith. For truly I say to you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move hence to yonder place,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you. But this kind never comes out except by prayer and fasting." As they were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, "The Son of man is to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day."

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Prayer Requests

"Lord Jesus Christ Son of God, have mercy on your servant (first name)." 

   Father Mark Vinas - to continue his recovery.

   Sheila (Despina) Doyle-Rickenbacker - for recovery after stroke. 

   Chris (Chrisanthi) Georgalos - for recovery after stroke. 

   Mike Kanalakis - for recovery.

   Sophie Britton - for strength and recovery.

   Nick Cominos - for patience and endurance.

   Marie Cominos - for recovery after surgery.

   Eleni Saites - for patience and endurance.

   Jeanny Elliott - for strength.

   Maria Kastros - for strength and endurance.

   Nina and George Kadiev, Nicholas and Annie - George going through many serious health trials.

   Kylie and her family - for health, faith and hope. 

   Bodie Aguirre - for protection during his military service abroad.

   Michael and Kristen - for spiritual strength and unity in Christ. 

For those who are in prisons: Constantine and Sergei.

And for our catechumens: Steven, Paul, Aleksandra, Nicholas, Andrew, Michael, Andrew and Angelina.

In case of emergency, Father Ion is available for home visits. Please call him directly at 408.605.0621 if you would like to schedule one.

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Saints and Feasts

Healdemonicboy
August 16

10th Sunday of Matthew

Napkin
August 16

Translation of the Image of Our Lord and God and Savior, Jesus Christ

When the fame of our Lord Jesus Christ came to Abgar, the ruler of Edessa, who was suffering from leprosy, Abgar sent a messenger named Ananias, through him asking the Savior to heal him of his disease, while bidding Ananias bring back a depiction of Him. When Ananias came to Jerusalem, and was unable to capture the likeness of our Lord, He, the Knower of hearts, asked for water, and having washed His immaculate and divine face, wiped it dry with a certain cloth, which He gave to Ananias to take to Abgar; the form of the Lord's face had been wondrously printed upon the cloth. As soon as Abgar received the cloth, which is called the Holy Napkin (Mandylion), he reverenced it with joy, and was healed of his leprosy; only his forehead remained afflicted. After the Lord's Death, Resurrection, and Ascension, the Apostle Thaddaeus (see Aug. 21) came to Edessa, and when he had baptized Abgar and all his men, Abgar's remaining leprosy also was healed. Abgar had the holy image of our Savior fixed to a board and placed at the city gate, commanding that all who entered the city reverence it as they passed through. Abgar's grandson, however, returned to the worship of the idols, and the Bishop of Edessa learned of his intention to replace the Holy Napkin with an idol. Since the place where it stood above the city gate was a rounded hollow, he set a burning lamp before the Holy Napkin, put a tile facing it, then bricked up the place and smoothed it over, so that the holy icon made without hands was no longer to be seen, and the ungodly ruler gave no further thought to it.

With the passage of time, the hidden icon was forgotten, until the year 615, when Chosroes II, King of Persia, was assaulting the cities of Asia, and besieged Edessa. The Bishop of Edessa, Eulabius, instructed by a divine revelation, opened the sealed chamber above the city gate and found the Holy Napkin complete and incorrupt, the lamp burning, and the tile bearing upon itself an identical copy of the image that was on the Holy Napkin. The Persians had built a huge fire outside the city wall; when the Bishop approached with the Holy Napkin, a violent wind fell upon the fire, turning it back upon the Persians, who fled in defeat. The Holy Napkin remained in Edessa, even after the Arabs conquered it, until the year 944, when it was brought with honor and triumph to Constantinople in the reign of Romanus I, when Theophylact was Ecumenical Patriarch. The Holy Napkin was enshrined in the Church of the most holy Theotokos called the Pharos. This is the translation that is celebrated today.

20_gerasimos
August 16

Gerasimus of Cephalonia

Saint Gerasimus was from the Peloponnesus, the son of Demetrius and Kale, of the family of Notaras. He was reared in piety by them and studied the Sacred writings. He left his country and went throughout various lands, and finally came to Cephalonia, where he restored a certain old church and built a convent around it, where it stands to this day at the place called Omala. He finished the course of his life there in asceticism in the year 1570. His sacred relics, which remain incorrupt, are kept there for the sanctification of the faithful.

Samuel
August 20

Samuel the Prophet

This most holy man, a Prophet of God from childhood, was the last judge of the Israelite people, and anointed the first two Kings of Israel. He was born in the twelfth century before Christ, in the city of Armathaim Sipha, from the tribe of Levi, the son of Elkanah and Hannah (Anna). He was the fruit of prayer, for his mother, being barren, conceived him only after she had supplicated the Lord with many tears; wherefore she called him Samuel, that is, "heard by God." As soon as Hannah had weaned him, she brought him to the city of Silom (Shiloh), where the Ark was kept, and she consecrated him, though yet a babe, to the service of God, giving thanks to Him with the hymn found in the Third Ode of the Psalter: "My heart hath been established in the Lord . . ." Samuel remained in Silom under the protection of Eli the priest. He served in the Tabernacle of God, and through his most venerable way of life became well-pleasing to God and man (I Kings 2: 26). While yet a child, sleeping in the tabernacle near the Ark of God, he heard the voice of God calling his name, and foretelling the downfall of Eli; for although Eli's two sons, Ophni and Phineas, were most lawless, and despisers of God, Eli did not correct them. Even after Samuel had told Eli of the divine warning, Eli did not properly chastise his sons, and afterwards, through various misfortunes, his whole house was blotted out in one day.

After these things came to pass, Samuel was chosen to be the protector of the people, and he judged them with holiness and righteousness. He became for them an example of all goodness, and their compassionate intercessor before God: "Far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you; yea, I will serve the Lord, and show you the good and the right way" (ibid. 12:23). When he asked them -- having God as witness -- if he ever wronged anyone, or took anyone's possessions, or any gift, even so much as a sandal, they answered with one voice: "Thou hast not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, nor afflicted us, neither hast thou taken anything from anyone's hand" (ibid. 12:4). When Samuel was old, the people asked him for a king, but he was displeased with this, knowing that God Himself was their King. But when they persisted, the Lord commanded him to anoint them a king, saying, "They have not rejected thee, but they have rejected Me from reigning over them" (ibid. 8:7); so Samuel anointed Saul. But Saul transgressed the command of God repeatedly, so Samuel anointed David. Yet, since Samuel was a man of God, full of tender mercy, when the Lord told him that He had rejected Saul, Samuel wept for him the whole night long (ibid. 15:11); and later, since he continued to grieve, the Lord said to him, "How long wilt thou mourn for Saul?" (ibid. 16:1). Having lived blamelessly some ninety-eight years, and become an example to all of a God-pleasing life, he reposed in the eleventh century before Christ. Many ascribe to him the authorship of the Books of judges, and of Ruth, and of the first twenty-four chapters of the First Book of Kings (I Samuel).

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