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Saint John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2020-08-30
Bulletin Contents
Alexandr
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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




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 28
    6:00pm  Vespers + Orthros + Liturgy on Patio
Saturday, August 29   Beheading of St. John the Baptist
    5:00pm  Vespers

Sunday, August 30
    8:30am  Matins
    9:45am  Liturgy
Monday, August 31
    9:00am  Matins
    6:00pm  Vespers
Tuesday, September 1   New Ecclesiastical Year
    9:00am  Matins
Wednesday, September 2
    9:00am  Matins
    10:00am  Book Forum: Chapter 7

    6:00pm  Paraklesis
Thursday, September 3   Saint Hariton
    9:00am  Matins

Friday, September 4
    9:00am  Matins
Saturday, September 5
    5:00pm  Vespers
Sunday, September 6
    8:30am  Matins
    9:45am  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: 

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, STAY THERE -  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.

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

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/ GIVING FOR VICTIMS OF THE FIRE

Lighting Candles is 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 those in need: feeding the homeless, donating to help those impacted by fire evacuation or loss, donating to help those suffering impact of the Corona Virus. You may also wish to 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

THIS EVENING: VIGIL FOR the BEHEADING OF SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST

We will observe the feast of our patron Saint on the eve, this evening, with the outdoors vigil on the patio: Vespers + Matins + Liturgy from 6pm.


NEW: FALL 2020 FAITH AND FELLOWSHIP

The Faith and Fellowship Small Groups will begin the third season to run for three months, centered on the Epistle of Saint James. This module has six one-hour sessions. The meetings take place via Zoom on Wednesday evenings from 7pm and they are facilitated by the following group leaders:

Group 1: Angela Wagoner
Group 2: Thimi Saites
Group 3: Rania Zavitsanos
Group 4: Paul McCrone

Please sign up HERE!

Alternatively, you may contact any of the group leaders in order to reserve a spot or reply to this Bulletin email.

The dates are as follows (Wednesdays, 7pm):

        Sept. 9 >> Sept. 23 >> Oct. 7 >> Oct. 21 >> Nov. 4 >> Nov. 18


NEW: CREATING A CULTURE OF TRUE STEWARDSHIP

The Stewardship Ministry of the our Metropolis invites you to a five-part series to help you and your parish create a culture of true Christian stewardship. Through this process that will produce a more effective Stewardship ministry, you are able to elevate your parish to a deeper level of understanding of true Christian stewardship that leads to a transformative way of living your calling as a Greek Orthodox Christian. Beginning on Tuesday, September 1 at 6:30 p.m. PST, and continuing every other Tuesday through October 27, Bill Marianes from Stewardship Calling, will ead us on an inspirational journey filled with relevant information, best practices, and 15 empirically proven specific strategies.

Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. (PST)

Session 1 • September 1, 2020
• Facts and Figures of What Is Happening In Our Churches
• COVID/Crisis Strategies
• Lessons from the Science of Generosity Studies
• How to Create a Culture of True Orthodox Stewardship

Session 2 • September 15, 2020
• Leadership Alignment
• Tithing and Percentage Giving
• Increasing Parishioner Engagement
• The Most Effective Personal Touch

Session 3 • September 29, 2020
• Welcoming
• Thanking
• Youth Stewardship
• Small Groups

Session 4 • October 13, 2020
• Effective Messaging
• Campaigns – Stewardship, Capital and Planned Giving
• Transparency and Accountability
• Stewardship Team

Session 5 • October 27, 2020
• Questions and Answers

Registration
Participation is free, but we kindly request that you register in advance here.

 


JUST FELLOWSHIP

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


POSTPONED: BAPTISMS AND CHRISMATIONS

Unfortunately, we had to postpone the date for receiving in the Church the McCrone family: Paul, Sasha, Nicholas and Andrew. 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, September 2

  • Meeting time: from 10am, right after the Matins service.
  • To prepare: Chapter 7.
  • Zoom in at the known link.

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.


SUNDAY SCHOOL

The older middleschool children finished the program led by Reader Nicholas.  We are very grateful for his exemplary service.


PHILOPTOCHOS MESSAGE

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. 


LADIES I-HELP THIS TUESDAY

The Ladies I-HELP ministry continues to provide to the ladies in need. Although we will not be able to meet and minister to them in person, we continue to have the opportunity to personally contribute to the ministry. Our next day to provide food is this Tuesday, September 1.

Here is what is needed: 

    Meat $25
    Side dishes $25
    Drinks $10
    Desserts $10
    Fruit $10
    Snacks $20

Instead of going to the store to buy these items and bring them to church as done in the past, we ask you make a donation for the selected items directly to Philoptochos through our special web site link:

Click this link: Light a Candle site -  Helping those in Need. 

Then, one person will purchase everything at once at the store or online, and deliver them all to the cook. Once ready, the delicious food will be delivered to the place where the ladies dwell. We try to reduce the personal contact, be safe and keep privacy while still maintaining personal engagement. Thanks to all participating and serving!

And thank YOU for donating!

 


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.

 


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Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the 3rd Mode

Let the heavens sing for joy, and let everything on earth be glad. * For with His Arm the Lord has worked power. * He trampled death under foot by means of death; * and He became the firstborn from the dead. * From the maw of Hades He delivered us; * and He granted the world His great mercy.

Seasonal Kontakion in the 4th Mode

Both Joachim and Anna from their sterility's stigma, and Adam and Eve from their mortality's ruin have been set free, O immaculate Maid, by your holy nativity. For this do your people hold celebration, redeemed from the guilt of transgression as they cry to you, "The barren one bears the Theotokos, the nourisher of our Life."
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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

First Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from Matthew 28:16-20

At that time, the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshipped him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age. Amen."


Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. 3rd Mode. Psalm 46.6,1.
Sing praises to our God, sing praises.
Verse: Clap your hands, all you nations.

The reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 15:1-11.

Brethren, I would remind you in what terms I preached to you the gospel, which you received, in which you stand, by which you are saved, if you hold it fast -- unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unfit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God which is with me. Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.


Gospel Reading

12th Sunday of Matthew
The Reading is from Matthew 19:16-26

At that time, a young man came up to Jesus, kneeling and saying, "Good Teacher, what good deed must I do, to have eternal life?" And he said to him, "Why do you call me good? One there is who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments." He said to him, "Which?" And Jesus said, "You shall not kill, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother, and You shall love your neighbor as yourself." The young man said to him, "All these I have observed; what do I still lack?" Jesus said to him, "If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful; for he had great possessions.

And Jesus said to his disciples, "Truly, I say to you, it will be hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." When the disciples heard this they were greatly astonished, saying, "Who then can be saved?" But Jesus looked at them and said to them, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."


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Prayer Requests

   For a rapid end to the fires, for comfort to the victims and their families, eternal rest to those who have perished, and strength to the firefighters and those who bring aid and relief, let us pray to the Lord.

And for the servants of God:

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

   Father Mark Vinas - to continue his recovery.

   Gus (Constantine) Scourkes - for recovery from pneumonia.

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

   Chris (Chrisanthi) Georgalos for recovery after stroke. 

   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

Alexandr
August 30

Saints Alexander, John, and Paul the New, Patriarchs of Constantinople

Saint Alexander was sent to the First Ecumenical Council in Nicaea as the delegate of Saint Metrophanes, Bishop of Constantinople (see June 4), to whose throne he succeeded in the year 325. When Arius had deceitfully professed allegiance to the Council of Nicaea, Saint Alexander, knowing his guile, refused to receive him into communion; Arius' powerful partisans threatened that they would use force to bring Arius into the communion of the Church the following day. Saint Alexander prayed fervently that God might spare the Church; and as Arius was in a privy place relieving nature, his bowels gushed forth with an effusion of blood, and the arch-heresiarch died the death of Judas. Saint Alexander was Bishop from 325 until 337, when he was succeeded by Saint Paul the Confessor, who died a martyr's death at the hands of the Arians (see Nov. 6). The Saint John commemorated here appears to be the one who was Patriarch during the years 562-577, surnamed Scholasticus, who is also commemorated on February 21. He was from Antioch, where he had been a lawyer (scholasticus); he was made presbyter, then was sent to Constantinople as representative (apocrisiarius) of the Patriarch of Antioch, and was appointed Patriarch of Constantinople by the Emperor Justinian. Saint Paul was Bishop of Constantinople during the years 687 - 693, in the reign of Emperor Justinian II, and presided over the Quinisext Council in 692.


29_stjohn
August 30

Apodosis of the Feast of the Forerunner


Mgenthroned
August 31

The Placing of the Honorable Sash of the Most Holy Theotokos

Although the historical accounts differ somewhat, the Deposition that is celebrated today took place most likely during the reign of Emperor Arcadius (395-408), when the precious Cincture of the Mother of God was brought from Zela of Cappadocia to Constantinople, and placed in the Church of the Theotokos in the section of Chalcopratia.


Creation_adam
September 01

Ecclesiastical New Year

For the maintenance of their armed forces, the Roman emperors decreed that their subjects in every district should be taxed every year. This same decree was reissued every fifteen years, since the Roman soldiers were obliged to serve for fifteen years. At the end of each fifteen-year period, an assessment was made of what economic changes had taken place, and a new tax was decreed, which was to be paid over the span of the fifteen years. This imperial decree, which was issued before the season of winter, was named Indictio, that is, Definiton, or Order. This name was adopted by the emperors in Constantinople also. At other times, the latter also used the term Epinemisis, that is, Distribution (Dianome). It is commonly held that Saint Constantine the Great introduced the Indiction decrees in A.D. 312, after he beheld the sign of the Cross in heaven and vanquished Maxentius and was proclaimed Emperor in the West. Some, however (and this seems more likely), ascribe the institution of the Indiction to Augustus Caesar, three years before the birth of Christ. Those who hold this view offer as proof the papal bull issued in A.D. 781 which is dated thus: Anno IV, Indictionis LIII -that is, the fourth year of the fifty-third Indiction. From this, we can deduce the aforementioned year (3 B.C.) by multiplying the fifty-two complete Indictions by the number of years in each (15), and adding the three years of the fifty-third Indiction. There are three types of Indictions: 1) That which was introduced in the West, and which is called Imperial, or Caesarean, or Constantinian, and which begins on the 24th of September; 2) The so-called Papal Indiction, which begins on the 1st of January; and 3) The Constantinopolitan, which was adopted by the Patriarchs of that city after the fall of the Eastern Empire in 1453. This Indiction is indicated in their own hand on the decrees they issue, without the numeration of the fifteen years. This Indiction begins on the 1st of September and is observed with special ceremony in the Church. Since the completion of each year takes place, as it were, with the harvest and gathering of the crops into storehouses, and we begin anew from henceforth the sowing of seed in the earth for the production of future crops, September is considered the beginning of the New Year. The Church also keeps festival this day, beseeching God for fair weather, seasonable rains, and an abundance of the fruits of the earth. The Holy Scriptures (Lev. 23:24-5 and Num. 29:1-2) also testify that the people of Israel celebrated the feast of the Blowing of the Trumpets on this day, offering hymns of thanksgiving. In addition to all the aforesaid, on this feast we also commemorate our Saviour's entry into the synagogue in Nazareth, where He was given the book of the Prophet Esaias to read, and He opened it and found the place where it is written, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, for which cause He hath anointed Me..." (Luke 4:16-30).

It should be noted that to the present day, the Church has always celebrated the beginning of the New Year on September 1. This was the custom in Constantinople until its fall in 1453 and in Russia until the reign of Peter I. September 1 is still festively celebrated as the New Year at the Patriarchate of Constantinople; among the Jews also the New Year, although reckoned according to a moveable calendar, usually falls in September. The service of the Menaion for January 1 is for our Lord's Circumcision and for the memorial of Saint Basil the Great, without any mention of its being the beginning of a new year.


Symstylt
September 01

Symeon the Stylite

Our righteous Father Symeon was born about the year 390 in a certain village named Sis, in the mountain region of Cilicia and Syria. Having first been a shepherd, he entered the monastic discipline at a young age. After trying various kinds of ascetical practices, both in the monastery and then in the wilderness, he began standing on pillars of progressively greater height, and heroically persevered in this for more than forty years; the greater part of this time he spent standing upright, even when one of his feet became gangrenous, and other parts of his body gave way under the strain. He did not adopt this strange way of life out of vainglory, a charge that some of his contemporaries made against him at the first: because he was already famous for his asceticism and holiness before ascending his first pillar (in Greek, style, whence he is called "Stylite"), many pious people came to him wishing to touch his garments, either for healing or for a blessing; to escape the continual vexation they caused, he made a pillar about ten feet high, and then higher and higher, until the fourth and last was about fifty feet high. The Church historian Theodoret of Cyrrhus, an eyewitness of his exploits who wrote of him while Symeon was yet alive, called him "the great wonder of the world." God gave him the grace to persevere in such an astonishing form of asceticism that multitudes came to see him from Persia, Armenia, South Arabia, Georgia, Thrace, Spain, Italy, Gaul, and the British Isles. Theodoret says that he became so famous in Rome that the Nomadic Arabs by the thousands believed in Christ and were baptized because of him; the King of Persia sent envoys to inquire into his way of life, and the Queen asked to be sent oil that he had blessed. He also was a great defender of sound doctrine, and confirmed the Orthodoxy of the Holy Council of Chalcedon for many who had been beguiled by the teachings of the Monophysites, including the Empress Eudocia, widow of Theodosius the Younger. After a life of unheard-of achievements and struggles, he reposed in peace at the age of sixty-nine, in the year 459.


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