Publish-header
Saint John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2020-10-11
Bulletin Contents
Schedule of Services
Church Attendance
News & Events
Hymns of the Day
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Prayer Requests
Saints and Feasts
Allsaint
Organization Icon
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: With the exception of the Sunday Divine Liturgy which takes place outside, all our services can be viewed online via Zoom and some on Facebook. 

Saturday, October 10
    5:00pm  Vespers
Sunday, October 11 - services outside, on the patio
    8:00am  Matins on the patio
    9:00am  Baptisms Nicholas and Andrew McCrone on the patio
  10:00am  Liturgy with Chrismation of Sasha and Paul McCrone on the patio
Monday, October 12
    9:00am  Matins
Tuesday, October 13
    9:00am  Matins
Wednesday, October 14
    9:00am  Matins
    6:00pm  Paraklesis
Thursday, October 15
    9:00am  Matins
Friday, October 16
    9:00am  Matins
Saturday, October 17
    5:00pm  Vespers
Sunday, October 18  Saint Luke the Evangelist
    8:30am  Matins on the patio
    9:45am  Liturgy on the patio

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

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Church Attendance

SPECIAL SCHEDULE AND ONLINE COVERAGE THIS SUNDAY

Please note that this Sunday's schedule of services is modified to allow for the McCrones baptism. Matins will begin at 8am and the baptism will follow around 9am.

Also, we are discontinuing the Facebook webcasting of the Liturgies and of the Matins that precede them. The services will continue to be offered via Zoom for Matins and for the first part of the Divine Liturgy (the Liturgy of the Word). The transmission will end after the prayer for the catechumens, thus reserving the Liturgy of the Eucharist for on-site participation.


REMINDER OF COVID-19 PROTOCOLS AT CHURCH

Please follow the church attendance protocols:

  • 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, please listen to the ushers.
  • ONCE SEATED, STAY THERE -  If one moves, someone has to follow to wipe the chairs down. Please 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? Where should I sit to be in shade the whole service? They will help you.
  • PLEASE DON'T KISS THE ICONS - even if you are wearing a mask. It requires someone to follow you and wipe down the icons.

Thank 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 hear confessions at the church. Please contact him directly for an appointment.


HOW TO ATTEND ONLINE

Most of our services and meetings are available online.
Attend remotely:
  1. Zoom with video here.
  2. On our Facebook page, except for Divine Liturgies and the Matins that preceed them.
  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, choose 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

BAPTISMS AND CHRISMATIONS THIS SUNDAY

After a long journey of preparation, this Sunday we will be receiving in the Church the McCrone family: Paul, Sasha, Nicholas and Andrew. Please see the Schedule of Services for the modified schedule. The family and the blessed god-parents, Nick Fettis, Alexandra, Jacob and Carrie, are thrilled, grateful and full of expectation as are all of us who love them. The services will take place on the patio. The children will be baptized and chrismated before the liturgy; the parents will be chrismated after the homily and prayer for the catechumens.


RESCHEDULED PARISH ASSEMBLY on OCTOBER 13

This  Tuesday, October 13, we will have a rescheduled but extraordinary Parish Assembly online at 6:30 pm via Zoom. This meeting was reschueduled from last week due to not reaching a quorum. We need everyone involved in this very important meeting because we will approve the next three year course for our community. We hope you will attend to seal our new Vision, Mission and Strategic Objectives. These new and critical statements were emailed to you for review on September 30.


FALL 2020 FAITH AND FELLOWSHIP

The Faith and Fellowship Small Groups met this last Wednesday with a record number of participants in 6 groups under the leadership of Angela, Thimi, Rania, Paul, Mary and Paige (the newest member of our community).

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

Oct. 21 >> Nov. 4 >> Nov. 18

Please sign up HERE!


CREATING A CULTURE OF TRUE STEWARDSHIP

The Stewardship Ministry of 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. The next session is September 15 at 6:30, and continues every other Tuesday through October 27.

Bill Marianes from Stewardship Calling, will lead us on an inspirational journey filled with relevant information, best practices, and 15 empirically proven specific strategies.

Watch the previous sessions' recordings here.

Session 4 • October 13, 2020  - We ask that you attend our Parish Assembly that will be held at this same day and time. Then tune in for the recorded Effective Stewardship Session 4 later in the week.
That agenda will be: 
• Effective Messaging
• Campaigns – Stewardship, Capital and Planned Giving
• Transparency and Accountability
• Stewardship Team

Session 5 • October 27, 2020, 6:30pmn
• Questions and Answers

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

 


ICON - THE NEW BOOK FOR THE BOOK FORUM

The next book that the Book Forum will discuss is

Icon - A Novel

by Georgia Briggs.

The story opens the reader's eyes to see Christianity in our modern world in a different light. Here is a brief review of this short reading that once started, one can not put down.

Forget your old name. Forget your parents. These are the things Euphrosyne s grandparents and counselor tell her. But if Orthodox Christianity is a lie, why did the icon so dramatically save her life? And what can she do to get the icon back? In a post-Christian America, where going to church, praying, or owning holy things means death, a twelve-year-old girl searches for the truth. Finding it may cost her everything.

Wednesdays, from 10am - right after the service.The first meeting: Starting October 14, prepare Chapter 1. Zoom in at the known link. Order your copy on Amazon.com here.


NEW BOOK FORUM BOOK

The High School children of our community and from anywhere under the sun are invited to join in reading and discussing books that edify and strengthen the Orthodox faith. The group and the discussions are led by Father Ion. The first book we will read is

Crazy John

by Dionysios Makris

The group meets on Tuesdays from 4 pm via Zoom. If interested, please sign up with Father Ion.

For Tuesday, September 29: read through page 42.


THE CHURCH UNIVERSITY: DAILY SERVICE, PRAYER and REFLECTIONS

The Church University continues the Zoom webcasting from Saint Nektarios Chapel with the abbreviated 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.


SMALL FESTIVAL SET FOR NOVEMBER 7

Save the date. We will be having a small version of our Annual Greek Festival on Saturday, November 7. This "micro" festival will have food pickup on Lincoln Street between the hours of 10 am and 4 pm. Two plate options will be offered as well as a la carte individual food items. Shortly you will be directed to a web location to order your meals and specify a pickup time. So save the date and your appetite. 


OUR AUDIO AND VIDEO ARCHIVES

  • Daily services, reflections and homilies video.
  • Sunday homilies audio.
  • Some Sunday homilies video and archives prior to June 1 2020 audio.

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 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 Sun. of the 7th Ecumenical Council in the Plagal 4th Mode

Supremely blessed are You, O Christ our God. You established the holy Fathers upon the earth as beacons, and through them You have guided us all to the true Faith, O greatly merciful One, glory be to You.

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

A protection of Christians unshamable, intercessor to our Holy Maker, unwavering, please reject not the prayerful cries of those who are in sin. Instead, come to us, for you are good; your loving help bring unto us, who are crying in faith to you: hasten to intercede and speed now to supplicate, as a protection for all time, Theotokos, for those who honor you.
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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Seventh Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from John 20:1-10

On the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So she ran, and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him." Peter then came out with the other disciple, and they went toward the tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first; and stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; he saw the linen cloths lying, and the napkin, which had been on his head, not lying with the linen cloths but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not know the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples went back to their homes.

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. 4th Mode. Daniel 3.26,27.
Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers.
Verse: For you are just in all you have done.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to Titus 3:8-15.

Titus, my son, the saying is sure. I desire you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to apply themselves to good deeds; these are excellent and profitable to men. But avoid stupid controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels over the law, for they are unprofitable and futile. As for a man who is factious, after admonishing him once or twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is perverted and sinful; he is self-condemned.

When I send Artemas or Tychicos to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. Do your best to speed Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way; see that they lack nothing. And let our people learn to apply themselves to good deeds, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not to be unfruitful.

All who are with me send greeting to you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen.

Gospel Reading

Sunday of the 7th Ecumenical Council
The Reading is from Luke 8:5-15

The Lord said this parable: "A sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell along the path, and was trodden under foot, and the birds of the air devoured it. And some fell on the rock; and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns grew with it and choked it. And some fell into good soil and grew, and yielded a hundredfold." And when his disciples asked him what this parable meant, he said, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God; but for others they are in parables, so that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand. Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, that they may not believe and be saved. And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy; but these have no root, they believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. And as for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bring forth fruit with patience." As he said these things, he cried out "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."

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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)."

   Sheila (Despina) Doyle-Rickenbacker - for endurance during this time of tremendous suffering.

   Father Mark Vinas - to continue his recovery.

   Anne Scourkes - for comfort and peace at this time of mourning.

   Chris (Chrisanthi) Georgalos - for health and comfort when dealing with transition.    

   Sophie Britton - for strength and recovery.

   Nick Cominos - for patience and endurance.

   Marie Cominos - for strength and recovery.

   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

Allsaint
October 11

Sunday of the 7th Ecumenical Council

On the Sunday that falls on or immediately after the eleventh of this month, we chant the Service to the 350 holy Fathers of the Seventh Ecumenical Council, which gathered in Nicaea in 787 under the holy Patriarch Tarasius and during the reign of the Empress Irene and her son, Constantine Porphyrogenitus, to refute the Iconoclast heresy, which had received imperial support beginning with the Edict issued in 726 by Emperor Leo the Isaurian. Many of the holy Fathers who condemned Iconoclasm at this holy Council later died as Confessors and Martyrs for the holy Icons during the second assault of Iconoclasm in the ninth century, especially during the reigns of Leo the Armenian and Theophilus.

Philipap
October 11

Philip the Apostle of the 70, one of the 7 Deacons

Saint Philip, who had four daughters that prophesied, was from Caesarea of Palestine. He preached throughout Samaria; it was he also who met the eunuch of Candace, the Queen of the Ethiopians, as the eunuch was reading the Prophet Esaias, and he instructed and baptized him (Acts 8:26-39). He reposed in Tralles of Asia Minor while preaching the Gospel.

Allsaint
October 14

Righteous Paraskeve of Serbia

Saint Paraskeve was born in Thrace in the eleventh century. In her youth she went to Constaninople, and thence journeyed to the Holy Land in pursuit of the ascetical life. After struggling for many years in the wilderness of the Jordan, she was moved by God to return to her homeland. She continued her monastic labours there for a few more years, and then reposed in peace.

Allsaint
October 17

Hosea the Prophet

According to some, Hosea, whose name means "God is help," was from the tribe of Issachar, or more likely, from that of Reuben; he was the son of Beeri. He is the first in order of the twelve minor Prophets and the most ancient of all. He prophesied in the days of the divided Kingdom; the Lord told him to take a harlot to wife (Hosea 1:2), and then an adulteress (ibid., 3:1). The harlot, a known sinner, was a figure of the Kingdom of Israel in Samaria, which openly worshipped idols; the adulteress, lawfully married yet sinning secretly with her lovers, was a figure of the Kingdom of Judah in Jerusalem, which, while having the Temple, and the priesthood, and the divine worship according to the Law, stealthily served the idols also. The Prophet Hosea prophesied for sixty years, and lived for some ninety years, from 810 to 720 B.C. His book is divided into fourteen chapters.

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