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Saint John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2021-09-19
Bulletin Contents
Exaltation
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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: week-day services are posted on Zoom.   

Saturday, September 18
    5:00pm  Vespers
Sunday, September 19
    8:30am  Matins
    9:45am  Liturgy
Monday, September 20
    9:00am  Matins - Church University
Tuesday, September 21
    9:00am  Matins - Church University
Wednesday, September 22
    9:00am  Matins - Church University
    6:00pm  Vespers
Thursday, September 23  Conception of Saint John the Baptist
    8:30am  Orthros + Liturgy in SALINAS
Friday, September 24
    9:00am  Matins - Church University
Saturday, September 25
    11:00am  Stewardship Appreciation Lunch
    5:00pm  Vespers
Sunday, September 26   Falling Asleep of Saint John the Theologian
    8:30am  Matins
    9:45am  Liturgy
    12:00pm  Catechism Class

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

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Greek Festival News

THE NO FESTIVAL FUND

For the second year, the COVID-19 has stopped our Greek Festival in its tracks.

We were left with a $30,000 shortage that we count on for our ministries, outreach and growing our building fund. We also know from experience that it would take many “mini-festivals” to attain the same level of sales. Many more than we could possibly hold before the end of the year.

Our appeal to parishioners was met with a joyful response of generosity. Almost half of those costs have been contributed, or $13,750. Our parish is so blessed.

Won’t you help as well? We count on all parishioners to take part in the Festival. Now we count on all parishioners to help us in the absence of the Festival.

Our thanks to the parishioners below who have given so quickly:

Michael Bachik - Corkey & Brian Balcom - Mary Bekkos - Father Ion, Presbytera Ana - Temia Demakopoulos - Olga Drumev - Janel Fraij - Michel Georgariou - Michael & Maria Hahn - Chris Hallas - Dimitrios Hoularis - Mike & Mary Kanalakis - Shirley Manis - Nate & Aileen Metcalf - Stephania Muntean - Chris Pullos - Thimi & Charlotte Saites - Aida Tadros - Renate-Karen Wunsch - Jim & Angela Wagoner - Nate & Aileen Metcalf - Jamie Wojtal - David & Nadia Zajicek - Rania & Anthony Zavitsanos

We are all so grateful to you for quickly stepping in.

 

Offer to the No-Festival Fund here:

 


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Stewardship News

ANNUAL STEWARDSHIP APPRECIATION

Open to all current and future Stewards at Saint Johns: 

Annual Stewardship Appreciation Lunch
Saturday, September 25

A thank you to this year’s Stewards
&
Launch of our 2021 Stewardship Program

Lunch at Monterey Peninsula Yacht Club
31 Wharf #2, Monterey, CA
11 am to 3 pm
CHILDREN WELCOME!

Nautical Theme – Dress is Casual
Hot Dogs and Hamburgers plus, plus, plus
Admission is a completed 2022 Stewardship Card (online or on paper)
2022 Stewardship Cards are available at church and at the door.


RSVP required:

Sign up here or contact Mary Kanalakis
or reply to this bulletin email


2021 STEWARDSHIP STATUS

A Ministry Led by Mary Kanalakis

We are 3/4 the way through the year. Please take a look at your Stewardship giving. It may need updating or improving as we move back into regular activities. Open your Stewardship account in Breeze here: BREEZE LOGIN

Many thanks to our 2021 Stewards. 70 families or individuals are now stewards. And thank you to the 16 (23%) of these families who have committed to percent giving. It is such a blessing for these families to lead us on the path to becoming a tithing parish.

Our pledged total so far is $134,348, or 83% of our budget goal. We are four fifths of the way there.

If you have not yet completed a 2021 pledge card, please complete the Stewardship Card ONLINE! Just Click: I WANT TO SIGN UP NOW!

Living the Gospel


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News & Events

FAITH AND FELLOWSHIP FALL 2021 SESSION

A ministry led by Paige Benton

The small groups Faith and Fellowship will resume in September. We will again be meeting from 7pm, after the Paraklesis, on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month via Zoom and, for those who desire, in person as well.

Characters of the Old Testament

September 22 - Abraham Answers God's Call - Genesis 12
October 13 - Abraham's Great Test - Genesis 22
October 27 - Jacob, "The Deceiver" - Genesis 27
November 10 - Moses Seeks Justice - Exodus 2
November 17 - The Exodus from Egypt - Exodus 12

SIGN UP HERE

Adult Education


NEW: A JOURNEY TO FULLNESS BACK IN SEPTEMBER

A ministry led by Angela Wagoner

JOURNEY TO FULLNESS: An Introduction to the Fullness of the Original Christian Faith -

The Journey to Fullness presentations and small groups discussions will meet again starting September 27 to continue with Part 13 - Salvation as Participation.

Education


BOOK FORUM: BIG IN HEAVEN

A ministry lead by Kathy Shaw

Our book forum is discussing Big in Heaven: A Collection of Stories About Life in an American Orthodox Parish.  There are still a few copies available at the bookstore.

These stories begin to paint a new kind of Icon, that of a truly American Orthodox Christian, of regular people simply trying to be or tragically rejecting being regular human beings, the kind of people perhaps never even imagined by most American readers. . . . The stories break the mold of what a religious or non-religious story ought to be. They are not moralistic, nor are they irreverent in their honest portrayal of the realities of life in the Church. Rather they are just good, honest stories, and in being this they are sacramental, conveying and holding together elements of life that are seemingly disparate. (from the Foreword) Sometimes poignant, sometimes funny, sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes convicting, these stories of life in an inner-city immigrant Orthodox parish are guaranteed to shake your assumptions and make you see your life and faith in a new way. They are not for the faint of heart but they are very much for all who want to embrace the truth more fully.

Join the Book Forum on Wednesdays from 11am, right after the daily Matins service.

Our next meeting on Wednesday, SEPTEMBER 22
Meeting time: from 10am, right after Matins/ Church University.
To prepare: Please read the pages 146 - 179

  Zoom in at the known link.

Adult Education, Community


SUNDAY CATECHISM CLASS

A Ministry led by Father Ion

The Catechism Class will take place on September 26 from 12pm via Zoom. The topic will be The Divine Liturgy - Part 2. Please pray for our catechumens: Angelina, Mikael, Arthur, and Elizabeth.

Education


SUNDAY SCHOOL

God willing, we will start the Church School program for all the age groups on Sunday September 26. All children ages 3 and up are invited to attend. For more information, please contact Presbytera Ana presbytera.ana@gmail.com.


THE CHURCH UNIVERSITY: DAILY SERVICE, PRAYER and REFLECTIONS

A ministry led by Father Ion

Every weekday morning, the Church University will offer the daily Zoom webcasting from Saint Nektarios Chapel with the short Matins Services. At the end of the service Father Ion offers a reflection, 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.

Worship and Education


SERVING THESE SUNDAYS

A ministry led by Angelina Ruiz

Serving these coming Sundays in church and at the fellowship hour following Liturgy: 

September 19
   Parish Council: Thimi Saites
   Welcoming: Mary Kanalakis
   Fellowship Gratitude Luncheon: Team 3 (Orange) 3rd Sunday of the month

September 26
  Parish Council: Thimi Saites
  Welcoming: Temia Demakopoulos
  Fellowship Gratitude Luncheon: Team 4 (Green) 4th Sunday of the month

Community


SERVE AT THE FOOD BANK

A Ministry Lead by Despina Hatton

There is still room to serve if you would like to join the team: Angela, Jim, Thimi, Nadia and her friend, John and Father Ion.

Sign up HERE

Saint John the Baptist Church will participate in the food distribution project at the Food Bank in Seaside. We have committed to providing 8 people to serve once a month on the following Tuesdays, 8:30-10:30am:

October 12, November 9 and December 14.

Location:
St Francis Xavier Catholic Church
1475 La Salle Ave, Seaside, CA 93955

Sign up HERE

Community

Sign Up!


HELP OUR BRETHREN IN GREECE!

As an immediate response to the call by His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America to support our brethren, National Philoptochos Society donated $40,000 to the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America's Greece Fires Relief Fund.


This is not the first time that Philoptochos has responded to the human and physical devastation caused by wildfires in Greece. The road to recovery and healing will be long for fire victims in Greece. The devastating fires will likely be followed by flooding and further devastation during the fall and winter. Our help is urgently needed. National Philoptochos asks that you turn your immediate attention in the month of September to this appeal. 

Please make best efforts to send your contributions, big or small, earmarked for the “2021 Greece Fires Relief Fund”. Send to the National Philoptochos Society by Thursday, September 30, 2021. Collections may be forwarded to the National Philoptochos Society at 126 East 37th Street, New York, NY 10016.

Make donations online at www.philoptochos.org/donation and select “Aid to Greece & Cyprus” from the “direct my gift to” drop down menu. To download the campaign appeal letter, click here.


ONLINE RESOURCES from THE COVID ERA

Most of our services and meetings are available online.
Witness remotely:
  1. Zoom with video here.
  2. By phone dial - add the following string to your address book: +16699006833,,9475885646#,,1#,April2020#
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).
• Please note that our Metropolis requests compliance with the CDC regulations. This means parishioners who are not vaccinated wear masks for their own protection. It is also recommended for those who are vaccinated. Please respect the comfort level of those around you by keeping reasonable distance.
• The fellowship hour will continue as usual both inside and outside.
Lighting Candles remotely is possible through our Light a Candle website. Click this link: Light a Candle


OUR AUDIO AND VIDEO ARCHIVES

The Audio/Video Ministry is led by Hussam Ibrahim

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

Organization and Leadership 


CONCEPTION OF SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST - SERVICE IN SALINAS

The conception of our patron saint will be celebrated with Vespers on Wednesday evening (Saint Nektarios Chapel) and Marins and Liturgy on Thursday morning (in Salinas). This is an opportunity for us to come together in prayer to seek the Forerunner's intercessions for our community, for our families and for our nation.


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Prayer Requests

Lord, Bless, strengthen, and guard, by Your grace, all those who, with love for humankind and a spirit of sacrifice, care for the sick in their homes or in hospitals.

We pray for the servants of God:

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

   Olga Drumev - for health, recovery, and endurance.

   Chris (Chrisanthi) Georgalos for health, recovery, and endurance.

   Sheila (Despina) Doyle-Rickenbacher - for health, recovery, and endurance.  

   Sophie Britton - for strength and recovery.

   Eleni Saites - for patience and endurance.

   Maria Kastros - for strength and endurance.

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

For those who are in prisons: Constantine and Sergei.

And for our catechumens: Mikael, Angelina, Arthur, Elizabeth.

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

Exaltation
September 19

Sunday after Holy Cross


Nativitybaptist
September 23

The Conception of St. John the Baptist

This came to pass fifteen months before the birth of Christ, after the vision of the Angel that Zacharias, the father of the Forerunner, saw in the Temple while he executed the priest's office in the order of his course during the feast of the Tabernacles, as tradition bears witness. In this vision, the Archangel Gabriel appeared to Zacharias and said to him, "Thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John" (Luke 1:13). Knowing that Elizabeth was barren, and that both he and she were elderly, Zacharias did not believe what the Angel told him, although he had before him the example of Abraham and Sarah, of Hannah, mother of the Prophet Samuel, and of other barren women in Israel who gave birth by the power of God. Hence, he was condemned by the Archangel to remain speechless until the fulfilment of these words in their season, which also came to pass (Luke 1:7-24).


Silouanathos
September 24

Silouan of Athos


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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Second Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from Mark 16:1-8

When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, so that they might go and anoint Jesus. And very early on the first day of the week they went to the tomb when the sun had risen. And they were saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the door of the tomb?" And looking up, they saw that the stone was rolled back, for it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe; and they were amazed. And he said to them, "Do not be amazed; you seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen, he is not here; see the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him, as he told you." And they went out and fled from the tomb; for trembling and astonishment had come upon them; and they said nothing to any one, for they were afraid.


Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. 4th Mode. Psalm 103.24,1.
O Lord, how manifold are your works. You have made all things in wisdom.
Verse: Bless the Lord, O my soul.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians 2:16-20.

Brethren, knowing that a man is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ, and not by works of the law, because by works of the law shall no one be justified. But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we ourselves were found to be sinners, is Christ then an agent of sin? Certainly not! But if I build up again those things which I tore down, then I prove myself a transgressor. For I through the law died to the law, that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.


Gospel Reading

Sunday after Holy Cross
The Reading is from Mark 8:34-38; 9:1

The Lord said: "If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? For what can a man give in return for his life? For whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of man also be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." And he said to them, "Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power."


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