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Saint John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2022-09-11
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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: our services are posted on Zoom unless specified otherwise.    

Saturday, September 10
    5:00pm  Vespers
Sunday, September 11
    8:30am  Matins
    9:45am  Liturgy, Lunch, Fellowship
    12:00pm  Catechism Class
Monday, September 12
    9:00am  ONLINE: Church University - Prayer, Bible, Reflections
    7:00pm  Parish Council Meeting

Tuesday, September 13
    9:00am  Food Bank Distribution - Community Service

    9:00am  ONLINE: Church University - Prayer, Bible, Reflections
    6:00pm  Vespers + Liturgy
    8:00pm  Orthodoxy 101: Journey to Fullness
Wednesday, September 14   Exaltation of the Holy Cross
    9:00am  ONLINE: Church University - Matins
    6:00pm  Paraklesis to the Theotokos
    8:00pm  Book Forum
Thursday, September 15   Saint Nikitas /  Saint Visarion
   9:00am  ONLINE: Church University - Prayer, Bible, Reflections
Friday, September 16
    9:00am  ONLINE: Church University - Prayer, Bible, Reflections
Saturday, September 17
    5:00pm  Vespers

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Special Services

The Memorial Service this Sunday will be for:
  • the servant of God, Constantine (Gus) Scourkes (2 years)
  • the servant of God, Stephan Grancharov (1 year)
  • the servant of God, Peter (21 years), son of Gus and Lannette Moutos, one of those who perished in the 9/11 attack on the twin towers.
  • all of the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attack 21 years ago
May their memory be eternal!
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News & Events

SAINT JOHN'S FESTIVAL

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2022 GREEK FESTIVAL

A ministry lead by Thimi Saites

St John's 36th Annual Greek Festival
September, 23rd - 25th to the Custom House Plaza.

This is a BIG community effort for our church. We need EVERYONE participating in this festival more than ever before!! Our fellowship and focus are strengthened over these 3 days working together. 

  • Set up during the day on Friday means laying tarps down for the booths (as required by State Parks), setting out tables and chairs, adding booth signs, covering tables, and showing our vendors where to set up. Helpers keep the job easier and faster.
  • Taverna Night on Friday evening, 5pm to 9pm: Invite as many as you can to an evening with drinks, small bites, music and dancing.
  • Saturday, 24th The full festival will begins at 11 am and runs until 7pm. The official Opening Ceremony will be at 1 pm with the raising of the Greek flag by our Greek Officers in uniform. The day continues until 7pm when we say good night and invite our guests back the next day.
  • Sunday, 25th: The final day of the festival begins at 11am and runs until 4 pm. By 4 pm, booths will be packing up supplies and clearing the booth area.
  • Clean Up: The State Parks requires us out of the plaza by the end of the day, Sunday. So booths will be broken down, everything boxed up and hauled out, all garbage removed. 

We need you to help lighten the effort, participate, spread the word, and get as many people visiting the festival as possible. You can make a difference on the success and enjoyment our guest will experience. 

There is still one opening: Soda. Please call if you are able to take this booth. 

Volunteers are still needed. SIGN UP HERE!!! 

We are excited to get started, working with you again and to continue the great success of our past festivals.

Community


FOOD BANK SERVICE

A Ministry Lead by Despina Hatton

Join us on the second Tuesday of each month, 9:00 -10:30am. Our next turn is on

September 13

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

Sign up HERE

Community

Sign Up!


CATECHISM CLASS THIS SUNDAY

A Ministry led by Father Ion

There will be no class this Sunday. We will regroup on the Sunday after Labor Day.

The Catechism Class is invites you will join our catechumens after lunch/fellowship:

  • Topic: The Heart
  • Presenter: Father Ion
  • Location: Saint Nektarios Chapel
  • Resources (text and audio): https://www.stjohn-monterey.org/adult-education/2.-the-heart

Please pray for our catechumens.

Education


EVENING BOOK FORUM

A Ministry led by Kathy Shaw

The Archbishop: A Novel (Treasures of Orthodoxy Book 1) by [Hieromonk Tihon, Savatie Bastovoi]Join the Book Forum at a new date and time: We next meet on 
Wednesday evening, September 14 at 8:00pm.  
Please prepare with Ch. 5, 6, & 7.

We continue reading The Archbishop, A Novel , by  by Hieromonk Tihon (Savatie Bastovoi). Please order your copy as soon as possible. Click here for Amazon orders.

ABOUT THIS BOOK: A Christian Orthodox Classic.
If God exists, then why does He allow such endlessly mundane earthly suffering?
   Set in Imperial Russia, 1900: Resigned, hopeless, and fighting a Church he no longer believes in, Father Paul’s crisis of faith and despair in the seeming futility of his chosen vocation opens up the  powerful and emotionally engaging story of The Archbishop. Rather than abandoning his parish in search of the truth, Father Paul’s quest is a simple one: to find the true essence of Christianity.

 Adult Education, Community


ORTHODOXY 101: A JOURNEY TO FULLNESS

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 via Zoom this Tuesday from 8:00pm.

Education


BE A FESTIVAL SPONSOR

There is so much preFestival expenses to launch a great Festival

  • Property Rental Deposit
  • Order food, drinks, and supplies to be delivered
  • Order the Booth rentals
  • Advertising
  • Permits and labor deposits for Guards, Set up, water station

On and on goes the list!!!

Do you know that many years ago, we were forced to borrow from the Building Fund to accomplish this, paying the fund back after the festival?

Today, we rely on Festival Sponsors and individual donations toward these many expenses leading up to the festival.

We are asking you to help us in a couple of ways:

  • Contact businesses and people you think could help us. We can provide letters for you to send out.
  • Give generously to the PreFestival fund. Click on Festival Sponsor Page.   OR send a check to Saint John the Baptist Church with “Festival Donation” in the description.

If you can send out Sponsor forms to businesses you frequent, let Mary K know and the form/cover letter will be emailed to you.


YOUNG ADULT HIKE

 
Young Adults: Garland Ranch Hike on Saturday, September 17 from 9am.

This is a hike for all. We will select the trail according to the hiker's preferences. Bring hiking boots, water and sun screen. Hopefully, it will not be too hot that day...

Read the details and SIGNUP HERE.


CHURCH UNIVERSITY

A ministry led by Father Ion

The Church University has gone through some changes. We now gather Monday-Friday from 9am for PRAYER, BIBLE AND REFLECTIONS. This is also an opportunity to connect, to embrace and to be embraced. Check the online schedule.

My the Lord bless our readers who lead us in prayer:

  • Monday - Thimi
  • Tuesday - Mikael
  • Wednesday - Kathy
  • Thursday - Mary
  • Friday - Christina and Socrates

Worship and Education


EPISTLE READERS

A ministry lead by Matt Taylor

We thank God for those who take the opportunity to serve Him. Among them are our readers - as noticed during our last few Sunday services. Here they are:

Matt,   Oleg,    Nate,    Hussam,   Jacob

Please contact Matt directly if you would like to serve in this ministry.

Worship


SERVING THESE SUNDAYS and more

A ministry led by Angelina Taylor 

 Thank you for your effort and participation in bringing a dish to share for our fellowship coffee hour. In addition to Father's great homilies, our fellowship hour is special, unique and provides an opportunity for us to come together to enjoy each other's company, with as little stress as possible, in the preparation process. As always if you cannot participate when it is your week, kindly let Angelina know so she can make other 

September 11
   Parish Council: Dr. Michael Bachik
   Greeter: 2nd Sunday - Rania Zavitsanos, Anne Zavitsanos,  
   Fellowship Gratitude Meal: GOLD TEAM – Thank you to Thimi, Temia, Marissa, Ita, and Angelina

September 18
   Parish Council: David Zajicek

   Fellowship Gratitude Meal: PINK TEAM - Thank you to Rania, Mark, Nadia, Mary, and Presbytera Ana

Community


ONLINE RESOURCES

Most of our services and some ministry 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#,,,,*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 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 video and archives prior to June 1, 2020 audio.
  • Sunday homilies audio.

Organization and Leadership 


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Stewardship News

SAVE THE DATE! STEWARDSHIP APPRECIATION DINNER

Save the Date!!

Stewardship Appreciation Dinner

Saturday, October 29, 2022
for the entire family. 

Our annual event has become very popular. It is a time to celebrate our mny blessings, recognize parishioners that have inspired us in being good steward of our time, talent and treasure, and enjoy a special time of fellowship. 

More details to be provided. Just reserve this date on your calendar. you won't want to miss it. 


FILL THE STEWARDSHIP GAP

It is not too early to draw your attention to our Stewardship Gap. 

What’s that? Well, every year we agree on our Stewardship Goal as a reasonable target for us.  This year the goal is $165,000. However, pledges so far are less than $142,000. We call that difference our GAP and we make an effort, before the end of the year, to have met that goal. 

There are a couple ways to do that:

  • Become a Steward, if you haven’t already
  • Increase your Stewardship
  • Make a special gift to the Stewardship Fund 
  • Approach your friends and family who are distant: Come and See!

Use one of the easy ways to close the GAP

  • Click HERE to reach our website and give to Stewardship
    Click HERE to become a Steward by downloading a Stewardship Form, or completing a form online. 

We have a couple ways online to make this easier:

  • Give through Facebook! All donations on our Facebook page are transferred to St. John’s. No credit card fees are charged! Visit us at FACEBOOK PAGE.
  • If you would like to get a monthly invoice, or make donations automatically, indicate so on your stewardship card, or contact Mary. It can easily be set up
  • You can go to our website as described above.

Our tax ID is 94-6136359
We thank those who are responding to the end of the year call to close the GAP.

Living the Gospel


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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)."

   Ed Phong and Connie Stauffer - after losing their beloved spouses.

   Oleg Golovan, his family in Ukraine and all those suffering there.

   Tom Maheras - for good health.

   Olga Drumev - for health, recovery, and endurance. 

   Sophie Britton - for strength and recovery.

   Eleni Saites - for patience and endurance.

   Paul and Charlotte Pronoites - recovering after heart and knee surgery respectively.

For those who are in prisons: Constantine and Sergei.

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 11

Sunday before Holy Cross


Theodoraalexandria
September 11

Theodora of Alexandria

This saint lived in the fifth century. Out of remorse for the adultery that she committed with another man, she fled from her husband's house, renamed herself Theodore, clothed herself as a man, and pretending to be a eunuch, entered a monastery of men. Her identity as a woman was discovered only after her death.


Euphrosynoscook
September 11

Euphrosynos the Cook


Exaltation
September 14

The Elevation of the Venerable and Life-Giving Cross

Saint Helen, the mother of Saint Constantine the Great, when she was already advanced in years, undertook, in her great piety, the hardships of a journey to Jerusalem in search of the cross, about the year 325. A temple to Aphrodite had been raised up by the Emperor Hadrian upon Golgotha, to defile and cover with oblivion the place where the saving Passion had been suffered. The venerable Helen had the statue of Aphrodite destroyed, and the earth removed, revealing the Tomb of our Lord, and three crosses. Of these, it was believed that one must be that of our Lord, the other two of the thieves crucified with Him; but Saint Helen was at a loss which one might be the Wood of our salvation. At the inspiration of Saint Macarius, Archbishop of Jerusalem, a lady of Jerusalem, who was already at the point of death from a certain disease, was brought to touch the crosses, and as soon as she came near to the Cross of our Lord, she was made perfectly whole. Consequently, the precious Cross was lifted on high by Archbishop Macarius of Jerusalem; as he stood on the ambo, and when the people beheld it, they cried out, "Lord have mercy." It should be noted that after its discovery, a portion of the venerable Cross was taken to Constantinople as a blessing. The rest was left in Jerusalem in the magnificent church built by Saint Helen, until the year 614. At that time, the Persians plundered Palestine and took the Cross to their own country (see Jan. 22, Saint Anastasius the Persian). Late, in the year 628, Emperor Heraclius set out on a military campaign, retrieved the Cross, and after bringing it to Constantinople, himself escorted it back to Jerusalem, where he restored it to its place.

Rest from labour. A Fast is observed today, whatever day of the week it may be.


Nikitas
September 15

Nikitas the Great Martyr

This Saint was of high birth among the Goths beyond the Danube River. He was taken by Athanaric, pagan ruler of the Goths, and after being tortured, was burned to death for his confession of Christ. According to some, this took place during the reign of Saint Constantine the Great; according to others, under the Emperor Gratian.


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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 - 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 anyone, for they were afraid.


Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Plagal 2nd Mode. Psalm 27.9,1.
O Lord, save your people and bless your inheritance.
Verse: To you, O Lord, I have cried, O my God.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians 6:11-18.

Brethren, see with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh that would compel you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. For even those who receive circumcision do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may glory in your flesh. But far be it from me to glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. Peace and mercy be upon all who walk by this rule, upon the Israel of God. Henceforth let no man trouble me; for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen.


Gospel Reading

Sunday before Holy Cross
The Reading is from John 3:13-17

The Lord said, "No one has ascended into heaven but he who descended from heaven, the Son of man who is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him."


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