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St. John the Baptist Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2017-10-15
Bulletin Contents
Lectionary & Typicon
Church Services and Events
Parish Stewardship
Announcements
Saints and Feasts
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Wisdom of the Fathers
Bulletin Inserts
Diocesan Stewardship Blog
ACROD News
Assembly of Bishops News
Diocesan Resources
Cyprianjustine
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St. John the Baptist Orthodox Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • (203) 375-2564
  • Street Address:

  • 1240 Broadbridge Avenue

  • Stratford, CT 06615

Contact Information

Very Rev. Protopresbyter Peter Paproski


rppaproski@gmail.com | 203-375-2564

Services Schedule


Divine Liturgy - Sundays and Feast Days : 9:00 am

Great Vespers - Saturday Evenings: 5:00 pm

Great Vespers - Eve of Great Feasts: 7:00 pm

Moleben to St. Nectarios - Second Tuesday 7:00 pm 

Past Bulletins


Lectionary & Typicon

Image result for transfiguration icon

NINETEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

Holy Martyrs Cyprian and Justina

October 15, 2017

    Epistle : 2 Corinthians 11:31-12:9
  Gospel: Luke 6:31-36


Resurrectional  Tone 2

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Church Services and Events

  • Calendar

    October 15 to October 29, 2017

    Sunday, October 15

    9:00AM Divine Liturgy

    10:45AM Church School

    Tuesday, October 17

    7:00PM Teen Catechism Class

    Wednesday, October 18

    7:00PM Orthodox Boot Camp Adult Education

    Saturday, October 21

    9:00AM Pagachi Workshop

    5:00PM Great Vespers

    Sunday, October 22

    9:00AM Divine Liturgy

    10:45AM Church School

    4:30PM DDD Dinner - Roberto's Restaurant, Monroe, CT

    Wednesday, October 25

    7:00PM Orthodox Boot Camp Adult Education

    Saturday, October 28

    9:00AM Pagachi Workshop

    5:00PM Great Vespers

    Sunday, October 29

    9:00AM Divine Liturgy

    10:45AM Church School

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Parish Stewardship

Logo_-_stewardship_commission_-_10-7-2013_(234_x_249)

Date

Coffee Hour Host

Hours

Epistle

Church Cleaner

 

Oct 22

Decerbo

Pani Carol

Cantors

Cleaning Service

 

Oct 29

Ivers/Pierce

Holly

 Serge

Cleaning Service

 
 

2017 STEWARDSHIP

     YTD: $52,242.00  As of 10/08/17  Goal: $68,000.00
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Announcements

COLLEGE STUDENT SUNDAY - On Sunday October 22, 2017,  We will be observing OCF College Student Sunday in our Parish.  A special collection will be taken for the Orthodox Christian Fellowship Campus Ministry which supports our college students while on campus.  Please be as generous as possible.  Thank you!

ADULT EDUCATION DISCUSSION - Our Orthodox Boot Camp Adult Education has resumed . We are discussing  the  Assembly of Bishop Study on best practices for growing parishes.  Please let Fr. Peter know if you are unable to physically attend the class, but would like to participate via video conferencing or by telephone. Those taking part are asked to download and print up the executive summary, and  download the full study for reference. It can be downloaded here:  http://assemblyofbishops.org/news/2017/evangelization-study-report 

FUND DRIVE FOR AIRCONDITIONING & PARKING LOT - At  our parish annual meeting, we decided to allocate the necessary funds to complete the Church Parking Lot  and install central airconditioning in the Church.  While there is sufficient funds in the Church Treasury to cover the costs, we have decide to have a special fund drive  to defray the cost of these projects to allow a bigger cash reserve in case of unforseen expenses or shortfalls in the parish budget.  To date,   $2985.00 has been already raised for the airconditioning and $11,500 for the  Onofrey Parking Lot.  If you would like to make a donation please see Fr. Peter or any parish council officer.  Thank you for  your consideration of this request.

COMMUNITY SUPPER - Our next meal will be  Monday Oct 9 at Calvary/St George Church.   Please See Mary or Eve to help. Many thanks to the youth of St. John's in Bridgeport and Trumbull High School for providing brownies for last week's supper.

PARISH TAG SALE -  We will hold a tag sale on our church grounds.  The date has been changed to November 17-18.  Help is needed at the sale.  Please add your name to the sign-up sheet in the Church Hall if you are able to help.  

PAGACHI WORKSHOPS  -   Sat Oct 21 & Sat Oct 28  STUFFED CABBAGE WORKSHOPS  Nov 2 & 3

SLAVIC FOOD SALE SPONSORSHIPS  -  Please see Fr. Peter if you can offer a sponsorship for our Slavic Food Sale.   Suggested donation is $100.00.   These sponsorships each year completely covers the cost of our baking ingredients, so that all monies raised is pure profit.  Thank you for your support! 

ADULT EDUCATION DISCUSSION - Our Orthodox Boot Camp Adult Education is in progress . We are discussing  the  Assembly of Bishop Study on best practices for growing parishes. Please let Fr. Peter know if you are unable to physically attend the class, but would like
 to participate via video conferencing or by telephone. Those taking part are asked to download and print up the executive summary, and  download the full study for reference. It can be  downloaded  here:  http://assemblyofbishops.org/news/2017/evangelization-study-report 

FUND DRIVE FOR AIRCONDITIONING & PARKING LOT - At  our parish annual meeting, we decided to allocate the necessary funds to complete the Church Parking Lot  and  install central airconditioning in the Church.  While there is sufficient funds in the Church  Treasury to cover the costs, we have decide to have a special fund drive  to defray the cost of these projects to allow a bigger cash reserve in case of unforseen expenses or shortfalls in the parish budget.  To date,   $2985.00 has been already raised for the airconditioning and $11,500
 for the  Onofrey Parking Lot.  If you would like to make a donation please see Fr. Peter or any  parish council officer.  Thank you for  your consideration of this request.

COMMUNITY SUPPER - Our next meal will be  Nov 13 at The Lord’s Kitchen.  Please SeeEve or Mary if you are able to help.    

PARISH TAG SALE -  We will hold a tag sale on our church grounds.  The date has been
changed to November 17-18.  Help is needed at the sale.  Please add your name to the sign-up

PAGACHI WORKSHOPS:    Sat Oct 21 & Sat Oct 28 
STUFFED CABBAGE  WORKSHOPS:  Nov 2 & 3 3

FOOD SALE SPONSORSHIPS  -  Please see Fr. Peter if you can offer a sponsorship
for our Slavic Food Sale.   Suggested donation is $100.00.   These sponsorships each year
completely covers the cost of our baking ingredients, so that all monies raised is pure profit. 

EMAIL ADDRESS CHANGES – We have instituted a parish email system.  For a
correspondence with Fr. Peter please use the following email address: priest@sjoc.org
For parish bulletin or monthly newsletter submissions or questions please use 
news@sjoc.org      

 

BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES 
Oct 18 Katie Shulte Birthday
Oct 21 Mary Householder Birthday
     
 
FINANCIAL STATISTICS 10/08/17
Offering at Door                 6.00
7 day Candles               32.00 
Huuricane Donation To IOCC               30.00
First Sunday               20.00
Pew Collection             1792.00
Food Fest Sponsorship            100.00
   
 TOTAL         $1,980.00
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Saints and Feasts

Cyprianjustine
October 02

The Holy Hieromartyr Cyprian and the Virgin Martyr Justina

Saint Justina who was from Damascus, lived in virginity for the sake of Christ. Saint Cyprian, who was from Antioch, began as an initiate of magic and worshipper of the demons. A certain foolish young man who had been smitten with Justina's beauty hired Cyprian to draw her to love him; when Cyprian had wed every demonic device he knew, and had failed, being repulsed by the power of Christ Whom Justina invoked, he understood the weakness of the demons and came to know the truth. Delivered from demonic delusion, he came to Christ and burned all his books of magic, was baptized, and later ascended the episcopal throne in his country. Later, he and Justina were arrested by the Count of Damascus, and having endured many torments at his hands, they were sent finally to Diocletian in Nicomedia, where they were beheaded about the year 304.

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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

The Reading is from St. Paul's Second Letter to the Corinthians 11:31-33; 12:1-9

BRETHREN, the God and Father of the Lord Jesus, he who is blessed for ever, knows that I do not lie. At Damascus, the governor under King Aretas guarded the city of Damascus in order to seize me, but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and escaped his hands.

I must boast; there is nothing to be gained by it, but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven-whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. And I know that this man was caught up into Paradise-whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows-and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses. Though if I wish to boast, I shall not be a fool, for I shall be speaking the truth. But I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me. And to keep me from being too elated by the abundance of revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to harass me, to keep me from being too elated. Three times I besought the Lord about this, that it should leave me; but he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." I will all the more gladly boast of my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Gospel Reading

The Reading is from Luke 6:31-36

The Lord said, "As you wish that men would do to you, do so to them. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the selfish. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful."

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Wisdom of the Fathers

For by seed here He means His doctrine, and by land, the souls of men, and by the sower, Himself .... For as the sower makes no distinction in the land submitted to him, but simply and indifferently casts his seed; so He Himself too makes no distinction of rich and poor, of wise and unwise, of slothful or diligent, of brave or cowardly; but He discourses unto all, fulfilling His part, although foreknowing the results.
St. John Chrysostom
Homily 44 on Matthew 12, 4th Century

When you see life's pleasures, beware that they might not distract you, for they conceal death's snares. Likewise a fisherman casts not his hook to no purpose. As bait for his hook, the enemy uses the delusion of sensuality to arouse desire, that he might thereby catch men's souls and subject them to himself. A soul which has been caught to serve the enemy's will then serves as a snare for other souls, for it conceals the grief of sin with its apparent delight.
St. Ephraim the Syrian
A Spiritual Psalter no 43, pg. 74, 4th century

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Bulletin Inserts

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Diocesan Stewardship Blog

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On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 152: Bad Excuses (6/25/17)

05/02/2017

http://acrod.org/ministries/stewardship/stewarship-blog/stewardship-152
"Honor the Lord with your substances and with the first fruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.” (Proverbs 3: 9-10 RSV)

We tend to shy away from a discussion involving money when it comes to stewardship. The reason lies in the fact that the Western church has put such an emphasis on it in America that even the Orthodox Church has adopted the “westernization of stewardship.” We have tried very hard to present the true biblical connotation of stewardship through the Diocesan Stewardship Commission. Stewardship of your treasure/wealth is an important factor in the church. Without it, the church cannot pay the mortgage, priest salary, utilities and most importantly, outreach efforts.

On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 151: Giving Away the Kingdom (6/18/17)

05/02/2017

http://acrod.org/ministries/stewardship/stewarship-blog/stewardship-151
“Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation producing the fruits of it.” (Matthew 21: 43 RSV)

The New Testament is full of parables which Christ attempts to teach us using common day examples. We see in Matthew, Chapter 21, several parables. The parable of the two sons (versus 28 -32) and the parable of the wicked tenants (versus 33- 41) both teach us that we are not guaranteed a place in the Kingdom of God. Eternal life is truly a gift that God has given us but how we experience that gift depends entirely on how we use the gifts that God has given us as well as expressing our gratitude for those gifts.

On Stewardship and the Orthodox Life - Part 150: Fairness and Credibility (6/11/17)

05/02/2017

http://acrod.org/ministries/stewardship/stewarship-blog/stewardship-150
"I see that your father does not regard me with favor as he did before. But the God of my father has been with me. You know that I have served your father with all my strength; yet your father has cheated me and changed my wages ten times, but God has not permitted him to harm me.”.” (Genesis 31: 5-7 RSV)

Jacob was deceived several times by La’ban. It was not fair how La’ban had treated him yet Jacob persisted until God instructed him to take his wives, children and flocks and leave. I think that most of us at one time or another and to one degree or another have had something happen to us that was just not fair. Most of us took it in stride and continued with other lives. There is an ever increasing movement in this country that there must be an equality of outcomes.
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ACROD News

Acrod-logo

Fall Youth Encounter To Take Place at Camp Nazareth November 10-12, 2017

10/11/2017

http://www.acrod.org/news/2017/encounter-2017
JOHNSTOWN, PA [National Jr. ACRY] – The Annual Fall Youth Encounter will take place from Friday Nov 10 – Sunday Nov 12, 2017 at Camp Nazareth in Mercer, PA. The Encounter is sponsored by the National Jr. ACRY and is open to youth ages 8-18. All Diocesan youth are invited and do not have to be a member of the Jr. ACRY to attend.

Join us for a weekend of fun and fellowship that will include Divine Liturgy, a religious talk with clergy, sports, and some special events that we hope will make this Jr. Encounter one of a kind.

The encounter will begin with arrival and registration on Friday, Nov 10th from 7:00 to 9:00pm and will conclude on Sunday Nov 12 at Noon following the celebration of Divine Liturgy at 9:00 AM and Brunch. Parents are invited to join us for Divine Liturgy on Sunday morning!
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Assembly of Bishops News

Orthodox Christian Hierarchs Gather in New Jersey for Eighth Annual Meeting; Focus on Youth and Young Adults

10/11/2017

http://assemblyofbishops.org/news/2017/press-release-assembly-2017
The Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America held its Eighth Annual General Assembly Meeting October 3-5, 2017 in Garfield, NJ. Thirty-Two Hierarchs from across the country gathered to prayerfully consider ways to enhance their Orthodox witness to the world and to address their common concerns for youth and emerging adults.

Message of the Assembly of Bishops 2017

10/06/2017

http://assemblyofbishops.org/news/2017/message-assembly-2017
Recognizing the blessing that it is to gather in peace in order prayerfully to reflect upon the life of the Church, we express our deep gratitude to all those who planned and prepared for this year’s Assembly. It is our common conviction that, in coming together in fraternity to address common issues of pastoral concern, welfare and mission, we are strengthened in our witness and work in this God-preserved land.

Address at the 8th Assembly

10/03/2017

http://assemblyofbishops.org/news/2017/address-assembly
Through God’s grace and providence, we have all been brought together to this one place and we have been called to walk in unison toward a common goal, albeit, one that is still unfolding and which will be fully revealed in the eschaton. While our sights are ultimately set on the 'things to come and longed for,' as long as we call ourselves co-laborers in God’s vineyard, it is our sacred obligation to work together to realize this goal by drawing ever-closer to one another.
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Diocesan Resources

Diocesan Website:  http://www.acrod.org Camp:  http://www.campnazareth.org
Facebook:   http://www.facebook.com/acroddiocese
  Twitter: https://twitter.com/acrodnews
You Tube: https://youtube.com/acroddiocese
  National ACRY: http://www.acry.org

 

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