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St. John the Baptist Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2018-02-11
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Lastjudgement1
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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




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


Meatfare Sunday 
Removal of the Relics of Ignatius the God-bearer

Epistle : 1 Corinthians 8:8-13; 9:1-2
  
Gospel : Matthew 25:31-46

Resurrectional  Tone 3

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Church Services and Events

  • Calendar

    February 11 to February 25, 2018

    Sunday, February 11

    9:00AM Divine Liturgy

    10:45AM Church School

    Monday, February 12

    9:00AM Divine Liturgy - Feast of the Three Holy Hierarchs/Repose Peter Sedlar

    4:00PM Community Supper - Calvary/St George Church, Bridgeport

    Tuesday, February 13

    4:00PM Teen Catechism Class

    7:00PM Moleben to St. Nectarios

    7:30PM Parish Council Meeting

    Wednesday, February 14

    6:00PM Great Vespers & Litya - Meeting of Our Lord

    7:00PM Adult Ed - Scripture Study

    Thursday, February 15

    9:00AM Divine Liturgy - Feast of Meeting of Our Lord In The Temple

    10:00AM Senior's Fellowship

    Saturday, February 17

    5:00PM Great Vespers

    Sunday, February 18

    9:00AM Divine Liturgy with Rite of Forgiveness

    10:45AM Church School

    4:00PM Forgiveness Vespers

    Saturday, February 24

    5:00PM Great Vespers

    Sunday, February 25

    9:00AM Divine Liturgy

    10:45AM Church School

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Parish Stewardship

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DATE COFFEE HOUR HOST HOURS EPISTLE
Feb 18 Bilcheck Pani Carol Cantors
Feb 25 Booth Holly  Bill
       

2018 STEWARDSHIP

     YTD: $5,862.00  As of 2/4/18  Goal: $70,000.00

 

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Announcements


ADULT EDUCATION
 - We are now now studying Holy Scripture. Our study is of a practical nature:  we are learning about the basics of the Bible, its origin and how to  read it  with them main focus being  how the bible offers answers to the struggles we face in everyday life. Those who are interested in taking part in the class either in person or by telephone or video conferencing are kindly asked to contact Fr. Peter. 

SUPERBOWL OF CARING  - Many thanks to all who assisted.  We collect 45 food items and $318.00 in cash.  All food is being donated to Sterling House and all cash donations will be given to Christ Church in Stratford to help defray the utilities and operational costs of hosting the Lord’s Kitchen.

LORD’S KITCHEN - Our Next  Meal is Mon,  Feb 12, 2018 at Calvary/St. George Church in Bridgeport  Please See Mary or Eve if you  wish to help. 

PREPARING FOR GREAT LENT  - The Season of Holy and Great Lent Begins on Monday February 19, 2018! Now is the time to prepare yourself and your family for this wonderful time of year. Spend some time now to put together a personal and family game plan that works for your life situation. Consider how you will increase your personal regiment of prayer, fasting and the performance of good works.

FIRST WEEK OF LENT - PILGRIMAGE  - During the first week of Great Lent we will be be embarking on a spiritual pilgrimage with Divine Services being offered daily. Come Take Advantage of the Beauty of the Orthodox Faith and Services and Join us.  On Thursday February 22 we will travel to  Three Holy Hierarchs Chapel at the University of CT where we will celebrate the Great Canon  Service with  the members of the UCONN OCF and parishioners of Holy Trinity Church of Willimantic CT. Please see Fr. Peter if you wish carpool. We will join the students for a lenten meal after the service at a local restaurant.        

LENTEN READING CHALLENGE: - We will be reading Help I Am Bored In Church: Entering Fully Into Worship In The Divine Liturgy – A newly released book by Fr David Smith which offers four compelling reasons for going to church regardless of how we feel. It also explores six reasons people sometimes feel bored in church, five ways to think about your priest, four ways to participate more fully in services,three kinds of waiting, two kinds of prayer, and the one thing truly needful in our relationship with God. This book will help the reader see church as the best place they could possibly be—and the place they most want to be There will be an opportunity to discuss your reading at our Sunday coffee hour.. Books Are Now On Sale For $11.00 See Fr. Peter!

LENTEN RETREAT  Please make plans now to attend the Eastern Regional Lenten Retreat on March 24, 2018 at St. Francis Center for Renewal in Bethlehem, PA. Cost is $35 for adults , $20.00 ages 13-18  and $7.00 ages 7 and under. Bishop Gregory will be keynote Speaker for the Adults and Teens.  This year's Theme is  “Our Calling as Disciples and Evangelists”  Deadline is March 14th.  Please see Fr. Peter to take Part. 

BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES 
Feb 12 Father James Gleason Birthday
Feb 16 Rick Porter Birthday
 
FINANCIAL STATISTICS 2/4/18 
Pew Collection              1227.00
7 Day Candles                   6.00 
First Sunday Collection               174.00 
Metropolitan/Bishop Fund                   10.00 
Lots O Luck Calendar Sales               250.00 
ACRY Dues               300.00   
Dues                230.00
TOTAL          $2,197.00
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Saints and Feasts

Lastjudgement1
February 11

Judgment Sunday (Meatfare Sunday)

The foregoing two parables -- especially that of the Prodigal Son -- have presented to us God's extreme goodness and love for man. But lest certain persons, putting their confidence in this alone, live carelessly, squandering upon sin the time given them to work out their salvation, and death suddenly snatch them away, the most divine Fathers have appointed this day's feast commemorating Christ's impartial Second Coming, through which we bring to mind that God is not only the Friend of man, but also the most righteous Judge, Who recompenses to each according to his deeds.

It is the aim of the holy Fathers, through bringing to mind that fearful day, to rouse us from the slumber of carelessness unto the work of virtue, and to move us to love and compassion for our brethren. Besides this, even as on the coming Sunday of Cheese-fare we commemorate Adam's exile from the Paradise of delight -- which exile is the beginning of life as we know it now -- it is clear that today's is reckoned the last of all feasts, because on the last day of judgment, truly, everything of this world will come to an end.

All foods, except meat and meat products, are allowed during the week that follows this Sunday.


Ignatiosgodbearer
February 11

Removal of the Relics of Ignatius the God-bearer

Saint Ignatius was a disciple of Saint John the Theologian, and a successor of the Apostles, and he became the second Bishop of Antioch, after Evodus. He wrote many epistles to the faithful, strengthening them in their confession, and preserving for us the teachings of the holy Apostles. Brought to Rome under Trajan, he was surrendered to lions to be eaten, and so finished the course of martyrdom about the year 107. The remnants of his bones were carefully gathered by the faithful and brought to Antioch. He is called God-bearer, as one who bare God within himself and was aflame in heart with love for Him. Therefore, in his Epistle to the Romans (ch. 4), imploring their love not to attempt to deliver him from his longed-for martyrdom, he said, "I am the wheat of God, and am ground by the teeth of the wild beasts, that I may be found to be the pure bread of God."

Saint John Chrysostom has a homily in honour of the translation of the Saint's relics (PG 50:587).


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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

The Reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 8:8-13; 9:1-2

Brethren, food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. Only take care lest this liberty of yours somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if any one sees you, a man of knowledge, at table in an idol's temple, might he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? And so by your knowledge this weak man is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. Thus, sinning against your brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food is a cause of my brother's falling, I will never eat meat, lest I cause my brother to fall.

Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are not you my workmanship in the Lord? If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you; for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.


Gospel Reading

Judgment Sunday (Meatfare Sunday)
The Reading is from Matthew 25:31-46

The Lord said, "When the Son of man comes in his glory and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will place the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, 'Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.' Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?' And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.' Then he will say to those at his left hand, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' Then they also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?' Then he will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.' And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."


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Wisdom of the Fathers

He indicates the dispositions of each, calling the one kids, the other sheep, that He might indicate the unfruitfulness of the one, for no fruit will come from kids; and the great profit from the other, for indeed from sheep great is the profit, as well from the milk, as from the wool, and from the young, of all which things the kid is destitute.
St. John Chrysostom
Homily on Matt. XXV, 4th Century

For when one has pity on the poor, he lends to God; and he who gives to the least gives to God--sacrifices spiritually to God an odour of a sweet smell.
St. Cyprian of Carthage
The Lord's Prayer, 33. B#41, p.102, 3rd century

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Bulletin Inserts

    Diocesan Lenten Retreats

    Diocesan Lenten Retreats

    Information pertaining to the 2018 Diocesan Regional Lenten Retreats - coordinated by the National Senior ACRY


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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

"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

“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

"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

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Register Now For 2018 Diocesan Lenten Retreats!

01/19/2018

JOHNSTOWN, PA - The Diocesan Chancery is pleased to announce the schedule of the annual Diocesan Lenten Retreats, which are sponsored by the ACRY for the upcoming Lenten Season. These retreats are open to everyone and contain special programing for youth and adults of all ages. Bishop Gregory, along with other talented clergy of the Diocese will offer insightful and inspiring presentations designed to encourage and challenge the faithful to stay focused on the spiritual life as they continue their Lenten Journey to Pascha.

Central Region: Saturday March 17, 2018 at St. Nicholas Church, Homestead, PA from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm (EST)

Eastern Region: Saturday March 24, 2018 at St Francis Center For Renewal, Bethlehem, PA from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm (EST)

Western Region: Saturday March 24, 2018 at 2 pm (CST)

17th Annual Orthodox Christian Camp and Youth Workers Conference Begins February 1st

01/31/2018

[DIOCESAN CHANCERY] --- With the blessing of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of North and Central America the 17th Annual Orthodox Christian Camp and Youth Workers Conference will take place in Atlanta, GA from Thursday, February 1 – Saturday, February 3rd, 2018. Co-sponsored by our Diocese and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA, Camp and Youth Workers from across North America will gather together for two full days of enriching and uplifting presentations and discussions, as well as opportunities to connect with other Youth Ministry professionals. This year’s theme “The Place of Gratitude in Youth Ministry”, will help our Camp and Youth Workers discover a key element of ministry that often eludes us: the “gratitude of St. Paul”, who while struggling to establish and maintain churches, was in fact thankful for everyone and everything. Come and learn what it means to “abound in thanksgiving” (Colossians 2:7) in the midst of the beautiful, but often difficult field of Youth Work.

Schedule of His Grace, Bishop Gregory For February 2018

01/28/2018

JOHNSTOWN, PA -- The schedule of His Grace, Bishop Gregory of Nyssa for February 2018 has been released by the Diocesan Chancery.

Camp Nazareth Receives Gift of Science and Nature Camp Equipment

01/28/2018

MERCER, PA -- Just after the New Year, Camp Nazareth received a tremendous amount of equipment to make its Annual Science and Nature Camp an even better experience for those who will attend in 2018 and in the years to come. A total of 49 new microscopes were received. These included 24 compound microscopes, 24 dissecting microscopes and 1 Clinical Laboratory Microscope (an oil immersion scope). In addition, the Camp also received 2 digital eyepieces with USB cables, 24 prepared slide sets and 10 binoculars for the outdoors. In all, an incredible gift which will allow the Science and Nature Camp to do even more with the study of and simply wonder of God’s beautiful creation.
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Assembly of Bishops News

Orthodox Christian Churches in 21st Century America: A Parish Life Study

01/30/2018

The study 'Orthodox Christian Churches in 21st Century America' offers a comprehensive picture of the lives of local American Orthodox parishes, including such aspects as membership, worship, programs, religious education, youth, usage of electronic technologies, and much more. In addition, the study also addressed the crucial question: 'How are Orthodox Christian parishes faring today among the many other American local religious communities?'

Response to The Chieti Document is Another Step Forward for the Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches’ Common Understanding in Service of Unity

12/14/2017

The North American Orthodox-Catholic Theological Consultation (NAOCTC) has released its response to the most recent document produced by the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church. The Chieti Document discusses the relationship between primacy and synodality during the first millennium Churches of the East and West. It specifically examines that relationship on three levels: the local, regional and universal. The NAOCTC response reflects upon each of the three levels and offers suggestions for further study and consideration.

Young Adults Study

11/29/2017

The subject of young Orthodox Church members was a major topic on the agenda of the recent Annual General Assembly Meeting. This report was prepared in order to help Assembly address our common concern about the engagement of youth and young adults in the lives of American Orthodox parishes.
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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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