Saint John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2025-08-10
Bulletin Contents

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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, August 9
    5pm Vespers
Sunday, August 10  9th Sunday after Pentecost, Saint Lawrence Archdeacon of Rome
    8:30am Matins
    9:45am Liturgy
    12:30pm Catechism Class
Monday, August 11
    6pm Small Paraklesis
    7pm Parish Council Meeting
Tuesday, August 12
    9am Food Bank Distribution - Community Service
    6pm Great Paraklesis
Wednesday, August 13 Leavetake of Holy Transfiguration
    9:30am Book Forum
    6pm Vespers + Small Paraklesis
    7pm Enduring Love - Marriage Class - CANCELLED
Thursday, August 14  Forefeast of Dormition
    6pm Vespers + Blessing of Loaves + Matins + Liturgy
    9pm Festal Potluck Dinner
Friday, August 15  Dormition of Theotokos
    8pm Basics of Orthodoxy for Explorers
Saturday, August 16 
    5pm Vespers

Sunday, August 17  10th Sunday after Pentecost
    8:30am Matins
    9:45am Liturgy
   12:30pm Catechism Class

Receive schedule reminders and updates by text: Simply text #yes# to 22300. Note: You must be already enrolled for phone calls from the church in order to extend to text messaging. Let Father Ion know if you would like to sign up for both services.

Zoom with video here.  For more information, go to  //www.stjohn-monterey.org/parish-calendar

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You are invited

 
Celebration of Saint Lawrence in Felton
All invited for the feast day of our sister parish:
Vespers - This Saturday, August 9, 6pm
Matins and Liturgy - Sunday, August 10, 8:45am
 
+   +   +
 
Summer Pascha Celebration
Dormition Potluck
Thursday, August 14
Dormition Vigil: 6pm
Potluck Festal Dinner: 9pm
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News & Events

OUTREACH MINISTRIES - LADIE'S I-HELP ON THTE 5TH THURSDAY OF THE MONTH

Ministries led by Despina Hatton

LADIES I-HELP

  • Tuesday, September 2. Cooking: 4pm. Dinner with the ladies: 5:30pm.
  • Thursday, October 7 and 30. Cooking: 4pm. Dinner with the ladies: 5:30pm

FOOD BANK:

  • Tuesday, August 12.  9:00 -10:30am @St Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Seaside.

Community


BASICS of ORTHODOXY

A Ministry led by Edward Mar

The class is a pre-requisite for those who pursue the path towards becoming catechumens. It is meeting online in order to offer to those who inquire and explore the Orthodox faith the space to learn and find answers to their many questions. The class meets on Fridays from 8pm via Zoom.

The next class: Friday, August , 8pm:

Basics of Orthodoxy:

#10 Theotokos and the Saints

Outline:

1.   Basics Spirituality I - Salvation, Ascetic Life

2.   Basics Spirituality II - Prayer

3.   Basics Spirituality III – Repentance

4.   Basics Holy Tradition

5.   Basics Church History I - Through the Councils

6.   Basics Church History II - From Great Schism

7.   Basics Holy Trinity

8.   Basics Divine Liturgy

9.   Basics Icons and Architecture

10. Basics Theotokos and the Saints

11. Basics Holy Mysteries I - Baptism, Chrismation, Eucharist

12. Basics Holy Mysteries II - Marriage and Monasticism, Confession, Ordination, Unction

Education, Living the Gospel


MARRIAGE CLASS - off this week

A ministry led by Ali Castañeda

We will dive in the material by looking at God's desin for marriage.  The targeted audience ranges from young adults to couples who have been married for decades. The classes will take place right after the Wednesday Paraklesis service from 6:45pm. They are also an opportunity to build community.

See the bookstore for the required textbook ($30).

About the leader: Ali is a licensed marriage and family therapist, working in the field for 5 years. He holds a bachelors degree in psychology, a masters degree in counselingand advanced training with couples. Ali was received into the Orthodox Church in 2024. He and his wife Marissa are married since 2022 and they are expecting their first child this year.

Enduring Love #5: Sex and Romance

Wednesday, August 20, 6:45pm (after Paraklesis)

Outline:

1. God's Design for Marriage
2. Love and Expectations
3. Friendship and Goals
4. Communication and Conflict
5. Sex and Romance
6. Children and parenting
7. Roles and responsibilities
8. Finances
9. Spiritual Life
10. Enduring to the End

Living the Gospel, Community


ADULT SUNDAY EDUCATION/ CATECHISM

A Ministry led by Father Ion

The class will meet after the Agape meal in Saint Nektarios chapel. 

Living the Gospel

 


BOOK FORUM

A Ministry led by Kathy Shaw

We continue to meet on Wednesdays, from 9:30am and we are now reading Everyday Saints and Other Stories, by Archmandrite Tikhon (Shrevkunov). It can be purchased HERE.

 Education, Community


WELCOMING AND HOSPITALITY: SERVING THIS SUNDAY

A Ministry led by Miriam Aguilar

Thank you for your effort and participation in bringing a dish to share for our Agape Meal. If you cannot participate when it is your turn, kindly make other arrangements for someone to cover for you and let your team leader know.

Sunday, August 10
   Parish Council Representative: Mary Kanalakis
   Greeter: Nadia Zajicek
   Agape Meal: GOLD TEAM – Thank you to Christine T, Presbytera Ana, Mary, and Eleni

Sunday, August 17
  Parish Council Representative: Ali Castaneda
  Greeter:  Marissa Castaneda
  Agape Meal: ORANGE TEAM - Thank you to Melanie, Miriam, Marissa, and Irene.

Community


ONLINE RESOURCES

Most of our services and some ministry meetings are available online. Zoom with video here. Liturgical texts at Ages Initiatives here.


PHONE AND TEXT MESSAGING?

Have you been receiving communication from the church via text? If not, it is because you have not signed up yet. It is brief, fast and simple. Simply text #yes# to 22300. Note: You must be already enrolled for phone calls from the church in order to extend to text messaging. Let Father Ion know if you would like to sign up for both services.


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Saints and Feasts

August 10

9th Sunday of Matthew


August 10

Saint Laurence the Holy Martyr & Archdeacon of Rome

This Saint, who was born in Spain, was the Archdeacon of the Church of Rome, caring for the sacred vessels of the Church and distributing money to the needy. About the year 257, a harsh persecution was raised up against the Christians by Valerian. Pope Sixtus, who was from Athens, was commanded to worship the idols, and refused; before his martyrdom by beheading, he committed to Laurence all the sacred vessels of the Church. When Laurence was arrested and brought before the Prefect, he was questioned concerning the treasures of the Church; he asked for three days' time to prepare them. He then proceeded to gather all the poor and needy, and presented them to the Prefect and said, "Behold the treasures of the Church." The Prefect became enraged at this and gave command that Laurence be racked, then scourged with scorpions (a whip furnished with sharp iron points - compare II Chron. 10:11), then stretched out on a red-hot iron grill. But the courageous athlete of Christ endured without groaning. After he had been burned on one side, he said, "My body is done on one side; turn me over on the other." And when this had taken place, the Martyr said to the tyrants, "My flesh is now well done, you may taste of it." And when he had said this, and had prayed for his slayers in imitation of Christ, he gave up his spirit on August 10, 258.


August 13

Maximus the Confessor

The divine Maximus, who was from Constantinople, sprang from an illustrious family. He was a lover of wisdom and an eminent theologian. At first, he was the chief private secretary of the Emperor Heraclius and his grandson Constans. But when the Monothelite heresy became predominant in the royal court, out of hatred for this error the Saint departed for the Monastery at Chrysopolis (Scutari), of which he later became the abbot. When Constans tried to constrain him either to accept the Monothelite teaching, or to stop speaking and writing against it - neither of which the Saint accepted to do - his tongue was uprooted and his right hand was cut off, and he was sent into exile, where he reposed in 662. At the time only he and his few disciples were Orthodox in the East. See also January 21.


August 15

The Dormition of our Most Holy Lady the Theotokos and Ever Virgin Mary

Concerning the Dormition of the Theotokos, this is what the Church has received from ancient times from the tradition of the Fathers. When the time drew nigh that our Savior was well-pleased to take His Mother to Himself, He declared unto her through an Angel that three days hence, He would translate her from this temporal life to eternity and bliss. On hearing this, she went up with haste to the Mount of Olives, where she prayed continuously. Giving thanks to God, she returned to her house and prepared whatever was necessary for her burial. While these things were taking place, clouds caught up the Apostles from the ends of the earth, where each one happened to be preaching, and brought them at once to the house of the Mother of God, who informed them of the cause of their sudden gathering. As a mother, she consoled them in their affliction as was meet, and then raised her hands to Heaven and prayed for the peace of the world. She blessed the Apostles, and, reclining upon her bed with seemliness, gave up her all-holy spirit into the hands of her Son and God.

With reverence and many lights, and chanting burial hymns, the Apostles took up that God-receiving body and brought it to the sepulchre, while the Angels from Heaven chanted with them, and sent forth her who is higher than the Cherubim. But one Jew, moved by malice, audaciously stretched forth his hand upon the bed and immediately received from divine judgment the wages of his audacity. Those daring hands were severed by an invisible blow. But when he repented and asked forgiveness, his hands were restored. When they had reached the place called Gethsemane, they buried there with honor the all-immaculate body of the Theotokos, which was the source of Life. But on the third day after the burial, when they were eating together, and raised up the artos (bread) in Jesus' Name, as was their custom, the Theotokos appeared in the air, saying "Rejoice" to them. From this they learned concerning the bodily translation of the Theotokos into the Heavens.

These things has the Church received from the traditions of the Fathers, who have composed many hymns out of reverence, to the glory of the Mother of our God (see Oct. 3 and 4).


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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Ninth Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from John 20:19-31

On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you." When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent Me, even so I send you." And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in His side, I will not believe." Eight days later, His disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. The doors were shut, but Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." Then He said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and see My hands; and put out your hand, and place it in My side; do not be faithless, but believing." Thomas answered Him, "My Lord and My God!" Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen Me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe." Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing, you may have life in His name.


Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Plagal 4th Mode. Psalm 75.11,1.
Make your vows to the Lord our God and perform them.
Verse: God is known in Judah; his name is great in Israel.

The reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 3:9-17.

Brethren, we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building. According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and another man is building upon it. Let each man take care how he builds upon it. For no other foundation can any one lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any one builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw - each man's work will become manifest; for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work which any man has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? If any one destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and that temple you are.


Gospel Reading

9th Sunday of Matthew
The Reading is from Matthew 14:22-34

At that time, Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat by this time was many furlongs distant from the land, beaten by the waves; for the wind was against them. And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out for fear. But immediately he spoke to them, saying "Take heart, it is I; have no fear."

And Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, bid me come to you on the water." He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus; but when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, "Lord, save me." Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, "O man of little faith, why did you doubt?" And when they entered the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God." And when they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret.


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