Festival Cooking has begun. You are invited to join us making Dolomades at the Salinas church on Park Street.

    - June 20th at 12 noon to 4 pm
    - June 22nd at 9:AM to 4 pm
Bring your apron and a sack lunch
Questions? Call Sandy Sanders 229-1937

Vacation Church School 2017

BEHOLD THE LIGHT

 Monday, June 26^th – Friday, June 30^th

8:30am – 12:30pm Grades K- 8^th

We will be starting the BASICS OF ORTHODOXY class a week later than originally announced. The class is structured as a set of lectures covering 8 topics: Church History, Spirituality, The Liturgy, the Holy Trinity, the Theotokos, the Icons, the Holy Mysteries and the Holy Tradition. We will meet in the church after the coffee hour. Father Ion will be presenting using slides. Great material for catechumens, for those exploring the faith and, especially for all the Orthodox of our church. The first lecture will be on Sunday, June 25.

The Open House event on the Feast of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist counts on your participation. We count on your participation as organizers to worship, welcome guests, serve the delicious food and offer hospitality to all. Have kids? Bring the whole family! Your joyful presence, handshake and words of witness to who we are make all the difference!

Open Door, Open Hearts

St. John the Baptist Orthodox Church welcomes all to our Open House

Yes, we are the church that puts on the Monterey Bay Greek Festival every year!

June 24th from 10:30 am till 2:00 pm

Arrive earlier to participate in church services
Join the free tours and learn lots of thoughtful information

We will be serving My Big Fat Greek Lamb Sandwiches,

home-made, with authentic Greek orzo salad for $15.00

(Preorder for take home: call 831-998-2611)

Greek pastries will also be available for sale

Location: All Saints Church lower level - Carmel by the Sea at Lincoln & 9th

Week 3: "Romans' Law Puzzle"

   6:00pm – Paraklesis

   6:45pm – Lenten Potluck dinner and discussion: “Romans' Law Puzzle”

This coming Wednesday we will continue the Wednesday evenings small group discussions inspired by delicious potluck dinners. The lectionary of the Church call for Saint Paul’s most significant letter, the Letter to the Romans to be read for 5 weeks after Pentecost. Therefore, we will be drawing stimulating topics from it. This is not a bible study class, but rather a venue for discussions on relevant subjects. However, the hope is that the participants will be stimulated to prayerfully study the Letter and that to reflect on topics of interest. This makes a great spiritual exercise for the Fast of the Apostles (this year June 12-29). The partition is as follows: week of June 19, chapters 7-8; week of June 26, chapters 9-11; week of July 3, chapters 12-16.

Saint Nektarios the Wonderworker is a saint of or Church from the last century. He is known for healing the sick, including the ones with cancer. The service of the Akathist to Saint Nektarios will be prayed this Tuesday from 12 noon. We will ask for his intercessions for the many sick in our parish and their families, as well as for guidance and support to our community. We will then talk briefly about episodes from his life.

The chapter has received ratification and are now eligible to receive the Oath of Office.  Congratulations to The new Board of Directors:

Rania Zavitsanos        Sandy Sanders
Alexandra Mouzas      Jenny Stuhlmiller
Chris Georgalos          Anne Zavitsanos
Marianna Leontis        Sheila Rickenbacker
                Christina Pressas

The last board meeting of the year was cancelled.  Although the chapter is in summer recess July and August, the new board will be busy with Camp Agape, planning the September General Meeting, and the chapter’s Helping Hands Committee is always a resource of philanthropy for the community.  If you, or someone you know is in need, please do not hesitate to contact the chapter. 

On Sunday, June 18th we will celebrate Father’s Day with the community, please stay for fellowship and enjoy a slice of cake. 

The mission of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of San Francisco Philoptochos Kids ‘n’ Cancer/Camp Agape Ministry founded by our own Metropolis is dedicated to providing support for children afflicted with cancer and their families. This beloved ministry offers a compassionate and caring environment, exemplary of Christ’s unconditional love, along with an opportunity to shape meaningful friendships and create precious memories.  The Ladies Philoptochos Society of St. John the Baptist, invites you to support the Kids ‘n Cancer weenie roast on Sunday July 9 after Divine Liturgy in the church gardens.  The whole family is welcome, enjoy a good old fashioned 4th of July style cook out.  There will be door prizes for the kids, chances to win wonderful prizes all in support of the chapter and Kids ‘n Cancer/Camp Agape.  Won’t you please give your heart to a child? 

Need list:  50 all beef hot dogs with buns, cookies, chips, and a crate of corn on the cob. 

The teams on duty these coming Sundays are:

June 18
   Welcoming:  Presbytera Ana/Christina Pressas
   Parish Council Member:  Hussam Ibrahim
   Fellowship: Team 3 (Orange) - always on  3rd Sunday of the month.

June 25
   Welcoming: Brian and Corkey Balcom
   Parish Council Member:  Alexandra Mouzas
   Fellowship: Team 2 (Green) - always on  4th Sunday of the month.

The Sunday School will enjoy the summer break until September. See you in church!

There is work in progress to finalize a pilgrimage to San Francisco to venerate the holy relics of Saint John, to take a guided tour of the cell and churches where he worshiped, prayed and performed miracles. Special prayers will be offered at the holy sites. July 15, from 11am. Departure from Carmel at 8am. We will be carpooling. Contact Father Ion.

Of the fasts we observe, the Apostles Fast is unique. Whereas the other fasts are a fixed number of days in length, the Apostles Fast varies in length. In some years it can be as long as five weeks and in other years it may only be one or two days in length, or not occur at all. This is because this fast begins on the Monday after the Sunday of All Saints. The Sunday of All Saints is dependent on Pentecost, which is a movable feast, celebrated on a different Sunday every year. Another characteristic of the Apostles Fast, which distinguishes it from the other three, is that this fast is not as strict. Fish, wine and oil can be consumed throughout the fast, except on Wednesday's and Friday's which are strict fast days.

To understand the purpose of the Apostles Fast we are invited to remember that both Saints Peter and Paul worked diligently to establish our Lord's Church. The focus of the Book of Acts is on the ministry of these two holy men as they preached our Lord crucified and resurrected. Hence, the Orthodox Church has always acknowledged Saints Peter and Paul as pillars of the Church, and especially Saint Paul, as a stellar example of what it means to be a missionary.

The Apostles Fast ends on June 29, the feast of Saints Peter and Paul the Apostles.

The sisterhood of the Nativity of Theotokos Greek Orthodox Monastery in Saxonburg, PA was force out of its living quarters on Thursday, as the building was struck by lightning at around 4:45 PM.

All of the fifteen nuns were inside when the severe weather came through. No injuries were reported, although the building is now uninhabitable.

“There was lightning everywhere, and it was a huge crack,” said Abbess Theophano. “The fireman said there’s water damage, there’s smoke damage.”

The fire department was called after the lightning struck, and crews from Saxonburg, Buffalo Township, Herman VFD, and several other companies arrived on the scene, quickly getting it under control. It is believed that lightning struck the rear side of the secondary structure, causing a fire on the second and floor and in the attic.

The nuns had already been struggling, having discovered that faulty construction in their living quarters, the church, and the reception area led to mold, rotting wood, and moisture throughout the entire structures. The mold that permeated the building had infiltrated the HVAC system severely impacting the sisters’ health over the years.

A GoFundMe fundraising page was set up for the monastery, where several people have made donations since the news of yesterday’s fire.

A CrowdRise fundraising page has also been set up since the fire to help cover the costs of the nuns' mobile temporary housing.

The Nativity of the Theotokos Greek Orthodox Monastery was the first of many monasteries founded by Elder Ephraim of Philotheou, a respected elder from Mt. Athos, who now resides at St. Anthony’s Monastery in Arizona. Founded in 1989, the monastery is now home to thirteen nuns and two novices, who support themselves by making icons, vestments, Baptismal garments, candles, soap, and other high-quality items.