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Saint John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2024-02-25
Bulletin Contents
Schedule of Services
Special Services
Stewardship News
News & Events
Assembly of Bishops News
Saints and Feasts
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Publphar
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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

Priest: Father Ion Coman


fatherion@gmail.com | 408.605.0621

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.    

Friday, February 23 
    6:00pm  Vespers + Liturgy 
Saturday, February 24 Finding of Head of Saint John
    5:00pm  Vespers

+++++  TRIODION BEGINS  +++++

Sunday, February 25   Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee
     8:30am  Matins
    9:45am  Liturgy
    11:30am  Vasilopita Sale
    12:30pm  Welcoming Team Meeting
Monday, February 26 
    9:00am  Church University: Prayers and Bible Study (online)
Tuesday, February 27
    9:00am  Church University: Prayers and Bible Study (online)
    6:00pm  Catechism
Wednesday, February 28
    9:00am  Church University: Prayers and Bible Study (online)
    10:00am  Book Forum
    6:00pm  Holy Unction
Thursday, February 29
    9:00am  Church University: Prayers and Bible Study (online)
    4:00pm   Ladies I-Help
Friday, March 1
    9:00am  Church University: Prayers and Bible Study (online)
Saturday, March 2
    5:00pm  Vespers
Sunday, March 3   Sunday of the Prodigal Son
    8:30am  Matins
    9:45am  Liturgy

For more information, go to  //www.stjohn-monterey.org/parish-calendar

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Special Services

This Sunday's Memorial Service is for the servants of God:

  • Peter Scamagas, father of Maria Grover (5 years). We will also be praying for members of Maria's family: Marianthy Scamagas, Costas Surdis, Melpa Surdis, Mike Panagiotacacos, Antigone Panagiotacacos, Athina Panagiotacacos and Stephanie Zanglis Soewers (Maria's friend).
  • Albert Shaw, father of Steven Shaw (9 days).

May their memory be eternal!

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Stewardship News

STRATEGIC PLAN UPDATE

Last Sunday, February 18, parishioners met to begin the final phase of our 2024 Revised Strategic Plan.

Following a succession of meetings, the parishioners captured our Core Values, updated our Vision & Mission, reviewed our SWOT Analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats), prioritized the Opportunities and Threats by urgency and Importance, and grouped like Opportunities and like Threats into three Strategic Areas of Focus.  These accomplishments were completed under the guidance and recommendations made by the Preserve, Prosper, and Ensure (PPE) committee and the Parish Council.

The Objectives so far approved are:

  • Evangelism – Reclaiming the Great Commission (Mission & Evangelism Committee)
  • Welcoming - Mentoring/Adoption
    • Process / Tools / Training
    • Mentoring of catechumens
    • Adoption of New/Returning Members
  • Financials - Financial Stability / Growth
    • Stewardship
    • Fundraising
    • Planning

Leaders volunteered to work in at least one of the specific areas listed along with other parishioners to develop plans for accomplishing goals in these areas. These plans will be folded into our Revised Strategic Plan over the next several weeks.


STRATEGIC PLANNING UPDATE


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News & Events

SERVICES THIS EVENING

The Finding of the Head of Saint John The Baptist

6pm Vespers + Liturgy

Saint Nektarios Chapel


THIS SUNDAY: CUTTING OF VASILOPITA

A Ministry led by Elaine Kazros

Please join Philoptochos in the tradition of the Cutting of the Vasilopita
AUCTION to benefit the children of St. Basil’s Academy
Please come prepared to give generously

Community


NEW: MEATFARE PLANS FOR MARCH 10

A ministry led by Despina Hatton

MEATFARE on JUDGMENT SUNDAY

 

DONATIONS ARE REQUESTED to benefit the Building Fund.

We thank the Sponsors of specialty items that will be served.
Send your contribution to Saint John's with the note "Sponsor of Special Luncheon".

ATTENDEES MAY BRING AN AUCTION ITEM.
Themed baskets, gift certificates for restaurants, or bottles of wine are appreciated.

We encourage our community to bring a cultural appetizer or side dish!


Invite your family and friends to this culinary delight and joyful transition towards Lent.

Community


HAVE MERCY ON ME!

This Sunday begins the period of the Triodion. The brief and sharp contrast between the Publican and Pharisee sets the stage for the upcoming weeks: the call for a change in the condition of our heart.

We will hear for the first time this season at the Sunday Matins the signature hymn, right after Psalm 50:

Open to me the gates of repentance, O Giver of Life, for early in the morning my spirit hastens to Your holy temple, bringing the temple of my body all defiled. But as one compassionate, cleanse me, I pray, by Your loving-kindness and mercy.

All foods are allowed the week that follows this Sunday.

Download the Hyperlinked diagram HERE.

 


NEW: HOLY UNCTION SERVICE

For the healing of soul and body:

Wednesday, February 28, 6pm

Saint Nektarios Chapel


LOOKING AHEAD: SPECIAL SATURDAYS

There are three Saturdays at the beginning of the Triodion period that have special themes:

  • Saturday of the Souls - March 9. Services will be on the eve, on Friday: Vespers, Liturgy and the special Saturday of the Souls Memorial Service from 6pm. Please plan to bring the Kollyva and the names of the departed at the Friday evening services. Father Ion will be out of town on Saturday.
  • Saturday of the Ascetics - March 16.
  • Saturday of the Miracle with the Kollyva by Saint Theodore - March 23.

 


WELCOMING AND HOSPITALITY: SERVING THIS SUNDAY

A Ministry led by Angelina Taylor

Sunday, February 25
   Parish Council: David Zajicek
   Greeter: Nadia Zajicek
   Fellowship Gratitude Meal: PINK TEAM - Thank you to Maria, Rania, Nadia, and Presbytera Ana

Sunday, March 3
   Parish Council: Mary Kanalakis
Greeter: Angela Wagoner
   Fellowship Gratitude Meal: ORANGE TEAM - Thank you to Mimi, Mary, Marissa, Christine D, and Melanie

Community


OUTREACH MINISTRIES

Ministries led by Despina Hatton

FOOD BANK: Tuesday, March 12 9:00 -10:30am @St Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Seaside.

LADIES I-HELP: Thursday, February 29 and Tuesday, March 5. Cooking - 4-5pm, Dinner with the ladies - 5-6pm. Plan to stay for prayers in the chapel after dinner.

We are also adding a meal preparation on the fifth Thursday of the month (which will happen only 4 times in 2024). The next one is on Thursday, February 29.

Community


NEW: ADULT EDUCATION/CATECHISM CLASS EXPANDS TO SUNDAYS

A Ministry led by Father Ion

The Catechism Class will continue to meet on Wednesdays after Paraklesis while adding Sunday meetings as well (after the Agape meal). Once Lent starts, we will only continue on Sundays. Join the class for learning and fellowship! The class is also posted on Zoom unless otherwise specified in the community schedule/ calendar.

Living the Gospel, 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 group discussions are offered via Zoom on Fridays from 7pm. Always check the schedule online for this week.

The class scheduled for tonight is moved to next Thursday from 7pm due to the service this evening. This is the last class of the current Journey to Fullness cycle. 

Adult Education


CHURCH UNIVERSITY

A Ministry led by Father Ion

Study of Scriptures, church hymns and lives of the saints. Week days, 9:00am online.

Worship, Education, Community


BOOK FORUM

A Ministry Led by Kathy Shaw

Meeting every Wednesdays, 10 am, on Zoom.

According to God's Will, a rich, stimulating and edifying short text. Order your copy online from HERE.

Brief review: "The task of man’s earthly life is preparing himself for eternal salvation and blessedness. To attain this, a man must live in a holy and pure manner - that is, according to God’s will." In this short but incisive treatise the reader is guided on a spiritual journey that begins with the awakening of conscience and the realization of the presence of both sin and virtue in the world, culminating in a union with God: that is “a living, personal relationship with the one we love.” In following the path of this ascent, the author delineates many of its markers and stresses that these have both personal and societal aspects. This book is suitable for both private reading and group study. Questions for discussion or contemplation are interspersed throughout this edition. A short biography of the author is also included.

Adult Education, Community


BOOK FORUM TO START NEW BOOK IN MARCH

A Ministry Led by Kathy Shaw

Strarting on March 6 and continuing on Wednesdays from 10 am via Zoom.

St. Athanasius: The Father of Orthodoxy

This is a very short, yet powerful book. Buy your own copy ahead of time HERE.

Adult Education, Community


CLERGY-LAITY CONFERENCE 3/4-5

Clergy-Laity Conference
March 4-5, 2024

Clergy and lay leaders of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of San Francisco will have the opportunity to gather at Saint Nicholas Ranch and Retreat Center in Dunlap, CA on March 4 – 5, 2024 for the Clergy-Laity Assembly.

It will be a special honor to welcome His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America who will offer an Archpastoral Message for the attendees.

You may register to attend HERE.
Please let Thimi know if you are planning to attend.


IN THE AREA

Ahepa Crab Feed Fundraiser at St. Nicholas San Jose - Apr 13th

Ahepa Crab Feed Fundraiser at St. Nicholas San Jose - Apr 13th

 

Please see the attached flyer.

 

 

Bay Area Project Mexico Trip Opportunity This June

Bay Area Project Mexico Trip Opportunity This June

 

We invite you to join parishioners from the Resurrection parish in Castro Valley who will journey to Mexico this summer on a mission trip to build homes for poor working families just south of the border. We will depart Castro Valley on June 25th and return July 1st. For more details, visit projectmexico.org. In addition, you can view a video of our trip in 2019 to get an idea of what this mission trip involves. Go to Youtube and query, "Project Mexico 2019". For questions about this mission trip, please contact Mark Fridell (maark56@hotmail.com or Cell: 925-872-8111).
  
Adult Greek Language Classes - St. Nicholas San Jose

Adult Greek Language Classes - St. Nicholas San Jose

 

The Adult Education Program (AEP) is comprised of three tracks, Modern Greek, New Testament Greek and Ancient Greek. Courses within each track have been developed to meet the needs of adult Greek language learners as they enter their journey of Greek Language Acquisition at the Beginner basic literacy stage, moving forward to the Intermediate Level, then seeking to achieve fluency at the Advanced Level, and finally reaching complete communicative Proficiency. Please read the attached flyer for more information on the offerings of our Adult Greek Language classes at St. Nicholas.
 

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

 


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Saints and Feasts

Publphar
February 25

Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee: Triodion Begins Today

The Pharisees were an ancient and outstanding sect among the Jews known for their diligent observance of the outward matters of the Law. Although, according to the word of our Lord, they "did all their works to be seen of men" (Matt. 23:5), and were hypocrites (ibid. 23: 13, 14, 15, etc.), because of the apparent holiness of their lives they were thought by all to be righteous, and separate from others, which is what the name Pharisee means. On the other hand, Publicans, collectors of the royal taxes, committed many injustices and extortions for filthy lucre's sake, and all held them to be sinners and unjust. It was therefore according to common opinion that the Lord Jesus in His parable signified a virtuous person by a Pharisee, and a sinner by a Publican, to teach His disciples the harm of pride and the profit of humble-mindedness.

Since the chief weapon for virtue is humility, and the greatest hindrance to it is pride, the divine Fathers have set these three weeks before the Forty-day Fast as a preparation for the spiritual struggles of virtue. This present week they have called Harbinger, since it declares that the Fast is approaching; and they set humility as the foundation for all our spiritual labors by appointing that the parable of the Publican and the Pharisee be read today, even before the Fast begins, to teach, through the vaunting of the Pharisee, that the foul smoke of self-esteem and the stench of boasting drives away the grace of the Spirit, strips man of all his virtue, and casts him into the pits of Hades; and, through the repentance and contrite prayer of the Publican, that humility confers upon the sinner forgiveness of all his wicked deeds and raises him up to the greatest heights.

All foods are allowed the week that follows this Sunday.

Allsaint
February 25

Tarasius, Patriarch of Constantinople

This Saint was the son of one of the foremost princes in Constantinople, and was originally a consul and first among the Emperor's private counselors. Then, in 784, he was elected Patriarch of Constantinople by the Sovereigns Irene and her son Constantine Porphyrogenitus. He convoked the Seventh Ecumenical Council that upheld the holy icons, and became the boast of the Church and a light to the clergy. He reposed in 806.

Photini
February 26

Photini the Samaritan Woman & her martyred sisters: Anatole, Phota, Photis, Praskevi, & Kyriaki

Saint Photini lived in 1st century Palestine and was the woman that Christ met at Jacob's Well in Samaria as recorded in the Gospel according to John (4:4-26). After her encounter with Christ, she and her whole family were baptized by the Apostles and became evangelists of the early Church. Photini and her children eventually were summoned before the emperor Nero and instructed to renounce their faith in Christ. They refused to do so, accepting rather to suffer various tortures. After many efforts to force her to surrender to idolatry, the emperor ordered that she be thrown down a well. Photini gave up her life in the year 66.

St. Photini is commemorated on three occasions during the year: February 26 (Greek tradition), March 20 (Slavic tradition), and the Sunday of the Samaritan Woman on the 5th Sunday of Pascha.

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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Fifth Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from Luke 24:12-35

At that time, [Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home wondering at what had happened. That very day] two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing Him. And He said to them, "What is this conversation which you are holding with each other as you walk?" and they stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered Him, "Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?" And He said to them, "What things?" And they said to him, "Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and rulers delivered Him up to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. But we had hoped that He was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since this happened. Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning and did not find His body; and they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that He was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb, and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see." And He said to them, "O foolish men, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was not it necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into this glory?" And beginning with Moses and all the prophets, He interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning Himself. So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He appeared to be going further, but they constrained Him, saying, "Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent." So He went in to stay with them. When He was at table with them, He took the bread and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognized Him; and He vanished out of their sight. They said to each other, "Did not our hearts burn within us while He talked to us on the road, while He opened to us the scriptures?" And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven gathered together and those who were with them, who said, "The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!" Then they told what had happened on the road and how He was known to them in the breaking of the bread.

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Plagal 1st Mode. Psalm 11.7,1.
You, O Lord, shall keep us and preserve us.
Verse: Save me, O Lord, for the godly man has failed.

The reading is from St. Paul's Second Letter to Timothy 3:10-15.

TIMOTHY, my son, you have observed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions, my sufferings, what befell me at Antioch, at lconion, and at Lystra, what persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. Indeed all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceivers and deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings which are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

Gospel Reading

Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee: Triodion Begins Today
The Reading is from Luke 18:10-14

The Lord said this parable, "Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, I give tithes of all that I get.' But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!' I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted."

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