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St. John The Baptist Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2024-03-03
Bulletin Contents
Welcome!
Saints and Feasts
Hymns of the Day
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Wisdom of the Fathers
Calendar
Parish Activities
From The Metropolis of Denver
Announcements and Forms for Various Activities
Prodson
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St. John The Baptist Greek Orthodox Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • (817) 283-2291
  • Fax:
  • (817) 545-0302
  • Street Address:

  • 303 Cullum Drive

  • Euless, TX 76040

Contact Information

Office Administrator Cristina Korzun


office@stjohndfw.info | (817) 283-2291
Parish Priest Rev. Protopresbyter Vasile Tudora

vasile.tudora@gmail.com | (817) 283-2291
Parish Council President Zachary Reimer


president@stjohndfw.info | (817) 283-2291

Services Schedule

Small Paraklesis - Wednesday 6:00PM

Great Vespers - Saturday 5:00PM

Matins - Sunday 8:30AM

Divine Liturgy - Sunday 9:30 AM

Confessions - Saturday after Vespers or upon request

Past Bulletins


Welcome!

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We welcome all of you to St. John the Baptist and we give glory to God for your presence here today!

Our church is open to parishioners and visitors alike.

You can also visit http://stjohndfw.info for the latest updates 

If you want to watch our services online, please log in into:

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/stjohndfw 

YouTube Page: http://tinyurl.com/ykujjd99

The texts for daily services are available here:

GOA DIGITAL CHANT STAND: https://dcs.goarch.org/goa/dcs/servicesindex.html

The schedule of on all our services can be found here:

http://stjohndfw.info/news/calendar-2/ 

Our Stewardship Drive for 2024 is curently on going. You can pledge ONLINE here: http://tinyurl.com/2y2vjyez.  

Your participation is critical to support the tremendous growth we see in your parish. Kindly pledge online or fill a new card for 2024 and don't forget to set-up your new payment plan in REALM (it's a separate process, see donations link below).

Our secure REALM Online Donation system is available from your home right now. You can make your donations here: https://onrealm.org/stjohndfw/give/joy or by sending a check to the parish. 

 Thank you all for your participating in the ministries of St. John's Parish!

 

 

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Saints and Feasts

Prodson
March 03

Sunday of the Prodigal Son

Through the parable of today's Gospel, our Saviour has set forth three things for us: the condition of the sinner, the rule of repentance, and the greatness of God's compassion. The divine Fathers have put this reading the week after the parable of the Publican and Pharisee so that, seeing in the person of the Prodigal Son our own wretched condition -- inasmuch as we are sunken in sin, far from God and His Mysteries -- we might at last come to our senses and make haste to return to Him by repentance during these holy days of the Fast.

Furthermore, those who have wrought many great iniquities, and have persisted in them for a long time, oftentimes fall into despair, thinking that there can no longer be any forgiveness for them; and so being without hope, they fall every day into the same and even worse iniquities. Therefore, the divine Fathers, that they might root out the passion of despair from the hearts of such people, and rouse them to the deeds of virtue, have set the present parable at the forecourts of the Fast, to show them the surpassing goodness of God's compassion, and to teach them that there is no sin -- no matter how great it may be -- that can overcome at any time His love for man.

Allsaint
March 03

The Holy Martyrs Eutropius, Cleonicus, and Basiliscus

The Martyrs, who were from Amasia, were fellow soldiers and kinsmen of Saint Theodore the Tyro (see Feb. 17). They were betrayed to the Governor Asclepiodotus as Christians, during the reign of Diocletian (284-305). After many torments, Eutropius and Cleonicus were crucified; Basiliscus was not slain together with them, but was shut up in prison, in the hope that with time he might change his mind and sacrifice to the idols. He was beheaded on May 22; see also the account on that day.

40martsb
March 09

40 Martyrs at Lake Sebaste

These holy Martyrs, who came from various lands, were all soldiers under the same general. Taken into custody for their faith in Christ, and at first interrogated by cruel means, they were then stripped of their clothing and cast onto the frozen lake which is at Sebastia of Pontus, at a time when the harsh and freezing weather was at its worst. They endured the whole night naked in such circumstances, encouraging one another to be patient until the end. He that guarded them, named Aglaius, who was commanded to receive any of them that might deny Christ, had a vision in which he saw heavenly powers distributing crowns to all of the Martyrs, except one, who soon after abandoned the contest. Seeing this, Aglaius professed himself a Christian and joined the Martyrs on the lake, and the number of forty remained complete. In the morning, when they were almost dead from the cold, they were cast into fire, after which their remains were thrown into the river. Thus they finished the good course of martyrdom in 320, during the reign of Licinius. These are their names: Acacius, Aetius, Aglaius, Alexander, Angus, Athanasius, Candidus, Chudion, Claudius, Cyril, Cyrion, Dometian, Domnus, Ecdicius, Elias, Eunoicus, Eutyches, Eutychius, Flavius, Gaius, Gorgonius, Helianus, Heraclius, Hesychius, John, Lysimachus, Meliton, Nicholas, Philoctemon, Priscus, Sacerdon, Severian, Sisinius, Smaragdus, Theodulus, Theophilus, Valens, Valerius, Vivianus, and Xanthias.

Lastjudgement1
March 09

Saturday of Souls

Through the Apostolic Constitutions (Book VIII, ch. 42), the Church of Christ has received the custom to make commemorations for the departed on the third, ninth, and fortieth days after their repose. Since many throughout the ages, because of an untimely death in a faraway place, or other adverse circumstances, have died without being deemed worthy of the appointed memorial services, the divine Fathers, being so moved in their love for man, have decreed that a common memorial be made this day for all pious Orthodox Christians who have reposed from all ages past, so that those who did not have particular memorial services may be included in this common one for all. Also, the Church of Christ teaches us that alms should be given to the poor by the departed one's kinsmen as a memorial for him.

Besides this, since we make commemoration tomorrow of the Second Coming of Christ, and since the reposed have neither been judged, nor have received their complete recompense (Acts 17:31; II Peter 2:9; Heb. 11:39-40), the Church rightly commemorates the souls today, and trusting in the boundless mercy of God, she prays Him to have mercy on sinners. Furthermore, since the commemoration is for all the reposed together, it reminds each of us of his own death, and arouses us to repentance.

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Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Plagal Second Mode

Angelic powers were above Thy tomb, and they that guarded Thee became as dead. And Mary stood by the grave seeking Thine immaculate Body. Thou hast despoiled Hades and wast not tried thereby. Thou didst meet the Virgin and didst grant us life. O Thou Who didst arise from the dead, Lord, glory be to Thee.

Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Holy Transfiguration Monastery


Seasonal Kontakion in the Third Mode

O Father, foolishly I ran away from Your glory, and in sin, squandered the riches You gave me. Wherefore, I cry out to You with the voice of the Prodigal, "I have sinned before You Compassionate Father. Receive me in repentance and take me as one of Your hired servants."

Reading is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved by: Narthex Press


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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Sixth Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from Luke 24:36-53

At that time, having risen from the dead, Jesus went up and stood among His disciples and said to them, "Peace be with you." But they were startled and frightened, and supposed that they saw a spirit. And He said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do questionings rise in your hearts? See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; handle Me, and see; for a spirit has not flesh and bones as you see that I have." And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. And while they still disbelieved for joy, and wondered, He said to them, "Have you anything here to eat?" They gave Him a piece of broiled fish [and some honeycomb], and He took it and ate before them. Then He said to them, "These are My words which I spoke to you, while I was still with you, that everything written about Me in the law of Moses and the prophets and the psalms must be fulfilled." Then He opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in His name in all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I send the promise of My Father upon you; but stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high." Then He led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up His hands, He blessed them. While He blessed them, He parted from them, and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the Temple blessing God.

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Plagal Second Mode. Psalm 27.9,1.
O Lord, save your people and bless your inheritance.
Verse: To you, O Lord, I have cried, O my God.

The reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 6:12-20.

Brethren, "all things are lawful for me," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful for me," but I will not be enslaved by anything. "Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food" -- and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I therefore take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! Do you not know that he who joins himself to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, "The two shall become one flesh." But he who is united to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. Shun immorality. Every other sin which a man commits is outside the body; but the immoral man sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God? You are not your own; you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body and in your spirit which belong to God.

Gospel Reading

Sunday of the Prodigal Son
The Reading is from Luke 15:11-32

The Lord said this parable: "There was a man who had two sons; and the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of the property that falls to me.' And he divided his living between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took his journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in loose living. And when he had spent everything, a great famine arose in that country, and he began to be in want. So he went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would gladly have filled his belly with the pods that the swine ate; and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired servants.' And he arose and came to his father. But while he was yet at a distance, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' But the father said to his servants, 'Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet; and bring the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and make merry; for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.' And they began to make merry. Now his elder son was in the field; and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what this meant. And he said to him, 'Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has received him safe and sound.' But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, 'Lo, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command; yet you never gave me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your living with harlots, you killed for him the fatted calf!' And he said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to make merry and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.'"

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Wisdom of the Fathers

Thank God every day with your whole heart for having given to you life according to His image and likeness - an intelligently free and immortal life...Thank Him also for again daily bestowing life upon you, who have fallen an innumerable multitude of times, by your own free will, through sins, from life unto death, and that He does so as soon as you only say from your whole heart: 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before Thee!' (Luke 15:18).
St. John of Kronstadt
My Life in Christ: Part 1; Holy Trinity Monastery pgs. 104-105, 19th century

But if he had despaired of his life, and, ... had remained in the foreign land, he would not have obtained what he did obtain, but would have been consumed with hunger, and so have undergone the most pitiable death: ...
St. John Chrysostom
AN EXHORTATION TO THEODORE AFTER HIS FALL, 4th Century

... but since he repented, and did not despair, he was restored, even after such great corruption, to the same splendour as before, and was arrayed in the most beautiful robe, and enjoyed greater honours than his brother who had not fallen.
St. John Chrysostom
AN EXHORTATION TO THEODORE AFTER HIS FALL, 4th Century

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Parish Activities

REGULAR HOURS OF SERVICES

Great Vespers Saturdays at 5:00 PM.  Sundays Orthros at 8:30 AM and Divine Liturgy at 9:30 AM.  A Paraklesis Service si served most Wednesdays at 6PM. Confessions are heard Saturday at 4PM before Vespers or other times by appointment. 

Please check the Calendar for services during the week or any change in the schedule.


INFORMATION ABOUT HOLY COMMUNION

Holy Communion is a Sacrament of the Orthodox Church that is reserved for Orthodox Faithful in good ecclesiastical standing, which have prepared as prescribed by the Canons of the Church through fasting, prayer and regular Confession, and attend the entire Divine Liturgy.

Orthodox faithful are encouraged to participate regularly in the Eucharist.  Yet, for our spiritual development, we need to examine ourselves responsibly before coming in front of the Holy Chalice (I Cor.11:28). 

If you are not Orthodox or you have no prepared for Holy Communion today you can still partake in the Blessed Bread (Antidoron) that is distributed as a blessing for all, at the end of the Service.


Inquirers/ Faith Enrichment (CATECHISM) Classes

Our catechism class is ongoing. The program is intended for people from various backgrounds, Christian or not, and is aiming to familiarize you with the theology, traditions and daily life of Orthodox Christians.

Please let Fr. Vasile know if you want to participate.

We meet at 12:15 pm, in the Parish Hall, in High School classroom


TODAY EVENTS

Special Services: none

2024 STEWARDSHIP and financials as of 3/2/2024

Goal:                                            $580,000

Pledged:                                          $384,177

Received To Date of Pledged:        $  86,828

Pledges Submitted:                        137

 

TODAY, AFTER SERVICE:

  • NO Sunday School Class – Oratorical Festival
  • Catechism Class, 12:15 pm: Confession & Holy Unction
  • Philoptochos Scholarship - Deadline to submit: 3/31

 

BOOKSTORE:  Psalter Books (pocket size and large print)

 

COFFEE HOUR: POTLUCK. Please bring a dish to share.

 

UPCOMING EVENTS:

  • Wed. Mar. 6, 5 pm: Feed the Hungry – packing lunch bags
  • Friday, Mar. 8, 6:00 pm: Praxis class How to make Koliva. Do you want to make a koliva to commemorate your departed loved ones and you don’t know how to do it? Come to the class and we will teach you! We will even give you the supplies to make your own koliva during class, so it will be ready for the Saturday of Souls next day. Registration on Realm!
  • Sat. Mar. 9: 1st Saturday of Souls – Memorial service for the departed. Bring your commemoration list and koliva.
  • Sun, Mar 10: CHILI COOK OFF. The church will provide fixings. We will also have prizes for the best chili. Please register on Realm if you want to bring a chili. For questions, contact Zach Reimer (817)229-1986, zach.reimer@gmail.com
  • Sat. Mar. 16: 2nd Saturday of Souls
  • Sun, Mar 17: Philoptochos Membership Drive
  • Mon, Mar. 18: Great Lent starts. We will also start reading from the Psalter. Please let us know if you want to be part of a PSALTER READING GROUP. For questions, contact Cristina Korzun (972)821-6161; office@stjohndfw.info
  • Fri, Mar. 22: 1st Lenten Souper, after the Akathist Service. Please call / text Anastasia Parsons (817) 253-8115 to sign up to bring a Lenten soup or bread or salad or dessert. All proceeds will benefit Holy Cross Seminary.
  • Sat. Mar. 23: 3rd Saturday of Souls
  • Sat. Mar. 23, 10 am: Needlework Club meeting (parish hall)
  • Sun, Mar 24: SUNDAY OF ORTHODOXY. We will have a procession with icons around the church. Please bring an icon
  • Sat. Mar. 30, 10 am: Praxis Class: How to make prosphora I
  • Sun, Mar 31: SPRING GENERAL ASSEMBLY

WEEKLY PRAYER REQUEST

Prayer Request – March 3, 2024

(Please use the baptismal names when commemorating.

If the baptismal name is not available, please use the first name.)

Members of our parish who are in hospital or rehab:

Name:                                           Baptismal name:

  • Leo Alexander                               Panteleimon

Members of our parish who are in assisted living or nursing home:

Name:                                           Baptismal name:

  • Kost Bosnakis                                Konstantinos
  • Joyce Hofland
  • Velva Johnson                                Heleni
  • Bernard Peter Korzun
  • Donna Morris                                   Spyridona

Members of our parish who are ill / in recovery:

Name:                                           Baptismal name:

  • Wes Albaugh
  • Chrysanthi Andromalos                  Chrysanthi
  • Pat Ballas                                       Panayiota
  • Norma Balignot
  • Michael Bogdos                             Michael
  • Kassandra Bogordos                       Kassandra
  • Robin Boomstra
  • Dennis Cannelis                             Kostantinos
  • Jason Caros                                    Jason
  • Margaret Chokas                            Maria
  • Tim Cline                                       Timothy
  • Edward Tex Collins                        Taxiarxhon
  • Helen Dieb                                     Helen
  • Orest & Refije Duka                       Anesti & Katherine
  • Vickie Dunham                              Photinia
  • Ana Forcum                                   Ana
  • Gwendolyn Franklyn
  • Heather Gregoire                            Mary
  • Jennifer Hock                                 Zenobia
  • Slavica Ivovic                                Slavica
  • Michael Jeznach                             Michael
  • Virginia Karegeannes                      Catherine
  • Abraham Maayeh                           Abraham
  • Michel Mavias                               Michael
  • Themis & Zoe Mavrelli                  Euthymia & Zoe
  • Laura & Liliana Nicolescu              Laura & Liliana Gabriela         
  • Mercy Parojinog
  • Arabella Parson                              Helena
  • Mario Reyes                                   Anthony
  • Nicholas Rodakis                           Nicholas
  • Ted Sarros                                      John
  • Robert Steffaro                               Rodion
  • Vasile Tache                                  Vasile
  • Oleg Tiganiuc                                 Oleg
  • Sarah Varvaris                               Sara
  • Georgia Vratinina                           Georgia
  • Ronald Warkentin

Members of our parish who have chronic illnesses:

Name:                                           Baptismal name:

  • Gabriel & Rita Abanoub                 Gabriel & Rita
  • Andrew Lucas Burlacu
  • Ashley Choate                                Maria Magdalena
  • Elizabeth Cronin                            Elizabeth
  • Samiha Gayed                                Samiha
  • Michael Genovezos                        Michael
  • Mavra Grimm                                Mavra
  • Harry Karegeannes                         Haralambos
  • Gregory Kerbow                            Gregory
  • John Koutsoufis                             Ioannis
  • Emilia Lueth                                  Emilia
  • George Manos                                George
  • Michaela Miller                              Michaela
  • Gail Poriotis                                   Evangelia
  • Georgia Souris                               Georgia
  • Ann & Amy Nicole Sullivan           Ana & Nicole
  • Jason Sullivan                                Jason
  • Dean Theophilou                            Constantine
  • Kristy Warkentin                            Parascheva
  • George Vittas                                 George, Reader

Members of our parish with limited mobility:

Name:                                           Baptismal name:

  • Dr. Lucille Howton                         Lucille
  • Marika Shackelford                        Maria

Members of our parish who fell asleep in the Lord in the last 40 days:

Name:                                           Baptismal name:

  • Besnik Duka
  • Eleanor Harris

As this information is not always easy to find, kindly let us know of anyone else that should be on this list. (817) 283-2291; office@stjohndfw.info. Thank you for your help!


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Announcements and Forms for Various Activities

    2024 Stewardship Card

    2024 Stewardship Card

    Please fill out the card and bring it / mail it to the church office

    Join the ADVOCATES+ Program

    Join the ADVOCATES+ Program

    "When we give from our blessings to the ADVOCATES+ Program of the Metropolis, we give knowing that the fund supports the ministries of the Church which help our spiritual growth. In other words, we give to the most important entity in our lives, the Church, which our Lord Jesus Christ established for our salvation in His coming Kingdom" - Metropolitan Isaiah of Denver

    Commemoration List

    Commemoration List

    Please fill out your new commemoration list for 2023. Remember to write the date and your family name. Only Baptismal names (or first names if non-Orthodox) are needed.

    Guide for Confession

    Guide for Confession

    Guide for Confession

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