St. John The Baptist Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2025-03-02
Bulletin Contents

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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





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


Saints and Feasts

March 02

Forgiveness Sunday

The Holy Fathers have appointed the commemoration of Adam's exile from the Paradise of delight here, on the eve of the holy Forty-day Fast, demonstrating to us not by simple words, but by actual deeds, how beneficial fasting is for man, and how harmful and destructive are insatiety and the transgressing of the divine commandments. For the first commandment that God gave to man was that of fasting, which the first-fashioned received but did not keep; and not only did they not become gods, as they had imagined, but they lost even that blessed life which they had, and they fell into corruption and death, and transmitted these and innumerable other evils to all of mankind. The God-bearing Fathers set these things before us today, that by bringing to mind what we have fallen from, and what we have suffered because of the insatiety and disobedience of the first-fashioned, we might be diligent to return again to that ancient bliss and glory by means of fasting and obedience to all the divine commands. Taking occasion from today's Gospel (Matt. 6:14-21) to begin the Fast unencumbered by enmity, we also ask forgiveness this day, first from God, then from one another and all creation.


March 02

Hesychius the Martyr

Holy martyr Hesychius lived during the reign of king Maximian in 302. He was the first and the leader in the royal palace and the Senate, because he was magistrianus by office. When Maximian ordered that all Christians who were royal soldiers ought to be deprived of their belts (which were a sign of their royal merit) and live as civilians and without honour, many Christians preferred to live without any outward honour due to this illegal order than to be honoured and lose their soul. St. Hesychius was numbered with these Christians as well. When the king heard this, he ordered that the saint ought to be stripped of the expensive clothes, which he used to wear, and be dressed with a shabby mantle without sleeves woven from hair and to be as disgraced and disdained as to consort with women.

When this had been carried out, the king invited him and asked him: "Aren't you ashamed, Hesychius, that you lost the honour and office of magistrianus and that you have been debased to this kind of life? Or maybe you don't know that the Christians, whose way of life you preferred, have no power to restore you to your previous great honour and office?" The saint replied: "Your honour, o king, is temporary but the honour and glory which Christ gives is eternal and without end." Because of these words the king got angry and ordered his men to tie a great millstone around the saint's neck and then to throw him in the middle of river Orontus, which lies in Coele Syria and which is commonly called Oronge. Thus, the blessed man received the crown of martyrdom from the Lord.


March 02

Our Holy Father Nicholas Planas

 

Saint Nicholas Planas was born in 1851 A.D. on the island of Naxos in Greece. He was married as a teenager and soon after ordained to the diaconate and then the priesthood. His wife reposed soon after and so he assumed the burden of being a widowed father and a parish priest. He was known for his zeal in serving the liturgy, especially his habit of serving the Divine Liturgy every day for 50 years. Many altar boys would see him radiating light or raised off the ground while serving the liturgy. Being so revered by his parishioners, he became known as “Papa,” which is an affectionate term for a parish priest. Papa Nicholas reposed in 1932 and was formally canonized as a saint in 1992.


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Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Third Mode

Let the Heavens rejoice and let things on earth be glad; for the Lord has worked power with His arm, He hath trampled upon death by death. He has become the first born of the dead. From the bowels of Hades has He delivered us, and hath granted great mercy to the world.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Plagal Second Mode

O Thou, Guide unto wisdom, Bestower of Prudence, Instructor of the foolish, and Defender of the poor; establish and grant understanding unto my heart, O Master. Grant me speech, O Word of the Father, for behold, I shall not keep my lips from crying unto Thee: Have mercy, O Merciful One, on me who have fallen.
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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Third Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from Mark 16:9-20

When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom He had cast out seven demons. She went and told those who had been with Him, as they mourned and wept. But when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it.

After this he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country. And they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them. After this He appeared to the eleven themselves as they sat at table and He upbraided them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw Him after He had risen. And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: in My name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover."

So then the Lord Jesus, after He had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by the signs that attended it. Amen.


Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Plagal Fourth 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 Letter to the Romans 13:11-14; 14:1-4.

Brethren, salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed; the night is far gone, the day is at hand. Let us then cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us conduct ourselves becomingly as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

As for the man who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not for disputes over opinions. One believes he may eat anything, while the weak man eats only vegetables. Let not him who eats despise him who abstains, and let not him who abstains pass judgment on him who eats; for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for God is able to make him stand.


Gospel Reading

Forgiveness Sunday
The Reading is from Matthew 6:14-21

The Lord said, "If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father also will forgive you; but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

"And when you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by men but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."


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Wisdom of the Fathers

Spiritual delight is not enjoyment found in things that exists outside the soul.
St. Isaac of Syria
Unknown, 7th century

Do we forgive our neighbors their trespasses? God also forgives us in His mercy. Do we refuse to forgive? God, too, will refuse to forgive us. As we treat our neighbors, so also does God treat us. The forgiveness, then, of your sins or unforgiveness, and hence also your salvation or destruction, depend on you yourself, man. For without forgiveness of sins there is no salvation.
St. Tikhon of Zadonsk
Unknown, 18th century

Before we enter the Lenten fast, we are reminded that there can be no true fast, no genuine repentance, no reconciliation with God, unless we are at the same time reconciled with one another. A fast without mutual love is the fast of demons. . . We do not travel the road of Lent as isolated individuals but as members of a family.
His Grace Bishop Kallistos of Diokleia
20th Century

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Parish Activities

  • Special Service: Forgiveness rite

     

    2025 STEWARDSHIP as of 2/28/2025

    Goal:                                        $550,000

    Pledged:                                     $475,255

    Pledges Submitted:                   140

    Needed to be Pledged:             $74,745

    DOME ICONOGRAPHY financials as of 2/28/2025

    Total Project value: $411,000

    Balance in the account at the beginning of the campaign: $110,898

    Pledged (including grant): $242,102

    Number of pledges: 62

    Needed: $58,000

    TODAY, AFTER SERVICE:

    • Coffee Hour – Potluck – Fast (Fish, Dairy allowed)
    • Philoptochos Membership Drive
    • GOYA meeting
    • Explore Orthodoxy Class 12:15 pm in the High School Class
    • Living Word Bookstore: Come and See our Lenten collection

     UPCOMING EVENTS:

    • Great Lent Psalter Reading. Please contact Cristina Korzun (972) 821-6161 / [email protected] if you want to be part of a Lenten Psalter Reading Group.

    We read a katisma (a chapter from the Book of Psalms) every day of the Great Lent. The reading is done at home, individually, not on zoom, and it takes about 15 min. We start reading on March 3rd to April 11. Due date: TODAY

    • Tuesday March 4, 5:30 pm - serve dinner at SafeHaven Arlington (children 10 & up are welcome)
    • Wednesday, March 5, 5:00 pm: Feed the Hungry - packing lunch bags for UGM
    • Wednesday, March 5, 7:30 pm: BOOK & SOUP for the SOUL. Featured book: Great Lent – Journey to Pascha by Alexander Schmemann. Bring a Lenten dish to share
    • Thursday, March 6, 8:30 pm – GOYA Evening Prayers on Google Meet.
    • Friday, March 7, 11 am: Homeschool Co-op.
    • Friday, March 7, 7:00 pm – 1st Soup Supper. Please sign up to bring a Lenten soup, salad or desert with Anastasia Parsons (817) 253-8115. All proceeds benefit Holy Cross Seminarians
    • Saturday, March 8, 10:00 am: Trail Life Orientation/Q&A Parish kickoff meeting.
    • Saturday, March 8, 11:30 am - serve lunch at SafeHaven Arlington (children 10 & up are welcome)
    • Sunday March 9: Sunday of Orthodoxy. Procession with icons around the church. Bring an icon from home.
    • Sunday March 9, 6:00 pm: Pan Orthodox Vespers at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Dallas
    • Sunday, March 16: SPRING GENERAL ASSEMBLY. All can participate, only stewards in good standing may vote.
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Prayers Request

Prayer Request – March 2, 2024

(Use the baptismal name when commemorating. If not available, please use the first name.

Kindly let us know if anybody else should be on this list)

Name:                                                            Baptismal name:

Members of our parish who are in hospital or rehab:

  • Leslie Hock

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

  • Leo Alexander                                             Panteleimon
  • Joyce Hofland
  • Rada & Valentin Teodoreanu                   Rada & Valentin
  • Velva Johnson                                             Heleni

Members of our parish who are ill / in recovery:

  • Wes Albaugh
  • Chrysanthi Andromalos                             Chrysanthi
  • Adrian Antonescu                                       Adrian
  • Elias Bahou                                                  Elias
  • Sorana Bitea                                                 Sorana
  • Michael Bogdos                                           Michael
  • Kassandra Bogordos                                   Kassandra
  • Robin Boomstra
  • Jason Caros                                                  Jason
  • Margaret Chokas                                         Maria
  • Charlie Clark
  • Tim Cline                                                      Timothy
  • Edward Tex Collins                                     Taxiarchon
  • Mariana Cuceu                                            Maria
  • Helen Dieb                                                    Helen
  • David Dube
  • Orest & Refije Duka                                   Anesti & Katherine
  • Tamara Eftimie                                           Tamara
  • Timothy Elder                                              Timothy
  • Michael & Kathy Fox                                 Michael & Katherine
  • Awni & Maryan Haddad                           Rafael & Maryan
  • Richard & Antoinette Haddad
  • Jennifer Hock                                               Zenobia
  • Steve Howton
  • Heather Olivia Gregoire                              Mary
  • Harry & Virginia Karegeannes                 Haralambos & Catherine
  • Filiratos & Alina Ionita                             Filiratos & Alina
  • Petar & Slavica Ivovic                               Petar & Slavica
  • Abraham Maayeh                                       Abraham
  • George & Victoria Manos                         George & Victoria
  • Themis & Zoe Mavrelli                              Euthymia & Zoe
  • Catherine Macdonald                                 Catherine
  • Laura & Liliana Nicolescu                         Laura & Liliana Gabriela
  • Ruby Phillips
  • Cristina Popa                                               Cristina
  • Nancy Poriotis
  • Candice & Annette Reyes                         
  • Ted Sarros                                                     John
  • Juliana Scull
  • Robert Steffaro                                            Rodion
  • Elizabeth Strong                                          Elizabeth
  • Dave & Shanna Trosko
  • Georgia Vratinina                                        Georgia
  • Gary Winfrey
  • Helen Yu

Members of our parish who have chronic illnesses:

  • Gabriel, Rita & Marina Abanoub            Gabriel, Rita & Marina
  • Darrel Behring
  • Tami, Olivia & Nathaniel Brugman        Dymphna, Theodora & Nathaniel
  • John Brugman            
  • Andrew Lucas Burlacu                               Lucas
  • Ashley Choate                                             Maria Magdalena
  • Elizabeth Cronin                                          Elizabeth
  • Samiha Gayed                                             Samiha
  • Michael Genovezos                                    Michael
  • Mavra Grimm                                              Mavra
  • Gregory Kerbow                                          Gregory
  • John Koutsoufis                                           Ioannis
  • Emilia Lueth                                                Emilia
  • Constantinos & Marlen Pachou                               Constantinos & Marlen
  • Maria Lungu Post                                        Maria
  • Emily & Tempest Michael MacLeod      Emily & Michael
  • Jude & Maire Barachiel MacLeod           Jude & Maire Barachiel
  • Erzsi Rafael MacLeod                                               Erzsi Rafael
  • Brigid Seraphim MacLeod                        Brigid Seraphim
  • Michaela Miller                                            Michaela
  • Andreas Mihalakeas                                   Andreas
  • Gail Poriotis                                                  Evangelia
  • Georgia Souris                                              Georgia
  • Ann, Jason Sullivan                                    Ana, Jason
  • Madalina & Pipita Tache                           Madalina & Pipita
  • Sarah Varvaris                                             Sara
  • Kristy, Ronald, Martha Warkentin          Paraskeva, Ronald & Martha
  • George Vittas                                               George, Reader

Members of our parish with limited mobility:

  • Dr. Lucille Howton                                     Lucille
  • Constantinos Katsikas                                Constantinos
  • Marika Shackelford                                    Maria

 

Family members who fell asleep in the Lord in the last 40 days:

-          Ilina, deaconess           - Thomas Maloney               - Carol Dunn      

-          Lola Caros                    - Anastasios, Archbishop   - Tatiana, Presvytera  

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Church Calendar

  • STJB Calendar

    March 2 to March 16, 2025

    Sunday, March 2

    8:15AM Orthros

    9:30AM Divine Liturgy

    11:00AM No Sunday School - Forgiveness Sunday

    11:30AM Coffee Hour - Potluck

    12:00PM GOYA meeting

    12:15PM Explore Orthodoxy Class

    6:00PM Forgiveness Vespers

    Monday, March 3

    5:00PM Confessions

    6:00PM Great Compline w. Canon of St. Andrew

    Tuesday, March 4

    5:30PM Lenten Initiatives - Serve dinner at SafeHaven Arlington

    6:00PM Great Compline w. Canon of St. Andrew

    8:30PM GOYA Evening Prayers on Google Meet.

    Wednesday, March 5

    6:00AM Presanctified Liturgy

    5:00PM Feed the Hungry - packing lunch bags for UGM

    6:00PM Great Compline w. Canon of St. Andrew

    7:30PM Book and Soup for the Soul

    Thursday, March 6

    6:00PM Great Compline w. Canon of St. Andrew

    Friday, March 7

    11:00AM Homeschool Co-op

    5:00PM Confessions

    6:00PM Salutations to the Theotokos (1)

    7:00PM 1st Lenten Soup Supper

    Saturday, March 8

    8:00AM Orthros & Divine Liturgy

    10:00AM Trail Life Orientation/Q&A Parish kickoff meeting

    11:30AM Lenten Initiatives - Serve lunch at SafeHaven Arlington,

    11:30AM Baptism Clara Henshaw

    2:00PM Choir Rehearsal

    4:00PM Confession

    5:00PM Great Vespers

    Sunday, March 9

    8:15AM Orthros

    9:30AM Divine Liturgy

    11:00AM Philoptochos Pascha Bake Sale Forms

    11:00AM NO Sunday School - Sunday of Orthodoxy (Bring your icon)

    11:30AM Coffee Hour - Potluck

    11:45AM Oratorical Festival

    12:15PM Explore Orthodoxy Class

    6:00PM Pan Orthodox Vespers at Holy Trinity GOC in Dallas

    Monday, March 10

    5:00PM Confessions

    6:00PM Great Compline

    7:00PM Parish Council Meeting

    Tuesday, March 11

    8:30PM GOYA Evening Prayers on Google Meet.

    Wednesday, March 12

    5:30PM Presanctified Liturgy

    7:00PM Book and Soup for the Soul

    Friday, March 14

    11:00AM Homeschool Co-op

    5:00PM Confessions

    6:00PM Salutations to the Theotokos (2)

    Saturday, March 15

    9:00AM Men's Breakfast

    4:00PM Confession

    5:00PM Great Vespers

    Sunday, March 16

    8:15AM Orthros

    9:30AM Divine Liturgy

    10:45AM Sunday School

    11:00AM Spring General Assembly

    5:45PM Lenten Initiatives - Serve dinner at The Bridge homeless shelter in Dallas

    6:00PM Pan Orthodox Vespers at St. Demetrios GOC in Fort Worth

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