Brothers and Sisters,
Greetings in the Name of the Lord.
We’re going to be announcing the results of our Three Year Pledge Drive during The Divine Liturgy on Sunday, November 10, so if you have not made a pledge on REALM or spoken with one of the Finance Folks about recording your pledge in a different fashion, please get that taken care of as soon as possible. We’re going to be making that announcement on November 10, because, the following week, Father Andrew will be traveling to the UK to be present in the parish at Folkestone when those good folks transfer the bones of St Eanswythe into the new reliquary that we helped them purchase. Father Andrew will be there to thank our patroness for bringing us this far in our Building Campaign, but he’ll also have time to remember any prayer requests that we send with him, so get your list ready, and be sure and join us on Sunday, November 10, for our exciting news.
Our Calendar
Fasting Days
Wednesday, November 6 and Friday, November 9
Daily Services
Monday, November 5--Friday, November 6, Orthros 5am and Vespers, 5pm ( if you wish to attend the daily services, it’s always a good idea to check the day before to make sure the services will be offered). Fr. Andrew, Seth Hart, and Matthew Groh and many other folks continue to broadcast daily readings from spiritual books online. They are now reading “The Ecclesiastical History of the English Speaking People” by Bede of Jarrow. The schedule is as follows: M-F at 12pm.
In addition to the daily Synaxarion readings posted in the #synaxarion channel on Discord, the online team is now posting daily Bible Readings that will allow you to read through the Bible in a year. These readings are posted in the #bible-365 channel.
Tuesday, November 5
Orthodoxy 101 7pm; you can also access the group on Discord
Wednesday, November 6
Fall Theological Seminar 7pm; you can also access the group on Discord
Thursday, November 7
The Bible Study, New Testament Edition 7pm; you can access this group on Discord
Saturday, November 9
St Thomas School 4pm
Great Vespers 6pm
Sunday, November 10
The Eighth Sunday of St Luke
Orthros 8am
Church School 8:15am
Divine Liturgy 10am
Fellowship Hour
Tuesday, November 12
Orthodoxy 101 7pm; you can also access the group on Discord
Wednesday, November 13
Fall Theological Seminar 7pm; you can also access the group on Discord
Our Memorial Service
Thank you for your prayers for our departed brother in Christ, George Gurjanow. Though he was not a longtime parishioner of St. John's, he made friends here in his brief time before his death, and some of us still may have the birdhouses he made to sell in our old bookstore. Please take a moment to read his memorial bio attached to the email version of this newsletter. May his memory be eternal.
The Talent Show!
Hey everyone! Our annual talent (variety) show is just around the corner, and we would love it if you signed up. This event is a great opportunity for parishioners to share and celebrate each other's unique gifts, experiences, and creations.
WHEN: SATURDAY, November 9th, 2024, at 4:00 - 5:45 pm. (give or take, depending on the number of submissions). *Festivities will continue after Great Vespers.
WHERE: Under the big tree between the church and the parish house.
WHAT TO SHARE: music, a story from your life (photos welcome), poetry, interpretive dance, a skit, a "how-to," a party trick, or anything that bubbles up from the deep. **It should be between 3 -5 minutes and family appropriate.**
WHAT TO BRING: You are responsible for instruments and props. We will provide a piano and microphone w/PA system. Adult beverages, responsibly consumed, are welcome.
If you have multiple people from your family doing separate performances, please submit for each person. If you have questions, DM or email Rigel T.
*Are you part of the Unofficial St. John's Family Band or want to be? Bring your instrument, and we'll continue the music and merry-making after Vespers.
St Thomas School
On Saturday, November 9, we will be having one of our Practical Class Presentations. Father Aidan will be talking about Raising Orthodox Children, and since it’s something most of us are involved in, it will be worth showing up for the discussion. The group will consider what the Church teaches about children, what we all should be doing in light of that teaching, and practical next steps that we all can take, so plan on joining us in the parish house at 4pm.
Our Fall Theological Seminar
It’s not too late to join The Fall Theological Seminar. We’re reading a book by a Protestant pastor; the book is called Stability; it’s still available in the bookstore. But we’re not only talking about the spiritual advantages—and challenges—of sticking it out in a particular community, we’re also talking with folks in our parish who have done just that. Below is the schedule for the rest of the readings and the interviews, but plan now to join us in the parish house at 7pm each Wednesday evening through the start of Nativity Lent--and, while we will have an online option available for those folks who live at a distance, let’s not forget that the conversation is always richer and more meaningful if you are actually present.
Nov 6 Reading Assignment: Chapter 7. Where Do We Stay From Here? p 134-148. Guests: John and Lindsey B.
Nov 13 Conclusion: The Final Stability
Coming Up
It will be here before we know it! The Nativity Fast will begin on Friday, November 15 and run through Wednesday, December 25.This fasting season is divided into two periods: (A) November 15th through December 19th when the traditional fasting discipline (no meat, poultry, eggs, dairy, fish, wine, and olive oil) is observed on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, with a blessing for wine and olive oil (some also permit fish) on Tuesday and Thursday, and for fish, wine, and olive oil on Saturday and Sunday, and (B) the period of the Forefeast, December 20th through 24th, when the traditional fasting discipline is observed Monday through Friday, with a blessing for wine and olive oil on Saturday and Sunday. The eve of the feast, December 24th is a strict fast day. December 25th through January 4th is fast-free. Please begin to make your plans now, and, if you need to modify the fast in any way, be sure to get a blessing from one of the priests.
On Thursday, November 21, we will celebrate The Feast of the Entrance. We’ll serve Great Vespers on Wednesday, November 20, at 7pm, and then, on the day of the feast, we will offer Orthros at 5am and Divine Liturgy at 7am. Please join us as we honor the Most Holy Theotokos as we commemorate her entrance into the temple at Jerusalem.
During the Nativity Fast, we will be serving the Nativity Paraclesis on Wednesday evenings at 7pm. We will offer the service on November 27, and also on December 4, 11, and the 18th. Our hope is that everyone will do their best to join us for at least one of the evenings, but, of course, you’re welcome to attend as often as you would like.
Our Moment of Grace and Courtesy
We should not let young children stretch out and lie down on the floor in the nave. Even if they are in a corner of the room or up by the iconostasis, because the nave is so crowded, there is always the possibility that someone might fall over them, and both the child and the person who falls over them could end up with a serious injury. If children need to work off some energy or if they are tired and need to lie down, then they should be taken outside or to the children’s room over in the parish house.
Capital Campaign Countdown Column
Whatever is obtained as a result of long and persistent prayer will remain.
-St John Climacus
We are now well into the three year pledge portion of our capital campaign, so please go ahead and record your commitment on REALM. If you questions about how to do that, just contact Arun J. or Father Andrew Wilson. If you have questions about the project itself, please read through the FAQ that is attached to this newsletter, but, to help us get the most out of this historic effort, this week’s Countdown Column is by Steve G., a member of our parish council:
Greetings friends, Christ is in our Midst! Thank you for joining together in our church's capital campaign to build a new temple! Together we are saved, together we come together to Glorify God, and together we will build a temple where our community can do that for generations to come. To that end, it's not just what we are doing now, but what we are going to leave behind for our children and our children’s children; I can't think of anything better to pass to the next generation than a place where they can come to commune together and Glorify God. We have embarked on a 3 year capital campaign to build the new temple, and to be honest, that time will pass before we know it. Together with prayers and support during this capital campaign, we will achieve this worthwhile goal.
Thank you for your love and support to our community and to the capital campaign!
-Steve G.
an unworthy priest
aidan