A Monthly Publication of 1240 Broadbridge Ave, Stratford, CT 06615 Vol. 8. No. 73 - Summer 2018 Celebrating Our Patronal Feast Day! The Nativity Of The Holy Prophet Forerunner And Baptist John Theotokos Save Us! The Prophet Parish Ministries Coordinators Church School Coordinator: Pani Carol Paproski The Official Monthly Publication of The Orthodox Greek Catholic Church Junior ACRY Youth Group: Debbie Samilenko of Saint John the Baptist Sr. ACRY : Eve Nucifora 1240 Broadbridge Avenue, Stratford, CT 06615 Parish Website: www.sjoc.org Outreach Coordinators Email: [email protected] Community & Mary Householder/ Very. Rev. Protopresbyter Peter Paproski Soup Kitchen Eve Nucifora Phone & Fax: 203-375-2564 Cell: 203-260-0423 Bereavement Jean Lomme Young Families Michelle Mihaly Parish Council President: William Bilcheck, Jr. The Sick /Shut-ins M.Allis/E. Nucifora 203-421-3121 email: [email protected] Financial Investment William Bilcheck,Jr. Divine Services William Booth, Jr. Vespers: Sat: 5:00 pm, Eve of Feasts: 7:00 pm Thomas Decerbo Divine Liturgy Sunday & Week Day 9:00 am Matthew Mihaly Services of Intercession as Announced Coffee Hour Fellowship Sundays 10:30 am Property Maintenance/ Thomas Decerbo Church School (Sept- May) Sundays: 10:45 am Improvements Frank Meyernick SUBMISSION DEADLINE FOR THE Scholarship Eve Nucifora Helen Guman SEPTEMBER ISSUE OF THE PROPHET me AUGUST 21, 2018 Database Coordinator: Christine LeClerc Webmaster: Michael Decerbo Pastor’s Message.................................................................................... Page 3 Life HEPassages ...IS Birthdays, AND Anniversaries.............................................. EVER SHALL Page BE! 4 St. John’s Stewards..... Coffee Hour, Cleaning, Reading Schedules...... Page 4 Community Outreach.............................................................................. Page 5 MonthCHRIST in Review: ParishSUMMER & DiocesanIS IN News &OUR Photos, Obitua MIDST!2015ries…… Pgs 6 -11 Summer News and Announcements……………........................................Pages 12- 13 Coming Events..........................................................................................Pages 14-15 Church Tips For The Summer……………………………….…………………….. Page 16 View From Pews, Bullying, Our Gifts………………………………………….…Pages 16-21 Patronal Feast & Other Summer Feasts, Church Chuckles………………..Pgs 22-24 Prayer Corner: Daily Scripture Readings, Prayer List.............................Pgs 25-27 July Calendar of Services and Events...................................................... Page 28 Aug Calendar of Services and Events...................................................... Page 29 2 A MESSAGE FROM FATHER PETER Dear Parishioners, Glory Be To Jesus Christ! Glory Forever! We have just entered into the beautiful Season of Summer. School is out, the weather is finally warming up, and the hectic pace of life has begun to slow down a bit. For many, Summer will bring the opportunity for vacationing with our family and friend. Pani Carol and I just returned from a vacation at the Delaware Shore where we spent a week relaxing at the Beach, soaking in the sun and breathing in the refreshing salt air. This year we were delighted to see for the first time ever, dolphins playing in the sea! As I gazed at the sea and braved the crashing waves to enter in the clear but cold water, I could not help but call to mind the words of the 104th Psalm from Vespers which praises the marvels of God’s creation and His Eternal Wisdom in how beautiful and purposefully he created all things, great and small, the earth and the sea and that is in it. The refrain that is sung during this Psalm says its best: How marvelous are Your works O Lord, in Wisdom You have made them all! After a long and stressful year since my last vacation, it was as if I had forgotten how beautiful God made our world! It is sad that in the course of our daily lives and all of the stresses and cares that we are burdened with, we are far too often blind to the reality of the Presence of God in the beauty of His Creation. We are so bent over and consumed with the cares of life that we do not gaze heavenward to delight in the beauty of the clouds , or the Sun setting over the horizon. We are too busy to quite literally stop and smell the roses and pay attention to the beautiful orchestral symphony offered by the various members of the animal kingdom, each adding their own unique sound and cadence. I was so grateful for the opportunity to escape if only for a week the unending treadmill of non stop activity and mental engagement, so that I could find rest in the arms of our loving Saviour. The same Lord who constantly invites all of us who are burdened and weary from life to Come unto Him, and find rest. And rest I found, which brought peace and joy to my heart. I pray that all of you will be able to take some time to rest in the arms of the Lord on vacation, or even if only for an afternoon in your own back yard, so that you can be spiritual rejuvenated as you drink in the beauty of the created world. I caution you, however, not to take a vacation from Church, but to instead find rest in attending Sunday Liturgy and observing the feast day celebrations in our little wonderfully air conditioned , and beautifully adorned Church. Our slice of Paradise and place of rest and refreshment. Happy Summer, See you at the beach AND at Church! With Love in Christ, 3 Life Passages July-August 2018 – Date Name Event July 1 Ilona Decerbo Birthday July 10 Paul Best Birthday July 12 Justyn & Joseph Stokely, David Lomme Birthday July 13 Leticia Asante Birthday July 15 William Asante Birthday July 16 Kathy and Orestes Mihaly Anniversary July 18 Fr. Luke Mihaly, Matthew Papillo Birthday July 21 Keith Mazzabufi Birthday July 22 Kenneth J. Lomme Birthday July 23 Rita Mihalko, Patricia Papillo, Deb Ryan Birthday July 25 Andrew Best Birthday July 26 Janet Musante Birthday July 31 Kathy Kravec Birthday Aug 6 Marge Allis Birthday Aug 10 Bill Booth, Jr. Birthday Aug 10 Arlene & Frank Auer Anniversary Aug 11 Tom Decerbo, Edward Booth, Jessica Stirna Birthday Aug 13 Cynthia Dion Birthday Aug 14 Jason Vargovchik Birthday Aug 20 Bill & Holly Bilcheck Anniversary Aug 22 Jean Lomme Birthday Aug 25 Alice VanHouten Birthday Aug 29 Rich & Eve Nucifora Anniversary Aug 30 Frank Meyernick Birthday _____________________________________________________________________________ St John’s Stewards: Doing the Work of the Church COFFEE HOUR CHURCH READING Date Host Date Hours Epistle 7/1 Stirna/Meyernick 7/1 Pani Carol Matt 7/8 Stokely 7/8 Holly Cantors 7/15 Bilcheck 7/15 Pani Carol Bill 7/22 Booth 7/22 Holly Matt 7/29 Decerbo 7/29 Pani Carol Cantors 8/5 Ivers/Pierce 8/5 Holly Bill 8/12 Lomme/Mihaly 8/12 Pani Carol Matt 8/19 Porter/LeClerc 8/19 Holly Cantors 8/26 Ryan/Nucifora 8/26 Pani Carol Bill CHURCH CLEANING We are now soliciting sponsorships from our parishioners who wish to assist with the cleaning of the Church, but are not able to join the cleaning roster. You may offer a single cleaning sponsorship of $30.00 or multiple cleaning sponsorships. If you are interested in doing so, please place your donation in a donation envelope clearly marked with your name and the amount, indicating it is a Cleaning Sponsorship and place it in the metal collection box. You may also mail it to the Church. Thank you for your consideration of this request. 4 COMMUNITY SUPPER PROGRAM UPDATE We are responsible for providing supper once a month on Monday or Wednesday Evenings at Christ Episcopal Church from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm and quarterly on Mondays at St. George Episcopal Church, Bpt. If you are able to work at a supper, or if you are able to make a salad or dessert for a scheduled meal, please see Mary Householder or Eve Nucifora. If you would like to Sponsor a meal, a donation of $125.00 would cover an entire meal. Note: We could use brownies for 7/16,. We need 6 people willing to bake a 13×9 pan and bring to church on the 15th. Please let Mary or Eve know if you can help. PARISH COMMUNITY SUPPER SCHEDULE Date: Location 7/16 Christ Church, Stratford 7/30 Calvary/St George, Bridgeport 8/13 Christ Church, Stratford 9/17 Christ Church, Stratford FOOD FOR THE NEEDY Our Food Drive for Sterling House is ongoing and their needs are especially crucial in this difficult economy. Child-friendly food items are needed. Among the items needed are hot and cold cereals, juices, pancake and waffle mixes, frozen breakfast foods, peanut butter, jelly, tuna fish, instant puddings, crackers, snack foods, canned soups and fruits, powdered drink mixes, boxed and canned potatoes and macaroni and cheese, as well as microwavable and single-serving meals. Now refrigerated items such as milk and eggs are also accepted. Also: We need some basic items for a needy, mentally disabled person whom we directly help to tide him over until the beginning of each month. Here are items our friend can use: Creamy Peanut Butter and Crackers, Vanilla Wafer cookies, 2 Liter Bottle of Regular Pepsi, Paper Towels, Shampoo, (large bottle any brand), Folgers coffee. NO MORE RAVIOLI’S PLEASE. Also, gift cards from Stop and Shop would be helpful so that we may purchase perishable food items such as bread, milk, meat and other foods items that are needed. If you can contribute any of these specific items, please leave these items in Father Peter’s Office, not in the general food collection basket. Cash donations/gift cards should be put in an envelope marked clearly for needy food purchase and placed in the collection box on the candle desk. Thank You! “For I was Hungry and You Fed Me” PARISH WISH LIST 1. Stop and Shop Gift Cards of any denominations for use in purchasing groceries for the needy Any parishioner interested in donating any of these items are kindly asked to see Fr.