Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Denver
St. John’s Eastern Orthodox Church
www.stjohnprodromos.org
1101 Bell Street
Amarillo, Texas, 79106
(806) 355-0683 phone
June/July Calendar
Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen!
 Saturday, June 13 : 2nd Saturday After Pentecost: Vespers – 6:00 PM
 Sunday, June 14: 2nd Sunday of Matthew: Orthros – 9:00 AM, Divine
Liturgy – 10:00 AM
General Assembly Meeting – Following Liturgy
 Saturday, June 27: 4th Saturday After Pentecost: Vespers – 6:00 PM
 Sunday, June 28: 4th Sunday of Matthew: Orthros – 9:00 AM, Divine
Liturgy – 10:00 AM
 Saturday, July 11: Vespers – 6:00 PM
 Sunday, July 12: 6th Sunday of Matthew: Orthros – 9:00 AM, Divine
Liturgy – 10:00 AM
 Saturday, July 25: Dormition of St. Anna: Vespers – 6:00 PM
 Sunday, July 26: 8th Sunday of Matthew: Orthros – 9:00 AM, Divine
Liturgy – 10:00 AM
Important Reminder: Holy Apostle Fast begins June 7, and lasts
through June 28. The Nativity of John The Forerunner, is on June 24.
Special Thanks and Announcements
 This bulletin is for June and July! We are going to try doing two
months of announcements and scheduling.
 Thank you Billy, who is keeping up with mowing the grass and the
general grounds-keeping! The rain is keeping him busy this year!
 Thank you to Donna and Michelle. They are going to inventory the
Church’s library.
 Thank you to Donna for baking Prosphora for the month of June.
 Don’t forget about the June 3 “Fellowship and Game Night”! (Flier
attached)
 General Assembly is on June 14, following Divine Liturgy. We
encourage everyone to come and to participate in the matters of the
Parish. Your input is important.
 Thank you to everyone who has volunteered and helped with April’s
bake sale, dinners, and the Loukoumades Breakfast. Our fundraisers
netted $351.72 in April!
 If you have not completed your 2015 Stewardship Card, please
complete it, and turn it in at General Assembly meeting on June 14.
This greatly helps our Parish budget throughout the year.
 If you are wanting to have information or announcements placed in
the bulletin, we ask that you submit them in writing (email or letter)
to Josh or Allison Butler, no later than the 15th of the month. We will
do our best to get all announcements included, and please forgive us
if we have omitted anything here.
Fellowship & Game Night
at St. John Orthodox Church
Wednesday, June 3
6:30 to 9 pm
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It’s a non-fasting night, so join us for
hamburgers and other grill-ables!
Bring your friends, neighbors, relatives, coworkers—anyone who might like an evening out.
Expect an evening of fun and fellowship (with
games provided).
Grill, Charcoal & Meats will be provided.
Please RSVP so we will know how much food to
get; also let us know if you can bring something.
Cook a dish if you like, but we also need things
like chips, buns, lettuce, tomato, & toppings.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------RSVP to: call: 806-690-2066
Glenn or Michelle in person
Or email: glenn.coulter@gmail.com
Management expert, Peter Drucker, was told the story of a museum that once polled its visitors
to determine why they had come to the museum. The greatest percentage of visitors replied
that they came into the museum because it was raining outside. The second most frequent
response was that they came in to use the rest room. To this story, Drucker responded with the
question, “How many of these visitors came back?” God brings people through the doors of our
churches for many reasons. How many of these visitors will come back?
When Jesus said, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…” He gave us the great
commission which today calls us to transform the parish into an agency of Christian mission.
This will require a renewed effort to reach out and welcome all parishioners, inactive Orthodox,
visitors, inquirers and all who walk through the doors of our churches. Described in this article
are practical first steps toward parish renewal, outreach & evangelism that may be
implemented in every parish.
Visitors
With our doors open to visitors, it is suggested that they be welcomed publicly by the priest at
the conclusion of the liturgy and invited to the coffee hour, setting the tone for the
congregation's response and personal welcome. Names, addresses and telephone numbers
must be obtained using either a guest book or a guest card that may be completed before
entering the church. Ushers/greeters must be shown the importance of reaching out to visitors,
with a warm greeting and a Sunday bulletin.
The church hall should be set up with a visitors' table at which would be stationed parishioners
interested in this outreach mission of the Church. Available at the table would be information
on the parish, its programs, membership directory, bulletin, upcoming events and brochures on
Orthodoxy. All items that the visitor receives should be well marked with the name, address,
telephone, e-mail and website of the parish, and the name of the priest. If visitors would like,
they may be added to the parish mailing list for bulletins and special events.
Public Awareness
Dignified and respectful ads could appear regularly in the Saturday religion section of the local
newspapers as a resource to visitors and to those who have recently moved to the area. The
same ad could also appear in the area Yellow Pages telephone directory. Area hotels should be
made aware of the parish location & worship schedule. There is nothing more frustrating than
desiring to attend liturgy and not being able to find the local Orthodox parish.
Local Ecumenical Activities
Be aware of opportunities for Christians of different traditions to cooperate at the grass roots
level, especially food banks, soup kitchens, and social service agencies. Stay open to the
possibilities for the sharing of resources toward a common goal with Christians of other
traditions. Be aware of those special occasions when Christians come together for public
prayer, such as the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (January), Thanksgiving, Advent, Lent,
September 11, or a special day of prayer called for by a national leader.
Parish Bookstore / Book Table
There is a hunger for knowledge among people of growing faith. There has also been an
increase in the amount of Orthodox writing available in English due to many excellent
translations of classic works. This is complemented by the great number of writings in English
by current Orthodox theologians. Awareness may be raised through book reviews in the church
bulletin, recommendations from the pulpit – especially of books appropriate to the current
cycle of worship, and parish book discussion groups.
The Parish Council and Missionary Vision
Place missions on the agenda of annual planning meetings with the suggestion that the parish
begin its commitment to mission with a line item in the budget for the Missions (domestic &
abroad). Establish a parish committee for Parish Renewal, Outreach & Evangelism.
Publications
Great care must be given to parish mailings (bulletins, stewardship packets, special letters,
notices, etc.). For those who rarely come to church, this will be their impression of the parish,
clergy and staff.
Priests and qualified parishioners might offer to periodically submit articles, commentaries
and/or book reviews to the local newspaper on religious topics of general interest. The parish
could invite reporters to cover the traditions and services of Lent, Holy Week and Pascha,
offering background information on Orthodox beliefs, customs and traditions of the season.
Computer Publications & Communication
Equip the parish with a computer, and set up a parish website. The site could include all
information that is distributed in bulletins, schedules, pamphlets, as well as photos, letters from
the pastor and/or parish council president. Assistance in this area is available from the
Archdiocesan Department of Information Technologies.
Conclusion
There is nothing that is done in the parish that is not apostolic. Parish renewal, outreach and
evangelism is not a person, a committee, a mission center or a project. It is an attitude .
Everything we do is an opportunity for renewal. Every person, every project, and every list of
names offers potential for outreach. There is no limit to the time we may spend on evangelism.
Parish renewal, outreach and evangelism is a person-to-person process.
I wanted to post this article from the Goarch website. It encouraged me, and I
hope it encourages you too, especially in preparation for our next General
Assembly meeting. God bless you all!