Ministries and Activities
Antiochian Women
The Antiochian Orthodox Women (AOW) was founded in 1973 through the vision of His Eminence Metropolitan Philip with a three-fold purpose:
To develop a spirit of Christian leadership, awareness, and holy commitment among women throughout the archdiocese.
To foster a genuine expression of love and service through works of charity.
To instill among women through the archdiocese and the community at large a deeper sense of the heritage and traditions of the Antiochian Orthodox Church.
Learn more at www.antiochian.org/women.
To develop a spirit of Christian leadership, awareness, and holy commitment among women throughout the archdiocese.
To foster a genuine expression of love and service through works of charity.
To instill among women through the archdiocese and the community at large a deeper sense of the heritage and traditions of the Antiochian Orthodox Church.
Learn more at www.antiochian.org/women.
Book Club
The Book Club meets about once a month to discuss Christian classics, apologetics, and other books of interest to the group. Please check our Calendar for information about the next meeting.
From a Book Club participant:
"Everyone is invited to the St. John's Book Club, whether you have read the book or not. The discussion is always good. We not only talk about the book, but also reflect and compare it to other books or personal experiences. We ask and answer questions, such as Did we like the book? What was special? Would we recommend the book? If so, to whom? It is nothing in-depth or super-analytical, after all, we only have one or one-and-a-half hours. We conclude the evening with some fellowship, and usually there is some wine or a special dessert or snack."
From a Book Club participant:
"Everyone is invited to the St. John's Book Club, whether you have read the book or not. The discussion is always good. We not only talk about the book, but also reflect and compare it to other books or personal experiences. We ask and answer questions, such as Did we like the book? What was special? Would we recommend the book? If so, to whom? It is nothing in-depth or super-analytical, after all, we only have one or one-and-a-half hours. We conclude the evening with some fellowship, and usually there is some wine or a special dessert or snack."
Inquirer's Class
The Inquirers Class meets following Divine Liturgy approximately every other Sunday (see our Calendar for specific dates). These classes are for those who wish to know more about the Orthodox Christian Faith, both inquirers and those who are already Orthodox. All are invited.
Topics are taken from the book Introducing the Orthodox Church: Its Faith and Life, by Anthony Coniaris, and include these and more:
Topics are taken from the book Introducing the Orthodox Church: Its Faith and Life, by Anthony Coniaris, and include these and more:
- The One Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church
- What We Believe About the Holy Trinity
- What We Believe About Salvation
- What We Believe About the Saints and the Theotokos
- What We Believe About the Sacraments
- What We Believe About the Bible
- What We Believe About Icons
JOY Club
The JOY (Junior Orthodox Youth) Club is a program available for children in kindergarten through sixth grade to provide service, worship, and fellowship opportunities for the children of the parish.
Parent volunteers plan and organize the events for the youth throughout the year, especially during the school months. Activities take place both at the parish and throughout the community.
Examples of activities that children have enjoyed in the past include swimming parties, retreats, miniature gold, Christmas caroling, the Saints Festival, bowling, a corn maze, and lessons with Father Peter.
Parent volunteers plan and organize the events for the youth throughout the year, especially during the school months. Activities take place both at the parish and throughout the community.
Examples of activities that children have enjoyed in the past include swimming parties, retreats, miniature gold, Christmas caroling, the Saints Festival, bowling, a corn maze, and lessons with Father Peter.
Sunday Church School
After Divine Liturgy throughout the school year, our Sunday Church
School offers classes for preschool through high school to provide basic
Christian Education for the children of the parish. In addition to the
regular curriculum, students also use this time to participate in
special activities, such as the Nativity pageant and Create Arts
Festival projects. Check our Calendar
for the SCS schedule. If you're interested in having your child
participate, ask a member of the parish to assist you in finding your
child's class after Divine Liturgy.
Teen SOYO
The Society of Orthodox Youth Organization, Teen SOYO as it's
commonly called, is comprised of members of the parish from the ages of
12 through 19. Like youth groups from other churches, Teen SOYO gathers
together to perform services, raise money, and have fun together and
grow in their spiritual lives. Three times a year, SOYO groups from all
over the region gather together in order to coordinate their efforts.
Everyone in the parish within the age range is automatically a member
of Teen SOYO and may participate in the events that are planned.
Through Teen SOYO, our youth serve the community and God in an active
way, while making friends within the parish and throughout the region.
Vacation Church School
For a week in August, the children of the parish learn about the
Orthodox faith in fun and creative ways during our Vacation Church
School. Activities are held for children ages preschool to grade 5.
Check our Calendar for dates and times; registration information will be made available on our homepage a few weeks beforehand.
