Saint John The Baptist Orthodox Church

Sunday Services

Matins: 9:00 a.m.

Divine Liturgy: 10:00 a.m.

Coffee Fellowship follows Divine Liturgy

Saturdays - 5:00 pm - Vespers

(Confession available following Vespers)

691 Green Street, Craig, CO 81625

Fr. David Henderson - 970-846-2245

fatherdavid@saintjohnscraig.org

www.saintjohnscraig.org

Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America



In This Issue:

A Message from Father David

Epistle and Gospel Readings

for Sunday, August 30

Food for the Soul

This Week/Next Week Services and Coming Events

A Message from Father David

Praying When We Don’t Feel Like It

There’s a lot we do in our lives, regardless of how we might feel in the moment. We wake up in the middle of the night to care for a crying child. We get up on Monday morning and go to work. We get off the couch to go to the gym. Very rarely do we always “feel” like doing any of these – we just do them, because they are the right things to do. And often, once we find ourselves doing what we need to do, we find some measure of satisfaction and growth in taking care of our responsibilities. As the saying goes, “98% of life is showing up.”

In the Orthodox spiritual life, prayer no different. Prayer is not first a matter of our feelings or emotions, but an offering of ourselves to God. There are days when our hearts are warm and open, and prayer comes easily. There are also days (many!) when our prayer feels dry, distracted, or even a burden. On such days, simply standing before God is itself an act of faith. We may whisper the Jesus Prayer when we’re tired and have nothing else to say. We make the sign of the Cross without emotion, and this small gesture reminds us that we belong to Christ. We say the appointed prayers in our prayerbooks because they give voice to what’s in our hearts when we can’t summon the words for ourselves. 

All of these are small, humble sacrifices of love. We do not pray because we already feel particularly holy. We pray because we know we need healing, because God is faithful, and because His grace often works quietly beneath the surface. We pray in order to grow into the likeness of Christ. To pray, especially when we do not feel like it, is to admit to the Lord, “I am here, weak as I am. I’m showing up. Have mercy on me.”

Blessings,

Father David



Epistle and Gospel Readings

Psalm 103.24,1

O Lord, how manifold are your works.

You have made all things in wisdom.

Verse: Bless the Lord, O my soul.

The Epistle Reading is from St. Paul's

First Letter to the Corinthians 16:13-24

Brethren, be watchful, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love. Now, brethren, you know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints; I urge you to be subject to such men and to every fellow worker and laborer. I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicos, because they have made up for your absence; for they refreshed my spirit as well as yours. Give recognition to such men. The churches of Asia send greetings. Aquila and Prisca, together with the church in their house, send you hearty greetings in the Lord. All the brethren send greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss. I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. If any one has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. Our Lord, come! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.



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They Were Willing

"He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach" (Mark 3:14). The men Jesus chose were fishermen, tax collectors, and political radicals. They were not the religious elite. They were not the most educated or the most impressive. They were available.

This matters because we often disqualify ourselves from God’s purposes based on our own assessment of our worthiness. We look at our failures, our lack of training, our messy histories, and we conclude that God must be looking for someone better.

But God has never chosen people because they were qualified. He chose Moses, who had a speech impediment. He chose David, who was an adulterer and a murderer. He chose Peter, who denied Him three times. And He chose Paul, who persecuted His Church.

"God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty" (1 Corinthians 1:27). This is not a consolation for the unqualified. It is the strategy of God. He uses the unlikely so that the glory belongs to Him alone.

St. Gregory Palamas teaches, "God chose ordinary people so that His power might be made evident." If the apostles had been impressive on their own, people would have credited them, not God. Their weakness was the canvas on which His power was displayed.



Today, stop waiting to be qualified. The twelve were not. They were simply willing to be with Him and to be sent. That is the only requirement. And it is enough.

-The Louhs

Earlier this year, we completed Phase I of our planned iconography with the installation of 20 saints surrounding the lower half of the north, south, and west walls in the sanctuary. These icons have beautified our church and enhanced the spiritual experience of those who worship with us. The future Phase II will include 15 scenes from the Life of Saint John the Baptist, and the Dormition of the Theotokos above the 20 saints installed in Phase I. By God's grace and the generosity of many, much of the finding needed to commence Phase II has been raised and reserved.

In the meantime, we are very pleased to share that a third phase of iconography has been graciously donated to the church to adorn the Holy Altar.  This will include a large icon of Holy Communion below the existing Platitera icon above the Altar. Below the icon of Holy Communion, full figures of Saints John Chrysostom, Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and James the First Bishop of Jerusalem, will be installed on each side of the stained-glass windows.  Additionally, an icon of the Nativity of Christ will be installed above the Prothesis table where the Holy Gifts are prepared before Divine Liturgy.  We are blessed to receive this iconography at no cost to the parish. Installation is planned for December or early January!

Saint John's Young Adults gathered on August 22 for swimming, paddle boarding and fellowship in North Routt County, followed by a barbecue and games.

We are blessed to have this vibrant group of faithful young stewards within our parish, and we look forward to watching them and this ministry continue to grow and flourish!

This Week

Saturday, August 29

• Matins (9:00 AM)
• Divine Liturgy (10:00 AM) Feast Day of the Beheading of John the Baptist
• Great Vespers (5:00 PM)

Sunday, August 30

• Matins (9:00 AM)
• Divine Liturgy - (10:00 AM)

August 30 - September 3

• Metropolis of Denver Men's Retreat

Tuesday, September 1

• No Orthodox Journey class tonight.

Saturday, September 5

• Great Vespers (5:00 PM)

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Upcoming Services / Events

Sunday, September 6

• Matins (9:00 AM)
• Divine Liturgy - (10:00 AM)
• Food Trailer Lunch and Event at the church following Liturgy - Local Churches are invited for Lunch with proceeds benefitting Love, Inc.

Tuesday, September 8

• Orthodox Journey (7:00 PM) This interactive discussion is for Catechumens and for all who would like to learn more about the Orthodox Faith. It is held in person at the church and by Zoom. Click here to join: Orthodox Journey or use Meeting ID 973 8769 5656 and passcode 302935.

Saturday, September 12

• No Great Vespers this week.

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Saint John's Bookstore

Saint John’s bookstore is open in the Narthex where you can buy or borrow Orthodox Study Bibles, various books about our faith and the lives of the Saints, icons, prayer ropes, and other items. Come and see!