Saint John The Baptist Orthodox Church

Weekly Newsletter and Sunday Bulletin

Sunday, May 10, 2026

(Sunday of the Samaritan Woman)

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, May 10


Food for the Soul


This Week/Next Week Services and Coming Events


A Message from Father David


“Whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst.”   (John 4:14)


This next Sunday, the fourth Sunday after Pascha, we reflect upon the profound meeting between our Lord and the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s Well, as recorded in the 4th chapter of St. John’s Gospel. This encounter is not only a story of thirst and water, but of the living water that quenches the thirst of the soul—an invitation to transformation for each one of us.


The Lord approaches the woman whom the Church venerates as St. Photini, not in a place of comfort, but at a well, in the heat of the day, when burdens are heavy and hearts are weary. He asks her for a drink, breaking social norms and barriers. Jews did not associate with Samaritans, and men rarely spoke to women in public. Yet Christ’s love knows no boundaries. He reaches out to all, regardless of background or past sins.


As their conversation unfolds, Jesus reveals that He is the source of “living water,” which alone can satisfy the deepest longings of the heart. He exposes her past, not to shame her, but to reveal His divine knowledge and love, and to invite her to repentance and new life. Just as with His meeting with the Samaritan woman at the well, Christ comes to meet us where we are. He offers us forgiveness, hope, and a new beginning. He does not wait for us to be perfect, but lovingly calls each one of us where we are, and invites us to become who we are created to be.


Let us draw near to the well of Christ’s mercy, confessing our sins with humility and courage. Let us drink deeply of His living water, which is the Holy Spirit poured into our hearts. And like St. Photini, let us bear witness to Christ, so that others, too, may come to believe and rejoice in His salvation.


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 reading is from Acts of the Apostles 11:19-30


In those days, those apostles who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to none except Jews. But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Greeks also, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number that believed turned to the Lord. News of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad; and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose; for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a large company was added to the Lord. So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul; and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church, and taught a large company of people; and in Antioch the disciples were for the first time called Christians. Now in these days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. And one of them named Agabos stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world; and this took place in the days of Claudius. And the disciples determined, every one according to his ability, to send relief to the brethren who lived in Judea, and they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.


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The Gospel According to John 4:5-42


At that time, Jesus came to a city of Samaria, called Sychar, near the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Jacob's well was there, and so Jesus, wearied as he was with his journey, sat down beside the well. It was about the sixth hour.


There came a woman of Samaria to draw water. Jesus said to her, "Give me a drink." For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food. The Samaritan woman said to him, "How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?" For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans. Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, 'Give me a drink,' you would have asked him and he would have given you living water." The woman said to him, "Sir, you have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep; where do you get that living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, and his sons, and his cattle?" Jesus said to her, "Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst; the water that I shall give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw."


Jesus said to her, "Go, call your husband, and come here." The woman answered him, "I have no husband." Jesus said to her, "You are right in saying, 'I have no husband'; for you have had five husbands, and he whom you now have is not your husband; this you said truly." The woman said to him, "Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped on this mountain; and you say that Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship." Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for such the Father seeks to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth." The woman said to him, "I know that the Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ); when he comes, he will show us all things." Jesus said to her, "I who speak to you am he."


Just then his disciples came. They marveled that he was talking with a woman, but none said, "What do you wish?" or, "Why are you talking with her?" So the woman left her water jar, and went away into the city and said to the people, "Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?" They went out of the city and were coming to him.


Meanwhile the disciples besought him, saying "Rabbi, eat." But he said to them, "I have food to eat of which you do not know." So the disciples said to one another, "Has anyone brought him food?" Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of him who sent me, and to accomplish his work. Do you not say, 'There are yet four months, then comes the harvest'? I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see how the fields are already white for harvest. He who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. For here the saying holds true, 'One sows and another reaps.' I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor; others have labored, and you have entered into their labor."


Many Samaritans from that city believed in him because of the woman's testimony. "He told me all that I ever did." So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them; and he stayed there two days. And many more believed because of his word. They said to the woman, "It is no longer because of your words that we believe, for we have heard ourselves, and we know that this is indeed Christ the Savior of the world."


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Food for the Soul


This Week


Saturday, May 9

  • No Vespers Service


Sunday, May 10

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


Tuesday, May 12

  • Orthodox Journey (7:00 PM) This interactive discussion is for Catechemuns 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, May 16

  • Great Vespers (5:00 PM)


+ + +


Upcoming Services / Events


Sunday, May 17

  • Matins (9:00 AM)
  • Divine Liturgy (10:00 AM)
  • Spring Parish Assembly following Liturgy (link to Agenda below)


Tuesday, May 19

  • Orthodox Journey (7:00 PM) This interactive discussion is for Catechemuns 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.


Thursday, May 21

  • Divine Liturgy celebrating the Holy Ascension (10:00 AM)


Saturday, May 23

  • Great Vespers (5:00 PM)


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Spring Parish Assembly Meeting


Sunday May 17 following Divine Liturgy


Link to Agenda


Please plan to attend!





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!