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Saint John The Baptist Orthodox Church

Weekly Newsletter and Sunday Bulletin

Sunday, January 19, 2025

(12th Sunday of Luke)

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)


stjohnthebaptist.co.goarch.org

691 Green Street

Craig, CO 81625

Fr. David Henderson - 970-846-2245

fatherdavid@saintjohnscraig.org

Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America


In This Issue:

 A Message from Father David

 

Epistle and Gospel Readings for Sunday, January 19

 

Happening this Week

 

Upcoming Ministry Events/Services

 

Food for the Soul

 

Orthodox Resources



A Message from Father David


“Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”

                                                                                                                                      Ephesians 4:3-6

 

One of the great gifts of western civilization in the past several centuries is the acknowledgement of the sanctity and dignity of every individual person. This, in fact, is a direct result of the influence of the Judeo-Christian Tradition, acknowledging that every human person is created in the image and likeness of God.

 

This core value and belief, however, is a far cry from the kind of “individualism” that permeates our culture, in which the individual becomes his or her own sole authority, with no necessary participation or accountability to others. There is no place for such individualism in the Church. Even within Christianity as it is currently practiced across traditions, there is a tendency to view our own spiritual lives as something “between me and God.” We view our faith as something private, something that is our own, and nobody else’s business. (This is often what is implied when people talk about being “spiritual,” but not “religious,” or claim that they have a personal relationship with Christ, apart from belonging to any group or church.)

 

This is contrary to Holy Tradition and to the teaching of the Orthodox Church. There is no such thing as an “individual Christian,” apart from the life of the Church. We are baptized into Christ, which means we are members of His Body, the Church He established on earth. Of course, the growth of our relationship with Christ does happen in our personal spiritual disciplines of prayer, reading of Holy Scripture, and love towards others; but our personal life in Christ is always anchored and nourished through our participation in the corporate life of the Church. We join in one voice, in unison, as we pray together in the Divine Liturgy. We partake of one bread and one cup, the Body and Blood of Christ in the Eucharist. We care for one another. We are accountable to one another. We build one another up in love. Ultimately, we find salvation together, as a people, a new community founded on Christ.

 


Fr. David





Epistle and Gospel Readings

for Sunday, January 19

(12th Sunday of Luke)

Epistle Reading


Prokeimenon. Mode Plagal 1

Psalm 11.7,1

You, O Lord, shall keep us and preserve us.

Verse: Save me, O Lord, for the godly man has failed.


The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Colossians 3:4-11


Brethren, when Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience. In these you once walked, when you lived in them. But now put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and foul talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old nature with its practices and have put on the new nature, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Here there cannot be Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free man, but Christ is all, and in all.

The Gospel According to Luke 17:12-19


At that time, as Jesus entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices and said: "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us." When he saw them he said to them, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." And as they went they were cleansed. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus's feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. Then said Jesus: "Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" And he said to him: "Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well."

Happening this Week

Saturday, January 18

  • Great Vespers (5:00 PM)


Sunday, January 19

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


Tuesday, January 21

  • Introduction to Orthodoxy Class (7:30 PM) Open to everyone! The class is held in person at the church and can also be attended by Zoom. Please contact Father David with questions or for the Zoom link. fatherdavid@saintjohnscraig.org


Upcoming Ministry Events/Services


Saturday, January 25

  • Great Vespers (5:00 PM)


Sunday, January 26

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


March 16-22

  • Parish IOCC Home-build trip. See information below.






Food for the Soul


My Command is this:

Love each other as I have loved you. John 15:12


God loves us and is able to do incredible things both through us, and for us. When we open our hearts to being a vessel of His love, we remember that love itself is a verb. Take a moment to think about this concept. When we utter words like, “I love you,” it’s nice to hear, but it is often in the doing when others truly “feel” loved. The unexpected times that we go out of our way to help, the moments when we truly listen to someone well enough to hear their need and respond to it, and when we selflessly devote our time and attention where we are needed most, this is when love is activated in the world. 

 

When Christ came into this world, He never stood up and simply said, “I love you.” No, He chose to show us, in every minute of every day that He existed in this world. Christ is our example of how to "show" love. His example was a love that was sacrificial and without judgment or expectation. Through His example, we too can be inspired to find ways to truly demonstrate our love. Whether through our compassion that has been hard wired into our very beings, or whether we offer our help to those in need. 

 

Choose to give generously of your time without expectation, show kindness whenever possible, give affection and practice patience. Love was never designed to simply stop at a "feeling" that we experience deep down on the inside that can’t be seen by others. Let your love be seen by all, and let Christ's light be known.


TheLous.com  




Volunteer Opportunity

Please consider joining us in Pine Island Florida during the week of March 16 to help rebuild homes in the wake of Hurricanes Helene and Milton. This community was devastated by back-to-back hurricanes in 2024, while still in the process of rebuilding after Hurricane Ian that hit in 2022. No special skills are required and all are encouraged to participate! This is a great opportunity to roll up your sleeves and support those in need, and also a time for fellowship, community, and spiritual growth.

Please contact Father David (970-846-2245) or

Dimitri Zgourides (970-702-3204) to learn more!




Orthodox Resources


Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America

https://www.goarch.org/


Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Denver

https://www.denver.goarch.org/


Ancient Faith Radio

https://www.ancientfaith.com/


Podcasts by Father Evan Armatas

https://www.ancientfaith.com/podcasts/evanarmataslectures/


Holy Cross Bookstore

https://holycrossbookstore.com/


International Orthodox Christian Charities

https://iocc.org/