Saint John The Baptist Orthodox Church

Weekly Newsletter and Sunday Bulletin

Sunday, July 26, 2026

(Eighth Sunday of Matthew)

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, July 26

Food for the Soul

This Week/Next Week Services and Coming Events

A Message from Father David

“Your own, of Your own, we offer unto You, in all, and for all.”

The Gospel reading for this next Sunday is found in Matthew 14:14-22. In the miracle of the Feeding of the Five Thousand, Christ does not begin with abundance. He begins with what is offered: five loaves and two fish. The disciples see scarcity, but the Lord receives the small gift with thanksgiving, blesses it, breaks it, and gives it for the life of the multitude.

The Orthodox understanding of stewardship is rooted in this same mystery. We do not give to God because He lacks anything, but because everything we have is already His gift to us. “Your own, of Your own, we offer unto You.” Our time, talents, resources, and attention become holy when they are offered back to Christ in faith, humility, and love. What seems small in our hands can become abundant in His.

The baskets of leftovers remind us that divine generosity is never exhausted. When we share what we have, Christ teaches us to trust not in our possessions, but in His blessing. True stewardship is therefore not merely fundraising or obligation; it is Eucharistic living - receiving all with gratitude and offering all back to God for the building up of His Body, the Church, and for the healing and nourishment of the world.

Blessings,

Father David

Epistle and Gospel Readings

Psalm 67.35,26

God is wonderful among his saints.

Verse: Bless God in the congregations.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians 3:23-29; 4:1-5

Brethren, before faith came, we were confined under the law, kept under restraint until faith should be revealed. So that the law was our custodian until Christ came, that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a custodian; for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise. I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no better than a slave, though he is the owner of all the estate; but he is under guardians and trustees until the date set by the father. So with us; when we were children, we were slaves to the elemental spirits of the universe. But when the time had fully come, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.

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The Gospel According to Matthew 14:14-22

At that time, Jesus saw a great throng; and he had compassion on them, and healed their sick. When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a lonely place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves." Jesus said, "They need not go away; you give them something to eat." They said to him, "We have only five loaves here and two fish." And he said, "Bring them here to me." Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass; and taking the five loaves and the two fish he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and broke and gave the loaves to the crowds. And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over. And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children. Then he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds.

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Food for the Soul

A Still Small Voice

Elijah stood on Mount Horeb, waiting for God. A great wind tore the mountains apart. Then an earthquake. Then a fire. But God was not in any of them. After the fire came "a still small voice" (1 Kings 19:12). And that was where God was.

Elijah had just defeated 450 prophets of Baal. He had called fire down from heaven. He had experienced one of the most dramatic displays of divine power in the history of Israel. And immediately afterward, he ran for his life, collapsed under a tree, and asked God to let him die. The greatest victory of his ministry was followed by the deepest depression of his life.

This pattern is more common than we realize. Spiritual highs are often followed by emotional crashes. After the mountaintop comes the valley. After the victory comes the exhaustion. And if we are not prepared for it, we mistake the valley for abandonment.

"What are you doing here, Elijah?" (1 Kings 19:9). God asked this not because He did not know. He asked because Elijah needed to hear himself speak. He needed to name his exhaustion, his fear, his isolation. And God met him not with rebuke, but with food, rest, and a whisper.

St. Isaac the Syrian teaches, "God draws near to us when we least expect Him, not in thunder, but in the quiet." The still small voice is not dramatic. It is not impressive. It does not compete for attention. It waits for silence. And most of us are too noisy to hear it.

Today, if you are in a valley after a victory, if you are depleted after a season of intense output, know this: God has not abandoned you. He is not in the wind, the earthquake, or the fire. He is in the whisper. But you have to be quiet enough to hear it.

-The Louhs

This Week

Saturday, July 25

Great Vespers (5:00 PM)

Sunday, July 26

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

Tuesday, July 28

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.

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Upcoming Services / Events

Dormition Fast: August 1 - August 14.

Strict Fast - Abstain from meat, fish, dairy, wine and oil.

Saturday, August 1

Great Vespers (5:00 PM)

Sunday, August 2

Matins (9:00 AM)
Divine Liturgy - (10:00 AM)
Celebration of August Name Days, Birthdays, and Anniversaries
Potluck Luncheon following Divine Liturgy - bring a dish to share!

Tuesday, August 4

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.

Thursday, August 6

Matins (9:00 AM)
Divine Liturgy (10:00 AM) - Feast Day of the Transfiguration of Our Lord

Saturday, August 8

Great Vespers (5:00 PM)

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Metropolis of Denver Men's Retreat

Please speak with Dimitri Zgourides (970-702-3204)

with questions or for more information.

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!