Saint John The Baptist Orthodox Church

Weekly Newsletter and Sunday Bulletin

Sunday, May 25, 2025

(Sunday of the Blind Man)

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 25


Food for the Soul

 

This Week / Upcoming Ministry Events/Services


Happenings at Saint John's

  

Orthodox Resources



A Message from Father David


The story of the Blind Man in this Sunday’s Gospel reading from St. John provides us with a rich metaphor for our spiritual lives. There’s a sense in which we are all “born blind.” We are all blind to God’s presence and work in our lives and the world around us. In our contemporary world, where distractions abound and a materialistic world-view so easily clouds our vision, we need healing of our blindness. Through prayer, worship, and the sacraments, we are offered the gift of spiritual sight. We are offered the Holy Spirit, who illumines the eyes of our soul to see God. All of this is by God’s grace, but we must cooperate with that grace, allowing the Holy Spirit to work within us and transform us. By cooperating with God’s grace, the scales of our sin, our pride, our selfish pursuits, fall from our eyes. as we journey through repentance, humility, and a commitment to live according to the commandments of Christ. Only then can we say with the Blind Man: One thing I know, though I was blind, but now I see.”


Blessings,

Fr. David


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What does it mean to “have the Orthodox mind?” How do we think and live our lives in light of Holy Tradition that has been passed down to us? We will be continuing a Tuesday night class, entitled, “Orthodox Journey” on Tuesdays from 7:00 pm to 8:15. This is not just a class for inquirers or catechumens, but intended for all. Whether you’re new to Orthodoxy or have been Orthodox all your life, we hope you will join us. The class will be held in the church for those who can be present in person, as well as on Zoom for those who live some distance away. Please join us as we share together what it means to be on the “Orthodox Journey.”

 



Epistle and Gospel Readings

Epistle Reading


Prokeimenon. Grave Mode

Psalm 63.11,1 The righteous shall rejoice in the Lord.

Verse: Oh God, hear my cry.


The reading is from St. Paul's Second Letter to the Corinthians 4:6-15


Brethren, it is the God who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.


But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For while we live we are always being given up to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you.


Since we have the same spirit of faith as he had who wrote, "I believed, and so I spoke," we too believe, and so we speak, knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.

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The Gospel According to John 9:1-38


At that time, as Jesus passed by, he saw a man blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" Jesus answered, "It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be made manifest in him. We must work the works of him who sent me, while it is day; night comes, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." As he said this, he spat on the ground and made clay of the spittle and anointed the man's eyes with the clay, saying to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing. The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar, said, "Is not this the man who used to sit and beg?" Some said, "It is he"; others said, "No, but he is like him." He said, "I am the man." They said to him, "Then how were your eyes opened?" He answered, "The man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and said to me, 'Go to Siloam and wash'; so I went and washed and received my sight." They said to him, "Where is he?" He said, "I do not know."


They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. Now it was a sabbath day when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. The Pharisees again asked him how he had received his sight. And he said to them, "He put clay on my eyes and I washed, and I see." Some of the Pharisees said, "This man is not from God, for he does not keep the sabbath." But others said, "How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?" There was a division among them. So they again said to the blind man, "What do you say about him, since he has opened your eyes?" He said, "He is a prophet."


The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight, until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight, and asked them, "Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?" His parents answered, "We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; but how he now sees we do not know, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age, he will speak for himself." His parents said this because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone should confess him to be Christ he was to be put out of the synagogue. Therefore his parents said, "He is of age, ask him."


So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and said to him, "Give God the praise; we know that this man is a sinner." He answered, "Whether he is a sinner, I do not know; one thing I know, that though I was blind, now I see." They said to him, "What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?" He answered them, "I have told you already and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you too want to become his disciples?" And they reviled him, saying, "You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from." The man answered, "Why, this is a marvel! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him. Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing." They answered him, "You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?" And they cast him out.


Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, "Do you believe in the Son of man?" He answered, "And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?" Jesus said to him, "You have seen him, and it is he who speaks to you." He said, "Lord, I believe"; and he worshiped him.




Food for the Soul


When Christ asked us to love, He also gave us the strength to do it.

~ Elder Arsenie Papacioc of Romania


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Sunday of the Blind Man


The Lord Jesus was coming from the Temple on the Sabbath, when, while walking in the way, He saw the blind man mentioned in today's Gospel. This man had been born thus from his mother's womb, that is, he had been born without eyes (see Saint John Chrysostom, Homily LVI on Matthew; Saint Irenaeus, Against Heresies, Book V:15; and the second Exorcism of Saint Basil the Great). When the disciples saw this, they asked their Teacher, "Who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?" They asked this because when the Lord had healed the paralytic at the Sheep's Pool, He had told him, "Sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee" (John 5:14); so they wondered, if sickness was caused by sin, what sin could have been the cause of his being born without eyes. But the Lord answered that this was for the glory of God. Then the God-man spat on the ground and made clay with the spittle. He anointed the eyes of the blind man and said to him, "Go, wash in the Pool of Siloam." Siloam (which means "sent") was a well-known spring in Jerusalem used by the inhabitants for its waters, which flowed to the eastern side of the city and collected in a large pool called "the Pool of Siloam."


Therefore, the Saviour sent the blind man to this pool that he might wash his eyes, which had been anointed with the clay-not that the pool's water had such power, but that the faith and obedience of the one sent might be made manifest, and that the miracle might become more remarkable and known to all, and leave no room for doubt. Thus, the blind man believed in Jesus' words, obeyed His command, went and washed himself, and returned, no longer blind, but having eyes and seeing. This was the greatest miracle that our Lord had yet worked; as the man healed of his blindness himself testified, "Since time began, never was it heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind," although the Lord had already healed the blind eyes of many. Because he now had eyes, some even doubted that he was the same person (John 9:8-9); and it was still lively in their remembrance when Christ came to the tomb of Lazarus, for they said, "Could not this man, who opened the eyes of the blind man, have caused that even this man should not have died?" Saint John Chrysostom gives a thorough and brilliant exposition of our Lord's meeting with the woman of Samaria, the healing of the paralytic, and the miracle of the blind man in his commentaries on the Gospel of Saint John.


Goarch.com




This Week



Saturday, May 24

  • Great Vespers (5:00 PM)


Sunday, May 25

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


Tuesday, May 27

  • Orthodox Journey (7:00 PM). This interactive discussion is open to all and 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 29

  • Feast Day of the Ascension - Divine Liturgy (5:00 PM)


Saturday, May 31

  • Great Vespers (5:00 PM)

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Upcoming Ministry Events/Services


Sunday, June 1

  • Matins (9:00 AM)
  • Divine Liturgy (10:00 AM)
  • Community Potluck Lunch following Liturgy


Tuesday, June 3

  • Orthodox Journey (7:00 PM). This interactive discussion is open to all and 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, June 7

  • Great Vespers (5:00 PM)



Summer Food Truck Events


Sign up to Assist and Enjoy Great Fellowship!!!

June 20-21 Whittle the Wood

Contact Nick Charchalis (970-629-1745)

to Volunteer


August 2 Balloon Fest

Contact Jeanne Maneotis (970-326-5547)

to Volunteer


August 8-9 County Fair

Chairperson Needed!


Happenings at Saint John's

2025 Parish Council


A belated Congratulations to the 2025 Parish Council -

Katrina Springer, Jorgiea Raftopoulos, John T. Peroulis, Eva Peroulis,

Angelo Raftopoulos, Shawn Springer and John Papoulas (not pictured).

May God continue to guide you and bless you and your families!


Welcome to our Newest Catechumen


On Sunday, May 11, Henry Johnson began his formal journey to Orthodoxy.

We are delighted to welcome Henry into our Orthodox Christian family and our current class of four catechumens!


Saint Michael's Community Kitchen


On May 21 our Parish prepared meals for 320 local residents. This was the 4th time our Parish volunteered to support this local ministry. So far we have provided over 1200 hot cooked meals to people in Craig!


Orthodox Resources


Receive Daily Bible Readings and Information

on Feast Days and the Lives of the Saints:

Daily Bible Readings


Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America

https://www.goarch.org/


Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Denver

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


Saint John the Baptist Orthodox Church YouTube Channel

https://www.youtube.com/@St.JohntheBaptistOrthodoxChurc?app=desktop


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/