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, November 7

Food for the Soul

This Week/Next Week Services and Events

A Message from Father David

The Longest Journey

There’s an old saying, “the longest journey is from the head to the heart.” This wonderfully describes Orthodox spirituality. We in the West have inherited from the Enlightenment a very “head-centered” way of looking at the world. We value reason, analysis, and intellectual understanding. We place a high value on critical thinking and rational inquiry, seeing this process as the fundamental means of determining truth.

But in the Orthodox Tradition, which is to say, that which Christ taught, the Apostles proclaimed, and the Fathers preserved, the center of our being, the center of ourselves as human persons, is the heart. By this we don’t mean the heart as merely the seat of our emotional life, but the heart as the locus of true prayer and encounter with God.

St. Macarius the Great of Egypt taught, “The heart is but a small vessel, yet dragons and lions are there, and there likewise are poisonous creatures and all the treasures of wickedness; rough and uneven paths are there, and gaping chasms. But there too is God, the angels, life and the Kingdom, light and the apostles, the heavenly cities and the treasures of grace – all things are there.”

Moving from the head to the heart is not easy. It requires patience, perseverance, and a willingness to confront our inner brokenness. Our own pride and desire to “be in control,” are obstacles we encounter on this “longest journey.” But this journey is the path to an authentic relationship with God, where true theology is not information about God, but true prayer and worship of Him, where intellectual knowledge is transformed into Divine Love.



Blessings,

Father David

Epistle and Gospel Readings

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 Galatians 6:11-18

Brethren, see with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh that would compel you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. For even those who receive circumcision do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may glory in your flesh. But far be it from me to glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. Peace and mercy be upon all who walk by this rule, upon the Israel of God. Henceforth let no man trouble me; for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen.

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Food for the Soul

God values deeds according to their intentions. For it is said, "The Lord grant unto you according to your heart" (Ps. 19:5) ... Therefore, whoever wants to do something but cannot is considered as having done it by God, who sees the intentions of our hearts. This applies to both good and evil deeds alike.

~ St. Mark the Ascetic

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Thanksgiving Holiday Service Projects

Your help is needed!

Sunday, November 23

We will once again provide Thanksgiving Baskets to local families. If you would like to provide a basket, please let Jeannie Glimidakis know (970-824-8794) so that we can keep track of the number of families we can assist!

Items needed per family: Turkey, chicken stock, gravy mix, canned yams, canned vegetable, stuffing, potatoes, cranberry sauce, dinner rolls, butter, pie.

Please bring your "basket" items to the church for delivery to the individual families on November 23.

Tuesday, November 25 at 9:00 AM.

Saint John's will prepare stuffing to be served to 300 plus local residents on Thanksgiving Day at Saint Michael's Community Kitchen. We will prepare the stuffing at Saint John's on November 25 at 9:00 AM.

Saint John's Bookstore is Open

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! Contact Lee Dockins at (928) 846-9446 with any questions or to request any specific books that we may be able to order at cost.