Saint John The Baptist Orthodox Church

Weekly Newsletter and Sunday Bulletin

Sunday, May 11, 2025

(Sunday of the Paralytic)

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 11

Food for the Soul

Happening this Week

Upcoming Ministry Events/Services

Orthodox Resources

A Message from Father David

“The true goal of our Christian life consists in the acquisition

of the Holy Spirit of God.”

~ St. Seraphim of Sarov

We are approaching the mid-point of the Paschal season, leading to the Feast of the Ascension on Thursday, May 29, and ending with the Feast of Pentecost on June 8. While we continue to celebrate our Lord’s Resurrection, we also in this 50-day period await the celebration of the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. The Orthodox spiritual life is not fundamentally a matter of intellectual belief, or merely an external following of Holy Tradition. Rather, the Christian life is leaning to attend to, and experience, the transformative work of the Holy Spirit within us, at the deepest level of our heart and soul. This requires of each of us stillness, humility, and a heart attuned to Divine Grace.

In a world inundated with noise and distractions, cultivating interior quiet can be challenging, but is essential to discern the voice of the Holy Spirit within us. Such is the purpose of our personal prayer, our sharing in the Sacraments, and in our corporate worship together. These are the tools by which we grow in our ability to listen to God, and to experience His transforming work within us. We find the Holy Spirit re-shaping our desires, our priorities, our relationships. Prayer becomes more intimate, participation in the Church’s life more meaningful, and service to others more selfless. In short, when we surrender ourselves to the work of the Holy Spirit within us, we find ourselves growing in fruits of the Spirit: Love, joy, peace, patience, self-control. We find ourselves growing in our awareness that God is working in our lives and transforming us to truly be “new creations” in Christ. Let us pay attention. Let us quiet ourselves and listen to the “still small voice” of the Spirit within us.

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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.”

Blessings,

Fr. David

Epistle and Gospel Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Mode 3

Psalm 46.6,1 Sing praises to our God, sing praises.

Verse: Clap your hands, all you nations.

The reading is from Acts 9:32-42

In those days, as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints that lived at Lydda. There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden for eight years and was paralyzed. And Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed." And immediately he rose. And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord. Now there was at Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity. In those days she fell sick and died; and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him entreating him, "Please come to us without delay." So Peter rose and went with them. And when he had come, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping, and showing tunics and other garments which Dorcas made while she was with them. But Peter put them all outside and knelt down and prayed; then turning to the body he said, "Tabitha, rise." And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. And he gave her his hand and lifted her up. Then calling the saints and widows he presented her alive. And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.

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The Gospel According to John 5:1-15

At that time, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Hebrew called Bethesda which has five porticoes. In these lay a multitude of invalids, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water; for an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool, and troubled the water; whoever stepped in first after the troubling of the water was healed of whatever disease he had. One man was there, who had been ill for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him and knew that he had been lying there a long time, he said to him, "Do you want to be healed?" The sick man answered him, "Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is troubled, and while I am going another steps down before me." Jesus said to him, "Rise, take up your pallet, and walk." And at once the man was healed, and he took up his pallet and walked.

Now that day was the sabbath. So the Jews said to the man who was cured, "It is the sabbath, it is not lawful for you to carry your pallet." But he answered them, "The man who healed me said to me, 'Take up your pallet, and walk.' "They asked him, "Who is the man who said to you, 'Take up your pallet, and walk'?" Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place. Afterward, Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, "See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse befall you." The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him.

Food for the Soul

O Lord and Master of my life!

Take from me the spirit of sloth,

faint-heartedness, lust of power, and idle talk.

But give rather the spirit of chastity,

humility, patience, and love to Thy servant.

Yea, Lord and King! Grant me to see my own errors

and not to judge my brother,

for You alone are holy.

~ Prayer of Saint Ephraim

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Sunday of the Paralytic

Close to the Sheep's Gate in Jerusalem, there was a pool, which was called the Sheep's Pool. It had round about it five porches, that is, five sets of pillars supporting a domed roof. Under this roof there lay very many sick people with various maladies, awaiting the moving of the water. The first to step in after the troubling of the water was healed immediately of whatever malady he had.

It was there that the paralytic of today's Gospel way lying, tormented by his infirmity of thirty-eight years. When Christ beheld him, He asked him, "Wilt thou be made whole?" And he answered with a quiet and meek voice, "Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool." The Lord said unto him, "Rise, take up thy bed, and walk." And straightaway the man was made whole and took up his bed. Walking in the presence of all, he departed rejoicing to his own house. According to the expounders of the Gospels, the Lord Jesus healed this paralytic during the days of the Passover, when He had gone to Jerusalem for the Feast, and dwelt there teaching and working miracles. According to Saint John the Evangelist, this miracle took place on the Sabbath.

Goarch.com

Happening This Week

Saturday, May 10

Great Vespers (5:00 PM)

Sunday, May 11

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

Tuesday, May 13

No class this week - join us on Tuesday, May 20

Saturday, May 17

Great Vespers (5:00 PM)

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Upcoming Ministry Events/Services

Sunday, May 18

Matins (9:00 AM)
Divine Liturgy (10:00 AM)
Parish Assembly Meeting after Liturgy

Tuesday, May 20

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.

Wednesday, May 21