Weekday Services: Divine Liturgy 9:30 am (please see our church calendar for our feastday schedule!)
Sunday: Orthros (Matins) 8:30 am Divine Liturgy 9:30 am
Tenth Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from John 21:1-14
At that time, being raised from the dead, Jesus revealed himself to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he revealed himself in this way. Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We will go with you." They went out and got into the boat; but that night they caught nothing. Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, "Children, have you any fish?" They answered him, "No." He said to them, "Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, for the quantity of fish. The disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his clothes, for he was stripped for work, and sprang into the sea. But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off.
When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish lying on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish that you have just caught." So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three of them; and although there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." Now none of the disciples dared ask him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.
Prokeimenon. 1st Mode. Psalm 32.22,1.
Let your mercy, O Lord, be upon us.
Verse: Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous.
The reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 4:9-16.
Brethren, God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death; because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels and to men. We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are ill-clad and buffeted and homeless, and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we try to conciliate; we have become, and are now, as the refuse of the world, the off-scouring of all things. I do not write this to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. I urge you, then, be imitators of me.
10th Sunday of Matthew
The Reading is from Matthew 17:14-23
At that time, a man came up to Jesus and kneeling before him said, "Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and he suffers terribly; for often he falls into the fire, and often into the water. And I brought him to your disciples, and they could not heal him." And Jesus answered, "O faithless and perverse generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him here to me." And Jesus rebuked him, and the demon came out of him, and the boy was cured instantly. Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, "Why could we not cast it out?" He said to them, "Because of your little faith. For truly I say to you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move hence to yonder place,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you. But this kind never comes out except by prayer and fasting." As they were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, "The Son of man is to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day."
FOR VISITORS
Welcome home! Please feel free to take a visitors packet home with you before you leave today
Please let either a greeter or a parish council members know if this is your first time at Saints Constantine and Helen so that we can make you feel more at home.
At the end of the service, come and introduce yourself to Father Jason, and receive a piece of "antidoro" (blessed bread). Also, join us for coffee hour after Liturgy!
Remember, the Church is everyone's home whether we are longtime members of the parish, or if we are stepping into the Church for the first time. Everyone one of is responsible for showing hospitality to those who we do not know.
CHURCH ETIQUETTE
Let everything we do be done in an orderly way (1st Corinthians 14:40)
The best way to show love to God is to be respectful to others. Make every effort to be in church before the Divine Liturgy begins, and to remain quiet and respectful throughout the entire service.
Appropriate clothing should be worn, hands should be prayerfully at our sides or folded, not in our pockets, or laid on the tops, or sides of the pews; there should be no food or drink in the Church (no gum chewing!) unless it's Holy Communion or food that has been blessed and distributed by a clergyman; when seated, legs should not be crossed. Remember that socializing is for coffee hour and should not take place in the narthex. Limit talking and moving around, and try not to create a distraction for yourself or for others. Please clean up after yourself, and do not leave bulletins or bread crumbs behind you once the service has come to a conclusion.
FOR MEMBERS
"I was a stranger and you welcomed me." (Matthew 25:35)
Welcome everyone (both visitors and longtime members) with a smile. If it's someone's first time visiting Saints Constantine and Helen, help them find a seat, and to understand the service
Appropriate clothing should be worn, hands should be prayerfully at our sides or folded, not in our pockets, or laid on the tops, or sides of the pews; there should be no food or drink in the Church (no gum chewing!) unless it's Holy Communion or food that has been blessed and distributed by a clergyman; when seated, legs should not be crossed. Remember that socializing is for coffee hour and should not take place in the narthex. Limit talking and moving around, and try not to create a distraction for yourself or for others.
Please clean up after yourself. Do not leave bulletins, tissues, or bread crumbs behind you once the service has come to a conclusion.
PARTICIPATING IN THE DIVINE LITURGY
Please make every effort to be on time and to participate in the Divine Liturgy. Remember, the Liturgy is meant to be a work of all people!
Ask Fr. Jason or one of our chanters and volunteering to help the psalms or the epistle! The Great Doxology can be found on page 1 in the "Green Book." The hymns for the day can also be found in the bulletin.
Also, remember that the hymn for Saints Constantine and Helen and the Nicene Creed can now be found on the inside covers of the green and red service books!
CHILDREN IN CHURCH
The presence of children in the worship is essential to a healthy Church! Why else would our Lord say “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” (Matthew 19:14)
Here are some insights that we all might find helpful:
HOLY COMMUNION
"With the fear of God, with faith, and with love, draw near."- Divine Liturgy
Here are some things to prayfully consider before approaching the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ:
1.) The frequent reception of Holy Communion is encouraged! This means however that we must all frequently prepare to receive Holy Communion. If you have not been to Church for a while, consider this an opportunity to restart your life in Christ, and to speak with your priest about receiving the sacraments of the Church. Never be afraid or discouraged to come and speak to Father Jason before receiving Holy Communion!
2.) We receive Holy Communion when we become members in good standing of the Orthodox Church. This takes places through after we receive the sacraments of Baptism, Chrismation in a canonical jurisdiction of the Orthodox Church. If you would like to become an Orthodox Christian, Please see Father Jason!
3.) Our goal is to become closer to God by living a life of Holiness! Something to reflect on before and after we consume the Body and Blood of our Lord is whether or not we are living our lives in peace and love as God wants us to.
4.) It is neccesary to fast prior to receiving Holy Communion. Generally speaking, we should abstain from food or drink prior to receiving the the Body and Blood of our Lord unless it is medically neccesary. If you have any questions, please speak to Fr. Jason.
5.) CAUTION! Please approach the chalice carefully! Never do anything that could potentially spill the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ from the Chalice!!!
6.) When receiving Communion, please close your mouth in a natural manner as you would when feeding yourself with a spoon. Please also ensure that the red cloth is placed under your chin.
8.) Women, please blot or remove lipstick prior to receiving Holy Communion.
PASTORAL VISITATIONS
Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises. Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him. (James 5:13-15)
Please call the Church Office or call Father Jason’s emergency cell phone number to let him know what your pastoral needs are you can also ask your family members, a social worker, or a Hospital Chaplain to notify the Church so that they can inform Father Jason that you are in need of pastoral care.
For additional resources about Holy Communion, Confession, or any other pastoral concern please see Father Jason or visit our Church website http://orthodoxcheyenne.org/
CONFESSION
A young monk said to the great ascetic Abba Sisoes: “Abba, what should I do? I fell.” The elder answered: “Get up!” The monk said: “I got up and I fell again!” The elder replied: “Get up again!” But the young monk asked: “For how long should I get up when I fall?” “Until your death,” answered Abba Sisoes.—Sayings of the Desert Fathers
Confession is necessary for our personal healing, and for the repentance and forgiveness of sins. It’s also a vital element of our Lord’s Commission to us as Orthodox Christians for the life and growth of the Church.
Never be afraid to speak to Fr. Jason in order to make the necessary arrangements for the sacrament of confession. You can call during the week, or just get a hold of him after Liturgy!
St. Macrina's Academy
Congratulations on a successful year!!! Thank you parents and teachers for your hard work!!! Classes will resume once again at the beginning of the school year!!!
Don’t forget to pick up a copy of our weekly youth bulletin in the Narthex!!!
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GREEK DANCE
A special thanks goes out to everyone who is participating in both of our Greek dance troupes this year! It's a wonderful encouragement to see our young people and our volunteers working hard once again for our Greek Festival!!!
We have many things to thankful to God for:
King Soopers Gift Cards
We have received over $800.00 from our King Soopers Gift Card participation program!
Thank you to everyone who has participated and shopped at King Soopers or have purchased gas at Loaf & Jug with their gift cards.
For those who not aware of the fundraiser and would like to know more or how to receive a gift card to King Soopers, please call or email the church office.
The card is free to anyone who wants to participate.
Amazon Smile
“Amazon Smile” is another good way to contribute to Saints Constantine and Helen every time you purchase something on their website! To learn more, log on to https://smile.amazon.com/. Make sure that you choose “Hellenic Orthodox Church of Sts Constantine and Helen” as your charity.
Community Announcements
Saints Constantine & Helen is now accepting requests for community announcements (i.e. birthday/anniversary parties, graduations, etc.) to be posted via email. Please submit all future requests through Charlie Radich at c.radich@bresnan.net.
A Memorial will be held today for:
Dionysios Lambousis - 25 Years
Maria Lambousis - 25 Years
George Lambousis - 25 Years
Apostolos Kostoudis - 32 Years
Christina Kostoudis - 6 Years
May their memory be eternal!
by Presbytera Joan Woodward Teebagy
It's sometimes discussed whether or not children should be in church during Divine Liturgy and/or other services, or whether they should be attending Church School (or nursery for the very young) during Church services. Should children be in Church? The answer lies in how the Church is viewed, and what you see or want for your children in the life of the Church in the future.
Should children be in Church? Please read on. In my early twenties as a young single woman in charge of a Sunday School and as a professional teacher, my answer from a theoretical viewpoint would have been: "Definitely. You can't teach in a vacuum. You can't teach about the life of the Church if children are excluded from that life." In my home parish at that time, such a question would not have been entertained. Children were part of the Church family. They were expected to be in Church and were a welcome part of the services, even with their "holy noise', 'liturgical movements", and all. We never knew any different. Are they a distraction to others? Sometimes. But they are Orthodox Christians in the making; they will become regular churchgoers if they attend Church on a regular basis from the beginning. Did I know how difficult it was to bring children to Church at that time? No. Does it take preparation and planning? Yes, lots of it. Is it worth it? Definitely.
Being a wife of a priest, some people believe my children somehow behave differently in church because they are used to it or because my husband is the priest. Being used to it? Well, that's the point. Any child will learn certain behaviors in certain situations if they are used to it and exposed to it on a regular basis. Is it easier because my husband is the priest? I am able to use the term "Daddy" instead of "Father John" when pointing out things during the church service. However, growing up in my home parish, we all had a closeness with the priest and I remember my parents saying the same things to my brothers and sisters and me. We had the same reverence and respect - perhaps even a little more since to very young children, the priest may represent God while Daddy is just Daddy. In an answer to mother's question of "Who is that?", instead of saying "Father John," a child of three responded "That's God!"
In reality, my children are no different from any other children their age. Alexander, at five, can be expected to pay attention a little bit longer than Elizabeth who is two and, of course, nine months Nathaniel will just look and take everything in and let out a scream here and there. I have had my moments when I wonder whether it is worth it or not. I have made my treks to the back of the church when my children have become a little too noisy or rambunctious or made trips to the bathroom - often at the most inopportune times during the Liturgy. At some bleak times, I wonder if those who say children should not be in church are maybe just a little bit right. These moments are rare since I am shaken back into God's Kingdom and His welcome of little ones when my son suddenly asks about a particular icon or asks what "mercy" means or my two year old daughter sings along with the choir with a chorus of "Alleluia" or "Lord Have Mercy" or how she crosses herself every time she hears "Father, Son and Holy Spirit" or even when my infant son just watches with great curiosity the censer being shaken or listens intently as the bells are being rung.
Is my time in Divine Liturgy different now with children? Yes. Would it be easier for me during Divine Liturgy if they were in a class instead of church? Yes, but that's not what I want for my children. I want them to be involved with Christ and the Church. This is what I want for them now and in the future. If I keep them on the fringe now, they will be involved only in the fringes of the Church later. At this time, being with my children during Divine Liturgy is my work for God and His Church. If I don't have the opportunity to hear every word of the Liturgy or miss the response to one of the petitions or even not be able to sing in the choir as I have all my life, I can believe that my job now is to raise my little children to worship the name of God, to know my prayers are offered through my children, as I watch them at their tender age recite the Lord's Prayer and receive the Body and Blood of Christ through Holy Communion - to know I have tried my best to make them a welcome part of God's worshipping family.
By regular attendance in church, children learn and notice more than we will ever know in the short term but this knowledge and habits will become a reality and a part of their existence in the long term. One parent, I was recently speaking to, admitted that she thought that she would be the last person to say children should be at Divine Liturgy rather than Church School. She has noticed that her children have learned so much during their time in church, have become used to the length of the service, and have made observations and asked questions about what they see and hear. However, it is not without a great deal of effort and patience on the parent's part. Following are some suggestions that will help you with your little children as you make the life of Christ and His Church part of their life.
In conclusion, you need to examine how you view the Church and what you see and want for your children in the life of the Church to answer for yourself if your children belong at church services. If you want your children to experience the fullness of Christ and His Church and possess a full liturgical life that will one day enhance their own spiritual life when they struggle with the question of making this faith truly their own, then you must answer "definitely."