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Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2020-07-12
Bulletin Contents
Allsaint
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Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • (970) 242-9590
  • Street Address:

  • 3585 North 12th Street

  • Grand Junction, CO 81506


Contact Information




Services Schedule

8:45am - Orthros, 10am - Divine Liturgy


Past Bulletins


Message from your Priest

Beloved in Christ,

A popular saint of 19th-century Russia once said "acquire the spirit of peace, and thousands around you will be saved."

Where should we look to find the solutions to the problems that plague us? Where do we go to find the medicine to heal the brokenness that is all too evident today? To whom should we turn to fix the evil that exists in the world around us?

Some turn to politics, and believe that the world would instantly be a better place if only the right political party could be in power. Others turn to nationalism, believing that the cure for the world's sickness is to be found in the supremacy of this or that nation. Still others turn to 'ethical codes,' and claim that our problems would be solved if we all bought organic food, or became vegetarians, or pacifists, or whatever else.

When these sorts of things occupy the core of our answer to the world's pain, then they become what St. Paul calls invented righteousness in today's Epistle reading. St. Paul laments the fact that many around him have failed to respond faithfully to Christ's Gospel. "Being ignorant of the righteousness that comes from God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness," (Romans 10:3). We establish our own righteousness apart from God's righteousness whenever we think that the answer to the world's brokenness must be out there somewhere, in this or that institution, philosophy, or source of power.

What, then, is the solution? "The word is near you, on your lips and in your heart," (Rom. 10:8).

As Christians, we believe that the brokenness in the world can only be fixed by fixing the brokenness in our own heart first. I cannot overcome evil by going to war with it in the world; I can only overcome evil by going to war with it wherever I find it within myself. Only by allowing the Holy Spirit to fill me, that spirit of peace, can I then become a vessel of peace to those around me.

After spending years in Soviet forced-labor camps, the author Alexander Solzhenitsyn wrote that his experience convinced him that evil is not something that can be pinned down to only one group, nation, or philosophy. "The line separating good and evil passes not through states, nor between classes, nor between political parties either -- but right through every human heart -- and through all human hearts."

Let us, then, turn back to the presence of Christ in our heart. Let us allow him to conquer the divisions that exist within us. Only when he is victorious in our hearts can his Kingdom become a living reality in our world. When we pray "Thy Kingdom come," we are praying for his Kingdom that is "not of this world," (John 18:36), but is "in the midst of you," (Luke 17:21).

In Christ,

Fr. Jeremy

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Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Fourth Mode

The women disciples of the Lord, having learned from the Angel the joyous news of the Resurrection and having rejected the ancestral decision, then told the apostles elatedly: Death has been stripped of its power; Christ God has risen, granting to the world His great mercy.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Second Mode

The protection of Christians unshameable, intercessor to our Holy Maker, unwavering, do not turn from the prayerful cries of those who are in sin; instead, come to us, for you are good; your loving help bring unto us, who are crying in faith to you: Hasten to intercession and speed now to supplication as a protection for all time, Theotokos, for those who honor you.
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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Fifth Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from Luke 24:13-35

At that time, two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, "What is this conversation which you are holding with each other as you walk?" And they stood still looking sad. Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, "Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?" And he said to them, "What things?" And they said to him, "Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since this happened. Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning and did not find his body; and they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb, and found it just as the women had said; but him they did not see." And he said to them, "O foolish men, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?" And beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He appeared to be going further, but they constrained him, saying, "Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent." So he went in to stay with them. When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognized him; and he vanished out of their sight. They said to each other, "Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the scriptures?" And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven gathered together and those who were with them, who said, "The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!" Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.


Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Fourth Mode. Psalm 103.24,1.
O Lord, how manifold are your works. You have made all things in wisdom.
Verse: Bless the Lord, O my soul.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Romans 10:1-10.

Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but it is not enlightened. For, being ignorant of the righteousness that comes from God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness. For Christ is the end of the law, that every one who has faith may be justified. Moses writes that the man who practices the righteousness which is based on the law shall live by it. But the righteousness based on faith says, Do not say in your heart, "Who will ascend into heaven?" (that is, to bring Christ down) or "Who will descend into the abyss?" (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? The word is near you, on your lips and in your heart (that is, the word of faith which we preach); because, if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For man believes with his heart and so is justified, and he confesses with his lips and so is saved.


Gospel Reading

5th Sunday of Matthew
The Reading is from Matthew 8:28-34; 9:1

At that time, when Jesus came to the country of the Gergesenes, two demoniacs met him, coming out of the tombs, so fierce that no one would pass that way. And behold, they cried out, "What have you to do with us, O Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?" Now a herd of many swine was feeding at some distance from them. And the demons begged him, "If you cast us out, send us away into the herd of swine." And he said to them, "Go." So they came out and went into the swine; and behold, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea, and perished in the waters. The herdsmen fled, and going into the city they told everything, and what had happened to the demoniacs. And behold, all the city came out to meet Jesus; and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their neighborhood. And getting into a boat he crossed over and came to his own city.


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Saints and Feasts

Allsaint
July 12

Proclus & Hilary the Martyrs of Ancyra

These Martyrs contested in Ancyra in 106, during the reign of the Emperor Trajan. Saint Proclus was seized as a Christian and, confessing his faith, was burned on his sides and belly, was hung upon a beam with heavy stones tied to his feet, and finally was taken away to be shot with arrows. As he was being led forth, his nephew Hilary encountered him and greeted him, and was himself seized. After his uncle had been slain with arrows, Hilary, because he would not deny Christ, was tormented, then beheaded.


Allsaint
July 12

Paisios the Athonite

Saint Paisios was born in July 25, 1924 in the humble village of Farasa in Cappadocia, Asia Minor – modern day Turkey. He was baptized at the age of three weeks by the village priest, Saint Arsenios the Cappadocian, who foretold his life as a monk. A week following Saint Paisios’ baptism the Turks drove out all of the Greeks from Asia Minor, sending them on a 400-mile exodus to Greece, where his family settled in Epiros. It is interesting to note that it was Elder Paisios who later wrote about the life of Saint Arsenios.

Early in his life Saint Paisios gravitated towards the spiritual life, spending hours daily in prayer. During World War II he served in the military as a radio operator. In 1950 he went to Mount Athos, where he remained for most of the rest of his life, growing in spiritual stature through prayer, fasting, and many ascetical practices. In 1979 he moved to his final home, Panagouda Hermitage. Here he received tens of thousands of pilgrims, granting them, by God’s grace, healing, advice, wisdom, and solace. He reposed in the Lord on July 12, 1994.


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Weekly Information

Here at St. Nicholas we are blessed to be able to welcome our community back to public services with the following directives in place:
 
-Individuals who have been exposed to the Coronavirus, or are at high risk as defined by the CDC (those 65-years or older, those with compromised immune systems, those with respiratory illness, heart conditions, or other underlying medical conditions) are encouraged to stay at home. Our livestream will still be active for the time being.
-A distance of six feet must be observed between families at all times.
-Use of non-medical masks by all attendees is encouraged.
-There will be no fellowship hour following Liturgy. Parishioners are asked to depart the Church in an orderly fashion family-by-family following the dismissal.
-Icons are to be venerated by crossing oneself and bowing. Please do not kiss the icons.
-Distribution of antidoron will not take place.
 
Please be diligent in observing these directives as we transition back into the observance of public worship services.

If you do not currently receive emails from our parish, please give Fr. Jeremy your name and email address to be added to our list.

 

Glory to God for all things!

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