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Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2020-07-19
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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,

Have you ever tried to drive in a severe snow storm? Sometimes storms can get so heavy that you can barely see what is in front of you. You try to stay on the road, but you can no longer see the lines to keep you going straight.

In these situations, some people decide to follow the taillights of the person in front of them. They think that doing so will guarantee that they will stay on the road. The problem with this decision is that if the person in front ends up falling into the ditch, then he will bring along everyone who was following him.

Our Lord said to his disciples, "You are the light of the world," (Matthew 5:14). We live in a time that is in many ways like driving through a snow storm. Most of us cannot see what is in front of us; we do not know whether we are driving on the straight path, or heading straight into a ditch. In these confusing circumstances, people will naturally look toward anyone who seems to know where he or she is going.

As Christians, our lives are a light to others. This is the case whether we want it to be or not. As people who claim to have faith, others will look to our example to learn what it means to follow Christ. And we will either lead them on the right path, or lead them along with us into confusion. This means that each of us has a great responsibility to live a life that is an expression of our faith rather than an expression of our own hypocrisy.

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven," (Matthew 5:16).

The light of our lives can only be a faithful guide to others if we practice what we preach. Only if what we do is consistent with what we say can our example lead others to Christ rather than elsewhere. St. Paul tells us this in his letter to the Romans when he says: "You who are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness... you who teach another, do you not teach yourself?" (2:19, 21). Remember that your actions speak louder than your words; no matter how much you speak the truth, others will not hear that truth if your way of life drowns it out with an opposing message.

What does your life tell others about what it means to follow Christ? If someone looked at your example, would they see Christ's Gospel, or something else? Since we have received Christ into our hearts, now we must allow him to form us into the people he wants us to be, to allow his light to define our lives. When our lives become faithful witnesses to our faith, then our light can lead others away from the darkness, away from the ditch, and toward the one light that "gives light to everyone coming into the world," (John 1:9) Christ our true God.

In Christ,

Fr. Jeremy

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Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Plagal First Mode

Let us the faithful give praise and worship to the Logos, coeternal with the Father and the Spirit, born of the Virgin for our salvation; for of His own goodwill he consented to ascend the cross in the flesh and endured death and raised the dead by His glorious resurrection.

Apolytikion for Sun. of the Holy Fathers in the Plagal Fourth Mode

Most glorified art Thou, O Christ our God, Who hast established our Fathers as luminous stars upon the earth, and through them didst guide us all to the true Faith. O Most Merciful One, glory be to Thee.

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

Sixth Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from Luke 24:36-53

At that time, Jesus, having risen from the dead, stood in the midst of his disciples and said to them, "Peace to you." But they were startled and frightened, and supposed that they saw a spirit. And he said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do questionings rise in your hearts? See my hands and feet, that it is I myself; handle me, and see; for a spirit has not flesh and bones as you see that I have." And when he said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. And while they still disbelieved for joy, and wondered, he said to them, "Have you anything here to eat?" They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate before them.

Then he said to them, "These are my words which I spoke to you, while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and the psalms must be fulfilled. Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you; but stay in the city, until you are clothed with power from on high."

Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands, he blessed them. While he blessed them, he parted from them, and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him, and they returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple blessing God.


Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Plagal Second Mode. Psalm 31.11,1.
Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous.
Verse: Blessed are they whose transgressions have been forgiven.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to Titus 3:8-15.

Titus, my son, the saying is sure. I desire you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to apply themselves to good deeds; these are excellent and profitable to men. But avoid stupid controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels over the law, for they are unprofitable and futile. As for a man who is factious, after admonishing him once or twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is perverted and sinful; he is self-condemned.

When I send Artemas or Tychicos to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. Do your best to speed Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way; see that they lack nothing. And let our people learn to apply themselves to good deeds, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not to be unfruitful.

All who are with me send greeting to you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen.


Gospel Reading

Sunday of the Holy Fathers of the 4th Ecumenical Council
The Reading is from Matthew 5:14-19

The Lord said to his disciples, "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Whoever then relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but he who does them and teaches them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven."


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Saints and Feasts

Hlyfthrs
July 19

Sunday of the Holy Fathers of the 4th Ecumenical Council

On the Sunday that falls from the 13th to the 19th of the present month, we chant the Service to the 630 Holy and God-bearing Fathers who came together for the 4th Ecumenical Council who assembled in Chalcedon in 451, to condemn Eutyches, who taught that there was only one nature, the divine, in Christ after the Incarnation, and Dioscorus, Patriarch of Alexandria, who illegally received Eutyches back into communion and deposed Saint Flavian, Patriarch of Constantinople, who had excommunicated Eutyches.

In the Slavic tradition, on this Sunday, the Fathers of the first six Ecumenical Councils are all commemorated.


Allsaint
July 19

Macrina the Righteous, sister of St. Basil

Saint Macrina, the elder sister of Saints Basil the Great and Gregory of Nyssa, was sought after by many as a bride because of her beauty, wisdom, and illustrious birth, and in tender youth was espoused by her parents to a bridegroom of fitting nobility. When her betrothed died, Macrina refused any other suitors, and devoted herself to a life of virginity, asceticism, and prayer. When her brother Basil returned from a brilliant career in the best schools of Constantinople and Athens, puffed up with not a little youthful pride-for knowledge puffeth up-it was the ardent admonitions and holy example of his blessed sister that persuaded him to turn from seeking worldly glory to the service of God. Saint Macrina founded a convent, where she ended her earthly life in the year 379, and was buried by her brother Gregory, who wrote a moving account of her last days and his grief at seeing such a light pass out of the world.


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Parish Information

Following Divine Liturgy this morning, we will chant the Memorial Service for the servants of God Maria Pervesko and Demosthenes Pappas.
 
Virtual Church Camp: We will be hosting Rooted in Prayer: Virtual Church Camp for our children on August 1-5. If you are interested in having your children participate, please email Presbytera Allison at abackoustroy@gmail.com.
 
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 is required whenever in the Church building.
-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.
 
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.
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This Week at St. Nicholas

  • Monday, July 20 Prophet Elias: 8am - Orthros, 9am - Divine Liturgy
  • Tuesday, July 21: 6pm - Vespers
  • Wednesday, July 22 Mary Magdalene: 8am - Orthros, 9am - Divine Liturgy, 6pm - Paraklesis, 7pm - Adult Ed
  • Friday, July 24: 6pm - Service of the Akathist Hymn
  • Saturday, July 25: 6pm - Vespers
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