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Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2020-09-27
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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,

"We put no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry," (2 Cor. 6:3).

This week marks the two-year anniversary of my ordination to the Priesthood. Also today, a good friend of mine from Seminary is being ordained to the Priesthood through the hands of His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos of San Francisco. It is fitting, then, that today's Epistle and Gospel readings both focus on the life of ministry and service to Christ.

Today, we have a crisis of ministry in the Orthodox Church. We suffer first of all from a shortage of priests. Not enough capable young men are seeking out a life of ordained ministry in the Orthodox Church. This means that several of our smaller parishes around the country are forced to go without a full-time priest. Lacking a full-time priest, those parishes cannot grow and the lives of the faithful cannot be transformed.

In addition to this problem, we see every year more priests leaving the priesthood. The problem of clergy burnout results from a mismatch between the expectations and the reality of priestly ministry. Young priests often go into the ministry with high expectations both for themselves and for their parishes. They expect to see parishes growing, lives transformed, and souls saved. While all those things are present in effective priestly ministry, it is God who makes them happen, not the priest. And God works on God's own time.

Fr. Iakovos of Simonopetra has a sobering message to counter these kinds of unrealistic expectations: "You cannot save people; you can only serve them." A life of ministry in the Orthodox Church is a life of humble service (diakonia). This was true in the life and ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ, who said, "the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve," (Matt. 20:28). It is true just as much for those who live lives of ministry today.

Another source of burnout among clergy is the expectation that the priest will be and do everything for the parish. The Church is never a one-man-show, and the priest can never lead a parish effectively without the participation of the whole community. St. Paul tells us that "there are diversities of service, but the same Lord," (1 Cor. 12:5). The Priesthood is one kind of ministry. The Parish Council members, the Church school teachers, the bakers, the chanters, the altar-servers, and everyone else who participates in the life of the Church are engaged in ministry of a different kind, but not of a different importance, from the ministry of the priest.

All of us are called to lives of ministry and service. We lead lives of ministry when our love for Christ is the basis for our way of life. When that love for Christ is absent as the guiding force in our lives, then no ministry, not even the Priesthood, can be successful. The best priests are not necessarily the ones who give the best sermons, or who liturgize most beautifully, or who run the best fundraisers. All of those qualities may contribute to effective ministry. Ministry that transforms lives, however, can only take place when the love of Christ guides the community.

May God's love guide all of us in our own lives of ministry!

In Christ,
Fr. Jeremy

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Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Grave Mode

O Lord by your sacred Cross you abolished death, and granted unto the thief blessed paradise. The Myrrh-bearers ceased lamenting and turned to joy. The apostles did preach the Good News at your command, that you had risen from the dead, O Christ our God, bestowing your mercy upon the world evermore.

Apolytikion for Martyr Callistratus & his Companions in the Fourth Mode

Thy Martyrs, O Lord, in their courageous contest for Thee received as the prize the crowns of incorruption and life from Thee, our immortal God. For since they possessed Thy strength, they cast down the tyrants and wholly destroyed the demons' strengthless presumption. O Christ God, by their prayers, save our souls, since Thou art merciful.

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. Grave Mode. Psalm 28.11,1.
The Lord will give strength to his people.
Verse: Bring to the Lord, O sons of God, bring to the Lord honor and glory.

The reading is from St. Paul's Second Letter to the Corinthians 6:1-10.

Brethren, working together with him, we entreat you not to accept the grace of God in vain. For he says, "At the acceptable time I have listened to you, and helped you on the day of salvation." Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. We put no obstacle in any one's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: through great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, tumults, labors, watching, hunger; by purity, knowledge, forbearance, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love, truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; in honor and dishonor, in ill repute and good repute. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything.


Gospel Reading

1st Sunday of Luke
The Reading is from Luke 5:1-11

At that time, as Jesus was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, he saw two boats by the lake; but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon's, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. And when he had ceased speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch." And Simon answered, "Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets." And when they had done this, they enclosed a great shoal of fish; and as their nets were breaking, they beckoned to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord." For he was astonished, and all who were with him, at the catch of fish which they had taken; and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid; henceforth you will be catching men." And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.


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Saints and Feasts

Allsaint
September 27

Callistratus the Martyr & his 49 Companions

These Martyrs contested for the Faith during the reign of Diocletian, in the year 288. Saint Callistratus was arrested as a Christian, and after being tormented, was enclosed in a sack and cast into the sea. The sack burst, and the Saint came to dry land safe and sound. Forty-nine soldiers, seeing this, also confessed Christ, and with him were cast into prison, then beheaded.


Allsaint
September 27

Mark, Aristarchos, and Zenon, Apostles of the 70

The Holy Apostle Mark of the Seventy, also named John, is mentioned by the holy Apostle and Evangelist Luke in the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 12:25, 15:37-39) and also by the holy Apostle Paul in both the Epistle to the Colossians (Col 4:10) and the Epistle to Philemon (Philemon 1:23). The holy Apostle Mark preached the Word of God together with Paul and Barnabas and was made bishop of the Phoenician city of Biblos. The holy Apostle Mark attained great boldness before God, so that his very shadow healed the sick (also January 4 and April 15).

Saint Aristarchus was one of the Seventy Apostles, whom the Lord Jesus Christ sent to proclaim the good news of the Gospel (Luke. 10:1-24). Saint Aristarchus, a co-worker of the holy Apostle Paul, became bishop of the Syrian city of Apamea. His name is repeatedly mentioned in the Acts of the Holy Apostles (Acts 19:29, 20:4, 27:2) and in the Epistles of Saint Paul (Col. 4:10, Philemon 1:24). He accompanied Saint Paul on his travels (Acts 16:29).

The Holy Apostle Zenas of the Seventy, a disciple and co-worker with the first-ranked Apostle Paul, was called a lawyer, since he was a learned man and led juridical matters in church courts. He is mentioned in the Epistle of the holy Apostle Paul to Titus (Titus 3:13): “Help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way; see that they lack nothing.” Afterwards, Saint Zenas became bishop of the city of Diospolis (or Lydda) in Palestine.


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Parish Information

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.
 
Adult Ed
 
Please join us on Wednesday following Paraklesis for our Adult Ed Discussion Group. We are currently continuing to meet over Zoom. Please ask Fr. Jeremy if you need the link for the class.
 
We are currently discussing Elder Aimilianos of Simonopetra's “On Spiritual Rebirth,” The Way of the Spirit: Reflection on Life in God (Indiktos Publishing Company, 2009) pp. 248-255.
 
Coronavirus Procedures
 
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 when entering, exiting, and moving about the Church.
-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.
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This Week at St. Nicholas

Following Divine Liturgy this morning, we will serve the 40-day Memorial Service for the servant of God Pauline Sarantopoulos.

  • Tuesday, September 29: 6pm Vespers
  • Wednesday, September 30 St. Gregory the Illuminator: 8am Orthros, 9am Divine Liturgy, 6pm Paraklesis, 7pm Adult Ed
  • Saturday, October 3: 6pm Vespers
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