Message from your Priest

Beloved in Christ,

Several years ago when I was still in seminary, my classmates and I were given field assignments at the local hospitals in Boston. Our task was simple: to visit the patients, and to talk to them. For the most part, we were there only to listen.

Early in the year, one of my classmates realized something. A patient had requested a visit. In the elevator on the way up to that patient's floor, my classmate felt nervous about the visit. What if he didn't know what to say to this patient? As his elevator got closer to the patient's floor, he realized that he had nothing at all to be nervous about. This patient was the one who was nervous— they were afraid for their health and didn't know what the future would bring. The only job that my classmate had was to listen to this person's fears and be kind to them.

One of the biggest temptations that most priests struggle with is the desire to always know the right thing to say. Whether the priest is teaching a class, giving a sermon, or counseling a couple, we have a nagging need to seem knowledgeable, insightful, and profound. This is why many priests— especially young ones— can't handle being corrected when they get something wrong.

The basis of this desire is, of course, pride. As priests, we see ourselves as Important People, and Important People ought to always know what to say. We have forgotten that the priesthood is a gift from God of which, despite all of our seminary degrees, despite all of our preparation, despite all of our experience, every priest in history has been fundamentally unworthy.

The Apostles in today's Gospel reading are struggling with this same difficulty. They have been sent out by Jesus, and they have discovered that they are able to do amazing things. They are even able to work miracles, casting out demons in Jesus' name. Jesus is quick to cut off the possibility of pride in this ministry that he has given to them, saying: "do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you; but rejoice that your names are written in heaven," (Luke 10:20).

Jesus leads the Apostles to embrace a childlike faith. As former fishermen with no education, they know that they have done nothing to deserve the ministry that our Lord has given them. Knowing their own unworthiness, they are able to accept God's gifts with a simple and gracious heart. A child's simplicity of faith is the antidote to pride. Jesus tells us that this simple faith is the key to our salvation: "unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven," (Matt. 18:3).

Let us embrace this childlike faith in our own lives. Let us accept with humble gratitude the gifts that our Lord has given to us. When we can become like children in our simplicity, then Jesus will rejoice in us as he did in the Apostles, saying to his Father: "I thank you...that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to babes," (Luke 10:21).

In Christ,
Fr. Jeremy

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Second Mode

When you descended to the realm of death, you as life immortal rendered to Hades a mortal blow by your all-radiant divinity. And when you from infernal depths and the darkness below did raise the dead, all the hosts of heaven's powers did proclaim and cry out: O lifegiving Christ and our God, we give glory!

Apolytikion for Luke the Evangelist in the Third Mode

O Holy Apostle and Evangelist Luke, intercede with the merciful God that He grant unto our souls forgiveness of offences.

Apolytikion of Saint Nicholas in the Fourth Mode

An example of the faith and a life of humility: • as a teacher of abstinence you did inspire and lead your flock, • and through the truthfulness of your deeds • were exalted to greatness through your humility, • uplifting all, and by poverty gaining wealth. • Father and hierarch Saint Nicholas, • intercede with Christ our God • that our souls may be saved.

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.

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Eighth Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from John 20:11-18

At that time, Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him." Saying this, she turned round and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom do you seek?" Supposing Him to be the gardener, she said to Him, "Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away." Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned and said to him in Hebrew, "Rabboni!" (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, "Do not hold me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brethren and say to them, I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God." Mary Magdalene went and said to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord"; and she told them that He had said these things to her.

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Plagal Fourth Mode. Psalm 18.4,1.
Their voice has gone out into all the earth.
Verse: The heavens declare the glory of God.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Colossians 4:5-11, 14-18.

Brethren, conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer every one. Tychicos will tell you all about my affairs; he is a beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your hearts, and with him Onesimos, the faithful and beloved brother, who is one of yourselves. They will tell you of everything that has taken place. Aristarchos my fellow prisoner greets you, and Mark the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you have received instructions if he comes to you, receive him), and Jesus who is called Justos. These are the only men of the circumcision among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me. Luke the beloved physician and Demas greet you. Give my greetings to the brethren at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house. And when this letter has been read among you, have it read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you read also the letter from Laodicea. And say to Archippos, "See that you fulfill the ministry which you have received in the Lord." I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my fetters. Grace be with you. Amen.

Gospel Reading

Luke the Evangelist
The Reading is from Luke 10:16-21

The Lord said to his disciples, "He who hears you hears me, and he who rejects you rejects me, and he who rejects me rejects him who sent me." The seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!" And he said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you; but rejoice that your names are written in heaven." In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to babes; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will."

Saints and Feasts

October 18

Luke the Evangelist

The Holy Apostle and Evangelist Luke, was a native of Syrian Antioch, a companion of the holy Apostle Paul (Phil.1:24, 2 Tim. 4:10-11), and a physician enlightened in the Greek medical arts. Hearing about Christ, Luke arrived in Palestine and fervently accepted the preaching of salvation from the Lord Himself. As one of the Seventy Apostles, Saint Luke was sent by the Lord with the others to preach the Kingdom of Heaven during the Savior’s earthly life (Luke 10:1-3). After the Resurrection, the Lord Jesus Christ appeared to Saints Luke and Cleopas on the road to Emmaus.

Luke accompanied Saint Paul on his second missionary journey, and from that time they were inseparable. When Paul’s coworkers had forsaken him, only Luke remained to assist him in his ministry (2 Tim. 4:10-11). After the martyric death of the First-Ranked Apostles Peter and Paul, Saint Luke left Rome to preach in Achaia, Libya, Egypt and the Thebaid. He ended his life by suffering martyrdom in the city of Thebes.

Tradition credits Saint Luke with painting the first icons of the Mother of God. “Let the grace of Him Who was born of Me and My mercy be with these Icons,” said the All-Pure Virgin after seeing the icons. Saint Luke also painted icons of the First-Ranked Apostles Peter and Paul. Saint Luke’s Gospel was written in the years 62-63 at Rome, under the guidance of the Apostle Paul. In the preliminary verses (1:1-3), Saint Luke precisely sets forth the purpose of his work. He proposes to record, in chronological order, everything known by Christians about Jesus Christ and His teachings. By doing this, he provided a firmer historical basis for Christian teaching (1:4). He carefully investigated the facts, and made generous use of the oral tradition of the Church and of what the All-Pure Virgin Mary Herself had told him (2:19, 51).

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.

Church School

Church School for our children will take place at 5pm on Saturdays. Lessons will follow the "Tending the Garden of our Hearts" curriculum. Sessions will take place outside, weather permitting. Adult family members are encouraged to stay for the lesson. Masks are required for adults when indoors. Please email Fr. Jeremy if you have any questions.

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 “Theology and Experience,” from The Way of the Spirit: Reflection on Life in God (Indiktos Publishing Company, 2009) pp. 267-273.

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.

This Week at St. Nicholas

Tuesday, October 20: 10am Adult Ministry Service
Wednesday, October 21: 6pm Paraklesis, 7pm Adult Ed (online)
Thursday, October 22: 6pm Vespers
Friday, October 23 St. James, the Brother of our Lord: 8am Orthros, 9am Divine Liturgy
Saturday, October 24: 5pm Youth Church School, 6pm Great Vespers

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