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Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2020-11-08
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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,

What do we do when we find ourselves losing hope? Our lives today give us plenty of opportunities to fall into despair and hopelessness. How do we keep our hope when our circumstances seem so difficult? How can we be a people of hope, making our own what St. Paul calls our "steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ," (1 Thess. 1:3)?

Today's Gospel reading gives us a lesson on hopeless situations. We see a woman who has been ill for twelve years, and who has become poor and socially outcast because of her illness. We see also a man whose 12-year-old daughter, his only child, lies on her deathbed. Both of them have lost hope, and they come to Jesus in their hopelessness.

In both of these situations, Jesus brings an unexpected result. When the woman who had been ill for so long touches Jesus’ garment, he makes the new creation known to her. “Daughter, your faith has made you well,” (Luke 8:48). When she touched him, according to Old Testament purity laws, he should himself have become unclean. Her uncleanness should have been passed on to him, as always happens when a clean person is touched by an unclean person. But Jesus reverses our expectations; his life is passed on to her, his cleanness is passed on to her, and she is healed.

In the same way, when Jesus reaches Jairus’ house, he takes the body of the young girl by the hand. Again, by touching a corpse, Jesus ought to have become unclean according to the Old Testament purity laws. But again, Jesus reverses what we expect to happen. "Child, arise," (Luke 8:54). His life becomes her new life, and she immediately gets up from her deathbed. Jesus enters into these hopeless situations, and he brings new hope, new life, and a new creation.

When we lose our hope, we gain the opportunity to invite Jesus into our hopeless circumstances. When Jesus enters into our hopelessness, then we enter into the hope that Jesus brings. Hopelessness, then, becomes an opportunity not for despair, but for hope in the new creation of Jesus Christ.

As Orthodox Christians we are called to live within Jesus Christ's new creation. As members of Christ living in the new creation, we are called to take up the new life that Christ offers to us. Living in the new creation means changing our way of life, putting on the new humanity of Jesus Christ in place of the old humanity that had been defaced through sin. Living in the new creation means living a life of hope in the midst of the hopelessness that we see around us. It means seeing that hopelessness is passing away, and that our life in Christ is only beginning, a new life of hope that has no end.

In Christ,
Fr. Jeremy

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Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Plagal First Mode

Eternal with the Father and the Spirit is the Word, who of a virgin was begotten for our salvation. As the faithful we both praise and worship him. For the in the flesh did he consent to ascend unto the Cross, and death did he endure, and he raised unto life the dead through his all glorious resurrection.

Apolytikion for Synaxis of the Archangels in the Fourth Mode

O Chief Commanders of the heavenly armies, we the unworthy ones entreat you in earnest, that you might with your supplications fortify us, guarding us who run to you and beneath the protection of the pinions of your unmaterial glory, and who with fervor shout: Deliver us, from every danger, as Captains of the hosts on high.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Fourth Mode

Today, the most pure temple of the Savior, the precious bridal chamber and Virgin, the sacred treasure of God, enters the house of the Lord, bringing the grace of the Divine Spirit. The Angels of God praise her. She is the heavenly tabernacle.
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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Eleventh Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from John 21:14-25

At that time, Jesus revealed himself to his disciples after he was raised from the dead, and he said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs." A second time he said to him, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Tend my sheep." He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, "Do you love me?" And he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep. Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you girded yourself and walked where you would; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish to go." (This he said to show by what death he was to glorify God.) And after this he said to him, "Follow me."

Peter turned and saw following them the disciple whom Jesus loved, who had lain close to his breast at the supper and had said, "Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?" When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, "Lord, what about this man?" Jesus said to him, "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? Follow me!" So, the word went out among the brethren that this disciple would not die; but Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but, "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?" This is the disciple who is bearing witness to these things, and who has written these things; and we know that his testimony is true. But there are also many other things which Jesus did; were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen.


Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Fourth Mode. Psalm 103.4,1.
Who makes his angels spirits and his ministers a flame of fire
Verse: Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God you are very great.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 2:2-10.

Brethren, if the message declared by angels was valid and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard him, while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his own will. For it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking. It has been testified somewhere, "What is man that thou art mindful of him, or the son of man, that thou carest for him? Thou didst make him for a little while lower than the angels, thou hast crowned him with glory and honor, putting everything in subjection under his feet." Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. As it is, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him. But we see Jesus, who for a little while was made lower than the angels, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for every one. For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through suffering.


Gospel Reading

7th Sunday of Luke
The Reading is from Luke 8:41-56

At that time, there came to Jesus a man named Jairus, who was a ruler of the synagogue; and falling at Jesus' feet he besought him to come to his house, for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying. As he went, the people pressed round him. And a woman who had had a flow of blood for twelve years and had spent all her living upon physicians and could not be healed by anyone, came up behind him, and touched the fringe of his garment; and immediately her flow of blood ceased. And Jesus said, "Who was it that touched me?" When all denied it, Peter and those who were with him said, "Master, the multitudes surround you and press upon you!" But Jesus said, "Some one touched me; for I perceive that power has gone forth from me." And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. And he said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace." While he was still speaking, a man from the ruler's house came and said, "Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the Teacher any more." But Jesus on hearing this answered him, "Do not fear; only believe, and she shall be well." And when he came to the house, he permitted no one to enter with him, except Peter and John and James, and the father and mother of the child. And all were weeping and bewailing her; but he said, "Do not weep; for she is not dead but sleeping." And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. But taking her by the hand he called, saying, "Child, arise." And her spirit returned, and she got up at once; and he directed that something should be given her to eat. And her parents were amazed; but he charged them to tell no one what had happened.


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Saints and Feasts

Archangl
November 08

Synaxis of the Archangel Michael & the other Bodiless Powers: Gabriel, Raphael, Uriel, Salaphiel, Jegudiel, & Barachiel

All the Angels, according to the Apostle Paul, are ministering spirits, "sent forth to minister to them who shall be heirs of salvation," (Heb. 1:14). God set them as overseers of every nation and people, and guides to that which is profitable (Deut. 32:8); and while one Angel is appointed to oversee each nation as a whole, one is also appointed to protect each Christian individually. He commands them to guard them that hope on Him, that nothing should harm them, neither should any evil draw nigh to their dwelling (Ps. 90:10-12). In the Heavens they always behold the face of God, sending up to Him the thrice-holy hymn and interceding with Him in our behalf, seeing they rejoice over one sinner that repents (Esaias 6:2-3; Matt. 18:10; Luke 15:7). In a word, they have served God in so many ways for our benefit, that the pages of Holy Scripture are filled with the histories thereof. It is for these reasons that the Orthodox Catholic Church, wisely honouring these divine ministers, our protectors and guardians, celebrates today the present Synaxis that is, our coming together in assembly for their common feast to chant their praises, especially for the Archangels Michael and Gabriel, who are mentioned in the Scriptures by name. The name Michael means "Who is like God?" and Gabriel means "God is mighty." The number of Angels is not defined in the divine Scriptures, where Daniel says that thousands of thousands ministered before Him, and ten thousands of ten thousands attended upon Him (Dan. 7:10). But all of them are divided into nine orders which are called Thrones, Cherubim, Seraphim, Dominions, Powers, Authorities, Principalities, Archangels, and Angels.


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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.
 
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. 289-294.
 
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 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.
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This Week at St. Nicholas

Following Divine Liturgy this morning, we will chant the Trisagion prayers for the departed servant of God Metropolitan Maximos (Aghiorgoussis) of Pittsburgh.

  • Wednesday, November 11: 6pm Paraklesis, 7pm Adult Ed (online)
  • Thursday, November 12: 6pm Vespers
  • Friday, November 13 St. John Chrysostom: 8am Orthros, 9am Divine Liturgy
  • Saturday, November 7: 5pm Youth Church School, 6pm Great Vespers
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