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Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2020-11-29
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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,

One of the most common complaints that people have about Christians throughout the world is the disunity and division that are so common among Churches today. The numbers here are truly staggering. Our Lord Jesus Christ founded one Church as his one Body, united by the one Holy Spirit. Despite this unity that is at the center of our faith, divisions among Christians only continue to increase.

Today, there are over 35,000 denominations within the Protestant world. This number continues to grow every year as divisions increase and groups splinter off from one another. You can see in this trend a clear failure to live up to the appeal that St. Paul gave to the people of Corinth when he saw division there: "That there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment," (1 Cor. 1:10).

As Orthodox Christians, can we provide a better example of the "unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (Eph. 4:3) that is our calling in Christ? One aspect of our faith that we consistently emphasize is our direct, unbroken continuity with the one Church that Jesus Christ founded. And yet, even within the one Body of Christ, we often find examples of disunity.

Orthodox Churches are commonly criticized for placing too much emphasis on ethnicity at the expense of a broad unity in the faith. This is why, even in America, we have not one Orthodox Church, but twelve, divided largely along ethnic lines! Of course, these twelve jurisdictions are united in the one Body of Christ, but the division is nonetheless scandalous. Many visitors to Orthodox Churches have reported feeling unwelcome because they were not of the ethnicity of that parish. We have forgotten that in Christ, ethnic and national divisions have passed away, and that now "there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus," (Gal. 3:28).

In today's Epistle reading, St. Paul calls us to "lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called," (Eph. 4:1). What is our calling as Christians? To express the unity that comes from the united life of the Holy Trinity, as Jesus Christ prayed to his Father for us, "that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you," (John 17:21).

Nothing is so characteristically unchristian as the existence of divisions and discord within the Body of Christ. Therefore, let us make it our priority to work toward the healing of all division. Let us take the initiative to work toward living out our calling in "one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all, who is above all and through all and in all," (Eph. 4:5).

In Christ,
Fr. Jeremy

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Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Plagal Fourth Mode

From on high did you descend, O merciful Lord. For us did you endure three days in the tomb, that we may be released from passions in this world. You who are our resurrection and our life, Glory unto you O Lord.

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 Third Mode

On this day the Virgin cometh to the cave to give birth to * God the Word ineffably, * Who was before all the ages. * Dance for joy, O earth, on hearing * the gladsome tidings; * with the Angels and the shepherds now glorify Him * Who is willing to be gazed on * as a young Child Who * before the ages is God.
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Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Third Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from Mark 16:9-20

When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast seven demons. She went and told those who had been with him, as they mourned and wept. But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it.

After this he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country. And they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them.

Afterward he appeared to the eleven themselves as they sat at table; and he upbraided them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen. And he said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover."

So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by the signs that attended it. Amen.


Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Plagal Fourth Mode. Psalm 75.11,1.
Make your vows to the Lord our God and perform them.
Verse: God is known in Judah; his name is great in Israel.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Ephesians 4:1-7.

Brethren, I, a prisoner for the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all lowliness and meekness, with patience, forbearing one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all, who is above all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ's gift.


Gospel Reading

13th Sunday of Luke
The Reading is from Luke 18:18-27

At that time, a ruler came to Jesus and asked him, "Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.' " And he said, "All these I have observed from my youth." And when Jesus heard it, he said to him, "One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." But when he heard this he became sad, for he was very rich. Jesus looking at him said, "How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." Those who heard it said, "Then who can be saved?" But he said, "What is impossible with men is possible with God."


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Saints and Feasts

Allsaint
November 29

Paramonus, Philumenus, and their 370 Companion Martyrs in Bithynia

Saint Paramonus contested for piety's sake during the reign of Decius, in the year 250. A ruler named Aquilinus, seeking relief from a bodily malady, visited a certain therapeutic hot spring. He brought with him captive Christians from Nicomedia, and commanded them to offer sacrifice in the temple of Isis. When they refused, he had them all slaughtered, to the number of 370. Saint Paramonus, beholding their murder, boldly cried out against such an act of ungodliness. When Aquilinus heard this, he sent men to take the Saint. Some smote him with spears, others pierced his tongue and body with sharp reeds, until he died.

Saint Philumenus' contest in martyrdom took place during the reign of Aurelian, in the year 270. Coming from Lycaonia, he was conveying a load of wheat into Galatia when he was denounced as a Christian to Felix, Governor of Ancyra. Nails were driven into his hands, feet, and head, and he was commanded to run. While running in the road, he fell and gave up his holy soul into the hands of God.


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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 “Revelation and Knowledge of God in Humility,” from The Way of the Spirit: Reflection on Life in God (Indiktos Publishing Company, 2009) pp. 304-311.
 
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

  • Monday, November 30 St. Andrew the First-Called: 8:30am Divine Liturgy Celebrated at St. Andrew's Orthodox Church in Delta, for their feast-day
  • Tuesday, December 1: 10am Adult Ministry Service
  • Wednesday, December 2: 6pm Paraklesis, 7pm Adult Ed (online)
  • Thursday, December 3: 6pm Vespers
  • Friday, December 4 Great-Martyr Barbara: 8am Orthros, 9am Divine Liturgy
  • Saturday, December 5: 5pm Youth Church School, 6pm Great Vespers
  • Sunday, December 6 St. Nicholas Parish Feast-Day: 8:45am Orthros, 10am Divine Liturgy
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