Weekly Bulletin Sunday, January 27th, 2019

Transcription

1 Sts. Peter & Paul Greek Orthodox Church 5640 Jay Road, Boulder, CO Office: Reverend Father Jordan Brown Weekly Bulletin Sunday, January 27th, 2019 Welcome To Sts. Peter & Paul! We welcome visitors worshipping with us today. Please introduce yourself to our priest and members of our community. Thank you for joining us this morning for prayer and fellowship. Sts Peter and Paul is a Greek Orthodox Church. We are proud of our cultural heritage, but please do not think that one must be Greek, Arab or Russian to be part of the Orthodox Church. The foundation of the Orthodox Church are the teachings and Holy Tradition of Jesus Christ. We follow the first Christians who began to worship Jesus Christ after the Crucifixion and Resurrection. Please join us for our fellowship after services in the parish hall. We invite you to visit our bookstore which is located in the parish hall. Our diverse church family encompasses many converts to the Orthodox Christian Faith, as well as Greek, Arab, Romanian, Serbian and Russian Orthodox Christians. If you are interested in learning more about the Orthodox Christian faith, please visit with our priest, Fr. Jordan (see contact info above) The sacrament of Holy Communion is reserved only for baptized and / or chrismated Orthodox Christians who have properly prepared by prayer, fasting and confession. The Orthodox Church understands the reception of Holy Communion to be the highest expression of our faith. Everyone is invited at the end of the Divine Liturgy to receive the blessed bread antidoro.

2 Service Schedule & Parish Activities Week of January 27th, 2019 Tuesday, January 29 College Ministry: OCF Dinner 6 pm Wednesday, January 30 Feast of the Three Hierarchs Orthros Divine Liturgy Paraclesis Service Orthodox Spirituality Class 7:30 am 8 am 6 pm 7 pm Saturday, February 2 Readers Vespers 5 pm Fellowship Host Ushers Myrrhbearers Epistle Reader Hosts & Volunteers Gerakos Family Pete & Cindy Stamus Demetra, Sophie, Cassie Elizabeth Offertory Prayer O Lord our God, You created us and brought us into this life. You showed us the way to salvation and have granted us the revelation of the heavenly mysteries. Accept our Stewardship Offering as an acceptable sacrifice and in return send down upon us the grace of your Holy Spirit. Look down on us, O Lord, and accept our Stewardship Commitment as You accepted the gifts of Abel, the offerings of Noah, the burnt offerings of Abraham, the priestly sacrifices of Moses and Aaron and the peace offerings of Samuel. Accept also now, in your goodness, O Lord, these gifts from the hands of us sinners, making us worthy of the reward of the faithful and wise stewards on the fearful day of Your just judgment. For You are the God of mercy, love and salvation and we glorify You, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen News & Events Senior Adult Ministry - Monday, February 18, 11:30 am The Seniors are an integral part of our parish family. We want to honor you with providing a monthly fellowship activity. Please join us for our next luncheon fellowship scheduled Monday, February 18 th. (We moved the day from Tuesday to Monday. A number of our seniors suggested Monday would be a better day). A delicious lunch will be provided. The fellowship will take place at Sts. Peter & Paul. If you have any questions, please contact Dena Tinsley (724) We need a few parishioners to help with picking up seniors unable to drive. Stewardship Social - Saturday, February 23, 7 pm The Home of Aaron & Viktoria Wall (11757 Eaton Court, Westminster) We invite stewards living in the Westminster, Broomfield, Louisville, and Lafayette areas to join us for an evening of fellowship. This will be a great time to connect with your church neighbors. If you are able to bring an appetizer, dessert or wine, please contact Viktoria via txt. msg. or phone; (720) Upcoming Youth Events GOYA Retreat - February 1-3 Parent / Goya Youth Ministry Lunch - February 17 GOYA Mountain Trip (Tinsley cabin) - March 8-9 Parish Oratorical Festival - Sunday, March 10 Summer Camp (Junior GOYA, 6th - 8th grade) - June 9-15 Summer Camp (Senior GOYA, 9th - 12th grade) - June Welcome Committee Needs You! We are looking for 8 people who would like to be part of the Welcome Committee. The Welcome Committee is one of the most vital ministries in the church as well as being a lot of fun. Tasks include welcoming people before and after services, and/or accompanying visitors to coffee in the hall. There is a commitment of one Sunday each month. Please contact Nick Karis for more information. Fundraising Help Do you have marketing skills? Are you good with data? Several exciting new fundraisers are in the works for 2019 and we need your help to make them successful. See Nick Karis for specifics and to offer your time toward this important job today. Church Cleaning Can you offer 30 minutes with keeping our church clean and beautiful? Please see Presbytera Kedrann after services today. A handful of faithful stewards can get the work done in less than an hour. Thank you for your Stewardship.

3 News & Events Temporary Rooms for Sunday School The Sunday School area is undergoing major repairs. For the next two weeks; pre-k/elementary school students will meet in the parish hall. The middle school class will meet in the Quiet Room located in the Narthex (we ask for parents to please vacate the Quiet Room during the time Holy Communion). The high school class will be meeting in Father Jordan s office. Memorial Service Today s 3-year memorial service is offered for George Gerakos (husband of Katherine and father of Lee Gerakos). May his memory be eternal! House Blessings Father Jordan will be blessing homes the month of January, and the first week of February. Please contact Father Jordan at frjordanbrown@gmail.com or to schedule your house blessing. In addition, there are House Blessing forms located in the Church Narthex. If you have any questions, please contact Father Jordan. Blessed New Year! Feast of our Lord s Presentation The Great Feast of the Presentation is celebrated on February 2nd. Father Jordan will be serving at the GOYA Retreat, February 1-3 in Granby. You are encouraged to attend services for the Lord s Presentation on Saturday at one of our sister parishes (St. Luke in Erie, Divine Liturgy 9 am and St. Spyridon in Loveland, Divine Liturgy 9:30 am). OCF College Ministry - Tuesday, January 29, 6 pm Welcome back college students! Dear Students, please join Father Jordan this coming Tuesday. We will meet for dinner at the St Thomas Student Center located at 15th & Euclid. Orthodox Spirituality: Spiritual Awakening Wednesday, January 30, 2019, 7 pm - 8 pm Please join Father Jordan as we read the book by St Paisios, Spiritual Awakening. If you are interested in joining this class, please contact Father Jordan. The cost of the book is $30. (the check can be made out to Sts Peter Paul). This class will be lead in a discussion manner. Father Jordan will be leading the class. The class will meet in the Quiet Room, located in the church. Philoptochos Fellowship February 9, 10:30 am Please join the Philoptochos for fellowship at Nicole Tsiouvaras's house! We will provide coffee, tea, and some treats! This is a community event so please come, bring a friend, and come even if you are not a member of the Philoptochos. If you have any questions please see Nicole or Ashley Dzilvelis Hymns for Sunday Resurrection Hymn (2nd Tone, p Green Hymnal) 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 from infernal depths and the darkness below did raise the dead all the hosts of heaven s power did proclaim and cry out O life-giving Christ and our God we give glory. Hymn for St John Chrysostom The grace that from your mouth shone forth life a torch illumined the universe. It deposited in the word the treasures of the absence of avarice. It showed us the height that is attained by humility. Now you instruct us by your words, Father John Chrysostom. Intercede with Christ God, the Word himself, entreating Him to save our souls. Hymn for Saints Peter and Paul O leaders of the Apostles, and teachers of the world, intercede with the Master of all that He may grant peace unto the world, and to our souls His great mercy. Kontakion Hymn You sanctified the virginal womb by Your birth, O Lord, and blessed the hands of Symeon fittingly, O Christ God; and even now You came and saved us. Now, give peace to our Nation in time of war, and empower our Leaders, so loved by You, the only one who loves humanity. Epistle Reading St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 7:26-28; 8:1-2 My mouth shall speak wisdom and the meditation of my heart shall bring forth understanding. Verse: Hear this all you nations. Brethren, it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, blameless, unstained, separated from sinners, exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people; he did this once for all when he offered up himself. Indeed, the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect for ever. Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, a minister in the sanctuary and the true tent which is set up not by man but by the Lord. 15th Sunday of Luke The Gospel According to Luke 19: 1-10 At that time, Jesus was passing through Jericho. And there was a man named Zacchaios; he was a chief collector, and rich. And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not, on account of the crowd, because he was small of stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaios, make haste and come down; for I must stay at your house today." So he made haste and came down, and received him joyfully. And when they saw it they all murmured, "He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner." And Zacchaios stood and said to the Lord, "Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have defrauded any one of anything, I restore it fourfold." And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man came to seek and to save the lost."

4 A Miracle on the Day of the Three Hierarchs in Communist Romania By Elder Justin Parvu (Hierarchs Commemorated Jan. 30th) We stayed with Fr. Ilie Lacatusu ( 1983) four years in Periprava at the Danube Delta. He was generally distinguished for his internal strength and silence. Rarely did you hear him speak, and when you did he had something important to say. Frequently he exhorted us to pray when we were in a dangerous situation. This man I must say was truly humble. He never wanted to come to the surface, but always tried to remain unnoticed. I remember a miraculous event that took place at the Danube Delta, in which Fr. Ilie played a significant role. On January 30th they sent us to the channel to cut bladderworts [aquatic weeds]. Do you understand what this means in the middle of winter? Certain death. We were further dismayed by the fact that the guards had four guns with them. Maybe they wanted to execute us, believing that we will refuse to execute the order. There was an opening there in the water around forty hectares and the bladderworts were beyond deep. Everyone started telling each other that they will not enter the water. They ordered us to go in and gather two sets. For whom were we doing this? It was without purpose. How could you enter the water? If you step into the swamp, who will pull you out? At first, we hesitated. Then Fr. Ilie decided to encourage us, saying: "Enter, because they are having bad thoughts. They will shoot us. Enter and the Panagia with the Three Hierarchs will get us out unharmed and sound." We entered. The water reached up to our chins. We worked as if we were on dry land. For others the water was up to their necks, while others to their chest, and others to their midsection, whatever it happened to be for each of us. We were in the water for three hours and nicely brought out what they asked from us, tidy and of the same size. The temperature was -30 below and the ice had a thickness of centimeters. Yellow blooming water lilies could be seen under the ice. A great miracle happened that day. That morning it was foggy, the sky was cloudy and the cold pierced your bones. Suddenly the sun came out. There came such a warmth that even the guards were surprised. We took our clothes off to dry them and it was like we put them on the warmest stove, as the vapors came out. We dressed and returned to the prison. Thus the Panagia and the Three Hierarchs were with us and helped us on that icy thirtieth day of January. Nobody got sick. If it wasn't for the prayers of Fr. Ilie, we would all have died. New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia (Commemorated on January 27) By Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeyev) We commemorate today the Assembly of Russia s New Martyrs and Confessors all those who martyred in the years of severe persecutions against the faith and the Church of Christ. It is a great occasion for the whole Church as we remember tragic events but at the same time celebrate because the era which continued in our country for 70 years in the 20th century also revealed to the world a great assembly of confessors and new martyrs. They preferred dying to renouncing Christ and today they pray for us and our Motherland in the triumphant heavenly Church. The persecution started immediately after the 1917 October Revolution when the Bolsheviks took over. The persecution against the faithful was purposeful and long and excelled in cruelty all the previous persecutions against the Church including those by Roman emperors in the 1st, 2nd and 3d centuries. New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia It was a brutal and bloody repression because the authorities sought to fully exterminate the Church. They proceeded from the utterly fantastic and antihuman idea that religion was a vestige of the past and should die out on its own, but if it did not die on its own it should be helped to die as soon as possible. The Bolsheviks created an antihuman and criminal ideology to guide the rulers of our country for decades. This ideology led to millions of victims, the people of different beliefs and social status. They began with the class struggle against nobility and merchants followed by the dispossession of well-to-do peasants, then resettlement and destruction of whole ethnic communities. One destruction campaign followed the other and these criminal actions continued for several decades. The Russian Orthodox Church was only one of the targets of that suicidal campaign waged by the authorities against their own people. But it was the Church who showed great courage and spiritual heroism, which has been imprinted in people s memory and glorified by the Church today by canonizing Russia s holy new martyrs and confessors. The machine of persecution swallowed not only innocent people but also those who themselves were guilty of the crimes. Indeed, persecutors are known to become persecuted sometimes. We do not see any heroism in the actions of these people in the awareness that they were victimized by the world they themselves created. Those whom we glorify were not guilty of anything except for their faith in Christ, their service of the Church, their love of God and their efforts to guide the people of God to salvation. The people we glorify as Russia s new martyrs and confessors are not all the victims of those terrible years but those who remained faithful to the Lord to the end, who were not broken by the machine of repression, who did not renounce Christ even under torture and in prison, who did not betray their loved ones, as was often the case. We do not know how many they were, tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands or millions, because the whole truth about those years will never be revealed. All the archives will never be opened so that the records could reveal who remained faithful to the end and who stumbled. Besides, there are many forgeries in the transcripts of interrogation we use to restore the story of a particular new martyr. Some recorded as renouncers did not actually renounce their faith. The full story of the feat performed by the saints is known to the Lord alone. But the Church has glorified all the new martyrs and confessors, those we know, those whose feat is documented and those who are known only to God. Among them were bishops and ordinary priests and monastics. There were also a great many lay people who did not renounce Christ even under torture. The feat performed by the holy new martyrs and confessors is a spiritual treasure to be carefully preserved and revered by our Church. We do not know what times await us ahead. It is wrong to believe that the Church will now and forever enjoy welfare, peace and the good will of the powers that be, because times may change as it happens in history. Our Orthodox Church lived in very different situations and there always were those who were ready to follow to the end the path of Golgotha together with Christ. We pray today that the grace of God may never abandon our people, as it happened after a great many of them rejected the faith, Christ and the Church. We pray that this rejection may never be repeated in our history. We pray that we may hand down to our posterity the Orthodox faith we have inherited at such a dear price.

5 Stewardship Ministry 2019 In the early church, the faithful Christians would support the Church by offering the products of their labor - oil, for example, to keep the kandylia, the lamps, burning before the icons. Today, we primarily support the Church through our financial donations. But the principle is the same. Our contributions make it possible to maintain the church building and the parish center, to make improvements to our facilities - and to keep our parish programs and ministries going. Our support helps keep the Light of Christ burning brightly in our Church, in our hearts, and even in the larger community. The Lamp of Christian Stewardship symbolized that light, and our commitment to Christ Himself. It costs approximately $800 per day to operate the church. Stewardship of our faith in Jesus Christ calls us to do those things that reflect our faith to others, living our faith though our actions. Please prayerfully make a Stewardship pledge for at least the cost of operating the church for 2 days. Please give prayerful consideration to the commitment you are making. Giving to the Church is a way to thank God for His grace and generosity. The question we must ask ourselves, How can I thank God for my many blessings? Do I love my church? Will I make the commitment to take care of at least one day - two days - three days, of the church operating budget? And the most important stewardship question, Will I make a commitment to thanking God every Sunday and faithfully participate in the Divine Liturgy? You as a Christian Steward can make a huge impact in the life of the church. If you are new to our parish, please pick up your 2019 Stewardship Packet. They are located in the church narthex. Stewardship strengthens the parish, allows for sharing the Gospel of Christ and for offering a spiritual home. Thank you for your dedication to our parish and your participation in Christ s work of salvation.