St. James Parish News
August 6, 2026
Great Feast of the Transfiguration
If recompense is bestowed according to the measure of love for God, and if the man who loves the Son is loved of Him and of His Father and becomes the dwelling place of Both, and They mystically abide and walk in him, as it is recorded in the Master’s Gospel, who, then, will love Him more than His Mother? For, He was her only-begotten Son, and moreover she alone among women gave birth knowing no spouse, so that the love of Him that had partaken of her flesh might be shared with her twofold. And who will the only-begotten Son love more than His Mother, He that came forth from Her ineffably without a father in this last age even as He came forth from the Father without a mother before the ages’? How indeed could He that descended to fulfill the Law not multiply that honor due to His Mother over and above the ordinances of the Law? St. Gregory Palamas
Liturgy tomorrow
For the Great Feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God. Orthros 8:30 AM Liturgy 9:30 AM
New Icons Program
Our resident Icnographer, Jeff Alipy, is preparing to help us with a new set of hand-painted icons in our sanctuary. We will be adding to the existing set of large icons around the top of the walls between the existing large print icons, The new icons will be large, but a little smaller than the existing ones.
If you would like to sponsor one of the new icons and choose the saint to be depicted, we would like to offer that. The sponsorship donation still needs to be set, but will be on the order of $1000.00. Final selection of the saint and depiction will need to be accomplished together with Jeff Alipy and Fr. Mark.
Volunteerism
Continuing the discussion regarding responsibility for and participation in the work of keeping our St. James parish a functioning and thriving community. Just like our own homes, our parish requires much ongoing labor and input to keep it alive and thriving.
I would like to start with acknowledging the persons already giving of themselves and committing their time and effort to our community. I fail to thank all of these people often enough. So this is an opportunity to express my thanks. It is also an opportunity to demonstrate how true volunteerism functions.
Next, I would like to highlight Anders H. Anders is the longest serving of our parish council and the hardest working as the treasurer. Every week, Anders gives hours of his (and his family’s) time making bank deposits, paying and recording bills, balancing the accounting records, and making statements for the council and for you all. He does this with great humility and much dedication.
In addition to all of this treasurer work, Anders has also humbly taken on himself (with no one requesting this of him) the work of mopping the floors, cleaning the bathrooms, and collecting the garbage at the end of fellowship hour every week. Amazing!
It is abundantly apparent how much Anders loves and is committed to his parish of St. James. He does not merely assume that St. James parish wil continue to exist and function: he gives – a lot! – to make and keep it alive and functioning.
I say Thank you! to Anders. I hope that you will also express this to him and hold him as a very excellent model of volunteerism for our community.
Name days, Birthdays and Anniversaries
Vincent & Shana V. – Anniversary: 08-19
May God grant you many years!
Upcoming Feasts / Celebrations
| Dormition | |
|---|---|
| Saturday August 15 | |
| 8:30 AM | Orthros |
| 9:30 AM | Divine Liturgy |
| Tuesday August 18 | |
| 7:00 PM | Women’s book study |
| Thursday August 20 | |
| 9:30 AM | Women & Children Prayer Group |
Please remember that our full calendar continues to be available at our parish web site. Here is a link:
https://stjfc.org/Pages/Calendar/calendar.php
Prosphora
| August 16 | Natalia M. |
| August 23 | Shana V. (Anna) |
| August 30 | Anna H. (Shana) |
| September 6 | Kari H. |
| September 13 | Nana D. |
Full schedule:
https://stjfc.org/Pages/Ministries/Prosphora/Docs/prosphora sched 2026 web.pdf
Readers
| August 16 | Zach | 11th after Pentecost | I Cor. 9:2-12 |
| August 23 | Thomas | 12th after Pentecost | I Cor. 15:1-11 |
| August 30 | Ken | 13th after Pentecost | I Cor. 16:13-24 |
| September 6 | Jared | 14th after Pentecost | II Cor. 1:21-2:4 |
| September 13 | Connor | Sunday before Elevation of the Cross | Gal. 6:11-18 |
| September 20 | Isaac | Sunday after Elevation of the Cross | Gal. 2:16-20 |
| September 27 | Nate | 17th after Pentecost | II Cor. 6:16-7:1 |
| October 4 | Jeff Alipy | 18th after Pentecost | II Cor. 9:6-11 |
Full schedule:
https://stjfc.org/Pages/Ministries/Altar/Docs/epistle readers for 2026.pdf
Scripture Readings for this coming Sunday
Epistle: ST. PAUL’S FIRST LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS 9:2-12
Brethren, you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. This is my defense to those who would examine me. Do we not have the right to our food and drink? Do we not have the right to be accompanied by a wife, as the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas? Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living? Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit? Who tends a flock without getting some of the milk? Do I say this on human authority? Does not the law say the same? For it is written in the law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it is treading out the grain.” Is it for oxen that God is concerned? Does he not speak entirely for our sake? It was written for our sake, because the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of a share in the crop. If we have sown spiritual good among you, is it too much if we reap your material benefits? If others share this rightful claim upon you, do not we still more? Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ.
Gospel: MATTHEW 18:23-35
The Lord said this parable: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began the reckoning, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents; and as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ And out of pity for him the lord of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. But that same servant, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat he said, ‘Pay what you owe.’ So his fellow servant fell down and besought him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ He refused and went and put him in prison till he should pay the debt. When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. Then his lord summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you besought me; and should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his lord delivered him to the torturers, till he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”
Spiritual Reading
Oxygen and Food for the Soul
Ninth Talk on the Divine Liturgy, Part B
Metropolitan Athanasios of Limassol
You see what the priest asks on behalf of the people: that God would grant us knowledge of His truth in this present life. That we would know what’s true, what’s genuine, what God wants from us, and not what’s false, vain, and misleading.
Wherein lies the truth of God? In that God became Man for the sake of the salvation of every one of us. This should be our focus in this present life.
In the Paterikon, we read about the holy ascetic Abba Isidore. He labored in the Egyptian desert, spending his life in the strictest abstinence and unceasing prayer. When he grew old and his bodily strength left him, the fathers told him:
“Give yourself some rest, Elder! You’re all withered up from asceticism. Give yourself some peace at last.”
Read the entire article: https://orthochristian.com/179258.html
St. James Orthodox Church
2610 S.E. Frontage Rd.
Fort Collins, CO 80525
970.221.4180
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