St. James Parish News
October 3, 2026
St. Dionysios the Areopagite
Trinty, which exceedeth all Being, Deity, and Goodness! Thou that instructeth Christians in Thy heavenly wisdom! Guide us to that topmost height of mystic lore which exceedeth light and more than exceedeth knowledge, where the simple, absolute, and unchangeable mysteries of heavenly Truth lie hidden in the dazzling obscurity of the secret Silence, outshining all brilliance with the intensity of their darkness, and surcharging our blinded intellects with the utterly impalpable and invisible fairness of glories which exceed all beauty! t. Dionysios the Areopagite
Article from Metropolitan SABA
The Cross in Our Lives, Part Four
Our cross can be powerfully illumined by the Cross of Christ, who bore it though He is perfectly pure and innocent. He is the One who will raise us up, provided that we do not remain wallowing in our weakness. The perfect purity and innocence of Christ are filled with active power, revealed in the truth of His bearing the Cross out of His overwhelming love for humankind. Since there is absolutely no evil in Christ, the power of His Cross and the power of His love extend themselves before all who desire to open their hearts to Him—the One who suffered for our sake.
Through the Cross of Christ, this power reaches human nature and all those who seek union with Christ. This is why Christians love the Cross so deeply and are so closely bound to it. They cannot forsake it, for in doing so they would reject all growth and progress in their spiritual journey along the path of holiness. The absence of the cross is the absence of Christ working and acting within the human person and accompanying him toward true and eternal life. The Cross possesses saving power. It is a cross that I bear not only because of my own sins but also, following the example of Christ, because of the sins of others.
Read the entire article: https://www.antiochian.org/regulararticle/2955
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.
I said ‘Finally’ last week, but please allow me to add one more. Finally I would like to thank Jeff Alipy for his voluntary gift painting icons for our temple. We already have some very beautiful additions by his hand. And he is in process of a new icon for our iconostasis that will be completed in the near future. In addition, he is also working on some of the new icon commisions that will be added to the other walls of the sanctuary. Jeff Alipy volunteers all of his time and effort (and a life of artistic training). With our thanks to those who commission the icons, we are able to provide the wood and paint and other materials to Jeff Alipy for his work.
I say Thank you! to Jeff Alipy for his many hours in his studio producing the new icons to adorn our temple and to help inspire and lift up our worship to the Almighty God! 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
Logan K. – Birthday: 10-05
Thomas G. – Nameday: 10-06
Olga C. – Birthday: 10-08
Jim D. – Birthday: 10-09
Ryan ‘Tikhon’ M. – Nameday: 10-09
Upcoming Feasts / Celebrations
| Thursday October 8 | |
|---|---|
| 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
| October 4 | Anna H. |
| October 11 | Kari H. |
| October 18 | Nana D. |
| October 25 | Natalia M. |
| ovember 1 | Shana V. |
Full schedule:
https://stjfc.org/Pages/Ministries/Prosphora/Docs/prosphora sched 2026 web.pdf
Readers
| October 4 | Jeff Alipy | 18th after Pentecost | II Cor. 9:6-11 |
| October 11 | Zach | Fathers of 7th Ecumenical Council | Titus 3:8-15 |
| October 18 | Thomas | Apostle and Evangelist Luke | Col. 4:5-11, 14-18 |
| October 25 | Ken | 21st after Pentecost | Gal. 2:16-20 |
| November 1 | Jared | 21st after Pentecost | Gal. 2:16-20 |
| November 8 | Connor | The Archangels | Heb. 2:2-10 |
| November 15 | Isaac | 24th after Pentecost | Eph. 2:14-22 |
| November 22 | Nate | 25th after Pentecost | Eph. 4:1-7 |
Full schedule:
https://stjfc.org/Pages/Ministries/Altar/Docs/epistle readers for 2026.pdf
Scripture Readings for this coming Sunday
Epistle: ST. PAUL’S SECOND LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS 9:6-11
Brethren, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that you may always have enough of everything and may provide in abundance for every good work. As it is written, “He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor; his righteousness endures for ever.” He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your resources and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way for great generosity, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.
Gospel: LUKE 6:31-36
The Lord said, “As you wish that men would do to you, do so to them. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the selfish. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.”
Spiritual Reading
Gerontissa Makaria (Desipri): Mother of All Who Suffer, Part 1
Nun Alexandra (Markova)
In all times, God adorns His Church with spiritual personalities who shine and radiate the grace of the Holy Spirit like precious gems in a necklace reflecting sunlight. One such shining spiritual figure was the unforgettable Abbess Makaria (Desipri), abbess of the Monastery of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos and St Ephraim, which she recreated completely from ruins and spiritually founded on Mt. Amomon in Attica.
Gerontissa Makaria was full of grace and blessing. She dedicated her life to Christ and the ascetic ideal from an early age, striving for the angelic life, and her entire life was led by the Scriptural word Ye shall be holy; for I am holy (Lev. 11:44). Her heart and soul thirsted to find and glorify a new saint. God and the Theotokos heard her prayer and deemed her worthy of the honor of the appearance and finding of the holy relics of the glorious Venerable Martyr Ephraim the New, Wonderworker of Nea Makri. She served this saint for more than fifty years with the aim that his glory would forever shine upon the entire Orthodox Church world to help suffering people find spiritual rebirth and salvation. May our venerable Abbess Makaria’s memory be eternal and may she be remembered with gratitude for her labors and boundless love.
Read the entire article: https://orthochristian.com/180556.html
St. James Orthodox Church
2610 S.E. Frontage Rd.
Fort Collins, CO 80525
970.221.4180
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