St. James Parish News
January 3, 2025
Feast of the Prophet Malachi
He Who enriches all came down, and put on poverty, — that He might divide to the poor, the stores that were hidden — out of the treasure-house of the water.
The lowly one again that has put on, the Giver of all greatness, in the water — even though he be base in the sight of fools, yet is great in the sight of the Watchers, — for that he is clad in greatness.
For like as He Who is great, Who became lowly in His love — by the unbelievers was persecuted, and by the Watchers was worshipped, — was made lowly and makes the lowly great.
Thus let him be lowly who is great, that in him the lowly may be great:— Let us be like to Him Who is greater than all, Who became less than all:— He was made lowly, and makes all men great.
The meek man who has put on Him Who is great, in the water — though humble be his countenance, very great is his discernment, — for He Who is exalted above all dwells in him.
St. Ephraim the Syrian, Hymns of Theophany
Nativity message from Patriarch John
In the quiet town of Bethlehem, amidst the melodies of the shepherds, the ever-watchful God descended from the heights of His glory. He came to us through a Virgin Mother, clothed in modesty and meekness. He came gentle, addressing a humanity slumbering in the caves of its heart, yearning for the light of the Resurrection and the abundance of hope.
Read the entire article: https://www.antiochian.org/regulararticle/2291
Nativity message from Metropolitan SABA
God did not merely come to us; He became one of us, like us. He shared in our suffering, and through this, He raised us to Himself. The birth of Jesus Christ in the flesh forever transformed humanity’s understanding of God. But have we, as individuals and as Christian communities throughout history, always lived according to what He has revealed and given to us? Often, we have failed to reflect His loving and participatory nature. Yet history is also rich with luminous examples—countless saints and faithful who have reflected the face of Christ in this suffering world.
Read the entire article: https://www.antiochian.org/regulararticle/2288
Jim’s Saturday Bible Class
Genesis Class
St James Church
Saturdays 9:30am–11:00am
January 18–April 5, 2025
We will begin with a brief review of what we covered in the fall 2024 course (Genesis 1–11). We will then turn our attention to the patriarchs & matriarchs (Genesis 12–30) and the Joseph narrative (Genesis 31-50).
Per usual, people who are interested in participating in this class should email me so I can send them PDFs of the course readings (JEL1451@gmail.com). All are welcome.
Name days, Birthdays and Anniversaries
Bill (Basil) H. – Nameday: 01-01
Carl (Basil) M. – Nameday: 01-01
Micah H. – Nameday: 01-05
May God grant you many years!
Upcoming Feasts / Celebrations
| Sunday January 5 | |
|---|---|
| Theophany Eve | |
| 8:30 AM | Orthros |
| 9:30 AM | Divine Liturgy |
| 11:00 AM | Great Blessing of Waters |
| Monday January 6 | |
| Theophany of our Lord | |
| 5:00 PM | Orthros |
| 6:00 PM | Divine Liturgy |
| 7:00 PM | Great Blessing of Waters |
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
| January 5 | Shana V. |
| January 12 | Anna H. |
| January 19 | Kari H. |
| January 26 | Nana D. |
| February 2 | Natalia M. |
Full schedule:
https://stjfc.org/Pages/Ministries/Prosphora/Docs/prosphora sched 2025 web.pdf
Readers
| January 5 | Thomas | Sunday before Theophany (Epiphany) | II Tim. 4:5-8 |
| January 12 | Ken | Sunday after Theophany (Epiphany) | Eph. 4:7-13 |
| January 19 | James | 29th after Pentecost | Col. 3:4-11 |
| January 26 | Jared | 32nd after Pentecost | I Tim. 4:9-15 |
| February 2 | Connor | Presentation (Meeting) of Christ | Heb. 7:7-17 |
Full schedule:
https://stjfc.org/Pages/Ministries/Altar/Docs/epistle readers for 2025.pdf
Scripture Readings for this coming Sunday
Epistle: ST. PAUL’S SECOND LETTER TO TIMOTHY 4:5-8
TIMOTHY, my son, always be steady, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfil your ministry.For I am already on the point of being sacrificed; the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.
Gospel: MARK 1:1-8
The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in the prophets, ‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who shall prepare your way; the voice of one crying in the wilderness: prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.’ John was baptizing in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And there went out to him all the country of Judea, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, and had a leather girdle around his waist, and ate locusts and wild honey. And he preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
Spiritual Reading
Father Nathanael of Pskov-Pechersk Monastery: A Portrait Beyond the Pages of “Everyday Saints”
Anastasia Parkhomchik
Father Nathanael (Pospelov) became widely known through Metropolitan Tikhon’s (Shevkunov) book Everyday Saints, published in 2011 and translated into many languages. The book portrays him as a strict and somewhat enigmatic treasurer of the Pskov-Pechersk Monastery—a figure misunderstood and even feared by some. Yet, a closer look reveals the depth of his character as a wise and devout ascetic. Saint Simeon (Zhelnin) of Pskov-Pechersk, Father Nathanael’s spiritual mentor, once described him succinctly: “Father Nathanael has Solomon’s wisdom and Elijah’s zeal.” This article offers a deeper exploration of the extraordinary life and spirituality of this revered elder.
Read the entire article: https://catalog.obitel-minsk.com/blog/2024/12/father-nathanael-of-pskov-pechersk-monastery
St. James Orthodox Church
2610 S.E. Frontage Rd.
Fort Collins, CO 80525
970.221.4180