Newsletter June 3, 2026

Liturgy and adult class are cancelled for next Wednesday, June 10. I will be attending the clergy meeting at the Diocesan Parish Life Conference in Denver.

Our diocesan Parish Life Conference (which is the annual gathering of our diocesan community for fellowship and worship) will take place in Denver this summer (June 10th – 13th)! This is a great opportunity to experience the event. The culminating event is the Divine Liturgy on Saturday morning, where all of the priests of the diocese celebrate together. It is, literally, awesome.

Here is the link for the PLC website. It contains schedules, location, registration, etc.
https://www.antiochianevents.com/wichita
Please note that you will need to register and pay for admittance to any of the events (except, of course, any of the liturgical services…).

The parish council has noted that our parking space is getting a bit tight. Therefore we have begun mowing more space in the field to the east of the playground. Please feel free to use this space as well.

Remember to park in rows going south (out toward the field) so that we can fill the space and still allow cars to move in and out. Do not simply park on the edge of the drive and there by block access to the rest of the parking area.

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

Full schedule:
https://stjfc.org/Pages/Ministries/Prosphora/Docs/prosphora sched 2026 web.pdf

Full schedule:
https://stjfc.org/Pages/Ministries/Altar/Docs/epistle readers for 2026.pdf

Epistle: ST. PAUL’S LETTER TO THE HEBREWS 11:33-40; 12:1-2

Brethren, all the saints through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, received promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and scourging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were killed with the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, ill-treated – of whom the world was not worthy – wandering over deserts and mountains and in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, though well attested by their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had foreseen something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect. Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.

Gospel: MATTHEW 10:32-33; 37-38; 19:27-30

The Lord said to his disciples, “Every one who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven; but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny him before my Father who is in heaven. He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and he who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.” Then Peter said in reply, “Lo, we have left everything and followed you. What then shall we have?” Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of man shall sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And every one who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. But many that are first will be last, and the last first.”

Come and Abide in Us

Fr. James Guirguis

“You shall be my people, and I will be your God.” Wow. What a powerful statement, but more than this it is a new reality for us. We are not just people, we are God’s people. And He is not just some god, He is in fact our God. He is the one with whom we have a personal, familial and intimate relationship. He who once dwelt in the temple in Jerusalem, has chosen, by His grace, to dwell within those who are baptized and chrismated, in those who love His Son and His commandments. But with God all gifts are given with an expectation. The gift is meant to be used properly. The gift requires something of us. “To whom much has been given, much is expected.”

Read the entire article: https://outofegyptblog.wordpress.com/2026/05/29/come-and-abide-in-us/