Newsletter October 4, 2024

Eastern Remnants, Part Two

The advantage of Eastern Christianity lies in the fact that — as much as it is sensitive to the integrity of faith and meticulous in formulating and preserving its teachings — it does not codify Christian life, but rather, for its implementation on a personal level, opens up a wide scope of general education emanating from the doctrine. It calls for the application of the divine commandments, in accordance with what leads to the salvation of the believer, under the guidance of his spiritual father, according to his situation, ability, circumstance, and the spiritual level he has reached.

On the political level, the Eastern Church, and the Orthodox Church in particular, does not determine the political orientation, in the precise and direct sense, for its children. It is satisfied only with providing them with Christian education, and enriching them with authentic spirituality, which finds a Christian embodiment in a manner that suits each society, people, and circumstance, even in the face of war.

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The Eastern Church deals with the problems of the faithful personally, not with a general religious generalization written in a legalistic and canonistic spirit. Guided by its spirituality, which understands the place of man in the divine plan, and which aspires to the salvation of man and the world, it feels, with mercy, the evangelical wisdom that says: “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27).

Read the entire article: https://www.antiochian.org/regulararticle/2189

They have asked for some help with meals for the next few weeks. Presently, they are staying with their parents, so the meals will need to be dinner for 4 adults. There are no food / diet / allergy restrictions. In order to ease the disturbance / distraction for them, I have asked Nina G. to be the meals coordinator. Please contact her to find an open day and to make your meal suggestion (so that we do not accidentally give the same meal 5 days in a row…). Once you have made arrangements with Nina, she will provide you with details regarding time, location, and how to be in touch with them regarding delivery.

Nina G. : 970-829-6296. Please remember that she is busy with her family. Texting would be the most convenient. If you call, leave a voicemail and she will respond as quickly as possible.

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 2024 web.pdf

Full schedule: https://stjfc.org/Pages/Ministries/Altar/Docs/epistle readers for 2024.pdf

Epistle: ST. PAUL’S SECOND LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS 4:6-15

Brethren, it is the God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness, ” who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For while we live we are always being given up to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you. Since we have the same spirit of faith as he had who wrote, “I believed, and so I spoke, ” we too believe, and so we speak, knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.

Gospel: LUKE 7:11-16

At that time, Jesus went to a city called Nain, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him. As he drew near to the gate of the city, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow; and a large crowd from the city was with her. And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” And he came and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” And the dead man sat up, and began to speak. And he gave him to his mother. Fear seized them all; and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and “God has visited his people!

Like A Refugee

Fr. Stephen Freeman

It was June 13, 1940. A young Vladimir Lossky (later to be author of The Mystical Theology of the Eastern Church) was making his way on foot with the crowds from Paris who were fleeing from a victorious, invading German army. The invasion was sudden, surprising, and completely overwhelming in its success. The entire operation took no more than six weeks. Lossky kept a diary. The small book, Seven Days on the Roads of France (SVS Press, 2012), is one of the more profound reflections on a singular moment in history.

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We live in a day and time that many ponder as the “end” of Western Civilization. I suspect that it is not the end, but merely the continuing evolution of modernity, a philosophy and period of time that has sought for several hundred years to kill its patrimony. History never “ends” so much as it fades in and out moving towards a direction that is in the hands of God.

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From Hebrews (11:9-10):

“By faith [Abraham] dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.”

Our “land of promise” is not a renewal of Western Civilization, nor any number of imagined fixes to this world. It is a city that has true foundations – built by God. Stay on the road. Walk like a refugee.

Read the entire article: https://glory2godforallthings.com/2024/09/19/like-a-refugee/