Newsletter September 26, 2024

Eastern Remnants, Part One

In the patriarchal archives, there is a letter from the non-Christian Emir of the Chouf region in Lebanon, dating back to the eighteenth century, addressed to the bishop of the diocese, in response to his request for permission to build a church in one of the villages of those beautiful mountains. The letter states: “We have no objection to building a church for the aforementioned village, provided that its patron saint carries a sword to defend us and yourselves in times of war.”

This letter, despite its wit, carries a realistic explanation for the attachment of people in the countries of the Middle East to the soldier saints, or “warrior saints,” such as Saint Elias, Saint George and Saint Demetrius. Saint Mercurius is considered the favorite of the Copts of Egypt, who greatly honor him, and are known, popularly, as “Abu Saifain.” They depict him in icons riding a horse and “carrying two crossed swords.”

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What is striking about the dealings of Eastern Christians and the aforementioned saints is that their history has never known any behavior that holds these saints responsible for killing enemies, but rather for protecting believers.

This leads us to conclude that the Christian believes that he is under the protection of his Lord first and foremost. From Him, he derives courage, strength, steadfastness, and the ability to bear witness and be martyred.

Read the entire article: https://www.antiochian.org/regulararticle/2188

The funeral for Connor & Chelsea’s son John Vincent will be next Saturday (9/28) at 10:00 A.M. Everyone is invited and encouraged to attend.

Connor and Chelsea have also asked that we assist them with the Meal of Mercy following the funeral. So let us host and provide a pot-luck meal afterward for Chelsea and Connor, their family, and all of the visitors.

If there any questions, please be in contact with me.

Speaking of them: they are doing well (given the situation) and are thankful for your love and prayers. 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 1:21-24; 2:1-4

Brethren, it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has commissioned us; he has put his seal upon us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. But I call God to witness against me – it was to spare you that I refrained from coming to Corinth. Not that we lord it over your faith; we work with you for your joy, for you stand firm in your faith. For I made up my mind not to make you another painful visit. For if I cause you pain, who is there to make me glad but the one whom I have pained? And I wrote as I did, so that when I came I might not suffer pain from those who should have made me rejoice, for I felt sure of all of you, that my joy would be the joy of you all. For I wrote you out of much affliction and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you

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.”

Begotten of the Father

Fr. Stephen Freeman

No revelation is more central to the Christian faith than God as Father. Some might immediately respond that the Trinity should be seen as the central revelation. But, in Orthodox understanding, the Trinity has its source (πηγή) in the Father. We should understand this not only as a matter of Trinitarian thought, but as the proper grounding of the spiritual life as well. To be a Christian in the proper sense, to worship God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, is to acknowledge that our life does not have its source in ourselves, but in God. Living by this, moment by moment, is what it means to have a true and authentic existence – to be truly human.

Christ, particularly in St. John’s gospel, makes frequent reference to the Father as the origin and source of all that He has and does:

Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel. For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will…. For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself…(Joh 5:19-21 and 26)

Read the entire article: https://glory2godforallthings.com/2024/09/23/begotten-of-the-father-2/