WELCOME TO CATHERINE GREEK ORTHODOX “There are no strangers here; only friends you have not met!” 5555 S. Yosemite Street, Greenwood Village, CO 80111 Phone 303-773-3411 ● Fax 303-773-6641 www.stcatherinechurch.org ● [email protected] Office hours: 9am - 4pm Sundays hours of service: 8:15am 9:30am Weekdays hours of service: Orthros 8:15am, Divine Liturgy 9am : Father Louis J. Christopulos, Protopresbyter ● Father Paul Fedec, Archpriest ● John Kavas Staff: Michelle Smith, Office Administrator ● Alina Buzdugan, Ministry Coordinator/Communications/Chanting Alex Demos, Pastoral Assistant to Fr. Lou and Youth Director Brenda Lucero, Accountant ● Steven Woodruff, Facility Manager 2019 Parish Council: Stu Weinroth, President ● Jenée Horan, 1st VP Fellowship ● Dr. Leon Greos, 2nd VP Stewardship Helen Terry, Secretary ● Brian Farr, Treasurer ● JoAnn Chapel ● Spiros Deligiannis ● Billy Halax ● Dr. Jeff Holen ● Eldon Keller ● Andy Stathopulos ● George Strompolos ● Dr. Harry Stathos ● Mark Terry

HYMNS AND READINGS FOR SUNDAY, JULY 7, 2019

Resurrectional Apolytikion – 2nd Tone (Green Hymnal pg. 82) When you descended to the realm of death You as life immortal rendered to Hades a mortal blow by Your all radiant divinity. And when You from infernal depths and the darkness below did raise the dead. All the hosts of heaven's powers did proclaim and cry out, O life giving Christ and our we give glory.

Apolytikion for Saint Kyriaki - 4th Tone Your own ewe-lamb cries to You loudly, O , and she says, * "For my Bridegroom do I long, and seeking You I now contend; * and I am crucified and buried with You in Your baptism. * I suffer for Your sake, that I may reign with You. * I die for You that I may also live in You. * Accept me as an unblemished sacrifice * as I offer myself to You with love." * At her entreaties and intercessions, * save our souls, O Merciful Lord.

Hymn of St. Catherine - 5th Tone We sing praises in memory of the bride of Christ, Catherine the Holy Protectress of Holy Mount Sinai, of her who is our helper and our comforter, silencing the impious ones with her brilliance. All by the power of the Spirit! And she pleads for us all great mercy, since she has been crowned a of the Lord.

Kontakion to the - 2nd Tone A protection of unshamable, intercessor to our Holy Maker, unwavering, reject not the prayerful cries of those who are in sin. Instead, come to us for you are good; Your loving help bring unto us, who are crying in faith to you; hasten to intercede and speed now to supplicate, as a protection for all time, Theotokos, for those who honor you.

Epistle Reading: The Reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians 3:23-29; 4:1-5. Brethren, before faith came, we were confined under the law, kept under restraint until faith should be revealed. So that the law was our custodian until Christ came, that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a custodian; for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise. I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no better than a slave, though he is the owner of all the estate; but he is under guardians and trustees until the date set by the father. So with us; when we were children, we were slaves to the elemental spirits of the universe. But when the time had fully come, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were un- der the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. Gospel Reading: The Reading is from Matthew 6:22-33: The Lord said, "The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is sound, your whole body will be full of light; but if your eye is not sound, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink, nor about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O men of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear? For the Gentiles seek all these things; and your heavenly Father knows you need them all. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well."

Idolatry Leads to Anxiety Homily for the 3rd Sunday after Pentecost and the 3rd Sunday of Matthew in the Orthodox Church By Father Philip LeMasters

Ours is an age of anxiety. Many people are overcome with worry about matters large and small. Some certainly do need the help of physicians and psychological counselors in order to cope with their fears. The sickness of our souls re- mains, however, at the very heart of all our collective and personal brokenness. If our souls are not healthy, we will never find the peace that truly satisfies us as God’s children who bear His image and likeness. The Lord spoke of the health of our souls in terms of vision: “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is sound, your whole body will be full of light; but if your eye is evil, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is dark- ness, how great is the darkness!” Christ taught that, if our spiritual vision is clear and focused, we will see ourselves and our problems in light of God’s kingdom. Then we will be able to serve our one true Master and gain strength for being at peace, regardless of the circumstances of our lives. If our spiritual vision is clouded and unfocused, however, we will not have the strength to see our problems and chal- lenges in light of the Kingdom. We will instead stumble in the darkness to the point that we make the passing things of this life our constant obsessions, which is a path only to greater worry, anxiety, and fear. For example, many people make mon- ey and possessions false for which they will sacrifice just about anything. Jesus Christ teaches that we are not to worry about our food, drink, and clothing. Instead, we are to trust that our Heavenly Father knows that we need these things. “Seek first His kingdom and righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well.” This teaching does not condemn reasonable provision for a decent life for ourselves and our families. It does not deny that the necessities of life are God’s good blessings. Instead, it gives us a clear example of how spiritual blindness enslaves us to idolatry, which leads only to constant worry. Poverty, hunger, and famine are always possibilities in our world. Economic depression, natural disaster, war, crime, disease, and disability are obvious threats to having adequate food, clothing, and shelter. There is simply no way that we can protect ourselves completely from such dangers. If we make the physical ne- cessities of life our gods, we cannot avoid being consumed by worry about them. That kind of idolatry inevitably fuels anxiety. If the eyes of our souls are gaining clarity and focus, however, we will not blindly view life’s necessities as the high- est good, and neither will we make the lack of them the greatest evil. Instead, we will be illumined with the light of Christ to the point that we will see even the worst circumstances of life in this world as opportunities to serve our one true Master. We will already participate in God’s reign as we learn to trust more fully that our Heavenly Father will provide what we need in this life and beyond. When we struggle to see that God cares for us in the midst of our challenges, we must remember St. Paul’s example of using suffering and difficulty for growth in holiness: “We also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perse- verance, and perseverance character, and character, hope.” Not simply wishful thinking, Paul’s hope is grounded in “the love of God …poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit Who was given to us.” Christ died for the ungodly, including us, and has sent the Holy Spirit into our hearts and souls to enlighten us with the glory of the Kingdom. In this context, our diffi- culties and needs are opportunities for gaining greater healing for our souls. We must use these tribulations to gain greater spiritual strength, clarity, and vision by growing in trust, humility, and patience. When we are overcome with worry about any problem or threat in life, we must use our weakness as an opportunity to gain greater spiritual strength: as a reminder to guard our thoughts as we turn our attention from obsessing about what we can- not change to an earnest, humble plea for the Lord’s healing mercy. That is how we will open ourselves to greater participa- tion in His life and, thus, find true peace. Some lose the joy of life because of worry fueled by the love of money; others become miserable because of domi- nation by anger, fear, lust, gluttony, self-righteousness, or other passions. These and all our other habitual sins are symp- toms of our spiritual blindness, of our darkened souls which keep us from seeing ourselves, others, and the entire creation in the glorious light of the Kingdom. As long as we remain in the dark, we will never see anything clearly and easily stumble and fall. Those who are sick do not need relief only for their symptoms; they require healing from the causes of their disease. They need therapy that goes to the heart of the matter. We will find that kind of healing in the spiritual life by: opening our souls to the light of Christ through daily prayer; reading the Bible and the lives and teachings of the ; and watching our minds and mouths to reject thoughts and words that are not pleasing to God. We will find it by fasting in order to humble ourselves before the Lord and gain strength in refusing to be enslaved to selfish desires. We will find it by taking confession on a regular basis as we embrace the mercy of the Lord through sincere repentance. We will find it by: forgiving those who have wronged us and asking forgiveness of those we have wronged; giving generously of our time, attention, and resources to those in need; and attending the Divine Liturgy regularly as we receive the Body and Blood of Christ as often as possible. This way of life is for our healing; it is for our good. It is what is necessary for us to open our darkened souls to the brilliant light of Christ as we learn to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. It is how we may gain the clarity and strength to serve our one true Master as we come to place our problems, fears, and worries in the context of trust in a Lord Who has conquered even death itself for our salvation purely out of love for His sons and daughters. Regardless of the form that darkness takes in our lives, we must not despair. Instead, we must use our weakness and pain as reminders to open ourselves to the light of Christ as best we can. Stumbling around with our eyes closed is a good way to become disoriented and hurt ourselves. All of us have probably learned from experience that nothing but bro- kenness, pain, and worry come from embracing spiritual blindness. Since God created us in His image and likeness, we will never find ultimate satisfaction by looking for fulfillment in the passing things of this world. Doing so will only make us miser- able and weak. Let us, then, open ourselves to the healing light of Christ, trusting that He will respond graciously to even our small, faltering steps to put our lives in the context of His Kingdom. That is the ultimate cure for our worries. If we trust primarily in ourselves and what we can get by using worldly things according to our own designs, we will inevitably be consumed by anx- iety and fear. But if we gain the spiritual clarity to behold all things in the light of His glory, we will know peace from the depths of our souls. The One Who dwells in our hearts has conquered even death itself and made us participants in His eternal life. He delivers us from slavery to the fears that are rooted in our blindness. He makes it possible for us to experi- ence already the joy of heaven even as we live and breathe in this world with all of its and our problems. As the Lord said, “Seek first His kingdom and righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well.”

THANK YOU, YOUNG ADULT MINISTRY! On June 1st, the courtyard of Saint Catherine was transformed into the Young Adult Min- istry's Springtime Beer Garden for the second year in a row. Thirty-five young people, mostly from Saint Catherine and Assumption Cathedral, as well as various Orthodox jurisdictions came togeth- er to enjoy bratwurst, pretzels, sliders, local beer, and raise $600 for IOCC. Danielle Xanthos shared some information on how IOCC serves sustainably, responsibly, and compassionately, both at home and abroad, as well as ways in which we are invited to become more involved. All proceeds of the event went to benefit the remarkable work of IOCC. Thank you to Saint Catherine for providing the space, to Alex Demos for setting and cleaning up, to Rob and Lynnette Horner who were unexpectedly put to work behind the grill (with smiles, nonetheless!), and to all the young adults who attended. Lastly, a BIG thank you to the anonymous beer donor! If you'd like to learn about new ways to support IOCC, please check out www.iocc.org!

SAINT CATHERINE CARE LINE FOR PARISHONERS AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS ONLY For a confidential prayer list or for anyone you wish to add, please contact our Prayer Partners chair Samia Nash at [email protected].

To report the name of someone in need, ill, asleep in the Lord, or the let us know that you would like your name to be removed from the Care Line, please call 303 - 773 - 3411 extension 8. Thank you! “In the Name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen. Dear Lord, Jesus Christ, who brought us into this world and knows all of our weaknesses and needs, please visit and heal your servants (or name) from all physical and spiritual maladies, relieve their pain and grant them a quick recovery. If a quick or full recovery is not possible, please be with your servants (or name) helping them to endure whatever pain and suffering they are experiencing until recovery is complete. Dear Lord, help me to be thoughtful and considerate of my brothers and sisters and show me how to recognize and meet their needs, both spoken and unspoken. You we offer glory, praise and thanksgiving, in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.”

 Eleni Marie Bardossas - Home  Hariton - Home  Mary Plakorus - Home  Bardossas Family - Home  Michel Heneen - Home  Kathryn Prose - US Army  Basiliki - Home  Mark and Connie Hilgefort - Home  Thomas Prose - US Army  Mary Brent - Home  Doreen Hoskins - Home  John Prose - US Navy Reserve  John Bouzis - Hospital (Brother of  Linda Mariea Hughes - Home  Toula Rallis – Extended Care Cen- Chris Craig)  Deacon John Kavas - Home ter (Cousin of Maria Mantas)  Chris Craig - Home  Dean and Irene Kasis (Cousins of  Florence Regas - Home  Mary Chachas - Home Anthea Christenbury)  Celeste Romell - Home (Niece of  Jim Chachas - Home  Sheyenne King – Home (Niece of Vana White)  Wendell R. Chapman - Asleep in Barb Latsonas)  Fr. Stavros Rousos - Care Center the Lord  Abbie Kippie - Home (Cousin of Pam Van Milligan)  Jim Damaskos - Home (Granddaughter of Terry Flagg)  Nadia Samaan - Asleep in the Lord  Justin Daniel – Home (Son of Lin-  Mark Kiryluk - Home  Gerry Saros - Asleep in the Lord da Hughes)  Kristina - Home (Niece of Anthea  Jennifer Shaw - Home  Mary Dennis - Home Christenbury)  Dan Skaff - Home  Rayn Durso - US Army  Chloe Leach - Home (Niece of  Blake Stokes - Home  Teddy Dwight - Home Anthea Christenbury)  Leah Stokes - Home  Hope Dwight - Home  James Legas - Home  Valerie Stokes - Home  Lucy Eliopulos - Home (Niece of  Jett David Spyridon Lockhart -  Dr. Harry Stathos - Home Charlene Eliopulos) Home (Chris Craig’s nephew)  Ellie Thomas - Home  Pat Faires - Home (Brother-in-law  Chad Lukasiewicz - Home  Pagona and Robert Trusk – Home of Terry Flagg)  Will Maniatis - Home (Daughter and son-in-law of Irene  Matushka Gloria Fedec - Home  Alexa Mantas - Home Farfaras)  Fr. Paul Fedec - Home  Nick Michas - Home  Rouli Tucker - Home  Todd Fotiades - Home  Alexandria Nash - Home  Chuck Ullmann - Home  Pres. Eleni Foreso & Family -  Samia Nash - Home  Roberta Walls - Home Home  Uka Mabel Nwaeze - Home  Sue Youssef – Home  Walt Freehling - Home (Father of (Mother of May House)  Joe Youssef - Hospital Trina Bibbero)  Maria Olsen - Home  Sally Zawloski - Hospital (Cousin of  Val Jean Freehling - Home (Mother  Panangelos Mark John Condon) of Trina Bibbero)  Diane Papedo - Home  Joy Gallios - Home  James Panagoulias - Asleep in the  Stephen George - US Navy (Son Lord (brother of Joanne (Steve) of Andrew and Inge George) Callas)  Cameron Grant - US Marines  Evelyn Panos – Home (Cousin of  Michael Gutesha - Home Missy Katsoulas)  Isabella Hanke - Home  Patricia Pantazis - Hospital (Goddaughter of Judy Jones)  George Plakorus - Home