How greatly loved we are by our Lord. His love for us is incomprehensible and eternal. The Lord will never love us more than He does at this moment. And He is pre-sent to us in every moment of our existence. What He desires from us in every moment is that we open our hearts to His love, that we welcome & receive His love and allow His presence to transform us more and more. The love we receive from Him we are to return in our love for Him and in our interactions with the people we see with on a daily basis.

My beloved brothers & sisters, open your hearts so that the Holy Spirit can trace in them

the image of Christ. Then, little by little you will be able to have within you both joy and affliction, both death and resurrection.

The world knows nothing greater than the vocation of a Christian. But the higher the goal, the more difficult it is to reach.

In the Orthodox Church, the salvation of man is understood as his deification.

& Holy Communion—so that we may acquire the grace of God which purifies our hearts & fills us with God’s love. Holy love is the com-mandment, path and goal of the Christian life. Again the Lord tells us, “By this all men will know that you are My disciples—if you have love for one another.” This most perfect and supreme of the Christian virtues, and the degree to which we acquire and live it, is the true measure of suc-cess, both for us as persons as well as a parish commu-nity. Everything within the life of the Church is given to us for this purpose—to become living icons of the love of God, each of us in our own way, each of us within our own particular circumstances Love, holiness, truth, humility, repentance, and obedience are all woven together as one so that we may all become one in Him.

“This is My command-ment that you love one another, even as I have loved you, you must love one another,” says the Lord. The Holy Apostle Jude tells us to “keep ourselves in the love of God.” And the Lord commands us, “Abide in My love.” He even tells us how: “If you keep My com-mandments you will abide in My love, even as I keep My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.” The Holy Apostle Peter tells us, “Since you have in obedience to the truth puri-fied your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart.” Why this emphasis on love in my pastoral letter? Because this is the heart of our Faith. This is why we have spiritual disciplines: prayer, fasting, Divine Ser-vices, spiritual reading, alms, sacrificial giving, Confession

A Message from Fr. John

Words from Our Holy Fathers: Elder Sophrony (1896—1993)

ST . HERMAN ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CHURCH

JUNE — JULY 2007 VOLUME 10, NUMBERS 6 & 7

THE PARISH PRESS

INSIDE THIS ISSUE :

CHOIR CONCERT 2

WEDDING , JULY 4TH

& CHURCH SCHOOL 3

EDUCATION , ST . ANNA ’S

FEAST , & MODERNISM 4

“AN ANNUAL SUMMER

CHECKUP” 5

THE DORMTION , CAMP ,

& MSICELLANEOUS . 6

JUNE / JULY CALENDAR 7

Since the Fall man has become a battle-ground for the strug-gle between God & the enemy.

Do not put too much confi-dence in the higher education you received in this world. The civilization we live in is a culture of fallen humanity.

The word akedia (translated „despondency‟) means „lack of care‟ i.e. about one‟s salvation. With few exceptions, all humanity is now living in the state of akedia. This absence of concern is nothing else than the death of the human person

The wisdom of the world can-not save the world… The only solution is to find within us the

wisdom and the resolve not to live according to the ideas of this world, but to follow Christ.

One should never compare oneself with anyone else. Each one of us, whoever shall he be, is great before the Eternal God; God establishes with each human being a unique and loving relationship.

The most important thing now is that God inspire your struggle for salvation.

PAGE 2 THE PARISH PRESS

1ST EVER ALL-ORTHODOX CHOIR FESTIVAL (MAY 19, 2007)

Having given Teddy, St. Herman‟s choir director, an hour‟s head start, Fr. John careened down the highway hoping to pass her. White knuckled but invigorated, five of us choir members burst into song, putting the final touches on our repertoire for the festival hosted by St. Michael's choir in

Pueblo, Colorado. The idea for such an event came from Matushka Elizabeth of St. Michael's. The festival sought to bring Colorado's parishes together to enjoy each other's company and share each other's music. St Michael, St. Herman of Littleton, St. Mary's of Calhan and representa-tives of Holy Transfiguration Cathedral sang both individually and as a combined choir. For the combined choir Matushka Elizabeth Powell directed "Christ is Risen." Teddy Thomas of

St. Herman's led us in a rendition of the "Cherubic Hymn” which was as complicated as it was beautiful, and Deacon Alex Vallens from Transfiguration Cathedral led "The Angel Cried" with such gusto that the sleeves of his riassa seemed to burst into flame. If that were not enough, we were thrilled to have the Konevets Quartet from St. Petersburg Music Conservatory perform for us. Hearing the familiar melodies sung in Slavonic gave a sense of the universal character of Orthodoxy. The monks perform around the world,

inspiring their audiences and raising money toward the restoration of the Konevets Monastery in Russia. Following the well-received program, we shared a delicious agape meal together. Next year we hope to have more parishes participate in this convivial sound of music. We will be hosting next year‟s event here at St. Herman Orthodox Church. See you then!

Carolyn Kimberly

House Blessings

PAGE 3 THE PARISH PRESS

Wedding: Vladi & Stefi Dragomirovi

Mary Teter organized our last Church school class for the school

year on the theme, ”Preparing for

Pentecost.” All of our children met out on the church lawn on Sunday,

May 20, to learn about the Holy Spirit and the new life He brings to us

when we follow our Lord Jesus. Every student received color

icons for the Feasts of the Ascension

and Pentecost and parents received handouts to teach their children at home for each of these Great Feasts

(the handouts were age-graded and available for pre-school children

through high school).

Everyone planted both thyme plants and sunflowers in pots with

fresh dirt as a beautiful image of new life and growth. We also learned that

sunflowers “always follow the sun” a lesson for us to always “keep our eyes

fixed on Jesus, the Author and

Finisher of our faith.” Thanks Mary!

July 4th Fireworks & Fundraiser

PAGE 3 THE PARISH PRESS

Church School: Preparing for Pentecost

“Thou hast set upon their heads crowns of precious stones. They asked life of Thee and Thou gavest it them!”

Vladislav & Stefka Dragomirovi from Sofia, Bulgaria were married at St. Herman Orthodox church on Sunday, May 13 attended by family and friends, Vladi’s parents having arrived from Bulgaria to attend the ceremony. Our choir sang the glorious Service with beauty as always. We were also encouraged to learn that our beloved temple reminded them of parishes in their home town.

Every year on July 4th literally thousands of people walk across our church property on their way to Cornerstone Park (right across the street) to see an awesome fireworks display presented there. Our westside parking lot provides a front-row seat to this annual patriotic celebration.

For the last few years we have simply gathered as a church family to enjoy a parish picnic and to watch the show. This year we are preparing to sell hot dogs, hamburgers, chips and cokes as a fundraiser for our parish. Plan now to attend and lend a hand to celebrate our na-tion’s birthday.

PAGE 4 THE PARISH PRESS

Remaining class schedule:

June 13: Ch. 6, On the Jesus Prayer

June 20: Ch. 7, Spiritual Fatherhood as a Ministry of Reconciliation Between Man and God

June 27: Ch. 8, The Presentation of Christ that Justified God and Man; Conclusion

Agia Anna Annual Feast Adult Education, Wednesdays at 10 am & 7 pm

The Feast of the Dormition of

St. Anna (the mother of the

Theotokos), occurs every on

July 25. This year, on July 28,

a Saturday, at 9 am, we are all

invited to attend Liturgy and

picnic at this beautiful place. We are currently in the middle of a series of classes using the book by Metropolitan Hierotheos Vlachos, “Entering the Orthodox Church,” an excellent text. Classes meet on Tuesdays at 6:30 pm and will continue through June 27.

These classes are for anyone who wants to learn more about our Holy Orthodox Faith (i.e. for Orthodox and the not-yet-Orthodox Christians, or anyone else, for that matter).

Whether you want to be received into the Orthodox Church or simply want to grow as an Orthodox Christian, these classes are for you. Plan now to attend!

Intro to Orthodoxy—part 2

Unlike the rest of Christianity, the Orthodox Church has not abandoned history. She has not lost her memory. She has not fallen into senility. Truly, she has been buffeted by history through persecution, but nothing has been able to change her essential nature. Outside of Orthodoxy some have broken with the Tradition and gone their own way abandoning most that came before. Many have actually ridiculed their own history, preferring to seek out trendy changes. They all have forgotten Hebrews 13:8 where Paul declares that the past is not dead because “Christ is the same, yesterday, today, and forever.” Holy Orthodoxy rebukes the unholy trinity of pluralism, relativism, and subjectivism which have brought about the death of Truth. The rest of Christianity has bought into nihilism and in its associated death of Truth. It holds that truth depends on circumstances, on our personal experiences, and how we feel at the time. It recognizes many "ultimate principles". Eternal matter, for example is taught in schools and universities. Therefore, according to this oh-so-tolerant mindset, one religion, no matter how bizarre, is thought to be as good as another. Interfaith communion services are a sign of this. The philosopher, Michael Novak, calls this "arrogant gullibility". People, even movie stars, have not lost the idea of faith. They seek out some kind of fuzzy spirituality and "will believe in anything". On the other hand, an Orthodox Christian holds fast to ancient Tradition. He holds onto history. An Orthodox Christian hands down the True Faith to his children because he does not want them to fall into the modern morass that leads to spiritual death. Our liturgies may be "too long", our fasts "too strict" and we don't give in to fashion or political correctness. We are an anomaly. Thank God! When Christ comes again, will He recognize us? The answer is a resounding yes! Carolyn Kimberly

“Out of Sync with Modernism”

An Annual Summer Check-Up

“Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.”

Let’s have a summer check-up! We go to the doctor annually to ensure our physical health. If we, or our doctor, discern an ailment within us, then we accept his diagnosis and prescription for medicine that will effect our cure. How much more should we regularly consult the Great Physician to find healing for our souls?

According to Metropolitan Hierotheos Vlachos in Orthodox Psychotherapy, “Many interpreta-tions of Christianity have been formulated and many answers given to the questions: What is Christian-ity and what is its mission in the world? Most are not true.” He says, “Christianity, and especially Ortho-doxy, is therapy” for the healing and salvation of our souls which are sick because of sin. “Christianity is prin-cipally a science which cures.” The Church is a Hospital, Christ is our great Physician (Who accomplishes our healing through His bishops and priests), the Sacraments, the Holy Scriptures, and prayer are the saving remedies which He has pro-vided to heal and cure our illness.

I would like to focus on one aspect of this healing process: the importance of holding fast to and promoting “sound teaching” as a means of spiritual health. St. Paul uses the Greek word “hygiene“ some 8 times in his letters to St. Timothy and St. Titus. It is usually translated “sound” and means that which produces authen-tic spiritual health. Here are a few of these verses:

“If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words even to our Lord Jesus Christ and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, he is proud and knows nothing” (1 Tim 6:3).

“Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in

Christ Jesus” (2 Tim. 1:13).

“The time will come when [Christians] will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables” (2 Tim. 4:3).

“A bishop [or priest] must…hold fast the faithful word as he has been taught, so that he may be able, by sound doctrine both to exhort & con-vict those who contradict (Titus 1:9).

“But as for you speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine: that the older men may be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, & in patience” (Titus 2:1-2).

We can learn several things from these verses of Scripture:

Sound teaching is essential for spiritual health. There is a direct connection between the health of one’s spiritual life and the teaching they are following.

It is the God-given task of the clergy to give health-producing teaching to their people. The Chris-tian teacher must strive to be faithful to the Holy Tradition of the Orthodox Church. Why? Because it alone is Life-producing and without it God’s people (including the teacher) will remain uncured.

Many people today are choos-ing not to listen to the authentic and healing words of our holy Orthodox Faith but are choosing rather to “heap up for themselves [heterodox] teachers” who are actu-ally leading them away from the salvation and healing that are found only in Christ and His Church. Where do we encounter these false teachers who cannot cure us? On TV, on the radio, in books, & magazines, in videos, and in the movies & music that we listen to every day, much of which actually encourages us to think and to do things contrary to the teachings of

our Lord and God and Savior Je-sus Christ. Who’s catechizing you?

As we enter the life of the Orthodox Church, all of us bring with us a lot of heterodox baggage & ailments that must be overcome and healed. However, if you were raised in the Church, you must also honestly and fearlessly examine your beliefs & values & habits and ask yourself, “On what sources have I been nourishing my spiritual life? On authentic Orthodox teaching, or on sources contrary to the Orthodox Faith, perhaps even on the godless teachings of our surrounding anti-Christian culture?

All of us must, together with our spiritual father in the context of confession, seek to weed out from our lives everything “that is contrary to sound doctrine” and conform our thinking and actions “according to the glorious Gospel of the blessed God” (1 Tim. 1:10).

While we examine and work on our physical health this summer, let us also seek authentic spiritual health: 1) by examining our lives, 2) by going to Confession, 3) by reading the Holy Scriptures, and/or a good Orthodox book on the spiritual life, 4) by weekly partici-pating in the prayers and sacra-mental life of the Church: Great Vespers on Saturdays at 6 pm and Divine Liturgy, Sundays at 9:30 am

And consider these words from St. Paul in Romans 12:1-2:

I urge you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind [nous], so that you may prove what the will of God is: what is good and acceptable and perfect.

May the Lord grant all of us a healthy, happy, and holy

summer 2007!

PAGE 5 THE PARISH PRESS

August 5, 6 pm through August 8, noon.

Children and youth, ages 6—18 are welcome. Sign up soon and reserve your spot! We are also looking for a few good counselors, age 19 and up. Contact Fr. John at frjohnarm@hotmail.com or Fr. Anthony at frkarbo@theophany.org.

Cost is still only $110. Scholarships are available.

Anniversaries and Birthdays in June & July

May God grant many years to Joe & Joyce Mikita (6/2), Mark & Mary Beth Flory (6/3), Dcn. Nick & Liz Jannakos (6/20), Lowell & Olga Thomas (6/30), Mike & Dagmar Drakulich (7/11), Brandon & Sophia Davies (7/14), Jack & Sharon Acheff (7/26)

celebrating their Anniversaries in June & July.

May God grant many years to Mike Drakulich & Jay Lazorishak (6/8), Calley Breslau & Vanessa Taylor (6/9), Brian Ambron & Marko Lukich(6/14), Kathleen Smith (6/15), Katherine Scheib (6/17), Mike Myers (6/26), Jack Acheff (6/28), Alla Pollard (7/3), Gari Lukich (7/5), Mika Farer (7/12), Carol Breslau (7/14), Michael Walker (7/15), David Kimberly (7/16), Phoebe Teter (7/18), Brandon

Davies (7/22), Fr. Eugene (7/24), Beverly Elfvin (7/28), Silva Kaptanian (7/28) celebrating their Birthdays in June & July.

Financial Contributions are Always Welcome!

You will find a special Pascha offering envelope enclosed which you may use to make financial contributions. You may also become a newsletter sponsor for a suggested $25 annual donation. Thank you in advance for your

generous support of our parish ministry.

Parishioners are encouraged to submit news articles, announcements, and other information of interest or importance to our parish to be included in this newsletter. For more information please call Fr. John at 303-798-7306,

or reach him by e-mail at: FrJohnArm@StHermanOCA.org.

Current Annual Sponsors

Kafa & Samir Chawi (CO), Anthe James (MA), Cheryl Moskal (CO), Ned & Sandy Puev (CO), Katherine & Alex Sirpis (CA), Dennis & Kathleen Smith (CO), Kon & Birdie Worth (CA), Louis & Dorothy Zang (CO)

King Soopers Certificates

A „sooper‟ and painless way that our parish raises funds is by selling King Soopers Certificates (honored by all major supermarkets). Certificates may be purchased Sundays after Liturgy from Dorothy Zang in the church hall. We receive

5% from King Soopers for every dollar spent ($100 of coupons = $5 free for the parish).

The Dormition Fast: August 1 — 14

PAGE 6 THE PARISH PRESS

Rocky Mountain Youth Summer Camp

Every year the holy Church invites us to a special

spiritual effort in preparation for the Feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God, the Dormition Fast, from August 1st

through the 14th (the Feast of the Dormition is on August 15).

During this time we do not eat

any meat or dairy products or consume any alcohol except

on those days that indicate “wine & oil.” T h e r e a r e

several days during this Fast when we can enjoy “fish, wine,

and oil” (Aug. 6 for the Feast of

the Transfigu- ration of Christ; August 9 for the Feast of

St. Herman; and, August 13, the Feast for St. Tikhon of Zadonsk, and also our parish

Name‟s Day Luncheon). During these fasting days, the

Church invites us to pray the Canons of Supplication to the Mother God small and great; the small supplicatory canon is

also know as “Paraklesis,” which we can pray every week at the Monastery of St. George, and will pray several times at

St. Herman. Let us also strive to show mercy to others for these three: fasting, prayer, and alms are a three-fold cord

of spiritual disciplines which are essential to a normal Christian life. We will break the Fast by receiving Holy Communion on August 15 at 9:30 am, the Feast of the

Falling Asleep (Dormition) of the Mother of God. God bless all of you as you seek the Lord during these special days!

mailto:FrJohnArm@hotmail.com

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The Parish Press: June—July 2007

Saint Herman Orthodox Church

991 W. Prentice Ave. Littleton CO 80120

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