It is essential to understand that the Gospel is addressed to our hearts. God wants our hearts to acquire the special traits that Christ possesses. For softening of one’s heart special nourishment is needed that bears the grace of God.

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If in Christian life our highest goal is love then it is important that we should know her ways. If we wouldn’t keep watch on one another’s passions, by which every human soul is infected; if we wouldn’t look out for something wrong in someone else’s behavior, or note the slightest defects of their physical appearance and temper; if the speck in a husband’s or a wife’s eye didn't turn into a beam; if we saw the image of Christ in our nearest and dearest and served them in the spirit of love, then our life would be transformed indeed. It is extremely important to understand this and to put it into practice.

Birthdays: Emmanuel T. (7th); Katherine Sh. (8th); Bruce G. (9th); Anita Sch. (10th); Eliza A. (10th); Micah L. (11th)

It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye. How important it is to see with your heart. To see God, your neighbors, and the world around you. Sometimes we lose heart because we seem to be making little or no progress at all. But this is not the case. God appreciates any efforts that we make. Christ is always near and is willing to give us a helping hand. We must firmly believe it. And Christ is the most important thing that is invisible to our eyes. The vision of heart is needed here. The heart should be gentle, kind and pure, for “blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.”

Archangel Michael Gr. Vespers: Archangel Michael, C.S. - Tues., 6pm St. Michael’s, Pueblo, Tues., 5:30pm

- Archpriest Andrei Ovchinnikob -

Give your attention to the moment in which we are - to whomever and whatever God has placed before us. Be attentive so as not to miss God’s presence in the moment. He is in our every moment. And if there is distraction, we are the distracted and distant one. The task at hand needs our attention. We can view it as an opportunity to work with our God at accomplishing it well, asking His help, giving Him thanks, no matter the outcome. The person with whom you are dealing may be pleasant or not; yet they are made in the image and likeness of God. May we remember that and try to discover Christ in each person.

Anniversary: Sharp, Bauer Namesdays: Michael, Gabriel Many Years!

Services This Week:

Div. Liturgy: Weds., 9am, Pueblo w/ abp. Benjamin Vespers: Weds. 6p.m. - Adult Ed./Catechism following Vespers-

Youth Meet Saturday after Vespers Contact Dn. Gregory: [email protected]

Moms: Tuesdays, 9:30am Contact Margaret Combs: [email protected]

Ladies Study - Thursdays, 9a.m. -

Men’s Study Group - Fridays, 6:30a.m. -

Evil, however innocent it looks, offends God’s long-suffering love, which is His foremost glory. Judas betrayed his Lord for thirty silver pieces under the guise of helping the poor. Keep in mind that the enemy continuously seeks your death and attacks more fiercely when you’re not alert. His evil is endless. Don’t let self-esteem and the love of material goods win you over. When you feel anger against someone, believe with your whole heart that it’s a result of the devil’s work in your heart. Try to hate the devil and his deeds and it will leave you. Don’t admit it as a part of yourself and don’t justify it. I know this from experience. The devil hides himself behind our souls and we blindly think we’re acting by ourselves. Then we defend the devil’s work as something that is a part of us. We can feel from time to time the most perfect love for God without loving each other. This is a strange thing, and only few care about it. But love for our neighbor will never come without our own effort. A real Christian doesn’t have any reason to be angry about anybody. Anger is the devil’s deed. A Christian should have only love inside and since love doesn’t boast, he shouldn’t boast or have any bad thoughts towards others. For example, I must not think about another person that he is evil, proud etc; and I must not think that if I forgive his offense he would laugh at me or upset me again. We must not let evil hide in us under any pretense. Evil and anger usually have many different veils. Don’t yield to gloomy feelings in your heart but control and eradicate them with the power of faith and the light of the sane mind. These strengths will make you feel secure. Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you. (Ps. 25:20). Lord, give me strength to love everyone like myself and never to get angry or work for the devil. Give me strength to crucify my selfesteem, my pride, my greed, my skepticism and other passions. Let us have a name: a mutual love. Let us not worry about anything. Be the only God of our hearts, and let us desire nothing except You. Let us live always in unifying love and let us hate anything that separates us from each other and from love. So be it! So be it! If God showed Himself to us and lives inside us as we in Him (according to His eternal Word), wouldn’t He give us everything? Would He ever trick us or leave us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? (Romans 8:32). Now be comforted, my dear, and know nothing but love. These things I command you, that ye love one another (John 15:17). - St. John of Kronstadt -

Holy Theophany Orthodox Church + 2770 N. Chestnut St. Colo. Springs, CO 80907 (719) 473-9238 Fr. Anthony Karbo Fr. Simeon Johnson Fr. Panayiotis Tekosis Dn. Gregory Jewett [email protected]

Ss. Galacteon and Epistemis Nov. 5th, 2017 Gal. 6:11-18 Luke 8:41-56 Christ’s loving response to our failings is what saves, not some abstract idea of personal perfection on earth.