SCHEDULE OF SERVICES

ANNOUNCEMENTS for Sunday, July 25th, 2010:

Upcoming Parish Events:
7/25:  Drawing for Icons etc. to benefit parish Mission to NM.
7/25:  Mercy Ministry at “Stand Up for Kids”.  See Tim or Jess Dunbar.
7/25:  Holy Protection Golfers and Caddies at City Park (See below.)
8/1:  GCU Lodge 144 meeting and Parish Rockies Game.
8/2-8/6:  Parish Mission to NM.

Parish Celebrations:
7/29:  Kayla VanCuren’s Birthday!
7/30:  John Evanyo’s Birthday!
7/30:  George and Darlene Letey’s Anniversary!
8/1:  John and Kathleen Chabin’s Anniversary!
May God grant you many happy and blessed years!

Mercy Ministry:
Click here for more information, and here for the schedule.

Youth Group:
The Holy Protection Youth Group meets once a month.  Keep an eye on the bulletin!

Young Adults:
-Speaker/ Discussion/ Pizza Series:  Holy Protection hosts a speaker the second Wednesday of every month following the 6:30 Divine Liturgy. (All are welcome for the Divine Liturgy, Speaker and discussion for ages 18 and up unless otherwise noted.) 
-Young Adult Social:  Every Wednesday following the 6:30pm Divine Liturgy.

“Byzantine Basics” New Class with Begin in the Fall!
Father Michael teaches a class that covers various topics having to do with all things Byzantine Catholic on Sunday mornings at 8:30am. (New Class Begins in the Fall)  Join us for instruction and discussion in the main church.

Theology of the Body Classes:
Contact Tanya at 303-543-7867.

Clothing Collection for Denver’s Poor
Mercy Ministry is collecting clothing and other items to give to Denver’s poor.  Please place any items you bring in the “St. Nicholas” Box near his icon.

Online Resources for our parish:
-Website:  www.holyprotection.org
-“Follow” our parish on “Twitter:”  Go to www.twitter.com/holyprotection
-Prayer resources on our Facebook page at: http://bit.ly/HoProFB

Parish Pilgrimage/Mission Trip 2010:  Albuquerque, NM, August 2nd -6th
Road Trip!!!       Join us for a week of prayer and charity work including:
-A day pilgrimage to Santa Fe, NM…
-Mission Work in Albuquerque…
-Prayer and fellowship with our sister parish of Our Lady of Perpetual Help!
We will be leaving Denver Monday, August 2nd and returning Friday, August 6th.  More information to come, but a rough estimate of the cost of the trip is $250.00 a person.  We have one remaining fundraiser for the trip:
Silent Auction/ Raffle
A Silent Auction featuring parishioner art culminates today with the final bidding and  distribution of the items. 

Golfers & Caddies--
A tee time is set in the afternoon on Sunday, July 25, 2010 at City Park Golf Course. We will commence to a picnic dinner at City Park's 'Jazz in the Park'. See Sarah Peek if interested in either event.

From the Ladies Guild
The Iconic Treasures cookbook is at the publishers.  We have received and ok'd the proof.  The shipment date is 16 August, but shipment can be earlier.
Prices are $15 for 1-4 cookbooks and $13 for orders of 5 or more.  If shipping is required, there is an additional charge of $5.  Please complete a reservation
form or see Susan Sakraida or Audrey Peek to order.  Early payment will happily be accepted.
Hint:  these make great gifts!

2010 Uniontown Pilgrimage
The 76th Annual Pilgrimage in Honor of our Lady of Perpetual Help will be held at Mount St. Macrina, Uniontown, PA, September 3-6 (Labor Day Weekend.)  It hold the distinction of being the oldest and largest Byzantine Catholic Pilgrimage in the United States.  The Sisters invite you to joint the many who will come to honor Our Lady of Perpetual Help at this most blessed weekend!  For further information see the flier (in the stairwell) or visit www.sistersofstbasil.org or call (724)-438-8644.

Pilgrimage to Our Lady of Perpetual Help Shrine in Olympia, WA
The Eparchial Shrine of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Olympia, WA, announces its 2010 pilgrimage on August 20-21.  Divine Liturgies, Matins and Vespers, a Spiritual Conference, and the Holy Mysteries of Penance and Anointing of the Sick will highlight the weekend.  The Byzantine Challenge (contest) and children’s activities are also planned.  See the shrine newsletter (in the stairwell) or visit www.olphshrine.com for more information.  Join Bishop Gerald and the priests and faithful from throughout the eparchy for a spiritually refreshing and rejuvenating weekend!

Parish Photo Gallery:
Go to www.picasaweb.google.com/holyprotectiondenver for photos from recent parish events!  If you would like your own photos of parish people/events posted in the gallery, give Fr. Michael electronic copies of the photos you would like posted.  (among other methods, most “photo centers” can put your photos on a CD.)  “Picasa,” the website where the photos are displayed is an independent photo sharing website; it is in no way associated with our parish.

Holy Protection would like to thank:
Fr. Juraj Terek for the beautiful Our Lady of Perpetual Help/ Major Feasts Icon.
(if there is anyone you think the parish should thank in the bulletin, please let Fr. Michael know.)

Congratulations to the Newly Married Mr. and Mrs. Brian Swan!  May God Grant them Many Happy and Blessed Years!

“Culture of Life”  News, Resources, and Activities:

New This Week: Catholic scholars weigh ethics of military drones
Unmanned attack planes may be effective weapons, but moral implications of their use are under debate.
The increased use of unmanned aerial vehicles — better known as drones — to fight the war on terrorism has raised many questions about whether the high-tech weapons’ potential costs outweigh their in- tended benefits. 
Drones, which are armed with lethal missiles and piloted remotely from U.S. Air Force bases and CIA headquarters, have been employed by the United States in efforts to combat al-Qaida and Taliban forces since 2001. Their use has become increasingly prevalent in recent years, expanding from Afghanistan to include Iraq, Somalia and Pakistan.
(Read Entire “Our Sunday Visitor” Article at: http://bit.ly/bsKieE)

(Articles posted/linked here may contain the author’s personal opinions and are tools for promoting thought and discussion, not only church teaching.  Ask Fr. Michael if you have any questions about anything you read.)

New this week:  From Alternatives Pregnancy Center:
Please pray for a client who recently delivered her new baby and is struggling in her family relationships.  Pray that the Lord will touch this new mom and her family by healing their hearts.  Pray that they would be able to come together as a family to support and love each other.

News of Interest to Catholics:
News this week about… More Help for Haiti, HHS Exclusion of Abortion from Federal Insurance Program, Ordination of Women, Sexual Abuse, Marriage Initiative, and more at usccb.org/news

Stay informed about issues affecting our life and church: Now Online: Pay Day Lending Reform, Personhood Amendment, Heathcare, and other issues that need our attention.     http://www.cocatholicconference.org

News, Apologetics, etc. at www.catholicnewsagency.com
(including articles by Russ and Chris Haas’ daughters Katie and Val!!!)

-See this weeks Denver Catholic Register (available in the stairwell or online at www.archden.org and click on the “Denver Catholic Register” link) for other issues affecting our Church and our lives.

Byzantine Prayers

Oldest known Marian Prayer

Beneath your compassion we take refuge
O Virgin Theotokos
Despise not our prayer in our need
But deliver us from danger
For you alone are pure and blessed.

Morning prayer from Matins

O Lord our God: You have awakened us from sleep and have called us by a holy calling to lift up our hands at the break of day, and to render homage to your righteous judgment. Accept our prayers, devotions, requests, and adoration. Grant us, O God, an invincible faith, an unshakable hope, and love unfeigned. Bless our comings and goings, our deeds and works, our words and desires. Grant that we may come to the dawn of this day praising, singing, and blessing the lavishness of your bounty which is beyond description, for blessed is your holy Name and glorified is your kingdom, Father+, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and ever, and forever. Amen.

Evening Prayer from Vespers:

Great and most high God, you alone possess immortality and dwell in unapproachable light. You made all creation with wisdom, dividing light from darkness, establishing the sun to rule the day and the moon and stars to rule the night.  You have allowed us sinners to approach your presence with thanksgiving in this present hour and to offer you evening praise.  O Lord, Lover of us all, make our prayer ascend to you like incense and accept it as a sweet fragrance.  Grant that we may spend the present evening and the coming night in peace; clothe us with the armor of light.  Deliver us from the fears of the night and from everything that lurks about in darkness.

Grant that the sleep you have given us to refresh our fatigue may be free from all illusions of the devil.  Yes, O Master of all, giver of good things, let us feel contrition as we lie on our beds, remembering your name throughout the night.  Enlightened by meditation on your commands, may we rise with gladdened soul to give glory to your goodness, offering prayers and supplications to your compassion for us in our sins and those of all your people.  Visit us with mercy through the intercession of the holy Theotokos.

Prayer Before Meals

May the poor eat and be satisfied

May those who seek the face of the Lord rejoice

And may their hearts find life.

 

Christ God, Bless the food and drink of your servants,

Those who prepare it, and those who receive it

 

For you are Holy our God and we render glory to you

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit now and ever and forever Amen

 

Prayer Before Work

O Lord Jesus Christ, Only-begotten Son of your eternal Father:

You have said with your holy lips;

“Without Me, you can do nothing.”

 

My Lord, I embrace your words with my heart and soul,

And bow before your goodness and say:

 

Help me, your unworthy servant, to complete this, my present undertaking,

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Prayer in the Time of Illness

Almighty Master, Physician of our souls and bodies, who both humbles and uplifts, who chastises and heals; visit me with Your mercy in my time of illness. Stretch forth Your arm that is full of health and healing, and heal me, and allow me to leave my sick-bed. Banish my weakness and pains, heal my wounds, quench my fever, and prevent a relapse. If I am guilty of sins or transgressions, loose, remit and forgive them for the sake of Your love toward mankind. Yes, 0 Lord, heal me, Your child, through Jesus Christ our Lord with Whom You are blessed +, together with Your all-holy, gracious and life-giving Spirit, now and ever and forever. Amen.

 Prayer of Thanksgiving for Recovery

O Lord Jesus Christ, the Life and Strength of all who place their trust in You; Your mercies are numberless and the treasury of Your goodness is infinite. I thank You for the blessings which You have bestowed upon me, and I humbly beseech You to continue Your goodness toward me. As it pleases You to restore my bodily health, so now endow my soul with all heavenly graces and perseverance in good works. Prepare me by Your blessings in this life for the enjoyment of eternal happiness in the life to come. For to You are due all glory, thanksgiving and adoration, together with Your eternal Father + and Your all-holy, gracious and life-giving Spirit, now and ever and forever. Amen.

PRAYER OF SURRENDER

Lord, Jesus Christ, I ask the grace to accept the sadness in my heart as Your will for me, in this moment. I offer it up in union with Your sufferings, for those who are in deepest need of Your redeeming grace. I surrender myself to Your Will, and I ask You to help me to move on to the next task that you have set for me.

Christ our God, help me to enter into a deeper union with You. Lead me away from dwelling on the hurt I feel, to thoughts of charity for those who need my love, to thoughts of compassion for those who need my care, and to thoughts of giving to those who need my help.

As I give myself to You, help me to be an instrument of your salvation to those who come to me in need.  May I find my healing in this giving. May I always accept God's will. May I find my true self by living for others in a spirit of sacrifice. May I die more fully to myself, and love more fully in You. As I seek to surrender to the Father's will, may I come to trust that He will provide me with everything that I need.  For You are Holy our God, and we give glory to You, to your eternal Father, and your life-giving Spirit, now and ever and forever.  Amen.