Sacramental wine has been acquired from St. Anthony’s Monastery in Arizona. This wine is dedicated only to be used for sacraments such as the Proskomide or Artoklasia at St. Nicholas or other Orthodox churches.  It is available for purchase at the bookstore for a $20 donation.  All proceeds go towards the needs of the Altar and will also help support St. Anthony’s Monastery.  Thank you for your support.

Saturday February 25, 2017

St. Nicholas Community Center, 1270 Davis Street, San Jose

No Host Cocktails 6:30pm    Dinner 7:30pm, Costumes Encouraged

Music provided by the Mythos Band,   Adults $75, Children under 12  $35

For information, tickets, and reservations call: Nick Pries 408-398-7070 or Meropi Spilios 408-266-3138.   All proceeds to benefit the St. Nicholas Building Fund.

Hosted and Sponsored by:  Mr. John and Mrs. Sophia Kouretas, Mr. Nick and Mrs. Evagelia Pries, Mr. Hristos and Mrs. Meropi  Spilios, and Mr. Elias and Mrs. Dimitra Tsigaris.  

Congratulations to all the dancers, directors, costume makers, parents, and relatives! FDF 2017 in San Diego was a stunning success!  All the hard work and many hours of dance practices under our knowledgeable and dedicated directors paid off as all groups performed amazingly well and brought home five awards in their respective categories:

Vionikos – 2nd place award, Antamosi – 3rd place award, Patrida – 3rd place award and Costume award.  In addition, Sofia Berberis won the Director’s Award!

Many thanks to our entire parish family that supports the dance ministry of St. Nicholas!

Orthos and Liturgy will be celebrated at 8:00am on Saturday, February 25 and Saturday, March 4th.  Although these next two Saturdays are not the Saturday of the Souls, a trisagion will be held at the end of the liturgy if kolyva are brought to the service.

If any parishioner has been adversely affected by the recent floods in our area, or knows of another parishioner who has, please call the church office.

On Sunday, February 26th, we are privileged to pass a second basket that will go
directly to keeping the orphanage doors open.  We have enough for just a
couple of months to cover all the expenses of the orphanage.  Sr. Nektaria
is so frugal that she manages to also feed the destitute that live near
the St. Ignatius church and the Theotokos orphanage. Sr. Nektaria sends her
deep gratitude for your compassion and generosity.

Peter and Victoria Panayotopoulos will be directing a fun session of Greek dance lessons, "Back to Basics". Please join us on Monday, February 27 at 7:00pm in small hall for our first lesson. Please contact Roula Demertzis at (408) 564-2387 for more information.

CALENDAR:

• March 8, 2019 – ASSIGNED FOR PREPARING THE PRESANCTIFIED DINNER
• MARCH 13 -REGULAR MEETING
• APRIL 11 - HOLY WEEK-NO MEETING
• MAY 9 - LAST MEETING - BLUE DOOR RESTAURANT

This is a reminder that we are having the Bay Area GOYA Lenten Retreat once again at the Marin Headlands March 10-12, 2017. This retreat is hosted by Holy Cross in Belmont, and open to all Orthodox Youth 6th grade - 12th grade.

DATE: March 10-12, 2017

LOCATION: NaturBridge in the Marin Headlands

PRICE: $195

AGES: For Orthodox Youth, 6th grade - 12th grade

HOSTED BY: Holy Cross, Belmont

More information available at www.gosfyouth.org

A Lenten luncheon with His Eminence Metropolitan Nikitas where 

exquisite Icons inspire amazing flower arrangements. The event will take place

in Moraga on Saturday, March 18 at 11:00am. Cost of event: $55.00

Carpool can be arranged from Saint Nicholas. If interested, please contact

Roula Demertzis at (408) 564-2387.

Tickets are on sale NOW for the Cioppino Dinner Night to be held Saturday, April 1, 2017 in the Community Center, 6:30pm Social Hour, 7:30pm Dinner. Entertainment following dinner featuring vocalist Matt Helm as DEAN MARTIN. Adults $45 ($55 after March 20th) - Students $25. Taking paid reservations for tables of 8 and 10. Tickets must be purchased in advance – open seating! You can purchase in the small hall after both liturgies on Sundays, OR mail a check payable to Ahepa c/o Bill Christie, 3327 Lake Albano Circle, San Jose, Ca 95135.  Questions or more information? Contact Bill Christie at 408 531-9211 or email: billchristie1@mac.com.

In the next day or so, we will enter Holy and Great Lent, as we continue our journey to Pascha and the glorious Resurrection.   

Each year at this time, I make an appeal and reach out to the faithful, as my teacher and elder (Father Evagoras Constantinides, of blessed memory) would do.  Following his example and teaching, I am asking that we all put a dollar (or whatever each person can afford) to the side each day of the Fast.  At the end of the Fast, the money that has been collected should be given to assist those less fortunate - "the least of the brethren".  After all, the purpose of the Fast is not to focus on one's own needs and measures; it is also about the other.  During the days of the Fast, when we should eat less, not spend money foolishly on unnecessary items, and not become obsessive about what we eat, we are able to save and good works.  A diet and food restrictions are far from the true meaning of the Fast.  All one has to do is to read the sermons of St. Basil on Fasting to understand this.  After all, flood saves no one.  Only Jesus Christ and His Truth are the means to eternal life.  This does not mean that we can completely ignore the Fast and the teachings of discipline which the Church gives us.  Then, we become disobedient and try to define a path which is independent of the Church, our tradition, and the community at large.  Please consider this appeal.  If you choose to participate, you might donate the money, no matter how much it is, to the local Philoptochos,  IOCC, a local shelter for the homeless, a food bank, or even one of the monasteries.  May His mercy and love be with us, as we walk the path to Pascha.  

+ Metropolitan Nikitas

Get ready to swirl and sip... St. Nicholas Dance Ministry presents an elegant wine affair

May 5, 2017 7pm

Details to follow

            Please consider becoming a member of our church

            choir, one of the most important ministries of our

            church.  There are openings in all sections, especially

            in the tenor and bass sections.  Requirements:  age, 

            16 and over; be able to carry a tune, knowledge of

            Greek NOT required, phonetics provided.  Take 

            advantage of the opportunity to learn and sing our

            beautiful hymns and thus serve our church.  For

            more information please call the director, Dr. Tikey Zes

            at 408-723-0640.

Commencing Wednesday, February 1, 2017, Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church will institute a Church facility fee to offset the costs for the general maintenance and usage of the Church. The facility fees are listed below:

 Marriage Ceremony

Steward: $300.00

Non- Steward: $500.00

 Baptism

Steward: $ 200.00

Non- Steward: $400.00

 We thank you for your consideration!

Help us pave the way to success by purchasing a donor brick, customized with your message and to be laid in the existing area near the office/community center.  With the purchase of a brick, you may pay tribute to someone special, honor the memory of a loved one, or have your family name or ministry group forever recognized on one or more bricks.

All profits of this fundraiser go towards the Building Fund at St. Nicholas, supporting the future growth of our parish.  

Bricks are being offered for a donation of $1,000 each. Don’t miss out on this beautiful opportunity.

Please contact the office at churchoffice@saintnicholas.org or 408-246-2770 for more information.

If you already shop on Amazon, or if you’re looking for the perfect gift for a loved one, we invite you to shop at smile.amazon.com and choose Greek Orthodox Community of Santa Clara as your charity of choice and .5% of your purchase will be donated to St. Nicholas. This is no cost to you. Below you can read about how to use Amazon Smile.

How Does it Work?

1. Visit smile.amazon.com.

The entire shopping experience is the same and most products available on amazon.com are available at Amazon Smile.

2. Sign in and Choose Greek Orthodox Community of Santa Clara County

The screen will look slightly different depending on whether you’re already signed into Amazon. If you’re already signed in, you’ll see a screen like the one below. Simply search for “Greek Orthodox Community of Santa Clara County” and proceed to step 3.

3. Begin Shopping 

Adult Catechism classes take place on Thursdays at 6:30pm in the church office boardroom. The classes are open to everyone.

The Byzantine Music School classes have resumed on Friday evenings from 7:00pm until 9:00pm in Room 10.  Please register online at www.ByzantineMusicSchool.com.

Starting in October, the monthly Canon will be issued electronically. If you would like to receive a hard copy, please contact the office at 408-246-2770 or churchoffice@saintnicholas.org   and one will be mailed to you.

 For confession with Father Demosthenes, please call the church office to schedule an appointment. 

If you need to arrange for a mnemosino, you must contact the church office and inform our priests at least two weeks prior to the date.  You will be responsible for making or ordering the kollyva, and we can provide the names of the people who provide this service.  However, payment will not be made to the church but directly to the person making the kollyva. 

To avoid any confusion on our part as we compose and print the Sunday bulletin, we ask that anyone who wishes to include a notice in the Sunday bulletin submit the notice in writing to the office BY THURSDAY NOON!  Please don't wait until the last minute or send a note into the altar on a Sunday morning while the liturgy is in progress.

Please check with Father Demosthenes in the office before posting anything on the bulletin board in the Small Hall.  Notices, announcements, advertisements, etc. that have not been approved will be removed.  Thank you for your kind cooperation.