At the Agape Vespers, celebrated the Sunday of Pascha morning, we will have the Gospel reading in many different languages. This is the only case within the year that lay-people, men and women of all ages, are allowed to read the Gospel reading in the church.  We thank those who have already volunteered to read.  If you are able to read the Gospel reading in any language other than Greek and English, and the language is not already taken, please call the church office or see one of the clergy to be included in a short logistics meeting on Holy Saturday after the morning service.  We need to know who is coming for the Agape Service, so we can prepare the order of the Gospel readings and the position for each of you in the church. If you are unable to attend the meeting, please let the clergy know to confirm your availability and to be included in the reading order.

Confessions with Father Demosthenes are available without an appointment on Saturday, April 8th at 5:00pm during Vespers.  For another date or time, please call the church office to schedule an appointment.  Please note, confessions will not be offered from Palm Sunday to Pascha.

 

Last Minute Shopping!  Stop by the PHILOKALIA BOOKSTORE for a meaningful gift. Select from among books for children and adults, beautiful icons, vigil lights, prayer bracelets and much more.

REMINDER: The Bookstore will be closed April 16 for Pascha.

 

Those who would like to make a special donation towards Lent, Holy Week, and Pascha, in order to offset church expenses, may select an item from the donation list below.  Please make your checks payable to Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and send to the church office (please put "Pascha Needs" in the memo section.  To pay by credit card/Paypal, please go onto our website at www.saintnicholas.org and click on the "Giving" area.  Thank you and Kalo Pascha!

 

Candles - Holy Friday & Saturday (100% sponsored)	$950
Candles for Epitaphio  (36% sponsored)	$600
Candles for Lent Services	$300
Communion Wine                  (100% sponsored)	$600
Stefani/Wreath - Holy Thursday   (100% sponsored)	$200
Flowers - Easter Lilies              (100% sponsored)	$300
Palms                                     (100% sponsored)	$500
Candle Cups                            (100% sponsored)	$200
Incense (Livani)                       (100% sponsored)	$400
Olive Oil for Vigil Lamps (Kantilia)	$500
Olive Oil for Holy Unction          (100% sponsored)	$200
2 Clergy Lambades for Anastasi	$350
Candles for Altar Boys - Myrrhbearers (Myrofores)	$300
Rose Water                                (100% sponsored)	$100
Charcoal	$200
Flowers for Icons, Cross, Lent (100% sponsored)	$700
Flowers for Icons,Holy Wk,Resur. (100% sponsored)	$1,000
Flowers for Epitafios             (100% sponsored)	$1,500
Rose Petals                          (100% sponsored)	$300
Flowers for Ascen. and Pent. (100% sponsored)	$400

 

Our San Jose Greek Food Festival is coming up on June 2-4 and the Parish Council is excited to recruit and support a special team of administrative volunteers willing to learn and gain experience by helping to plan and organize this diverse, cultural and major fundraising event for our church that is unique to the South Bay and highly anticipated by the larger community.  If interested in joining this new management-oriented team or for more information, please contact George Spilios at 408-806-1699 or email at georgespilios@gmail.com

5th Annual Walk for Missions is happening Sunday, May 7th following the second liturgy.  All proceeds raised will be donated to the Theotokos Girls Orphanage in India through the nonprofit FILI Inc. organization.  Our goal is to spread awareness and to keep the doors open of this compassionate mission that lives our faith and saves so many lives especially in these trying times throughout the world. Pledge sheets will be passed out in Sunday School to children. 

The Deamant family will be in the courtyard and the small hall after 2nd liturgy to set you up on making your pledges sheet virtual. Instructions are on the printed pledge sheet and on the Fili Inc FB page: https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=fili%20inc. All donations are tax deductible.

The advantages are:         

1  You customize your pledge sheet, set your goal and share on your social media  You can invite others to join your team to help you spread awareness and reach your goal.

2.  You don't have to carry around checks or cash.  Your supporters text in and use their credit cards.

3.  All donors get their acknowledgement and tax receipt immediately.

Nominate Fili Inc. for matching funds program at the company you work for.  We are on Apple's list of nonprofits they will match.  Donate online at www.fili-inc.com.  Please contact rosa@deamant.com for more information.

Attention Parents of Teens and Teens of St. Nicholas:  Are you interested in short term missions work, but don't know how to get started?  We are planning a short term mission trip with YOCAMA (www.yocama.com) to Browning, Montana, to serve the Native American Blackfeet Indians.  This is a great introductory to missions work without ever leaving the country.  The trip will be July 17th-24th.   Please see Presvytera Mindy Verginis or Rosa Deamant if you have any questions. 

Luminaries - Goyans will be selling luminaries this Sunday outside the church after first and second liturgy.  The luminaries can be purchased to honor the memory of deceased loved ones.  The cost is $5.

Lazarus Saturday (Palm Cross) Saturday, April 8.  Breakfast following services and children will make palm crosses.  Any questions, please direct to Gena Vasilakis (GOYA Director) at genavasilakis@gmail.com.      

Holy Friday, April 14th Retreat 10:00 – 3:00 PM. Lenten lunch and learning programs are being offered.   Registration required, send name and grade to SaintNicholasSundaySchool@gmail.com or you can sign up your child in the Sunday School office.  Last day to register is on Sunday, April 9th.

St. Anna Philoptochos presents the Fashion Show of Our Roots - Greek Dance Costumes: A Journey of 40 Years on Saturday, April 22, 2017.  Doors open at 11:30am in the Community Center.  Donation: Adult - $50, children 12 and under $15.  We look forward to seeing you all there!  For questions, contact Laurie Sahines at 408-823-0111 or email at lsahines@comcast.net.

 

Please note that the General Assembly Meeting will take place on Sunday, April 30th at 12:30pm in the small hall.  Your attendance is highly encouraged.

Peter and Victoria Panayotopoulos will be directing a fun session of Greek dance lessons, "Back to Basics". Please join us on Monday, April 24 at 7:00pm in the Small Hall for our lesson.  Please contact Roula Demertzis at (408) 564-2387 for more information.

Join Orthodox Christians from the San Jose area for this retreat, which is open to all Orthodox youth (6th-12th grade), parents, youth workers (18 years and older), and young adults (ages 18-35)!  It promises to be a very motivational and fun learning experience!

Dates & Times: Youth (6th - 12th grade) on Wednesday, April 19, 2017 @ 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Parents & Youth Workers (ages 18 & older) on Thursday, April 20, 2017 @ 7:00pm - 9:00pm

Location: St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church | 1260 Davis Street | San Jose, CA 95126

Cost: Free!  Snacks provided. Please register online at BeTheBee.goarch.org/retreats

Questions: Contact Vicki Ryan via email at saintnicholassundayschool@gmail.com

Hosted by: Y2AM (The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries), the Metropolis of San Fransisco Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries, and St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church

 

CALENDAR:

• Starting Sunday, April 9 to Thursday, April 13, the members of the Golden Years will be visiting shut-ins and bringing them tsourekia and koulourakia.  If you are interested in participating in this Easter good-will project, call the church office at 408-246-2770 or Mina at 408-515-8301.  Please note that the Golden Years will make only a few tsourekia for the "shut-in" parishioners, not for general sale.
• April 11 - Holy Week - no meeting
• May 9 - Last meeting - Blue Door Restaurant - 11am - Menu: Chicken Kebab $25, shrimp pasta $30 - For Reservations, call Antonia at 408 472-3888

The St. Nicholas Dance Ministry presents An Elegant Wine Affaire on Friday, May 5, 2017 at 7pm at the Karamanos Residence, 14090 Shannon Road, Los Gatos, 95032. 

$65 per person, advanced tickets only;  Cocktail attire

Wine tasting, hors d'oeuvres, and live Greek music

For more info, contact Rita Argiris at 408-858-4335 or rzagas@yahoo.com

 

Each year in the June issue of the Canon of Faith, we list graduating high school  seniors: 1) their name, 2) parents’ names, 3)their high school’s name, 4) college or university planning to attend and 5) their desired major.  Please submit this to churchoffice@saintnicholas.org no later than May 10, 2017.  We also welcome anyone graduating from a junior college and/or university/college.  Please submit the same information with completed degree.

On behalf of the Sunday School Council, AHEPA and Daughters of Penelope, please join us to celebrate our graduating seniors 2017 following the 2nd liturgy in the small hall on Sunday, May 21, 2017.  Our Sunday School seniors will be presenting and we will be celebrating each of them as they embark in their next new chapter.  Please join us in celebrating each of them along with their immediate families and friends.  May 21st will also be the last day of Sunday School.  Should you have additional questions, feel free to stop by the Sunday School office or send email to SaintNicholasSundaySchool@gmail.com. 

SJSU now has new chapter of OCF (Orthodox Christian Fellowship).  With the blessing of Metropolitan Gerasimos, and the care and efforts of parishioners of St. Nicholas and St. Basil, we have endeavored to provide an opportunity for Orthodox College students from our area to meet regularly, pray and discuss issues together, and find the support they need in their very busy and stressful lives.  Our meetings are on Tuesdays at 7:00pm.  If you know of any students from within or outside our community, please let them know of our OCF group.  For more information, please call Fr. Yanni at 408-476-1214.

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.

            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.

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.

 

In the joy and fellowship of our celebration of the Feast of the Annunciation and Greek Independence Day, we will gather this year on March 26th for our annual Parade on Fifth Avenue in New York City. I invite all of our parishes in the region to join with us as we honor our legacy of freedom as Greeks and as Americans, and we offer a witness of the heroism and sacrifice of those who engaged in the struggle for liberty. Read more

NEW YORK – The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America is greatly involved in the 61st United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, continuing its decades-long work in promoting women’s rights. The functional commission is held annually in New York City at U.N. headquarters, and is generally aimed at advancing gender equality and the empowerment of women worldwide. During the two-week commission, the Archdiocese is co-sponsoring three parallel events that will focus on various topics related to women’s economic empowerment. All three events are open to the public. See more at: https://www.goarch.org/-/archdiocese-takes-active-role-during-international-women-s-commission

As we begin this sacred journey through Holy and Great Lent, through a time of earnest prayer and sincere reflection, we are guided by the presence of our Lord and the hymns and prayers of this season to experience the power of God’s grace. https://www.goarch.org/-/encyclical-of-archbishop-demetrios-for-holy-and-great-lent-2017

The 41st Folk Dance and Choral Festival (FDF 2017) a four day celebration of Faith, Dance and Fellowship of the Metropolis of San Fransisco, culminated yesterday Feb. 19, 2017 with the Archieratical Divine Liturgy in the morning, the Finals of the Advance Senior Division and the Awards Ceremony, all taking place at Town and Country Resort Hotel here in San Diego. See more at https://www.goarch.org/news/releases/2017

The Department of Inter-Orthodox, Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America is inviting graduate and recent post-graduate students to apply for its fellowships at the United Nations. https://www.goarch.org/-/statement-from-his-eminence-archbishop-demetrios-of-america

As Greek Orthodox Christians and as Americans, we express our sadness and pain for our brothers and sisters all over the world who find themselves in tragic circumstances of hostility, violence and war, where families have been torn apart, displaced and where people are denied basic human rights. Read more.