We welcome all to Sunday coffee hour hosted by Niki Danopoulos, Soula Kardaris, and Olga Sarakinis in the Small Hall.  We extend a heartfelt thank you to our hosts.

For Sunday, September 21, 2025:  Elizabeth Barrous, Mary Ann Devetzis, Sofia Kotsiris, and Olga Mavrogenes

**Please note:  Printed Sunday scripture readings are available in the Narthex**

In honor of the Sunday of the Elevation of the Holy Cross this Sunday, September 14th, St. Anna Philoptochos will have a tray available at dismissal with all proceeds going to Hellenic College/Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology.  Please make checks payable to St. Anna's Philoptochos, and put in the memo HCHC.  Thank you.

When reading the e-bulletin from your mobile device, links in the articles may not function correctly resulting in an error message on your cellphone.  The Archdiocese is working to fix this.  In the meantime, if you are experiencing this issue, please use your computer instead of your cellphone to access links in the e-bulletin.  Thank you for your patience.

New City Of San Jose mandate requires us to make changes to our trash. We now have to separate our trash into 2 different garbage cans.

Please place food and paper products only in the new green bin.   Place all other trash in our normal garbage containers.

Each is labeled with pictures to guide you. We apologize for any inconvenience and greatly appreciate your help and cooperation.

A new dance group for Kindergarten and 1st Grade students (No TK), Ta Mikra, will begin on September 14th. Dancers should meet in the Sunday School Courtyard after Liturgy.

St. Nicholas Goya and St. Anna Philoptochos will once more be having a warm coat drive.  We will have containers in the Small Hall and in the Community Center for your most welcomed and needed donations.   

The Drive will begin on September 1st and end on October 31st and it will benefit the San Jose Family Center.

We thank you for your help in this very worthy need.  Should you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact:  Laurie Sahines [email protected] or Eva Vathis  [email protected].

 We’re joyfully preparing for the new Sunday School year and can’t wait to welcome your children back! Our first day of classes will be Sunday, September 21st, beginning with a blessed Agiasmo service to start the year in prayer and unity.

🍦 And to celebrate—ice cream for all following the services! A joyful treat to kick off a year of learning, laughter, and faith.

If you haven’t registered your child yet, we kindly ask that you do so as soon as possible to ensure a smooth and welcoming experience for all.

Thank you for your continued support and for entrusting us with your children’s spiritual journey. We look forward to a year filled with:

• 📖 Learning
• 😄 Laughter
• ✝️ Faith

With love in Christ,
The Sunday School Team

📌 Register here: https://forms.gle/SmWFEMyuKbZ5zfar7

Sunday, October 5, 2025 is National Church Music Sunday.  For over 40 years, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America has designated the first Sunday of October as National Church Music Sunday.  On this day we honor and celebrate the contributions of Church Musicians from throughout the parishes of our Archdiocese.  The National Forum of Greek Orthodox Church Musicians is the Archdiocesan ministry responsible for liturgical music activities and the development, support, and recognition of church musicians.  These include choirs, chanters, youth church music programs, and clergy.

On Sunday, October 5th we will have a special tray for your support to keep these much needed services going.  Thank you very much!

An evening of faith, fellowship, and festive joy!  Join us as we celebrate the spirit of Saint Nicholas and 80 years of grace in our beloved parish!  Mark your calendars for the Saint Nicholas Gala — Saturday, December 6th, in the evening. Look for your invitation soon—it will be a night to remember, filled with gratitude, celebration, and community spirit.

GOYA: This ministry is for any 6th-12th Graders who want to learn more about their faith, and have fellowship with other Orthodox Christians in our parish. We have sessions, social outings, meetings, and gatherings on a monthly basis. Please join us as we kick off our new year of GOYA . The first meeting will take place in the Senior Room of the Small Hall on Sunday, September 14 following church service.

To register for GOYA, go to: https://saintnicholas.org/ministry_goya  

The St. Anna Philoptochos and Daughters of Penelope Daphne #29 cordially invite you to an elegant Afternoon Tea in celebration of

Eight Decades of Our Parish history and community.

Date: Saturday, September 20th
Time: 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Location: St. Nicholas Church Community Center
1260 Davis Street, San Jose, CA 95126
Admission: $35.00
Dress Code: Your favorite decade (1945–2025)

Join us as we honor our past, celebrate our present, and look forward to our future—together in faith, fellowship, and fun!

Tickets will also be sold after church during coffee hour!

RSVP by September 14th to Stacy Panayotopoulos at [email protected] or 408.440.7621

Our parish is excited to join OCMC’s Trek4Missions again this year! This effort supports Orthodox missionaries bringing the light of Christ to communities around the world.

🌟 Come join us for a meaningful and joy-filled day! 🌟

Whether you love walking, running, biking, or simply lifting up prayers, we’d love for you to be part of this special effort as we come together to raise awareness and support for the vital mission work of the Orthodox Christian Mission Center.

👉 Visit our team fundraising page and join Fr. James and the Missions Ministry on this exciting journey of faith, fellowship, and service!

Once you sign up, you can take part virtually—or come alongside us in person on Saturday, September 27. We’ll gather just before the End of Summer BBQ at Blackberry Farm, making this both a time of giving and celebration!

📍 Meet at 10:00 AM in the main parking lot by the group picnic area. Bring your water bottle, comfy shoes, and—most importantly—your enthusiasm and joy!

Let’s walk, run, ride, or pray together in unity for this beautiful cause.

🗺️ Trail Map: Stevens Creek Trail

Mark your calendars for Saturday, September 27^th at 12:00pm — we’re gathering for an unforgettable End of Summer BBQ at the beloved Blackberry Farm!  This park holds decades of cherished memories for our community, and as we celebrate Saint Nicholas’ 80th Anniversary, we’re excited to make new ones together.

Bring your families and your appetite—there will be delicious food, joyful fellowship, and fun for all ages.  A heartfelt thank you to the San Jose Chapter of the Pan-Arcadian Federation of America and Saint Nicholas Church for sponsoring this special outing.

Please RSVP now—call, text, or email Pete Panos:  408-835-9092; [email protected]. Let’s honor our past and celebrate our future—together!

BE A HERO: GIVE BLOOD TODAY! BLOOD DRIVE: Tuesday, September 30th, 1:00pm - 5:30pm, St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church 1260 Davis St, San Jose, Small Hall.

Just a few minutes of your time can help save lives! Must be at least 18 years old, weigh over 110 lbs, and be in good health. For more info or help in making an appointment, contact Vassilis Zarifis at [email protected]  or  reference the link in the attached flyer in the Special Events section of this e-bulletin to reserve your spot: 

Portal .::. Sites

New donors must register their profile by creating a login account using the link above and before making an actual appointment.  

Please mark your calendar for the next 2025 Saint Nicholas San Jose College Ministry event on Monday, September 29, 2025!

Paraklesis at 6:15am followed by food and fellowship in the Office Conference Room at 7:00pm.

For more information and to RSVP, please contact Fr. Nebojsa or [email protected]

Movie Night with a Mission!  Join us on Saturday October 11, 2025 at 5:30 pm in the Community Center to watch A Spartan Dream:  A romantic adventure about an atypical Greek-American ancient history buff, sent to his ancestral village near Sparta to evict relatives from a family home.  This is an original script and a fun movie for the whole family! You do not want to miss it!

OPEN DONATIONS - Proceeds to benefit Sister Nektaria and her lovely kids in India

Pasta and Salad Bar/ Refreshments/ Wine

Event open to all- Please invite your friends.  RSVP, requested but not required at: [email protected]  or text Maria Aji at 408-425-6967.

Volleyball practices for our 20th Annual St Nicholas Volleyball Tournament begin Tuesday, September 2nd at 6pm in the Community Center.  Please join us!

Tuesday Nights
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm - Junior High
7:00 pm - 8:00 pm - High School 

Thursday Nights
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm - Adults 

Sunday Nights
7:00pm - Open Gym practices for High School, Young Adult and Adult

If you should have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Chairman George Spilios (408) 806-1699 or Head Coach Michael Kanakis (408) 722-0808.

Come join the fun!  The Volleyball Tournament is scheduled for the weekend of October 17-19th.

We are pleased to announce that the Center of Hellenic Education is now accepting registrations for the 2025-2026 academic year!

How to Register:

1. Complete the Online Registration Form:  Greek School: https://saintnicholas.org/ministry_greek_school

Important Dates:

• Classes Begin: Monday (online courses), August 26, 2024

Programs Offered:

We offer a wide range of programs to suit various interests and educational needs, including:

School Age Greek Language Classes (3-18 years old)

1. In-person classes: Offered on Tuesdays & Thursdays 5:00 pm - 6:45 pm & Saturdays 10:00 am - 11:45 am.

2. On-Line classes: These classes are time flex and are offered on Mondays, Wednesdays, and/or Fridays.

Adult Greek Language Classes (18 years and older)

New Testament Greek: Tuesdays 6:30 - 9:00 pm

Intermediate Conversational Greek: Thursdays 6:30 - 9:00 pm

Beginner Conversational Greek: Saturdays 10:00 am - 12:30 pm

For more up-to-date information in regards to the adult Greek classes kindly contact: Dr. Peter Nanopoulos at [email protected] 

Community Activities (All students & families):

In addition to the classes, several assemblies occur annually to celebrate the following national holidays: October 28th (OXI Day), March 25th (Greek Independence Day), Christmas, and the Graduation/End-of-the-school-year party. Parents and other family members attend or participate in the gathering, while the students recite poems, skits, songs, and dances.

We look forward to welcoming you to a vibrant and engaging academic year!

New from the Department of Religious Education of our Archdiocese!  Take a look:  https://www.goarch.org/departments/religioused/didyouknow

Stewardship 2025 as of September 11, 2025

Goal: $593,000 (Approved 2025 Budget)
Pledged: $413,076
Pledges Paid: $331,896
Median Pledge $750; Average Pledge: $1,229
Outstanding unpaid commitments: $81,180
Number of Stewards Pledging: 336

Stewardship 2024 on September 11, 2024 for comparison purposes:

Goal: $491,000 (Approved 2024 Budget with tentative stretch goal of $500,000)
Pledged: $403,723
Pledges Paid: $322,695
Average Pledge: $1,231
Outstanding unpaid commitments: $71,028
Number of Stewards Pledging: 328

Dedicate yourself to Christ and His mission here at Saint Nicholas.  Look for opportunities to volunteer your time and talents, and pay toward your 2025 commitment pledge. 

Not a Steward of Saint Nicholas?  Please prayerfully consider becoming a Steward by completing the 2025 Stewardship Commitment Card.  You may also submit your commitment either online or by mailing it to the Church Office.

To give by mail: Stewardship 

                        St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church
                        986 Chapman Street
                        San Jose, CA 95126

To make a committment electronically, please visit our online stewardship: https://saintnicholas.org/stewardship

Donation link: https://saintnicholas.org/donation

Your employer could be offering Matching Gifts Programs as an easy and structured way for them to support good work in the community. Please ASK your employer if they offer some type of philanthropic program in which a company may financially match donations that their employees make to nonprofit organizations. When an employee makes a donation, they will request the matching gift from their employer to the specific nonprofit organization. In order to assist our Saint Nicholas Community, we are kindly asking that you learn more about Company Matching Donations at work by inquiring with your Company's Human Resources Department if it offers a similar program. Please note that Saint Nicholas Church would be identified in a Company Matching Program as "Greek Orthodox Community of Santa Clara County". 

St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church is a 501©3 Corporation and our tax ID is 94-1578745. 

In our Light A Candle program, vigil candle(s) are lit along with an opportunity to submit names to be prayed for at the Prothesis (Preparation) for forty days. Only Orthodox Christian first names (baptismal names) should be submitted.  It is important to separate the names of the living and the reposed.  When lit, the vigil candles last for one week.  Please see the online form on our website or use the link below.  

Donate online here: Light A Candle: https://saintnicholas.org/vigil_candle

If you would prefer to mail in your request, please write the name(s) for whom the candle(s) will be lit and send to Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, Attention: Light a Candle, 986 Chapman Street, San Jose, CA 9126.  For more information, please call the church office.

We are a registered non-profit on Facebook and you can donate any time (without any fees for the church) by pressing the donate button in this link:  https://www.facebook.com/SaintNicholasOrg/

We are embarking on a new ministry opportunity for families living along the 101 corridor, south of San Jose! 

Any families or individuals who would like to join us for a once a month ministry opportunity for fellowship and faith based lessons for the whole family, can contact Fr. Nebojsa for more information at [email protected].  

To RSVP and receive a location address please contact Fr. Nebojsa due to limited space for this first gathering.  We hope to provide new locations and ministry activities every month. 

If you wish to order kollyva, artoklasia, prosphora, paximadia, koulourakia, melomakarona, kourambiedes, or other Greek pastries, please see the bakers listed below with their phone numbers to call.  Payment is arranged with the bakers and not the church.

For kollyva:   Marcella Fotis 408-723-4124  

For paximadia, koulourakia, melomakarona, kourambiedes, and other Greek pastries:   Maria Tsaboukos  408-723-5175      Antonia Komianos  408-472-3888     Marcella Fotis  408-723-4124.

For artoklasia:  Antonia Komianos 408-472-3888   Marcella Fotis 408-723-4124   

For prosphora:  Marcella Fotis 408-723-4124