Please remember, clocks turn back one hour on Sunday, November 1st.

We are pleased to welcome, Luke O'Dell, Development and Outreach Officer for International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) who serves the western United States.  Luke is a former Sunday School teacher and Parish Council President at St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Church in Loveland, Colorado.  Luke, his wife and two teenage children have recently moved to Boston, Massachusetts where he will begin the seminarian program at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology.

He will speak to us about the work of IOCC which offers emergency relief and developmental programs to our brethren in need worldwide.  The IOCC acts on behalf of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America to develop, in Orthodox Christians, a commitment to philanthropy and global cooperative involvement in the work of the Orthodox Church.

You are invited to a fundraiser for IOCC,  the IOCC Food and Wine Tour, hosted by St. John the Evangelist Antiochian Orthodox Church and the IOCC Metropolitan Committee of Northern Californa, this Sunday, November 1st at St. John's Fellowship Hall, 501 Moraga Way, Orinda, 94563. 

Come and experience a tasting menu and wine pours from around the world and learn about IOCC's latest humanitarian work.  Vespers at 4:00pm and dinner at 5:00pm. Last chance to get tickets by clicking on the link: San Francisco 2026 IOCC Food & Wine Tour - Campaign

Sts. Cosmas and Damianos are the patron saints of Philoptochos.  In honor of their feastday on November 1st, St. Anna Philoptochos will pass a tray on Sunday, November 1, 2026 with all proceeds going to the Ecumenical Patriarchate Fund in Constantinople.  This fund supports the philanthropies of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, such as Balukli Hospital and nursing homes, schools, shrines, and parishes. 

Please make checks payable to St. Anna's Philoptochos, and put in the memo for the Patriarchate.  As an alternative, you may pay on-line using the link:  St Anna Ladies Philoptochos Society

 Thank you.

St. Nicholas Basketball starts our 2026-2027 season this week Monday, Nov 2nd and Tuesday, Nov 3rd with weekly winter clinics in November and December.  Clinics are the perfect time for beginners and ballers to hone their skills, get some fun open gym play, and spend time with friends.  We have 3 clinic groups for boys and girls 3rd grade to HS; mature 2nd graders are also welcome.  To commemorate our opening week, we will have Pizza and refreshments for the kids toward the end of this week's clinic.

There is no commitment needed yet, but for players who want to participate in the Spring Season team practices will start in January with games being on Sunday afternoons from the end of February to Mid-May competing against Bay Area Orthodox Churches.  The teams are Boys Elem (3rd-5th), Girls Elem (3rd-5th), Boys MS (6th-8th), Girls MS (6th-8th), and Boys High School.

We understand schedules are busy and we'd rather have you show up late or leave early than have you not come.  Clinics will take place as follows.

Boys and Girls Elementary, Girls MS: Mondays 5:30-7pm

Boys MS: Tuesdays 5:30-7pm, except Tue Dec 2nd moved to Thu Dec 4th

Boys HS: Tuesdays 6:30-8pm, except Tue Dec 2nd moved to Thu Dec 4th

Note there will be NO CLINICS Thanksgiving Week.  All Clinics will be in the St. Nicholas Community Center.

If you have any questions, reach out to Program Director John Cocoles [email protected].

Sunday, November 8th - Monastery Fundraiser Dinner

Gerontissa Markella and her Sisterhood joyfully, with hope and thanksgiving for your constant support and many years of commitment, invite you to join us again for a Benefit Dinner.  The Monastery of the Theotokos of the Life Giving Spring Fundraising Dinner will be on Sunday, November 8th at the St. Nicholas Community Center at 5:00pm. 

Donation for tickets for adults $75, children 12 and under $35.  All proceeds go to the Monastery for essential support to the operation of the Monastery facility.  

For details or to RSVP, please contact Evagelia at: (408) 499-3939, email at [email protected].  You can view the flyer on our website at https://saintnicholas.org/events.

Next GOYA meeting will be on Sunday, November 8th from 11:30am - 12:15pm in GOYA Room 11.

Fall Fun Event!  Join us for a hike at Henry Cowell State Park and a tour of Mystery Spot on Saturday, November  21st from 12:00pm - 5:00pm. We will meet at the beginning and end at church for carpooling.  Please RSVP to (916) 956-0985 by November 14th.

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 October 18th and end on November 7th 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].

As we come upon the Christmas holidays, it is time to start planning for our parish’s joyous tradition of greeting one another through the mailing of our Community Christmas Card. 

Paper forms have already been mailed out, and you can mail back the paper form to the church office with the names spelled clearly as you would like them to appear on the card, OR you can submit your entry online today by clicking on the link: https://saintnicholas.org/christmas_card

The deadline for submitting names for the Christmas Card is Tuesday, November 10, 2026.

Please prayerfully consider including a contribution towards the cost of making our card possible.  For any questions, please call the church office at 408-246-2770.

Join us for this year’s Parish Oratorical Contest this March at St. Nicholas Church! Exact date to be announced.

It’s a wonderful opportunity for students to speak about their faith, grow their public speaking skills, and compete for exciting scholarships and prizes of up to $5,000 at the higher levels!

There are three divisions based on grade level.  Check out the topics for each division below and start preparing your speech!

📚 Elementary: Grades 4-6 Topics
🎙️ Junior: Grades 7-9 Topics
🌟 Senior: Grades 10-12 Topics

For more information or to sign up, contact Maria Daltayanni,  [email protected] or 951-282-7259.

We are inviting any Middle to High Schoolers who are interested, in helping us on Sundays with Epistle readings in either Greek or English.  

This is a wonderful opportunity for our children to lend their voices to our liturgical services, and proclaim the Good News of the Apostles.  For a full calendar and more details please contact Fr. Nebojsa at [email protected].

Kindergarten Parents and Children! A new dance group is forming this year named Aνά Zωή at Saint Nicholas! If your child is 5 years old as of September 20th and also enrolled in Kindergarten, please contact Georgia Tassos, [email protected] with your name and contact information stating your interest! Information about practice and enrollment will be provided! Please, no T-K or children under the age of 5. 

November 20^th – 22^nd - three days of dance, music, and song with four California teachers with decades of teaching experience, directing and conducting research in Greek music and dance.  From Greece the acclaimed Greek band Kompania Verdi playing for your listening and dancing pleasure at Holy Trinity’s Annual Gala.  Events will be held at Holy Trinity Church in SF and the Gala Event will be held in Foster City/San Mateo.

Info & Registration:  https://livingtraditionsf.com/  Please register by November 7^th.

Pricing is by each individual event, pick and choose as you please:

Saturday Workshop + Lunch:  $80;  Saturday Gala — Dinner and Dancing to Kompania Verdi from Greece:  $100;  Saturday Gala — Dancing only (after 8 pm) to Kompania Verdi:  $40;  Sunday Afternoon BBQ:  $30

Events by Day:

November 20, 2026 - Friday Evening - Welcome Mixer, Holy Trinity Church, 999 Brotherhood Way, San Francisco.  

November 21, 2026 – Saturday - Greek Dance and Singing Workshops, 9 am to 3 pm, $80 for all workshops and lunch; Holy Trinity Church, 999 Brotherhood Way, San Francisco, 

Instructors: Konstantine Avdalas, Epiros; Vasili Contos, Ikaria; Sofia Efstratiou-Nicolaou, Florina; Presv. Anysia Metrakos, PhD, folk singing; Instructor Bios:  https://livingtraditionsf.com/instructors

November 21, 2026 - Saturday Night - Night at the Museum Gala, 6 pm to after Midnight, $100 includes dinner, dancing and music; Tickets and Info:  https://holytrinitygala.com/ or https://livingtraditionsf.com/.  Reserve by November 7^th; Crowne Plaza, 1221 Chess Drive, Foster City, CA 94404.

November 21, 2026 - Saturday Night (after 8:00 pm) - Kompania Verdi from Greece, open to the public after 8:00 pm to after Midnight; $40, Crowne Plaza, 1221 Chess Drive, Foster City, CA 94404; 

November 22, 2026 - Sunday Afternoon – BBQ, $30; Holy Trinity Church, Davies Grove, 999 Brotherhood Way, San Francisco; 

Ζωντανή Παράδοση Symposium is presented by Holy Trinity San Francisco together with the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of San Francisco's FDF and the Syrtos Podcast. 

**Next class is on Wednesday, November 4th**

Please join Fr. Nebojsa Pantic as he shares with us his experience on his recent sabbatical.  We will find out about pilgrimage locations and have a brief introduction to the history of pilgrimage.  We will also discuss saints and miracles that were experienced by Father Nebojsa and his family.  

Wednesday Nights 

6:15 pm - 6:50 pm 

This will be a hybrid class.  For in-person please meet in the Conference Room of the Office.  For online, please use the same link we always have:  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82339647563?pwd=giuEACpHVK2bZybba75QB5G6yANeKd.1 

For more information please contact [email protected] 

(All listed dates fall on a Sunday unless otherwise noted.)

November 1 – Sunday School in session – *Christmas Pageant Sign‑Ups Begin*  
November 8 – Sunday School in session  
November 15 – Sunday School in session  
November 22 – Sunday School in session – *Christmas Pageant Rehearsal*  
November 29 – Family Divine Liturgy – *Thanksgiving Holiday*  

December 6 – Sunday School in session – *Christmas Pageant Rehearsal*  
December 13 – Sunday School in session – *Christmas Pageant Rehearsal*  
Saturday, December 19 – **Christmas Pageant at Saint Nicholas Church**  
December 20 – Family Divine Liturgy  
December 27 – Family Divine Liturgy – *Christmas Holiday*

The online Greek Language classes for adults is in session for the 2026-2027 academic year! 

In the schedule of classes outlined below, each course is listed by title, cohort, period (in PST time), and fluency level.

Modern Greek-1. Beginner – Cohort 1A: Monday, Sept. 7, 7:00 PM (A1-A2)

Modern Greek-2. Beginner – Cohort 1B: Tuesday, Sept. 8, 7:00 PM (A1-A2)

Modern Greek-3. Intermediate – Cohort 1: Wednesday, Sept. 2, 7:00 PM (B1-B2)

Modern Greek-4. Intermediate – Cohort 2: Sunday, Sept. 6, 9:00 AM (B1-B2)

Modern Greek-5. Intermediate – Cohort 3: Saturday, Sept. 5, 4:00 PM (B1-B2)

Modern Greek-6. Upper Intermediate/Advanced: Saturday, Sept. 5, 9:00 AM (B2/C1)

New Testament Greek: Friday, Sept. 4, 7:00 PM (A1-A2)

Ancient Greek: Sunday, Sept. 6, 7:00 PM (A1-A2)

For further information, please contact Dr. Peter Nanopoulos by email ([email protected]) or by phone (408-646-7308).

Sunday School registration is now open as we have started the school year on Sunday, September 20, 2026.  We’ve transitioned to the CCB registration form, and each child in grades K–12 must register using this link:  Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church

We are also seeking volunteers who feel called to share their love for our children and their faith.  All materials and support will be provided—your presence and willingness are the greatest gifts.  Please email: [email protected]

Thank you for helping us begin a wonderful year together.

This is a friendly reminder that registration for the 2026–2027 school year is open and the link is attached below. If you plan on joining us as a new student or return this fall, please take a few minutes to complete your registration so we can begin preparing class rosters and materials for the new year.  Please note that the annual tuition for school-age students includes all textbooks and classroom materials.

Registration Link:  https://saintnicholas.org/greek_school

We are excited for another year of learning, laughter, friendships, and celebrating our Greek language and culture together.

Thank you for being part of our Greek School family and we are so happy to have everyone back! Classes have begun for school-aged students. 

Additional information for our adult program, which follows a different calendar, will be shared separately.

Have a daughter between the ages of 14-28?  Consider having her join the Maids of Athena! It's a wonderful opportunity for her to connect with her Greek heritage, learn more about her culture and traditions, build lifelong friendships, and become part of a supportive community.

• Learn more about getting involved with the Maids of Athena!
• Become a member of our Ahepa family!

The Maids take great pride in:

• Sponsorship and support of philanthropic activities
• Leadership conferences
• Scholarship programs
• Travel opportunities
• Multiple social functions

For details, please contact Maria Pries-Chalioris at [email protected] or call 408-963-9649.

Scholarships are available now to help our youth and young adults experience Orthodox retreats, conferences, summer camps, GOYA, and Young Adult League (YAL) programs.

We are blessed to offer scholarships for youth and young adults in our St. Nicholas community.  Whether you are already registered or still planning to attend, scholarship support applies to ALL.

Why apply?  

• Makes retreats, special programs, conferencesm or camps accessible for every family
• Supports faith, fellowship, and spiritual growth
• Encourages our youth and young adults to build lifelong friendships
• Ensures no child or young adult misses out due to financial barriers

Apply here!  Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church

Our church website has upgraded to Pushpay for all online donations, tithes, and a number of other transactions - making giving simpler, faster, and more secure. 

Key Benefits for you:

• One-Click Giving: Set up recurring tithes in seconds or make one-time gifts with ease.
• Safe & Secure: Bank-level encryption protects your information.
• Text-to-Give: Simply text “GIVE” to (833) 921-7035 to donate instantly.
• Track Your Giving: View your donation history and print tax statements anytime.
• Give from Anywhere: Use your phone, tablet, or computer. 

 Visit https://saintnicholas.org/donate to donate and set up your account. 

 Your generosity fuels our ministries, outreach, and mission to love God and serve others.

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

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