“Your Own Of Your Own”

Dear Beloved Parishioners,

We are reminded of the exclamation addressed to our Lord Jesus Christ in the Divine Liturgy, “Your own of Your own, we offer to You…!” which reminds us that our contributions to the Church are a gesture of gratitude for the blessings we have received.  By giving to His Church, we do more than meet obligations--we help realize the potential of our church community through our collective support.

In 2024, you, devoted parishioners, contributed your talents, time, and donations.  As a result, we have made numerous improvements within our campus and church.  We had successful events and fundraisers throughout the year, and we enjoyed the fellowship and collaboration of each other.  We give thanks to God for the spiritual growth experienced by our families and children in the Divine Liturgy and Youth Ministries.  In 2025, we will celebrate our Saint Nicholas Church’s 80^th anniversary--an exciting year: “Reflecting on Our Journey, Rejoicing in Our Future – United in Faith for 80 years”.

The Stewardship Ministry invites us to reflect on our priorities and values, express gratitude, give of ourselves, and grow in grace.  It is an opportunity to share in God’s work.  Giving is not a replacement for commitment but rather an expression of it, demonstrating our appreciation for the blessings in our lives. This year, we have set an ambitious goal of raising $605,000 to further our mission, and we are excited to see the positive change we can create together in 2025.

Please complete your Stewardship Commitment for 2025 to ensure the success of the programs addressing the spiritual needs of the families entrusted to our care.  Stewardship Sunday will take place on Sunday, February 9^th – bring your stewardship cards with you or feel free to send them in the mail or complete online.  

Your financial stewardship supports the foundation of our Parish Ministries and our mission to spread Christ’s Word and our Orthodox Faith.  We thank you for your dedication to our parish and your participation in the salvific work of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Yours in Christ,
Rev. Father James Kumarelas, Proistamenos
Rev. Father Nebojsa Pantic, Assistant Priest
Nektarios Matheou, Parish Council President

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. 

Stewardship 2025 as of February 13, 2025

Goal: $605,000 (Approved 2025 Budget)
Pledged: $214,396
Pledges Paid: $99,436
Average Pledge: $1,204
Outstanding unpaid commitments: $114,960
Number of Stewards Pledging: 178

Stewardship 2024 on February 16, 2024 for comparison purposes:

Goal: $491,000 (Approved 2024 Budget with tentative stretch goal of $500,000)
Pledged: $60,375
Pledges Paid: $41,100
Average Pledge: $603
Outstanding unpaid commitments: $19,275
Number of Stewards Pledging: 100

Please continue to keep our Saint Nicholas Church in your thoughts and prayers throughout 2025. 

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://www.saintnicholas.org/donate#stewardship

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

Company Matching Donations: many companies 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. If you are interested to learn more about Company Matching Donations at work, please inquire 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: https://saintnicholas.org/virtual-chapel/light-a-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/

A Saturday of the Souls (Psychosavato) service will be on Saturday, February 22nd with Orthros beginning at 8:30am followed by the Liturgy at 9:30am and Memorial.  You can drop the names of deceased Orthodox Christian family members, relatives and friends in a special, marked box in the Narthex and you can bring a small dish of kollyva to the service.

Join us on Sunday, February 23, immediately following the Divine Liturgy, to celebrate Godparents Day. This special occasion is a wonderful opportunity to spend time with your godchildren and honor the unique bond you share.

Coffee hour will be sponsored by the Sunday School and lunch will be graciously provided by our very own GOYA in the Small Hall.  Good will donations are welcomed.

It is with much joy and gratitude the February 9^th Coffee Team is pleased to share a total of $905 in contributions was received during the Coffee Hour to support our neighbors affected by the Los Angeles Fires. These proceeds will be divided equally amongst the following two (2) non-profit organizations:

International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) – providing emotional and spiritual care (ESC), coordinating and acting as respite centers or shelters, as well as coordinating with FEMA, local emergency authorities, and other volunteer groups.

World Central Kitchen – Support first responders and families impacted by the wildfires in the Los Angeles area. World Central Kitchen teams are mobilized across the region providing immediate relief and working with restaurant and food truck partners to provide meals.

Again, we wish to thank everyone who joined us on Sunday because when you “do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.” Bishop Desmond Tutu

Our spring semester of Orthodoxy 101 will be a journey looking at Old Testament prophesies, alliterations, precursors, and foreshadowing of the passion and resurrection of Christ. 

Join Fr. Nebojsa Pantic via Zoom on Mondays in February, and HYBRID on Mondays during Great Lent, and following Pascha.  

Class will be 6:15pm until 7pm.  During February class will solely be online, via Zoom.  During Lent the class will be followed by Great Compline at 7pm.  After Pascha, the class will continue as a Hybrid class.  We will go until the end of the Sunday School year.

The next class will be Monday, February 24th at 6:15pm https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7084362224 

For more information please contact [email protected] 

Preparations are underway for the 2025 Clergy-Laity Assembly for our Metropolis. This is an opportunity for our clergy and lay leaders of our parishes to come together, to learn and grow in our faith, gain new insights into the ministries and programs offered by our Metropolis, and take an active role in the governance of our Church.

This year’s Assembly will be held on Monday, May 5 beginning at 12:00 p.m., and will conclude on Tuesday, May 6 at 4:00 p.m. at Saint Nicholas Ranch and Retreat Center in Dunlap, CA. 

Each parish is expected to have two members of the parish attend - elected at the Parish Assembly Meeting scheduled at our church on Sunday, April 27th.  Any parishioner in good standing, that is interested in being one our delegates, can self-nominate at our Parish Assembly meeting.

Please note that the church office will be closed for the Archdiocesan observance of President's Day holiday on Monday, February 17th. 

However, if you have a pastoral emergency and you need to reach a priest, please call 408-246-2781.

The Saint Nicholas Parish Council invites you to celebrate our inaugural Tsiknopempti Night on Thursday, February 20th at 6pm in the Community Center!

Appetizers, souvalaki dinner, dessert, and cash bar incuded! Games for children! Fun, faith, and fellowship for all!

This is our first event as we celebrate our parish's 80th anniversay with the motto:  Reflecting on Our Journey, Rejoicing in Our Future - United in Faith for 80 Years.

All parishioners and families are invited!  This is an open donation event, and while there is no obligation, a suggested contribution of $15 per person would help cover the costs.  Thank you for our support!

RSVP online here:  https://forms.gle/MuWmxZkmgqcnfe7i8

Or feel free to call or text at 408-858-4774 (indicate family name and how many adults and/or children). 

See the flyer in the Special Events section of our e-bulletin.  See you there!

Please mark your calendars for the 2025 Saint Nicholas San Jose College Ministry event dates!

Compline at 6:00pm, followed by food and fellowship in Room 2 of the Educational Building.

Wed. Feb.26, 2025

Wed. March 12, 2025

Wed. April 9, 2025

Wed. May 14, 2025

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

The annual Greek Flag Raising, in recognition of Greek Independence Day, will be held on Friday, March 21st 5:00pm at the San Jose City Hall Plaza, 200 E Santa Clara Street. Facilitated by AHEPA Silicon Valley Chapter 251and Daughters of Penelope Daphne #29, the ceremony will be hosted by Councilmember Pam Foley.  

There will also be a reception on the City Hall Tower 17th floor immediately following the ceremony compliments of the Order of AHEPA & Daughters of Penelope San Jose Chapters.

Please note that in order to get validated parking, you need to be in the City Hall Garage before 5 pm. After 5pm, it’s locked and you can only exit the parking structure. The garage is located off of 6th Street at 45 S Sixth St., San Jose, 95113.

Attention students in 5-12^TH Grades:

We're thrilled to share that the 2025 St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival is just around the corner! Hosted by the Department of Religious Education of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, this festival is a fantastic opportunity for our youth to express their faith, share their thoughts, and shine on stage.

Who Can Participate?

Senior Division: Students in grades 10-12

Junior Division:  Students in grades 7-9

But that's not all! We're also encouraging our talented students in grades 5-6 to join us locally at Saint Nicholas. It's an excellent chance for them to get involved, gain confidence, and build their oratorical skills. 

 Awards and Scholarships Await!  Participants in the senior and junior divisions can earn awards and scholarships at the archdiocese level. Plus, all participants—regardless of age or division—will receive a special award from Saint Nicholas as appreciation and pride in their efforts.

Save the Date: March 23, 2025, at Saint Nicholas Church: on this special day, all our participating children will present their speeches here at Saint Nicholas.  Let's fill the room with support and encouragement for our outstanding youth. Y our presence means the world to them; together, we can make it a day to remember! 

Why Encourage Your Child to Participate?

Personal Growth: Public speaking enhances confidence, critical thinking, and communication skills.

Faith: Topics of faith deepen their understanding and personal connection.

Community Building: It's a chance to connect with peers and our church community.

 We're here to support and mentor all participants. We'll provide guidance and assistance with delivering their speeches, aiming to ensure they feel confident and ready for the challenge.  Let’s champion Our Saint Nicholas Youth and unite to inspire, support, and encourage our young voices. After all, they are not just the future of our church—they are its vibrant present. 

Please feel free to contact Maria Daltayanni at email:  [email protected] or stop by the Sunday School office for all of the information. 

The next meeting will be on Tuesday, March 11th at 11:30am in the Small Hall.   Please contact Christina Kouvaris at 408-306-8007 or email [email protected] if you have any questions.

Practices for the Youth Basketball spring season have started.  If you are interested and not already registered for the 2024-2025 season, it is imperative that you register soon so we can organize the teams and register our rosters with the league.  We need to have the minimum number of players registered by the end of January to register a team.  Registrants after January are welcome, but only if we’ve determined there are enough for that age group by end of January.  Teams are Girls 3^rd-5^th grades (Elementary) and 6^th-9^th grades (Middle School+) and Boys 3^rd-5^th grades (Elementary), 6^th-8^th grades (MS), and 9^th-12^thgrades (HS).  

It is confirmed there will be opponents for Girls Elem and MS this year.  We need a couple more to fill out a roster for each team otherwise we’ll only have one.  Also looking to add more on the Boys Elem and Boys HS teams.

Weekly practice days are:

Boys elementary: Mondays 6-7:15pm

Boys Middle School: Tuesdays 6:45-8:15pm

Girls elementary and Middle School+ Wednesdays 6-7:30pm

Boys HS will begin practice on Friday, February 21st at 7:30pm. Register NOW so we can roster a team.

The OYAA is a recreational league of Bay Area Orthodox Churches.  Games are typically Sunday afternoons running from the beginning of March to mid-May.  We welcome all skill levels, but for the Spring Season we encourage consistent practice participation.  There is a nominal fee to participate and the liability/waiver form common with all ministries is required.

Register your player here ASAP so we can organize teams, coaches, and provide updated communication, https://www.saintnicholas.org/basketball.  If you have any questions, please contact the Program Director John Cocoles at [email protected] or [email protected].

The Greek American Professional Women’s Society is proud to support and mentor young women who work towards advancing their education and becoming successful members of their communities.​The Society announces a scholarship award to be offered to a female college student of Hellenic heritage in 2025. ​Eligible applicants must be residents of California, full-time, degree-seeking college students (undergraduate) at an accredited college or university in the United States.  A minimum GPA of 3.00 (on a 4.00 scale) is required. ​The 2025 GAPWS scholarship recipient will receive $2,000. Deadline for applications is March 31, 2025.  To apply go to www.gapws.org.

You can register your children here: Sunday School—Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church.  We look forward to a beautiful year of growth, learning, and community.  Please see our calendar of events for the first half below.

February 2025
16 - No Sunday School / FDF Weekend
23 - Sunday School / God Parents Day Celebration

March
2 - Sunday School
9 - Sunday School / Sunday of Orthodoxy
16 - Sunday School
23 - Sunday School
30 - Family Divine Liturgy

April
6 - Sunday School
13 - Sunday School
20 - No Sunday School Holy Pascha
27 - Family Divine Liturgy

May
4 - Sunday School
11 - Sunday School
18 - Last day Sunday School / High School Graduation Celebration

CrossRoad is a ten-day academic summer institute that prepares high school juniors and seniors to make big life decisions and invites them to connect with the Orthodox Christian theological and spiritual tradition in a deep and meaningful way. There are four CrossRoad sessions to choose from. Apply early to secure your preferred location – Boston, New York, or Southern California. Session details: today at www.CrossRoadInstitute.org.  

 We are pleased to announce that Greek School registration for adults is now active!

The registration link is located at:
https://saintnicholas.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/98/responses/new

Initial meetings for each Adult Education course have been scheduled on the following dates:
** Modern Greek Beginner Level 1: Wednesday, September 4-2024, 7:00 pm.
** Modern Greek Beginner Level 2: Tuesday, September 3-2024, 7:00 pm.
** Modern Greek Level 3, Intermediate/Advanced: Saturday, September 7-2024, 9:00 am.
** New Testament Greek Beginner Level 1: Monday, September 2-2024, 7:00 pm.
** Ancient Greek Beginner Level 1: Friday, September 6-2024, 7:00 pm.

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

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.

How to Register:

1. Complete the Online Registration Form: https://saintnicholas.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/98/responses/new

Important Dates:

• Classes Begin: Monday, August 26, 2024

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

**St. Nicholas is trying to get a group together to attend Session 3**

This July, the Metropolis invites youth ages 8-18 to join us for the Metropolis Summer Camp at St. Nicholas Ranch & Retreat Center in Dunlap, CA. This exciting experience offers a chance to make new friends, reconnect with old ones, and deepen your faith. Online camper registration opens on February 1, and spots will fill up quickly!

METROPOLIS SUMMER CAMP WEBSITE: https://gosfyouth.org/summer-camp

2025 SUMMER CAMP DATES

Session 1: July 6 - 12

Session 2: July 13 - 19

Session 3: July 20 - 26

CAMPER REGISTRATION

$725 Early Registration (February 1 – February 8)

$750 Regular Registration (February 9 – March 31)

$775 Late Registration (April 1 or later)

*A $100 non-refundable deposit is required to register. Payment plans are available.

CAMPER AGES

The youngest campers will be 8 years old (or entering 3rd grade in Fall 2025) and the oldest will be 18 years old (or will be graduating High School in Spring 2025).

SUMMER CAMP STAFF

The Metropolis is seeking passionate, faithful, and dedicated young adults (19+) to join the camp staff. Additionally, they are looking for medical and lifeguard personnel. If you know someone who would be a great fit for the Metropolis Staff, please encourage them to apply! Applications are open until March 1 on our website. CLICK HERE

MEDICAL STAFF

The Metropolis is in need of summer camp medical staff. If you are a licensed medical professional or know someone who is, please encourage them to apply on the camp website CLICK HERE. We especially love having MD's, NP's, and RN's!

AMAZON WISH LIST

Help us keep the cost of camp down and make a donation from our Amazon Wish List HERE.

CAMPER SCHOLARSHIPS FOR THOSE IN NEED

With the generous support of both the Archbishop Elpidophoros Summer Camp Scholarship Fund and Leadership 100, the Metropolis will be able to offer camp scholarships to assist families experiencing financial challenges. Before you apply for a scholarship, we ask that you first ask your parish if they have any summer camp scholarships available. As you wait to hear about parish camp scholarships or hear back from the Archdiocese, we highly suggest registering now by paying the $100 deposit to secure a spot as we will quickly fill up! CLICK HERE

Please read the Canon of Faith for February 2025 using the online link viewing:    

https://indd.adobe.com/view/c410b394-8826-417d-ba21-58b089b23392

Adult Open Gym Basketball is every Wednesday at 7:30pm and some Saturday mornings from 10am to 12 noon in the Community Center.  All parishioners (including guests) must sign up first before participating; online sign up form is at the link below.  All communications will be handled through WhatsApp where there will be live updates on the day of the event; link down below to join.

Adult Open Gym sign up form: https://saintnicholas.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/95/responses/new

Adult Open Gym guidelines: 

https://docs.google.com/file/d/1Pqh-9ytke7trggbRvI-t0IW4sHL22Re4/edit?usp=docslist_api&filetype=msword

Adult Open Gym WhatsApp group chat: https://chat.whatsapp.com/ExKTcpbEo7oBPOR3Ssfi1P

The Choir is actively recruiting new members!  If you are interested please contact Anthony Pappas at (408) 832-4271 for practice times.  On Sundays, the Choir performs at the Divine Liturgy.  Join the fun!

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 have lost an item and suspect you have left it on church grounds, please check the spot you may have left it the next time you are at church.  You can also call the Church Office at 408-246-2770 to see if it was turned in.  Lost items will be released to the person claiming to be the owner that has provided details to identify the item.  Items brought to the Church Office will be kept for 60 calendar days and then discarded or donated if not claimed.  Thank you!

We are collecting unwanted paper icons, wooden icons, and palms that require disposing, please drop off in the baby room in the Church.  There is a plastic bin located underneath the pew.  If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Julie via email: [email protected].

Please contact the church office at 408-246-2770 if you plan to leave items outside the office or Community Center.

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