Come and Worship!

Join us in person for Liturgy or watch online on our Facebook page or Youtube

Upcoming Calendar Events

Friday, October 9
7pm AA meeting in Social Hall

Saturday, October 10
11am Baptism

Sunday, October 11 - Sunday of the 7th Ecumenical Council
Click here to view the printed liturgy
8:45 am Orthros
10am Divine Liturgy
11:30am Sunday Church School
12pm Philoptochos Hot Diggety Dog

Tuesday, October 13
11am Bible Study CLICK HERE TO JOIN
12pm Nativity Senior Lunch
4:30pm Youth Greek Classes
6pm Festival Leader Meeting
7pm Adult Greek Classes (online)
7pm Evening Bible Study CLICK HERE TO JOIN

Wednesday, October 14
7pm Paraklesis

Thursday, October 15
7pm Adult Greek Classes (online)
7pm Parish Council Meeting

Friday, October 16
7pm AA meeting in Social Hall

Saturday, October 17
5pm Private Rental Social Hall

Sunday, October 18 - Luke the Evangelist
Click here to view the printed liturgy
Installation of GOYA officers following Liturgy
8:45 am Orthros
10am Divine Liturgy
11:30am Sunday Church School
2pm Hope and Joy trip to 3 Cedars Farm

PARISH NEWS AND UPDATES

PHILOPTOCHOS NEWS - The annual Hot Diggety Dog fundraiser for Philoptochos is this Sunday, October 11, 2026. Bring your appetite and support their annual fundraising campaign for various organizations.

BIBLE STUDY RESUMES ON OCTOBER 13 - Father offers two bible study sessions on Tuesdays. The morning session at 11 am focuses on the Gospel of Mark, with Nativity Senior Lunch at noon. The evening session at 7pm focuses on the Acts of the Apostles. All are welcome to attend in person or via the zoom platform. Use Meeting ID: 340 526 4067 and Passcode: bible. Please be sure to update your zoom app and CLICK HERE TO JOIN.

SAVE THE DATE - OCTOBER 23-25 - for the 33rd Annual Fellowship of St. Moses the Black Conference at St. Lazarus Serbian Orthodox Cathedral in Detroit. Registration information below.

THOSE IN OUR PRAYERS

Nicholas the Bishop, Demetri the Priest, Jim the Priest, Philemon The Priest, John the Priest, John the Priest, Cassani the Presvytera, Kalliope the Presvytera, Theodora Bageris, Tyler Cannon, Brandon Christodoulos, Panayiotis Christodoulos, Mary Christopoulos, Lisette Cotsopoulos, Constantin Dumitrescu, Kosta Efthimiou, Tracey Ford, Gregory Georvassilis, George Hrisoulis, Michelle Hunsinger, Kathy Jenaras, Maria Kalas, Vera Kalas, Abraham Kalasse, Eric Kamal, Ephraim Kosta, Elias Koumariotis, Jerry Koumariotis, Soula Koumariotis, Panayiota Koutoupa, Gus Kyriakou, Marios Lambi, Andrea Lee, Jim Lee, Nick Malamis, George Margaritis, Frank Maroudis, Bradley Merouf, Freda Mollasis, Gregory Morakeas, Evelyn Morris, Alexander Nichoff, Marchela Papageorgakis, Stella Papasavva, James Pappas, Nikolia Pappas, Nicholas Pappas & Family, Katerina Peters, Costas Photsios, Penny Poulos, George Prokos, Rene Prokos, Hayden Schils, Rick Stanley & Family, Evan Stoecklein, Brandon Taber, Mike & Julia Tate, Jim Tsakos, Nicholas Valice, Steve Valice, Chris Vardouniotis, John Vardouniotis, Irene Vouharas, Nicodemus Williams, Sandy Zembylas, Selina Zembylas-Hernandez, Little Jack,

THE CHURCH IS HERE FOR YOU In times of need or times of celebration, there are a number of pastoral situations that warrant contacting Father Nick.

Any Hospital Stay: Illness, surgery, etc.
Death - Call when a person is dying and at the actual time of death, regardless of the hour!
Substance abuse involving you or a loved one.
Domestic problems of any sort, marital or children.
When you desire spiritual direction.
Birth of a child, (naming, and 40 day blessing)
When you become engaged and are planning a wedding.

Youth and Young Adult Ministry

Nativity Basketball News - We thank our sponsors for the 2026-2027 basketball program. We especially acknowledge DT Midstream. Not only are they the Presenting Sponsor for Nativity Basketball, DT Midstream provided a $5,000 contribution toward our beautiful new basketball trophy cases. We look forward to having those installed in the coming month, as they truly are something special. Over the years the kids have won many tournaments, and the existing cabinet is now overflowing, with most recent wins not even represented as coaches have held onto the trophies. Please join me in thanking DT Midstream and Voula Sonbay for their generosity and commitment to our youth and our parish!

Thank you to our Diamond Sponsor, the Theodorou Family for their continued support of Nativity Basketball. Long time supporters of the program and their kids have been part of the program for many years.

We are incredibly grateful for our community's commitment to our youth basketball ministry. Please visit the Nativity Basketball website and our bulletin board for a complete list of sponsors and supporters.”

BASKETBALL REGISTRATION IS OPEN! Visit nativitybasketball.weebly.com to learn more and register. See the bulletin insert below for more information

ATTENTION! PARENTS OF YOUNG ADULTS - We're seeking updated addresses for all of our young people who are away at college, off to other adventures or employment opportunities. We'd like to stay in touch, provide encouragement and remind them that they are loved by their church family. Send your young adult's contact information to [email protected]

HOPE & JOY FAMILIES are heading out to 3 Cedars Farm on Sunday, October 18 for a fun fall field trip. More details coming soon! If you have any questions about this ministry, please contact our Hope & Joy team via email at [email protected]

UPCOMING GOYA EVENTS - See the GOYA bulletin board in the hallway for details

Installation of GOYA OFFICERS is Sunday, October 18 following liturgy
Goya Bonfire is Friday, October 23 - mark your calendar.
GOYA DODGEBALL TOURNAMENT on Saturday, October 24 at Assumption in St. Clair Shores

FOCUS Detroit Updates

CLICK HERE FOR A VIDEO ABOUT FOCUS DETROIT AND THEIR MINISTRY TO THOSE IN NEED

THE 4TH ANNUAL FOCUS DETROIT GALA IS OCTOBER 17. FOCUS Detroit has done a lot this past year, and there is a lot to be grateful for! Come celebrate the transformative work of FOCUS Detroit in our community and hear about our exciting plans for the future. Doors open at 5:45 PM—come early to enjoy the silent auction from 6–7 PM! Dinner and programming begin at 7 PM, followed by an open dance floor to keep the celebration going. Visit focusdetroit.org/gala for more information and to purchase your tickets.

As our Food Pantry expands to serve more individuals and families across our community, we are currently in the need of the following pantry items. With your help, we can keep ourselves stocked and ready for those who rely on this support and provide nourishing food and a sense of dignity to those facing hardship. NO EXPIRED ITEMS, please. Please note that canned vegetables and dried beans are not currently needed.

Canned especially flip top or individual packets of:

Tuna, chicken/meat, vienna sausages
Chili, soup, ravioli

Other Grocery Items:

Mac and Cheese, peanut butter & jelly
protein bars, granola bars, cheese/cracker snacks
Large or individual juices, shelf stable milk
Cereal, fruit cups, pancake syrup
Spaghetti and spaghetti sauce
Noodle cups, crackers

Non-food items: Bathroom Tissue

Thank you for your continued support of Focust Detroit Ministries.

OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE AT FOCUS DETROIT
The Nest is a new program designed to support new parents and help families thrive from the very beginning. The Nest is in need of items and volunteers. Here's how you can help:

Please visit The NEST Amazon wishlist to view and purchase items for this program.
We also need: 2T and 3T boys and girls summer clothes,
24 mos onesies, 2T-3T pull-ups
Sign up to volunteer: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/thenest#

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Second Mode

When You descended unto Death, O Lord, You who are immortal Life put Hades to death, by the lightning of Your divinity. And when You raised the dead from the netherworld, all the hosts of heaven sang aloud to You, “O Christ God, Giver of life, glory to You!”

Ὅτε κατῆλθες πρὸς τὸν θάνατον, ἡ Ζωὴ ἡ ἀθάνατος, τότε τὸν ᾅδην ἐνέκρωσας τῇ ἀστραπῇ τῆς Θεότητος, ὅτε δὲ καὶ τοὺς τεθνεῶτας ἐκ τῶν καταχθονίων ἀνέστησας, πᾶσαι αἱ Δυνάμεις τῶν ἐπουρανίων ἐκραύγαζον·Ζωοδότα Χριστὲ ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν δόξα σοι.

Apolytikion for Sun. of the 7th Ecumenical Council in the Plagal Fourth Mode

Supremely glorified are You, O Christ our God, who established the holy Fathers on earth as beacons, and through them guided us all to the true Faith. Most compassionate Lord, glory be to You!

Ὑπερδεδοξασμένος εἶ, Χριστὲ ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν, ὁ φωστῆρας ἐπὶ γῆς τοὺς Πατέρας ἡμῶν θεμελιώσας, καὶ δι' αὐτῶν πρὸς τὴν ἀληθινὴν πίστιν, πάντας ἡμᾶς ὁδηγήσας· πολυεύσπλαγχνε, δόξα σοι.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Second Mode

O Protection of Christians that never falls, intercession with the Creator that never fails, we sinners beg you, do not ignore the voices of our prayers. O good Lady, we implore you, quickly come unto our aid, when we cry out to you with faith. Hurry to intercession, and hasten to supplication, O Theotokos who protect now and ever those who honor you.

Προστασία τῶν Χριστιανῶν ἀκαταίσχυντε, μεσιτεία πρὸς τὸν Ποιητὴν ἀμετάθετε. Μὴ παρίδῃς ἁμαρτωλῶν δεήσεων φωνάς, ἀλλὰ πρόφθασον, ὡς ἀγαθή, εἰς τὴν βοήθειαν ἡμῶν, τῶν πιστῶς κραυγαζόντων σοι· Τάχυνον εἰς πρεσβείαν, καὶ σπεῦσον εἰς ἱκεσίαν, ἡ προστατεύουσα ἀεί, Θεοτόκε, τῶν τιμώντων σε.

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Fourth Mode. Daniel 3.26,27.
Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers.
Verse: For you are just in all you have done.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to Titus 3:8-15.

Titus, my son, the saying is sure. I desire you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to apply themselves to good deeds; these are excellent and profitable to men. But avoid stupid controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels over the law, for they are unprofitable and futile. As for a man who is factious, after admonishing him once or twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is perverted and sinful; he is self-condemned.

When I send Artemas or Tychicos to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. Do your best to speed Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way; see that they lack nothing. And let our people learn to apply themselves to good deeds, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not to be unfruitful.

All who are with me send greeting to you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen.

Προκείμενον. Fourth Mode. Δανιήλ 3.26-27.
Εὐλογητὸς εἶ, Κύριε, ὁ Θεὸς τῶν Πατέρων ἡμῶν.
Στίχ. Ὅτι δίκαιος εἶ ἐπὶ πᾶσιν, οἷς ἐποίησας ἡμῖν.

τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς Τίτον 3:8-15.

Τέκνον Τίτε, πιστὸς ὁ λόγος, καὶ περὶ τούτων βούλομαί σε διαβεβαιοῦσθαι, ἵνα φροντίζωσιν καλῶν ἔργων προΐστασθαι οἱ πεπιστευκότες θεῷ. ταῦτά ἐστιν καλὰ καὶ ὠφέλιμα τοῖς ἀνθρώποις · μωρὰς δὲ ζητήσεις καὶ γενεαλογίας καὶ ἔριν καὶ μάχας νομικὰς περιΐστασο, εἰσὶν γὰρ ἀνωφελεῖς καὶ μάταιοι. αιῥετικὸν ἄνθρωπον μετὰ μίαν καὶ δευτέραν νουθεσίαν παραιτοῦ, εἰδὼς ὅτι ἐξέστραπται ὁ τοιοῦτος καὶ ἁμαρτάνει, ὢν αὐτοκατάκριτος. Ὅταν πέμψω Ἀρτεμᾶν πρὸς σὲ ἢ Τυχικόν, σπούδασον ἐλθεῖν πρός με εἰς Νικόπολιν, ἐκεῖ γὰρ κέκρικα παραχειμάσαι. Ζηνᾶν τὸν νομικὸν καὶ Ἀπολλῶν σπουδαίως πρόπεμψον, ἵνα μηδὲν αὐτοῖς λείπῃ. μανθανέτωσαν δὲ καὶ οἱ ἡμέτεροι καλῶν ἔργων προΐστασθαι εἰς τὰς ἀναγκαίας χρείας, ἵνα μὴ ὦσιν ἄκαρποι. Ἀσπάζονταί σε οἱ μετ ᾽ἐμοῦ πάντες. Ἄσπασαι τοὺς φιλοῦντας ἡμᾶς ἐν πίστει. ἡ χάρις μετὰ πάντων ὑμῶν.

Gospel Reading

Sunday of the 7th Ecumenical Council
The Reading is from Luke 8:5-15

The Lord said this parable: "A sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell along the path, and was trodden under foot, and the birds of the air devoured it. And some fell on the rock; and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns grew with it and choked it. And some fell into good soil and grew, and yielded a hundredfold." And when his disciples asked him what this parable meant, he said, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God; but for others they are in parables, so that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand. Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, that they may not believe and be saved. And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy; but these have no root, they believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. And as for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bring forth fruit with patience." As he said these things, he cried out "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."

Sunday of the 7th Ecumenical Council
Κατὰ Λουκᾶν 8:5-15

Εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος τήν παραβολὴν ταύτην· Ἐξῆλθεν ὁ σπείρων τοῦ σπεῖραι τὸν σπόρον αὐτοῦ. καὶ ἐν τῷ σπείρειν αὐτὸν ὃ μὲν ἔπεσε παρὰ τὴν ὁδόν, καὶ κατεπατήθη, καὶ τὰ πετεινὰ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ κατέφαγεν αὐτό· καὶ ἕτερον ἔπεσεν ἐπὶ τὴν πέτραν, καὶ φυὲν ἐξηράνθη διὰ τὸ μὴ ἔχειν ἰκμάδα· καὶ ἕτερον ἔπεσεν ἐν μέσῳ τῶν ἀκανθῶν, καὶ συμφυεῖσαι αἱ ἄκανθαι ἀπέπνιξαν αὐτό. καὶ ἕτερον ἔπεσεν εἰς τὴν γῆν τὴν ἀγαθήν, καὶ φυὲν ἐποίησε καρπὸν κατονταπλασίονα. ταῦτα λέγων ἐφώνει· ὁ ἔχων ὦτα ἀκούειν ἀκουέτω. ᾿Επηρώτων δὲ αὐτὸν οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ λέγοντες· τίς εἴη ἡ παραβολὴ αὕτη; ὁ δὲ εἶπεν· ὑμῖν δέδοται γνῶναι τὰ μυστήρια τῆς βασιλείας τοῦ Θεοῦ, τοῖς δὲ λοιποῖς ἐν παραβολαῖς, ἵνα βλέποντες μὴ βλέπωσι καὶ ἀκούοντες μὴ συνιῶσιν. ἔστι δὲ αὕτη ἡ παραβολή· ὁ σπόρος ἐστὶν ὁ λόγος τοῦ Θεοῦ· οἱ δὲ παρὰ τὴν ὁδόν εἰσιν οἱ ἀκούσαντες, εἶτα ἔρχεται ὁ διάβολος καὶ αἴρει τὸν λόγον ἀπὸ τῆς καρδίας αὐτῶν, ἵνα μὴ πιστεύσαντες σωθῶσιν. οἱ δὲ ἐπὶ τῆς πέτρας οἳ ὅταν ἀκούσωσι, μετὰ χαρᾶς δέχονται τὸν λόγον, καὶ οὗτοι ῥίζαν οὐκ ἔχουσιν, οἳ πρὸς καιρὸν πιστεύουσι καὶ ἐν καιρῷ πειρασμοῦ ἀφίστανται. τὸ δὲ εἰς τὰς ἀκάνθας πεσόν, οὗτοί εἰσιν οἱ ἀκούσαντες, καὶ ὑπὸ μεριμνῶν καὶ πλούτου καὶ ἡδονῶν τοῦ βίου πορευόμενοι συμπνίγονται καὶ οὐ τελεσφοροῦσι. τὸ δὲ ἐν τῇ καλῇ γῇ, οὗτοί εἰσιν οἵτινες ἐν καρδίᾳ καλῇ καὶ ἀγαθῇ ἀκούσαντες τὸν λόγον κατέχουσι καὶ καρποφοροῦσιν ἐν ὑπομονῇ. ταῦτα λέγων ἐφώνει· ὁ ἔχων ὦτα ἀκούειν ἀκουέτω.

Saints and Feasts

October 11

Sunday of the 7th Ecumenical Council

On the Sunday that falls on or immediately after the eleventh of this month, we chant the Service to the 350 holy Fathers of the Seventh Ecumenical Council, which gathered in Nicaea in 787 under the holy Patriarch Tarasius and during the reign of the Empress Irene and her son, Constantine Porphyrogenitus, to refute the Iconoclast heresy, which had received imperial support beginning with the Edict issued in 726 by Emperor Leo the Isaurian. Many of the holy Fathers who condemned Iconoclasm at this holy Council later died as Confessors and Martyrs for the holy Icons during the second assult of Iconoclasm in the ninth century, especially during the reigns of Leo the Armenian and Theophilus.

October 11

Philip the Apostle of the 70, one of the 7 Deacons

Saint Philip, who had four daughters that prophesied, was from Caesarea of Palestine. He preached throughout Samaria; it was he also who met the eunuch of Candace, the Queen of the Ethiopians, as the eunuch was reading the Prophet Esaias, and he instructed and baptized him (Acts 8:26-39). He reposed in Tralles of Asia Minor while preaching the Gospel.

October 14

Righteous Paraskeve of Serbia

Saint Paraskeve was born in Thrace in the eleventh century. In her youth she went to Constaninople, and thence journeyed to the Holy Land in pursuit of the ascetical life. After struggling for many years in the wilderness of the Jordan, she was moved by God to return to her homeland. She continued her monastic labours there for a few more years, and then reposed in peace.

Sacraments and Blessings

We offer prayers of thanksgiving and blessings for the following families:

Congratulations to the newly married

Maria Zarkin and Christopher Koumariotis who were joined in the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony on Sunday, October 4.

Maria is the daughter of Kathryn Efthimiou, Christopher is the Son of Georgia and Elias Koumariotis

“O Lord, our God, crown them with glory and honor.”

Congratulations to the newly baptized

Sofia Chrisostomi Domanico

Baptized on Saturday, October 10

Daughter of Stefanie and David Domanico

“As many of you as have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ. Alleluia.”

May God grant your families many blessed years!

Wisdom of the Fathers

When you see life's pleasures, beware that they might not distract you, for they conceal death's snares. Likewise a fisherman casts not his hook to no purpose. As bait for his hook, the enemy uses the delusion of sensuality to arouse desire, that he might thereby catch men's souls and subject them to himself. A soul which has been caught to serve the enemy's will then serves as a snare for other souls, for it conceals the grief of sin with its apparent delight.

St. Ephraim the Syrian

A Spiritual Psalter no 43, pg. 74, 4th century

Since there are certain people who find great fault with us for adoring and honoring both the image of the Savior and that of our Lady, as well as those of the rest of the saints and servants of Christ, let them hear how from the beginning God made man to His own image. For what reason, then, do we adore one another, except because we have been made to the image of God? As the inspired Basil, who is deeply learned in theology, says: "the honor paid to the image conveys to the original.," and the original is the thing imaged from which the copy is made.

St. John of Damascus

The Orthodox Faith, 4.16. Catholic University of America Press in Washington D.C. Translated by Frederic H. Chase, Jr. volume 37, page 370., 8th Century

Diakonia Newsletter

Read the latest Diakonia Newsletter for this Sunday

https://bulletinbuilder.org/diakonia-newsletter/2026-10-11?source=bulletin_web

October 11, 2026

Bulletin Inserts

Friends of the Metropolis

The Friends of the Metropolis program is a crucial initiative designed to support and expand various ministries and programs across the entire Metropolis of Detroit. By contributing to the Friends campaign, donors join a collective effort that provides the essential financial foundation for Metropolis-wide outreach, reinforcing the communal faith and joint ministry of service among the faithful. These contributions directly fund core operations and initiatives, including vital support for Youth and Young Adult Ministries across the Metropolis, helping to cultivate the next generation of Orthodox Christians. Furthermore, the funds bolster Outreach and Evangelism efforts, extending the mission of the Church to the wider community, and provide direct financial assistance to Hellenic College Holy Cross to educate future clergy and lay leaders.

Rise Up and Build Stewardship program

In the Old Testament we read about Nehemiah. After seeing the crumbling walls of Jerusalem, he calls the people to “Rise up and build." Nehemiah doesn't do it alone. He inspires the people, sharing his vision. And the response of the people? "Let us rise up and build."

Calendar

Nativity's Gmail Calendar

October 11 to October 26, 2026

Sunday, October 11

Sunday of the 7th Ecumenical Council

8:45AM Orthros

10:00AM Divine Liturgy

11:30AM Sunday Church School

12:00PM Philoptochos Hot Diggety Dog

Tuesday, October 13

11:00AM Morning Bible Study with Father Nick

12:00PM Senior Lunch Group

4:30PM 🇬🇷 YOUTH classes

6:00PM Festival Leader Meeting

7:00PM Evening Bible Study with Fr. Nick

7:00PM 🇬🇷 ADULT classes (online)

Wednesday, October 14

7:00PM Paraklesis

Thursday, October 15

7:00PM 🇬🇷 ADULT CLASSES (online)

7:00PM Parish Council Meeting

Friday, October 16

7:00PM AA Meeting in Social Hall

Saturday, October 17

5:00PM Private Rental Social Hall

6:00PM Focus Detroit GALA

6:00PM Nativity Basketball practice/games

Sunday, October 18

Installation of GOYA officers

Memorials and Trisagions

☦️ Luke the Evangelist

8:45AM Orthros

10:00AM Divine Liturgy

11:30AM Sunday Church School

2:00PM Hope and Joy - 3 Cedars Field Trip

Tuesday, October 20

4:30PM 🇬🇷 YOUTH classes

7:00PM Evening Bible Study with Fr. Nick

7:00PM 🇬🇷 ADULT classes (online)

Wednesday, October 21

7:00PM Holy Unction (at Holy Cross)

Thursday, October 22

7:00PM 🇬🇷 ADULT CLASSES (online)

Friday, October 23

6:30PM GOYA Bonfire

7:00PM AA Meeting in Social Hall

Saturday, October 24

Goya Dodgeball @Assumption

6:00PM Nativity Basketball practice/games

Sunday, October 25

6th Sunday of Luke

Memorials and Trisagions

8:45AM Orthros

10:00AM Divine Liturgy

11:30AM Sunday Church School

Monday, October 26

The Holy Great Martyr Demetrius the Myrrh-streamer

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