Come and Worship!

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

Upcoming Calendar Events

Sunday, June 22 - Second Sunday of Matthew
Click here to view the printed liturgy
8:45am Orthros
10am Divine Liturgy
11:30am Ice Cream Social

Tuesday, June 24
11am Morning Bible Study (Click here to join)
12pm Tuesday Lunch
6:30pm Greek Dance Practice: Biddies
7pm Greek Dance Practice: Juniors
7pm Evening Bible Study (Click here to join)
7:30pm Greek Dance Practice: Intermediates
8:30pm Greek Dance Practice: Revma

Wednesday, June 25
10am Festival Food Prep: Spinach and Cheese Pita
7pm Paraklesis

Thursday, June 26
10am Festival Food Prep: Spinach and Cheese Pita
7pm Festival Team Meeting

Friday, June 27
Church office closed
10am Festival Food Prep: Spinach and Cheese Pita
7pm AA Meeting in Social Hall

Sunday, June 29 - Peter and Paul, the Holy Apostles
Apostles' Fast Ends
Click here to view the printed liturgy
8:45am Orthros
10am Divine Liturgy

Parish News and Updates

SUNDAE SUNDAY following Liturgy this weekend, Hope & Joy will provide ice cream treats to parishioners during fellowship in the hall. Please join us for some treats.

PASTORAL ASSISTANT BILL SMITH will be out of the office beginning Monday, June 23 and returning on Tuesday, July 8.

FRIENDS OF THE METROPOLIS - join forces with the faithful throughout the Metropolis of Detroit in support of the ministries which are part of the Office of the Metropolitan. Click here to visit the Friends of Metropolis page and make a donation to support the program. See the bulletin insert below for more information.

BIBLE STUDY OPPORTUNITIES - Father offers two bible study sessions on Tuesdays. The morning session at 11 am focuses on the scripture readings for the day. The Tuesday evening session will focus on the Gospel of John. All are welcome to attend in person or via the zoom platform. ONE LINK FOR ZOOM BIBLE STUDY - LINKS ARE ABOVE, BELOW AND ON OUR GOOGLE CALENDAR. Please be sure to update your zoom app and use the link for both: CLICK HERE TO JOIN

ITS PITA TIME! Next week, beginning on Wednesday, June 25, we will make Spinach and Cheese Pitas for the festival. Your help is much appreciated! We hope to see you next week!

FESTIVAL PLANNING MEETING - JUNE 26 AT 7 PM - All are invited to come and help with some of the necessary planning for our festival.

SEEKING YOUR FAMILY HISTORY FOR OUR COMMEMORATIVE BOOK!
We would love to include your Family History as a parishioner of our Nativity of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church in our commemorative book! Share any details about your family, faith, and experiences as a parishioner at Nativity and you can include pictures! For example, you may want to share about baptisms/chrismations, weddings, memories as a volunteer, honoring our Greek Orthodox faith and heritage.

All histories are welcome, regardless of how long you have been a member of our parish! Samples are available at the church hall. We are kindly asking for a $100 contribution for one-page to help offset the associated costs. Please send your Family History by email to [email protected] or see Golfo Wernette or Charlene Galbraith before August 20, 2025.

ANNIVERSARY TEAM SEEKING PHOTOS, ALBUMS & MEMORABILIA from the past 50 years of the people, events, etc. of our church. We will use these items for display at the dinner/dance and/or commemorative book. Leave them in the container in the hallway—be sure to include your contact information so we can return the items to you.

ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN WOMEN EVENTS - June 21 at St. Nicks Ann Arbor - Aging though Wellness: A Lifestyle Medicine Perspective. Annual OCW Retreat - July 19, 2025 at Dormition Monastery in Rives Junction - Weathering the Hurricanes of Life. See the bulletin inserts attached for more information or email [email protected].

Those in Our Prayers

Nicholas the Bishop, John the Priest, John the Priest, Cassani the Presvytera, Kalliope the Presvytera, Panayiotis Christodoulos, Mary Christopoulos, Constantin Dumitrescu, Kosta Efthimiou, Tracey Ford, Gregory Georvassilis, George Hrisoulis, Charles Hunsinger, Michelle Hunsinger, Roy Hunsinger, Kathy Jenaras, Maria Kalas, Abraham Kalasse, Kanella Katsikas, Ephraim Kosta, Diane Kotsonas, Elias Koumariotis, Panayiota Koutoupa, Gus Kyriakou, Jim Lee, Nick Malamis, George Margaritis, Frank Maroudis, Freda Mollasis, Gregory Morakeas, Evelyn Morris, Alexander Nichoff, Niko Nikolakis, Marchela Papageorgakis, Stella Papasavva, James Pappas, Nikolia Pappas, Nicholas Pappas & Family, George Peters, Katerina Peters, Costas Photsios, Penny Poulos, Hayden Schils, Rick Stanley & Family, Evan Kotsonas Stoecklein, Mike and Julia Tate, Jim Tsakos, Helen Tsaprazis, Nicholas Valice, Steve Valice, Chris Vardouniotis, John Vardouniotis, Jim Vlahakis, 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

SAVE THE DATE - TUESDAY, JULY 29 FOR TIGERS V. DIAMONDBACKS - All GOYA and Altar boys are invited to attend. More details coming soon!

ATTENTION NATIVITY DANCERS! Dance practice for the 2025 Greek Festival continues on Tuesday evenings. Rehearsal times - BIDDIES (Grades K-2) 6:30-7:00 pm, JUNIORS (Grades 3-5) 7:00-7:30 pm, INTERMEDIATES (Grades 6-8) 7:30-8:30 pm, REVMA (High School/College/Post College) 8:30-9:30 pm or later.

Your child’s grade is the grade that he/she will be entering in the Fall.

We would like everyone to register and pay before/when dance practice begins. To register and pay for your dancers, please click on the link below. The cost is $50 a dancer (if you have any financial difficulties, please see Ms. Peggy; the Men’s Club will cover your cost.) Click here to register.

Finally, we are asking dance parents to please sign up for a date to bring and serve a healthy nut-free snack for your child's dance group. Click here to sign up for snacks.

See the bulletin insert attached below for more information and watch your email for details about registration, payments and snacks.

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the First Mode

The stone having been sealed by the Pharisees and chief priests, * and Your all-immaculate body being guarded by soldiers, * You rose on the third day, O Lord and Savior, granting life unto the world. * Then the powers of the heavens cried out to You, O Giver of Life, and shouted, * “Glory to Your resurrection, O Christ! * Glory to Your eternal rule! * Glory to Your plan for saving us, only benevolent God!” (Automelon. Τοῦ λίθου σφραγισθέντος.)

Τοῦ λίθου σφραγισθέντος ὑπὸ τῶν Ἰουδαίων, καὶ στρατιωτῶν φυλασσόντων τὸ ἄχραντόν σου σῶμα, ἀνέστης τριήμερος Σωτήρ, δωρούμενος τῷ κόσμῳ τὴν ζωήν. Διὰ τοῦτο αἱ Δυνάμεις τῶν οὐρανῶν ἐβόων σοι Ζωοδότα· Δόξα τῇ ἀναστάσει σου Χριστέ, δόξα τῇ Βασιλείᾳ σου, δόξα τῇ οἰκονομίᾳ σου, μόνε Φιλάνθρωπε.

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. First Mode. Psalm 32.22,1.
Let your mercy, O Lord, be upon us.
Verse: Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Romans 2:10-16.

Brethren, glory and honor and peace for every one who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. For God shows no partiality. All who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. When Gentiles who have not the law do by nature what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that what the law requires is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness and their conflicting thoughts accuse or perhaps excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.

Προκείμενον. First Mode. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 32.22,1.
Γένοιτο, Κύριε, τὸ ἔλεός σου ἐφ' ἡμᾶς.
Στίχ. Ἀγαλλιᾶσθε δίκαιοι ἐν Κυρίῳ

τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς ῾Ρωμαίους 2:10-16.

Ἀδελφοί, δόξα δὲ καὶ τιμὴ καὶ εἰρήνη παντὶ τῷ ἐργαζομένῳ τὸ ἀγαθόν, Ἰουδαίῳ τε πρῶτον καὶ Ἕλληνι· οὐ γάρ ἐστιν προσωποληψία παρὰ τῷ θεῷ. Ὅσοι γὰρ ἀνόμως ἥμαρτον, ἀνόμως καὶ ἀπολοῦνται· καὶ ὅσοι ἐν νόμῳ ἥμαρτον, διὰ νόμου κριθήσονται· οὐ γὰρ οἱ ἀκροαταὶ τοῦ νόμου δίκαιοι παρὰ τῷ θεῷ, ἀλλʼ οἱ ποιηταὶ τοῦ νόμου δικαιωθήσονται. Ὅταν γὰρ ἔθνη τὰ μὴ νόμον ἔχοντα φύσει τὰ τοῦ νόμου ποιῇ, οὗτοι, νόμον μὴ ἔχοντες, ἑαυτοῖς εἰσιν νόμος· οἵτινες ἐνδείκνυνται τὸ ἔργον τοῦ νόμου γραπτὸν ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις αὐτῶν, συμμαρτυρούσης αὐτῶν τῆς συνειδήσεως, καὶ μεταξὺ ἀλλήλων τῶν λογισμῶν κατηγορούντων ἢ καὶ ἀπολογουμένων, ἐν ἡμέρᾳ ὅτε κρινεῖ ὁ θεὸς τὰ κρυπτὰ τῶν ἀνθρώπων, κατὰ τὸ εὐαγγέλιόν μου, διὰ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ.

Gospel Reading

2nd Sunday of Matthew
The Reading is from Matthew 4:18-23

At that time, as Jesus walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." Immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left their boat and their father, and followed him. And he went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every infirmity among the people.

2nd Sunday of Matthew
Κατὰ Ματθαῖον 4:18-23

Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, περιπατῶν δὲ παρὰ τὴν θάλασσαν τῆς Γαλιλαίας εἶδε δύο ἀδελφούς, Σίμωνα τὸν λεγόμενον Πέτρον καὶ ᾿Ανδρέαν τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ, βάλλοντας ἀμφίβληστρον εἰς τὴν θάλασσαν· ἦσαν γὰρ ἁλιεῖς· καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς· δεῦτε ὀπίσω μου καὶ ποιήσω ὑμᾶς ἁλιεῖς ἀνθρώπων. οἱ δὲ εὐθέως ἀφέντες τὰ δίκτυα ἠκολούθησαν αὐτῷ. Καὶ προβὰς ἐκεῖθεν εἶδεν ἄλλους δύο ἀδελφούς, ᾿Ιάκωβον τὸν τοῦ Ζεβεδαίου καὶ ᾿Ιωάννην τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ, ἐν τῷ πλοίῳ μετὰ Ζεβεδαίου τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτῶν καταρτίζοντας τὰ δίκτυα αὐτῶν, καὶ ἐκάλεσεν αὐτούς. οἱ δὲ εὐθέως ἀφέντες τὸ πλοῖον καὶ τὸν πατέρα αὐτῶν ἠκολούθησαν αὐτῷ. Καὶ περιῆγεν ὅλην τὴν Γαλιλαίαν ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς διδάσκων ἐν ταῖς συναγωγαῖς αὐτῶν καὶ κηρύσσων τὸ εὐαγγέλιον τῆς βασιλείας καὶ θεραπεύων πᾶσαν νόσον καὶ πᾶσαν μαλακίαν ἐν τῷ λαῷ.

Saints and Feasts

June 22

2nd Sunday of Matthew

June 24

Nativity of the Forerunner John the Baptist

He that was greater than all who are born of women, the Prophet who received God's testimony that he surpassed all the Prophets, was born of the aged and barren Elizabeth (Luke 1: 7) and filled all his kinsmen, and those that lived round about, with gladness and wonder. But even more wondrous was that which followed on the eighth day when he was circumcised, that is, the day on which a male child receives his name. Those present called him Zacharias, the name of his father. But the mother said, "Not so, but he shall be called John." Since the child's father was unable to speak, he was asked, by means of a sign, to indicate the child's name. He then asked for a tablet and wrote, "His name is John." And immediately Zacharias' mouth was opened, his tongue was loosed from its silence of nine months, and filled with the Holy Spirit, he blessed the God of Israel, Who had fulfilled the promises made to their fathers, and had visited them that were sitting in darkness and the shadow of death, and had sent to them the light of salvation. Zacharias prophesied concerning the child also, saying that he would be a Prophet of the Most High and Forerunner of Jesus Christ. And the child John, who was filled with grace, grew and waxed strong in the Spirit; and he was in the wilderness until the day of his showing to Israel (Luke 1:57-80). His name is a variation of the Hebrew "Johanan," which means "Yah is gracious."

June 25

Fevronia the Righteous Martyr

This Martyr practiced the ascetic discipline in Nisibis of Mesopotamia; she was of such great beauty that the report of her came to the persecutor Selenus, and every attempt was made to make her deny Christ. After many horrible tortures, she was cruelly dismembered by the executioners, then beheaded, in the year 310 (or, according to some, in 302, during the reign of Diocletian).

June 26

David the Righteous of Thessalonika

Saint David, who was from Thessalonica, lived a most holy and ascetical life. For some years, he took up his dwelling in the branches of an almond tree, exposed to all the elements and extremes of the weather. He reposed in peace during the reign of Saint Justinian the Great, in the sixth century.

Memorials and Trisagion

Trisagion for James Wahl

who joined the Church Triumphant on April 4, 2025.

May his memory be eternal.

Wisdom of the Fathers

Prayer, fasting, vigil and all other Christian practices, however good they may be in themselves, do not constitute the aim of our Christian life, although they serve as the indispensable means of reaching this end. The true aim of our Christian life consists in the acquisition of the Holy Spirit of God.

St. Seraphim of Sarov

The Acquisition of the Holy Spirit: Chapter 3, The Little Russian Philokalia Vol. 1; Saint Herman of Alaska Brotherhood pg. 79, 19th century

Within the visible world, man is as it were a second world; and the same is true of thought within the intelligible world. For man is the herald of heaven and earth, and of all that is in them; while thought interprets the intellect and sense perception, and all that pertains to them. Without man and thought both the sensible and the intelligible worlds would be inarticulate.

Ilias the Presbyter

Gnomic Anthology IV no. 112, Philokalia Vol. 3 edited by Palmer, Sherrard and Ware; Faber and Faber pg. 61

Nativity's Gmail Calendar

Nativity of the Virgin Mary Google Calendar

June 22 to July 6, 2025

Sunday, June 22

Ice Cream Social with HOPE & JOY

Memorials and Trisagion

🐟 2nd Sunday of Matthew

8:45AM Orthros

10:00AM Divine Liturgy

Tuesday, June 24

🐟 Nativity of the Forerunner John the Baptist

11:00AM Morning Bible Study with Father Nick

12:00PM Tuesday Lunch Group

6:30PM Greek Dance Practice: Biddies

7:00PM Evening Bible Study with Fr. Nick

7:00PM Greek Dance Practice: Juniors

7:30PM Greek Dance Practice: Intermediates

8:30PM Greek Dance Practice: Revma

Wednesday, June 25

Festival Food Prep: Spinach and Cheese Pies

7:00PM Paraklesis

Thursday, June 26

Festival Food Prep: Spinach and Cheese Pies

7:00PM FESTIVAL TEAM MEETING

Friday, June 27

Church Office Closed

Festival Food Prep: Spinach and Cheese Pies

7:00PM AA Meeting in Social Hall

Sunday, June 29

Peter and Paul, the Holy Apostles

Apostles' Fast Ends

8:45AM Orthros

10:00AM Divine Liturgy

11:45AM 40 day Blessing - Melistas Family

Monday, June 30

Synaxis of the Twelve Holy Apostles

Tuesday, July 1

6:30PM Greek Dance Practice: Biddies

7:00PM Greek Dance Practice: Juniors

7:30PM Greek Dance Practice: Intermediates

8:30PM Greek Dance Practice: Revma

Friday, July 4

Church office closed

7:00PM AA Meeting in Social Hall

Sunday, July 6

4th Sunday of Matthew

Memorials and Trisagions

8:45AM Orthros

10:00AM Divine Liturgy

Bulletin Inserts

Ushers and Coffee Hour - May & June

list of ushers and coffee hour servers for the next two months.

Attention Nativity Dancers

Dance practice for our 2025 festival begin in June!

Friends of the Metropolis

When you support the Friends of the Metropolis campaign, you are part of a greater outreach that proclaims with one universal voice that God is truly our hope and our rock of salvation.

OCW Annual Retreat

information on the upcoming women's retreat at Dormition Monastery

Feast Day of St. Panteleimon - July 27

Save the Date for the Feast Day and Festival at SAINT PANTELEIMON CHAPEL 7143 Cedar Road | Lexington, Michigan | 248.823.2400

Commemorative Book information

SEEKING YOUR FAMILY HISTORY FOR OUR COMMEMORATIVE BOOK! We would love to include your Family History as a parishioner of our Nativity of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church in our commemorative book! All histories are welcome, regardless of how long you have been a member of our parish!

General Information

Contact Information

Services Schedule

Past Bulletins