The Saint Nicholas Young Families Ministry invites all families to join in for fun and games, food and fellowship today, Friday, October 5th at 6:30pm in the School Room 3 of the Educational Building. Please follow the link to sign up to bring something for the potluck: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0e4daead2da2ff2-family2

If you have any questions, please contact Meredith Panayotopoulos annapanayotopoulos@hotmail.com.

Each year in the fall, National Church Music Sunday is observed in Greek Orthodox churches throughout the country.  It is usually commemorated on the first Sunday in October and it is a day set aside to honor the contributions of church musicians:  choir directors, choir members, organists, cantors, priests, and music teachers who serve their churches through the hymnology of our Orthodox Church.  

We are very blessed to have our own Byzantine music ministry named St. Romanos the Melodist Byzantine Music School.  We will soon announce the class schedule. There will be an Artoklasia at the second liturgy sponsored by the Choir.  A second tray will be passed at both liturgies to benefit our parish's chanting program.

 «Byzantine music is the only music that has sacredness and sanctity...The words find their strongest expression in Byzantine music, because it is their natural raiment.»— Photios Kontoglou (+1965)

Due to the RocknRoll Marathon, the off-ramp to southbound to Bascom Ave from north or southbound Hwy 880 will be closed from 7:00am to 12:45pm on Sunday, October 7th.  For more information look at Community.CGI@ironman.com

The Church Office will be closed on Monday, October 8th, for the Archdiocesan observance of Columbus Day.

AHEPA Family Health and Fitness Event:  Tuesday October 9th, Small Hall, 7:00pm

AHEPA and Daughters of Penelope are sponsoring an informative Health and Fitness presentation by our very own Vasiliki (Kiki) Fkiaras, who is a Certified Independent Health Coach. Kiki recently graduated with an MS in Movement Studies from Sacramento State University. With her passion for health and fitness, she’s helps clients transform their lives through effective coaching on positive lifestyle changes and weight management techniques.  In this special presentation, Kiki will be sharing client success stories and tips for optimal health.  Everyone from the community is invited.  Please wear comfortable clothing!

DRESS FOR SUCCESS PROJECT:  St. Anna's Philoptochos and Daughters of Penelope are joining forces to gather women's professional attire for donation to Dress for Success, a non-profit organization that provides clothing for low-income women to help support their job search  and interview process.  The clothing must be clean, gently used, and ready for wear.  A box marked Philoptochos/Daughters of Penelope will be located in the entry of the small hall through October 21 to place your items.  If you have any questions or need details, please e-mail Linda Belba at ljbelba@yahoo.com.       

ADVENT RETREAT - MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!  St. Anna's Philoptochos will hold its Advent Retreat  on Saturday, November 10, 2018, beginning at 10:30 a.m. with a social gathering, followed by the retreat, and luncheon.  This year we are honored to have Metropolitan Nikitas as our speaker on the subject of Philanthropy and Christmas.  Please join us to learn, be inspired, and fellowship.  Open donation, with all funds going to support the philanthropic work of Philoptochos.  If you have any questions, please e-mail or call Stacy Panayotopoulos at stacypanayotopoulos@yahoo.com or (408) 295-0387.

PICTURES, PICTURES, PICTURES:  Although Presvytera Magdalene's shower is now a very pleasant memory, Presvytera Stephanie is in the process of creating the "Memory Book" of the shower.  Please send your photos to Presvytera Stephanie at spantic@icloud.com by Sunday, October 21, 2018.  

On behalf of St. Anna's Philoptochos and Daughters of Penelope, a big thank-you to all who came to the shower, brought the scrumptious food and desserts, and helped in whatever way was needed.  The event could not have taken place without the help and love shown by our St. Nicholas family.  THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!

Please join us for our annual dinner dance on Saturday, November 3, 2018 at the St. Nicholas Community Center, 1280 Davis Street, San Jose.  Cocktails at 6pm, dinner at 7:30pm.  Live music by Mythos Band.  Adults $80, children ages 11-18 $35.  For tickets or more information, please contact Niko Pries at 408-398-7070; Angie Kozas at 510-387-2057, or email Anna Kozas at anna.kozas@gmail.com.

SAVE THE DATE!!  Gerontissa Markella and her Sisterhood invite you to a benefit dinner to support the Life Giving Spring Monastery on Sunday, November 11, 2018 at the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church Community Center, 1270 Davis Street, San Jose.  More details to follow.

Extended Fall Book Sale!  15% off entire inventory of books except for a few selected titles.  Sale ends October 28th.

Greeting Cards Sale! 10% off entire inventory of greeting cards.  Sale ends October 28th. 

Sunday Coffee Hour Team: Roula Angelidakis, Pinio Chondrou, Mimi Mengisteab, Panayiotis Papadimitriou, and Kanella Sarros.

For more information and joining the coffee hour teams, please contact Marcella Fotis at 408-723-4124.  

We welcome parishioners interested in joining the 2019 Parish Council.  Applications for the upcoming election are available in the Narthex and the Church Office or by emailing the Church Office at churchoffice@saintnicholas.org.  The completed applications should be submitted to the Church Office by Friday, October 26, 2018.  Please note that to be eligible to hold office,  a candidate must be a steward in good standing. 

The schedule for Volleyball practices in the Community Center for current stewards of St. Nicholas is as follows:

Jr. High level players practice on Tuesday evenings from 6:30pm to 7:30pm.

High School level players practice on Tuesday evenings from 7:30 to 9:00pm.

Jr. High level players practice on Wednesday evenings from 6:30pm to 7:30pm.

Adults practice on Wednesday evenings from 7:30pm to 10:00pm.

Adults practice on Thursdays and Sundays with an open gym from 7:00pm to 10:00pm.

If you have any further questions, please call Elias Papadokonstadakis, Head Volleyball Coach and Coordinator, at 408-497-4522 or email at eliaspapas@sbcglobal.net.

We are in need of more volunteers to bake prosphora, the bread used for Liturgy.  If you are able, please prayerfully bake the prosphora and bring it to the church.  If you need any assistance on how to help, recipes, need a seal, or have any questions, please call the church office.

We have implemented a parish-wide database system for all ministries and events at Saint Nicholas.  For your convenience, we have uploaded all the children for Sunday School that were registered during the 2017-2018 school year.  If for some reason, we are unable to locate your child(ren), we will reach out directly to you so we can ensure registration.  If you need help with registration, we will have someone available in the Sunday School office for your convenience.

Upcoming Sunday School Schedule:  There is Sunday School all Sundays in October.

Do you find yourself humming along with the hymns each Sunday?  Then please come on up and join our active, music-loving choir.    Requirements:  age 16 and over; be able to carry a tune, reading music is not necessary, knowledge of Greek NOT required, phonetics provided.  Rehearsals every Thursday from 7:30 to 9pm. Sunday liturgy from 10:00am to 11:45am; no rehearsals in July and August.  You will gain many benefits including active participation in the liturgy which enhances the understanding of our religion, gaining knowledge of the Feast Days, being part of a warm, friendly group, and guaranteed the best seat during Holy Week!  If this sounds interesting, drop in at a rehearsal - no invitation necessary.  For questions, call the Choir Director, Dr. Tikey Zes at 408-723-0640 or the Church Office at 408-246-2770.

If any parishioner has a contact of a responsible and trustworthy person to become a part-time or full-time employee to regularly clean and maintain our grounds, do janitorial work, and maintain our facilities, please contact the Church Office at 408-246-2770.  

The donations for September included a brand new car seat, a high chair, and baby clothing. A big thank you to all that contributed in the month of September for the RealOptions Pregnancy Center located on the Alameda.   These items are a great blessing to the moms in need that are facing a crisis pregnancy.  Our collection bins will continue to be in the church book store and near the Sunday School office.  God Bless you, thank you!

For any questions, please call Ruth Duterte @ 408-483-3009 or ruthrad1@aol.com.

Do you have a calling to serve in a mission?  Go to these websites and check what is available to you.  www.ocmc.org to become an Orthodox missionary.  www.iocc.org under the "take action" tab. 

To support the Theotokos Girls Orphanage please go to Fili, Inc.  www.fili-inc.com  or make a check payable to Fili Inc and mail to Fili, 6430 Bose Lane, San Jose, CA 95120.   We are grateful for your continued support over the last 10 years. The Orphanage is on the path to becoming self-sustaining.  See pictures on the Fili Inc. or our Saints Peter and Paul Missions Ministry Facebook page. We have a new Go Fund Me link.....https://www.gofundme.com/ekota

Confessions with Father Demosthenes are available weekday evenings during the Paraklesis Services on Wednesday evenings or during Vespers Service on Saturday evenings. If another day or time is needed, please call the church office at 408-246-2770.

Paper and wood icons will continue to be collected in a clearly marked bin right outside the bookstore in the small hall. Any questions, please contact the Church Office at 408-246-2770.

Saturday, October 13, 4pm - 9:pm.

His Eminence Metropolitan Nikitas and the Board of Trustees are inviting you to an evening of a self-guided tour, reception and dinner at Filoli’s ballroom. Seating is limited.

Please reserve your seat ($250) by contacting Roula Demertzis at (408)564-2387 or Shanyn Bateh at (303)709-7775

When Good News Catches On – Contemporary Saints Who Helped Grow the Church is the theme for the retreat on Saturday, October 20th at St Basil Greek Orthodox Church: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm. Mark your calendars. We are blessed to have two speakers that day: Miho Ealy, a Japanese woman who grew up as an Orthodox Christian in Japan and Fr. Michael Oleksa, an expert on the history of Orthodox Christianity in Alaska.

St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church and the St. Dionysios Building Committee invite you to attend "A Harvest Dinner Dance" on Saturday, October 20, 2018 at the Contra Costa Country Club, 801 Golf Club Road, Pleasant Hill, 94523. For more information, please call 925-676-6967.

The Holy Virgin Cathedral, 3210 Geary Blvd, San Francisco invites all to a festival featuring Russian food, entertainment, church tours, and gift items on Sunday, October 21, 2018 from 11am to 6pm.  Entrance fee $5.

If you wish to order kollyva, paximadia, koulourakia or other Greek pastries, or artoklasia, please see below.  Payment is arranged with the makers and not the church.  If there is anyone who wants to be added to the makers list, please call the church office.

For kollyva:

Marcella Fotis 408-723-4124

Maria Anagnostou 408-316-6609

For paximadia, koulourakia, and other Greek pastries:

Maria Tsaboukos 408-723-5175

Antonia Komianos 408-472-3888

Marcella Fotis 408-723-4124

For artoklasia:

Marcella Fotis 408-723-4124

Despina Anagnostou 408-316-6609

To avoid any confusion on our part as we compose and print the Sunday bulletin, we ask that anyone who wishes to include a notice in the Sunday bulletin submit the notice in writing to the office BY TUESDAY AT 5PM!  Please don't wait until the last minute or send a note into the altar on a Sunday morning while the liturgy is in progress.

Please check with Father Demosthenes in the office before posting anything on the bulletin board in the Small Hall.  Notices, announcements, advertisements, etc. that have not been approved will be removed.  Thank you for your kind cooperation.