To the Reverend Clergy, Parish Councils, Philoptochos Societies, Youth Organizations, and Faithful of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America:

Christ is Risen! Χριστὸς Ἀνέστη!

On behalf of the Most Reverend Metropolitans of the Holy Eparchial Synod of our beloved Archdiocese, it is with profound joy that we warmly welcome our new Archbishop, His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, an exceptional hierarch of the Ecumenical Patriarchate with an extraordinary record of service to our Holy Mother Church.

We express our gratitude to His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and to the Members of the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Great Church of Christ for electing Archbishop Elpidophoros. We pray that his election signals a new era of visionary faith and progress for our beloved Archdiocese of America.

We call upon the Faithful – clergy and lay alike – to receive Archbishop Elpidophoros with respect and love.

Conveying to you the blessings of His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros and of the members of the Holy Eparchial Synod I remain,

With Archpastoral love in the Risen Lord,

Metropolitan Methodios of Boston
Archiepiscopal Vicar

Each year in the June issue of the Canon of Faith, we list graduating high school  seniors: 1) their name, 2) parents’ names, 3)their high school’s name, 4) college or university planning to attend and 5) their desired major.  Please submit this to churchoffice@saintnicholas.org no later than May 17, 2019 or call the church office.  We also welcome anyone graduating from a junior college and/or university/college.  Please submit the same information with completed degree.

We will be on summer schedule with ONE liturgy starting on Sunday, May 19th with Sunday School and CHE graduations.  Orthros and Liturgy will begin at 8:30am.  Coffee hour for Sunday, May 19th will be in the Community Center.

COME JOIN US FOR LUNCH on Sunday, May 19th for the Celebration and Graduation of Greek School and Class of 2019 for Sunday School.    All parishioners are invited to a pizza and salad lunch to celebrate the graduating class of 2019 for both Greek and Sunday School. We will also have some nice performances and speeches from our youth during the ceremony. Lunch will begin at noon in the Community Center and we will conclude by 1:30 PM. We hope you come to celebrate this special occasion for our youth.  Coffee hour after liturgy will be combined with this special event.

Sunday Coffee Team: Maria Chalioris, Despina Iskander, Penny Pagonis, Nicole Perakis, and Eva Vathis.  Thank you for your support!

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

Please come and help with the upcoming, scheduled festival cooking!  Food and camaraderie happily included!

Melomakarona:  Philoptochos will be preparing and baking Melomakarona on Thursday, May 16th in the Community Center beginning at 9:00 am.  Contact Meredith Panayotopoulos at annapanayotopoulos@hotmail.com for more information.

Spanakopita: We will be assembling and baking Spanakopita in the Small Hall on Saturday, May 18th at 9:00am.  For more info, call Eleni Matheou at 408-266-8987, Janie Swenor at 408-297-6842, or Dora Koumoutsakis at 408-293-9640.

Koulourakia:  We will be making Koulourakia in the Community Center on Monday, May 20th.  For more information, please call Roula Demertzis at 408-268-7645 or Maria Tsaboukos at 408-723-5175.

Your contributions can help to defray the Festival costs! Please pick up a Festival Items List flyer in the Narthex or the Church Office.   Donors are able to sponsor in any amount!  Payments can be made directly to the Church Office or by contacting Harry Mavrogenes at 408-250-5610.  Online donations are welcome! Please visit our website at https://saintnicholas.org/,  and select «Donate»!

FESTIVAL TIME: Every year St. Anna Philoptochos has its boutique in Room 3.  If you wish to make a donation to the boutique, you can bring your gently used items to the church on Sunday, or call/e-mail Laurie Sahines, Chairperson at (408) 823-0111 or lsahines@comcast.net, and make arrangements to meet her at the church on Fridays to drop off the items. 

FESTIVAL BOUTIQUE:    Every year the Festival Boutique needs people to assist.  If you want to help in the festival, but it is difficult for you to work in many of the other booths of the festival--this is the place for you!  Workers in the festival boutique work two-hour shifts, are out of the heat and sun, sit on a chair, and watch our visitors as they look at the items we have for sale.  Thank you for helping St. Anna during the festival!! 

MELOMAKARONA:  Once again St. Anna Philoptochos will chair the melomakarona baking.  Date is Thursday, May 16, 2019 beginning at 9:00 a.m.  If you have not made these delicious spice cookies, this is the time to learn and to come together in fellowship.  Whatever time you have is greatly appreciated.  For more details, contact Meredith Panayotopoulos at annapanayotopoulos@hotmail.com , Vana Katsoudas at vkatsoudas@hotmail.com or Olga Koutalides Cartwright olgaeck@yahoo.com 

Festival 2019 Remaining Food Preparation Schedule

May 16 Thu Melomakarona SH-Mixing, CC-Cooking Philoptochos

May 18 Sat Spanakopites SH Eleni Matheou 408-266-8987, Janie Swenor 408-297-6842, Dora Koumoutsakis 408-293-9640

May 20 Mon Koulourakia SH-Mixing, CC-Cooking Roula Demertzis 408-268-7645, Maria Tsaboukos 408-723-5175

May 27 Mon Souvlaki, Loukaniko, Kalamari CC John Niktas 408-559-0611

May 29 Wed Tzatziki SH Roula Demertzis 408-268-7645, Andriana Pappas 408-873-9212

May 30 Thu Yemista CC Nicki Poulos 408-723-2613

Please contact the chairpersons listed to offer your help and for starting times.  The Saint Nicholas Festival needs your help and support!

We are excited to announce the opening of the first floor of the new St. Ignatius High School in India.  His Eminence Konstantinos, Metropolitan of Singapore and South Asia, presided over the dedication that took place last weekend and Rosa Deamant from our Ministry was able to attend as well.  More information will be coming soon.  The need is, however, still urgent, as they are set-up for re-accreditation in 2020.  Towards this end, a donation box has been placed in the narthex to enable those who would like to support our featured charity.  We will be updating you throughout the year with the heart, smiles, and love of the children, as they progress in the oasis that you help provide. 

For more information on this and other missionary activity, please contact Maria Aji at stspeterpaulmissions@gmail.com, or follow our Saints Peter and Paul Missions Ministry Facebook page and the Fili website:  www.fili-inc.com. 

Please note that our next board meeting has been moved to Monday May 20^th, at 7 pm in Rm 3AB of the Educational Building.  Please consider joining us. Our booth is also looking for help for the Greek Festival.  Let us know if you can volunteer your time.

Sunday School Update and Schedule for Remainder of Year:

Sunday, May 19 - Last Day of Sunday School and Graduation Ceremony for Greek and Sunday School Senior - Class of 2019

COME JOIN US FOR LUNCH!
Sunday, May 19th Celebration and Graduation for Greek School and Class of 2019 for Sunday School.

All parishioners are invited to a pizza and salad lunch to celebrate the graduating class of 2019 for both Greek and Sunday School. We will also have some nice performances and speeches from our youth during the ceremony. Lunch will begin at noon in the Community Center and we will conclude by 1:30 PM. We hope you come to celebrate this special occasion for our youth.

Please note the bookstore will be closed on Sunday, May 26^th for the Memorial Day Holiday and also from June 9^th to July 7^th.   The bookstore will re-open on Sunday, July 14^th.   Please contact the church office at 408-246-2770 if you have any questions.

The Church Office will be closed on Monday, May 27th for the Archdiocesan observance of Memorial Day.

As stewards of Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, God has gifted us with the honor of being the caretakers of our Orthodox faith.   As caretakers, we are responsible for ensuring that there is a safe and welcoming spiritual home in which to come together to worship for the glory of God. 

Your continuing support spiritually, socially and financially are vital to the well being of our parish.  We humbly request if you have not had an opportunity to complete your 2019 stewardship pledge, use the following link to do so online.  When completing this, we ask that you make time to pray and reflect on the many gifts that the Church has given you.  Increasing your stewardship contribution will assist in growing our parish and provide an environment in which our community will flourish.

Stewardship Link:

https://saintnicholas.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/28/responses/new

Father Demosthenes and the Stewardship Committee: Mary Ann Devetzis, Jeff Contos, and Peter Panayotopoulos

We currently have 2 clear bins labeled for donations to The Real Options Medical Clinic. One in the bookstore and the other bin is outside the Sunday school office. You can put your donations of diapers, baby products and clothing for newborn thru 2 yrs. Gift cards to Walmart and Target are also accepted. You can also contact me directly to receive the above items. The Real Options Center was thrilled with the donation of 2 very gently used strollers that were donated last week. Tax receipts are available.  God Bless You all for your generosity to these women and families in need.  For more information please contact Ruth Duterte ruthrad1@aol.com  or 408-483-3009.

For safety reasons per Fire Marshal requirements, please keep strollers in the Cry Room or outside the church.  Thank you for your cooperation.

In case of a special need and you would like a pastoral visit, the priests would be happy to visit after receiving a call from an immediate family member due to privacy concerns.   Please text or call either Fr. Demosthenes at 408-784-9364 or Father Nebojsa at 707-315-7823 or call the church office at 408-246-2770.

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/

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 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

Maria or Despina Anagnostou 408-316-6609

Join us on Sat., May 18, 11:30 am, for "I Love Paris," the Holy Cross Philoptochos Fashion Show and Luncheon at Holy Cross Church, 900 Alameda de las Pulgas, in Belmont. Contact Laura Jadelrab, 650-678-0336 or laura.jadelrab@gmail.com, or reserve online: www.churchyard.org/events/fashionshow. 

Please join the 1st Annual St. John the Baptist Golf Tournament at Poppy Hills Golf Course, Pebble Beach, on May 24th, 2019.  Proceeds to benefit St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church.
Please reference the link: https://saintjohnmontereyevents.wufoo.com/forms/birdies-for-bricks/

The Saint Lawrence Orthodox church is hosting a benefit dinner in support of the Monastery of the Theotokos, the Life-Giving Spring on Sunday, June 9th, 4:30-7:30pm, $70 Adults, $35 Children (12 and under).  For more information, please call Maria - 408-316-6609 or email  Meroulas@yahoo.com

Adult Resort Camp is at St. Nicholas Ranch, Dunlap, from Monday to Friday, September 16-20th.  Lodging and meals is included in the cost. For reservations call 559-338-2103 or for more information, call Fr. Jim Pappas at 559-233-0397.

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.

In addition, all ongoing (same message) bulletin entries will be in for four weeks, four times a year.  Please review these entries and plan accordingly.

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.

Please note that all information in the weekly bulletin is subject to change.