DONATIONS VIA FACEBOOK ON GIVING TUESDAY - DECEMBER 3
On December 3rd, starting at 5:00am PST, Facebook will match any donation through our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/fund/SaintNicholasOrg/) up to $20K per donor and up to $100K overall for our church. Last year the matching funds ($7M in total - same as this year) went away within a few minutes. So it's important to make your donation as soon as after your clock ticks 5 am PST.
More information about donation matching on Giving Tuesday can be found here: https://donations.fb.com/giving-tuesday/.
PARISH ASSEMBLY MEETING
The Parish Assembly will be held on Sunday, November 10, 2019 in the Small Hall. The meeting will start promptly at 12:00 pm. Members present will constitute a quorum to carry out the business of the Parish, and those members who are Stewards in good standing may vote. The agenda for the meeting is provided below.
- Call to Order
- Opening Prayer – Father Demosthenes
- Elect Assembly Chairperson
- Elect Assembly Secretary
- Reading & Approval of Previous Assembly Minutes
- Priest’s Report – Father Demosthenes & Father Nebojsa
- President and Treasurer Reports
- Old Business
- New Business
- Suggestions for the good of the Parish
- Closing Prayer – Father Demosthenes & Father Nebojsa
PARISH COUNCIL 2020
We welcome parishioners interested in joining the 2020 Parish Council. To be eligible a candidate must be 18 years or older, be a Saint Nicholas parishioner for at least one (1) year immediately preceding the date of the election, and be current in his/her stewardship and other financial obligations to the Church. 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 Sunday, November 10, 2019.
CHIAN SOCIETY DINNER
Please join us for our annual dinner dance on Saturday, November 9, 2019 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 11-16, $35. Proceeds benefit St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church. Tickets will be available in the Small Hall after Liturgy or for information, please contact Niko Pries at 408-398-7070; Angie Kozas at 510-387-2057, or email Anna Kozas at anna.kozas@gmail.com.
SPECIAL TRAY - SECOND HARVEST
Please extend a helping hand to Second Harvest Food Bank, by contributing to the second tray be passed at the end of each liturgy on Sunday, November 10th. If you plan to contribute by check, there are two ways to do so:
- Make a check payable to Second Harvest Food Bank – St. Nicholas Food Drive
- Make a check payable to Saint Nicholas, the note reads: Second Harvest Food Drive
Help us make a difference in our community!
ANGEL TREE
Something to Eat! Something to Do! Something to Wear!
Every year St. Nicholas provides a Merrier Christmas for 85 Teens living in Group Homes or Foster Care. This year we will be providing each teen with three gifts cards which they personally chose: a $10 gift card for something to eat, a $25 gift card for something to do, and a $25 gift card to a store of their choice. Please drop by the Angel Tree in the Small Hall and take an ornament, or two or three, off the tree. Instructions and an envelope are attached. All Gift Cards must be returned by December 1st. Thank you so much for your generosity.
COFFEE HOUR TEAM
Sunday Coffee Team: Members of Daphne #29, Daughters of Penelope (DOP) in honor of their Founder's Day. Thank you for your support!
For more information about joining the coffee hour teams or how to help the ministry, please contact Marcella Fotis at 408-723-4124.
SAVE THE DATE FOR THE ST. NICHOLAS GALA!
Come join us and kick off the Christmas holiday season at the 74th Anniversary of our parish!
Sunday, December 8, 2019
Santa Clara Marriott Hotel, 2700 Mission College Blvd, Santa Clara
No Host Cocktails – 5:30 pm
Dinner - Following
Invitations are OUT! To reserve your seats, please send back your response card or call the church office at 408 – 246- 2770. We hope to see you there! Tickets for adults are $100, young adults $50, and children $35. When you send in your reservations, please include a phone number, list of attendees, and meal choices.
HELP OUR PLANET BREATH! NEW RECYCLING CANS
We now have a few blue recycling garbage cans with small holes cut out where you can put your cans and empty water bottles. Please, do not put garbage in these blue cans! Thank you!
BASKETBALL PRACTICE CANCELLED FOR THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7TH
Please note that basketball practice is cancelled for this Thursday, November 7th.
GOLDEN YEAR NEWS
DAY TRIP TO CACHE CREEK CASINO on Monday, November 11th!
Meeting Place: Church Parking Lot – 8:00 am - Departure
Cost: $ 65/person. Make checks payable to St. Nicholas Golden Years and mail checks to the church office. For reservations, call Mina at 408 515-8301. Deadline to sign up is on Sunday, November 1st.
Please note that our next meeting is on Tuesday, November 19th at 11am in the Small Hall. Please join us as we will be celebrating Thanksgiving with our honored guests, our confined parishioners. Submit or call in your reservations to Antonia at 408 472-3888 or Christina at 408 418-4810. For more information please call Mina at: 408 515-8301.
OFFICE CLOSED
The Church Office will be closed on Monday, November 11th for the Archdiocesan observance of Veteran's Day.
If you need immediate assistance, please text or call either Fr. Demosthenes at 408-784-9364 or Fr. Nebojsa at 707-315-7823.
ADVENT RETREAT - ROSEVILLE
Advent Retreat: Saturday, November 16, 2019. There are a few more seats available on the bus to attend the Advent Retreat at St. Anna's Church, Roseville, CA. The retreat will begin with veneration of the relics of St. Anna, presentation by the clergy of St. Anna parish, refreshments, and paraclesis service for the health of the living. The bus will leave from St. Nicholas promptly at 8:30 a.m., and we anticipate to return to San Jose around 5:30 p.m. Cost is $35/person.
PARISH COUNCIL ELECTIONS
Parish Council elections are scheduled to be held on Sunday, November 17th immediately following both Divine Liturgies in the Small Hall. To vote one must be a 2019 steward in good standing. Please come and cast your vote in this important community event.
COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS CARD
As we come upon the Christmas holidays, it is time to start planning for our parish’s Community Christmas Card. You should have received a community Christmas card form in the mail by now. Please return the form to the church office with the names spelled clearly as you would like them to appear on the card. The deadline for submitting your form is Sunday, November 17, 2019. If you do not receive the form in the mail next week, please call the Church Office at 408-246-2770.
STS. PETER AND PAUL MISSIONS MINISTRY
A big THANK YOU to those that supported Cook-Dine-Benefit this Sunday. The class is full and the event is now closed.
November is our fundraiser month, and you will have the opportunity to show your love for Sister Nectaria and her lucky girls on Sunday, November 17. Please watch for the special collection tray after liturgy and show your support through your participation. Any donation, small or big counts and will go a long way to help Sister Nectaria complete construction of St. Ignatius school in India and become self-sufficient.
To find out more about Sister Nectaria’s Mission in India and to support this cause, please check out www.fili-inc.com and watch the video at www.ekotafilm.com, or follow our Saints Peter and Paul Missions Ministry Facebook page. You can help by sending a check to Sts. Peter & Paul Missions Ministry c/o St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, or by contacting Maria Aji (408) 425-6967. All contributions are tax-deductible.
ORTHODOXY 101: PREPARING FOR THE KINGDOM
Fr. Nebojsa Pantic will be offering a new adult education opportunity to learn more about our faith and traditions. The class will be once a month on the following Mondays in the Conference Room of the Church Office:
November 18th
December 16th
All are invited to come to Paraklisis at 5:30 on those Mondays, and the classes will begin at 6:00pm following the service. The lesson will not last more than 1 hour. We will be discussing the topic of preparation for the Kingdom of God, and the theology and practices of the church surrounding this subject.
BASKETBALL PRACTICE
Basketball Practices start this week. See the practice schedule below:
• Middle School Boys (6th, 7th, 8th): Tuesday’s 6:30-8pm
Coach: John Armeniakos
Assistant Coach: John Tavernakis
• Middle School Girls (6th, 7th, 8th): Wednesday 6:30-8pm
Coach: Dean Kontinos
Assistant Coach: John Moutsanas
• Elementary Girls (3rd, 4th, 5th): Wednesday 7pm-8pm
Coach: Alex Karahalios
• Elementary Boys (3rd, 4th, 5th): Thursday’s 6:30-8pm
Coach: Yianni Tsigaris
Assistant Coach: Alex Kramer
• High School Boys—Spring season (more details later)
Coach: Dean Kontinos
Assistant Coach: Steve Demertzis
Assistant Coach: Paul Papageorge
SOCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE - GRIEF AND THE HOLIDAYS
St. Anna Philoptochos has formed the Social Services Committee, whose purpose is to address the social issues facing our parishioners in the modern society, and to assist them with resources and referrals to agencies, programs, etc., that can be of assistance to our church family. Although most of us await the holiday season with great joy, for those who have suffered the loss of a beloved family member, the season can be a very difficult and stressful time. The Centre for Living with Dying, a program of the Bill Wilson Center, is presenting a program entitled "Grief and the Holidays" on Wednesday, November 20, 2019 from 6:00-9:00 p.m., 3490 The Alameda, Santa Clara, CA 95030. Contact Janet Childs at (408) 278-2512 for more information or to register. $20.00 donation. The church office has informational flyers for those interested in attending.
YOUTH AND FAMILY NIGHT AT HOCKEY GAME
Pleaes join us on Saturday, Novemer 23rd at 1:15pm at the SAP center in downtown San Jose to watch the San Jose Barracuda hockey game as they take on Colorado! Tickets are $13 per person. If you would like to attend, please let Nick J. Pagonis know how many tickets to reserve for you by emailing him at nickjpagonis@gmail.com. Deadline to get tickets is by Friday, November 15th. Please make all checks payable to St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and bring payment to the Church Office to get your tickets.
PHILOPTOCHOS CHRISTMAS LUNCHEON
SAVE THE DATE - CHRISTMAS LUNCHEON: The St. Anna Philoptochos Christmas Luncheon will be held on Saturday, December 14, 2019 at the Saratoga County Club. Tickets for the luncheon will be available for purchase beginning, Sunday, November 24, 2019.
ST. NICHOLAS ANNUAL SECOND HARVEST FOOD DRIVE
OCTOBER 27 - NOVEMBER 25 - LOVE IN ACTION
Did you know a record number of children, families and seniors rely on Second Harvest for food every month, and the number is growing? It’s hard to imagine the pain of not being able to feed your family, or going to school on an empty stomach. The reality is more than 1 in 4 people are at risk of hunger in Silicon Valley.
Beginning in 1999, our Saint Nicholas parish has partnered with Second Harvest, donating over 34,000 pounds of food! With your continued support, we can ensure our neighbors in need of a healthy meal, get one. So, let’s keep this momentum going, and fill our 10 barrels. Our neighbors are counting on us. We can do this!
Place nonperishable food (canned food, peanut butter, cereal, etc.,) in the barrels located in the Church School courtyard and Small Hall.
Our humblest thanks to you who have already donated! Your generosity is helping make the future a little brighter for so many families, children, and seniors.
WARM WINTER CLOTHING DONATION
As the warm weather turns chilly, and leaves begin to fall, many people are in need of warm clothing. Beginning November 1, 2019, St. Anna Philoptochos will be once again collecting warm winter clothing. Please bring jackets, blankets, sleeping bags, hats, gloves, boots, shoes to the church. We will have boxes marked for "warm winter clothing" in the small hall to collect your donations.
OTHER CLOTHING DONATION
St. Anna Philoptochos has often been asked if we also collect other clothes. Sacred Heart Community Center accepts gently used clothes and shoes for men, women, and children for distribution to their clients. All clothing must be cleaned. We will also have marked boxes available for these items in the small hall for your donations during the months of November and December.
ST. NICHOLAS FAMILY MINISTRY FRIDAY FELLOWSHIP NIGHT
Saint Nicholas Family Ministry invites you to our next event with fun and fellowship on Friday, December 6th at 6pm in the Educational Building. This year at our monthly family night we will be discussing "Working With Our Hands".
PHILOPTOCHOS TRAY - THANK YOU
Tray for the Patriarchate: Dear Parishioners, St. Anna Philoptochos wishes to thank you for your generosity for the trays to the Patriarchate of Constantinople. The proceeds amounted to $537, which will be sent through the National Philoptochos onto the Patriarchate.
PROSPHORA NEEDED
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 haven't done it before, please ask for the priest's blessing. If you need any assistance on how to help, recipes, need a seal, or have any questions, please call the church office.
PHILOKALIA BOOKSTORE
We are looking for volunteers to manage and assist in operating the Philokalia Bookstore in the Small Hall. If you are interested please contact the church office at 408-246-2770.
CENTER OF HELLENIC EDUCATION - TEACHERS AND HELPERS NEEDED
The Center of Hellenic Education (CHE) is looking for teachers and helpers. The ideal candidate should have a mastery of the Greek language, teaching skills, as well as a desire to provide students with an exemplary, Hellenic education. If you are interested in becoming a teacher, helper, or know anyone that might be interested, please email our director, Petros Balaskas at petros.balaskas@gmail.com.
SUNDAY SCHOOL NEWS
Sunday school is immediately following communion, at the 2nd Liturgy.
November 3 - Sunday School
November 10 - Sunday School
Christmas Pageant role assignments will be given to students
November 17 - Sunday School
November 24 - No Sunday School
December 1 - Sunday School
December 8 - Sunday School
December 15 - Sunday School and Christmas Pageant
December 22 and December 29 - No Sunday School
CENTER OF HELLENIC EDUCATION - GREEK SCHOOL REGISTRATION
Welcome to the Center of Hellenic Education! In preparation for this year we are attaching our calendar for next year and registration link. Click the below registration Link to register for the 2019-2020 school year at Center of Hellenic Education:
https://saintnicholas.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/30/responses/new
We have simplified our tuition plans for next year. Planned tuition for our 2019-2020 school year is as follows:
1 day/week
- Child -- $325/semester ($650/year)
- Adult -- $375/semester ($750/year)
2 days/week
- Child -- $450/semester ($900/year)
- Adult -- $600/semester ($1,200/year)
** Tuition includes books and class materials as well as online supplemental materials for Levels K-3.
Feel free to share with others. Thank you for choosing the Center of Hellenic Education. Visit our church website for more information. https://saintnicholas.org/greek-school/
REALOPTIONS - A MINISTRY OF ST. ANNA PHILOPTOCHOS
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. 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.
CONFESSIONS
Confessions with Father Demosthenes are available by appointment. Please call the church office or Father Demosthenes directly at 408-784-9364.
PASTORAL VISITS
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.
SAINT NICHOLAS BROKERAGE ACCOUNT
Saint Nicholas is happy to present another option for our parishioners to contribute to Saint Nicholas through our Fidelity brokerage account. If there are stocks, bonds or funds you wish to contribute, please use the following information:
Account #: Z40-125155
DTC #: 0226
STEWARDSHIP 2019 - COMPLETE ONLINE
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
DONATIONS VIA FACEBOOK
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/
ST. KOSMAS WEST CONFERENCE - CENTRAL CALIFORNIA
Registration is now open for the 2019 St. Kosmas West Conference "Technology and Orthodoxy - Uncovering the Deeper Implication of Technology in our Lives". November 15-17th at Wonder Valley Ranch in Central California. For more information, please visit the website https://saintkosmasconferences.com/
ANCIENT FAITH WOMEN'S RETREAT - PENNSYLVANIA
The Ancient Faith Women's Retreat is put together by Ancient Faith Ministries and it seeks to create a peaceful, loving, and reflective gathering of women who have come to learn, worship, make friends, and rest at the entrance into the holy Nativity season. The retreat will be on November 14-17 in Antiochian Village, Bolivar, PA. Deadline for registration is 10/15. For more information visit:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ancient-faith-womens-retreat-2019-tickets-53298223421
GREEK PASTRIES, KOLLYVA & ARTOKLASIA
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
SUNDAY BULLETIN NOTICE
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.
SMALL HALL BULLETIN BOARD
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.
BULLETIN SUBJECT TO CHANGE
Please note that all information in the weekly bulletin is subject to change.