Beloved Parishioners,

I pray all of you and your families are well.

We are just a few days before the end of Holy Lent, and the beginning of Holy and Great Week. This year is a very new experience for all of us, as we have been asked to offer the Services in the church behind closed doors. According to the most recent decision of the Eparchial Holy Synod in New York, “there will be absolutely no distribution of the traditional material offerings to the faithful, including palms, candles, Holy Unction, flowers, eggs and the Paschal Light.” We see that the whole world is trying to accept the new reality and to find new ways to continue our lives as close as possible to our normal lives before COVID-19.

During the last three weeks, from the very first moment that we were asked to lock the doors of the church, Father Nebojsa and I have not stopped praying for you, your families, and the whole world. We have added Services every single day in order to help us be united as one family, because the only way for us to be united is through the Person of Jesus Christ, Panagia and the Saints. On top of our regular worship weekly routine, we added the Paraklisis to Panagia Gorgoipikoos (Quick to Hear), Saint Nikephoros the Leper, Saint Spyridon, and Saint Haralambos. While we are in isolation, these worshiping opportunities have helped us stay together, not just in shelter-in-place, but mainly under the “shelter" of the Church, as for us Christ is the only hope. On Holy Thursday, at the first of the twelve Gospel readings, we will hear: "I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life.” And also, “Whatever you ask in My Name, I will do it, I will not leave you desolate; I will come to you.” This promise is our comfort, our hope, and our consolation, because Christ remains the same today and for ever, no matter if we are allowed to go to Church or not.

This Holy Week will be a lot different than the way we know it. Yet, the Services and the traditions will be done as normal. We are blessed to at least be able to offer the Services, and we make every effort to have them available online for all you to participate. But the difference will be all of you. It is very painful for the shepherd to be without his flock, and the flock to be without their shepherd. I am sure that now we have all realized that we cannot take anything as a “given” anymore. Nothing really belongs to us. Everything is a gift from God. Our goal is to be grateful for everything we have, regardless of the circumstances, and return it back to God as our sacrifice.

The reality is that because of this pandemic, we as a parish, face an unexpected financial hardship, while the monthly operational expenses remain the same. I kindly ask you, at this time of the year as we will celebrate Pascha, to prayerfully remember your parish and be generous. Generosity involves a willingness to sacrifice for the benefit of others. Giving can be done without generosity (as the Pharisees did - we hear all about them in the Holy Week Gospels), but we cannot be generous without giving. Our parish depends on our monetary offerings during this difficult time.

For this reason, on our website we have added several options for you to donate, such as light candles, offer your stewardship contribution, support our Philiptochos, and a new “Receive the Holy Light" opportunity, to give us the sense of symbolically receiving the Holy Light on Holy Saturday night. You will be able to participate in the donation options through our website.

As a summary, let us try our best to follow these four steps:

1. Treat this Holy Week as a “normal” Holy Week. Adjust your daily schedule according to the church Services. Find the detailed schedule on our website. Make sure the Services are in your calendar. Attend the church Services through our Youtube channel. Invite all the family around your screening device, silent your other electronic devices, create a prayerful environment and make it as close as possible to the normal worshipping experience in the church. 
2. Do some homework by studying the hymns of each day before the Services. It is through hymnology that the Church teaches us the theology and the meaning of each day. Take this as an excellent opportunity to remind ourselves and to teach our children about what the Church commemorates each day of Holy Week. Today, with all the available resources, we have no excuses not to know the theological meaning of each day. Let us make a commitment to be a little more familiar with the church Services. If you do not have a Holy Week book, all the texts of the Services are available at www.agesinitiatives.com 
3. Try to make this Pascha the most joyous Pascha you will ever celebrate. Remember: The Grace of our Resurrected Lord does not have any limits at all. The brilliance of the Resurrection illumines the same, no matter what is going on in the world.
4. Try to make a difference by helping our parish financially, in order to help our parish face the monetary loss and keep operating without any monetary hardship.

I wish you a solemn Holy and Great Week, and a Most Blessed Pascha!

On behalf of Father Nebojsa, our Parish Council, and all the Ministries, with paternal love,

Father Demosthenes

While we may not be together physically during Holy Week and Pascha, we all can share the light of the Resurrection. The Light this year will be a battery-operated LED Candle so we can maintain safety precautions in our beloved church. These candles will be placed in white paper bags and positioned in the pews of St. Nicholas, during the Anastasi service on Holy Saturday Night.  That way, you, your loved ones, and us can all be "together" for receiving the light. 

We traditionally receive quite a few donations during this season of the year. With this in mind, we ask that you prayerfully consider making a generous donation to our parish in the Joy of the Resurrection.

HOW CAN I PARTICIPATE? 

Submit your names through our website, by clicking on the link below or calling the Church Office at 408-246-2770 by 5:00 pm on Holy Friday, April 17th. 

Receive the Holy Light: https://saintnicholas.org/receive-the-light

Please know that whether or not a donation is made during this time, we will joyfully place the names on the votive bags and leave the bags on the pews, as if you were physically there, in the church.

We hope that we can share the Light of the Resurrection with all of our beloved St. Nicholas family, and with the whole world.  We wish all of our St. Nicholas family a most blessed Pascha! 

NEW YORK – On Monday, April 6, 2020, the Holy Eparchial Synod convened, via teleconference, in order to discuss significant matters that affect the Archdiocese of America, and unanimously decided the following:

1)    The sacred services of our Orthodox tradition for Holy Week and Easter will continue to be observed in the Parishes and the Monasteries following the directives of the local Metropolitans and in accordance to the mandates of the respective State and Health authorities. Therefore, the “closed-doors” policy will be strictly enforced, the services will be broadcasted via the internet and they will be celebrated only with the participation of the priest, the chanter, and the acolyte.

2)    Abiding by the regulations of the aforementioned State and Health authorities, there will be absolutely no distribution of the traditional material offerings to the faithful, including palms, candles, Holy Unction, flowers, eggs and the Paschal Light.

3)    Spiritual guidance may be provided remotely using technological means, but the Sacrament of Holy Confession and the Prayer of Absolution cannot be offered via the telephone or via electronic media.

4)    This year’s National Clergy-Laity Congress will be held through an internet teleconference forum on a date to be announced in the near future.

FROM THE CHIEF SECRETARIAT OF THE HOLY EPARCHIAL SYNOD

Please click below for a message from His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos on guidance for Holy Week: https://sanfran.goarch.org/news/guidance-for-holy-week-2020.

The St. Nicholas 75 Year Anniversary Committee and St. Anna Philoptochos invite you to a “virtual viewing party” of the documentary “Life Will Smile.”  Since we are either performing challenging essential functions or are locked safely in our homes, we are all looking for inspiration and ways to entertain ourselves.  

From now until Monday morning, April 13, 2020, the wonderful documentary “Life Will Smile” will be available online for all to see at your convenience.  The film is in Greek with English subtitles.  There is no cost to viewers.  You will only need an internet enabled device.  Please click below to see the trailer and the actual movie.  

Life Will Smile is a compelling 40-minute documentary that tells the story of the only complete survival of a European Jewish community during the Holocaust on the Greek island of Zakynthos.The incredible and unique survival story of the 275 Jews of Zakynthos is a story of bravery, courage and a loving kind community coming together during one of the darkest times in human history.  **Warning: Some images may be disturbing.

Below is the link to the official movie trailer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZuNX2ve0qI

Below is the link to watch online, for free, “Life Will Smile”, available from now until Monday, April 13th at 11am PDT:  

In Greek with English subtitles please visit: https://vimeo.com/238399179 

We would love to hear your comments, thoughts, and feelings after you view our film. Please send your emails to 75ypc@saintnicholas.org and philoptochos@saintnicholas.org

We are very excited for our third, weekly, check in with the youth of our parish!  We will be scheduling the sessions for this Saturday, April 11th:

K-5th at 4:00-4:30 pm

6th-12th at 4:30-5:00 pm

If you are interested in attending either session please email Fr. Nebojsa directly at at frnebojsa@gmail.com and he will add you to the zoom invite.  If you have had issues getting the invites or any other technical difficulties please let him know as well.

We are offering vigil candle(s) to be lit by Father Demosthenes and Father Nebojsa along with an opportunity to submit names to be prayed for at the Prothesis (Preparation) and at the Paraklesis services scheduled for the week.  When lit, the vigil candles last for one week.  Please see the online form on our website:

LIGHT A CANDLE: https://saintnicholas.org/virtual-chapel/light-a-candle

If you would prefer to mail in your request, please write the name(s) for whom the candle(s) will be lit and send to Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, Attention: Light a Candle, 986 Chapman Street, San Jose, CA 9126.  For more information, please call the church office.

We have implemented video classrooms for Sunday School using the Zoom platform for students and parents up to 20 minutes.  A new subject will be taught each week.   The goal is to connect our children (K-12) to make sure they know we are thinking of them, missing them, and continue to teach the importance of our Orthodox faith especially now during Lent, Holy Week, and Pascha.

If you have been participating during the last two (2) weeks, you do not need to do anything except tap the link into your appropriate session on Sunday from the invitation email you will receive from one of the group leaders below.  It would be helpful if you can show your children how to mute and unmute their screen. Ideally, if they can be located in a quiet room, that would be great for these sessions - especially the younger grades K-6.  We will be publishing the schedule weekly since it is unclear when we will be able to return to normal classroom time.

If you are interested in joining our future session, please RSVP to the appropriate group leader below.   You may have heard about hackers into Zoom meetings, we are taking all precautions to add automatic passwords to your invite and sending invites weekly.  Zoom has upgraded their software to ensure protection and we, at Saint Nicholas, are prepared should this unfortunate situation occur.  You do not have to download Zoom when you get the invitation link from the group leader as you can access the session by tapping the link on the appropriate date and time.  Download instructions can be found below if you prefer to have the app on your hardware.

The Sunday School schedule will be as follows:

11:00am - Kindergarten - Group Leader, Georgia Petrakis, gdouveas@outlook.com

11:30am - Grades 1 - 6 - Group Leader, Vicki Ryan, vicki.vasiliki.ryan@gmail.com

12:00pm Noon - Grades 7-11 - Group Leader, Nicolas Tcharos, nicolast@cisco.com

12:30pm - Grade 12 - Group Leader, Ted Tsortos, ttsortos@gmail.com

Virtual Sunday School Session Schedule:
April 12 - Sunday Virtual Session - Palm Sunday

Special session: Good Friday Virtual Session - Friday, April 17 - I will be sending a separate invite for this session next week.
Grades K-5 from 12:00 PM to 12:30 PM
Grades 6 - 12 from 1230 PM to 1:00 PM

April 19 - No Sunday Virtual Session - Pascha
April 26 - No Sunday Virtual Session - Thomas Sunday
May 3 - Sunday Virtual Session
May 10 - Sunday Virtual Session
May 17 - Sunday Virtual Session - last day of Sunday School

Father Nebojsa will be attending all sessions and will be available to partner with teachers to answer any questions. 

For help in enrolling your children or downloading Zoom or for other questions, please call Vicki Ryan at 408-858-4774 or Father Nebojsa at 707-315-7823.

Downloading Zoom Instructions:  

If you do not have Zoom on your computer, please follow the one-time, step by step process to download Zoom to your computer or other devices.  To download and install the Zoom application, please go to https://zoom.us/download and from the Download Center, click on the Download button under “Zoom Client For Meetings”. This application will automatically download when you start your first Zoom Meeting.  It is free for 40 minutes and up to 100 invitees.  

We want to Support Our Saint Nicholas Businesses which remain operational during the response to combat the spread of COVID-19.  A Saint Nicholas Business Directory is being established on our Saint Nicholas website, to feature and allow us to support those businesses who have unwaveringly supported us throughout the years.

Let Us Spread the Love!

Please send the following information to:  75ypc@saintnicholas.org.

• Name of Business
• Type of Business
• Location (Address)
• Contact Information (phone # & email Address)
• Business Hours
• Link if Available

His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America led the first in a series of daily prayers for those faithful of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America who have either passed away or are suffering from complications related to the coronavirus COVID19. Please click on the link for information and to submit names of the afflicted or departed: https://www.goarch.org/-/daily-prayer-service-archbishop-elpidophoros-04-08-2020

New York, NY – On the Saturday of Lazaros, April 11^th, at 3:00 pm EST (12:00 noon PST), His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America will hold a Virtual Town Hall with the Greek Orthodox Faithful of America.  Please click on the link for more information: https://www.goarch.org/-/archbishop-elpidophoros-virtual-town-hall-2020

The Office of Vocation and Ministry of Hellenic College/Holy Cross presents this learning resource for families to use during Holy Week.  Please click to find more information about this online series with Holy Cross & CrossRoad faculty:

https://mailchi.mp/fa73eb2b8ff5/updates-from-crossroad-3086488?e=6e7ca4ed25

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 information to churchoffice@saintnicholas.org no later than May 15, 2020 or call the church office.  We also welcome anyone graduating from a junior college and/or university/college.  Please submit the same information with the name of the completed degree.

Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF) is the official collegiate campus ministry program under the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America.  If you are a college student and interested in their programs, please learn more at their website: http://www.ocf.net/ and their virtual programs at www.ocf.net/ocf-at-home.

Be a part of the Saint Nicholas Virtual Parish! Subscribe to our Youtube channel under the name SAINT NICHOLAS GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH SAN JOSE and watch our church services livestreamed:

STREAM & SUBSCRIBE NOW:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1x-nHP063YTTMrevkzL21w/

LIGHT A CANDLE: https://saintnicholas.org/virtual-chapel/light-a-candle

These last few weeks have been a new experience for all of us.  We have also been blessed with the opportunity to reflect upon our lives, our families, and our friends like never before.  Have you taken a family walk? Did you cook something new?  Did you make a phone call when you would have sent a text?  Did you say one more prayer?  Just because we are at home does not mean we are not Together.  

Share what you and your loved ones are doing while sheltering in place! Send photos, videos, stories to: 75ypc@saintnicholas.org, to be shared on our SNC website & media sites. St Nicholas Sheltering in Place to Stay Healthy & Safe!

At our parish we use an online tool for all of our Liturgical services called Ages Initiatives. Please know that we always encourage participation through the praying of the services, and this online resource is the primary resource we use at the chant stand and the Altar.  To access services please check out the daily calendar available on Ages: 

http://www.agesinitiatives.com/dcs/public/dcs/servicesindex.html

Also, there is an Application that you can use and download on the Apple platform:  

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/digital-chant-stand/id891132857

Please also note that you can use this resource for ALL of the services we have in our church, and that we will be using this resource as well. This is also a great resource that falls within the new guidelines of our Archdiocese with regards to Covid-19 Corona Virus. 

Until further notice, the Canon of Faith will be published electronically only.

In light of current events and due to the County mandates to continue to shelter in place through Holy Week and Pascha, the funds collected will be applied to the many, current expenses of the church.   Any contribution will be greatly appreciated.  

If contributing by check, please write the check to Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, and mail or deliver to the church office (please list "Pascha Needs" and specify the item you are donating towards from the list below in the memo section).

If contributing by credit card/Paypal, please visit our website at www.saintnicholas.org and click on the "Giving" area.  Also note "Pascha Needs" and specify the item you are donating towards from the list below in the description.  Thank you and Kali Sarakosti!

To all the Members of the Golden Years and the Members of our St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Community:

We hope this message finds you, your family and friends safe and healthy during this challenging chapter of our history. We know that the coronavirus (COVID-19) is on the top of our minds, and we want you to know that reaching out to all our friends and fellow parishioners is doing our part to lessen the gravity of the impact in our community.

STAY HOME AND EXERCISE PATIENCE, FAITH AND OPTIMISM.  ΜΕΝΟΥΜΕ ΣΠΙΤΙ!! ΥΠΟΜΟΝΗ ΚΑΙ ΠΡΟΣΕΥΧΗ!

With warm regards,

Mina Master and the Executive Board of the GOLDEN YEARS

In empathy and love, St Anna's Philoptochos has been serving the people in our community for over 75 years.  In response to the COVID-19 Pandemic Crisis, this site allows  you to donate for those in need, through our Social Services Committee.  If you wish to mail a contribution, please mail to:   

St. Anna’s Philoptochos
COVID-19 – CRISIS
986 Chapman Street
San Jose, CA 95126

Until further notice, all donations are restricted to the COVID-19 Pandemic Crisis Support Fund. Monies will be disbursed to those who are in need of financial support as a result of the Pandemic. After this challenging time has passed, all remaining money shall be dedicated to our ongoing Philanthropic efforts.

In order to provide ongoing support, National Philoptochos has gathered resources to help cope with the anxiety  brought on by the COVID-19 Pandemic. These can be  found at: www.philoptochos.org/whats-happening/.  

We encourage everyone to stay connected during this difficult time! Maintaining connections with friends and family via phone calls, texts, and video meetings during this period of sheltering in place, will help reduce anxiety.

Faith in our mission unites and empowers us to make a difference. Working together, with the love and blessings of God, we will continue our work to lessen the pain, loss and suffering of the most fragile in our society. May God bless you and your loved ones.

Due to the (Coronavirus) Covid-19 outbreak in the Bay Area and for everyone's continued safety, please do not visit the Church Office in person.  If you have needs or questions, please call the office at 408-246-2770 or email at churchoffice@saintnicholas.org.  You can also contact Father Demosthenes at 408-784-9364, email: frdemosthenes@aol.com or Father Nebojsa at 707-315-7823, email frnebojsa@gmail.com.  Thank you for your understanding.

The scholarship forms for the St. Anna Philoptochos Scholarship can be obtained through the St. Nicholas website.  Once the mandate to "shelter in place" is withdrawn, applications will also be available in the Church Office and Church School Office.  The scholarship recognizes academic achievement, encourages participation in higher education (whether technical or professional), and acknowledges the volunteer/community service work at the parish and in the community at large.  The applicants must be graduating seniors during Mary/June 2020, attending the Church School of St. Nicholas, and whose families are stewards of the parish. 

Due to the uncertainty of when the school offices will be opened during the pandemic, the due dates for the scholarship applications to both the St. Nicholas Scholarship and St. Anna Philoptochos Scholarships have been extended to Friday, July 31, 2020.  We want to give the opportunity to all eligible seniors of our parish to apply.

The Saint Nicholas Scholarship Program is available and encouraging all seniors to apply.  Applications can be obtained online at www.saintnicholas.org by sending an email to SaintNicholasSundaySchool@gmail.com. 

Due to the uncertainty of when the school offices will be opened during the pandemic, the due dates for the scholarship applications to both the St. Nicholas Scholarship and St. Anna Philoptochos Scholarships have been extended to Friday, July 31, 2020 at 5:00pm.  We want to give the opportunity to all eligible seniors of our parish to apply.  Completed applications need to be submitted to SaintNicholasSundaySchool@gmail.com.  

Parishioners who would like to donate towards the scholarship program are welcomed.  We want to continue to support our long term education for all of our youth who are furthering their education and/or work experience.  If you are interested in donating, please contact Vicki Ryan at SaintNicholasSundaySchool@gmail.com.

“To find yourself, you must offer yourself”  Archbishop Anastasios of Albania

 The Corona virus pandemic has not spared India, and no doubt it will strike some of the children. As you can imagine, they depend on us now more than ever to get through these trying times. As we approach Holy Week and the resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ, we are encouraged to help the less fortunate.  Jesus said, “Allow the little children to come to me, for such is the Kingdom of Heaven.” Help can be offered through checks made to Saints Peter & Paul Missions Ministry and sent to the church or at the  www.fili-inc.com website.

We will not accept items for the Bill Wilson Center during the period the Church is mandated to "shelter in place."  We look forward to accepting items as soon as the mandate is withdrawn.  However, if you prefer, we will accept checks made payable to St. Anna Philoptochos with a notation of "Bill Wilson Center" and mailed to the Church.

We will not accept items for RealOptions during the period the Church is mandated to "shelter in place."  We look forward to accepting items as soon as the mandate is withdrawn.  However, if you prefer, we will accept checks made payable to St. Anna Philoptochos with a notation of "RealOptions" and mailed to the Church.  For more information please contact Ruth Duterte ruthrad1@aol.com  or 408-483-3009.

We will not accept items for the Festival Boutique during the period the Church is mandated to "shelter in place."  We look forward to accepting items as soon as the mandate is withdrawn.  For more information, contact Laurie Sahines, Festival Boutique Chairperson, at lsahines@comcast.com.

2020 marks the 75th anniversary year of the establishment of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church. 

In light of the  Shelter in Place order, planned events and celebrations have been suspended.   We wish to continue to honor individuals and groups who were important to the development of our community and served selflessly. 

The candidates for the honor should be women and men whose accomplishments are truly outstanding to the St. Nicholas Church community.   A major criterion for selection should be service that enhances and betters the lives of our parish.   Such activities are felt throughout the church community.  These individuals have exercised considerable influence through their service.  The ideal candidate also inspires others to better serve our community. 

If you know someone you wish to nominate for this honor, please e-mail the 75th Anniversary Planning Committee at: 75ypc@saintnicholas.org with that person’s name and a brief paragraph on their contributions to our community.  Groups as well as individuals are eligible for consideration. 

Due to the county-mandated shelter-in-place and the direction of the Archdiocese, memorials can be chanted but without kollyva and without people in the church.  Please note that memorials are not allowed from the Saturday of Lazarus to, and including, the Sunday of Thomas.

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

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 2020 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 Links:

https://saintnicholas.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/36/responses/new    OR

https://saintnicholas.org/donate

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

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/

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.  

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