A heartfelt thank you to those who participated in our St. Nicholas Giving Tuesday! Each and every contribution counts and is so appreciated!  If you didn't get a chance to donate, and would like to participate, please visit: https://saintnicholas.org/donate or call the church office at 408-246-2770.

Join us and become a 2020  Saint Nicholas Steward! https://saintnicholas.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/36/responses/new

We really want to offer you high quality and reliable video streaming so that you can watch our beautiful services.  YouTube has some restrictions on the equipment that we can use to live-stream our services since our channel has fewer than 1000 subscribers.  We have a little over 700 subscribers today, and if you help us reach 1000, we will all enjoy much higher quality video streaming without interruptions and with much less cost.

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

Please ask ALL THE MEMBERS OF YOUR FAMILY, including your spouse, children, and parents, to subscribe to our YouTube channel.  Find our channel on YouTube by searching “Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church San Jose” or just follow the link  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1x-nHP063YTTMrevkzL21w and hit the subscribe button.

So if each of us brings one or more additional subscribers this week, we will start enjoying much higher live-streaming quality this coming Sunday.

Let's do it together!

Your Digital Media Ministry

We cordially invite you to our next priest hangout on Saturday, May 9th: 

K-5 will be at 4:00-4:30

6th-12th will be 4:30-5:00

Please email Fr. Nebojsa directly at frnebojsa@gmail.com by Friday evening at 7:00, and he will add you to the zoom invite.  For those of you that have asked to be permanently on this list, please know you will be added.

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 17, 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.

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.

Monday nights following the Paraklisis, Fr. Nebojsa will be offering a look at the scripture passages of the 11 Eothinon Gospels. Please contact him directly at frnebojsa@gmail.com or 707-315-7823 to receive Zoom invitations for this online class.   

Monday May 11th 6:10 pm

Monday May 18th 6:10 pm

Monday May 25th 6:10 pm 

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.  To see our local businesses already listed: https://saintnicholas.org/virtual-community/2020/4/3/st-nicholas-business-directory

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

Christos Anesti to all!   Around the world, millions of Orthodox Christians have celebrated Pascha. There are many who do not have a beautiful Church to worship in and many do not have a priest who will minister to them. Over the last 3 decades, the Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC) has been dedicated to supporting Churches around the world, where the phrase ‘A Church Without Walls’ is commonplace. Be a part of something amazing by applying for a Mission Team where a church without walls is very real. Teams are online and ready for you to apply. Youth ministry, teaching, clergy retreats, women’s seminars, health care opportunities and more are waiting for you to submit an application. Email teams@ocmc.org or call (904) 829-5132 for more information.

If this is not your cup of tea, please consider supporting the Theotokos Girls Orphanage in Kolkata, India.  The needs are currently great, as COVID-19 has affected school enrollment in the “regular school” which provides the funds to sustain the girls at the orphanage.  Tax deductible donations can be made to Sts Peter and Paul Missions Ministry through checks sent to Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church or through the Fili website:  www.fili-inc.com.  To join the Missions Ministry please contact Maria Aji at 408-425-6967.

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.  We have three remaining Sundays for Virtual Sunday School: May 10th, and May 17th.  

If you have been participating in previous sessions, you are automatically invited every week and do not need to RSVP every week. New participants, please RSVP to the appropriate group leader below.   

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

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.

Please note, 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.

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.  

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!  To see photos already submitted on our website, click on:  https://saintnicholas.org/virtual-community/2020/3/27/together-at-home 

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. 

New York - The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America launched an updated, online COVID-19 Resource Center which can be accessed at www.goarch.org/covid19.

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.

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

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/

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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

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.