Stewardship 2024 as of February 8, 2024:

Goal: $491,000 (Approved 2024 Budget with tentative stretch goal of $500,000)
Pledged: $44,275
Pledges Paid: $32,720
Average Pledge: $553
Outstanding unpaid commitments: $11,555
Number of Stewards Pledging: 80

Stewardship 2023 on February 9, 2023 for comparison purposes:

Goal: $500,000 ($3000 per Stewardship Family, as an average)
Pledged: $235,230
Pledges Paid: $92,707
Average Pledge: $1,200
Outstanding unpaid commitments: $142,523
Number of Stewards Pledging: 196

Please continue to keep our Saint Nicholas Church in your thoughts and prayers throughout 2024. 

Dedicate yourself to Christ and His mission here at Saint Nicholas.  Look for opportunities to volunteer your time and talents, and pay toward your 2023 commitment pledge. 

Not a Steward of Saint Nicholas?  Please prayerfully consider becoming a Steward by completing the 2024 Stewardship Commitment Card.  You may also submit your commitment either online or by mailing it to the Church Office.

To give by mail: Stewardship 

                        St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church
                        986 Chapman Street
                        San Jose, CA 95126

To make a committment electronically, please visit our online stewardship link: https://saintnicholas.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/70/responses/new

Donation link: https://saintnicholas.org/donate

Company Matching Donations: many companies offer some type of philanthropic program in which a company may financially match donations that their employees make to nonprofit organizations. When an employee makes a donation, they will request the matching gift from their employer to the specific nonprofit organization. If you are interested to learn more about Company Matching Donations at work, please inquire with your Company's Human Resources Department if it offers a similar program. Please note that Saint Nicholas Church would be identified in a Company Matching Program as "Greek Orthodox Community of Santa Clara County". 

St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church is a 501©3 Corporation and our tax ID is 94-1578745. 

In our Light A Candle program, vigil candle(s) are lit along with an opportunity to submit names to be prayed for at the Prothesis (Preparation).  When lit, the vigil candles last for one week.  Please see the online form on our website or use the link below.  When filling out the online form, please note that only first names are needed, preferably the baptized names, and it's helpful to designate if prayers will be for health or for repose.

Donate online here: 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 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/

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

The Parish Council established new committees as follows:

Athletics: Nick Tsolis (PC Liaison), Pete Panos
Facilities (Maintenance, Compliance, Safety, Security, Beautification): Jimmy Barrous, Nektarios Matheou, Terry Pries, Pete Panos
Finance: Eire Gemellos, Sofia Kotsiri, Angie Markolefas, Vicki Ryan
Sunday School: Joanna Dunn (PC Liaison) with Board
Greek School: Panagiotis Chalioris (PC Liaison) with Board
Stewardship: Roula Demertzis, Jeff Contos as advisor
Rentals (Property): Jimmy Barrous, Paul Pries
Events (Facility Rentals): Paul Pries, Pete Panos
Information Technology (Audio/Visual, Web, Social Media): Jeff Contos and Sofia Kotsiri (PC Liaisons) with Peter Panayotopoulos
Festival: Nick Tsolis
Youth & Young Adult: Father Nebojsa with Shawn Cartwright (PC Liaison)
Dance: Father James with Olga Mavrogenes (PC Liaison)
Visitations: Roula Demertzis, Joanna Dunn
Golden Years Seniors: Olga Mavrogenes (PC liaison) with Board
Public Relations: Roula Demertzis, Shawn Cartwright
Missions: Joanna Dunn (PC Liaison)
Strategic Planning: Father James with Roula Demertzis, Eire Gemellos, Nektarios Matheou, Vicki Ryan

Sunday, February 25th has been designated by the Saint Nicholas Parish Council as Stewardship Sunday.  Each of us is called upon to prayerfully consider our Stewardship Pledge for 2024, and to fill out the Stewardship Cards that will be mailed out to you this week.

Following Holy Liturgy, the Fathers will invite all Parish Council Members to offer thier completed Stewardship Cards. Then the tray will be made available to the congregation to, likewise, offer their completed Stewardship Cards. 

If you do not receive a 2024 Stewardship Card by mail by the end of next week, you will find blank cards available in the Narthex; simply ask one of the Parish Council Members on duty for one. Or if you prefer to make your 2024 Stewardship Commitment online, please use the following link: https://www.saintnicholas.org/donate#stewardship

Thank you for your continued support of our beloved Saint Nicholas Parish!

Please join us for a Paraklisis to the Most Holy Theotokos on Monday nights at 5:00pm followed by a hybrid Orthodoxy 101 class which will be on the topic of the Kingdom of Heaven, beginning at 6:15pm.   You may attend the class in-person (in the church office conference room) or online via Zoom using the link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7084362224?omn=82835392316.

We are excited to announce that with Father James' blessing, we will be discontinuing the majority of youth-ministry hosted coffee hours on Sundays and bringing back a team-led coffee hour.  This way we hope each team will only be responsible for 2 coffee hours per year.  If you haven't already been approached and are interested in having your own team or would like to be placed on a team, please send an email to: coffeehour@saintnicholas.org OR call Penny Pagonis at (408) 772-6229 or Nicole Perakis at (408) 250-0967.  The schedule will be released soon!

The Choir is actively recruiting new members!  If you are interested please contact Anthony Pappas at (408) 832-4271.  Men are especially needed, so please consider joining!  We have two options for practice, Sundays after services (with time allowed for the Coffee Hour) and Thursdays at 7:30pm.  Thank you!

Youth Basketball practices continue THIS WEEK!

Elementary Boys (Grades 3,4,5): Tuesdays 6:30pm to 8:00pm
Elementary Girls (Grades 3,4,5): Wednesdays 6:00pm to 7:30pm
Middle School Boys (Grades 6, 7, 8): Thursdays 6:00pm to 7:30pm
Middle School Girls (Grades 6, 7, 8): TBD, please contact John Cocoles, jcocoles5@gmail.com if interested
High School Boys (Friday practices will begin after FDF)

Games begin Sunday, March 3rd.  To be placed on the season roster, you MUST be registered at https://saintnicholas.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/63/responses/new.  

Be sure your child wears basketball shoes! Thank you!

Putting our Orthodox Faith into action! Join us at Second Harvest Food Bank the 4th Tuesday of every month, 6pm to 8pm, to prepare food for distribution in our Santa Clara County community.  One in five families in Santa Clara County faces food insecurity.  Help us serve our community while enjoying the fellowship of our Parishioners!  Advance registration is required; vaccination is suggested but not required; open to ages 12 and up. 

We invite you to sign up in advance for Tuesday, February 27, 2024 using the link:  https://shfb.tfaforms.net/350?VSID=a0v8W00000WFQ4pQAH&_gl=1*52dv1z*_ga*MTQyMjYyMDM2Ny4xNzA2MTE2Mzk4*_ga_E3SL0CTS82*MTcwNjExNjM5Ny4xLjEuMTcwNjExNjc4Ni42MC4wLjA

AAS is a pre collegiate, tuition free, online program focused on Greek archaeology and cultural heritage and is designed for middle school and high school students, 13 to 17 years old. 

The AAS Program consists of a series of modules and an immersive curriculum on topics related to archaeological methods, ancient Greek history, classical studies, and cultural heritage. 

Upon completion of the program, students receive a certificate of attendance. 

Classes meet on Sundays from 1:00 to 3:00 pm PST, beginning March 10, 2024 and ending on April 28, 2024. For details and to apply, visit www.archaeologyafterschool.org

Deadline to Apply: Saturday, March 2, 2024

Calendar for Sunday School:  

February
Sunday School in session: Feb 4, 11, 25
Activity: February 4 Godparent's Sunday / Coffee Hour Sponsorship SNC community

March
Sunday School in session March 3, 10, 17, 31
Activity: March 10 Forgiveness Lesson and March 17 Forgiveness Sunday/Kites

April
Sunday School in session April 7, 14, 21, 28
Activity: April 7 Lenten Alms Project and Saturday, April 27 Lazarus Breakfast

May
Sunday School in session May 12 and 19
Activity: Friday, May 3 Good Friday Retreat
Activity: Sunday, May 19, Graduation and last day of Sunday School

Registration link for Sunday School: https://forms.gle/esUftdmLhEJH77Ap6 

Classes will be weekly, with a few exceptions for special events and holidays.  The Saint Nicholas website has the current and updated calendar: Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church.

Click here for the registration link with information about the dates of the program and tuition costs: https://saintnicholas.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/73/responses/new

School Age Greek Language Classes (3-18 years old)

In-person classes are offered on Tuesdays & Thursdays 5:00 pm - 6:45 pm and Saturdays 10:00 am - 11:45 am (pending registration numbers)

Zoom classes are time flex and are offered Mondays, Wednesdays, and/or Fridays.

In addition to the classes, several assemblies take place annually to celebrate Greek Independence Days (October 28th and March 25th), Christmas, and the end-of-the-school-year party. Parents and other family members participate while the students recite poems, skits, songs, and dances.

Adult Greek Language Classes (18 years and older)

New Testament Greek: Tuesdays 6:30 - 9:00 pm

Intermediate Conversational Greek: Thursdays 6:30 - 9:00 pm

Beginner Conversational Greek: Saturdays 10 am - 12:30 pm

For more up-to-date information in regards to the adult Greek classes kindly contact: Dr. Peter Nanopoulos at petern_grklang@yahoo.com

Please read the Canon of Faith for February 2024 using the online link viewing:   

https://indd.adobe.com/view/c1f383f0-3061-4b2e-8d69-3d94a80f9bc0

The Philoptochos and the church sometimes receives inquiries from parishioners who are searching for low income or section 8 housing.  If you are a landlord or know of anyone who provides section 8 housing, please email Connie Chrysoglou at cchrysoglou@gmail.com and we will place you or your contact on a list of potential providers.  We will then give the provider list to any parishioner who is needing assistance.  If you are interested in being a section 8 housing provider, you will need to contact your local housing authority to make an application and to find out more about the process and decide if this is something that you would want to pursue.  The church will only be providing the list to people inquiring about this and will not intercede in any way or become involved in the vetting process. It will be up to the landlord to determine if there is a match.  Section 8 housing rental reimbursement to landlords begins from $1740 for a one-bedroom house/apartment up to $3696 for a four-bedroom unit.

We will plan on holding our meetings at 7:00 p.m. on the third Tuesday of every month (directly after Greek School).  Please mark your calendars.  

We hope that all students in grades K-5th can join us! This year, Father Nebojsa has planned an exciting curriculum focusing on the Story of Creation.  Each monthly lesson will be concentrated on a particular day of this journey.  Each meeting will be scheduled for approximately one hour and will include a discussion with Father, an interactive activity and/or craft, refreshments and fellowship.  We want to be inclusive of everyone so please feel free to reach out to Helene if you have any concerns: 209.324.4918.    

For families with children in grades Kindergarten through 5th grade, please register your children for our JOY/HOPE ministry.  The link to register is here:

https://saintnicholas.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/67/responses/new  

We are collecting unwanted paper icons, wooden icons, and palms that require disposing, please drop off in the baby room in the Church.  There is a plastic bin located underneath the pew.  If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Julie via email: j_sarigiannides@yahoo.com.

Please contact the church office at 408-246-2770 if you plan to leave items outside the office or Community Center.

If you wish to order kollyva, artoklasia, prosphora, paximadia, koulourakia, melomakarona, kourambiedes, or other Greek pastries, please see the bakers listed below with their phone numbers to call.  Payment is arranged with the bakers and not the church.

For kollyva:   Marcella Fotis 408-723-4124  

For paximadia, koulourakia, melomakarona, kourambiedes, and other Greek pastries:   Maria Tsaboukos  408-723-5175      Antonia Komianos  408-472-3888     Marcella Fotis  408-723-4124.

For artoklasia:  Antonia Komianos 408-472-3888   Marcella Fotis 408-723-4124   

For prosphora:  Marcella Fotis 408-723-4124