Stewardship 2024 as of April 4, 2024:

Goal: $491,000 (Approved 2024 Budget with tentative stretch goal of $500,000)
Pledged: $297,681
Pledges Paid: $172,121
Average Pledge: $1,236
Outstanding unpaid commitments: $125,560
Number of Stewards Pledging: 241

Stewardship 2023 on April 6, 2023 for comparison purposes:

Goal: $500,000 ($3000 per Stewardship Family, as an average)
Pledged: $336,605
Pledges Paid: $193,965
Average Pledge: $1,215
Outstanding unpaid commitments: $142,640
Number of Stewards Pledging: 277

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 2024 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/

We welcome all to Sunday coffee hour hosted by Joanna Costouros, Antonia Komianos, Mimi Mengisteab, and Kanella Sarros in the Small Hall.  We extend a heartfelt thank you to our hosts.

In honor of the Sunday of the Holy Cross, St. Anna Philoptochos will have a tray available at dismissal on Sunday, April 7, 2024 with all proceeds going to Holy Cross/Hellenic College.  Please make checks payable to St. Anna's Philoptochos, and put in the memo HCHC.  Thank you.

In cooperation with the national orthodox ministry to college students - Orthodox Christian Fellowship - we are attempting to form a group at Santa Clara University and are looking to see if we can make contact with any parishioners or anyone you may know who is a student at SCU.  

We would appreciate it if any contact information you may have is sent to me, so we can attempt to form the group this quarter.  Please feel free to view the flyer in the special events section of this e-bulletin and share Fr. Nebojsa's contact information, frnebojsa@saintnicholas.org, with anyone interested in forming this group at Santa Clara University.

*Resumes Monday, April 8th

Please join us before Monday night's Compline service at 6:15pm for a hybrid Orthodoxy 101 class which will be on the topic of the Kingdom of Heaven.  You may attend the class in-person (in the church office conference room) or by Zoom using the link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7084362224?omn=82835392316.

Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church

Parish Assembly Agenda

Sunday, April 21, 2024

(Following Divine Liturgy) 

1. Meeting Called to Order
2. Opening Prayer and Remarks
3. Election of Assembly Chair

1. Appoint Assembly Secretary

4. Approval of Meeting Minutes - December 10, 2023
5. Priest’s Report
6. Financial Report

1. Mid-Year Budget 2024
2. Capital Improvements

7. Stewardship 2024 Update
8. New Business

1. Board of Electors
2. Audit Committee

9. Old Business
10. Closing Remarks and Prayer

Beautiful handmade designs available for you to celebrate Anastasi at only $25. All proceeds benefit our church.  Please place your order with Sofia Kotsiri at sofia.kotsiri@gmail.com. Get the best gift for your loved ones this Easter!  

Payments can be made directly to Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church by clicking on the “DONATE” button on the Saint Nicholas website: https://saintnicholas.org/donate. Please type “EASTER CANDLES” in the comments field.

If you prefer to pay by check, please make it payable to Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church. In the check memo field, please write “Easter Candles”.  Thank you!  

Graduation is an important event for you and your child, and it is equally important to us.   We want to honor and congratulate the Class of 2024 by recognizing them in the June Canon of Faith.   Please submit the following information by Friday, May 17th, 2024:

1. Student’s name.
2. Parents'/guardian names.
3. Student’s high school/college name of which graduating from.
4. Name of college or university student planning to attend.
5. Desired or actual major.
6. If a college degree was earned, please add if a BS, BA, Masters, or PhD
7. Phone number in case we have questions

Deadline: Friday, May 17th.  All content needs to be submitted to churchoffice@saintnicholas.org.  If you have any questions, please call the church office at 408-246-2770

Fundraiser by Rachel Fox : A Call for Community: Help Nick Fight Brain Cancer - please help the brother of one of our parishioners.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/jkk97-help-nick-fight-brain-cancer?attribution_id=sl%3A5d20a354-f4f2-4ca9-b045-7681472bbba0&utm_campaign=p_cp+fundraiser-sidebar&utm_medium=copy_link_all&utm_source=customer

On Saturday, April 6th the Philoptochos will be hosting a Lenten Retreat beginning at 9:30 a.m. in the Small Hall.   The topic will be Hymnograpy of Holy Week and the speaker is Nektarios Antoniou who is a chanter of the Ascension Cathedral on Oakland.  All are welcome to attend!

The Oratorical Festival will be held at the Saint Nicholas church on April 7th at 12:30pm in the Small Hall. Students will be participating in the Elementary Division (grades 5-6), Junior Division (grades 7-9) or Senior Division (grades 10-12). Top speakers from the Junior and Senior divisions move on to participate in the district festival.

An awards ceremony will be held at a later date where the top 3 speakers will be awarded first, second and third place, while all other participants will receive the honorable mention rank. All participants will receive a certificate of participation and a small gift in recognition of their hard work.

For information,please contact Maria Daltayanni at mariadal1@gmail.com, (951) 282-7259.

Basketball League games have home games on Sunday, April 7th in the Community Center beginning at 2:00pm!  Come cheer our teams!

- 2:00pm Girls Elementary and Middle School teams
- 3:00pm Boys Elementary team
- 4:00pm Boys Middle School team

On Sunday, April 7th, please join us for a GOYA meeting in Room 11 from 11:30am - 12:00pm.  We will discuss our Lenten tithing and upcoming Lock In.

Save the Date! The GOYA Lock-In is on Friday, April 19th at 7:00pm to Saturday, April 20th at 10:00am. You’ve all been asking and we are excited to make it happen!  Details to follow via email.

Please reach out to Eva Vathis at eperakis1@aol.com with any questions.

Our San Jose 2024 AHEPA Family Event is here! Don't miss it, buy your tickets now!  Our annual Crab Feed Fundraiser is on Saturday, April 13th in the Community Center at St. Nicholas Church from 6pm to 10pm.  We will be honoring our spiritual leader, Father James and Presvytera Vasso.

Fresh crab with with drawn butter, salad, pasta, garlic bread and dessert; live music and dancing; raffle.  

See the flyer in the Special Events section of the e-bulletin for more information.  Adults $85; Youth $40 if 18 & under; early bird special: $5 off until 3/31/24.  You can buy tickets at Sunday coffee hour or online at this site: 

https://sites.google.com/view/ahepac251/home/annual-crab-feed-event-2024

Everyone is welcome!  Hope to see you all there!

Please consider contributing a special donation towards Lent, Holy Week, and Pascha as well as a Wish List item for our Community Center, to offset church expenses, by selecting to sponsor towards an item from the list below.  Please make your checks payable to Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and put the item name in the memo or comments section. Any amount is appreciated!  To give online, click here:  https://www.saintnicholas.org/donate.  Thank you and Kali Sarakosti!

Our next meeting for the Golden Years Seniors is scheduled for Tuesday, April 9th, 11:30 a.m. in the Small Hall.   We will be holding our elections.   Pease be on the lookout for the notice with instructions and information.  Hope to see you there! Please contact Laurie Sahines at 408-823-0111 or email laurie.sahines@gmail.com if you have any questions.

Altar Boys, please join us on Sunday, April 14th from 12:00pm noon to 12:45pm for Altar Boy Training.  Boys, 7 years old and up, are encouraged to attend if they are interested in becoming altar boys.  Boys will practice entrances, exits, and how to prepare to assist during The Divine Liturgy and during Holy Week services.  The Fathers will be leading the training.  Please meet in the church following Sunday School. If you have any questions, please contact Penny Pagonis at pmpagonis5@gmail.com.

Adult Open Gym Basketball is every Thursday at 7:30pm in the Community Center.  All parishioners (including guests) must sign up first before participating; online sign up form is at the link below.  All communications will be handled through WhatsApp where there will be live updates on the day of the event; link down below to join.

Adult Open Gym sign up form: https://saintnicholas.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/95/responses/new

Adult Open Gym guidelines: 

https://docs.google.com/file/d/1Pqh-9ytke7trggbRvI-t0IW4sHL22Re4/edit?usp=docslist_api&filetype=msword

Adult Open Gym WhatsApp group chat: https://chat.whatsapp.com/ExKTcpbEo7oBPOR3Ssfi1P

Join the Kentima Ministry this Lent as we meet during coffee hour in the Senior Room to build new skills and fellowship. Beginning with embroidery basics the class will look to build up to traditional projects while exploring styles and designs from all over Greece.  We will begin about 10 minutes into coffee hour, grab yourself a snack and head over! All ages are welcome, children must be accompanied by an adult. All items needed to begin will be supplied, please RSVP to Meredith Panayotopoulos at 408-849-9552 so we can be sure to have enough on hand. If you have expertise you are willing to share, please reach out as well!

The next JOY/HOPE meeting, originally scheduled this last week has been postponed to Tuesday April 16th at 7:00pm in Room 7 of the Educational Building.  Please feel free to reach out to Helene Panos if you have any questions: 209.324.4918.  We hope you join us for Fun, Fellowship and Faith!

*Everyone come help!  We need to fold 1000 palm crosses!

This year, we will do something different than in previous years by including our entire Saint Nicholas community. Please join us on Friday night, April 26th in the Small Hall for our St. Nicholas Lenten Potluck and Palm Folding!  Presvytera Vasso and Presvytera Stephanie will provide a short lesson on making the Palm Crosses in preparation for Palm Sunday.  How nice to share with all of our wonderful parishioners coming together with love, gratitude, and faith as we embark on this holy season. 

5:30pm – 6:30pm - Lenten Dinner
6:30pm – 8:30pm - Making Palm Crosses

Please bring a Lenten dish to share! Drinks, coffee, and dessert will be provided.  For more information, please email Vicki Ryan at Vicki.Vasiliki.Ryan@gmail.com.  See you there!

Please come help assemble Spanakopites for the festival on Friday, April 19th beginning at 9:00am in the Community Center.  Come and join in the fellowship and fun of baking for the festival!  We are grateful for any amount of time you can give.  For more information, please call Nick Tsolis at 408-921-4029.

Then on Wednesday and Thursday, April 24th and 25th, please come help assemble Pastitsio beginning at 10:00am.  Thank you!!

Please come on Friday, April 26th to assemble Tiropites for the festival in the Community Center.  If you can come for the whole day or only for a few hours, your help is desperately needed and much appreciated.  We will begin at 8:30am and plan on finishing by 3pm or sooner if we have many helping hands.  Lunch, snacks and beverages will be provided.  Please bring an apron, pastry brush and a smile.  If you have any questions, please call Penny Pagonis at 408-772-6229 or email Nicole Perakis at nicoleperakis41@gmail.com.  Please pass this information on to others--the more the merrier! Thank you so very much! 

With much joy, the Saint Nicholas Parish Council invites you to a Palm Sunday Luncheon in the Community Center with a traditional fish meal following the Divine Liturgy on Sunday, April 28th at 11:30am to 1:30pm.  Adults $25, Kids $10 (a table of 8 for $200).

Reservations will be taken after church on Sundays or by contacting Roula Demertzis at (408) 564-2387 or email at rdemertzis@sbcglobal.net.  Your contributions will benefit the church school building and campus improvements.

Please come and help with cooking and assembling of food for the festival.  Cooking begins daily at 8:30am and finishes around 3pm.  Come and join the fun and camaraderie!  If you can come for the whole day or only a few hours, your help will be very much appreciated.   For more information, please call Nick Tsolis at 408-921-4029 or email nick.tsolis1959@gmail.com. Here is the schedule:

April 19, Fri - Spanakopites CC Eleni Matheou - 408-266-8987

April 24-25, Wed-Thu - Pastitsio CC Eleni Matheou 408-266-8987, Nicki Poulos 408-723-2613

April 26, Fri - Tyropites CC Penny Pries, Nicole Perakis 408-772-6229

May 15, Wed - Kourabiethes CC Laurie Sahines - 408-823-0111

May 16-17, Thu-Fri - Mousaka, CC Eleni Matheou 408-266-8987, Nicki Poulos - 408-723-2613

May 18, Sat - Dolmades CC George Panayotopoulos 408-515-7284, Nick Tsolis 408-921-4029

May 22, Wed - Koulourakia CC Roula Demertzis 408-268-7645, Maria Tsaboukos 408-723-5175

TBD - Melomakarona CC Philoptochos 

May 27, Mon - Souvlakia/Loukanika CC John Niktas 408-605-4949

TBD - Calamari

May 29, Wed - Tzatziki CC Roula Demertzis - 408-268-7645

May 30, Thurs - Yemista CC Nicki Poulos - 408-723-2613

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.  March sessions are full, so our next session is in April.  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, April 23 2024 using the link:  https://shfb.tfaforms.net/350?VSID=a0vQo000003V5hjIAC&_gl=1*1eschq6*_ga*NzU3NjMwNjE1LjE3MDk3NTE5MTc.*_ga_E3SL0CTS82*MTcwOTc1MTkxNi4xLjEuMTcwOTc1MjIxNS42MC4wLjA.

Youth Basketball practices:

Elementary Boys (Grades 3,4,5): Tuesdays 6:00pm to 7:30pm
Elementary Girls (Grades 3,4,5): Fridays 5:30pm - 7:00pm
Middle School Boys (Grades 6, 7, 8): Mondays, 5:30pm - 7:00pm and Thursdays 6:00pm to 7:30pm
High School Boys : Fridays, 8:30pm - 10:00pm

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!

It is with pleasure that we announce the scholarship applications for both St. Nicholas Sunday School and St. Anna Philoptochos are available in the Sunday School office as well as the Church Office.  The cutoff date for both applications is Friday, May 3, 2024 no later than 5:00 p.m.

Qualifications are listed on both applications, and recipients will be announced on Sunday May 19, 2024 following the Divine Liturgy.

Should you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact Laurie Sahines at 408-823-0111 or via email:  laurie.sahines@gmail.com.

Staying true to the support for Education (the "E" in AHEPA), our AHEPA District 21 of Northern California and Reno, Nevada, is again offering 2024 scholarships to graduating high school seniors going to college and graduate students.  For more information, please click on the scholarship link for the application package:

Scholarship Link

Eligibility is for immediate family members of AHEPA members and/or student membership for the applicant. Of course, an applicant can also apply for membership now with even more benefits! Hurry, as the deadline is April 1, 2024.

The application can also be downloaded from our District's web page.

Calendar for Sunday School:

April
Sunday School in session April 7, 14, 21, 28

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.

All Youth ages 8-18 from across our Metropolis are invited to attend our Metropolis Summer Camp this July at St. Nicholas Ranch & Retreat Center in Dunlap, CA. This is a wonderful opportunity to meet new friends, reunite with old friends, and learn more about our faith. Online camper registration is open, and spots are quickly filling up.

CAMP WEBSITE: https://gosfyouth.org/summer-camp

2024 SUMMER CAMP DATES

Session 1: July 7 - 13

Session 2: July 14 - 20

Session 3: July 21 - 27 (St. Nicholas is getting a group going at this session!)

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

Registration for all summer programs of the Ionian Village is now OPEN! Ionian Village will once again offer three programs, catering to high school students and young adults. Registration is available online at our website ionianvillage.org. Need-based scholarships may be offered by contacting our office. Spots are limited and are offered on a first-come first-served basis. Don’t miss your chance to participate in this life-changing ministry!

https://www.goarch.org/-/ionian-village-summer-2024-registration-1

The annual Greek Flag Raising at the San Jose City Hall Plaza facilitated by AHEPA Silicon Valley Chapter 251 and Daughters of Penelope Daphne #29, and hosted by Councilmember Pam Foley received several national press releases:

Orthodox Times:

https://orthodoxtimes.com/city-of-san-jose-recognizes-greek-independence-day-with-annual-flag-raising-ceremony/

Greek Archdiocese of America:

https://beautifulnownews.biz.id/the-city-of-san-jose-honors-greek-independence-day-with-the-annual-flag-raising-ceremony-greek-orthodox-archdiocese-of-america/

Orthodox Observer:

https://www.goarch.org/-/city-of-san-jose-recognizes-greek-independence-day-with-annual-flag-raising-ceremony

The National Herald:

https://www.thenationalherald.com/city-of-san-jose-celebrates-march-25-with-16th-annual-greek-flag-raising-event/

Doxologia Info News:

https://www.doxologiainfonews.com/2024/04/city-of-san-jose-recognizes-greek-independence-day-with-annual-flag-raising-ceremony/

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

https://indd.adobe.com/view/1a8d94be-641f-478f-8af2-502aa8144cbb

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 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!

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