GLORY TO JESUS CHRIST!
Welcome Back to Church!
A reminder to please see the Welcome Back to Church letter on the parish website for more information on our procedures to maintain safety, which are consistent with the latest state guidance as the Commonwealth moves to the third phase of the "Forward Virginia" re-opening plan. While exercising our right to gather in worship, we should remain vigilant and mindful of the disproportionately severe impact the pandemic continues to have on some of our brothers and sisters in Christ, and do all we can to limit the spread of the virus and protect them from its effects.
Reminder: Sign-Up System for Sunday Liturgies
Thanks to everyone for your flexibility as we transition to a sign-up system for Sunday services. If you have already attended either of the first two Sundays (Weeks A or B), you are welcome to sign up for one of the next two (Weeks C or D), space-permitting. For the safety of our parishioners we set aside alternating Sundays for families with young children and our brothers and sisters of more advanced age and/or special needs. While we welcome all who wish to attend any Liturgy, we ask that you please give priority to those two groups on their given Sundays to help ensure we can safely accommodate everyone. We will continue to carefully monitor conditions and adjust our attendance limits in accordance with Virginia state regulations. Please continue to use the sign-up page here to reserve your spaces.
Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul
On Monday we complete the Apostles Fast and celebrate the Feast of the Holy, Glorious, and All-Praised Leaders of the Apostles, Peter and Paul. Recalling our recent Sunday homilies, as we move through this season of Pentecost, may their holy examples remind us of our own apostolic vocations, received from God the Father, lived in His Son, through the seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit. Read more about their lives here.
(From the Vespers for the Feast:)
How shall we worthily sing hymns to honor Peter and Paul?
Their hands were filled with grace and truth;
their feet carried them to the ends of the earth, preaching the Gospel of peace.
Once driven by the wind of the Spirit,
they are now carried up to heaven.
Truly they are rivers of wisdom and the arms of the Cross.
Through them Christ our God, Who has great mercy,
has cast down the arrogance of demons.
St. Nicholas Live Streaming Services
We are continuing to refine our efforts to make Sunday services as widely available as possible via streaming. Here are ways to connect:
Divine Liturgy: Live-streamed on YouTube (https://youtu.be/ObmdS0HenVQ), beginning with the 3rd and 6th Hours at 9:00am and the Liturgy at 9:30am.
Virtual Coffee Hour: Connect via Zoom, beginning at 11:30am: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83508000853
Meeting ID: 835 0800 0853
One tap mobile
+19292056099,,83508000853# US (New York)
+13017158592,,83508000853# US (Germantown)
To protect privacy, all services live-streamed from the church will show only the priest, server(s) and cantor(s), and will be removed regularly from the site.
Confessions
Starting this weekend, Father will be available Saturday afternoons to hear confessions, and by appointment. Please see this page to sign up.
Save the Date
As announced last Sunday, we celebrate with joy the betrothal of Nicholas M. and Jennifer L. -- may God grant them many years! They have set aside Saturday 18 July as the planned date of the wedding, which will be held at St. Nicholas. Between now and then, we ask that everyone pray most fervently for them and their families as they prepare to be joined in the sacrament of Holy Marriage.
Opportunities to Serve Your Neighbor
As we celebrate the Lord's Resurrection, we must continue to remember the critical importance of loving our neighbor (Mt 22:34-40), as the Lord commanded us to do ( "my neighbor is my salvation"). Love is demonstrated both in prayer and deed. Please remember your neighbors in this time of acute need. Here are some specific ways to help:
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Virginia hospitals across the state are experiencing a severe shortage of blood, and the UVA Medical Center is encouraging healthy and eligible individuals to contact the American Red Cross to make an appointment to donate. Our Archbishop Daniel and our seminarians have already done so!
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Grace Grocery, our neighborhood food pantry at Crozet United Methodist Church, has several volunteer opportunities including set up, client help and clean up for food distributions, unloading food from truck, computer assistant, which are listed on the website. They provide training for first time volunteers. You can ask to be placed on their volunteer email list. Email: foodpantry@crozetunitedmethodist.org Phone: 434-823-4420
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Please also keep an eye on Support Charlottesville, which is a hub for opportunities to give (and receive) material support. This is a very good way to stay informed, get involved and help your neighbors in need.
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The Blue Ridge Area Food Bank needs healthy volunteers to assist them at multiple locations, as well as in-kind and monetary donations (even more critical as the needs increase). Our Bishops, seminarians and Consistory staff have all been involved in similar work to address food insecurity in New Jersey -- let us emulate their example, and get involved.
- Charlottesville Community Cares has published a resource guide with information on how to receive financial assistance, request for grocery/prescription delivery, COVID-19 hotline, emergency shelter, and Region Ten Emergency Services Hotline. Join the network: bit.ly/cvillecare2020. Donate: congregatecville.com. Email: cvillecares@gmail.com.
Stewardship Reminder
Despite the current (temporary) modification to the parish's schedule of services, meetings, and events, all parishioners are reminded of the pledges they have made as part of their stewardship commitment of time, talent and treasure. Some parishioners may encounter financial hardship during this time of crisis, and we can only give as we are able. That said, the parish must continue to meet its budgetary obligations and operating expenses. Please continue sending your contributions by to the church via US Mail:
St. Nicholas Orthodox Church
PO Box 6981
Charlottesville, VA 22906
Special Intentions, Needs and Requests
A reminder to contact Father directly (fr.charles@mailbox.org | 443-204-4542) with any special prayer requests, intentions or concerns/needs, and he will make sure these are addressed.
Recent Prayer Requests
+All who have reposed in the Lord this week due to the pandemic
The child +Andrew (newly-departed), and for his parents
Nicholas and Jennifer (preparing for holy marriage) and their families
Tetyana (serious illness)
Liubov (mother of Anya B., healing)
Karen (healing)
Maddie (healing)
Katie (healing)
David (healing)
Bill (mission work)
Elaine (mission work)
Fr. Robert and Pani Dobrodyka Christine (retirement)
All those working in defense of human dignity, justice and equality during this time of unrest
The hungry and the homeless, and all those struggling with mental illness and infirmity
All children born and unborn and for their parents
All those struggling financially during the pandemic, and for those whose basic necessities are out of reach
All medical personnel, first responders and others ministering to the sick, and those rendering vital services to their neighbors
All those in high-risk populations during this pandemic