May 14
Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church
Publish Date: 2017-05-14
Bulletin Contents
Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church
General Information
- Phone:
- (201) 652-4774 for emergencies: 201 870 2676
- Fax:
- (201) 652-0789
- Email:
- office@stnicholasnj.org
- Street Address:
- 467 Grandview Avenue
- Wyckoff, NJ 07481
Contact Information
Services Schedule
Sundays in the fall, winter & spring:
Matins: 9 a.m. & Divine Liturgy 10a.m. except during the summer
Summer hours for Sundays in July and August:
Matins: 8:30a.m. & Divine Liturgy 9:30a.m.
Past Bulletins
- Publish Date:
- 2017-06-04
- Publish Date:
- 2017-05-28
- Publish Date:
- 2017-05-21
- Publish Date:
- 2017-05-07
- Publish Date:
- 2017-04-30
- Publish Date:
- 2017-04-23
Hymns of the Day
Apolytikion of Great and Holy Pascha in the Plagal First Mode
Christ is risen from the dead, by death, trampling down upon death, and to those in the tombs He has granted life.
Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Fourth Mode
Having learned the joyful proclamation of the Resurrection from the Angel, and having cast off the ancestral condemnation, the women disciples of the Lord spake to the Apostles exultantly: Death is despoiled and Christ God is risen, granting great mercy to the world.
Apolytikion for Mid-Pentecost in the Plagal Fourth Mode
At Mid-feast give Thou my thirsty soul to drink of the waters of piety; for Thou, O Saviour, didst cry out to all: Whosoever is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. Wherefore, O Well-spring of life, Christ our God, glory be to Thee.
Seasonal Kontakion in the Plagal Fourth Mode
Though You went down into the tomb, You destroyed Hades' power, and You rose the victor, Christ God, saying to the myrrh-bearing women, "Hail!" and granting peace to Your disciples, You who raise up the fallen.
The translations of hymns are under copyright and used by permission. All rights reserved. These works may not be further reproduced, in print or on other websites or in any other form, without the prior written authorization of the copyright holder:
Gospel and Epistle Readings
Matins Gospel Reading
Seventh Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from John 20:1-10
At that time, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So she ran, and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him." Peter then came out with the other disciple, and they went toward the tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first; and stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; he saw the linen cloths lying, and the napkin, which had been on his head, not lying with the linen cloths but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not know the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples went back to their homes.
Epistle Reading
Prokeimenon. Fourth Mode. Psalm 103.24,1.
O Lord, how manifold are your works. You have made all things in wisdom.
Verse: Bless the Lord, O my soul.
The reading is from Acts of the Apostles 11:19-30.
IN THOSE DAYS, those apostles who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to none except Jews. But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Greeks also, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number that believed turned to the Lord. News of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad; and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose; for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a large company was added to the Lord. So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul; and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church, and taught a large company of people; and in Antioch the disciples were for the first time called Christians. Now in these days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. And one of them named Agabos stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world; and this took place in the days of Claudius. And the disciples determined, every one according to his ability, to send relief to the brethren who lived in Judea, and they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.
Gospel Reading
Sunday of the Samaritan Woman
The Reading is from John 4:5-42
At that time, Jesus came to a city of Samaria, called Sychar, near the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Jacob's well was there, and so Jesus, wearied as he was with his journey, sat down beside the well. It was about the sixth hour.
There came a woman of Samaria to draw water. Jesus said to her, "Give me a drink." For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food. The Samaritan woman said to him, "How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?" For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans. Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, 'Give me a drink,' you would have asked him and he would have given you living water." The woman said to him, "Sir, you have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep; where do you get that living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, and his sons, and his cattle?" Jesus said to her, "Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst; the water that I shall give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw."
Jesus said to her, "Go, call your husband, and come here." The woman answered him, "I have no husband." Jesus said to her, "You are right in saying, 'I have no husband'; for you have had five husbands, and he whom you now have is not your husband; this you said truly." The woman said to him, "Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped on this mountain; and you say that Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship." Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for such the Father seeks to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth." The woman said to him, "I know that the Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ); when he comes, he will show us all things." Jesus said to her, "I who speak to you am he."
Just then his disciples came. They marveled that he was talking with a woman, but none said, "What do you wish?" or, "Why are you talking with her?" So the woman left her water jar, and went away into the city and said to the people, "Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?" They went out of the city and were coming to him.
Meanwhile the disciples besought him, saying "Rabbi, eat." But he said to them, "I have food to eat of which you do not know." So the disciples said to one another, "Has anyone brought him food?" Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of him who sent me, and to accomplish his work. Do you not say, 'There are yet four months, then comes the harvest'? I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see how the fields are already white for harvest. He who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. For here the saying holds true, 'One sows and another reaps.' I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor; others have labored, and you have entered into their labor."
Many Samaritans from that city believed in him because of the woman's testimony. "He told me all that I ever did." So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them; and he stayed there two days. And many more believed because of his word. They said to the woman, "It is no longer because of your words that we believe, for we have heard ourselves, and we know that this is indeed Christ the Savior of the world."
Wisdom of the Fathers
THE persecution turned out to be no slight benefit as "to them that love God all things work together for good." (Rom. viii. 28.) If they had made it their express study how best to establish the Church, they would have done no other thing than this--they dispersed the teachers.[*] Mark in what quarters the preaching was extended. "They travelled," it says, "as far as Phenice and Cyprus and Antioch; to none however did they preach the word but to Jews only." Dost thou mark with what wise purposes of Providence so much was done in the case of Cornelius? This serves both to justify Christ, and to impeach the Jews. When Stephen was slain, when Paul was twice in danger, when the Apostles were scourged, then the Gentiles received the word, then the Samaritans. Which Paul also declares: "To you it was necessary that the Word of God should first be spoken; but since ye thrust it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy, lo, we turn unto the Gentiles." (ch. xiii. 46.)..."And the hand of the Lord," it says, "was with them," that is, they wrought miracles; "and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord." (v. 21.) Do you mark why now also there was heed of miracles (namely) that they might believe? "Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch." (v. 22.) What may be the reason that, when such a city received the word, they did not come themselves? Because of the Jews. But they send Barnabas. However, it is no small part of the providential management even so that Paul comes to be there. It is both natural, and it is wisely ordered, that they are averse to him, and (so) that Voice of the Gospel, that Trumpet of heaven, is not shut up in Jerusalem..."And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch." (v. 26.) Verily this is the reason why it was there they were appointed to be called Christians, because Paul there spent so long time!
Homily 25 on Acts 11, 4th Century
The example of the good Samaritan shows that we must not abandon those in whom even the faintest amount of faith is still alive.
Two Books of St. Ambrose, Bishop of Milan, Concerning Repentance, Chapter 11
Saints and Feasts
May 14
Sunday of the Samaritan Woman
One of the most ancient cities of the Promised Land was Shechem, also called Sikima, located at the foot of Mount Gerazim. There the Israelites had heard the blessings in the days of Moses and Jesus of Navi. Near to this town, Jacob, who had come from Mesopotamia in the nineteenth century before Christ, bought a piece of land where there was a well. This well, preserved even until the time of Christ, was known as Jacob's Well. Later, before he died in Egypt, he left that piece of land as a special inheritance to his son Joseph (Gen. 49:22). This town, before it was taken into possession by Samaria, was also the leading city of the kingdom of the ten tribes. In the time of the Romans it was called Neapolis, and at present Nablus. It was the first city in Canaan visited by the Patriarch Abraham. Here also, Jesus of Navi (Joshua) addressed the tribes of Israel for the last time. Almost three hundred years later, all Israel assembled there to make Roboam (Rehoboam) king.
When our Lord Jesus Christ, then, came at midday to this city, which is also called Sychar (John 4:5), He was wearied from the journey and the heat, and He sat down at this well. After a little while the Samaritan woman mentioned in today's Gospel passage came to draw water. As she conversed at some length with the Lord and heard from Him secret things concerning herself, she believed in Him; through her many other Samaritans also believed.
Concerning the Samaritans we know the following: In the year 721 before Christ, Salmanasar (Shalmaneser), King of the Assyrians, took the ten tribes of the kingdom of Israel into captivity, and relocated all these people to Babylon and the land of the Medes. From there he gathered various nations and sent them to Samaria. These nations had been idolaters from before. Although they were later instructed in the Jewish faith and believed in the one God, they worshipped the idols also. Furthermore, they accepted only the Pentateuch of Moses, and rejected the other books of Holy Scripture. Nonetheless, they thought themselves to be descendants of Abraham and Jacob. Therefore, the pious Jews named these Judaizing and idolatrous peoples Samaritans, since they lived in Samaria, the former leading city of the Israelites, as well as in the other towns thereabout. The Jews rejected them as heathen and foreigners, and had no communion with them at all, as the Samaritan woman observed, "the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans" (John 4:9). Therefore, the name Samaritan is used derisively many times in the Gospel narrations. After the Ascension of the Lord, and the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, the woman of Samaria was baptized by the holy Apostles and became a great preacher and Martyr of Christ; she was called Photine, and her feast is kept on February 26.
May 14
Isidore the Martyr of Chios
This Saint was a soldier from Alexandria. He came with the Roman fleet to Chios, where he was betrayed as a Christian to Numerian, Commander of the Fleet. Because he boldly pro-fessed himself to worship Christ as God and refused to worship any other, he was tormented and beheaded in 251, during the reign of Decius.
May 14
Holy Hieromartyr Therapontus
May 14
Holy New Martyrs Mark and John
May 14
Serapion the Holy Martyr
May 15
Andrew the Hermit & Wonderworker
May 15
Barbaros the Myrrhbearer of Kerkyra
May 15
5th Monday after Pascha
May 15
Achillius the Wonderworker, Archbishop of Larissa
Saint Achillius was one of the 318 God-bearing Fathers who were present at the First Ecumenical Council; after returning to Larissa he cast down many pagan temples, delivered many from the demons, and raised up churches to the glory of God. He reposed about the middle of the fourth century.
Events
Christos Anesti! Cristos Anesth!
Orthodox Christians greet each other with the joyous greeting of “Christ is Risen” and the response is “Truly (indeed) He has Risen”. During the Paschal period, we do not kneel during our worship, as kneeling is a symbol of penitence, whereas, standing is the sign of Christ’s victory and joy in our midst.
Memorials: A 17 year memorial for Olimpia Petrutz and a 16 year memorial for Ionel Petrutz beloved parents of Ioanna Agams.
A 40 year memorial for Gloria Gines Christopoulos, beloved wife of Constantinos. Beloved mother of Angela (John), Debi, Tina (Leo). Grandmother of Chloe, Vanessa Jenna Veronique, Zoe, Gianna, Jack and Tyler. Beloved daughter of Despina and thelate Haralambos Gines. Eternal be their memory. Fellowship hour is sponsored by the Christopoulos and the Agams families.
Ladies Philoptochos News: Christos Anesti! Today, the Philoptochos is offering an Artoclasia Service (Blessing of the Loaves) for the health and well-being of all our mothers. We would like to wish all the Grandmothers, Mothers, Sisters, Sister-in-Laws, Daughters, Daughter-in Laws, Godmothers, Aunts and Nieces a very Happy Mother's Day!
Religious Education: Parents please note there are only TWO classes left of Religious Education. We will have classes today, Sunday, May 14th which is also Mother’s Day. There will be NO Religious Education classes on Sunday, May 28th due to the Memorial Day weekend, but we encourage all families to attend the Divine Liturgy together. Our Religious Education Graduation is scheduled for Sunday, June 4th followed by an ice cream celebration. Please inform your teachers if your students will be absent on graduation. Thank you.
AHEPA: The Ramapo Ahepa Chapter invites you to the 14th Annual Cigar Night Extravaganza on Wednesday, May 24th, 2017 at Seasons in Washington Township, NJ. We deeply appreciate your previous support of this event. Your continued support is also greatly appreciated. For Reservations contact John Tsadilas at 201-707-2657 or email, jtsadilas@verizon.net
Wyckoff Day: We are preparing for the annual Wyckoff Day on June 3rd at the Wyckoff YMCA. Event is 11:00am until 6:00 pm. We are proud to announce that our Saint Nicholas Juniors/GOYA dancers will be performing at 2:30 pm. Please come and promote our Faith, promote our Festival, support our youth and our Wyckoff community. Questions? Please contact Claire Melissas 201-742-5521 or Nick Karras 201-848-9361.
Saint Nicholas Charity Golf Classic: On Monday, June 19th, Saint Nicholas will sponsor its 21st Charity Golf Classic at Haworth Country Club in Haworth, NJ. The proceeds from this event will support the Church sponsored charities, ministries and activities. How can you assist our church’s efforts? In addition to golfer registration, there are a variety of sponsorship opportunities available. Please remember you do not have to be a golfer to show your support. You can help by making a monetary donation or purchasing a sponsorship. As part of our prize selections we will be preparing Gift Baskets. We are in need of donations of wine, dry goods (i.e. crackers, fruits) to include in these baskets. Also restaurant gift certificates, sporting event and concert tickets would be very much appreciated. Drop off donations to the office or our table set up in the Parish Center during Fellowship Hour on Sundays. Your generosity will be appreciated! For additional information contact Roseanne Psomas at 201-704-5866 roseannepsomas@aol.com or Chrissie Toskos at 201-788-2246 taurus03@aol.com .
Daughters of Penelope: If you go to the Blue Moon Cafe in Wyckoff on Tuesday, May 23rd for lunch or dinner, a percentage of your bill will be donated to our Agape Chapter. (Can't get there that day?) Take-out, gift certificates or E-Gift Cards are an option. As always, your support will assist in funding our charities. Please present the special coupon with each purchase. Coupons will be available during the Sunday Fellowship Hour after the Liturgy or through e-blasts sent through the Saint Nicholas Office.
Saint Nicholas Vacation Church School (on our site): July 31- August 4, 9am-12:30pm for children 5-11 years of age. Contact frbill@stnicholasnj.org for information. VCS planning meeting May 26 @ 4:30pm
The Orthodox Ladies Prayer Group: Welcomes anyone interested in attending prayer meetings held on the 2nd and 4th Thursday evening of each month at 7:30pm in our Theotokos chapel. We spend a dedicated time of informal prayer lifting up our nation, church community and our families and friends. All prayer requests are kept confidential. Please feel free to call either the church office or Irene Ayvas 201-803-2307, with any urgent or ongoing prayer requests you would like added to our list or submitted through the “Email Prayer Chain”.
“Email Prayer Chain” Sign-Ups: Prayer is a simple, effective way to serve the people of our community. With today’s technology the majority of people read emails on a daily basis. We are simply asking for members of our congregation to sign up for our “Email Prayer Chain”, and they will receive occasional urgent prayer requests when a need arises for someone in immediate crisis. We ask only that you take a moment and pray for that person. It’s that simple, and powerful. If you are interested in being a part of this ministry, please email Irene Ayvas at iayvas@yahoo.com with your email contact info or call her at 201-803-2307.
Festival: Please join us in helping Saint Nicholas once again proudly showcase our faith and heritage via our wonderful Festival, in which we were recognized as one of the top three in its category by 201 Magazine in 2016. Please respond by sending your name, e-mail address, and which station you would like to volunteer for in 2017 to office@stnicholasnj.org. OPA!
Please note we are still looking for Chairperson(s) for the following: Inside Food Line, Cleaning Tables, & Busses/Parking. Contact Nick Pirsos for further information at Pirsos@verizon.net
Candle Money:Earn a convenient tax deduction record for your candle donations. Booklets are available for purchase at the Office or Narthex (Sundays). Candle money comes in a $2 booklet of 25 for $50; a $5 booklet of 10 for $50; a $10 booklet of 5 for $50 and a $20 booklet of 5 for $100. Candle money can only be used for candle donations. It is non-refundable, must be used for its full value and cannot be exchanged for cash.
Saint Nicholas Benevolent Fund: In his Epistle, Saint James teaches that “faith without works is dead.” Giving alms (charity) is an act of faith through good works. Anyone can donate anonymously to this Fund benefitting a family or a person in need. Mail your donation check or drop it in the collection plate in our Narthex. “God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:7). God bless you always for your open heart! You have made a difference! Contact Fr Bill for info frbill@stnicholasnj.org
Amazon Smile: Amazon has a unique feature for charitable organizations. For any amount spent on Amazon, the company will donate 0.5% of your entire shopping proceeds to your charity of choice. If you wish to participate in the program, rather than logging in directly to “amazon.com”, please login to “smile.amazon.com” and search for “St. Nicholas Wyckoff”.
Mortgage Burning: Participate in making Saint Nicholas debt free by pledging specific donations to this program. Further information can be found at the Narthex or contacting any Parish Council member.
Other Ways to Give: Please consider St. Nicholas throughout the year in the following ways: Gift in Stock; Gifting from an Estate; Corporate Matching Programs; recurring gift payments via credit card or PayPal. Call the Office for details.
Grandview LLC: If interested in assisting “friends of St. Nicholas” acquire additional property for church benefit, please contact Nick Pirsos at Pirsos@verizon.net for additional details.
Parish Stewardship Status: Stewardship is composed of our personal offering of time, talent and treasure. Stewardship is not dues but is based on Holy Scripture from both the Old and New Testaments. Since time and talent offerings are more difficult to measure, one measurement of our response to God is our average “treasure” pledge per steward household. In 2016, we had 430 steward households that donated a total of $347,301 or 51% of our budgetary needs. To date in 2017, we have 228 steward households that have pledged a total of $219,060.