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.
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Orthros: 9:00A.M. Epistle: II Timothy 4:5-8 (pg. 1355) |
Divine Liturgy: 10:00A.M. Gospel: Mark 1:1-8 (pg.1180) |
Acolytes: Paul Dobrow, Emmanuel Pittas, Nico Pittas, Alex Peppes, Alexi Argyros, Aidan William Soukas, C J Soukas,
Ushers: Ann Barlas, Shelley Markoulis, Dimitri Markoulis, George Karkanias |
Epistle Reader & Greeter(s): GOYA
Fellowship Hour Daughters of Penelope
Narthex: Kathy Van Dine,
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The Theophany of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
About the beginning of our Lord's thirtieth year, John the Forerunner, who was some six months older than Our Savior according to the flesh, and had lived in the wilderness since his childhood, received a command from God and came into the parts of the Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance unto the remission of sins. Then our Savior also came from Galilee to the Jordan, and sought and received baptism though He was the Master and John was but a servant. Whereupon, there came to pass those marvelous deeds, great and beyond nature: the Heavens were opened, the Spirit descended in the form of a dove upon Him that was being baptized and the voice was heard from the Heavens hearing witness that this was the beloved Son of God, now baptized as a man (Matt. 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:1-22). From these events the Divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ and the great mystery of the Trinity were demonstrated. It is also from this that the present feast is called "Theophany," that is, the divine manifestation, God's appearance among men. On this venerable day the sacred mystery of Christian baptism was inaugurated; henceforth also began the saving preaching of the Kingdom of the Heavens.
Religious Education: No religious education classes today.
tray collection: for our saint nicholas missions team(s) ministry. we wish to send at least one team of our own MISSIONARIES TO spread the gospel in 2020. your support of missions is part of the christian witness & a SCRIPTURALLY BASED FORM OF STEWARDSHIP. “go and preach the Gospel to all nations( Matthew 28:16-20).”
Parish General Elections Today, January 5, 2020 11:45am-2pm
Holiday Services continue
Monday, January 6th: Theophany
9am Orthros and 10am Divine Liturgy of Saint basil, Agiasmos (Great Blessing of the Waters)
Tuesday, January 7th: Synaxis of John the Baptist
9am Orthros and 10am Divine Liturgy
COMING UP VERY VERY SOON IN 2020 (see your bulletin’s inserts):
PAN ORTHODOX VESPERS AND IOCC WINE TASTING BENEFIT EVENT saturday FEBRUARY 8, 2020
Pilgrimage to Jerusalem and the Holy Land may 25- June 3, 2020. deposit due soon!
Young Emerging Adults (YEA): Next gathering is tomorrow, Monday, January 6th at 7:30pm at the home of Irene and Anton Ayvas. All young people ages 18-40 are invited! Contact Irene Ayvas iayvas@yahoo.com
KALI PAREA (seniors’ fellowship): Our first meeting/luncheon of the New Year will take place on Tuesday, January 7, 2020 - 12Noon in the Fellowship Hall. Luncheon will be served and we will cut the Vasilopita. It is also the Synaxis of John the Baptist are expected to attend worship, which starts with Orthros at 9AM and Divine Liturgy at 10AM.
Wishing you all the joy of family, the gift of friends and the best of everything in 2020.
Vasilopita, Sunday, January 12th, 2020: Please join us for our Vasilopita celebration in the Fellowship Hall after church. May this wonderful tradition of our Faith be a source of goodness and joy for all our Saint Nicholas families.
House/ Business Blessings 2020: To have your home and/or business blessed for 2020 please complete a blue request form and insert in the drop box in the narthex or mail it to the parish office.
Why do we have our Homes/ Businesses Blessed after Theophany?
We celebrate Theophany on January 6th each year. Theophanymeans the appearance or manifestation of God. At Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan River, according to the gospels of Mark & John, Jesus was there, the voice of the Father was heard and something in the form of a dove alighted on Jesus’ head. The Holy Trinity- (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) was present. As Orthodox Christians, it is imperative that God is in our homes ALL year round. By inviting our pastor to bless our homes and businesses we are inviting Christ Himself to be in our midst as our pastor prays with us. Saint John Chrysostom asserted that the first church is the home. The active presence of Jesus Christ creates a nurturing, loving home. A church home is the foundation of who we are and in Whom we believe. Thus Holy water blessings (Agiasmos) bring Christ into our homes and businesses.
Greeters and Readers: Our Lord (and we) is looking for YOU to be a “V.I.P.” as a Greeter and Reader! Because you are valuable as a “Volunteer in Parish”, please call Katherine Corniotes at 201.327.3645.
Our Shut Ins Need Christ Too! If you are aware of people who cannot come to church for worship or to receive the sacraments and/or they just need a visit from Fr. Bill or our Ladies Philoptochos (or both), please do not wait; contact Fr. Bill ASAP or any Ladies Philoptochos member.
Saint Nicholas Outreach: As a result of Saint Nicholas’ successful 2018 Fundraising activities, of which 10% is allocated for Outreach, we were able to fund one in-house ministry in 2019, St. Nicholas: Ladies Prayer Event, $1,000; in addition we are making the following donations at this time; OCMC (Ghana), $3,100; Special Olympics of NJ, $2,350; St. Michael's Home, $2,000; Spectrum for Living $1,275; St. Basil Academy, $1225; Anonymous, $1,000; Hellenic Relief Fund, $900; Wyckoff (Ambulance), $775; Hellenic College Holy Cross, $600; Orthodox Christian Fellowship, $600; St. Jude Children's Research Hospital $575; Eva's Village $475; Carl Inserra Leukemia Fund $450; Holy Protection Monastery (Aghia Skepi), $425; IOCC $400; THON $350; The NY Ronald McDonald House (Greek Division) $325; Wyckoff (Fire Dept.# 2) $275. The total outreach achieved was $18,100. Thank you Saint Nicholas parishioners. All glory to God!
Giving Tree/Mortgage Burning Campaign: byGod’s Graceour parish plans to be mortgage free this year and you can help to make it happen! Various giving levels are available: you can leaf your donation, or show your love - donate a dove… be the first on your block to donate a rock…be a hunk and give a tree trunk! You can memorialize your loved one by donating to the Giving Tree and including a scriptural message. Contact Fr. Bill at 201 652 4774 ext. 12 or frbill@stnicholasnj.org
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:
Seventh Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from John 20:1-10
On the first day of the week 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.
Prokeimenon. Plagal Second Mode. Psalm 27.9,1.
O Lord, save your people and bless your inheritance.
Verse: To you, O Lord, I have cried, O my God.
The reading is from St. Paul's Second Letter to Timothy 4:5-8.
TIMOTHY, my son, always be steady, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfil your ministry.
For I am already on the point of being sacrificed; the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.
Sunday before Epiphany
The Reading is from Mark 1:1-8
The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in the prophets, 'Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who shall prepare your way; the voice of one crying in the wilderness: prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.' John was baptizing in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And there went out to him all the country of Judea, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel's hair, and had a leather girdle around his waist, and ate locusts and wild honey. And he preached, saying, "After me comes he who is mightier than I, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."
When the persecution of Diocletian broke out in 290, Saint Theopemptus, a bishop, was taken for his confession of Christ, and convicted Diocletian to his face for his error and ungodliness. Remaining unhurt after cruel tortures, he was given poison to drink, which had been prepared by a sorcerer named Theonas. Protected by divine grace from this also, he drew Theonas to Christ, and after other torments, was beheaded. Saint Theonas was cast into a pit and buried alive.
Saint Syncletike was from Alexandria in Egypt. She lived eighty-three years in virginity and asceticism, and became the leader and teacher of many nuns. What Saint Anthony the Great was to men, she became to women: a model of mortification of the flesh, of patience in afflictions, and of wise instruction; for this, she is known a "Amma," a title corresponding to "Abba." Towards the end of her long life, she was stricken with an exceedingly painful disease, which she endured with faith and magnanimity. She reposed in the middle of the fourth century. It is said of Saint Syncletike that she was the virgin who hid Saint Athanasius from the Arians for more than a year in the environs of Alexandria, and it is to Saint Athanasius that her life is ascribed (PG 18:1488-1557).
About the beginning of our Lord's thirtieth year, John the Forerunner, who was some six months older than Our Saviour according to the flesh, and had lived in the wilderness since his childhood, received a command from God and came into the parts of the Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance unto the remission of sins. Then our Saviour also came from Galilee to the Jordan, and sought and received baptism though He was the Master and John was but a servant. Whereupon, there came to pass those marvellous deeds, great and beyond nature: the Heavens were opened, the Spirit descended in the form of a dove upon Him that was being baptized and the voice was heard from the Heavens hearing witness that this was the beloved Son of God, now baptized as a man (Matt. 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:1-22). From these events the Divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ and the great mystery of the Trinity were demonstrated. It is also from this that the present feast is called "Theophany," that is, the divine manifestation, God's appearance among men. On this venerable day the sacred mystery of Christian baptism was inaugurated; henceforth also began the saving preaching of the Kingdom of the Heavens.
About the beginning of our Lord's thirtieth year, John the Forerunner, who was some six months older than Our Saviour according to the flesh, and had lived in the wilderness since his childhood, received a command from God and came into the parts of the Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance unto the remission of sins. Then our Saviour also came from Galilee to the Jordan, and sought and received baptism though He was the Master and John was but a servant. Whereupon, there came to pass those marvellous deeds, great and beyond nature: the Heavens were opened, the Spirit descended in the form of a dove upon Him that was being baptized and the voice was heard from the Heavens hearing witness that this was the beloved Son of God, now baptized as a man (Matt. 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:1-22). From these events the Divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ and the great mystery of the Trinity were demonstrated. It is also from this that the present feast is called "Theophany," that is, the divine manifestation, God's appearance among men. On this venerable day the sacred mystery of Christian baptism was inaugurated; henceforth also began the saving preaching of the Kingdom of the Heavens.
Today we celebrate the Synaxis in honour of the most sacred Forerunner, since he ministered at the Mystery of the Divine Baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Rest from labour. Fish allowed.
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