Nov 6, 2016: The Parish Weekend Update

[St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Bethlehem]

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“What does salvation mean? Does our body have to die so that we can enter the kingdom of Christ? Only one thing counts: to keep the tension of prayer and of repentance. Then death will not be a rupture, but a crossing to the Kingdom, for which we will have prepared ourselves.”

- Fr. Sophrony Sakharov

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PHOTO OF THE WEEK:

Caption: Daily liturgies have begun at St. Nicholas and will continue through Christmas, join us!

SERVICE SCHEDULE:
Two Liturgies this Week.
Daily Liturgies have started, and will continue from now until Christmas!

• Saturday 11/5: 
• Orthros & Divine Liturgy, 8am
• Great Vespers, 7pm
• Sunday 11/6: (Two Liturgies) 
• Orthros, 7:15am
• Divine Liturgy (Greek), 8:30am
• Sunday School, 9:45
• Divine Liturgy (English), 10:15am
• Monday 11/7: Orthros & Liturgy, 8am
• Tuesday 11/8: 
• Orthros & Liturgy, 8am (Holy Archangels)
• Vespers, Paraklesis, Engomia, 6pm
• Wednesday 11/9: 
• Orthros & Divine Liturgy, 8am (St. Nektarios)
• Paraklesis, 6pm
• Thursday 11/10: Orthros & Liturgy, 8am
• Friday 11/11: Orthros & Liturgy, 8am (St. Menas, Victor, Vincent and Stephania)
• Saturday 11/12: 
• Orthros & Liturgy, 8am
• Great Vespers, 7pm
  
• Sunday 11/13: (Two Liturgies) 
• Orthros, 7:15am
• Divine Liturgy (Greek), 8:30am
• Sunday School, 9:45
• Divine Liturgy (English), 10:15am

CHANT SCHEDULE:  Nov 6 (1st - Chanters / 2nd - Choir) - Nov 13 (1st - Choir / 2nd - Chanters)

ALTAR BOY SCHEDULE: Nov 6 - Altar Group D

YOUTH CORNER: 

JOY:  Bible Study and LEGO Building: Sun. Nov. 13, 5:00pm

GOYA: 

• 2016-17 GOYA Stewardship Card (Click Here to fill out). All GOYAns must be signed up to participate in GOYA events.
• GOYA Basketball: Next practice is TODAY Fri. Nov 4, 6-7pm at the Hanover Twp Community Center.  
• GOYA Dinner Discussion: THIS Sunday, Nov 6, 6-8pm at the Kounoupis home.
• ​2016 GOYA Fall Retreat will be held at Camp Nazareth, from Friday, November 18th – Sunday, November 20th. If you're interested in going, please let Fr. Alexey know!
• Regional GOYA Advent Pilgrimage to Holy Protection Monastery - Dec 3, 2016.  See attached flyer for info!
• (Jrs & Srs!) CrossRoad Applications are open!  See attached flyer or visit www.crossroadinstitute.org for more info.

OCF: (College Students) 

• Next Meeting - Tues. Nov. 8th, 6:15-7:15pm at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, Bethlehem. 
  
• Sign up for College Conference East!  More info at www.ocf.net
  
• Visit www.stnicholas.org/email to sign up for OCF.  See attached schedule!

Parental Note: Moms with infants and toddlers: If you would like to receive Holy Communion first, please meet the designated Parish Council member in the narthex during the homily to be escorted down the side isle for Holy Communion.

What group is your child in?

TOTS (age 0-4)

HOPE (age 5-2nd Grade) 

JOY (3-6 Grade) 

GOYA (7-12 Grade)

More at www.stnicholas.org/calendar.html

GREEK SCHOOL: 
ΤΑ ΝΕΑ ΤΟΥ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΟΥ ΣΧΟΛΕΙΟΥ

• Το Ελληνικό Σχολείο θα ήθελε να ευχαριστήσει όσους δούλεψαν σκληρά για να οργανώσουν τους εορτασμούς των 100 χρόνων καθώς και τους μαθητές και τις οικογένειές τους για τη συμμετοχή στο πρόγραμμα των παιδιών την Κυριακή. Ο παλμός των παιδιών, ο ενθουσιασμός του Αρχιεπισκόπου και του Δεσπότη μας και η ανταπόκριση των ενοριτών σημαίνουν τόσα πολλά για το μέλλον της κοινότητάς μας. Ευχόμαστε η ελληνική μας κουλτούρα και παράδοση να συνεχίζουν να θριαμβεύουν και στα επόμενα 100 χρόνια!
• Το Σάββατο, 5 Νοεμβρίου αρχίζουν οι τάξεις της Ρωμαίικης Σχολής! Εκμεταλλευτείτε τη μοναδική ευκαιρία να μάθετε την ελληνική γλώσσα, ελληνικούς χορούς και τη βυζαντινή, παραδοσιακή, εκκλησιαστική μας μουσική. Οι τάξεις ειναι ανοιχτές σε μέλη της κοινότητας και μη. Πληροφορίες: Γεωργία Βασιλοπούλου svas...@hotmail.com or 906-361-4145
• 28 Νοεμβρίου: Εκδρομή στην Ιερά Μονή Αγίας Σκέπης για μια μέρα ελληνικής ξενάγησης και παρέας, για τις οικογένειες των μαθητών του Ελληνικού Σχολείου και της Ρωμαίικης Σχολής. Δηλώσεις συμμετοχής στη δασκάλα της τάξης σας.

GREEK SCHOOL NEWS

• The Greek School would like to thank those who worked so hard to organize the Centennial and the students and families for their enthusiastic participation in the children's program on Sunday. The pulse of the children, the enthusiasm of our Archbishop and Bishop, and the response of parishioners mean so much for the future of our community, and we wish for our Greek culture and traditions to thrive and continue in our community for the next hundred years!
• Romaic School begins on Saturday, November 5! Take advantage of the unique opportunity to learn the Greek language, Greek dancing and Byzantine traditional church music. The classes are open to both community members and everyone else! For more information, contact Georgia Vasilopoulos at svas...@hotmail.com or 906-361-4145
• On November 28th, the Greek School will go on a field trip to the Holy Protection Monastery for a day of Greek language and fellowship for the Greek & Romaic School students and families. See teachers if you are interested!

MINISTRIES:

BIBLE STUDIES: Mondays with Fr. Palis at 7pm. Orthodox Study on Wednesdays will resume in January.

MISSIONS: 

• Madagascar Donations! The time has come to box up gently used clothes, household furniture, utensils, and other items that will be useful to the Metropolitan of Madagascar in his assistance of those seeking his help.  A tractor trailer is parked on the side of the church and boxed, labeled donations will be accepted on Sundays from 11-1pm, Mondays from 3-7pm, Tuesdays 11am-5pm from now until late November.  Please email eugeniavasilia@hotmail.com with any questions!
• Item examples: 
• Children's clothing
• Household items
• Furniture (folding chairs and table)
• Carpets
• Dishes & utensils
• Non-perishable food
• School items
• Etc.

YAL: Souvlaki sale on Nov 13, after first liturgy.  See attached flyer! 2 for $6, 4 for $10. All proceeds to benefit families in need in Greece.

PHILOPTOCHOS:

• November Food Drive - Nov. 1st-20th!  A box will be outside the hall for  donations.
• Philoptochos Social - Saturday, November 26, 3pm.

ICONOGRAPHY: God-willing, we will soon be completing one of the last major phases of iconography for our church. Many thanks to all of the generous supporters of this beautiful work to this point. The following full-body saints will complete the left side of the Nave. If you are interested in donating one in honor of your family, please see Fr. Palis, Steve Kandianis or Niko Tatalias: St. Kyranna the New Martyr, St. Makrina, St. Olympiada the Deaconess and St. Matrona of Moscow.

PRAY & PLAY:

• MEN'S PICK-UP BASKETBALL: Next pick-up game will be TONIGHT Nov 4, 8:30-10:30pm (note the new time!) at Freedom High School Aux Gym. Park in the East parking lot (by tennis courts) and enter through the center black doors to the gym.  

SENIORS:

• Next Senior's Luncheon is Monday, November 14th at St. Nicholas at noon.
• Annunciation Church in Lancaster will be hosting this year's Christmas party. December 8th. The cost of the bus will be $30. We need to know immediately if anyone is interested because the buses are at a premium at this point  because of the Christmas holidays. For more information contact Stella Marino 610-867-8503.

LEHIGH VALLEY ORTHODOXY: 

• Please see flyer for Pilgrimage to the Holy Lands.
• Please see flyer for St. George's Bazaar.

We are always seeking Coffee Hour Hosts for upcoming months!  Please contact the church office, 610.867.1327. 

Have something to share? Email your ministry notes to Fr. Alexey to have them added to the next "Weekend Update".

ST. NICHOLAS ONLINE: 

• Website - Calendar - Facebook - YouTube  

SUNDAY SERMONS: Online.

• Visit www.stnicholas.org/SundaySermons to listen.
  
• Subscribe by clicking in bottom right of page.
  

ORTHODOX MULTIMEDIA: 

• Audio: St. Nicholas Sunday Sermons (Our Parish)
• Audio: Lectures by Kosta Zalalas (Our Parish)
• TV4E Movie: "O Agios" (subtitles translated by Fr. Palis)
• YouTube Series: Be the Bee (GOA) 
  
• YouTube Series: The Trench (GOA)
• YouTube Series: Coffee With Sister Vassa
  
• Ministries of the Archdiocese: Video Updates (GOA)
  

THIS SUNDAY WE CELEBRATE: more at www.goarch.org

Paul the Confessor