THE ORTHODOX WAY
October 2014
 Dear St. Nicholas Family,

As fall is coming into full swing, it's curious to think that 50 years ago around this time the founding fathers of St. Nicholas were so excited knowing that our church was soon going to become a reality. We now have a parish family because of them! Don't miss the big celebration commemorating this event, the "50th Anniversary Gala" that is taking place on October 18. (See details in the right column.)
Archdiocese and Metropolis News


Assembly of Bishops: Message to Faithful on Middle East

AACST Needs Your Input
The Archdiocesan Advisory Committee on Science and Technology (AACST) is pan-Orthodox, comprised of theologians and experts in numerous areas of study, including: biology, physics, medicine and law. The Committee helps inform the members of our Holy Eparchial Synod and works toward the preparation of resource material that will assist the pastoral and educational ministry of the Church on an Archdiocesan, Metropolis, and parish level. In an effort to better understand the most relevant and pressing issues for Orthodox Christians, the AACST needs your feedback. By taking part in their survey, you can help them develop resources that will diligently articulate an Orthodox Christian perspective on these issues. AACST Survey
Letter from Metropolitan Methodios to St. George Parish, Bangor , ME
Metropolis of Boston's School of Byzantine Music Starts


In This Issue
Quick Links
Parish Council
Contact Info
Sunday Worship
Orthros           8:15am
Divine Liturgy 9:30am

Upcoming Events
St. Nicholas
50th Anniversary Dinner Gala

Saturday, October 18 Oakley Country Club
Watertown, MA 


Did you know EFT and credit card payments can be made for reservations to the 50th Anniversary Dinner Gala!
 
 
Lives of the Saints

 The Holy Protection 
of the Theotokos

Sergius & Bacchus

The Martyrs of Pergamus
October 13 
 
Anastasia the Martyr of Rome 
 
Epimachus of Egypt


Father Demetri's Message

Do you like to seek the praise of others?

 

Has social media increased that desire?...if you post something, do you constantly check to see if people liked it or if they commented on it???

 

Reflect on the words of St. Augustine: "Wanting to be feared and loved by other people, for not other reason than to experience a joy that is really no joy, is a miserable life. It's just worthless showing off. It leads to not loving God or devoutly fearing Him. In human society, there are certain jobs that make it necessary to be loved and feared by other people. The enemy of our true happiness therefore presses hard on us, scattering his traps of "Well done! Well done!" Everywhere - so that, while we eagerly pick them up, we may be caught by surprise and separate our joy from God's truth, attaching it to the deceits of other people. Then we take pleasure in being loved and feared, not for the sake of God, but instead of God. Truly the one who praises is better off than the one who is praised. For the one who praised was pleased by the gift of God in man, but the one who was praised was better pleased with the gift of man than with the gift of God."


 

Parish Council President Letter
October 2014

Dear St. Nicholas Parish Family,

 

St. Nicholas is now distributing our monthly bulletin, the "Orthodox Way," via this new email service.  As you can see, the bulletin is easy to access and read and has convenient links to resources. 

 

This wonderful new way of communicating with our community comes courtesy of Constant Contact. With this service we can also distribute surveys and even manage events -a convenient and useful new tool for our church. Constant Contact provides us this service at no cost through their non-profit program, which was thoughtfully directed to St. Nicholas by one of our parishioners.

 

The new bulletin format is a result of the hard work and dedication of our Communications Ministry. This is great example of applying one's talents and resources in a creative way to better our community. 

 

I hope you will take some time to read the newsletter when it comes to your inbox.

 

Enjoy the wonderful autumn season.

 

With love in Christ,

Tom Tsaros

ttsaros@gmail.com

617-733-6107

Orthodoxy in the News
The Children's Word
Written by Alexandra Houck
Ministry News
FAMILY NIGHT
 

Pumpkins?? Costumes?? Fun??

What's happening at the October Family Night

CHURCH SCHOOL

Church School starts at 9:30 a.m. when the Divine Liturgy starts. In order to motivate students to arrive to Church School on time (at 9:30 a.m.), we have implemented an attendance-based program:

-    Students who arrive prior to the Gospel Reading will get a stamp.

-     Students who attend the Orthos service will get two stamps.

Age appropriate awards will be given to students based on the number of stamps they have earned daily and/or during the course of the year. We all know how important it is for our children to hear the Holy Gospel. We ask parents and grandparents to please be supportive of your child's effort to get to Church on time on Sunday mornings.

Also, there are three classrooms set up inside St. Irene's Hall. We ask for all parishioners' cooperation and respect of that space while class is in progress. Parishioners should not be in the hall unless it's really necessary to do so. For those who have to be at the hall, please refrain from talking, since even whispers lead to distractions.

 

GREEK SCHOOL

We would like to welcome back all the students from previous years as well as all the new children who joined us this year.

 

Greek School started on Saturday, September 20. The children were very excited to begin classes. There are four teachers and a few teachers' aides for the younger classes. Greek is spoken in class and we encourage the parents to practice speaking to them as much as possible. There is also an adult class if any of you are still interested.

 

Fall is here with all its beauty. Enjoy the foliage while it is at its peak.

GOYA

The GOYA had our first meeting on September 14th to kick off the year and plan activities. Our first activity will be a hike at Blue Hills on Sunday, October 12. We will also be spreading awareness of the new St. Nicholas Church being built in NYC by presenting to the church. All proceeds from our pumpkin bundt cakes that we'll bake in November will be donated to their fund.

 

We are also planning a bowling excursion at Lanes N' Games for early November. Stay tuned for set dates. 

If you would like to receive emails about GOYA activities, please email Leto 
HOPE & JOY

We encourage all youth (5yrs old - 11yrs old) to be with us on Friday, October 3 for our first HOPE & JOY event of the New Church Year!!!

 

We will have an ice cream social and YOU will be able to make your own sundaes!!!

 

We also ask that you bring your own favorite board game from home (Monopoly, Sorry, Kerplunk, Hungry Hungry Hippos, Operation, Trouble, etc)

See you here!!!!

ST. IRENE'S PHILOPTOCHOS

We've had our first fall meeting and it was good to see all those in attendance.

 

We will greatly miss Hope, as she was such a vibrant member, full of ideas and always willing to help.  May her memory be eternal.

 

We collected $310 for Holy Cross/Hellenic College from the tray and we will send $500 to the school for their Scholarship Fund.  Thank you all very much!  Our other National commitment for September was to the Retired Clergy and Widowed Presvyteres Fund to which we sent $100.

St. Irene's will donate $100 to Alyssa Heisler for her mission trip this October.  It is a wonderful undertaking for her.

 

Once again, I remind all that our St. Nicholas parish will be hosting the community meal for the Lift Up Lexington group that resides at the Quality Inn.  This will take place on Sunday afernoon, October 26.  Food prep will begin in the afternoon with the meal served around 5 PM.  All those helping need to be over 18.  Look for the sign up sheet on the board and add your name to be a part of this wonderful ministry.  It is not only for Philoptochos members!

 

Hope to see you at our next meeting Tuesday, October 14 @ 6:30 PM

HEALTH & WELLNESS

We hope you all had a happy, blessed and health summer!

 

It is time to get ready for fall!!!  We will be starting our exercise classes in 4 week blocks. Classes will be starting on Tuesday, October 28th.  The first set of classes will be low impact , strength training for ALL ages and abilities!  There will also be some nutritional guidance as well. The first class schedule will be Tuesday and Thursday mornings at 10 AM . Please let Judy Gray know if you are interested. 

God bless you and your loved ones!

TEEN & ADULT CHOIR
Meets Thursday nights at 7:00pm. Join us!
Prayer List
Messages

Book Club
There has been some talk about starting up an Orthodox Book of the Month Club for members of our parish to meet on a weekly basis and discuss an Orthodox based book. We have picked a book! Raising Lazarus, Integral Healing in Orthodox Christianity edited by Stephen Muse. Don't forget you can easily order the book on amazon and St. Nicholas benefits from your purchase. Details on first meeting to follow.

Adult Catechism & Bible Study
We are happy to announce that Adult Catechism & Bible Study sessions have begun. The new time will be on Thursday evenings at 6:00 pm.

Upcoming Mission Trip by a Parish Family Member
Please consider supporting one of our parishioners traveling to Honduras to build a school.

An Opportunity to Feed the Homeless of Lexington ~ Lift Up Lexington
St. Irene's Philoptochos invites you to help host several Lexington families on Sunday, October 26

Lift Up Lexington is the interfaith effort, sponsored by the Lexington Interfaith Clergy Association, to help the transitional families currently being housed by the State of Massachusetts in local hotels as emergency overflow housing. 


Parish Family Activity

Not Receiving Church Material?
If you have not been receiving church material/mailing or emails, please contact the church office at 
781-862-6453 or email st.nicholaslex@verizon.net. Thank you.

Monthly Bulletin Personal or Business Ad
If you are interested in placing  a personal or business, please contact the church office at 781-862-6453 or email st.nicholaslex@verizon.net.
Announcements

Falling Asleep of 

Hope Tsacoyeanes

 

On Saturday, September 20, 2014, a funeral service was celebrated for Hope Tsacoyeanes.  She was the wife of the late James Tsacoyeanes and mother of Andrea Beaudry Leah Price and Stephanie Phillips and grandmother to six grandchildren.




 
October Celebrations: Name Days, Birthdays and Wedding Anniversaries
St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church | (781) 862-6453 | st.nicholas.lex@verizon.net | http://stnicholaslex.org/
17 Meriam Street
Lexington, MA 02420

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