THE ORTHODOX WAY
January 2017
 Dear St. Nicholas Family,

Happy New Year! Please join us for the Vasilopita cutting this Sunday. For the past two years, we've shared a new tradition where parishioners bring a vasilopita, made from their own family recipe. A number of our parishioners enjoyed a New Year's celebration at the St. Methodios Faith & Heritage Center. Here are a couple photos from the weekend.
  
Archdiocese and Metropolis News


See topics for
the St. John Chrysostom
Oratorical Festival
Be the Bee
New Year, New Focus

In This Issue
Quick Links
Parish Council
Contact Info
Sunday Worship
Orthros 8:15am
Divine Liturgy 9:30am
Did you know EFT and credit card payments can be made online to 
St. Nicholas?
See our list of sponsors

FESTIVAL FINAL SCORE: $61,000!
Thank you to all who gave to this spectacular event.
Lives of the Saints


Circumcision of Christ

Theophany
  
Holy Martyrs Hermylus & Stratonicus

Athanasios & Cyril

Xenophon & His Companions
January 26
Great Martyr Anysia
Father Demetri's Message
Family and Friends of St. Nicholas,

While we are still at the beginning of another year, and we may not come out and say it out loud, we probably all think of things we would like to do better, and ways we can improve our lives so that when we get to the end of this year, we can look back and give thanks to God for helping us do better.

As an Orthodox Christian, we must always have the desire to "do better" and become all that God wants us to be, not only for our own sake, but for the sake of our families and a lost world searching for answers.

While we make our list of things to do, whether it be in our minds, on paper, on our phones or laptops, we must know that the enemy of our souls has also made a list, and this list doesn't deviate or change a whole lot from person to person over time, but is basically the same list he has used for years and years to thwart and inhibit the advance of the church, and more specifically, a servant of God.

I wanted to take a moment to send this note to encourage you to as we hear in 1 Peter 5:8-9 "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world."

I would also encourage you to do what you can this year, with the help of the Holy Spirit to make an impact not just with your family, co-workers, friends or parish family members, but for the world around you. Be attentive to His voice, His direction for you and you will be amazed at what He will do! That traffic jam is not always an event caused by the enemy. Perhaps there's an "appointment" you don't know about! That person in the shopping line so irritated may not always be unreasonable, especially when you take time to simply bless them, and look for an opportunity to minister kindness to them.

If we simply do one small thing on top of another, then we are building up ourselves, and all those who we come in contact with. Thanks for being part of our Parish Family here at St. Nicholas!

May you and your loved ones have a Blessed 2017,

Fr. Demetri
Orthodoxy in the News
Synaxarion of the Holy Theophany
Children's Word
Written by Presbytera Alexandra Houck
Giving away our gifts
Ministry News
CHURCH SCHOOL 
Please contact us if you have any questions about Church School.

Lariza Panagiotou: larizap@earthlink.net
Amantha Tsaros: amanthatsaros@gmail.com 
GREEK SCHOOL 
Καλή Χρονιά and good health to all of you! We hope that you had a great Christmas vacation. The Greek School sang Ta Kalanda on Sunday, December 18. It was wonderful that many adults sang along with the children.

At the end of January, we celebrate the feast day of the Three Hierarchs: Saint John Chrysostom, Saint Gregory the Theologian and Saint Basil the Great. They contributed to religion and charitable activities, and to the education of various disciplines. This day in Greek is often referred to as η Γιορτή των Γραμμάτων (literally, the Feast Day of Letters). On January 29 a few students from the older class will give a presentation on the importance of the Three Hierarchs.

We are looking forward to the Apokreatiko Glendi which will be held on February 18. Please save the date. There will be lots of delicious Greek food, and dancing by our young students of the Greek School. There will be more details in the weekly bulletin and emails to follow. 
PHILOPTOCHOS  
Thank you to all who helped set up, serve and clean up for our St. Nicholas Feast Day celebrations!  We were honored to have His Eminence Metropolitan Methodios in attendance at the Vesper services. Our wonderful bakers contributed all the delicious desserts that made the receptions very special. Thank you all so much!

This year's Christmas Gathering at the Tuscan Kitchen was a great success, with about forty in attendance. Thanks to Christine Vallas, Marilyn Nichols, Valerie Larsin and Amelia Yanakis for making the arrangements.

Another thank you to Mary Correia, and those who contributed to our annual Toy Drive for the children of REACH. The gifts to the mothers of these children and the toys for the children were very much appreciated!

Our church and hall were decorated for the holidays thanks to our Philoptochos and to Mary Correia and Pam Brown. We all enjoyed the beautiful wreaths.

Our Christmas Bake Sale was a huge success. The Baklava workshop went very well. Thank you to Mary Correia., Felia Proakis, Valerie Larsin, Pam Brown, Sandra Miminos, Marilyn Nichols, Gloria Doukakes, Amelia Yanakis and Kathy Dimas for helping to set up. We collected a little over $1,250! This will greatly help our endeavors to support our charities. Many thanks to those who contributed by baking, and to all who bought the delicious baked goods.

This month's National Commitments include St. Basil's Academy & Orphanage, the Social Services Fund and Cancer & Other Major Illnesses Fund.

January is our yearly stewardship month. Pam Brown will chair this event. Thanks to Pam and all of you supporting our organization.

We will be hosting the Fellowship Hour on Vasilopita Sunday, January 8, and we will be accepting donations for St. Basil's Academy.

Our next meeting will be on Monday, January 9, at 6:30 pm.  I wish everybody a Healthy, Happy and Peaceful New Year!

God Bless,
Lela Digenis 
STEWARDSHIP REPORT
Dear St. Nicholas Parish Family,
Thank you for the opportunity to not only serve on the Parish Council, but to also serve as the 2016 Stewardship Chair. This year's PC President, Maria Decoulos, served as last year's Stewardship Chair and set a tremendous example, and was an inspiration and guide for me throughout the year (thank you, Maria!).

Through December 27, 2016:

Treasure: 2016 Stewardship Goal: $175,000
2016 Amount Pledged...$164,600 (94.06%)
2016 Contributions...$156,749 (89.57%)
Number of Families Pledging: 182
Additional pledges needed to make goal: $8051

Budgeted 2017 Stewardship goal: $177,625
So far, 48 families have returned Stewardship commitment forms... have you?

Please review the 2017 Stewardship form, available in the Narthex or from any Parish Council member, and prayerfully determine how you can best use your gifts of time, talents and treasure.

Listed in the Stewardship commitment form are examples to be considered, however, other ministries you may think of can also be considered!

With love in Christ, 
Tony Gray 
HEALTH & WELLNESS
First and foremost, wishing everyone a very Happy, Healthy and Blessed year ahead.

We resumed weekday exercise classes on Thursday, January 5th at 12pm in Saint Irene's Hall. Hope to see you there!

For questions / suggestions please contact Judy Gray:  jgray1321@gmail.c om 
AGAPE GROUP
"Wonders of the National Parks" presented by the Agape Group

Do you know how many national parks exist in the United States? How many have you visited? Most people have only been to one or two. To visit them all would take a lot of time and money since they are found all over the country. However, now there is an opportunity to visit them all, at least visually, in the new series of "Lectures by DVD" to be presented by the Agape Group at St. Irene's Hall starting on Thursday, January 12.

The lecturer is Ford Cochran, the Program Director for National Geographic Expeditions and an accomplished geologist. The lectures will include a discussion of the geological history of each park and will be accompanied by beautiful pictures by the National Geographic photographers. Each lecture will be one-hour long from 11:00am to 12:00pm. There will be eighteen weekly lectures.

By the way, there are fifty-nine National Parks in the United States.
PRAYER LIST
Pondering on the words of St. Paul, "Let no one seek his own, but each one the other's wellbeing. (I Cor. 10:24). Give rest to the weary, visit the sick, support the poor, for this is also worship. Aphahat       
         
For any prayer concern (salvation, health, employment, stress and anxieties, etc.) please send baptismal names only to:   st.nicholas.lex@verizon.net  
 
We may not be able to help others materially or medically, but God does hear our prayers and always asks us to pray for each other and so build up the Body of Christ (Eph. 4:11-16).
Messages 
 
Sunday Fellowship Hour
A gentle reminder to all Fellowship hosts: Please keep in mind that families hosting coffee hour (children's table and main table) are responsible for clean up after completion. We appreciate your help with keeping our parish clean and treating it as your own home...because it is! Thank you. 

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 ad,  please contact the church office at 781-862-6453 or email st.nicholaslex@verizon.net
Announcements



On November 25, 2016, the son of Felix and Stephanie Klock was baptized and given the name Logan Xavier (Theologos).  The grandparents are Francine and Nicholas Miles.
On November 30, 2016, a funeral service was celebrated for Peter Pantazelos, husband of Hytho Pantazelos and father of George Pantezelos and Marion Russell.

On December 14, 2016, the funeral service for Cassie C. Gountanis was held.  Mrs. Gountanis was the mother of Carol Haselton and Nancy Donaldson.
St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church | (781) 862-6453 | st.nicholas.lex@verizon.net | http://stnicholaslex.org/
17 Meriam Street, Lexington, MA 02420