St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church

The Wonderworker

ISSUE 2 FEBRUARY 2020

Pg 2 Fr. Soterios and Memorials Pg 7 Parish Council & Investment Pg 3 Family Night Pg 8 Key Contacts Pg 9 Philoptochos & Vision 2022 Pg 4 Saturday of Souls Pg 5 Youth Ministry Pg10 Picture Album Pg 6 Sunday School Pg11 Monthly Calendar Pg12 Special Invitation Special Dates in February

Sunday, February 2nd, 8:45am Orthros and Divine Liturgy Presentation of our Lord February Greeter Duty:

Sunday, February 2nd Thursday, February 6th, 8:30am Orthros and Divine Liturgy Damian & Sabrina Piaschyk

St. Photios Sunday, February 9th Sunday, February 9th, 8:45am Bryan Cummings Orthros and Divine Liturgy Publican and Pharisee Sunday, February 16th Tatiana Malys Sunday, February 16th, 8:45am Orthros and Divine Liturgy Sunday, February 23rd Prodigal Son Kim Tatoian

Saturday, February 22nd, 8:30am Please be on time, 9:30am, for Orthros and Divine Liturgy your duty and if you can’t be here, 1st Saturday of the Souls Please find someone to fill in.

Sunday, February 23rd, 8:45am February Prosforo Schedule Orthros and Divine Liturgy Judgement (Meatfare) Sunday Sunday, February 2nd Madison Christ Friday, February 28th, 6:00pm Paraklesis Sunday. February 9th For Health and Healing Joanne Christ

Saturday, February 29th, 10:30am Sunday, February 16th Divine Liturgy Christine Cheronis 2nd Saturday of Souls In Olean Sunday, February 23rd Angie Turner

Reverend Father Soterios Rousakis, Protopresbyter 15 Francis Street · Jamestown, NY 14701 www.stnicholasjamestown.org Email: [email protected] 716-483-0022 FROM THE DESK OF FR. SOTERI

The Orthodox Church Liturgical life calendar is dominated by two very important peri- ods: the TRIODION PERIOD and the PENTECOSTARION PERIOD. The first is a time which contains a preparation period for the GREAT LENT and the HOLY and GREAT WEEK. The PENTECOSTARION time is the period which covers PASCHA (HOLY SATUR- DAY NIGHT) to PENTECOST. The TRIODION begins on Sunday, February 9th and is symbolic of our life and spiritual struggles on earth. The PENTECOSTARION period symbolizes the life that awaits us in the Heavenly Kingdom when we finish the earthly race and spiritual journey.

I would like to share with you an overview of the four Sunday pre-Lenten period. It opens with the Parable of the Publican and the Pharisee. This Gospel story is taken from St. Luke and its central theme is a lesson in humility and its spiritual benefits. The next Sunday, we hear the Parable of the Prodigal Son from St. Luke, which presents us with a comprehen- sive, step by step, unfolding of the process of repentance and confession. The period then moves on to the MEAT FARESUNDAY, otherwise known as the SUNDAY OF THE LAST JUDGEMENT. MEATFARE (APOKREO) because that is supposed to be the LAST DAY OF MEAT until PASCHA. The LAST JUDGEMENT because the Gospel lesson from St. Mat- thew speaks about the events of THE DAY OF JUDGEMENT as they will be determined by our use or abuse of Christian love. The last Sunday of the pre-Lenten period is known as CHEESEFARE SUNDAY, the last day for dairy products until PASCHA. However, the real theme of this Sunday is FORGIVENESS as the Gospel from St. Matthew reminds us.

Before entering the spiritual workshop and journey of the GREAT LENT, our Holy Or- thodox Church wisely and gradually gives us the spiritual ingredients, the humility, repent- ance and confession, love and forgiveness. There are three moving hymns, chanted after the Matins (Orthros) Gospel lesson every Sunday throughout the TRIODION PERIOD that I want to share with you, hoping that these hymns will become a constant reminder of the spir- itual disposition with which we must enter the journey to PASCHA.

“Open to me the gates of repentance, O giver of life, for my spirit rises early toward Your Holy Temple to pray, bearing the temple of my body all-defiled; but as the compassion- ate One, purify me by Your loving mercy.”

“Lead me on the paths of salvation, O Theotokos, for I have profaned my soul with shameful sins, as I have wasted my life in laziness. But, through your intercessions, deliver me from all impurity.”

“When I, the wretched one, think of evils I have done, I tremble at the fearful day of judgement. But, encouraged by your loving mercy, like David, I cry out to you: have mercy on me, O God, according to your great mercy.”

Let us pledge to enter our training for the Lenten Journey with a humble and contrite heart, with an honest effort to see the image of God in everyone, especially in the person we do not like. Who knows, chances are you will discover a most valuable person in Christ you never allowed yourself to believe existed. May God bless and sustain you in your efforts.

MEMORIALS William Nicholas Bender Crissi Verros & Chris A. Verros Joanne and Terry Christ & Maddie * flowers for the Christmas Season Dr. Anthony & Kim Tuccio Theodora (Terri) & Joe Porte Kevin, Karen & Ava Palmquist

FAMILY NIGHT Please join us for:

Every Wednesday during Great Lent beginning Wednesday, March 4th and running through Wednesday, April 8th (except March 25th) Immediately following the Pre-Sanctified Liturgy.

This year’s theme is: Sacred Symbols that Speak.

Wednesday, March 4th - Vestments (Dinner hosted by the Parish Council)

Wednesday, March 11th - Services of Kairos & Proskomidi (Dinner hosted by the Philoptochos)

Wednesday, March 18th - Church Building (Dinner hosted by the Choir)

Wednesday, April 1st - Liturgical Items (Dinner is Open for everyone to bring something)

Wednesday, April 8th - The Ascension (Dinner hosted by the Youth Ministries and Sunday School)

Come be a part of our St. Nicholas Community Family Night program for prayer, faith, food, fellowship and discussion.

5:30pm Pre-Sanctified Liturgy 6:40pm Dinner 7:00pm Presentation

SATURDAY OF SOULS

SATURDAY OF SOULS—ΨΥΧΟΣΑΒΒΑΤΟΝ February 22nd, 29th and March 7th

On the first two Saturdays prior to the Great Lent and the first Saturday of the Great Lent, the Church commemorates the departed on the SATURDAY OF SOULS.

Please complete the form below with the BAPTISMAL FIRST NAMES ONLY of those to be commemorated at the “Saturday of Souls” memorial services. PLEASE WRITE CLEARLY.

Σάς παρακαλούμε να συμπληρώσετε το κάτωθι φόρμ με τα ονόματα τεθνεώτον (μόνο το βαπτιστικό πρώτο όνομα) και να το στείλετε στο Πατέρα Ρουσάκη. ΝΑ ΓΡΑΨΕΤΕ ΜΕ ΚΑΘΑΡΑ ΓΡΑΜΜΑΤΑ!

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YOUTH MINISTRY

Family Bowling Saturday February 29th at 3pm at Frewsburg Lanes. All are welcome and encouraged to attend!

A Lenten BeeTreat at St. Sophia in Syracuse, NY for Pre-K through Young Adult. Steve Christoforou, Star of the Y2AM YouTube Channel (Orthodox Christian Youth & Young Ministries) will be there, Live and In Person! If you are interested in attending, please see Alexis or Father. SUNDAY SCHOOL

JOIN US ON SUNDAY FEBURARY 23RD AT 10:00AM FOR THE CELEBRATION OF MEATFARE SUNDAY THERE WILL BE RED AND WHITE CHILI OP- TIONS, SALAD, AND DESSERT. $10/adult Children $5, less than 5 years old are free All proceeds benefit Sunday school

Great Lent is the 40 day period in which we start to prepare ourselves for the greatest feast of our Church! Sunday school will be helping to prepare students for this journey by focusing on the following:

• seeing Great Lent as opportunity, not as an imposition • the importance of simplifying and ‘slowing down’ during Great Lent • there’s more to Great Lent than avoiding certain foods—there are opportunities for prayer, reflection, and renewal.

PARISH COUNCIL & MEMORIALS

Dear Fellow Parishioners,

It is with great honor and privilege that I have been reelected as your Parish Council President. After now beginning my twelfth year on the Council, and starting my fourth year as President, it’s important to reflect on all the hard work and effort that goes into the volunteer service of the Council as we serve the Lord and his mission through the maintenance and growth of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church. While I may hold the title of President, it is the perseverance and love of many, in and out of the Council that have always aided in truly making our church what it is today. Thank you to all of my fellow Council members and Executive Committee as we approach another calendar year with the love of God and our Parish in mind. Our initiative to bring more people into the involvement of the Greeter Ministry has been a success. Thank you to Angie Turner for spearheading this effort, and eve- ryone has signed up. It’s been great to see some different faces as we enter church each week. I encourage all families to sign up on the bulletin board downstairs in Fel- lowship Hall! The Council continues to look toward the spring to build upon our efforts with the City of Jamestown in order to curb the erosion issue that is occurring off of our back driveway, and the leaking of the back wall behind the stage remains an issue to be monitored as the full rain and snow of the fall and winter has been a good test with the project being completed. If there are any questions or concerns surrounding our Church, please don’t hesitate to contact myself, or any Council member.

With love in Christ,

Tim Anderson Council President

Investment Committee Report The St. Nicholas Endowment fund earned 19.9% in 2019. In light of such perfor- mance and in keeping with the Investment and Spending Policy adopted by General Assembly in 2018, the Investment Committee made the full allowable distribution amount of 5%. $15,000 was disbursed to the Church in December of 2019. Louis A. Deppas provided a financial planning seminar after coffee hour in Janu- ary. We are grateful to Lou for his time and expertise! The committee plans to offer a similar presentation again in the fall.

KEY CONTACTS

St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church 2020 Key Contacts Listing (Submit any changes/corrections to Angie Turner at [email protected])

PARISH PRIEST & PARISH COUNCIL: Position Council Member: Cell Phone: Email: Parish Priest Fr. Soterios Rousakis 408-799-6830 [email protected] President Tim Anderson 716-572-8584 [email protected] Vice President Todd Singleton 716-969-1815 [email protected] Treasurer Damian Piaschyk 814-706-7740 [email protected] Secretary Angie Turner 814-730-3375 [email protected] Chris Cheronis 716-410-4244 [email protected] Joanne Christ 716-397-4153 [email protected] Bryan Cummings 716-969-5465 [email protected] Chris Christodoulou 716-499-1422 [email protected] Tatiana Malys 240-477-9006 [email protected]

AUDIT COMMITTEE: Christine Anderson, Liz Frederick, John Silo BOOKKEEPER/TREASURER ASSISTANT: Laz Theofilactidis, Billy Cummings BOOKSTORE: see Father Soteris for any needs BREAD BAKING (PROSFORO): Joanne Christ (Chairperson); Madison Christ, Chris Cheronis, Angie Turner, Sabrina Piaschyk, Tiffany Theofilactidis. BUDGET & FINANCE COMMITTEE: Damian Piaschyk, Tim Anderson BUILDING & PLANNING/FACILITIES: Under Direction of Parish Council & Purchasing Policy BULLETIN: Angie Turner CHOIR: Jim Cheronis COFFEE HOUR COORDINATOR: Tim Anderson ELECTIONS COMMITTEE: Kim Tatoian, Helen Voulgaris, Stephanie Lampropolos FELLOWSHIP HALL RENTALS/EVENTS: Through the Parish Council FUND RAISING COMMITTEE: (NEED VOLUNTEERS – contact a Parish Council Member) INVESTMENT COMMITTEE: Alexis Singleton, George Spanos, John Silo and Liz Frederick LADIES ERENE SOCIETY: Christine Cheronis, President MAILING LIST: Angie Turner MAILINGS (SPECIAL): Liz Frederick & Angie Turner (Yassou tickets, Christmas card) MEMBERSHIP & COLLECTIONS COMMITTEE: Christine Cheronis, Damian Piaschyk, Fr. Soteris MEMORIALS-Coordination: Fr. Soteris, Liz Frederick and Christine Cheronis MEMORIALS-Recordkeeping: Ethel Enserro NEWSLETTER COMMITTEE: Fr. Soteris, Liz Frederick, Angie Turner ST. NICHOLAS SCHOLARSHIP FUND: Liz Frederick, Chris Cheronis, Joanne Christ SPECIAL EVENTS/LUNCHEONS: Todd Singleton, Jerry Newburg STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE: Courtney Theo (Chair), Tiffany Theo, Damian Piaschyk (ex officio) SUNDAY SCHOOL: Sabrina Piaschyk, Rachel & Tim Anderson, Elizabeth Newburg, Laz Theofilactidis. GREETER MINISTRY: Parish Council WEB SITE, INTERNET, FACEBOOK: Sabrina Piaschyk & Rachel Anderson YASSOU FESTIVAL: John Silo, Chairperson YOUTH/GOYA MINISTRY: Alexis Singleton

PHILOPTOCHOS & VISION 2022

St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Ladies Erene Society Submitted by: Christine Cheronis, President

The Ladies would like to extend a big “Thank You” to Todd Singleton for making this year’s Vasilopi- ta. It was delicious and everyone enjoyed it, especially the winners of the coins! Congratulations to Sawyer Anderson and Courtney Theofilactidis (accepting for the Stewardship Committee)! May you have a year of Good Luck and Fortune!

We look forward to beginning our new program at the St. Susan’s Kitchen. Parishioners will be giv- en the opportunity to sign up for a Saturday during the year to volunteer at St. Susan’s Kitchen which is an important outreach mission that began with our own Priest, Father Nicholas Rafael. It is our wish, as the Ladies Erene Society, that we embrace this opportunity to serve our community by sending monthly “teams” once a month to assist St. Susan’s. Kim Tatoian is the coordinator for this new program and will be scheduling “teams”. Ask how you can participate!

Our next Erene Society meeting will be held on Thursday, February 6th at 6pm. If you are interested in learning more about the Philoptochos society and learning more about the history of the women of the Orthodox Faith, please join us! We look forward to a year filled with activities that fulfill the mis- sion of the Philoptochos Society in serving others.

If you are interested in joining or learning more about the Ladies Erene Society, please contact Christine Cheronis @ (814) 688-9712 or [email protected]

All Are Loved, All Are Welcome.

The committee welcome Kathy Kieva to our team. Kathy's experience with interviewing and publica- tions will be a valuable resource to our effort! A big part of our work will be to prepare a written his- tory of our parish, and Kathy is going to lead the charge on that. Interviews continue, and can be viewed on Todd Singleton's YouTube channel as they are re- leased. We want to hear from you, so please feel free to reach out to Greg Anderson or Liz Freder- ick if they haven't approached you yet. Together with the priest, the committee has requested a date for our centennial celebration in 2022 from his Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas. We continue to scope a budget and event elements, as well as planning for a year-long schedule of celebratory events. Please reach out to Angie Turner with any input about how to celebrate! We are exploring ideas for legacy gifts on the occasion of our centennial. If you have an idea, please make it known to Alexis Singleton or Brian Cummings.

JANUARY PHOTO ALBUM

Olean

Sat

Saturday of Souls Saturdayof Souls Saturdayof

8:30amOrthros/DL Liturgy Divine 10:30am 3:00pmFamilyBowling 1 8 15 22 29

Fri

6:00pmParaklesis 7 14 21 28

Thu

St. Photios St.

8:30amOrthros/DL Meeting 6:00pmErene 6 13 20 27

Wed

6:30pmCouncil Parish 5 12 19 26

February 2020 February

Tue

Practice 6:30pmChoir Practice 6:30pmChoir 4 11 18 25

Mon

3 10 17 24

Sun

Presentation of our Lord

8:45amOrthros Liturgy Divine 10:00am 8:45amOrthros Liturgy Divine 10:00am 8:45amOrthros Liturgy Divine 10:00am 8:45amOrthros Liturgy Divine 10:00am 2 9 16 23

ST. NICHOLAS GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH 15 Francis Street Jamestown, NY 14701 www.stnicholasjamestown.org E-mail: [email protected]

The service of the Small Paraklesis is probably one of the most popular services in the Orthodox Church. It is typically chanted during the first 15 days of August in prep- aration for the Dormition of the Theotokos, but can be done anytime of the year. It is chanted in times of distress and sorrow but can also be chanted for the health of all. I would like to formally invite you to join me for a Paraklesis Service on Friday, February 28th at 6:00pm fol- lowed by a Lenten Supper at 7:00pm in the Hall. Everyone will have an opportunity to turn in their list of names for health. I pray that you all will join me for this opportunity to gather and pray together and then break bread together as a Church Family in order to prepare for the Lenten Season. Most Holy Theotokos, save us! With Love in Christ, Fr. Soteri