ST. N ICHOLAS WEEKLY BULLETIN November 9, 2014 St Nektarius of Ægina This Week’s News
PITA BAKING, this ursday, Novem - ber 13th at 9:00 am. We need to build the inventory for the coming holidays. Everyone’s help is welcome. Questions? Please see Chris Toda. No experience necessary! THE FEASTDAY RAFFLE IS UNDER - T Twen-Four Sunday after Pentecost WAY. In addition to those tickets that Epistle: Epsians 2:14-22 • Gospel: Luke 8:41-56 have been mailed, we still must sell (Jesus Hls Woman & Raises Jairus’ Daughter) more tickets as well to meet our goal. Tone 5 • Mans Gospel: 11 Dean Valoras is heading up this effort, please see him in Coffee Hour. THE ANNUAL WINTER COAT fering a stewarship of your time in this DRIVE, run out of the Food Pantry, is important ministry. We also are asking FEASTDAY LUNCHEON SPONSORS underway. If any of you have gently used for people to serve on other Parish com - NEEDED. As part of our Feast Day cel - coats that are no longer being worn and mittees, if your like to focus your efforts ebration, we will host a luncheon fol - are just sitting in your closet, taking up in just one area. However you’d like to lowing Divine Liturgy on Sunday, space, consider donating them to those serve, please speak with Fr. Nick. December 7. We are seeking a sponsor in need. Lisa will be happy to pick them or sponsors to underwrite the expenses CONGRATULATIONS to Jackie and up at your convenience. We can use related to the meal. In prior years, we Andy Cavanaugh on the birth of their coats, hats, gloves, scarves for adults and have been blessed with the generous of - daughter Elizabeth Grace born Novem - children as we serve many families. fering of sponsorship from a parish - ber 5th at 12:30 pm. (6 lbs 14 oz; 18” Whatever you have that is no longer of ioner or family to cover these expenses long). Big brothers omas and William use to you can mean a world of differ - with the result that all of the proceeds now have a new sister! God bless all of ence to someone else. Contact Lisa at from the luncheon go to benefit St. them with Many Years! [email protected] or text her at Nicholas Church. If you would be in - TODAY we celebrate a Memorial for the 508-340-1547, to arrange a pick-up, or terested in donating towards the parents and family of Artic and just bring them to Church. luncheon expenses, please speak with Cristina Gavala. May the Lord make Deb Sedares or Fr. Nick. Watch your THE LATEST ISSUE OF THE CRE - their memory eternal! mail for an invitation and details for the DINȚA, the quarterly Arch - Feast Day Luncheon. Dates to Remember diocesan magazine, is avail - Greete Tm 1: able at the candles. Please urs, Nov 13 Pita Baking, 9:00 am Mary Anna Dymek & pick up a copy. Fri, Nov 14 Nativity Lent Begins Margarite Landry A NEW PARISH COUNCIL Sat, Nov 22 anksgiving Bake Sale/Holiday Mktpls Sun, Nov 23 Ecu anksgiving Service Coffee Hour Cln-up Crew B: WILL BE ELECTED IN JAN - KARADIMITRIOU /K ALPIDO FAMILY Mount Olivet Lutheran Church, 7pm UARY, (the two-year term of Sat, Dec 6 Staff Orthodox Food Pantry 9am-12pm All Altar Serve Invited the Parish Council expires Dec 6-7 Feastday Celebration this year). Please consider of - 34 Gold Street, Shrewsbury, MA 01545-6238 Voice: 508.845.0088 Fax: 508.845.8850 e-mail: [email protected] web: www.StNicholasChurch.org A Parish of the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese in the Americas Namedays A Prayer of Fr. Laurence November 8 LET uS PRAy TO THE LORD , e Holy Archangel Gabriel Inva Gabriela Durmillari God of all consolations: Sus - Gabriela Gavala tain us in our trials and trou - O e Holy Archangel Michael bles, and reinforce the little strength Kenneth Michael Anderson we have as we battle with our demons. en, lead us out of our Michael Bourisk own small world to embrace others Michael Walter Clem and help them with their concerns. Mihai Gavala Prevent us from always focusing on Michaela Ionete ourselves. Let us never repay evil Michael Keimig with evil, but, rather, may we always Mikel Lolo respond with good, for this is how Corey Michael Maynard you yourself deal with us at all times. Scott Michael Maynard For you are one to have mercy on us Tyler Michael Maynard St. Nektarius and save us, 0 God, and we give you Michael Anthony Prizio glory, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit: Michael Soter The Wonderworker, now and forever, and unto ages of Michael Spataro Metropolitan of Pentapolis ages, amen. Michael Peter Toda November 9 e Holy Archangel Raphael aint Nektarius, the great wonder - COFFEE HOUR THIS WEEK is spon - Raphaela Zaruha Sworker of modern times, was born sored by Gavala Family in memory of e Holy Bodiless Hosts Anastasius Kephalas in Selebria, race their departed family members. on October 1, 1846. Angela Demake Since his family was poor, Anasta - Angeliki Soter Communi News sius went to Constantinople when he Angelina Zonia AN ECUMENICAL THANKGIVING was fourteen in order to find work. Al - SERVICE, sponsored by the Shrews - November 14 though he had no money, he asked the bury Clergy Association will be held on e Holy and All-praised Apostle captain of a boat to take him. e cap - Sunday, November 23rd at 7:00 pm at Philip tain told him to take a walk and then Mount Olivet Lutheran Church. e Of - Philip Rucho come back. Anastasius understood, and fering will go to St. Anne’s Human Serv - Phillip Sedares sadly walked away. ices. Also, in-kind offerings of canned e captain gave the order to start non-perishable goods are welcome. the engines, but nothing happened. A HOLY LAND PILGRIMAGE is being Aer several unsuccessful attempts, he organized by Fr. Timothy Lowe. e looked up into the eyes of Anastasius dates are April 23 to May 10, 2015. If who stood on the dock. Taking pity on you are interested, speak with Fr. Nick the boy, the captain told him to come for more details. aboard. Immediately, the engines started and the boat began to move. Holy Trini News Anastasius found a job with a to - Holy Trinity Nursing & Rehabilitation bacco merchant in Constantinople, who Center & Holy Trinity Hospice are Or - did not pay him very much. In his desire thodox Charities and rely on your do - to share useful information with others, nations to continue the mission of Anastasius wrote down short maxims providing the best care possible. from spiritual books on the paper bags and packages of the tobacco shop. e Anastasius made a pilgrimage to the Nektarius was plotting to become patri - customers would read them out of cu - Holy Land. During the voyage, the ship arch himself. ey told the patriarch riosity, and might perhaps derive some was in danger of sinking in a storm. that the Metropolitan of Pentapolis benefit from them. Anastasius looked at the raging sea, and merely made an outward show of piety e boy went about barefoot and in then at the captain. He went and stood in order to win favor with the people. So ragged clothing, but he trusted in God. beside the captain and took the helm, the patriarch and his synod removed St Seeing that the merchant received many praying for God to save them. en he Nektarius from his See. Patriarch letters, Anastasius also wanted to write took off the cross his grandmother had Sophronius wrote an ambiguous letter a letter. To whom could he write? Not to given him (containing a piece of the of suspension which provoked scandal his parents, because there were no mail Cross of Christ) and tied it to his belt. and speculation about the true reasons deliveries to his village. Not to his Leaning over the side, he dipped the for the saint’s removal from his position. friends, because he had none. erefore, cross into the water three times and St Nektarius was not deposed from he decided to write to Christ to tell Him commanded the sea, “Silence! Be still.” his rank, however. He was still allowed of his needs. At once, the wind died down and the sea to function as a bishop. If anyone invited “My little Christ,” he wrote. “I do became calm. him to perform a wedding or a baptism not have an apron or shoes. you send Anastasius was saddened, however, he could do so, as long as he obtained them to me. you know how much I love because his cross had fallen into the sea permission from the local bishop. you.” and was lost. As the boat sailed on, St Nektarius bore his trials with Anastasius sealed the letter and sounds of knocking seemed to come great patience, but those who loved him wrote on the outside: “To the Lord Jesus from the hull below the water line. began to demand to know why he had Christ in Heaven.” On his way to mail When the ship docked, the young man been removed. Seeing that this was the letter, he ran into the man who got off and started to walk away. causing a disturbance in the Church of owned a shop opposite the one in which Suddenly, the captain began shout - Alexandria, he decided to go to Greece. he worked. e man asked him where ing, “Kephalas, Kephalas, come back He arrived in Athens to find that false he was going, and Anastasius whispered here.” e captain had ordered some rumors about him had already reached something in reply. Seeing the letter in men into a small boat to examine the that city. His letter of suspension said his hands, the man offered to mail it for hull in order to discover the source of only that he had been removed “for rea - him. the knocking, and they discovered the sons known to the Patriarchate,” and so e merchant put the letter in his cross stuck to the hull. Anastasius was all the slanders about him were believed. pocket and assured Anastasius that he elated to receive his “Treasure,” and al - Since the state and ecclesiastical au - would mail it with his own letters. e ways wore it from that time forward. thorities would not give him a position, boy returned to the tobacco shop, filled ere is a photograph taken many years the former Metropolitan was le with with happiness. When he took the letter later, showing the saint in his monastic no means of support, and no place to from his pocket to mail it, the merchant skufia. e cross is clearly visible in the live. Every day he went to the Minister happened to notice the address. Aston - photo. of Religion asking for assistance. ey ished and curious, the man could not On November 7, 1875, Anastasius soon tired of him and began to mistreat resist opening the letter to read it. received monastic tonsure at the Nea him. Touched by the boy’s simple faith, the Moni Monastery on Chios, and the new One day, as he was leaving the Min - merchant placed some money in an en - name Lazarus. Two years later, he was ister’s office, St Nektarius met a friend velope and sent it to him anonymously. ordained a deacon. On that occasion, whom he had known in Egypt. Sur - Anastasius was filled with joy, and he his name was changed to Nektarius. prised to find the beloved bishop in such gave thanks to God. Later, when he was a priest, Fr Nek - a condition, the man spoke to the Min - A few days later, seeing Anastasius tarius le Chios and went to Egypt. ister of Religion and Education and dressed somewhat better than usual, his ere he was elected Metropolitan of asked that something be found for him. employer thought he had stolen money Pentapolis. Some of his colleagues be - So, St Nektarius was appointed to be a from him and began to beat him. Anas - came jealous of him because of his great humble preacher in the diocese of tasius cried out, “I have never stolen virtues, because of his inspiring ser - Vitineia and Euboea. e saint did not anything. My little Christ sent me the mons, and because of everything else regard this as humiliating for him, even money.” which distinguished St Nektarius from though a simple monk could have filled Hearing the commotion, the other them. that position. He went to Euboea to merchant came and took the tobacco Other Metropolitans and bishops of preach in the churches, eagerly embrac - seller aside and explained the situation the Patriarchate of Alexandria became ing his duties. to him. filled with malice toward the saint, so yet even here, the rumors of scandal When he was still a young man, they told Patriarch Sophronius that followed him. Sometimes, while he was preaching, people began to laugh and Pentapolis.” whisper. erefore, the blameless one e intern muttered, “For the first resigned his position and returned to time in my life I see a bishop without a Athens. By then some people had begun panagia or cross, and more significantly, to realize that the rumors were untrue, without money.” because they saw nothing in his life or en the nun showed the saint’s conversation to suggest that he was credentials to the astonished intern who guilty of anything. With their help and then admitted him. For two months St influence, St Nektarius was appointed Nektarius suffered from a disease of the Director of the Rizarios Seminary in bladder. At ten thirty on the evening of Athens on March 8, 1894. He was to re - November 8, 1920, he surrendered his main in that position until December of holy soul to God. He died in peace at the 1908. age of seventy-four. e saint celebrated the services in In the bed next to St Nektarius was the seminary church, taught the stu - a man who was paralyzed. As soon as dents, and wrote several edifying and the saint had breathed his last, the nurse useful books. Since he was a quiet man, and the nun who sat with him began to St Nektarius did not care for the noise dress him in clean clothing to prepare and bustle of Athens. He wanted to re - him for burial at Aegina. ey removed tire somewhere where he could pray. On his sweater and placed it on the para - the island of Aegina he found an aban - lyzed man’s bed. Immediately, the para - doned monastery dedicated to the Holy lytic got up from his bed, glorifying Trinity, which he began to repair with God. his own hands. St Nektarius was buried at the Holy He gathered a community of nuns, Trinity Monastery on Aegina. Several appointing the blind nun Xenia as years later, his grave was opened to re - abbess, while he himself served as Fa - move his bones (as is the custom in ther Confessor. Since he had a gi for Greece). His body was found whole and spiritual direction, many people came to incorrupt, as if he had been buried that Aegina to confess to him. Eventually, the very day. community grew to thirty nuns. He Word was sent to the Archbishop of used to tell them, “I am building a light - Athens, who came to see the relics for house for you, and God shall put a light himself. Archbishop Chrysostomos told in it that will shine forth to the world. the nuns to leave them out in the sun for Many will see this light and come to a few days, then to rebury them so that Aegina.” ey did not understand what they would decay. A month or two aer he was telling them, that he himself this, they opened the grave again and would be that beacon, and that people found the saint incorrupt. en the would come there to venerate his holy relics were placed in a marble sarcoph - relics. agus. On September 20, 1920 the nun Eu - Several years later, the holy relics phemia brought an old man in black dissolved, leaving only the bones. e robes, who was obviously in pain, to the saint’s head was placed in a bishop’s Aretaieion Hospital in Athens. is was mitre, and the top was opened to allow a state hospital for the poor. e intern people to kiss his head. asked the nun for information about the St Nektarius was glorified by God, patient. since his whole life was a continuous “Is he a monk?” he asked. doxology to the Lord. Both during his “No, he is a bishop.” life and aer his death, St Nektarius has e intern laughed and said, “Stop performed thousands of miracles, espe - joking and tell me his name, Mother, so cially for those suffering from cancer. that I can enter it in the register.” ere are more churches dedicated to St “He is indeed a bishop, my child. He Nektarius than to any other modern Or - is the Most Reverend Metropolitan of thodox saint. Giving to Each What is Needed for Salvaon he Gospel lesson this week is from forces the woman to reveal herself. Jesus TSt. Luke (8:41-56). He tells us of two has his reason. First, Jairus needed his miracles that while separate and distinct faith strengthened. Remember, Jesus have an inner spiritual unity. ey com - says to him, “Only believe, and she will plement one another. be saved.” Moreover, Jairus needed a e story opens with the leader of a physical sign; he wanted Jesus to come local synagogue, Jairus, coming to meet and touch his daughter. By contrast, Jesus. Falling at his feet, he begs Jesus to Jesus shows how the silent and hidden come to his house because his twelve faith of this woman effected her healing. year old daughter was dying. (v. 41-42) e woman needed something else. St. Matthew adds that he asked Jesus to She touched Jesus surreptitiously, out of “come and lay your hand on her, and she shame. He asks her to publically ac - will live.” (Matthew 9:18) is is an im - knowledge her healing not simply to portant detail. strengthen the faith of Jairus, but also to At the same time, amidst the stifling comfort her tortured soul. If she had re - thrust of the crowd, a woman who had ceived her healing and gone home would not allow anyone to enter with been suffering for twelve years from silently, would not she have felt as him except for Peter, John and James constant hemorrhaging came up and though she had “stolen” God’s grace? (the same three disciples who would be touched the fringe of his garment (v. 43- Jesus comforts her by prodding her to 44). According to ancient sources this present at the Transfiguration) and the acknowledge the healing and then woman was very wealthy. e Gospels girl’s mother and father. As you might telling her that it was her faith that made say that she had spent a great deal of imagine, the house was filled with weep - her well. money on physicians who could not ing and wailing, but Jesus told them all unlike the woman, Jairus made a cure her. Her final hope was in Jesus to stop because she was not dead, but public display of his grief and requested whom she knew little about. rather sleeping. e mourners laughed a physical sign of Jesus’ power. However, Jesus stops and asks: “Who touched in response. Suffering the unbearable Jesus always heals both spiritually and me?” Peter and the other disciples re - pain of their loss, and knowing the final - physically. He desires our salvation, but spond by saying that the crowd is press - ity of death, that claim seemed ridicu - he also heals our suffering. Sometimes ing on all sides, suggesting that he’s lous. Paying no attention to them, He feeling the push of the crowd, not a de - went to the place where she lay, took her this requires that he make secret re - liberate contact. Jesus insists, because he hand and said: “Child, get up!” (v. 54) quests public, and public displays secret, noticed that power had gone out of him. Her spirit returned to her. en He told as we see in today’s Gospel lesson. For (v. 45-46) en, the woman, embar - her parents to get her something to eat. her own well-being the woman needs to rassed by her illness (her bleeding made Now, let’s look at how the two inci - tell everyone of her healing. Jairus and her ‘unclean’ according to the Jewish dences complement one another. Jairus his wife need keep the raising of their Law), falls down before him trembling comes to Jesus with a little faith, but daughter to themselves. and admits in front of everyone why she mostly out of desperation. He asks Jesus What can we learn from this? Even had touched him and how she had been to not only come to his house but to lay when we are desperate, embarrassed, healed. e Lord tells her, “Daughter, His hand on his daughter. (Remember and ashamed, we can come to the Lord your faith has made you well; go in the story of the Centurion in the Gospel with our pain and He will heal us. Even peace.” (v. 48) of Matthew 8:5-13 that we heard a few when we have so little faith that we need Meanwhile, someone arrived from weeks ago? e Centurion asks Jesus to outward signs of God’s presence, He will Jairus’ house to tell him not to bother heal his servant only with his word!) It come to us, visit us, lay His hand on us imploring the Lord, because his daugh - was while Jairus was asking for Jesus’ and raise us from the dead. God meets ter had died. When Jesus heard this He help, that the woman with the hemor - us on our own level, but He urges us up - turned to Jairus and said, “Do not fear. rhage secretly touches Jesus in order to ward, inviting us to meet Him on His. Only believe and she will be saved.” (v. be healed. 50) When they got to the house Jesus In questioning the woman, Jesus Fr. Nichos Aposto Holiday Bake Sale, Luncheon & Marketpce Saturday, November 22 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
BAKE SALE & LUNCHEON ensure that we will be able to fill your orders do not ➢ We are asking for donations of home baked goods wait until the last minute to get your orders in. Ab - to sell. We need to know in advance what you are solutely no orders will be accepted aer the order bringing, and it must brought to the church during deadline. the day on Friday, Nov. 21 ➢ You may download flyers using the links in the e- ➢ We also need volunteers to help with set up and packaging of items for sale on Friday, Nov 21 and mail Bulletin or pick up hard copies here. with the sale and luncheon on Saturday, Nov 22. If you have questions please speak to or email: Chris HOLIDAY MARKET PLACE: Toda or Deb Sedares. ➢ A Holiday Market Place will once again, be part of ➢ ere is a sign up sheet on the bulletin board for do - our annual Holiday Bake Sale and Luncheon. We are nations and for volunteers to help with set up and seeking Vendors to rent table space at a cost of $25 with the sale. per table. If you or a vendor you know is interested in participating, please contact Tim Rucho. We PITA & PASTRY HOLIDAY ORDER DEADLINES would like to include a variety of vendors and ensure ➢ Help is needed with the ongoing baking effort of there is no duplication of products or services. pitas and pastries here at the Church and and for help with packaging pastries — For specifics, see Chris PAPOU’S ATTIC: Toda and Betty Anderson. ➢ As part of the Holiday Marketplace and Bake Sale on ➢ We need everyone’s to help to sell our pastries and November 22nd, we will sell unique “antique shop” pits to our family, friends, coworkers, and anyone else type items for the benefit of the Church. We are seek - you can think of — for more information, see Betty ing donations of new and gently used giware, Anderson. knick-knacks, and ornaments. (To be clear, we are ➢ anksgiving Orders need to be in by November 9, for pick-up Sat/Sun November 22 & 23. NOT looking for the usual “yard-sale” fare, but spe - ➢ Christmas Orders must be in by December 7, for cialty items.) All things must be dropped off at the pick-up Sat/Sun December 20 & 21. We are only able Church no later than Sunday, November 16th. For to make a certain quantity of pitas and pastries. To more information, contact Tim Rucho.