2014-2015 PARISH MINISTRIES St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church lEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS Sunday Worship Services Orthros 8:15 a.m. Divine Liturgy 9:30 a.m. tel: 781.862.6453 www.stnicholaslex.org 17 Meriam Street find us on Facebook Lexington, MA 02420 St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church is a parish under the spiritual and ecclesiastical shepherding of His Eminence Metropolitan Methodios, the presiding hierarch of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Boston of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America under the jurisdiction of His All- Holiness, Bartholomew I, Archbishop of Constantinople and Ecumenical Patriarch. www.crownuniform.com 800.221.2725 2014-2015 Table of Contents Letter from His Eminence Metropolitan Methodios 4 Letter from Fr. Demetri 5 Letter from Parish Council 6 Great Feasts and Ecclesiastical Dates 7 Ecclesiastical and Parish Calendar 8 Resources on Greek Orthodox Faith 11 Patron Saints 12 Ministries: 15 Family Night 17 Church School 18 Church School Projects 22 Altar Boys/Servers 23 Youth, Teen & Adult Choirs 23 Greek School 24 Greek School Events 28 Dance Group 28 Hope/Joy 30 GOYA 30 Parish Council 33 Ladies Philoptochos Society 34 Philoptochos Events 35 Health and Wellness 36 Social 36 Stewardship 36 Agape 36 Additional Adult Ministries 37 Metropolis of Boston Ministries 38 Archdiocese Ministries 44 St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church 2014-2015 4 2014-2015 St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church 2014-2015 Message from Father Demetri Family and Friends of St. Nicholas, It give me great joy to address you in this the 2014-15 Ministries Booklet. This booklet allows our faithful to see what is planned for the Church Year and to share with others, whether they are Orthodox or of a different faith, what ministries are offered and how/when one can join and bring their talents to our Lord and His Faithful. At the same time if you do not see a ministry that you believe needs to be a part of the life of the church, please bring it to our attention and we would love you to help us champion it! Please also take the time to look at our updates on our parish website, and Facebook page, where we will offer short reflections, videos, and audio presentations. Make them both a favorite for your home computer, laptop and smartphones. At this time I must thank Maria Decoulos for her stewardship with the organizing, the updating and final production of this booklet. I would also like to thank our parish photographers, Tony Gray and George Pshyojos for capturing again many memories from the previous year. Again let us remember to always "commit our selves to one another and our whole life to Christ our God." Happy 50th Anniversary and may our Lord continue to bless us and guide with many more!!! With love in the Lord, Fr. Demetri Costarakis 5 St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church 2014-2015 Message from Parish Council President Dear Family and Friends of St. Nicholas, On behalf of the Parish Council, I am excited to present the 2014-2015 edition of the St. Nicholas Ministries Booklet. One of the goals of this booklet is to provide a description of some of our more active St. Nicholas parish ministries. It is also a great resource for information about our faith. The booklet gives insight into the activities and people who enable these ministries by giving of their time and talent. There is also a section in the back on the many other ministries available and those offered by the Metropolis of Boston. Another significant feature of the booklet is the inclusion of an Ecclesiastical and Parish Calendar, which provides a great overview of the services and feast days celebrated in our church as well as the many activities going on within our parish. I hope that the information contained in our ministries booklet provides inspiration to you and your family to serve God through the various ministries that St. Nicholas and our Metropolis offers. With Love in Christ, Tom Tsaros Parish Council President 6 2014-2015 St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church 2014-2015 The Great Feasts of the Church September 8 The Nativity of the Theotokos September 14 The Elevation of the Holy Cross November 21 The Presentation of the Theotokos to the Temple December 25 The Nativity of Christ January 6 Theophany (the Baptism of Our Lord) February 2 The Presentation of Our Lord to the Temple March 25 The Annunciation Sunday before Pascha Palm Sunday Great and Holy Pascha Pascha Forty days after Pascha Ascension Fifty days after Pascha Pentecost August 6 The Transfiguration August 15 The Dormition of the Theotokos Movable Ecclesiastical Dates FEAST 2014 2015 Triodion Begins February 9 February 1 Lent Begins March 3 February 23 Saturday of Lazarus April 12 April 4 Palm Sunday April 13 April 5 Good Friday April 18 April 10 Pascha April 20 April 12 Western Easter April 20 April 5 Ascension May 29 May 21 Pentecost June 8 May 31 7 St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church 2014-2015 2014-2015 ECCLESIASTICAL AND PARISH CALENDAR SEPTEMBER 2014 September 1 First day of the Ecclesiastical Year Labor Day (Office Closed) September 7 Church School and Greek School Registration September 8 Nativity of the Mother of God September 14 Elevation of the Holy Cross (Orthros & Divine Liturgy at Holy Cross Chapel) First Day of Church School Classes and Agiasmo (blessing of waters) Church School every Sunday September 20 First Day of Greek School Classes and Agiasmo (blessing of waters) Greek School every Saturday September 21 Parish Family Photo OCTOBER October 3 2nd Parish Family Night October 13 Columbus Day (Offices Closed) October 18 St. Luke the Evangelist 50th Anniversary Gala October 23 St. Iakovos, Brother of the Lord, Divine Liturgy of St. Iakovos October 26 St. Demetrios the Great Martyr Oxi Day program by Greek School October 28 The Holy Protection of the Theotokos (OXI Day) NOVEMBER November 1 Sts. Cosmas and Damian, the Unmercenaries November 7 3rd Parish Family Night November 8 Archangels Michael and Gabriel November 9 St. Nektarios of Pentapolis Teaching Divine Liturgy November 11 Veterans Day (Offices Closed) November 13 St. John Chrysostom November 15 Beginning of the Nativity Fast (Advent) November 16 St. Matthew the Evangelist 50th Anniversary Luncheon November 21 Presentation of the Theotokos to the Temple November 25 St. Katherine the Great Martyr November 27 Thanksgiving Day (office closed) November 29 NO Greek School classes November 30 St. Andrew, the First-Called of the Apostles DECEMBER December 5 Great Vespers in Celebration for the Feast Day of our parish Fellowship event sponsored by Philoptochos December 6 Feast Day of our Patron Saint, St. Nicholas of Myra Fellowship Hour sponsored by Philoptochos, GOYA NO Greek School classes December 7 4th Parish Family Night December 12 St. Spyridon the Wonderworker December 21 Christmas Parish Orchestra and Special Guest Philoptochos Bake Sale December 24 Christmas Eve Christmas Pageant presented by Church & Greek Schools students December 25 Christmas, Nativity of our Lord December 27 NO Greek School classes December 28 NO formal Church School classes *** Dates and ACTIVITIES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. Please check website or facebook*** 8 2014-2015 St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church 2014-2015 2014-2015 ECCLESIASTICAL AND PARISH CALENDAR JANUARY 2015 January 1 The Feasts of the Circumcision of our Lord & St. Basil the Great January 2 5th Family Night Gathering January 5 Eve of Theophany (Blessing of the Lesser Waters) January 6 Holy Theophany (Blessing of the Greater Waters) January 7 St. John the Baptist January 17 St. Anthony the Great January 18 St. Athanasius the Great January 25 Presentation of Three Hierarchs by Greek School & Church School January 30 Three Hierarchs FEBRUARY February 1 Publican and Pharisee-Triodion Begins February 2 The Presentation of the Lord into the Temple February 14 1st Saturday of Souls Apokriatiko Glendi and 7th Family Night February 15 Sunday of the Last Judgment -- Meatfare Sunday February 21 2nd Saturday of Souls February 22 Sunday of Forgiveness/Cheesefare Sunday Vespers of Forgiveness (in the evening) February 23 GREAT LENT BEGINS Great Compline February 25 Pre-Sanctified Liturgy February 27 1st Salutation Service to the Mother of God February 28 3rd Saturday of Souls MARCH March 1 1st Sunday of Great Lent -- Sunday of Orthodoxy March 2 Great Compline March 4 Pre-Sanctified Liturgy March 6 2nd Salutation to the Mother of God Discussion/Lenten Potluck Dinner March 8 2nd Sunday of Great Lent -- St. Gregory Palamas March 9 Great Compline March 11 Pre-Sanctified Liturgy March 13 3rd Salutation Service to the Mother of God Discussion/Lenten Potluck Dinner March 15 3rd Sunday of Great Lent - Holy Cross March 16 Great Compline March 18 Pre-Sanctified Liturgy March 20 4th Salutation Service to the Mother of God Discussion/Lenten Potluck Dinner March 22 4th Sunday of Great Lent -- St. John of the Ladder March 23 Great Compline March 24 Great vespers @ Annunciation Parish, Woburn March 25 Feast of the ANNUNCIATION Services at Annunciation Parish, Woburn March 27 The Akathist Hymn March 29 5th Sunday of Great Lent -- St. Mary of Egypt APRIL April 4 Saturday of Lazarus/NO Greek School Classes April 5 Palm Sunday April 10 Great and Holy Friday Retreat for Youth and Adults/Preparation of Kouvouklion April 11 Great and Holy Saturday/NO Greek School classes April 12 GREAT AND HOLY PASCHA April 19 Sunday of Thomas/Godparent Sunday *** Dates and ACTIVITIES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. Please check website or facebook*** 9 St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church 2014-2015 2014-2015 ECCLESIASTICAL AND PARISH CALENDAR MAY May 10 Mother’s Day May 21 Holy Ascension, Sts. Constantine & Helen May 25 Memorial Day (offices closed) May 30 Saturday of Souls May 31 Holy Pentacost Kneeling Vespers JUNE June 6 Greek School Graduation Program June 7 Last Day of Church School classes Church School & Greek School Matriculation/Graduation Sunday Parish Cookout Celebration and Activities June 8 Apostles Fast Begins June 8 Pentecost Sunday June 14 Metropolis of Boston Ministry Awards Dinner June 21 Father's Day June 29 Sts.