St. Nicholas Orthodox Church

An Orthodox community where people find transformation in Jesus Christ.

Nativity Fast Begins on November 15

The Nativity SeasonNovember 15 is the beginning of the Nativity Fast, one of the four Canonical Fasting Seasons in the Church year. Many Orthodox Christian families will begin this journey to the Feast of the Nativity which is celebrated as ‘Christmas’ in the US and Canada, on December 25. This is a joyous Fast in anticipation of the Nativity of Christ. While not as strict as Lent, it is observed as a kind of winter lenten season in preparation for the coming of Christ at His birth.

In the weeks between now and December 25, Orthodox Christians prepare themselves to celebrate the birth in the flesh of our Lord Jesus Christ. As we begin the fast, we encourage both believing Orthodox and inquirers to review the reflections and resources in this special Nativity section.

Nativity Resources for Orthodox Christian Families
These resources are intended to help families enter into the Orthodox spirit of fasting and preparation for the joyful Feast of the Nativity on December 25. Christ is born!

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Make a 40-Day Orthodox Advent Calendar

Christians who grew up celebrating Nativity (Christmas) in a western Christian tradition observed four Sundays of Advent, a period of preparation for the celebration on December 25, but Orthodox Christians commemorate the six Sundays of the Nativity Fast (Advent) which fall in the forty days of preparation.

The Orthodox Nativity calendar is a helpful teaching tool; homemade calendars or ones ordered online can aid parents as they assist their children in preparing for the Feast of the Nativity. Doors opening each day highlight art, saints or scriptures that tell the story of the season, and kids often look forward to seeing what is behind the next door as the countdown to Christmas continues.

Creative parents can make their own calendars by following these instructions: Making a Family Orthodox Advent Calendar or for younger children, The Orthodox Advent Calendar.

For additional general resources on the Orthodox Christian tradition of feasting and fasting, visit the Feasts and Fasts section of Discover Orthodox Christianity.

Gold-plated 7-Branched Candelabrum

St Nicholas parish has received a new 7-branched candelabrum as a donation from a parishioner. Father John lead the blessing prayers on Sunday, October 28. This candle stand replaces an old brass stand that was a hand-me-down from another church and in poor repair. We were thankful for the old candelabrum and are similarly thankful for the shiny new one. Many thanks to the patron for their generosity to the parish.

We currently have glass votive lamps in blue, green, and the red pictured. We are working to locate suitable lamps in each of the Seasonal Liturgical Colours used for vestments, furniture coverings, and lamps. These include Gold, Blue, Purple, Red, Green, and White. Our Antiochian Archdiocese provides a color guide for clergy for the entire Liturgical Year.

If you are interested in learning more about the this and other liturgical items or their history please contact Father John.

Beauty will save the world.

We need Beauty because it leads us to wonder. We need wonder because it leads to praise. Praise leads to gratitude. Gratitude leads to joy. And joy is a characteristic of a childlike soul, which is the key to getting to heaven (Matt 18:3).

Beauty, then, is the doorway to the gospel. And if the gospel is what saves us, then Dostoyevsky was 100% right when he said, “Beauty will save the world.”

From FocusOnCampus.org/ by Therese Aaker posted March 9, 2016

Ordered from Eastern Orthodox Supply Company

Gold-plated seven-branched candelabrum

Height: 26½” (67.3 cm)
Width: 24″ (61 cm)
This gold-plated brass candelabrum has a tetrapod base, seven cups, and comes with seven red votive glasses, which hold candles or oil.

Emergency Appeal

†St Nicholas Church, 🏡⚡ Emergency Appeal 🏡⚡

Lightning Strike Kills Blue-House
Dead Kitchen Appliances Appeal: Blue-House Lightning Strike Repairs

Dear to Christ,

As you may be aware, St Nicholas Church owns the blue house adjacent to the church building. We have been renting it out as an income source to help offset expenses.

It appears that on or about October 1st the buried electric service line to the house was overloaded by a lightning event. The strike and subsequent damage to the electrical system of the house caused voltage spikes and fluctuations that seriously damaged most of the major and minor appliances in the house as well as many of the tenant’s personal electronics.

In our role as landlord, we have a responsibility to make appropriate repairs in a timely manner. To that end, we have already begun repairing and replacing damaged and condemned appliances. This is a large and unexpected expense that is well outside of the ability of our usual monthly giving or savings to cover. Our insurance policy is expected to cover most costs after our $4,000 deductible. Over the next few weeks we need to collect this in addition to our usual monthly stewardship offerings.

Already done are the yard electrical line, upstairs and downstairs air conditioner / furnace, electrical outlets, several lighting fixtures, and microwave. The refrigerator will be replaced this week. At this time, we believe that we are not responsible for the personal electronics of the tenant.

Most of the trades professionals who have invoiced the repairs will be expecting payment by the end of the month. Kinty Jones Heating Cooling is willing to work out a payment arrangement. The total is looking to be around $18,000. We are hopeful that the insurance will send a check to us for most of this before the invoices come due.

We are asking for your help to raise the funds necessary to pay the deductible and any repairs that the insurance does not cover. Thank you for your monthly stewardship and your consideration of this emergency appeal.

†St Nicholas Parish Council

How to Give
Fried Air Conditioners
AC Compressor Pad New Electric Yard Line
New AC Upstairs New AC Downstairs

How to Give

Feast of the Elevation of the Cross + September 14

Elevation of the CrossLet all the trees of the wood, planted from the beginning of time, rejoice; for their nature hath been sanctified by the stretching of Christ on the Tree. Wherefore, now, we worship Him, lifted up, and magnify Him.
+Canon of the Feast, Ninth Ode, Tone 8

O Lord, save Your people, and bless You inheritance. Grant victories to the Orthodox Christians over their adversaries. And by virtue of Your Cross, preserve Your habitation. +Troparion, Tone 1

As You were voluntarily raised upon the cross for our sake, grant mercy to those who are called by Your Name, O Christ God; make all Orthodox Christians glad by Your power, granting them victories over their adversaries, by bestowing on them the invincible trophy, Your weapon of Peace. +Kontakion, Tone 4

Please join us for a Vesperal Divine Liturgy in celebration of the Feast of the Elevation of the Holy Life-giving Cross. All are welcome.

See our Facebook Events Post for details.

Further Reading…

The Elevation of the Cross, celebrated on the fourteenth of September, commemorates the finding of Christ’s Cross by Saint Helen, the mother of the Emperor Constantine in the fourth century; and, after it was taken by the Persians, of its recovery by the Emperor Heraclius in the seventh century at which time it was “elevated” in the Church of the Resurrection in Jerusalem. From this latter event the “universal elevation” of the Cross was celebrated annually in all of the churches of the Christian Empire.
– https://oca.org/orthodoxy/the-orthodox-faith/worship/the-church-year/elevation-of-the-cross

http://ww1.antiochian.org/elevationofthecross

https://orthodoxwiki.org/Elevation_of_the_Holy_Cross

Living in the Holy Spirit

Danny Lauren Goff's Chrismation August 2014 005

Orthodox Christian spirituality is a vast subject. Pilgrimage, suffering, joy, monasticism, asceticism, love, confession, and prayer are all ways of walking in the spirit. People at St Nicholas will be happy to share their own spiritual experiences and Fr. John is always available to offer guidance and advice. The following resources will help you begin to explore the many aspects of Orthodox spirituality.

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Click to visit the DOMSE website