ICON AUCTION. - After Liturgy. Sunday, January 7 th. ICON Return. The Orthodox Post. Page 2. Daughters Corner by Linda Foundos

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1 Page 1 THE ORTHODOX POST January Volume XIV, Issue 1 St. Nicholas Albanian Orthodox Church, Midland Parkway, Jamaica Estates, New York, NY Web site: fr.nathan@stnicholasalbanian.org Tel: (718) Pastor s Message by Fr.Nikodhim Make an appointment soon to have your house blessed. The holy water for this new year will be prayed over together at the feast of the Lord s Baptism Holy Theophany (January 5/6). This year, too, we will join with our friends and neighbors, our fellow faithful, to bless even the waters of the ocean, praying there at the shore that God protect those who pass over the Atlantic, that His divine presence and peace be in its waves. We sprinkle this holy water throughout the year in good and in sad, brushing these drops on new homes and businesses, dripping the same blessed water over caskets and over the earth whose depths receive those we ve lost but love still. It is elemental, this water, a staple for us spiritually as water must also and always be for every living creature naturally. We sprinkle water because, with each droplet and dash, we make a proclamation; we announce that God is with us, and because He is with us, we are free. This blessed liquid becomes both announcement and invitation, proclaiming the world and all its expanses and secret places as God s, every place loved by Him, and offering a hand, a welcome, a community with which to walk towards the freedom He always calls us to. INSIDE THIS ISSUE Pastor & President s Message 1 Coffee List, Daughters Corner & Icon Auction 2 House Blessing & Pledge Program 3 Valentines Day Dance 4 Christmas Pagaent 5-6 Name Days 7 Merchant Ads 8-9 Major Events & Ushers Sunday Schedule 10 If I am fortunate, I will get the chance this year again to bless holy water in the prison where I go twice each month. One never knows whether permission will be granted in such a place. Safety is the priority there, and sometimes this means cancelled plans or established routines unmoored. But If I do get this chance this year, we ll pray twice: once on the men s side, once with the women. And we ll sprinkle the water. And we ll proclaim a freedom that sometimes comes just in hints and spurts. It s a powerful thing to do, to speak free in a closed space. And as I come to your homes and we pray together, light the candle, walk and sing together, I hope that you will remember that God calls you, too, to join Him in freedom, to begin the new year with that as your aim. President s Message by Jim Liolin December was a busy month with all the activities each of us were involved in during Christmas. Now we are in the beginning of a new year and as a matter of fact it is a very special year for our St. Nicholas community. We are entering the 75th anniversary year that the parish was established. Plans are already underway preparing for this celebration. Our celebration will have 2 parts one in May and October. The main Liturgy celebration and dinner dance is on the weekend of October 20, You will receive more information in the coming months. The major portion of the Beautification Project is complete. Phase 1 program has a few areas that need to be dealt with. We still are accepting contributions to cover the cost so if you haven t made your contribution become a part of the history of St. Nicholas. Phase 2 is now in progress and this refers to the new icons that are available for sponsorship. These will be mounted on the walls of the Church. You should have received a letter on Phase 2 of the renovation. If not please contact Fr. Nikodhim. On Sunday January 7th is the Annual Icon Presentation. Please come and join in this fundraising event of the parish. It s always an enjoyable time.

2 Page 2 Daughters Corner by Linda Foundos Dear Ladies, Below is the schedule for coffee for the next 2 months. If your name is listed, please be sure to put it on your calendar. If you need to change the date, please advise Christina Liolin or Adriana Topore. It is very important to remember that on the day you are scheduled for coffee, please arrive at church by 10 a.m. so that preparations can be made. What to bring: Cake for people Cookies for the children 1 gallon of milk December 31 Memorial January 07 Barbara Papalexis/Barbara Filis 14 Donna Oswald/Viola Kallinikos 21 Adelina Llupa 28 Open February 04 Christine Beno/Jana Foundos 11 Open 18 Rehova Family 25 Agathia Luka/Antoneta Mertiri The calendar year ends with some beautiful holidays, especially Thanksgiving and Christmas. The significance of Thanksgiving is something we should carry with us throughout the year, to be appreciative of all of our blessings, which includes dear people in our lives. Sure, everyone has some negative factors in their life, but it s best not to dwell on them. We must try to take action in a positive direction and look outside ourselves. Keep the faith and carry on. Life is a precious, beautiful gift. The Christmas season brings joy to the birth of Christ. Over the years, the commercial aspect to the holiday has almost taken over. It s time to recapture the true meaning of Christmas and minimize the commercial aspect. The Sunday School annual Christmas Pageant was once again a theatrical success. The children get so excited in preparation & putting on their costumes. It was followed by the Daughters annual Christmas Pancake Breakfast, which was delicious & delightful with a visit from Santa and some personal time with each child. A heartfelt thank you to all that helped keep everything running smoothly. The Daughters of St. Nicholas wish everyone a very Happy New Year! May it be healthy, joyful & prosperous. ICON AUCTION Sunday, January 7 th - After Liturgy ICON Return Bring in Your ICONs from Last Year s ICON AUCTION As Soon As Possible!!! We Need Them to Prepare for the January 7 th ICON AUCTION

3 Page 3 House Blessings Begin Avoid the rush! Speak to Fr. Nikodhim now about coming to bless your home. Appointments may be made for any time after January 6 th Church: , Cell: Pledge Program for 2018 Many Parishioners have turned in their Pledge for 2018!!! To them, THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!! However, there are still a large number of Parishioners that still have to turn in their Pledge Card. They must indicate how much money they will donate to St. Nicholas Church during This will help pay for the costs that enable St. Nicholas to operate and serve our Community. Most pledges are in the $500 to $3000 range. In addition to financially supporting the Church, Pledgers receive discounts for some church activities as well as when they buy cemetery plots. We ask you to consider making a generous Pledge!!! Pledge Cards can be put in the Sunday Collection Basket or mailed to the Office. Please turn in your completed Pledge Card As Soon as Possible!!!

4 Page 4 Save the Date!! Valentine s Day Dance Saturday, February 10, 2018 BRING YOUR CHILD TO SUNDAY SCHOOL

5 Page 5 Christmas Pageant, Pancake Breakfast & a Visit from Santa On Sunday, December 17 th, Parishioners once again enjoyed the performance of the Christmas Pagaent by the Sunday School children. Children from nursery school age to teenagers all performed very well. Credit and Thanks go to the Sunday School Teachers and Parents for a job well done. Afterwards, in our Fellowship Hall, our traditional Pancake Breakfast sponsored by The Daughters of St. Nicholas treated Parishioners to a hearty breakfast. A Thank You goes out to all those who worked to make it a success, especially Linda Foundos, Christina Liolin and Britu Haile. Finally, all the children, both young and old, were thrilled by a visit from Santa. Gifts and photos were enjoyed by the Children and Adults.

6 Page 6 Pancake Breakfast & a Visit from Santa continued St. Nicholas Day Luncheon On Sunday, December 10 th, Parishioners gathered to celebrate St. Nicholas Day and honor our Church s Patron Saint. In addition to the Sunday Liturgy with special prayers for St. Nicholas Day, Fr. Nikodhim blessed the Parishioner Pledge Cards collected so far for the 2018 Annual Pledge Program. It is important for each Parishioner to hand-in a Pledge Card to support the Church. This submitting of a financial Pledge for 2018 is very important to enable the Church to continue serving the Community. Finally, more than one hundred Parishioners enjoyed the Luncheon held in the Fellowship hall. Everyone had a wonderful day!!!

7 Page 7 JANUARY NAME DAYS 1 - St. Basil Keni Gjika, Bill Nasi, Vasil Baltadori, Vasilika Dajko, Vasian Gjoka, Visjanos Papalilo, Vasil Pecani 3 - St. Genevieve Jenny Peters, Jennifer Slane 7 - St. John the Baptist John Jance, Johnny Tsamblakos, Zhani Joanidhi, Joanne Heiser, Jonida Dervishi, Jana Foundos, Jani Kolovani, Jani Panajoti, Jean Preftes, Johnny Shkurti, Yona Stefani, Jonathan Topore 12 - St. Tatiana Tatiana Prela 17 - St. Anthony Andon Dede, Antoneta Mertiri 14 - St. Nina Zanina Sherko 25 - St. Gregory the Theologian Gregory DiTullio, Gregory Papalexis If you don t see your name, please contact Fr. Nikodhim. Nëse nuk sheh emrin tënd te lutem lajmëro priftin

8 Page 8 Ads from Merchants Who Support the Church Please look at the Ads and support these Merchants by buying goods and services from them, whenever possible. Tell the Merchant that you are from St, Nicholas Church and saw their Ad in the Church s Monthly Newsletter!!! For New Ads Please Contact - Tomi Beno at (917) SABITA J. BALL00, EA Income Tax Services Jamaica Avenue Tel: Richmond Hill, NY Fax: sabitaballoo@aol.com

9 Page 9 Regency Hotel - Korca Tel: /8/9 hregencyko@hotmail.com ROLANDO MECHANICAL CORP PIPING & HEATING REPAIR LICENCED MASTER PLUMBER Cell: (917) ROLAND HYSENAS Tel: (718) / th Avenue Fax: (718) Astoria, NY Litras Funeral Home Bernard F. Dowd and Tracy B. Dowd Parsons Boulevard Jamaica, New York

10 Page 10 Major Church Activities and Events January: Mon. 01-Liturgy, 10am: St. Basil Fri Royal Hours, noon - Great Vespers, 7pm: Theophany Sat Liturgy, 10am: Theophany - Blessing of Ocean, 1pm - Health Prayers, 5pm Sun Liturgy, 10am, ICON Auction after Litugy Sat Vespers, 5pm Sun Liturgy, 10am Sat Vespers, 5pm Sun Liturgy, 10am Sat Vespers, 5pm Sun Liturgy, 10am: Publican and Pharisee JAN 07 JAN 14 Ushers Schedule for Sunday Services Lista e sherbimit te dielave ne kishe Andrea KUTALI / John JANCE Ilia LUKA / Bill PETERS JAN 21 Stefan BALTADORI / Izzy TSAMBLAKOS JAN 28 FEB 04 Nasi PAVLLO / Ardian MILE Jim OSWALD / Tomi BENO Visit us at: We re on the Web! St. Nicholas Albanian Orthodox Church Midland Parkway Jamaica Estates, New York Customer Name Street Address City, State Zip Code