ST. NICHOLAS ANTIOCHIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR AUGUST 12, 2018 ANNOUNCEMENTS This Wednesday we will be traveling to Holy Dormition Orthodox Monastery at Rives Junction for the Feast of the Dormition. This is a great opportunity for anyone wishing to visit the monastery. If you would like to go but have not yet signed up, please contact the church office by Monday. Departure: 8 AM from St. Nicholas Schedule: Divine Liturgy at 10 AM and the Holy Unction Service at 2:30 PM. Lunch: Provided by the Monastery Arrival: 6 PM at St. Nicholas For those not making the Pilgrimage to the Monastery, Liturgy for the Feast will be held at St. George on Wednesday at 7 PM. The Dormition Fast continues until the celebration of the Dormition of our Most Holy Theotokos on August 15. During this fast, we are joining with our brothers and sisters at St. George for the Paraklesis Services being held Monday and Wednesday at 7 PM and Tuesday at 7 AM. What does "Paraklesis" mean? This word means supplication: to ask for earnestly and humbly. The reason these services are called Paraklesis (Supplication) is because the faithful gather to supplicate the Theotokos to intercede on their behalf to Christ for our salvation and for the relief of anything that burdens and ails us. To learn more about the Dormition Fast, visit our website: stnicholasgr.com. It is time to begin preparing for our annual Middle Eastern Dinner! Please be prepared to volunteer and to say, Yes, how can I help? or I would be happy to serve wherever I can be a blessing. Preparation for our annual dinner is a great way to develop deeper friendships and to serve Christ. Your involvement is needed as baking begins this week! MEAT PIE BAKING DAY: This Tuesday, August 14 & 22 9 AM dough balls 10 AM baking * A clean-up team is also needed Please contact Carol Assaly if you are available to assist with baking or clean-up.
Our Faith prescribes a minimum of four occasions that the faithful should go to confession: During the Nativity Fast, Great Lent, Apostle's Fast, and Dormition Fast (now-august 14). Every Christian feels a natural yearning of the heart towards God, a true desire to taste the sweetness of communion, of being with Him as He created us to be. But the impurity of our hearts - full of the weight of passions, conflicts, and fears bars the way. Yet, there is a cure for the weight of sin which burdens the heart and soul of each one of us and afflicts the conscience, keeping us from that longed-for inner peace and from peace with our neighbors and loved ones. That cure is the Mystery of Repentance, Holy Confession. Confessions are heard after Saturday Vespers or by contacting Fr. Michael for an appointment Tuesdays-Fridays. Booklets to assist you in preparing for confession are available on the Parishioners' table or @ https://stnicholasgr.com/confession/ Hear Me: A Prayerbook for Orthodox Teens, by Annalisa Boyd If you are looking for a good book for high schoolers this prayer book written by a mother of teens is specifically for teens and the unique challenges and joys they face. It is available now in our church bookstore. REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN! Adult Camp is for anyone ages 21+ who wants to come spend a weekend in the beautiful natural setting of the Antiochian Village Camp growing in our Faith. Campers will get to enjoy fellowship with each other, daily services, Christian Education, afternoon program, arts & crafts, evening program, and much more! We will have a coffee bar and tea lounge, a wine & cheese social, and plenty of time to relax and hang out! Our Session Priest is Fr. Nicholas Belcher! Fr. Nick is a former AV counselor, head counselor, and current summertime Session Priest! He currently serves as the Episcopal Assistant at the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America. Join us for Adult Camp from September 14-17. For more information and to register go to https://avcamp.org/otherprograms/adult-camp/. Contact one of our Young Adult Coordinators to cooperate on transportation. Mark your calendar for this year s 4th annual St. Nicholas vs. St. George softball game being played on September 30 at Manhattan Park. More details forthcoming!
St. Nicholas is invited to the St. George picnic on Sunday, August 19. The picnic will be held at the beautiful Richmond Park and pavilion. The day will begin with Liturgy at 10:30 AM and will by followed by the picnic festivities. (There is no cost for lunch but free-will offerings are appreciated). Address: 1101 Richmond St NW, 49504. Don't miss this year s amazing Greek Festival being held at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church this Friday, Saturday, & Sunday. Their homemade food, desserts, and imported libations are only the beginning of your cultural immersion! Live music, dancing, and other activities all help round out your visit. Let s support our sister parish and their hundreds of volunteers who put on this great event. For details go to http://www.grgreekfest.com/ Did you know that you can support St. Nicholas by "liking" and sharing The Cultural Center's Facebook page? If every parishioner assisted, together we could increase the business that comes to St. Nicholas through hall rentals with The Cultural Center. Go to https:// stnicholasgr.com/the-cultural-center/ for step-by-step instructions. FELLOWSHIP GROUPS Join us for lunch and fellowship this Thursday, August 16 as we gather to do our service project for Kids' Food Basket. The project is easy so anyone, regardless of ability, can participate. Our lunch theme is "A Summertime Picnic". We will provide the main course. Please contact Eileen if you would like to bring potato salad, baked beans, or a dessert--no ants please! Everyone is welcome! Invite a friend and come help us in our community outreach endeavor! It is time to kick off the new Church Year with a GNO! Janet Ansara is very happy to be hosting the first GNO for the year and hopes everyone can join in on the fun! It will be at Janet's house on Monday, August 27 at 6:00 PM. Please bring your favorite appetizer, salad, dessert or even your drink of choice. Janet will provide the main dish. Respond to Janet and let her know what you plan to share. At this fun night, Janet will also update everyone on events and where and how you can help. Officer elections will also be held that evening as well. Please let Janet know if you are interested in running for any position. Let's look forward to a fun year together!
THIS WEEK S ACTIVITIES For a complete listing of all of St. Nicholas services and events, visit our website at https://stnicholasgr.com/event-calendar/ Monday, August 13 Paraklesis @ St. George (7 PM) Tuesday, August 14 Paraklesis @ St. George (7 AM) Chanters practice (7:30 PM) Wednesday, August 15 Dormition Monastery Pilgrimage (8 AM) Divine Liturgy for the Feast of the Dormition @ St. George (7 PM) Thursday, August 16 Forerunners luncheon/activity (Noon) Saturday, August 18 SOYO Leadership Retreat (9 AM) Great Vespers (6 PM) Sunday, August 19 Matins (8:50 AM) Divine Liturgy (10 AM) St. George Picnic LOOKING AHEAD September 9 First Sunday of Church School September 16 All Parish Town-Hall Meeting & Ministry Fair September 30 St. George vs St. Nicholas Softball Game October 16 Middle Eastern Dinner
As we continue to grow in our Faith, there are moments when we have questions about how our Faith coalesces with the situations we encounter in our daily lives, community, and world. Fr. Michael is inviting you to submit questions relating to these topics. He may address them in one of his future Midweek reflections. Give yourself the refreshing spiritual break that your soul longs for by attending Sixth Hour Prayer Wednesdays at Noon in the St. Joseph of Damascus Chapel. Prayer and a short reflection end before 12:30 PM It is easy to financially support St. Nicholas while you take a week here and there to enjoy family vacation time this summer. Visit our St. Nicholas website and click the donate button at the bottom of the page. Your continuous contribution supports the on-going mission of our parish. Thank you! Our Archdiocese publishes a monthly news magazine, The Word, which includes articles, news, and other information from around the Archdiocese. If you have not been receiving it, please go to http://ww1.antiochian.org/address-updates and follow the instructions. This magazine is complimentary for all members of Antiochian parishes. Did you know that you can support St. Nicholas by "liking" and sharing The Cultural Center's Facebook page? If every parishioner assisted, together we could increase the business that comes to St. Nicholas through hall rentals with The Cultural Center. Go to https:// stnicholasgr.com/the-cultural-center/ for step-by-step instructions. The Ridge Park Charter Academy principal has asked if we could supply them with mentors for the upcoming school year. This is a once a week commitment to assist a child in a variety of ways such as reading, playing educational games, and other tasks that will benefit the child. Please consider joining Father Michael and some of your fellow parishioners in the mentoring program! What an awesome way to make a difference in the lives of kids! To sign-up contact Greg Storey: gregorystorey1@gmail.com.