Welcome to Saint Nicholas on this Sunday, June 5, 2016 Today we commemorate: Sunday of the Blind Man

Transcript

1 Welcome to Saint Nicholas on this Sunday, June 5, 2016 Today we commemorate: Sunday of the Blind Man EPISTLE READING Acts of the Apostles 16:16-34 Prokeimenon: You, O Lord, shall keep us and preserve us. Verse: Save me, O Lord, for the godly man has failed. IN THOSE DAYS, as we apostles were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by soothsaying. She followed Paul and us, crying, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation." And this she did for many days. But Paul was annoyed, and turned and said to the spirit, "I charge you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." And it came out that very hour. But when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the market place before the rulers; and when they had brought them to the magistrates they said, "These men are Jews and they are disturbing our city. They advocate customs which it is not lawful for us Romans to accept or practice." The crowd joined in attacking them; and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods. And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely. Having received this charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and every one's fetters were unfastened. When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul cried with a loud voice, "Do not harm yourself, for we are all here." And he called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas, and brought them out and said, "Men, what must I do to be saved?" And they said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household." And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all that were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their wounds, and he was baptized at once, with all his family. Then he brought them up into his house, and set food before them; and he rejoiced with all his household that he had believed in God.

2 Πράξεις Ἀποστόλων 16:16-34 Προκείμενον: Σὺ Κύριε, φυλάξαις ἡμᾶς καὶ διατηρήσαις ἡμᾶς. Στίχ. Σῶσον με, Κύριε, ὅτι ἐκλέλοιπεν ὅσιος. Ἐν ταῖς ἡμεραῖς ἐκείναις, ἐγένετο δὲ πορευομένων ἡμῶν εἰς προσευχὴν παιδίσκην τινὰ ἔχουσαν πνεῦμα πύθωνος ἀπαντῆσαι ἡμῖν, ἥτις ἐργασίαν πολλὴν παρεῖχε τοῖς κυρίοις αὐτῆς μαντευομένη.αὕτη κατακο λουθήσασα τῷ Παύλῳ καὶ τῷ Σίλᾳ ἔκραζε λέγουσα οὗτοι οἱ ἄνθρωποι δοῦλοι τοῦ Θεοῦ τοῦ ὑψίστο υ εἰσίν, οἵτινες καταγγέλλουσιν ἡμῖν ὁδὸν σωτηρίας. τοῦτο δὲ ἐποίει ἐπὶ πολλὰς ἡμέρας. διαπονηθεὶς δ ὲ ὁ Παῦλος καὶ ἐπιστρέψας τῷ πνεύματι εἶπε παραγγέλλω σοι ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι Ιησοῦ Χριστοῦ ἐξελθεῖ ν ἀπ αὐτῆς. καὶ ἐξῆλθεν αὐτῇ τῇ ὥρᾳ. Ιδόντες δὲ οἱ κύριοι αὐτῆς ὅτι ἐξῆλθεν ἡ ἐλπὶς τῆς ἐργασίας αὐτῶν, ἐπιλαβόμενοι τὸν Παῦλον καὶ τὸν Σίλαν εἵλκυσαν εἰς τὴν ἀγορὰν ἐπὶ τοὺς ἄρχοντας, καὶ προσ αγαγόντες αὐτοὺς τοῖς στρατηγοῖς εἶπον οὗτοι οἱ ἄνθρωποι ἐκταράσσουσιν ἡμῶν τὴν πόλιν Ιουδαῖοι ὑπάρχοντες, καὶ καταγγέλλουσιν ἔθη ἃ οὐκ ἔξεστιν ἡμῖν παραδέχεσθαι οὐδὲ ποιεῖν Ρωμαίοις οὖσι. καὶ συνεπέστη ὁ ὄχλος κατ αὐτῶν. καὶ οἱ στρατηγοὶ περιρρήξαντες αὐτῶν τὰ ἱμάτια ἐκέλευον ῥαβδίζειν, πολλάς τε ἐπιθέντες αὐτοῖς πληγὰς ἔβαλον εἰς φυλακήν, παραγγείλαντες τῷ δεσμοφύλακι ἀσφαλῶς τη ρεῖν αὐτούς ὃς παραγγελίαν τοιαύτην εἰληφὼς ἔβαλεν αὐτοὺς εἰς τὴν ἐσωτέραν φυλακὴν καὶ τοὺς πό δας αὐτῶν ἠσφαλίσατο εἰς τὸ ξύλον. Κατὰ δὲ τὸ μεσονύκτιον Παῦλος καὶ Σίλας προσευχόμενοι ὕμνο υν τὸν Θεόν ἐπηκροῶντο δὲ αὐτῶν οἱ δέσμιοι. ἄφνω δὲ σεισμὸς ἐγένετο μέγας, ὥστε σαλευθῆναι τὰ θεμέλια τοῦ δεσμωτηρίου, ἀνεῴχθησάν τε παραχρῆμα αἱ θύραι πᾶσαι καὶ πάντων τὰ δεσμὰ ἀνέθη. ἔξυ πνος δὲ γενόμενος ὁ δεσμοφύλαξ καὶ ἰδὼν ἀνεῳγμένας τὰς θύρας τῆς φυλακῆς, σπασάμενος μάχαιραν ἔμελλεν ἑαυτὸν ἀναιρεῖν, νομίζων ἐκπεφευγέναι τοὺς δεσμίους. ἐφώνησε δὲ φωνῇ μεγάλῃ ὁ Παῦλος λ έγων μηδὲν πράξῃς σεαυτῷ κακόν ἅπαντες γάρ ἐσμεν ἐνθάδε. αἰτήσας δὲ φῶτα εἰσεπήδησε, καὶ ἔντρ ομος γενόμενος προσέπεσε τῷ Παύλῳ καὶ τῷ Σίλᾳ,καὶ προαγαγὼν αὐτοὺς ἔξω ἔφη κύριοι, τί με δεῖ π οιεῖν ἵνα σωθῶ; οἱ δὲ εἶπον πίστευσον ἐπὶ τὸν Κύριον Ιησοῦν Χριστόν, καὶ σωθήσῃ σὺ καὶ ὁ οἶκός σο υ. καὶ ἐλάλησαν αὐτῷ τὸν λόγον τοῦ Κυρίου καὶ πᾶσι τοῖς ἐν τῇ οἰκίᾳ αὐτοῦ. καὶ παραλαβὼν αὐτοὺς ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ὥρᾳ τῆς νυκτὸς ἔλουσεν ἀπὸ τῶν πληγῶν, καὶ ἐβαπτίσθη αὐτὸς καὶ οἱ αὐτοῦ πάντες παρ αχρῆμα, ἀναγαγών τε αὐτοὺς εἰς τὸν οἶκον αὐτοῦ παρέθηκε τράπεζαν, καὶ ἠγαλλιάσατο πανοικὶ πεπιστ ευκὼς τῷ Θεῷ. Sunday of the Blind Man The Gospel according to John 9:1-38 GOSPEL READING At that time, as Jesus passed by, he saw a man blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" Jesus answered, "It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be made manifest in him. We must work the works of him who sent me, while it is day; night comes, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." As he said this, he spat on the ground and made clay of the spittle and anointed the man's eyes with the clay, saying to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing. The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar, said, "Is not this the man who used to sit and beg?" Some said, "It is he"; others said, "No, but he is like him." He said, "I am the man." They said to him, "Then how were your eyes opened?" He answered, "The man called Jesus made clay and anointed my

3 eyes and said to me, 'Go to Siloam and wash'; so I went and washed and received my sight." They said to him, "Where is he?" He said, "I do not know." They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. Now it was a sabbath day when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. The Pharisees again asked him how he had received his sight. And he said to them, "He put clay on my eyes and I washed, and I see." Some of the Pharisees said, "This man is not from God, for he does not keep the sabbath." But others said, "How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?" There was a division among them. So they again said to the blind man, "What do you say about him, since he has opened your eyes?" He said, "He is a prophet." The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight, until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight, and asked them, "Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?" His parents answered, "We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; but how he now sees we do not know, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age, he will speak for himself." His parents said this because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone should confess him to be Christ he was to be put out of the synagogue. Therefore his parents said, "He is of age, ask him." So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and said to him, "Give God the praise; we know that this man is a sinner." He answered, "Whether he is a sinner, I do not know; one thing I know, that though I was blind, now I see." They said to him, "What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?" He answered them, "I have told you already and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you too want to become his disciples?" And they reviled him, saying, "You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from." The man answered, "Why, this is a marvel! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him. Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing." They answered him, "You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?" And they cast him out. Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, "Do you believe in the Son of man?" He answered, "And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?" Jesus said to him, "You have seen him, and it is he who speaks to you." He said, "Lord, I believe": and he worshiped him. Sunday of the Blind Man Κατὰ Ἰωάννην 9:1-38 Τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ, παράγων εἶδεν ἄνθρωπον τυφλὸν ἐκ γενετῆς. Καὶ ἠρώτησαν αὐτὸν οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτ οῦ λέγοντες ῥαββί, τίς ἥμαρτεν, οὗτος ἢ οἱ γονεῖς αὐτοῦ, ἵνα τυφλὸς γεννηθῇ; ἀπεκρίθη Ιησοῦς οὔτ ε οὗτος ἥμαρτεν οὔτε οἱ γονεῖς αὐτοῦ, ἀλλ ἵνα φανερωθῇ τὰ ἔργα τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐν αὐτῷ. ἐμὲ δεῖ ἐργάζε σθαι τὰ ἔργα τοῦ πέμψαντός με ἕως ἡμέρα ἐστίν ἔρχεται νὺξ ὅτε οὐδεὶς δύναται ἐργάζεσθαι. ὅταν ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ ᾦ, φῶς εἰμι τοῦ κόσμου. ταῦτα εἰπὼν ἔπτυσε χαμαὶ καὶ ἐποίησε πηλὸν ἐκ τοῦ πτύσματος, καὶ ἐπέχρισε τὸν πηλὸν ἐπὶ τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς τοῦ τυφλοῦ καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ ὕπαγε νίψαι εἰς τὴν κολυμβ ήθραν τοῦ Σιλωάμ, ὃ ἑρμηνεύεται ἀπεσταλμένος. ἀπῆλθεν οὖν καὶ ἐνίψατο, καὶ ἦλθε βλέπων. Οἱ οὖν γείτονες καὶ οἱ θεωροῦντες αὐτὸν τὸ πρότερον ὅτι τυφλὸς ἦν, ἔλεγον οὐχ οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ καθήμενος καὶ προσαιτῶν; ἄλλοι ἔλεγον ὅτι οὗτός ἐστιν ἄλλοι δὲ ὅτι ὅμοιος αὐτῷ ἐστιν. ἐκεῖνος ἔλεγεν ὅτι ἐγώ εἰμι. ἔλεγον οὖν αὐτῷ πῶς ἀνεῴχθησάν σου οἱ ὀφθαλμοί; ἀπεκρίθη ἐκεῖνος καὶ εἶπεν ἄνθρωπος λεγό

4 μενος Ιησοῦς πηλὸν ἐποίησε καὶ ἐπέχρισέ μου τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς καὶ εἶπέ μοι ὕπαγε εἰς τὴν κολυμβήθ ραν τοῦ Σιλωὰμ καὶ νίψαι ἀπελθὼν δὲ καὶ νιψάμενος ἀνέβλεψα. εἶπον οὖν αὐτῷ ποῦ ἐστιν ἐκεῖνος; λ έγει οὐκ οἶδα. Αγουσιν αὐτὸν πρὸς τοὺς Φαρισαίους, τόν ποτε τυφλόν. ἦν δὲ σάββατον ὅτε τὸν πηλ ὸν ἐποίησεν ὁ Ιησοῦς καὶ ἀνέῳξεν αὐτοῦ τοὺς ὀφθαλμούς. πάλιν οὖν ἠρώτων αὐτὸν καὶ οἱ Φαρισαῖ οι πῶς ἀνέβλεψεν. ὁ δὲ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς πηλὸν ἐπέθηκέ μου ἐπὶ τοὺς ὀφθαλμούς, καὶ ἐνιψάμην, καὶ βλέπ ω. ἔλεγον οὖν ἐκ τῶν Φαρισαίων τινές οὗτος ὁ ἄνθρωπος οὐκ ἔστι παρὰ τοῦ Θεοῦ, ὅτι τὸ σάββατον οὐ τηρεῖ. ἄλλοι ἔλεγον πῶς δύναται ἄνθρωπος ἁμαρτωλὸς τοιαῦτα σημεῖα ποιεῖν; καὶ σχίσμα ἦν ἐν α ὐτοῖς. λέγουσι τῷ τυφλῷ πάλιν σὺ τί λέγεις περὶ αὐτοῦ, ὅτι ἤνοιξέ σου τοὺς ὀφθαλμούς; ὁ δὲ εἶπεν ὅτι προφήτης ἐστίν. οὐκ ἐπίστευσαν οὖν οἱ Ιουδαῖοι περὶ αὐτοῦ ὅτι τυφλὸς ἦν καὶ ἀνέβλεψεν, ἕως ὅτ ου ἐφώνησαν τοὺς γονεῖς αὐτοῦ τοῦ ἀναβλέψαντος καὶ ἠρώτησαν αὐτοὺς λέγοντες οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ υἱ ὸς ὑμῶν, ὃν ὑμεῖς λέγετε ὅτι τυφλὸς ἐγεννήθη; πῶς οὖν ἄρτι βλέπει; ἀπεκρίθησαν δὲ αὐτοῖς οἱ γονεῖς αὐτοῦ καὶ εἶπον οἴδαμεν ὅτι οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ υἱὸς ἡμῶν καὶ ὅτι τυφλὸς ἐγεννήθη πῶς δὲ νῦν βλέπει οὐ κ οἴδαμεν, ἢ τίς ἤνοιξεν αὐτοῦ τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς ἡμεῖς οὐκ οἴδαμεν αὐτὸς ἡλικίαν ἔχει, αὐτὸν ἐρωτή σατε, αὐτὸς περὶ ἑαυτοῦ λαλήσει. ταῦτα εἶπον οἱ γονεῖς αὐτοῦ, ὅτι ἐφοβοῦντο τοὺς Ιουδαίους ἤδη γ ὰρ συνετέθειντο οἱ Ιουδαῖοι ἵνα, ἐάν τις αὐτὸν ὁμολογήσῃ Χριστόν, ἀποσυνάγωγος γένηται. διὰ τοῦτ ο οἱ γονεῖς αὐτοῦ εἶπον ὅτι ἡλικίαν ἔχει, αὐτὸν ἐρωτήσατε. ἐφώνησαν οὖν ἐκ δευτέρου τὸν ἄνθρωπον ὃς ἦν τυφλός, καὶ εἶπον αὐτῷ δὸς δόξαν τῷ Θεῷ ἡμεῖς οἴδαμεν ὅτι ὁ ἄνθρωπος οὗτος ἁμαρτωλός ἐστιν. ἀπεκρίθη οὖν ἐκεῖνος καὶ εἶπεν εἰ ἁμαρτωλός ἐστιν οὐκ οἶδα ἓν οἶδα, ὅτι τυφλὸς ὢν ἄρτι βλέπ ω. εἶπον δὲ αὐτῷ πάλιν τί ἐποίησέ σοι; πῶς ἤνοιξέ σου τοὺς ὀφθαλμούς; ἀπεκρίθη αὐτοῖς εἶπον ὑμῖν ἤδη, καὶ οὐκ ἠκούσατε τί πάλιν θέλετε ἀκούειν; μὴ καὶ ὑμεῖς θέλετε αὐτοῦ μαθηταὶ γενέσθαι; ἐλοιδό ρησαν αὐτὸν καὶ εἶπον σὺ εἶ μαθητὴς ἐκείνου ἡμεῖς δὲ τοῦ Μωϋσέως ἐσμὲν μαθηταί. ἡμεῖς οἴδαμεν ὅ τι Μωϋσεῖ λελάληκεν ὁ Θεός τοῦτον δὲ οὐκ οἴδαμεν πόθεν ἐστίν. ἀπεκρίθη ὁ ἄνθρωπος καὶ εἶπεν αὐ τοῖς ἐν γὰρ τούτῳ θαυμαστόν ἐστιν, ὅτι ὑμεῖς οὐκ οἴδατε πόθεν ἐστί, καὶ ἀνέῳξέ μου τοὺς ὀφθαλμο ύς. οἴδαμεν δὲ ὅτι ἁμαρτωλῶν ὁ Θεὸς οὐκ ἀκούει, ἀλλ ἐάν τις θεοσεβὴς ᾖ καὶ τὸ θέλημα αὐτοῦ ποι ῇ, τούτου ἀκούει. ἐκ τοῦ αἰῶνος οὐκ ἠκούσθη ὅτι ἤνοιξέ τις ὀφθαλμοὺς τυφλοῦ γεγεννημένου. εἰ μὴ ἦν οὗτος παρὰ Θεοῦ, οὐκ ἠδύνατο ποιεῖν οὐδέν.ἀπεκρίθησαν καὶ εἶπον αὐτῷ ἐν ἁμαρτίαις σὺ ἐγεννή θης ὅλος, καὶ σὺ διδάσκεις ἡμᾶς; καὶ ἐξέβαλον αὐτὸν ἔξω. Ηκουσεν ὁ Ιησοῦς ὅτι ἐξέβαλον αὐτὸν ἔξω, καὶ εὑρὼν αὐτὸν εἶπεν αὐτῷ σὺ πιστεύεις εἰς τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ Θεοῦ; ἀπεκρίθη ἐκεῖνος καὶ εἶπε καὶ τίς ἐστι, Κύριε, ἵνα πιστεύσω εἰς αὐτόν; εἶπε δὲ αὐτῷ ὁ Ιησ οῦς καὶ ἑώρακας αὐτὸν καὶ ὁ λαλῶν μετὰ σοῦ ἐκεῖνός ἐστιν. ὁ δὲ ἔφη πιστεύω, Κύριε καὶ προσεκύ νησεν αὐτῷ.

5 Welcome If this is your first time to St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, we welcome you and look forward to meeting you. May God bless your time with us as we worship God The Father, Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. If you are not familiar with Orthodox worship, please ask one of our ushers. If you are in need of spiritual assistance or would like to know how to become an Orthodox Christian, please speak to Father Andrew. Calendar Sun. June 5 Sunday of the Blind Man: 9 AM Orthros, 10AM Divine Liturgy Thur. June 9 Holy Ascension: 9 AM Orthros, 10 AM Divine Liturgy Fri. June 10 Bible Study: 1:00 PM Sat. June 11 Greek School: 3:00 PM, Church Hall Sun. June 12 Fathers of the 1 st Ecumenical Council: 9 AM Orthros, 10 AM Divine Liturgy Spring Parish General Assembly: following Divine Liturgy Fri. June 17 Bible Study: 1:00 PM Sat. June 18 Saturday of Souls: 10 AM Divine Liturgy followed by Memorial Service Greek School: 3:00 PM, Church Hall Sun. June 19 Holy Pentecost: 9 AM Orthros, 10 AM Divine Liturgy Fri. June 24 Nativity of St. John the Baptist: 9 AM Orthros, 10 AM Divine Liturgy Bible Study: 1:00 PM Sat. June 25 Greek School: 3:00 PM, Church Hall Sun. June 26 All Saints: 9 AM Orthros, 10 AM Divine Liturgy Wed. June 29 Synaxis of the Holy Apostles: 9 AM Orthros, 10 AM Divine Liturgy Announcements + DANCE GROUP INSTRUCTOR/ DIRECTOR WANTED. The dance group is currently looking for dance instructors/directors to teach Greek folk dance to our wonderful children ages 4-8, 9-12, and 13 and older. There are three different groups. If interested please call Kari Gaskins at or Jessica Hadjis at (562) SUNDAY SCHOOL DIRECTOR AND/OR TEACHER WANTED. Please contact Father Andrew if you are interested. + Two weeks left to help Mochas for Missions. Please return your cup on or before the Sunday of Holy Pentecost June 19 th.

6 May 31, 2016 Hermias the Martyr at Comana Beloved Brothers in the Lord, Χριστός Ανέστη! Christ is Risen! I greet you with joy from Constantinople where I am participating this week in meetings of the Holy and Sacred Synod with His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. As part of my current service on the Holy Synod, I will also be a delegate to the historic Great and Holy Council which will convene on Crete from June 18 27, I am deeply honored to be one of the representatives for the Greek Orthodox Church and I ask you to pray for all of those participating in the Great and Holy Council that we may be granted discernment, wisdom and strength from the Lord during our deliberations. As you know, this is the first time in 1,200 years that the leaders of all fourteen Orthodox Autocephalous Churches will gather. There are many resources available for your edification and I ask that you please share the website with your congregations so they may read and understand the historic significance of this event. Coming together as Orthodox Christians in worship and in fellowship is important to our spiritual development. We will have such an opportunity during the 43 rd Biennial Clergy-Laity Congress in Nashville, Tennessee from July 3 7, The theme for this years Congress, You are the Voice of Christ in a Changing World directly relates both to the Great and Holy Council which immediately precedes the Congress, but also is a directive to each of us in our ministries to always exemplify Christ in all that we do and all that we say, so that we may bring others closer to Him and His abiding love and salvation. I must underscore that your active participation in the Clergy-Laity Congress, and that of the layleadership of your parishes, is not a choice but an obligation as approved in the Regulations, voted on by the parishes in our Archdiocese. Our active participation in the official gatherings of our Church be they local, regional or national demonstrates our eagerness to renew ourselves and to offer our gifts for a healthy and ongoing ministry for the Glory of God. Therefore, I am asking you personally, along with the proper representation from your parish, to be present in Nashville for this important event of our Archdiocese. Expressing the confidence that I will see all of you at the Clergy-Laity Congress, I pray that our Lord grant you and your beloved flock His love and mercy. With Love in Our Risen Lord, Metropolitan Gerasimos of San Francisco

7 June 2016 Always Striving for Balance Rev. Father Timothy Robinson, Associate Priest Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church Sacramento, CA One of my goals in recent years is living a more balanced life. I want to make time for the important things and not feel like my life is out of control. Pastoral emergencies, family needs, and Greek festivals unbalance it, and that is okay, but I want balance to be the rule. It is June. Some of the Church programs take their annual hiatus. Summer is, hopefully, a chance to slow down a little and reflect on what we do. It is a chance to re-assess. How do I control the pace of my life? How do I manage all the demands? Where is balance found? Is balance an achievable state? To start with, I am presently convinced that control is an illusion. We can control our reactions to things and people, but we cant control everything that happens around us or what other people do. We can trust God who tells us He cares for us and controls what goes on in our lives. He tells us that he has every hair of our head numbered (Matthew 10:30). The Apostle Paul assures us that God works everything for good for those who love Him, to those he calls for His purpose (Romans 8:28). God oversees and governs our lives, even to the point that what others intend as evil for us God can turn to good. So Someone is in control, but it is not us. On the other hand, even if we are not really in control, I am also convinced that God wants us to manage our lives wisely. We are responsible for how we think and react and how and why we do things. Here, for your consideration during these slower months, are a few simple strategies for putting our fast-paced lives into more of a God-pleasing and sanity-producing balance: 1. Learn contentment. In Philippians 4:12 Paul says: I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation. Our society cultivates discontent. Discontent breeds restless activity. Contentment leads to peace. This doesnt mean that I am satisfied with everything in my life. It does mean that I am not constantly looking for something new to make me happy. 2. Obey the fourth commandment. Take a day off every week. If I cannot take time off, I am too busy, period. We all need downtime. We must rest. This is the way to a balanced

8 life. I have learned that even if we truly love what we do, we need to get away from it from time to time to keep our perspective. 3. Put God first in your activities. We need to pray every day, preferably at the beginning of the day. Prayer centers us. It connects us with God who is the source of peace and calm. And we can pray throughout the day and before we commit ourselves to things. Ask God for creative wisdom. 4. Establish priorities. Our world is full of distractions and trivial pursuits, and we often get distracted from the needful things. From time to time, it is very helpful to evaluate how we spend our time. Turn off your phone and the television. People are more important than things, more important than tasks. At the same time, do not try to make everyone happy. It doesnt work. You will drive yourself crazy. Someone will always be disappointed with you no matter what you do. Please God first. If God is happy with you, then you are all right. 5. Learn to say No! There is nothing wrong with saying No! If you cant say No to some things, you will not be able to say Yes to the right things! We cannot keep adding endlessly to our activity lists. Here are two questions to ask: Is this activity or commitment worth my time? Life is time. Time is all you have, and it is limited. Second: What am I willing to give up in order to add this new commitment to my life? A related question these days is: Am I depending on drugs to help me over-achieve? Caffeine consumption is at an all-time high. A little is okay for most of us. A lot is just drug-dependency. Starbucks cant replace sleep. 6. Learn to focus on one thing or one person at a time. Focus on the present. Live each day. Give each person your complete and full attention. Isnt that what we want from others? Multitasking doesnt really work at all. We cant do everything, and we cant do more than one thing at a time. 7. Trust Gods timing. Be patient! Life is a marathon, not a sprint. The urgent is usually not essential, and the essential is usually not urgent. When we ask God for something, He is either going to say No, Yes, or Not yet. God knows what is best for us. Patience, like contentment, will lead us to balance. There you have it. A few thoughts from a busy Priest. I will humbly confess that I am still working on getting this right! I pray that you work on getting it right, too. May you be happy being busy and busy being happy. Kαλό Καλοκαίρι! Happy Summer!

9 Prosfora PROSFORA, translated an offering to God, is bread prepared for use in the Divine Liturgy. A portion of it, known as the lamb (or amnon) is cut out during the proskomedia which is consecrated during the Divine Liturgy to be the Eucharist, while the rest is cut up for the antidoron, the blessed bread distributed at the end of the liturgy. During its preparation, prosphora is stamped with an image usually including IC XC NIKA ( Jesus Christ conquers ), which is maintained during baking and then serves as a guide for cutting out the lamb during the proskomedia. Prosforo Class Philoptochos is having a demonstration workshop Tuesday, June 21 at 9:00am Please RSVP: Kathy Lemonides (760) or at klemonidis@gmail.com Lunch will be served Please join us Everyone is welcomed!

10 Own a Piece of history Anniversary keepsake St. Nicholas 25th Anniversary Commemorative Booklet St. Nicholas Icon with easel DVD photo s of 25 years Only $20! SUPPLIES ARE LIMITED! Please Contact George Barbas (951) georgebarbas@yahoo.com Thank you St. Nicholas Community, so far we have raised $63.12! Please keep saving your change for our Orthodox Missions.

11 SUPPORT BUSINESS OWNERS WHO ARE PARISHIONERS OF OUR PARISH Want your Business listed?? All you have to do is contact Father Andrew, it's that simple. ALL DAY AUTO REPAIR AND SMOG, Via Montezuma, Temecula, ask for George A PLUS ORGANIZATION, LLC (Presv. Karen Lesko), Personal organization for your home, garage, or business, to fit your specific needs kmlesko@mail.com A TO Z BUILDERS & REMODELER, Boris Prohnitchi, General Contractor, Room Addition, Roofing Solution, Decorative Patios, Decks, Paving, Kitchen & Bathroom Flooring and Painting. San Jacinto, pbpgeneral@yahoo.com AVON CALLING! (Eleni Malandrinos) Your Avon representative. Need a Book? Need an Order? emalandrinos@aol.com BARBARIAN BAIL BONDS, Kristi Bartzis, Bail Agent serving So. Cal. With Bail Bonds 24/7 bailagentkristi@gmail.com Off: Cell: BEST FRIEND FINANCIAL TAX & IMMIGRATION SERVICES (Christina Nichols-Wainright, Jefferson Suite B, Temecula, Christina@FFF-Tax.com website BFF-Tax.com DEMIFIED HEALTH & HOME IMPROVEMENTS (Demi and Lawrence Mazzola), Providing health, home and business improvements that are always a work in progress! We also sell vitamins! demi@demified.com CHRYSANTHE PAPAZOGLOU Men's & Women's Alterations, Custom Window Treatments Oasis Resident, Menifee CA THE COLOUR PARLOR ( Janna Bozonelos) Clinton Keith Rd.. Suite A-102, Wildomar ELI-COMPLETE AUTO REPAIR (Elias Housein), Your Foreign & Domestic Specialist since 1985, Washington Ave. Unit B, Murrieta ENGLAND FAMILY MORTUARY, INC. Greg England, Funeral Director, Temecula Valley's Funeral Home Madison Ave., Temecula , EnglandFamilyMortuary.com EVEREST TOWN CAR SERVICE (for all your transportation needs), Serving the Temecula Valley Area or acedriver1@yahoo.com FLORE WHOLESALE (Quality Design and Wholesale Fresh Flower's) Cherry St. Suite F, Murrieta, Stephanie Doehring , florewholesale@yahoo.com HANDYMAN, (David M. Hodges), Broad Oak St., Murrieta, Phone (Cell) and (Fax & Message). HOME SMART REAL ESTATE, (Bogdan Sofian), Real Estate Consultant. BRE# Phone Cell: Office: boghi77@gmail.com M AND D FIELDS BAKER (Malinda Fields), Cookies-Breads-Cakes (Baking with a Passion) Adelfa, Lake Elsinore, MandDFieldsBakery@live.com THE KHAN LAW FIRM Specializing in Immigration Law, Business Law and International Law Contact Nasir Khan

12 MANDEL JEWELERS (Linda Mandel), Fine Jewelers since E. Imperial Hwy, Ste 148, Brea, CA MARIAN ELLIS, hair designer, Those who seek beauty, will find it Old Town Front Street Suite 235, Temecula MEGA TOM'S, Gourmet Fast Food Restaurants, Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner, Madison Ave, Murrieta, NICOLE MAVERAKIS, Electronics Consultant, extensive knowledge of computers, audio and video systems. If you need help with those fields contact O. B. One, OWNER BUILDER ONE (Charles Fields), a subsidiary of Old Ben One Inc., Adelfa St., Lakeland Village OLD MARKET GRILL, Fresh Mediterranean Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner, Clinton Keith Rd., Wildomar, Dine in Take out Call in Drive Thru OPA TRAVEL (Eleni Skaropoulos), Greece air tickets is my specialty. Also tour packages anywhere plus bus tour organizer. Call PANGAEA RESTAURANT (Owned/Operated by the Zachos Family) Formerly The Greek Place. New ownership since Feb. 1 st., Authenic Greek and Italian Cuisne! Tell a friend! Jefferson Ave. #17, Temecula PAX PRINTER REPAIR, Peter Rekatsinas, 108 N. Kalmia St., Escondido, , PIANO LESSONS/RUSSIAN LANGUAGE LESSONS, Inna Hayek, Private Tutor, All Ages and All Levels (Adult care, Child care and Crafts). PAISANO SMOG CHECK, Test only station, Vehicle Registration Transfer of Ownership Registration Renewals Lien Sales, Collier Ave. Ste. B, Lake Elsinore, PLUMBING, Bisharah al shaer, bishara.shaer@yahoo.com VERONIKA HUGGINS, Concert Pianist Accordion Player, All forms of music for venues large or small Lessons Available nikahuggins@msn.com SIGGYS RESTAURANTS Simply the best since 1956, Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner, serving Murrieta and Temecula Jefferson Ave., Murrieta ll9 and Highway 79 South, Temecula, TAXES: J.C. H. TAX GROUP (John Hadjis, Chris Hadjis, Andrea Nissim) Temecula , also in Lake Elsinore TEKTON INVESTMENTS, INC. - Real Estate Division (George Tektonopoulos) Broker-Realtor, Jefferson, Suite C, Murrieta, tekton@ez2.net SOLAR: EARTHWISE SOLAR (Elliott Nissim) THOMPSON MIDDLE SCHOOL (Christine Hodges), Resource Specialist ELS- Citizenship teacher, The choice is always yours Free helps! Have questions on Special Education or services. Need help becoming a United States Citizen? YELLOW BASKET, Family Restaurant Haun Road, Menifee, , Winchester Road, Temecula, , ---coming soon Wildomar--- wwwyellowbasket.com

13 WINE BY DESIGN, Express & Impress (Evan Vassilakis), The creator or Blouzo brings you superb wines from Lodi and Napa We specialize on private label creations for both business, restaurants, and events such as weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, holiday reunions, fund raising and special occasions Philoptochos, Special Services are offered. Memorials: Koliva Small Tray - $30.00 Large Tray - $60.00 Prosfora 3 Loaves - $20.00 Artoklasia 5 loaves - $40.00 Trisagion: For your special requests, please call Vaso Bouras at (951) or Phofy Bachakes at (951) Please call Vaso or Phofy to make arrangements for services or events.