ST. NICHOLAS

GREEK ORTHODOX

CHURCH

15 FRANCIS ST.

PO BOX 264

JAMESTOWN, NY 14702

(716) 483-0022

FAX: (716)483-0474

WWW.STNICHOLAS

JAMESTOWN.ORG

PARISH PRIEST

Rev. Fr. Jarrod Russell

Cell: (501) 554-1874

frjarrod@gmail.com

THE WONDERWORKER November / December 2017

Sunday Services

10:00 am Divine Liturgy

11:30 am Sunday School

Fellowship Hour

Following Divine Liturgy

For dates and times of

weekday services, please

refer to the calendar in

this edition or on the

church website.

Christ is Born! Glorify Him!

We are quickly approaching the Nativity season where

we prepare to celebrate the Birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus

Christ. The Nativity season requires both spiritual and material

preparation. For our spiritual preparation, we should attend the

Divine Services offered by the Church, especially on Christmas Eve (a Sunday morning

service this year) and Christmas morning. We should also take time at our homes to read

the Nativity accounts in the Holy Scriptures, both the Gospel According to St. Matthew

(1:18 – 2:23) and the Gospel According to St. Luke (2:1 – 40). While we will hear these

Gospel readings during the Divine Services, we should also read them to ourselves pri-

vately and aloud with our families, especially with our children. By carefully and prayer-

fully reading these Gospel accounts in the weeks leading up to Christmas, we will help to

prepare ourselves spiritually for this great feast.

There is also material preparation. Our challenge as Orthodox Christians is to be

sure that our material preparation flows from and follows our spiritual preparation. The

Nativity Season is not simply a time to give gifts; instead, it is a time to be giving of our-

selves. It is a time to reconcile with our families, friends, neighbors, and co-workers. It is

a time for us to seek out new ways of helping those in need. It is a time for us to refocus

our words, deeds, and thoughts toward the One who is born in Bethlehem. It is a time for

us to proclaim with our very being that Christ is born and to glorify Him. As we prepare

for this joyful celebration, having carefully and prayerfully read the Nativity accounts, we

will loudly proclaim on Christmas morning that unto us “is born this day in the city of

David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:11). May our Lord guide and bless us

all during this Nativity season.

With love in Christ,

Rev. Fr. Jarrod Russell

LIVE

YOUR

ORTHODOX FAITH

Fr. Jarrod’s Message

Clergy-Laity Assembly: l to r: Tim Anderson, Fr. Jarrod Russell, His Eminence

Metropolitan Nicholas, Ethel Enserro, Chris and Jim Cheronis.

CLERGY-LAITY ASSEMBLY 2017 BUFFALO, NEW YORK

l to r: James Cheronis, Delegate; Christine Cheronis, Philoptochos Delegate, Fr. Jarrod

Russell, Parish Priest, Timothy Anderson, Parish Council President, Angie Turner,

Delegate.

Jim Cheronis, His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas, Fr. Jarrod Russell

Violet Kianos has been an active member of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Jamestown, NY and

its Philoptochos Society for over 70 years. She was married to James Kianos and raised two sons, Robert

and James in the church. Violet has been active in fellowship gatherings including cooking and baking for

the annual Yassou Festival, church Bazaars and Rummage Sales. As a member of Philoptochos, she has

been active as the Treasurer since 1998 even at the age of 92.

2017 Clergy-Laity Honorees

Jim Cheronis has been a lifelong member of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church

in Jamestown, NY. Jim has always had a love of music and has been a chanter for

22 years, and recently has assumed the role of Choir Director. He also became a

member of the Parish Council where he served for 15 years; 12 of those years he

served faithfully as Parish Council president. He completed the Diaconate program

at Holy Cross in 2015, and has taught adult education classes at St. Nicholas to

share what he learned with other parishioners. He served proudly in the United

States Army during the Persian Gulf War and is currently retired from Northwest

Savings Bank after 25 years. Jim lives with his wife, Christine in Warren, PA and

has two children Alexandra and Christian.

LtoR: Timothy Anderson, President; Violet Kianos, Honoree; James Cheronis, Honoree; Fr. Jarrod Russell, Parish Priest

Honorees are selected by the Parish Council and the award is given by the Metropolis.

Congratulations Violet and Jim!

September 19th, at the Lutheran Home, residents and friends: L to R: Athena

Dimitri, Bessie Michos, Kathy Theofilactidis, Alexandra Michos, Ken and

Helen Bruner, Mary Beers. Photo taken by Dina Hurdle.

LASER TAG

Fun had by all, young and old. Fr. Jarrod also spoke with

the children about the Orthodox response to Halloween.

Many thanks to Alexis Singleton for coordinating this

event and to Kathy and George Theofilactidis for sponsor-

ing both the Laser Tag and pizza!

UPCOMING YOUTH EVENTS

November 15: Greek Dance Workshop at the Church

December 2: Bowling at Frewsburg Lanes

ST. NICHOLAS ANNUAL CHURCH PICNIC

COUNCIL CORNER

By Tim Anderson, Parish Council President

10/30/17

Dear Fellow Parishioners,

Thank you to everyone who has continued to support the needs of our church. We’ve had a

busy fall as a Parish community and it’s been great to see how many different ways our pa-

rishioners have been involved.

As one of the delegates to this year’s Metropolis Clergy-Laity Assembly, I had a wonderful experience in

listening to many of our Metropolis’ clergymen speak on a variety of topics surrounding how Orthodoxy can be

incorporated in our everyday lives. All of the workshops, Orthros services, and meetings have given me things to

reflect on and bring back to our community.

We have also convened at a Post-Yassou Festival meeting to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of our

yearly Festival, and what we could do to improve. The Festival is always a success in its ability to bring our local

and church community together, but we’re always looking for ways to improve its success.

As always, the Council looks forward to serving the needs of our church with the guidance of our Lord!

With love in Christ,

Tim Anderson, Council President.

Teaching Divine Liturgy on October 8. The Divine Liturgy was celebrated on the solea with

the Priest facing the people. This allowed the people to see fully what occurs in the altar.

Additionally, the Divine Liturgy was paused on several occasions allowing the congregation to

hear a description of what was occurring on the altar.

TEACHING DIVINE LITURGY

St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox

Ladies Erene Society Submitted by: Christine Cheronis, President

The Ladies Erene Society began its 2017-2018 year with a very

busy fundraising and community outreach schedule. The ladies met in

September to begin planning for their first annual “Taste of St. Nicholas”

fundraiser to support their efforts for community outreach. The event highlighted the

various nationalities that make up the St. Nicholas Church family. Foods from Albania, Greece, Armenia,

Italy, Russia, Ireland, Ukraine, Poland and the United States were made by families from our own St.

Nicholas work family. Our parishioners and the community were invited to join in a tasting event to bring

about awareness of the Orthodox faith and those who are Orthodox. The event was very successful and

plans are already underway for next year’s “Taste of St. Nicholas”. A BIG THANKS to everyone who

helped prepare food, set-up, decorations, and clean up! Even though this was a fundraiser for the Ladies

Erene Society, the entire St. Nicholas family participated in this event to make it a wonderful evening for

everyone!

Not letting any dust settle under our feet, the Ladies moved straight to the remaining Fall/Winter fundrais-

ers. Each year the ladies serve a luncheon during the General Assembly meeting at St. Nicholas. Thanks

to all those ladies for their help in the kitchen with this event!

The ladies will also be hosting a Fall/Winter Fashion Show on Friday, November 10th at 7pm. Kim

Tatoian and Rachael Anderson have been coordinating this event with Tiffany Theofilactidis. Thank you

ladies for coordinating this exciting event. Thank you Tiffany for planning and developing this fashion

show which will showcase the LuLaroe clothing line.

We are also planning and baking for the Annual Erene Society Christmas Luncheon and Bazaar will be

held on Saturday, December 2nd from 11am – 3pm. Baked goods are appreciated from all members and

parishioners. This traditional event will close out the fundraising season for the Erene Society.

In addition to our fundraising efforts to support our community outreach projects, many ladies continue to

offer their time and efforts to help in the kitchen baking for our St. Erene’s Kitchen program which offers

meals and “goodies” to those of our parish who are homebound or unable to attend Church. Father Jarrod

has been working with the Ladies Erene Society to take meals and gifts from the Erene Society to these

individuals of our Parish. In addition to our monthly donations to local organizations and National

Philoptochos that meet the mission of the Erene Society, the funds raised by the Erene Society help in pay-

ing for the costs of these meals and gifts for our parishioners.

With the Nativity season soon to be upon us, all the Ladies Erene Society members wish you and your

families a blessed season of love and happiness.

For more information on the St. Nicholas Ladies Erene Society and

its mission, activities and committees, please contact Christine

Cheronis at: ccheronis@gmail.com or

call (814) 723-7824.

L to R: Christine Cheronis, Helen

Vulgaris, and Joanne Christ, mak-

ing the delicious kourambeithes

for the Bazaar.

The ERENE Society (Philoptochos)

St. Nicholas

Greek Orthodox Church

Welcomes You to the

50th Annual Christmas

Bazaar, Bake sale

& Luncheon

Saturday, December 2nd, 2017

At the Church – Mt. Vernon Pl. & Francis St.

11:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Delicious Balkan Food Luncheon

is only $10.00

and will be served starting at

11:30 AM until 2:00PM

Come and Experience

Our Famous Hospitality

TASTE OF

SAINT

NICHOLAS

Sponsored by the

Ladies Erene

Society

October 28th,

2017

SUNDAY SCHOOL

CLASSES

The complete Sunday

School schedule thru May

2018 was in the previous

newsletter and is available

for your review on the bul-

letin board in the hall. If

you have questions, please

call Sabrina, Chris, or

Christine.

Parents and Grandparents,

please make every effort to

bring the children to church

and Sunday School.

Sunday School continues

every Sunday in November

and December with the fol-

lowing exceptions:

November 26 and Decem-

ber 24 & 31.

A Note from the Choir – November 2017

The St. Nicholas Choir has a goal of learning to sing the Divine Lit-

urgy in 4-part harmony, as illustrated in the Divine Liturgy Hymnal

Choral Arrangement Green Books.

We have just learned the Doxology, and it sounds so good! Parishion-

ers will notice a fullness and richness in the music as we master our

respective parts. Folks will also notice changes in the melodies, as we transition from what

we’ve always sung, to singing according to the Hymnal. I am very proud of our choir mem-

bers, who are putting in their own time and efforts outside of regular choir practice to enhance

the Choir Ministry in service to God.

Respectfully submitted by,

Jim Cheronis, Choir Director

Most Assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him

who sent Me, has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but

has passed from death into life. John 5:24

MAY THEIR MEMORIES BE ETERNAL

Catherine Petro Carol Kianos

** Violet Kianos

August 25 thru October 31, 2017

We gratefully acknowledge these donations received by the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox

Church, the **Ladies Erene Society** and the *St. Nicholas Scholarship Fund*

in loving memory of:

Charlie and Valerie Heggarty

** Elizabeth & Mark Frederick

Mr. & Mrs. John Galati

** Bob & Michelle Kianos

** Ladies’ Erene Society

Linda & Daniel Burns

Katie Marie Cooney

* the Enserro family

Nicholas Kozas

Fay Kozas

Constantine J. Rigas

Betty Pappas

George Tsitso

Evelyn Tsitso

MEMORIALS

HOLIDAY SERVICES

Vesperal Divine Liturgy for Thanksgiving:

Wednesday, November 22 at 6:30 pm

Divine Liturgy for Christmas Eve:

Sunday Morning, December 24 at 10:00 am

Divine Liturgy for Christmas:

Monday Morning, December 25 at 9:30 am

Stewardship Report: October 2017

Total Amount Pledged: $77,898

Pledges Received as of 10/31/2017: $70,917

Number of Families Pledged as of 10/31/2017: 91

Anderson, Greg & Christina

Anderson, Jason & family

Anderson, Tim & Rachel & family

Bechakas, John & Toula

Bechakas, Michael & Heather

& family

Bechakas, Terry & Soultana

Benchley, Andrew & Sonja

Bertrand, John & Victoria

Bruner, Kenneth & Helen

Cheronis, James & Christine

& family

Christ, James, W. Sr. & Children

Christ, Terry & Joanne

Constantine, Athena

Cottillion, Ted

Coustenis, Ted

Coustenis, Virginia

Crandall, Chad, Brittany & James

Cretekos, Kathryn

Cretekos, Stephanie

Cummings, Bryan & Victoria

& family

Cummings, William & Katrina

& Family

Decker, Jim & Kathy

Deppas, John

Deppas, Lou, Melissa & family

Dimas, Dorothy

Dimas, Thomaidha

Dimitri, Adam, Kelly & family

Dimitri, Athena

Dimitri, John & Julie & Alex

Dimitri, Michael & Jo Ann

Duro, Christian

Duro, Teresa

Elia, Mark & Vanessa & family

Enserro, Ethel

Fanaritis, Magdaline

Frederick, Elizabeth & Mark

Gedz, Basil

Getska, Thomas

Gianas, Sophia

Greico, Eleanor & Donato

Hennas, Mr. & Mrs. Andrew

Hill, Louise

Joanethis, Dennis

Juvelis, Nicholas & Martha

Kianos, Violet

Kieva, Katherine

Lampropolos, Stephanie

Louis, Terry

Lundmark, Jason

Matjoulis, John Sr.

McCandless, Nicolette

Michos, Alexandra

Michos, Crist & Robin

Michos, Elizabeth

Mignoli, Constance

Mihal, Paul & Marguerite

Morrison, Heath & Kathleen

Myers, David & Mary & John

Focianos

Newburg, Jerry & Elizabeth

& family

Pannes, Nicholas

Panteli, Pantelis & Linda, & family

Pappas, Elizabeth

Piaschyk, Damian, Sabrina

& family

Psychos, Constance

Rafael, Presv. Claire

Rafael, Timothy & family

Raptis, Jim & Demetra

Rigas, Rheba & Gust

Rigas, John

Rigas, Michael

Ross, Anna & family

Russell, Fr. Jarrod

Searls, Loretta

Silo, John & Barbara

Singleton, Todd, Alexis & family

Snell, William, Afroula & family

Spanos, George, Mary Ann

& family

Spiridon, Dean & Linda

Stanton, Dean, Maria & family

Tatoian, Kimberly

Theofilactidis, Dimtrios, Tiffany

& family

Theofilactidis, George & Kathy

Theofilactidis, Lazaros &

Courtney & family

Tsitso, Louis

Tsitso, Nicholas

Tsitso, Spiro & family

Turner, Bill, Angie & family

Verleni, Nicholas & Helen

Voulgaris, Tony & Helen

Zorich, Ron, Voula & family

Please contact the Church Office regarding any possible errors or omissions.

Thanks to all those who continue to support our cherished St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church through your financial gifts!

PARISH COUNCIL 2017

Parish Priest: Father Jarrod Russell

President: Timothy Anderson

Vice President: Todd Singleton

Treasurer: Damian Piaschyk

Secretary: Angie Turner

Council Members: Christine Cheronis

Joanne Christ

Basil Gedz

Stephanie Lampropolos

Ron Zorich

Chanter: James Cheronis

Choir Director: James Cheronis

Adult Acolytes: Chris Christodoulou, Christian Duro,

Louis Tsitso

Acolytes: Theonas Singleton, James Christ, Jr., Nicholas

Brown, Benjamin Brown

PHILOPTOCHOS ERENE SOCIETY

President: Christine Cheronis

Vice President: Helen Voulgaris

Treasurer: Christina Anderson

Recording Secretary: Kim Tatoian

Corres. Secretary: Joanne Christ

PARISH “LIASONS”

Treasurer: Damian Piaschyk

Bookkeeper Alexis Singleton

Assistant: Spiro Tsitso

Caretakers: Todd Singleton, Basil Getz

Memorials: Ethel Enserro

Olean Area: Betty Pappas

Bookstore: Rachael Anderson &

Stephanie Lampropolos

Newsletter: Fr. Jarrod Russell

Angie Turner

Elizabeth Frederick

SUNDAY BULLETIN Angie Turner is coordinating the Sunday Bulletin with Fr. Jarrod. If you have

events, special meetings, memorials, or information that you would like to have announced, please contact

Angie Turner, (814) 730-3375, or angturn@hotmail.com

DECEMBER

Dec 3: Sabrina

Dec 10: Louise Hill

Dec 17: Madison Christ

Dec 24: Joanne Christ

Dec 31: Maria Stanton

NOVEMBER

Nov. 5: Tiffany

Nov. 11: Christine

Nov. 19: Angie

Nov. 26: Tiffany

BREADMAKERS

Please make 2 loaves of bread for each Sunday. If you are unable to make the

bread on the date you are scheduled, please contact Joanne Christ, at (716)488-0437.

Prosoforon Making Calendar

SIX DAY PRAYER CANDLES located on the solea of the alter are available for you and your loved ones

at $5.00 each. If you are unable to come to church to light your own candle, call the church for assistance.

JANUARY 2018

Jan. 7: Joanne

Jan. 14: Maria

Jan. 21: Christine

Jan. 28: Angie

SUNDAY SCHOOL PROGRAM

Coordinator: Sabrina Piaschyk

Chris Cheronis

Christine Tsitso

THE WONDERWORKER

St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church

PO Box 264 Jamestown, NY 14702

Label

Non-Profit

Organization

U.S. Postage PAID

Permit #336

November / December 2017

Address Service Requested

BOOK STORE / GIFT SHOP

We have several new items available for you. Check us out for the special events to re-

member your family members, God children, and Grandchildren. We can also place spe-

cial orders if you would like an icon or book that we do not have. The new, revised edi-

tion of YASSOU FAVORITES & MORE is also available. It can be shipped directly to

your home or gift recipient for a small mailing fee. Contact Rachael Anderson, Stephanie Lampropolos, or

Liz Frederick, for any questions or special requests. Thank you everyone for your ongoing support.

SAVE THE DATES!

November 10th: Fashion Show, 7-9:30 pm, Fellowship Hall

Ladies Erene Society and sponsored by Tiffany Theofilactidis and LuLaRoe Collection,

Kim Tation, & Rachael Deppas $10 adults, Light refreshments will be served.

November 15th: Greek Dance Workshop and Orthodox Life session

4:30-6:30pm Beginners; 6:30-8pm Advanced; Fellowship and Dinner from 6 –6:30pm

December 2nd: Christmas Bazaar, Ladies Erene Society, 11 –2 pm

December 2nd: Bowling at Frewsburg Lanes and Orthodox Life session 2:30 - 5 pm Bowling and Subs