THIS WEEK AT ST. NICHOLAS GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH Sunday, March 18
Sunday of the Holy Cross
8:30 AM Orthros
10:00 AM Divine Liturgy

Monday, March 19
7:00 PM Compline

Tuesday, March 20
2:00 PM Women’s Study
6:00 PM OCF Study Group

Wednesday, March 21
6:00 PM Pre-Sanctified Liturgy
7:15 PM Parish Life
Discussion and Covered-dish Dinner

Thursday, March 22
6:00 PM Choir Practice

Friday, March 23
6:00 PM Hellenic School
7:00 PM Salutations

Saturday, March 24
8:00 AM Men’s Group
10:15 AM Junior Dance Practice
11:15 AM Romiosini Dance Practice

Sunday, March 25
Annunciation of the Theotokos
8:30 AM Orthros
10:00 AM Divine Liturgy
12:00 PM Greek Independence Day
Commemoration/Luncheon

OUR SYMPATHY: We extend our deepest sympathy to Jenny Fronista and her family on the falling asleep of her husband, Harry Fronista. May his memory be eternal!

OUR SYMPATHY: We extend our deepest sympathy to Debra Rallis and family on the falling asleep of her aunt Christine Samaras. May her memory be eternal!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Fr. Matthew who celebrated his birthday on March 17. We wish you many more healthy and happy birthdays.

APPEAL FOR GREECE - RELIEF KITS: All of the Greek Orthodox Churches in the Metropolis of Atlanta have been asked by our Metropolitan Alexios (please read the pertinent appeal on the top section of this bulletin) to collect medical and infant supplies for Greece and organize these supplies in relief kits. His Eminence has asked that we package and ship all these kits by Monday, March 26, so the supplies can be sent to Greece as soon as possible. The drop-off deadline will be announced in a future communication. For more information, please contact our church office at 910-392-4444 or office@stnicholaswilmington.org . Please consider sponsoring one or more kits.

COFFEE HOUR: All families are invited to sponsor a coffee hour. You may choose to do so in honor of or in memory of a loved one. Several families may choose to do this together. This is a wonderful stewardship opportunity to share fellowship and φιλοξενία (hospitality). Please contact the office to reserve your Sunday.

Let us remember those who are ill, recovering, and/or homebound: Chris Andrews, Bob Bobon (brother of Sue Lawler), Maria Bucci (mother of Sandra Papanikolaou), Sue Fokakis (Silver Stream), Demitra George, Kalomira Ioannou (mother of Yiannis Ioannou), Sandra Ivy (mother of Brandon Ivy), Nick Karloutsos (Randleman, NC), Dan Kirkby (brother of Matthew), Georgia Macris, Angeline Saffo(is home), Robert Schafer, Tony Spirakis (North Chase Nursing and Rehabilitation), Elias Tripodes (Liberty Commons), George Zezeffellis(Wilmington Health and Rehab).

Parish Council members on duty today: Irene Sotiriou and Barbara Reynolds
Next Sunday: Emanuel Miliotis and Debbie Rallis

Church Financial Snapshot February, 2012

February Jan - Feb 2012
Operating Income $22,226 $46,767
Operating Expense $13,258 $38,977
Net Operating Income / Loss $8,968$7,790

Actual Jan -Feb F/Y Budget $ Over / Under Budget for Feb
Stewardship Pledged $147,085 $202,921 ($55,836)

NEWS AND UPDATES GREECE RELIEF KITS: THANK YOU to all who have brought in medical and infant kits!!!! Please bring your kits in by Friday, March 23. The supply list is available on our website and in the Hellenic Center. The kits can be assembled for less than $12 and all supplies can be found at any Dollar Store.

LENTEN SERVICES: will begin with the Forgiveness Vesper service Sunday Feb. 26 at 6:00 PM. Monday Compline Services at 7:00 PM, Wednesday Pre-sanctified Services at 6:00 PM (discussion and Pot Luck dinner immediately following), Friday Salutation Services at 7:00 PM.

PARISH LIFE: Wednesday, March 21 starting at 6:00PM with the Pre-sanctified Service. Please bring a Lenten covered dish to share for dinner immediately following the service. The GOYAns and the adults will then continue with Chapter 4 of the book “A Spiritual Renewal in the Orthodox Church”.

GREEK INDEPENDENCE DAY: Will be celebrated on Sunday, March 25 in the Hellenic Center following Divine Liturgy. The guest speaker will be Rick Reynolds. This special festivity also includes poems, dances and songs. The Hellenic School will sponsor the luncheon. Assistance will be available for those participants reciting poems for Greek Independence Day on March 11 and March 18 during the fellowship hour. This event is sponsored by the Hellenic Culture Ministry.

LOVE: Mark your calendars for this month’s activity. We will meet on Tuesday, March 27 at 9:30 AM at the Fit for Fun Center at 302 S. 10th St. Downtown Wilmington.

PASCHA TRAY: on Sunday, April 8 Philoptochos will be accepting donations for the Paschal preparations, one of the biggest expenses is the flowers for the kouvouklion.

GOYA: On Sunday, April 1, 2012, the GOYANS will pass a tray for the American Cancer Society. Please join us on Friday, April 27th at 8:00PM at Ashley High track for the Relay For Life event. See a GOYAn if you would like to sponsor a $10 luminary in honor or in memory of a loved one.
http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?team_id=1044850&pg=team&fr_id=40709

HOPE/JOY: Please join the HOPE/JOY children in walking for the March of Dimes on Saturday, April 28, Ashley High School at 10:00AM.

GOYA: Raleigh GOYA is hosting their annual LUAU!!! Saturday, April 28 6:30-11:00 PM Dinner and dancing $15.00 per person.

IOCC: 20th anniversary of humanitarian service will be celebrated in a cross-country bike ride. The 3000 mile, 33 day journey will go through Seattle, WA, through Idaho, Montana, North and South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, PA and NJ from June 26-July 31. Anyone interested contact Jim Angelus at jamesangelus@verizon.net

AHEPA: Raleigh's Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church is hosting "A Night in Athens" dinner & dance fundraiser on Saturday, May 5th. A portion of the proceeds from this event will be shared with the American Cancer Society. Please see flyer on bulletin board and in the Hellenic Center for more information.

CAMERON ART MUSEUM PROJECT: “RISE UP WILMINGTON” donate a ladder for a temporary sculpture. Each ladder represents the hopes, dreams and aspirations of its lender and they will all rise as they hold each other up forming a metaphor for the way a community works…together. For more information go to www.riseupwilmington.org

SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY: From the Chancellor’s Office of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, there are 3 scholarships available for the 2012-2013 academic year. Two of these are for undergraduate studies: the George & Naouma (Gioule) Gioules Scholarship and the Katina John Malta Scholarship; the third is the Paleologos Graduate Scholarship, which is awarded for graduate work of a non-theological nature. The deadline for applying for all three is April 20, 2012. Further details are available on-line at www.goarch.org or request applications by email at scholarships@goarch.org.