MEMORIAL(S) – Today, we observe the following memorials:
A 40 day memorial for Era Poulos, beloved wife of Xenophon, mother of Stephanie and her husband Peter Griffoul and Debra Donnelly and her husband Bill Tsigaras. Grandmother of Christopher, Gregory, Steven, and Nicole.
A 36 year memorial for Olga Sardelis, beloved mother of Georgia, Katherine, Thalia and Era. Grandmother of Marian, Stephanie, Debra, Basil, Gregory, Alexander, Christine, Barbara and Andrea.
Eternal be their memory, eternal be their rest.
Coffee hour is sponsored by the Poulos family.

ST. ELIAS, THE PROPHET – July 20th – Elias was a prophet who lived in 800 BC. He appeared to Jesus with Moses on Mt. Tabor at the Transfiguration, and he is expected again at the end of time. He did not die, but was taken to Heaven in a fiery chariot. Elias is also called Elijah in some writing. He was descended from the tribe of Aaron, and his father saw angels around him as a child, dressing and feeding him fire. Elias had a major conflict with the Israelite King Ahab and his wife Jezebel. Because of his wife, Ahab built a pagan temple to the idol Baal and assigned priests to his service. This turned many from God. Elias prayed and God sent him fire. This caused the people to believe and to kill the false priests. Then, he called down the rains. He talked with God on Sinai where God spoke to Moses and also brought down instructions for the people. He also parted the Jordan River with his mantel, like Moses parted the Red Sea. He chastised the king and queen on the occasions when they believed they had immunity from God. He prophesied that dogs would lick Ahab’s blood and eat Jezebel, which they did. But most importantly, Elias spoke the truth of God with boldness and joy. May his boldness and joy God become ours as well.

ST. NICHOLAS GREEK FESTIVAL – Our 2008 Festival will be held this year on September 5th, 6th and 7th. Sign-ups for the Festival Volunteers has begun so please contact Melissa Gasparis (201) 934-7338; Michael Symeonides (973) 237-0306 or Jim Giokas (201) 664-7002 to volunteer and offer your assistance in any way you can during our Festival.

FLEA MARKET – Continue to bring in your clean items for our annual Flea Market. We have already set up in the Parish Center and begun selling items on Sunday. Small furniture is being accepted as well as glassware, dishes, books, toys, etc. As always, without your support the Flea Market would not exist! Clean out your basements, closets, garages and attics. Drop-off your treasures during the weekdays or on Sundays to either classroom # 1 or # 3 in the Parish Center. If you have small items, such as jewelry, kindly hand deliver to either, Irene Moreira 973-694-7422, Angela Hajiyerou 201-666-1175 or Raquel Christodoulou 201-694-0214. Feel free to contact us with any questions.


MISSION TRIP TO GUATEMALA – Do you believe in miracles? Witness and be a part of your faith in action. Mission trip to Guatemala City, Guatemala, Central America. Place: Hogar Rafael Ayau Orphanage. Dates: October 2 – October 9, 2008. Spiritual Leader Fr. Paul Pappas.
“We tell the missionaries who come to the Hogar, Home for Children, to let the children love them. This creates a little opening in their hearts. Because the missionaries are Orthodox like they are, the children see them as safe. The children need to be loved.” Madre Ines, Abbess
Your mission is to spend time with them, listen and laugh with them, pray with them, and feel the miracle of love. For more information contact Georgia Lipane at 201-906-4622.

SUMMER HOURS – Our summer hours of worship are Orthros 8:45am, Divine Liturgy 9:30am. This schedule will be observed until the end of September.

FROM THE CHURCH FATHERS – “We do not know God in His essence. We know him rather from the grandeur of His creation and from His providential care for all creatures. For by this means, as by using a mirror, we attain insight into His Infinite goodness, wisdom and power.” St. Maximos the Confessor

PLEASE VISIT – The St. Nicholas Website: http:\\www.stnicholasnj.org for update of events, calendar and schedules.

A SUMMER PRAYER – Lord, I am like a tightly closed rose bud on a cool June morning. Help me to relax and open myself to your warmth. Like the summer rose, help me to bloom, to spread joy around me. And when the end of the summer draws near, may I find fulfillment knowing I have done my best with Your sunlight, that I have stood strong in the rain. In autumn may the petals fall peacefully to the ground.

THREE WISE WOMEN – Do you know what would have happened if it had been Three Wise Women instead of Three Wise Men? They would have asked for directions, they would have arrived on time, they would have helped deliver the baby, they would have cleaned the stable, made a casserole and would have brought practical gifts!

JULY 26 – ST ANNE, MOTHER OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN
Joachim saw a vision in the night, forty days before Anna conceived the Virgin. It was as if he were by a spring of water, and a white dove was there, drinking. It flew up and landed on the head of Joachim, and kept on flying around him. And Joachim rose and told the vision to Anna his wife, and she wondered greatly. When she herself fell asleep on the same night, she too was shown a vision. It was as if a tree was planted by the banks of a spring of water, and a white dove sat in the midst of the tree. It flew from the tree and perched on the hands of Anna and then in her bosom, and kept kissing
her mouth for a long time. She got up and told her vision to Joachim.

From a Coptic Apocryphal Gospel