Saint Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Church

*************************************************************************************************************************************

Thy work of justice did show thee to thy congregation a canon of faith, the likeness of humility, a teacher of abstinence, O Father Bishop Nicholas. Wherefore, by humility thou didst achieve exaltation, and meekness, richness. Intercede, therefore, with Christ to save our souls.

********************************************************************************************************************.******************

Verse: Let Thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us. Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous.

Brethren, grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it is said, “When He ascended on high He led a host of captives, and He gave gifts to men.” (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that He had also descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is He who also ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.) And His gifts were that some should be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.

Over the years, questions have been asked as to where can parishioners and visitors to Saint Nicholas Church park their vehicles on Sunday’s and special events held at Saint Nicholas?

Ø McDonald’s Parking Lot. According to the agreement between the church and the management of McDonald’s, you may park your vehicle in the 20 spaces facing St. Dominique Street, between the entrance of the McDonald’s Parking Lot on St. Dominique Street and the apartment building only. Parking in any other section of the McDonald’s Parking Lot will result in your car being towed at your expense. Please do not park in the following sections of the parking lot: the middle section; along the apartments; facing McDonald’s or next to Petro Canada.

Ø In the event the allotted parking spaces are full, you may find parking in the following locations around the church:

Ø Renaissance Parking Lot. Sundays Only from 10.00AM – 1:00pm. Instructions – enter from 7545 rue Clarke – Park in front of number SIGNS 1 to 14 only. Leave by St. Laurent Blvd. EXIT ONLY.

St. Laurent Boulevard. Plenty of free parking exists between Jean Talon Street and De Castelnau Street.

Jean Talon Street. Within a two block radius of the church there is normally metered parking available ($1.00 per hour).

Residential Streets around the Church (De Castelnau, St. Dominique, Casgrain, etc).

When looking for parking please have consideration for our elderly and handicapped parishioners when parking at the McDonald’s Parking Lot.

Please remember that parking at the McDonald’s Parking Lot is available only through the generosity and good will of the McDonald’s management. Please do not abuse their generosity and good will.

At that time, when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee; and leaving Nazareth he went and dwelt in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulon and Naphtali, so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: “The land of Zebulon and the land of Naphtali, toward the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned.” From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

“If you were brought up by non-Orthodox parents or not in the Orthodox Faith, does that mean you automatically go to Hell?”

As you know, a lot of people who were brought up by non-Orthodox parents or not in the Orthodox Faith, have later been catechized and received into the Orthodox Church. But I assume that your question refers specifically to those who end their earthly lives as non-Orthodox. In his book The Non-Orthodox (Regina Orthodox Press, Salisbury, MA, 1999. ISBN 0-9649141-6-6) Patrick Barnes gives a very succinct (and very correct) answer to this question: "The status of the heterodox (the non-Orthodox) is properly seen in two ways. When speaking of their ecclesial status -- i.e., their relation to the Orthodox Church -- we would say that the heterodox cannot be seen as Her members, because they have not been grafted into the one true Body of Christ through Holy Baptism." (It might be helpful to read again my answer to the second question in the April issue of C&Q.) "On the other hand, when speaking of their eternal status -- i.e., the implications of this ecclesial separation -- we leave them to the mercy of God and do not judge them. To affirm their separation is not to imply their damnation" (The Non-Orthodox, page 8).

Ø 9 Day Memorial Service for Julia Malik, who passed away in Lebanon last week (aunt of Hala Zakaib). Also to be remembered all the deceased loved ones. Offered by Hala and Eric Zakaib and Family.

Ø 6 Month Memorial Service for Yvonne Zarifeh. Also to be remembered Georges, Anesty, Emily and Elie. Offered by Clemence Zarifeh.

Ø 5 Year Memorial Service for Raymond Hattem. Also to be remembered Frank, Amelia, Emil, Francis, and Diana Chamandy, Offered by Beatrice Hattem and Family.

Ø 5 Year Memorial Service for Corona Morissette Kouri. Also to be remembered Louis Elias Kouri. Offered by the Family.

Ø 17 Year Memorial Service for Georges Kelzi. Also to be remembered Rabah, Georges, Odette, Awad, Salwa, Youssef and Alice. Offered by the Family.

Ø 40 Day Memorial Service for Philip Zacard. Also to be remembered Yvonne, Joseph, Lily, John, Henry, Georges, Elias, Massouk, & Darren Zacard. Offered by the Family.

Ø Memorial Service for the Kashbara Family – Solomon, Jamily, Wadia, Lily and Dee. Also to be remembered Sadie & Michel Zarbatany, Yvonne Shaar; Nadine, Ronnie & Georgette Dyer and Jennifer Khoury. Offered by Sub-Deacon Alex Zarbatany.

Let us Pray to the Lord…

“Pray for one another, that you may be healed.

The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (James 5:16)

Please Remember in Your Prayers…

The Servants of God: Archpriest Peter Shportun, Carol Maker, Mary Barakett, Henry Marcus, Helga Marcus, Mona Ghattas, Clifford Shamy, Doreen Jazzar, Michael Charles, Charles Gabriel, Sheri Grimm, Isabelle Helal, Antoine Eid, Nahia Aboud, Rose Salhany, Nabeeiha Kalil, George Gharib, Karim Kachami, Melanie Touma, Shannon Bouchard, Naji Gerges, and Jason.

May the Lord our God who is the Physician of our souls and bodies, restore Thy servants to health of soul and body, that they may glorify His Name.

“With the Spirits of the Righteous Made Perfect…”

One of the chief spiritual works of mercy is to remember in prayer our loved ones who have fallen asleep in the Lord. Today we remember our loved ones who have fallen asleep in the Lord during the week of ^- - January 7^th – January 13^th as recorded in the Saint Nicholas Parish Registry from 1913 to the present.

Mary Mariam Cassis Gharib, Edna Moore Karam, Samuel Salim Phillip (Libbos) Mary (Adibeh) Assaf Paquette, Victoria Alteen Saad, Raymond Hattem Sr., Frank Ayoub, Nazlie (Nellie) Malik,, Cecile Diab, Kalil Rahal, Moussa Saykaly, Paul Yared, Jeanne Charbonneau Zarbatany, Willie Nassif, Jamily )(Jennie) Haddad Rahal, George Shammas, Joseph Tabah, Michel Aziz, Habib Saad, Helen Gardner Kouri, Elias Eid, Michel Haddad, Mary (Sidawi Kouri) Kousaie, Moise Rahal, Salim Tannous, Marlene Mary Arie, Thomas Aziz, Hannie Sulto Chaacki, George Hamami, Georges Kelzi, Michael Suleimar Kalil, Bahjat Bohatab, Evelyn Deeb Kouri, John M. Zakaib. Wedad (Emily) Saad,

The 2008 Church Calendars are still available for you as of today. They were only mailed out to the shut-ins (Registered Parishioners who are unable to come to Church due to medical conditions or very old age). We are asking for a minimum generous donation of $5.00 per calendar. Please be generous, as all proceeds are going towards the new St. Nicholas Altar Fund to purchase future items needed for the Altar.

There are 2 beautiful selections to choose from: The Nativity of Christ & The Holy Eucharist. Please take your copy home after the Divine Liturgy, as they will be available in the Vestibule and in the Church Hall downstairs during the Coffee Hour. If you wish to reserve copies for later pick-up, please call the Church Office. There are 2 beautiful selections to choose from: The Nativity of Christ & The Holy Eucharist. Please take your copy this Sunday!

You will find during the Coffee Hour a table with beautiful Icons on sale for $5.00 each, all of the proceeds go towards IOCC, which does extensive missionary work and care for 3^rd world countries and even in North America, especially following natural disasters like floods and earthquakes. Many lives are changed due to this “Orthodox” Charity. Please be generous!

The Lebanese Syrian Canadian Ladies Aid Society presents “A Mardi Gras Card Party” on Wednesday, Feb. 6 2008 at St. George Fellowship Hall (555 Jean-Talon, East) at 6:00 p.m.

Thank God, Father Peter is recovering well at his home after having Laproscopic surgery for a serious case of Kidney stones. We wish him a speedy recovery and the best of health.