Saint Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Church

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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.

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Verse: My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding. Hear this, all ye people.

Brethren, it was fitting that we should have such a High Priest, holy, blameless, unstained, separated from sinners, exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people; He did this once for all when He offered up Himself. Indeed, the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son Who has been made perfect forever. Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a High Priest, one Who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, a minister in the sanctuary and the true tent which is set up not by man but by the Lord. +

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.

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!

If you did not receive your copy of The Good Shepherd Newsletter in the mail by now, please contact the Church Office to receive a copy because your address information may be incorrect in our books. All registered families (pledged and non-pledged) were sent a copy.

Last Sunday, following the Divine Liturgy, we had a joyous procession around the Church for the receiving of the Holy Relics of St. Laurence the Martyr & Archdeacon of Rome (3^rd Century AD). A write-up and photos taken on Sunday are now available on our Church website.

On behalf of Fr. Mark, the Parish Council & all the Parishioners of St. Nicholas Orthodox Church, we would like to extend heartfelt sympathies to the family of the late George Gharib. May his memory be eternal!

A Part or Full Time Companion/Sitter is needed for one of our elderly parishioners. Also a House Cleaner is needed for another of our elderly parishioners. If you are interested or can be of some assistance, please call the Church Office.

We would like to thank Vivian Saykaly & Family for becoming the 2008 Sponsors for the Altar Oil.

We would like to thank the Haddad Family for becoming the 2008 Sponsors for the Altar Incense.

We would like to thank Nicholas and Sanaa Shamy for becoming the 2008 Sponsors for the Altar Wine, in memory of Maurice and Madeline Shamy. God bless your generosity.

At that time, when Jesus drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging; and hearing a multitude going by, he inquired what this meant. They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” And he cried, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” And those who were in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” And Jesus stopped, and commanded him to be brought to him; and when he came near, Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, let me receive my sight.” And Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, glorifying God; and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God. +

v Vesperal Divine Liturgy for the Feast of the Presentation of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to the Temple on Friday, February 1^st at 7:00 p.m.

The 2008 Church Calendars are still available for you. 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!

Ø 40 Day Memorial Service for Allan Anber. Also to be remembered is his wife Lisette. Offered by the Anber family.

Ø 40 Day for Hanneh Saykali. Also to be remembered: Tammer & Nassar Saykali and Moussa Abou Assaleh. Offered by her daughter Najat Saykali Abou-Assaleh and her husband Youssef and their Children.

Ø 3 Year Memorial Service for Dee Haddad. Also to be remembered Edward Haddad. Offered by the Haddad Family.

Ø 16 Year Memorial Service for Nicholas Sayfy. Offered by Irma Sayfy and Family.

Ø 14 Year Memorial Service for Evelyn Kouri. Also to be remembered: Maurice and Mark Anthony. Offered by the Kouri Family.

Ø 18 Year Memorial Service for Dany Abdallah, offered by his parents Chuck and Claire Abdallah.

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, Nahia Aboud, Mary Barakett, Shannon Bouchard, Michael Charles, Antoine Eid, Charles Gabriel, Naji Gerges, Mona Ghattas, Sheri Grimm, Amal Abdo Haddad, Isabelle Helal, Doreen Jazzar, Karim Kachami, Carol Maker, Henry Marcus, Helga Marcus, Rose Salhany, Clifford Shamy, Melanie Touma, 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 21^st – January 27^th as recorded in the Saint Nicholas Parish Registry from 1913 to the present.

Wardi David, Nadine Helen Saidie Dyer, Isabelle Lambert Saad, Jacqueline Farhat Saoumaa, Henry Zacard, Abdullah Elias Zakaib, Abdo Arie, Rosanna Mary Lean, Rose Mabardi Shatilla, Toufic Michael Shatilla, Georges Naggiar,Katie C. Kouri, Nicholas Assaly, Theophile (Theo) Saoumah, Elias Zakaib, Issa B. Zoghbi, Kalil Albert Zakaib, ,Domenica De Carlo Zarbatany, Annie Aboud Aziz, Adeebe (Dee) Zakaib Haddad Abdallah Botros, Kadilia Abdullah Elias, Albert Abdallah Moses, Olga Verdoni, Skies (Sakiaa) Zgeb Nassif, Jamily Boutara Zarbatany, Antoinette Nassif Labine, Marina Hajaly Saad.

Next Sunday following the Divine Liturgy, the Church School will be sponsoring a Luncheon and Movie “Shrek III” for all children.

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. Refreshments will be served. ($20.00 donation, plus raffle.)

On Feb. 4^th at 7:30 p.m., St. George Men’s Club will be hosting an evening with Mr. Bob Gainey of the Montreal Canadiens at St. George Orthodox Church. For information please call (514) 337-1431.