Message from Fr. George

I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go into the house of the Lord” (Psalm 122:1)

St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church is a remarkable parish.  No one at St. Nicholas comes to Church by obligation, or because they feel like they have to. You come because you want to.  You are glad as you say to one another, “Let us go into the house of the Lord.”  We see this joy and gladness when the Church remains full even into the wee hours of the morning after the Easter vigil, or when our Lenten services are attended with such consistent and complete commitment.  We see this joy when our parish performs acts of generosity and charity, not by giving the minimum amount required or requested, but by giving double what was asked. And when it comes to our parish buildings, you paint doors, supply book shelves, repair the stairs, work in the kitchen, or fix the sound system, all on your own initiative and because you are glad to do it. Every parishioner in this wonderful parish works with the heart of a cheerful giver.  We are now at a point in our parish life, however, when our physical plant needs more than a new light bulb and more than a new coat of paint.  We need to complete a serious level of work, which will cost a serious amount of money.  I have no doubt that the people of St. Nicholas will rise to this occasion. And I am certain that you will rise to the occasion, not out of some abstract sense of obligation, but from a deep sense of commitment to your beloved parish. Most important of all, you will work with the heart of a cheerful giver as you say, “I was glad when they said to me, let us go into the house of the Lord.”

Father George Parsenios