Here are some of the ministries, both inbound and outbound, you’ll find at St. Nicholas Orthodox Church.
Find out more about the parish’s clergy, choir, and pastoral care team by visiting the links to those pages.
Works of the People
Works of the people include liturgical tasks that happen outside the altar, as well as works of ongoing hospitality.
- Prosphora baking
- Reading the Epistle
- Greeting at the door
- Preparing lunch (team)
- Cleaning the church (after Sunday Liturgy)
- Ringing the bell during the Creed
- Caring for the lawn and grounds
If you would like to volunteer for any of those tasks, look for a quarterly schedule in the narthex (foyer) of the church. On the bottom of that sheet, you’ll find contact information for the person in charge of the scheduling.
Church School
Our church school generally runs from September to June, roughly from the Church New Year to Pentecost on the Church calendar, alongside the public school year on the secular calendar. Parishioners meet in late summer to develop a church school plan that meets the needs of the children in the parish at the time.
Because we think it’s important for children to be in church for Liturgy, church school for children ages 7-12 is a half hour to 45 minutes after Liturgy is over.
For children ages 3-6 we offer The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, an approach to the religious formation of children. It is rooted in the Bible, the liturgy of the church, and the educational principles of Maria Montessori.
Charitable Outreach
St. Nicholas parishioners participate in —
- Aid to homeless individuals and families
- Supporting Portland’s Orthodox elementary school
- Supporting an Orthodox mission in Kona, Hawaii
And other works.
Works of the Church
Because we’re a fairly small parish, you’ll find that our ministries change over time, along with our people. If you’d like to get involved in something you don’t see here, contact us for more information or to make a suggestion.