Sunday & Weekday Services
Orthros/Matins: 8:30 am
Divine Liturgy: 9:30 am
Youth Religious Education Ministry is currently offered Sundays in person and remotely following Holy Communion. Please see weekly updates from our ministry leaders for updates on each class. All are welcome to join us for Fellowship Hour after Divine Liturgy.
Fellow Parishioners and Friends:
If you are not traveling this weekend, please join us at Saint Gregory. In the wake of our successful Family Fun Night on July 15th, we’ll come together for worship and friendship at our parish home.
Speaking of Family Fun Night, many thanks to Steve Christo and his team of volunteers for a job well done. Everyone enjoyed the gyros, hotdogs and burgers served up from the grill; likewise, the beautiful spanakopita and baklava offered by Philoptochos were big hits with our friends and neighbors.
Finally, with the approach of our parish festival on Aug. 23rd, I hope you will consider posting a lawn sign at your home or business. The signs will be in the hall this Sunday and you can pick one up during the week—just contact Joe Caradonna: [email protected]. In addition, we also are seeking volunteers to work during the days before the festival as well as on the 23rd. Please use the new sign-up link, which will give you an opportunity to indicate your desired time frame.
See you this weekend,
Fr. Alex
TODAY'S ALTAR SERVERS: All servers welcome.
Parish Altar Team Members
Altar Team Archangel Michael: Matthew Cromack, AJ Georgilas (Asst. Cap.) and Matthew Georgilas
Altar Team Archangel Gabriel: Eliot Hess, Leland Hess, Linus LaFond (Asst. Cap.) and Mark Saad
Cap., Mario Salzillo
TODAY'S MYRRHBEARER: TBA.
Caps., Elena Salzillo and Sydney LaFond.
TODAY'S EPISTLE: Parish Chanters.
HOMILY: "Take Heart."
FELLOWSHIP HOUR: This month and beyond, Fellowship Hour sponsors are welcome and needed. Please sign up in the hall this weekend or use our SignUpGenius link.
ALTAR FLOWERS: Please consider sponsoring altar flowers for a coming Sunday. The donation for flower sponsorships is $75. Please contact Gina in the church office to learn more or sponsor.
KOLIVA PREPARATION: Parishioners often ask for help in preparing Koliva and may contact Gina Drugas to order a plate for a memorial ($100 per Koliva).
WORSHIPPING FROM HOME: STREAMING AND INTERNET MINISTRY:
ACCESS SERVICES VIA FACEBOOK:
St. Gregory the Theologian Greek Orthodox Church | Facebook
ACCESS SERVICES VIA YOU TUBE:
St. Gregory The Theologian Live - YouTube
Sixth Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from Luke 24:36-53
At that time, having risen from the dead, Jesus went up and stood among His disciples and said to them, "Peace be with you." But they were startled and frightened, and supposed that they saw a spirit. And He said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do questionings rise in your hearts? See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; handle Me, and see; for a spirit has not flesh and bones as you see that I have." And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. And while they still disbelieved for joy, and wondered, He said to them, "Have you anything here to eat?" They gave Him a piece of broiled fish [and some honeycomb], and He took it and ate before them. Then He said to them, "These are My words which I spoke to you, while I was still with you, that everything written about Me in the law of Moses and the prophets and the psalms must be fulfilled." Then He opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in His name in all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I send the promise of My Father upon you; but stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high." Then He led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up His hands, He blessed them. While He blessed them, He parted from them, and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the Temple blessing God.
The Glorious Prophet Elias (Elijah)
The Reading is from St. James' Universal Letter 5:10-20
6th Sunday of Matthew
The Reading is from Matthew 9:1-8
At that time, getting into a boat Jesus crossed over and came to his own city. And behold, they brought to him a paralytic, lying on his bed; and when Jesus saw their faith he said to the paralytic, "Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven." And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, "This man is blaspheming." But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, "Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say 'Rise and walk?' But that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins" he then said to the paralytic -- "Rise, take up your bed and go home." And he rose and went home. When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men.
Elias of great fame was from Thisbe or Thesbe, a town of Galaad (Gilead), beyond the Jordan. He was of priestly lineage, a man of a solitary and ascetical character, clothed in a mantle of sheep skin, and girded about his loins with a leathern belt. His name is interpreted as "Yah is my God." His zeal for the glory of God was compared to fire, and his speech for teaching and rebuke was likened unto a burning lamp. From this too he received the name Zealot. Therefore, set aflame with such zeal, he sternly reproved the impiety and lawlessness of Ahab and his wife Jezebel. He shut up heaven by means of prayer, and it did not rain for three years and six months. Ravens brought him food for his need when, at God's command, he was hiding by the torrent of Horrath. He multiplied the little flour and oil of the poor widow of Sarephtha of Sidon, who had given him hospitality in her home, and when her son died, he raised him up. He brought down fire from Heaven upon Mount Carmel, and it burned up the sacrifice offered to God before all the people of Israel, that they might know the truth. At the torrent of Kisson, he slew 450 false prophets and priests who worshipped idols and led the people astray. He received food wondrously at the hand of an Angel, and being strengthened by this food he walked for forty days and forty nights. He beheld God on Mount Horeb, as far as this is possible for human nature. He foretold the destruction of the house of Ahab, and the death of his son Ohozias; and as for the two captains of fifty that were sent by the king, he burned them for their punishment, bringing fire down from Heaven. He divided the flow of the Jordan, and he and his disciple Elisseus passed through as it were on dry land; and finally, while speaking with him, Elias was suddenly snatched away by a fiery chariot in the year 895 B.C., and he ascended as though into heaven, whither God most certainly translated him alive, as He did Enoch (Gen. 5:24; IV Kings 2: 11). But from thence also, after seven years, by means of an epistle he reproached Joram, the son of Josaphat, as it is written: "And there came a message in writing to him from Elias the Prophet, saying, Thus saith the Lord God of David thy father, Because thou hast not walked in the way," and so forth (II Chron. 21:12). According to the opinion of the majority of the interpreters, this came to pass either through his disciple Elisseus, or through another Prophet when Elias appeared to them, even as he appeared on Mount Tabor to the disciples of Christ (see Aug. 6).
SERVICES FOR SUNDAY JULY 20TH, 6TH SUNDAY OF MATTHEW
We look forward to worshipping with you at Saint Gregory:
Orthros, 8:30 AM
Divine Liturgy, 9:30 AM
STREAMING DETAILS/MEDIA FOR THIS SUNDAY, JULY 20TH
Access Services via You Tube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgvnXFV6xK1Nhm8ID84jFNg
Access services and join our community on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/saintgregorythetheologian
Join our community on Instagram:
@saintgregorythetheologian
PAN-MASS CHALLENGE, AUG. 1ST – 3RD
As over the last few years, the Pan-Mass Challenge will use our lot for this amazing bike-a-thon from Aug. 1st – 3rd. The annual event brings together people from all over the world with one goal: to raise funds for cancer research at Dana Farber Cancer Research Institute. We are grateful for the opportunity to support the effort and offer our prayers for a safe, successful weekend.
FESTIVAL VOLUNTEERS & LAWN SIGNS (FESTIVAL IS AUG. 23RD)
We look forward to this fundraiser and community-building event. Please consider supporting the effort in one of these three ways (or all three!):
***Help with set up and other preparations in the days leading up to the festival
***Working shifts during the festival
***Putting a lawn sign at your home or business
To sign-up to help with preparation or a festival shift, please use our new online sign-up tool. For a lawn sign, pick one up at church today or during the week. Contact Joe Cara Donna with any questions or to arrange to pick up a lawn sign: [email protected]
SAINT GREGORY GOLF TOURNAMENT, OCTOBER 9TH
As last year, our tournament will be held at Top Golf in Canton, MA. The tournament web page—along with registration and sponsorship information—is now available and has been emailed to our parish family. Please save the date and plan to join us.
STEWARDSHIP CHECK IN: “YOUR OWN OF YOUR OWN”
Our Stewardship Ministry leaders kindly ask us all to consider our 2025 commitment to Saint Gregory. If you have already committed and begun to offer your time, talent and treasure, we are of course grateful for your attention and generosity. If you have not yet completed your commitment form, we hope and pray you will in the weeks to come. Visit the Stewardship pages of our parish website to learn more about Stewardship and to access our 2025 materials, from an explanation of our ministry goals to convenient online giving options.
FELLOWSHIP HOUR SIGN-UP RESOURCES
All parishioners are invited to host Fellowship Hour on a coming Sunday. In addition to the sign-up poster in the hall, we can now easily learn more and sign up online. Fellowship Hour is a beloved, significant tradition at our parish that speaks to Christian fellowship and hospitality. Thanks in advance for your support, and contact Fellowship Hour Chair Brian Kaufman with any questions: [email protected]
RIDES TO CHURCH
George Dimitriou, our Driving Ministry chair, would be happy to help you or a loved one make it to Saint Gregory for worship and events. Contact George directly: [email protected]; 781.769.2085.
LOST & FOUND
When parishioners find items about the church, they leave them with the church office. You will find a mail tray labled for lost and found. If you have misplaced a small item, or found one, please stop by the office.
CHURCH OFFICE HOURS
Fr. Alex: Tue., 9 am - 1 pm; Wed., 1 - 4 pm; Thur., 9 am - 1 pm.; or by appointment when convenient for our parishioners. Please note that on occasion, Fr. Alex may be seeing to a pastoral situation, visiting with another parishioner, attending a Metropolis event, or otherwise engaged in Church life during office hours.
Church Secretary Gina Drugas: Monday, 7 - 10:30 am; Thursday, 7 - 11 am. Contact Gina: [email protected]; 508.337.9986.
8:30AM Orthros
9:30AM Divine Liturgy
8:30AM Orthros
9:30AM Divine Liturgy
6:00PM Paraklesis Service
8:30AM Orthros
9:30AM Divine Liturgy
Spread the word, help out and come join us for the Saint Gregory Greek Festival!
This year's tournament will once again be at Canton's Top Golf. Sponsorships and golfers are welcome, and please save the date.
When The Prison Policy Initiative, a team of experts on cutting-edge research around the U.S. prison system, released its annual “big picture” report in 2024, one statistic stood out to us more than any other: 113 million adults in the United States have an immediate family member who has been to prison or jail.