SERVICES FOR SUNDAY, MARCH 17TH, FORGIVENESS SUNDAY
We look forward to worshipping with you at Saint Gregory:
Orthros, 8:30 am
Divine Liturgy, 9:30 am
Each week, Sunday School classes begin immediately after Holy Communion. All are warmly invited to join us for refreshments and fellowhip after Divine Liturgy.
STREAMING DETAILS/MEDIA CONNECTIONS FOR TODAY, MARCH 17TH
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"
PHILOPTOCHOS DIGNITY MATTERS DRIVE, NOW - APRIL 7TH
Please support Philoptochos' drive for Dignity Matters, a non-profit organization supporting women and girls who are homeless and disadvantaged. Now through the 7th, we can help in three ways:
*** Purchase and drop off needed items in the Narthex
*** Purchase items via Amazon for direct shipment to Saint Gregory
*** Make a financial donation to Philoptochos and we will purchase items for you. Make your offering through Vanco, mail a check to the church or give funds to any Philoptochos member
ORTHODOXY 101, MARCH 17TH
Join Fr. Alex after Divine Liturgy for our next session of Orthodox Life. Whether you’ve joined us in the past or not, all are welcome (we can catch you up if you’re new). Participants who have Introducing the Orthodox Church are asked to read from pgs. 93 - 109 for the 17th. Contact Father for further details or to receive your copy of our book.
PARISH SURVEY, NOW THROUGH MARCH 22ND
Our parish survey (the Effective Parish Assessment) is now available and open to all our parishioners. This is a professional survey offered by Orthodox Ministry Services (OMS) and supported by our archdiocese and metropolis. Please take the survey today. It will be available until March 22. Fr. Alex and your Parish Council thank all our parishioners for making the time for this important effort.
SOUL SATURDAY, MARCH 23RD
There is a listing form for our departed loved ones in the Narthex, and names may also be emailed to Fr. Alex or Gina in the church office (please do so by the Friday before the service). If you would like to offer a small koliva for the 23rd, please contact Father.
ORATORICAL FESTIVAL, APRIL 7TH
Following Divine Liturgy on Sunday, April 7th, we will be having our St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival. We're hoping to have many of our youth share their talents and insights with us!
All participants will need to register here prior to the event. If you have any questions, please contact Brian Hess at bhess0529@gmail.com
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY BUILD, APRIL 13TH
As part of our Thriving Congregations Initiative (TCI) grants, we will once again participate in a house build—this time in Norton, MA on the 13th. We will have room for about twenty volunteers. Please contact Fr. Alex or Gina, in the church office, to learn more or reserve your spot for the day. See our flyer for further details.
LENTEN, HOLY WEEK AND PASCHA FLOWER DONATIONS
During this holy season, there a host of donation opportunities, from decorating the “sweet kissing” icon of Christ and the Theotokos to flowers for the Kouvouklion. There is a donation form in the Narthex, and please check in with the church office with any questions.
CHURCH WORDS: “PETITIONS"
The word “petition” derives from a Greek word meaning “diligence.” So when we say our petitions as a parish family, we are doing our prayerful diligence concerning the world: the welfare of the Church, and of us individually and as a community, our town and cities, all nations, those who suffer, our metropolitan, etc. We’ll share more interesting church words in the weeks to come.
PARASCO SERVICE & ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS SCHOLARSHIP, APPS. DUE MARCH 31ST
Through the generosity of the Parasco Family, our parish will offer a new scholarship opportunity beginning this spring: The Parasco Family Service & Enrichment Programs Scholarship. High schoolers (including those approaching their summer after graduation) are invited to apply for this award, which will offer financial support for Orthodox Christian enrichment or service programs. Approved programs are CrossRoad Institute, IOCC Service Trips, Orthodox Youth Mission Team, and Project Mexico; other programs will need to be approved by Fr. Alex. Learn more by viewing our flyer, and you can apply here. The deadline for application for 2024 is March 31st.
SAINT GREGORY BOOKSTORE LENTEN OFFERINGS
With Great Lent approaching on March 18th, we have wonderful offerings related to the upcoming Lenten season. These featured books are available now (some in very limited quantities), and our flyer offers more details and lists even more offerings. Visit the bookstore today:
-The Lenten Spring, by Fr. Thomas Hopko
-Great Lent: Journey to Pascha, by Fr. Alexander Schmemann
-Fasting Food, by Katie Mantzarides
-Food, Faith and Fasting: A Sacred Journey to Better Health, by Rita Madden
NEW KNITTING MINISTRY
Calling all knitters and crocheters in the Saint Gregory Parish: We are looking to start a group that meets once a month to create items such as baby blankets and hats. This would be to benefit our own parishioners as well as those in area hospitals, shelters, and veterans homes that are in need. Contact Kristin Lewis (kristinblewis@gmail.com) if interested and provide proposed times/days to meet.
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: bvkaufman@gmail.com
ASSISTIVE LISTENING SYSTEM
Parishioners who would like to try out our Assistive Listening System are welcome to use the receivers on our Narthex Welcome Table. The receivers are easy to use: just place the ear device on your ear, and turn on the “on/volume” on top of the receiver.
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: gdimitriou@yahoo.com; 781.769.2085.
LITURGICAL SINGING
This ministry engages musical leadership not only for Sunday liturgy but all the liturgical needs of the year, from Vespers services to Great Lent and Holy Week. Your time and talent are most welcome within our Liturgical Singing Ministry. Please contact Kathy Kalogeras to learn more: kalogeras1@earthlink.net.
MYRHHBEARERS MINISTRY
Within the context of our fledgling Myrrhbearers Ministry, our girls, and young women are invited to hold Antidoro during Divine Liturgy, read the Epistle, and otherwise participate in the entire life of the Church. Please contact Eleni LaFond to pick a date for Antidoro service and Fr. Alex to plan a date for an Epistle reading.
WHAT'S NEW ON OUR WEBSITE?
Within our Youth Ministry pages, you'll see a new February "Saintly Lives" entry, focusing on Saint Theodore the Recruit (celebrated Feb. 17). Check it out today and share with family and friends.
PARISH LIBRARY
Along with our bookstore, the Parish Library (just across the hall from the store) is a tremendous resource for our parishioners seeking to learn more about the faith. Within, we can find thoughtful books on the sacraments written from a pastoral perspective, many writings from the Church Fathers, books on prayer, and much more. Please take a look at the volumes adorning the shelves when you can and ask Fr. Alex for guidance on what you might like to borrow any time. Further, these shelves are in great need of refreshing and organization. Likewise, please check with Father if you might like to help with this project—or even become our librarian!
CHURCH OFFICE HOURS
Fr. Alex: Tue. & Thur., 9 am - 1 pm. Wed., 1 - 4 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.
General Church Office Needs: Gina Drugas is in the office Mon - Fri from 8 am - 11 am. If you need Support outside of these hours, please email Gina at stgregorytheologian@earthlink.net.
Email is monitored throughout the day outside of normal office hours.