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. Please see weekly updates from our ministry leaders for updates on each class.
Hello Saint Gregory Parishioners & Friends:
I hope this note finds you, and yours, very well and managing these icy, grey February days. Late winter in New England can be a gauntlet; this year, especially, it may also reflect aspects of our outlook, the way the world seems. Beyond this greyness, though, lies the spring. Of course, with spring comes Great Lent (beginning March 15) and encouragement … a sense of hope, renewal, of what can be.
With God’s help, we’ll keep working through the grey and anticipating the brilliant green of what Father Thomas Hopko called the “Lenten Spring.”
Anticipating our Lenten journey and the hope of spring, this Sunday, Feb. 21, is the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee—the Gospel reading (Luke 18:10 – 14), preparing us for Lent, is about avoiding judgment of others and focusing in on our own shortcomings. It’s a powerful one; make sure to come in time to hear it (in person or remotely).If you do plan to join us in person, please do sign up. Youth Religious Education classes for middle and high school will meet in-person and via Zoom after Holy Communion; our younger grades will meet via Zoom only at 1 pm.
Looking ahead, our HOPE (K – 2nd grade) and JOY Ministries (3 – 6th grade) will enjoy a wonderful Lenten Kick-Off/Saint Patrick Celebration on March 13, 4 pm, via Zoom. In addition, GOYA will gather via Zoom the same afternoon, at 5 pm, for friendship and a Lenten Bible Study. These thoughtful events will represent a great complement to our inspiring Youth Religious Education classes, just in time for Great Lent!
Turning toward adult religious education and enrichment, in addition to Orthodox Life: “Eleven Stories” (our next gathering will be March 3), Father Tony Vrame—a beloved friend and parishioner of Saint Gregory—will join us on March 31 for PreSanctified Liturgy (Time TBA) and will offer us a special Orthodox Life presentation on journeying through Great Lent in light of COVID-19. Both the worship and presentation event will be live-streamed and recorded for the benefit of our faithful.
Finally, I once again invite you to engage the recently launched Philoptochos “Agape Drive.” This represents a way for us all to offer financial support to this vital philanthropic ministry of our Church during these difficult times, when so many whom Philoptochos serves are in need.
I look forward to worshipping with you Sunday, whether in person or from afar,
Fr. Alex
EPISTLE READER: John Chani. Our youth are especially encouraged to contact Fr. Alex to read on a coming Sunday, in person or remotely. Parents, please let Father know if your daughter or son might like to read.
HOMILY: "Not Like You."
MEMORIAL: No memorials today.
ALTAR SERVERS: Greg Douvris and Spencer Riley. Contact Fr. Alex if your son is interested in Altar service--we'd love to grow this ministry.
PRE-REGISTRATION: Thank you for your continued cooperation and patience with the pre-registration process. We will continue with this practice, for the well-being of our parish family, this month. Please register as space is limited.
Pre-register each week right here:
https://signup.com/group/52966497203
ACCESS SERVICES VIA FACEBOOK:
https://www.facebook.com/saintgregorythetheologian
ACCES SERVICES VIA YOU TUBE:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgvnXFV6xK1Nhm8ID84jFNg
ORTHROS & DIVINE LITURGY, Feb 21
We look forward to worshipping with you at Saint Gregory, whether in person or remotely. Orthros, 8:30 am; Divine Liturgy, 9:30 am. Youth Religious Education classes continue this week following Holy Communion (in person and via Zoom for middle/high school) or at 1 pm (via Zoom only younger grades); parents, please see this week's emails from your child's teacher for details. If you plan to worship with us in person, make sure to pre-register early in the week
Please note that in accordinace with Gov. Baker's latest COVID-19 restrictions, Saint Gregory's maximum capacity limit is now up to 40%. We thank you for your continued patience and understanding.
Pre-register each week right here:
https://signup.com/group/52966497203
Access Services via Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/saintgregorythetheologian
Access Services via You Tube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgvnXFV6xK1Nhm8ID84jFNg
ORTHODOX LIFE: "ELEVEN STORIES" CONTINUES, MARCH 3
Join us on the 3rd, starting at 7 pm. This will be our last gathering before the start of Great Lent; the readings and Zoom info will soon be forwarded to our parish via email.
MBC WINTER CAMP, THROUGHOUT FEBRUARY
Our Metropolis camping ministry will take a different approach for Winter Camp 2021: throughout the month, camp will be "on the road" in several different New England locations. Register today as space is limited: WINTER CAMP 2021 - Metropolis of Boston Camp
PHILOPTOCHOS AGAPE DRIVE, THROUGHOUT FEBRUARY
Please donate in support of the many philanthropic efforts of our Saint Anastasia Philoptochos this month. We are able to collect funds through GivePlus or direct donations sent to the parish. Any funds donated will go directly to our budgeted philanthropic line items to help us meet our financial goals for the coming year. Thank you for your support of Philoptochos, as this ministry strives to serve those in need during these difficult times.
SOUL SATURDAYS, MARCH 6, 13 & 20
Join us for these three opportunities to receive Holy Communion together, as well as commemorate our beloved relatives, friends and fellow parishioners who have gone before us. Orthros and Divine Liturgy will be at 8:30 am and 9:30 am respectively, with the Memorial to follow. Names of those asleep in the Lord can be emailed to Fr. Alex, given to him or dropped off ahead of time at the Church Office.
HOPE/JOY LENT/SAINT PATRICK EVENT, MARCH 13
We are planning a wonderful Lenten Kick-Off and celebration of Saint Patrick on March 13th, 4 pm, via Zoom (see the flyer in our Weekly Parish Bulletin Email). This will be a great way for our younger children to reconnect, start their Lent off in a positive way and learn something about Saint Patrick and other Saints from the British Isles. All HOPE (K - 2nd grade) and JOY (3 - 6th grade) are welcome to join. Don't forget to wear green!
GOYA LENTEN BIBLE STUDY, MARCH 13
Our GOYAns will gather via Zoom, beginning at 5 pm, for a Lenten Bible Study. Rumor has it, will even have a little big of Saint Patrick trivia to get us going. All GOYAns are welcome to join us for friendship, fun and learning in the Orthodox Faith. Zoom info will be emailed to our GOYA families ahead of the event.
FOOD & FRIENDS, MARCH 16
For the 16th, we are still limited to preparing the "to go" meals of the last several months, due to the COVID situation. In addition, to our usual meal effort in March, we also are offering an opportunity to contribute "Self Care Kits." If each Steward family could assemble at least one of these kits before March 16, we could have 100 or more to donate to the effort. Each kit would contain items such as deodorant, sanitary wipes, a reusable mask, a small hand sanitizer, socks and a few healthy snacks such as granola, dried fruit, crackers, etc. Since we all can't be as hands on with volunteering during these times, this is a great way to keep the whole family engaged. If you would like to learn more about the Self Care Kits," sponsor one of our events, such as the March 16 meal, make a donation of food items and/or join us in preparing and serving, contact Cathy Cooper: 781.799.5134; ccooper126@verizon.net.
WORSHIP & ORTHODOX LIFE W/FR. TONY VRAME, MARCH 31
Fr. Vrame will join us for PreSanctified Liturgy, and then will offer us a reflection on journeying through Great Lent in light of the COVID-19 situation. Father is a parishioner and dear friend of our parish--we look forward to welcoming him "home." The service and presentation will be live-streamed and recorded for the benefit of our parish family.
WHAT'S NEW ON OUR WEBSITE?
Have you seen our excellent Stewardship Parishioner Testimonials page yet? If you haven't, it's right within our Stewardship page, and it is a reminder of just how important our Saint Gregory home is to us all. Check it out the first testimonial today:
Parishioner Testimonials | St. Gregory the Theologian (saintgregorythetheologian.org)
NEW DIVINE LITURGY TEXTS DONATION OPPORTUNITY
As we look forward to a time when we will once again be able to sing together and utilize service books at Saint Gregory, the time has come to consider updated texts, reflecting the latest and official English translation of the Divine Liturgy. The Archdiocesan Dept. of Religious Education has updated hymnals and Divine Liturgy books our parish is interested in utilizing. Fr. Alex is still studying the options before us, but any parishioners interested in learning more about this undertaking and perhaps becoming financial sponsors of the news books are invited to contact Father.
SUNSHINE COMMITTEE MINISTRY: WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP
In coordination and support of the pastoral efforts of Fr. Alex, this ministry has been formed to communicate with parishioners who may be homebound, hospitalized, nursing facilities or otherwise unable to regularly make it to Saint Gregory. If you are aware of a parishioner who would welcome such communication and support, or if you would like to connect yourself, please contact the Church Office.
CHURCH OFFICE HOURS
Fr. Alex
Tue (9 am - 1 pm), Wed (11 am - 3 pm) & Thur (9 am - 1 pm); or by appointment anytime.
In person or via Zoom. With the COVID situation please contact Father ahead of time to help keep our campus safe.
Cathy Cooper
By appointment: stgregorytheologian@earthlink.net
Fourth Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from Luke 24:1-12
On the first day of the week, at early dawn, the women went to the tomb, taking the spices which they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel; and as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead? Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of man must be delivered in to the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise." And they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told this to the apostles; but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them.
But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home wondering at what had happened.
Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee: Triodion Begins Today
The Reading is from St. Paul's Second Letter to Timothy 3:10-15
TIMOTHY, my son, you have observed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions, my sufferings, what befell me at Antioch, at lconion, and at Lystra, what persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. Indeed all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceivers and deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings which are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee: Triodion Begins Today
The Reading is from Luke 18:10-14
The Lord said this parable, "Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, I give tithes of all that I get.' But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!' I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted."
Saint Eustathius, the great defender of piety and illustrious opponent of Arianism, was from Side in Pamphylia. He became Bishop of Beroea (the present-day Aleppo), and in 325 was present at the First Ecumenical Council. From thence he was transferred to the throne of Antioch. But Saint Constantine the Great, led astray by the slanders directed against the Saint by the Arians, banished him to Trajanopolis in Thrace, where he reposed in 337, according to some. Others say he lived until 360.
