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.
Saint Gregory Parishioners & Friends:
As of the writing of this note on Wednesday the 24th, it feels a bit like spring—the snow is melting in our yards, and I noticed the chickadees in our backyard had a “spring” in their little songs this morning. In the same way, the “Lenten Spring” I mentioned in last week’s message may indeed be on its way.
And we are for sure moving closer and closer toward the start of Great Lent—in fact, this Sunday, Feb. 28 is already the Sunday of the Prodigal Son. You don’t want to miss this Gospel reading, and I’ll offer our beloved youth a special homily about the Prodigal Son, the “good” son and the Father just before Holy Communion. As always, 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.
Our cycle of Soul Saturday services will commence on March 6 and continue on the 13th and 20th. Orthros will be at 8:30 am with Divine Liturgy and the Memorial to follow at 9:30 am. Please email me your names (of you beloved departed) ahead of time, drop them in the Church Office or even bring them to the service.
Looking further ahead, I once again remind you that 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. I’m looking forward to both these events—I hope your children are as well.
Turning toward adult religious education and enrichment, in addition to Orthodox Life: “Eleven Stories” (our next gathering will be March 3—see the reading and Zoom info within the bulletin), Father Tony Vrame—a beloved friend and parishioner of Saint Gregory—will join us on March 31 for PreSanctified Liturgy and will offer a special Orthodox Life presentation on journeying through Great Lent in light of COVID-19. The service will begin at 6 pm, with the presentation to follow. Both the worship and presentation event will be live-streamed and recorded for the benefit of our faithful.
Finally, I invite you to stay close to our new website and social media channels—things are improving by the week on the site, and there are a host of educational, enrichment and informational tidbits that appear weekly on Facebook and Instagram. These are all ways to touch the lives of our faithful; we hope and pray they are effective.
Yours in Christ,
Fr. Alex
EPISTLE READER: 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: "A Change of Heart"
MEMORIAL: No memorials today.
ALTAR SERVERS: Mario Salzillo and TJ Dimitriou. 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 28
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 are within our Weekly Bulletin email.
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.
ORATORICAL FESTIVAL, APRIL 4
Plans are being made for this year's festival, which will be conducted via Zoom. Details will follow, and we wish our Middle and High School classes good strength as they begin this spiritual endeavor.
CANDLESTICK DONATION
Several weeks ago, our parish received a generous donation of two new candlesticks for our Holy Altar from an anonymous donor. Some time ago, the same donor presented us with the brilliant Tabernacle that also rests upon the Altar; the Tabernacle and candlesticks are a perfect match! We are so grateful to this donor for these thoughtful and prayerful gifts—they were given from the heart and for the glory of God!
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.
General Office Hours/Cathy Cooper
By appointment: stgregorytheologian@earthlink.net
Fifth Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from Luke 24:13-35
At that time, two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, "What is this conversation which you are holding with each other as you walk?" And they stood still looking sad. Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, "Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?" And he said to them, "What things?" And they said to him, "Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since this happened. Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning and did not find his body; and they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb, and found it just as the women had said; but him they did not see." And he said to them, "O foolish men, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?" And beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He appeared to be going further, but they constrained him, saying, "Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent." So he went in to stay with them. When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognized him; and he vanished out of their sight. They said to each other, "Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the scriptures?" And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven gathered together and those who were with them, who said, "The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!" Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.
Sunday of the Prodigal Son
The Reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 6:12-20
Brethren, "all things are lawful for me," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful for me," but I will not be enslaved by anything. "Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food" -- and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I therefore take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! Do you not know that he who joins himself to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, "The two shall become one flesh." But he who is united to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. Shun immorality. Every other sin which a man commits is outside the body; but the immoral man sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God? You are not your own; you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body and in your spirit which belong to God.
Sunday of the Prodigal Son
The Reading is from Luke 15:11-32
The Lord said this parable: "There was a man who had two sons; and the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of the property that falls to me.' And he divided his living between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took his journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in loose living. And when he had spent everything, a great famine arose in that country, and he began to be in want. So he went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would gladly have filled his belly with the pods that the swine ate; and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired servants.' And he arose and came to his father. But while he was yet at a distance, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' But the father said to his servants, 'Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet; and bring the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and make merry; for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.' And they began to make merry. Now his elder son was in the field; and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what this meant. And he said to him, 'Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has received him safe and sound.' But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, 'Lo, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command; yet you never gave me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your living with harlots, you killed for him the fatted calf!' And he said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to make merry and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.'"
Through the parable of today's Gospel, our Saviour has set forth three things for us: the condition of the sinner, the rule of repentance, and the greatness of God's compassion. The divine Fathers have put this reading the week after the parable of the Publican and Pharisee so that, seeing in the person of the Prodigal Son our own wretched condition -- inasmuch as we are sunken in sin, far from God and His Mysteries -- we might at last come to our senses and make haste to return to Him by repentance during these holy days of the Fast.
Furthermore, those who have wrought many great iniquities, and have persisted in them for a long time, oftentimes fall into despair, thinking that there can no longer be any forgiveness for them; and so being without hope, they fall every day into the same and even worse iniquities. Therefore, the divine Fathers, that they might root out the passion of despair from the hearts of such people, and rouse them to the deeds of virtue, have set the present parable at the forecourts of the Fast, to show them the surpassing goodness of God's compassion, and to teach them that there is no sin -- no matter how great it may be -- that can overcome at any time His love for man.
It is in a hymn of this morning’s Orthros service that for the first time this year we are introduced to the words “open to me the gates of repentance, O Giver of Life…” reminding us that we are now in the period of Triodion – the season of awareness that leads to the Great Fast of the Holy Forty Days and the Pascha of our Lord.
With the blessings of the Exarch His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, the Order of St. Andrew is now accepting online applications for the high office of Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.