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:
A blessed and encouraging third week of Great Lent to you all. This Sunday, the Sunday of the Holy Cross in fact represents the midpoint of this holy season: a time to reflect on where we’ve been and where we are heading. It is a time of refreshment during our Lenten journey, the wood of the cross “sweetening” our spiritual strivings.
To help us all along the way, please join us this Wed, March 31 for PreSanctified Liturgy and a meaningful presentation by Fr. Tony Vrame. The service will start at 6 pm with Father’s presentation to follow; we will be in person as well as streaming. Father’s presentation is entitled “When We Are Broken,” focusing on our trust in God during Lent and these challenging times.
We will also offer the 3rd Salutations on Friday, April 2, 6 pm—and then we’ll look forward to Sunday worship on the 4th—again the Sunday of the Cross. Parents, our Youth Religious Education classes will continue this Sunday in person and remotely—please wait for an email from your child’s teacher. Our children worshipping in person will receive a beautiful flower from the Holy Cross presentation. If you’re worshipping from home, I encourage our families to gather a few greens (or flowers if you can find one!) from outside and hold them high when I raise the Cross.
In other updates, our middle and high school classes are busily working toward the Saint John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival on April 11 (via Zoom), and the Philoptochos “Dignity Matters” collection is well underway. There are several ways to give you can read about within the bulletin.
I’m looking forward to worshipping with you this week as well as this coming Sunday. Good strength in your continuing Lenten journey.
Yours in the Lord,
Fr. Alex
***PLEASE NOTE SUNDAY SERVICES ARE CANCELED FOR MARCH 14
EPISTLE READERS: Matt Jumes. 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.
ALTAR SERVERS: Matt Jumes and Miles Kaufman. Contact Fr. Alex if your son is interested in Altar service--we'd love to grow this ministry.
MEMORIALS: Panayotis (Peter) Thomas (28 years) and Eftherpe (Effie) Thomas (3 years). May their memory be eternal!
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
WORSHIP & ORTHODOX LIFE W/FR. TONY VRAME, MARCH 31
Fr. Vrame will join us for PreSanctified Liturgy, beginning at 6 pm, and then he 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. Don't forget to sign up if you're joining us in person.
3RD SALUTATIONS TO THE THEOTOKOS, APRIL 2
Join us for this beautiful service celebraging the mystery of the Incarnation during this most holy time of year. The service begins at 6 pm, in person (see pre-registration linke below) and streaming.
ORTHROS & DIVINE LITURGY, APRIL 4
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 and the Holy Cross procession (in person and via Zoom); 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 50%. 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
ORATORICAL FESTIVAL, APRIL 11 (Updated from 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.
MYRRHBEARING GIRLS FOR HOLY WEEK
Parents with girls (up to about age 10) interested in participating in our liturgical services as myrrhbearers on Holy Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and, of course, Friday are asked to contact Fr. Alex. This is a wonderful way to involve our children in the services of Holy Week.
SAINT GREOGORY PARISH BOOKSTORE
Parishioners are invited to visit our bookstore by appointment or otherwise receive assistance by contacting the Church Office. Cathy or Fr. Alex would be happy to help you find that encouraging book or meaningful gift for a loved one during these unique times.
LENTEN AND HOLY WEEK FLOWER DONATIONS
As we do indeed look toward Great Lent and Holy Week, donations are welcome and needed for the decoration of our sacred space during this Holy time. A host of icons will be decorated with flowers (Virgin and Child for the Salutations, the “Great Humility,” the Resurrection, etc.); other needs include the wreath for the Lord’s Cross, palms, laurel leaves, lilies and, of course, the adornment of the Kouvouklion (the wooden structure that houses the Epitaphios icon). Please contact Cathy Cooper to support these worthy efforts.
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
Tenth Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from John 21:1-14
At that time, being raised from the dead, Jesus revealed himself to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he revealed himself in this way. Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We will go with you." They went out and got into the boat; but that night they caught nothing. Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, "Children, have you any fish?" They answered him, "No." He said to them, "Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, for the quantity of fish. The disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his clothes, for he was stripped for work, and sprang into the sea. But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off.
When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish lying on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish that you have just caught." So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three of them; and although there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." Now none of the disciples dared ask him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.
Sunday of the Holy Cross
The Reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:1-6
BRETHREN, since we have a high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. Because of this he is bound to offer sacrifice for his own sins as well as for those of the people. And one does not take the honor upon himself, but he is called by God, just as Aaron was. So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, "Thou art my Son, today I have begotten thee"; as he says also in another place, "Thou art a priest for ever, after the order of Melchizedek."
Sunday of the Holy Cross
The Reading is from Mark 8:34-38; 9:1
The Lord said: "If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? For what can a man give in return for his life? For whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of man also be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." And he said to them, "Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power."
Saint Zosimas was a monk from Palestine who lived in a monastery since his infancy. He became famous for his spiritual qualities, but searching for further illumination he went to a new monastery in the desert. The monks of this particular monastery left every year for the desert from the first week of Great Lent until Palm Sunday so as to live in complete isolation.
One year, Zosimas saw a shadowy figure in the distance and, chasing after it, discovered a female ascetic by the name of Mary (see April 1st and the 5th Sunday of Great Lent). Mary instructed Zosimas to meet her at the Jordan River on Holy Thursday of the following year to giver her Holy Communion. He did this and was again instructed by her to meet her yet again the next year during Great Lent. Zosimas entered the desert at the appointed time the following year and found the body of the blessed Mary lying dead near the place he first encountered her. A lion approached to dig a grave for Mary, and Zosimas recited the usual burial prayers. He returned to his monastery and spread the news about this blessed woman. Zosimas remained in that monastery until his death the age of 100.
It was not lost on the Immortal Heroes of 1821, that the day they chose to raise their Λάβαρον on high, was the day that announced to the world that God has come to save us all.