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.
Dearest Parishioners & Friends:
This Sunday, July 11, is the 3rd Sunday of Matthew. Among other topics in the Gospel reading, Christ addresses the question of anxiety and concern for the future, with a gentle and poetic reminder: “Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?”
For sure, anxiety is a daily trial for many of us. There’s a lot to be concerned about when we care deeply for family and friends, and it seems in our lives that often when one crisis or time of upset passes another one is waiting to emerge.
Unfortunately, trials and tribulations aren’t going anywhere: they are part of life, as much as they interfere with how we would like to live our lives. But Christ is also a part of our lives; in fact, He’s the very center. And with Him, we can manage anything. Peace is possible (think of our Divine Liturgy, when we ask for “the peace of God”) if we trust in His care. Even when things are hard in life, they are still good—in a deep, profound way—with our Christ.
This Sunday, I’ll look forward to experiencing this reading and the rest of our worship experience with you. Following services, we’re all invited to Fellowship Hour in the Hall.
Looking ahead to July 13, I hope as many of us as possible will help out with the Mansfield Family Fun Night event. All the details are within your eBulletin. Also within this week's edition, you’ll notice a call for Saint Gregory’s green thumbs! If you like to garden, we’re striving to put together an enthusiastic group to periodically help with everything from weeding to planting flowers. Contact me if you’re interested.
Read on for more on our coming services, ministry events, lives of the Saints, and much more to help you stay connected to the Church throughout the week.
God bless you, and yours, and I look forward to seeing you at Saint Gregory,
Fr. Alex
EPISTLE READER: Brian Kaufman. 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: All servers welcome this Sunday. Contact Fr. Alex or Tom Moustakis if your son is interested in Altar service--we'd love to grow this ministry.
ANTIDORON SERVER: Isabella Caradonna. Servers are welcome to participate in this ministry throughout the summer. To get involved, contact Kyri Stavros: kyri910@icloud.com
THIS SUNDAY'S MEMORIAL: Christos H. Metrakas, 2 years. May his memory be eternal!
COMING MEMORIALS: Aug. 8--Father Michael Bird, 7 years. May his memory be eternal!
FELLOWSHIP HOUR: Please join us in the hall following Divine Liturgy for friendship and refreshments--all are welcome to join us. Fellowship Hour sponsorships are open to the entire parish family. Please contact the Church Office to schedule your special day, in memory of a loved one, in honor of a special occasion or just to enable wonderful fellowship at Saint Gregory.
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
STREAMING MINISTRY DETAILS/SOCIAL MEDIA CONNECTIONS
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 • Instagram photos and videos
ORTHROS & DIVINE LITURGY FOR THE 3RD SUNDAY OF MATTHEW, JULY 11
We look forward to worshipping with you at Saint Gregory, whether in person or remotely. Orthros, 8:30 am; Divine Liturgy, 9:30 am. While Youth Religious Education classes have concluded until fall, we hope as many of our beloved children as possible will keep attending services or worshipping online. Worship and community never "break" at Saint Gregory!
FELLOWSHIP HOUR, JULY 11--AND SPONSORSHIPS THIS SUMMER
If you feel comfortable doing so, please join us in the hall for Fellowship Hour following Divine Liturgy. We are grateful for the opportunity to once again enjoy friendship and refreshments in our hall. In addition, all parishioners are invited to pick a special Sunday to sponsor Fellowship Hour this summer. Please contact the Church Office.
ANTIDORON SERVERS MINISTRY, JULY 11
In addition to Divine Liturgy this Sunday, there will be a need each Sunday this summer. Please contact Fr. Alex to join this wonderful ministry and confirm service dates.
MANSFIELD FAMILY FUN NIGHT, JULY 13
We are looking for volunteers on Tuesday, July 13 to help with the preparation, cooking, serving and general support for this yearly Saint Gregory fundraiser in downtown Mansfield. It is a great opportunity to get our name out into the local community and a wonderful evening of fellowship for all involved. We are looking for support for 1-2 hour shifts between 4:30 pm – 9:30 pm on the 13th. Please contact Steve Christo if you would like to help: smchristo@comcast.net
FOOD & FRIENDS, JULY 20
For July, we may be preparing "to go" meals or returning to a sit down meal approach. Interested in helping us prepare/serve or making a donation in support of this ministry? All are welcome to get involved. Please contact Cathy Cooper: ccooper126@verizon.net. Each meal we prepare and package feeds about 40-50 people and the total cost per event is about $150. We meet at St. Gregory's at 12 pm. Everything usually wraps up by 5 pm, but you are welcome to plug in whenever you are able. This is such a rewarding and much appreciated ministry for Saint Gregory's! If you can make the time to take part you'll be happy you did.
GARDEN CLUB MINISTRY THIS SUMMER AND FALL
Calling at Saint Gregory parish green thumbs! In addition to our regular professional landscaping efforts, we would love to form a ministry effort around beautifying and nurturing our expansive campus. Everything from weeding to flower planting is a possibility, and this will be a fantastic way to do something hands-on at our parish. Please contact Lou Zagami for details: Lzagami@iocc.org
METROPOLIS OF BOSTON SUMMER CAMPING MINISTRY--STILL TIME TO SIGN UP
MBC is gearing up for five faith and fun-filled sessions this summer, beginning July 5. Visit the MBC site at your earliest convenience (space is limited) for all the details and registration information: REGISTER - METROPOLIS OF BOSTON CAMP.
STEWARDSHIP IN 2021
Many thanks to all of our Saint Gregory parishioners who have already committed for 2021. 2021 Commitment Cards have been mailed to all our Stewards and are available via the Church Office. You can also fill out yours, and give online, via our website Stewardship Page: www.saintgregorythetheologian.org/stewardship/. GivePlus is another great option for parish giving: Home | St Gregory The Theologian Church (myvanco.com)
MEMORIAL GARDEN EFFORT
If you would like to add a memorial brick to our outdoor walkway this spring/summer, please fill out the form in our Narthex and Church Office. With the funds we raise, we would like to refurbish and install the iron fencing from our previous iconostation to frame the walkway, as well as add some outdoor icons and landscape features to update this wonderful area. Contact Cathy Cooper for further details and with questions: ccooper126@verizon.net.
CONGREGATIONAL SINGING LEADERS
Singing leaders are needed to help our parish get familiar with our new hymnal, as well as lead congregational singing of the Divine Liturgy this summer and fall. Please contact Fr. Alex to learn more about coming practices and how you can be a part of this vital ministry of Saint Gregory.
SAINT GREGORY 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.
WHAT'S NEW ON OUR WEBSITE?
Within our Youth Ministry pages, you'll now see two new resources under "Youth and Family Resources": "Saintly Lives" and "For Your Home." Both can be a resources for parents as they strive to bring the life of the Church into their homes. New entries for May will soon be available.
CHURCH OFFICE HOURS
Fr. Alex: Tue. (9 am – 1 pm), Wed. (11 am – 3 pm) & Thur (9 am – 1 pm); or by appointment when convenient for our faithful. Please note that on occasion, Fr. Alex may be seeing to a pastoral situation, visitingn with another parishioner, attending a Metropolis event or otherwise engaged in Church life during office hours. Cathy Cooper: by Appointment.
8:30AM Orthros (In Person/Online)
9:30AM Divine Liturgy (In Person/Online)
6:30PM Parish Council
6:00PM Mansfield Family Fun Night Event
8:30AM Orthros (In Person/Online)
9:30AM Divine Liturgy (In Person/Online)
12:00PM Food & Friends
No Orthros/Liturgy at Saint Gregory
9:30AM Church Open for Personal Prayer
Join us for this annual fundraiser and wonderful community event.
All parishioners are invited to get involved through hands-on efforts or donations.
Recommendations & Guidelines Updated May 2021
Third Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from Mark 16:9-20
When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast seven demons. She went and told those who had been with him, as they mourned and wept. But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it.
After this he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country. And they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them.
Afterward he appeared to the eleven themselves as they sat at table; and he upbraided them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen. And he said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover."
So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by the signs that attended it. Amen.
Euphemia the Great Martyr
The Reading is from St. Paul's Second Letter to the Corinthians 6:1-10
Brethren, working together with him, we entreat you not to accept the grace of God in vain. For he says, "At the acceptable time I have listened to you, and helped you on the day of salvation." Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. We put no obstacle in any one's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: through great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, tumults, labors, watching, hunger; by purity, knowledge, forbearance, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love, truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; in honor and dishonor, in ill repute and good repute. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
3rd Sunday of Matthew
The Reading is from Matthew 6:22-33
The Lord said, "The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is sound, your whole body will be full of light; but if your eye is not sound, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink, nor about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O men of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear? For the Gentiles seek all these things; and your heavenly Father knows you need them all. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well."
In 451, during the reign of the Sovereigns Marcian and Pulcheria, the Fourth Ecumenical Council was convoked in Chalcedon against Eutyches and those of like mind with him. After much debate, the Fathers who were the defenders of Orthodoxy, being 630 in number, agreed among themselves and with those who were of contrary mind, to write their respective definitions of faith in separate books, and to ask God to confirm the truth in this matter. When they had prepared these texts, they placed the two tomes in the case that held Saint Euphemia's relics, sealed it, and departed. After three days of night-long supplications, they opened the reliquary in the presence of the Emperor, and found the tome of the heretics under the feet of the Martyr, and that of the Orthodox in her right hand. (For her life, see Sept. 16.)
Our faithful are invited to submit the names of the living to be lifted up in prayer by Fr. Alex and our entire parish family. Please contact the Church Office or Father to add or remove names.
Please pray for the servants of God:
Nicole; Alexa; Tony; Amanda; Nicholas; Lea; Irene; Diana; Jeanne; Sam; Michael; Teddy; Annette; Johanna; Joyce; Elaine; Joseph; David; George; Elaine; Gia; Michelle; Kay; Maria; Andreas; Nicholas; Barbara; Timothy; Mark; Bonnie; Andrea; Marissa; Helen; Bessie; Peter; Gina; Christopher; Ginny; Stella; Dorothy; Jack; Dorothy; Ethel; Greg; Vesallie; Helen; Benjamin; Andonea; Diana