Hello Saint Gregory!

A blessed Resurrection and "Kali Anastasi" to you and yours. Holy Week will be here before we know it, and I'm really looking forward to it. 

This Sunday, dedicated to Saint Mary of Egypt, we'll enjoy our beautiful, timeless worship, Sunday School classes, the Oratorical Festival and much more at our parish home. In the hall during Fellowship Hour, don't forget to order your Easter Bread from Philoptochos friends and pick up your tickets for the Palm Sunday luncheon. 

Our entire Holy Week schedule of services--from the Saturday of Lazarus Event and the Holy Friday Youth Retreat to the Holy Saturday Night "Anastasia" service and parish potluck--is posted within the "Calendar" section of this eBulletin and has been emailed to our parish. I hope and pray you'll worship with us and enjoy our learning and fellowship events as often as possible during this sacred period. This is a time of transformation before the Cross of the Lord, spiritual refreshment, hope and salvation for us. Let's engage this moment as a parish family. 

See you at church and a blessed fifth week of Lent to you,

Fr. Alex

EPISTLE: Brian Kaufman. Parishioners of all ages are invited to read the Epistle. Please contact Fr. Alex to choose a date.

TODAY'S ANTIDORON/MYRHHBEARERS SERVICE: Ashleigh Cromack. Servers are welcome to participate in this ministry throughout the winter and spring. To get involved, contact Eleni LaFond or Fr. Alex. 

TODAY'S ALTAR TEAM: Team Archangel Michael (Matt Cromack, AJ and Matthew Georgilas and Mario Salzillo). Altar Captain: Chris Botchis; Spencer Riley: Assistant Captain. 

YOUTH HOMILY: "Why Do We Light Candles?"

ALTAR FLOWERS: Please consider sponsoring Altar flowers on a coming Sunday or feast day. The donation for flower sponsorships is $50. Please contact the Church Office to learn more or sponsor. 

FELLOWSHIP HOUR: Sponsored by Peter and Joan Maimonis. Join us in the hall for friendship and refreshments. Fellowship Hour sponsorships are welcome and needed. Please sign up in the hall this weekend or use our new SignUpGenius link. 

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

SERVICES FOR APRIL 2, THE SUNDAY OF SAINT MARY OF EGYPT
We look forward to worshipping with you at Saint Gregory: Orthros, 8:30 am; Divine Liturgy, 9:30 am. Sunday School classes will be in session this weekend. If you have not already, please register your children here as we continue our year of learning and growth in the Orthodox Faith. 

STREAMING DETAILS/MEDIA CONNECTIONS FOR APRIL 2
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 

HOLY FRIDAY YOUTH RETREAT, REGISTER APRIL 2
We are excited to host a Holy Friday Retreat again this year as we explore the theme "Journey with Jesus—A Walk Through Holy Week." Students in grades K - 8 (ages 5-14) are invited to participate in the retreat activities. We ask that High School age students join us to help run activities for the younger children. The retreat will be held April 14, 12 - 2:45 pm, ending in time to join the “Descent” Service at 3pm. School excusal forms are available upon request. Please note that while a light snack will be provided within the retreat, we will not serve lunch. Please complete the Google sign-up link emailed to our parish for each child that would like to attend the retreat. Register here today! Please reach out to Paula Hartigan-Patey with any questions or concerns, or if you are able to volunteer your time, pch588@gmail.com.

PALM SUNDAY LUNCHEON TICKETS, APRIL 2
We look forward to celebrating Palm Sunday with our parish family, following Divine Liturgy on April 9. Please see our flyer, here, and pick up your tickets in the hall on April 2. Names, family counts and food choices (fish or mac 'n' cheese) may also be texted to Co-chair Stephan Katinas: 617.459.9276. 

PHILOPTOCHOS EASTER BREAD ORDERS & EMAIL LIST UPDATES, APRIL 2
Philoptochos is once again selling Tsoureki/Easter Bread: The cost is $15 per loaf and will be available for in-person pickup on Palm Sunday during the Palm Sunday Luncheon. A Philoptochos board member will be available during Fellowship Hour on April 2 for you to place your orders. 
Philoptochos Email List: Philoptochos is in the process of updating our email list. If you are interested in receiving information regarding Philoptochos meetings, fundraisers, events and newsletters, please email your name and email address to philoptochosstgregorymansfield@gmail.com. You do not need to become a member to be a part of our email list.

SIXTH WEEK OF LENT SERVICE HIGHLIGHTS, APRIL 5 & BEYOND
As we move closer and closer to Holy Week, please join us as often as you can, even if you cannot stay the whole time. 
Sixth Week of Lent:
April 5, 8:30 am, PreSanctified Liturgy. We will do this last PreSanctified Liturgy in the morning, as many parishioners may have difficulty driving at nigiht. April 8, Saturday of Lazarus. Orthros, 8:30 am; Divine Liturgy, 9:30 am (Breakfast, palm folding and church cleaning to follow). April 9, Palm Sunday. Orthros, 8:30 am; Divine Liturgy, 9:30 am (Palm Sunday Luncheon to follow). April 9, Palm Sunday Evening Service, 6 pm. 

SATURDAY OF LAZARUS SERVICES, BREAKFAST & PALM FOLDING, APRIL 8
Join us for Orthros and Divine Liturgy, followed by palm folding and a Communion breakfast sponsored by our GOYAns. This service is among the most moving of the year, and we hope all of our parishioners and GOYAns will join us. 

MYRRHBEARING GIRLS, APRIL 14
Our younger Myrrhbearers (1st - 5th grade) are invited to participate in the Lamentations Service on Holy Friday evening. Parents, please contact Fr. Alex if your daughter is interested.

RESURRECTION SERVICE "LATE NIGHT" POTLUCK, APRIL 15/16
Join hosts Brian and Stacey Kaufman following Divine Liturgy in the wee hours of April 16, as we revive this wonderful Saint Gregory tradition. All are invited, and please confirm your potluck offering/clean-up availability here. See you then!

AGAPE SUNDAY READERS & EASTER EGG HUNT, APRIL 16
Those interested in reading the Gospel in a language other than English during the Agape Service are asked to contact Lou Zagami (lzagami@iocc.org). Our younger children are invited to an Easter Egg hunt right after the Agape Service—just bring your basket and get ready for fun! 

LENTEN, HOLY WEEK & PASCHA FLOWER DONATIONS
Great Lent is here, and there are a host of flower and related decorating needs from now all the way through Pascha/Easter Sunday. A donation opportunity list is in the Narthex and also available here. Please contact Fr. Alex to learn about remaining donation opportunities, and drop off your donation form at the Church Office

NEW FELLOWSHIP HOUR SIGN-UP RESOURCES
All parishioners are invited to host Fellowship Hour on a coming Sunday this winter and spring. 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

STEWARDSHIP 2023 & TESTIMONIAL VIDEO
As we move into the new year, we now kindly ask our Stewards to read over our 2023 materials package and prayerfully complete and return 2023 Commitment Cards at their earliest convenience. This not only helps us plan for and support our parish ministries but is a visible symbol of our Eucharistic community: united in worship and dedication to the Gospel. The Stewardship pages of our parish website have been updated with our 2023 materials, and please contact Phil LaFond with any questions (phil@lafonds.net). View the Stewardship Sunday testimonial video here. 

NEW ASSISTIVE LISTENING SYSTEM
Parishioners who would like to try out our new 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.

USHERING AND "RIDES TO CHURCH" MINISTRIES
This winter and spring, those interested in our Ushering Ministry are invited to contact George Dimitriou: 781-769-2085; Gdimitriou@yahoo.com. Offering yourself as an usher is a wonderful way to meet new people and helps create a welcoming environment at Saint Gregory. We have also been re-initiating our efforts to provide rides to church for anyone who needs one. Once again, contact George Dimitriou if you could use a “lift” or would like to help drive. 

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 is most welcome within our Liturgical Singing Ministry. Please contact Kathy Kalogeras to learn more: kalogeras1@earthlink.net. 

MYRHHBEARERS MINISTRY
Within the context of our fledling Myrrhbearers Ministry, our girls and young women are invited to hold Antidoro during Divine Liturgy, read the Epislte 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 soon see two new June 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. 

CHURCH OFFICE HOURS
Fr. Alex: Tue. (1 pm – 5 pm), Wed. (9 am – 1 pm) & Thur (9 am – 1 pm); or by appointment when convenient for our parishioners. 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. General Church Office Needs: as we are currently short staffed, please call the Church Office (508.337.9986) and leave a message. Father or another ministry leader will get back with you shortly. Thanks for your patience.