Fellow Parishioners and Friends: 

Believe it or not, August has arrived—the summer is flying, as it always does. In the weeks to come, I hope you can spend ample time with friends, family, neighbors and others who can help you recharge your batteries before the busy times of the fall.

Of course, the ultimate recharge comes with connection to our compassionate, inspirational Lord. With that in mind, please do join us this Sunday for worship, alongside friends old and new, at Saint Gregory. You are always welcome here.

With the coming of the new month, the Dormition fast has begun. This is a time of reflection, prayer and preparation, leading us to the feast on Aug. 15. As part of this journey, we will offer the Small Paraklesis services over the next two weeks. Join us for these brief, poetic and moving services often as you can. Our first services will be Aug. 2, 7 and 9, beginning at 6 pm. 

Finally, our parish festival is approaching on Aug. 24. Within your eBulletin you’ll find a list of volunteer opportunities for the coming weeks and the day of the festival itself. Please take a look at your calendar and offer your time and talent as you can. All the contact information you need is right there for you. This will not only be a fundraiser for our parish but, importantly, an opportunity to offer hospitality and connect with the greater community.

Have a wonderful, safe weekend, and God bless you,

Fr. Alex

ALTAR SERVERS: All servers welcome throughout the summer. 

MYRRHBEARER: We will resume our Myrrhbearer schedule in the fall. If your daughter would like to serve on a coming Sunday this summer, please contact Fr. Alex to pick a date. 

EPISTLE: Miles Kaufman.

HOMILY: "Clergy-Laity Congress: the Fullness of the Church."

ALTAR FLOWERS: Please consider sponsoring altar flowers for a coming Sunday. The donation for flower sponsorships is $75. Please contact Gina in the church office to learn more or sponsor. 

FELLOWSHIP HOUR: All are welcome to join us following Divine Liturgy. This month and beyond, Fellowship Hour sponsors 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 SUNDAY, AUGUST 4TH, SIXTH SUNDAY OF MATTHEW
We look forward to worshipping with you at Saint Gregory: 
Orthros, 8:30 am
Divine Liturgy, 9:30 am
Each week, Sunday School classes begin immediately after Holy Communion. All are warmly invited to join us for refreshments and fellowhip after Divine Liturgy. 

STREAMING DETAILS/MEDIA CONNECTIONS FOR TODAY, AUGUST 4TH
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"  

PAN-MASS CHALLENGE AT SAINT GREGORY THIS WEEKEND
The Pan-Mass Challenge is a bike-a-thon that raises vital funds for Dana Farber Cancer Institute. This weekend, volunteer organizers are once again (as last summer) utilizing our back lot for storage and organizational purposes. We are grateful for the opportunity to share our resources with this worthy endeavor and to support our neighbors in the greater community. 

PHILOPTOCHOS UPDATES
**Our annual school supply drive is on! Through 9/1, we be collecting school supplies to benefit the Mansfield and Attleboro public schools. Please place donated items into the designated bin located in the narthex.  Our Amazon link details specific items that are needed.  Please see Ann Johnson with questions. 

**Our next general meeting will be a zoom meeting this Wednesday, 8/7, at 7pm. A zoom link will be shared.

SMALL PARAKLESIS SERVICES CONTINUE WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 7TH
Each year on August 1st, we begin the preparation period for the Feast of the Dormition of the
Theotokos on August 15TH. This is a solemn feast of the Church, marking the dormition or assumption of the Virgin Mary who, as our greatest saint, the Church believes was spared the ravages of the grave. As part of this time of abstention and prayer, we invite our faithful and friends to the Small Paraklesis services, which will be held on several evenings leading up to the feast.
Join us August 7TH, 9TH, & 12TH, beginning at 6 pm. 

FESTIVAL NEEDS & UPDATES, AUG. 12TH - 24TH
***Volunteer Opportunities: Volunteers are welcome and needed throughout August and on the day of the festival. Contact Rich Vinton ([email protected]) or Karen Guinan ([email protected]) to sign up for a shift or learn more. 
Volunteers needed:
Week of Aug. 12th: Assemble/cook pastitccio and spanakopita
Week of Aug. 19th: Chop vegetables
Day of Festival: Setup, serving, cleanup and traffic control

***Festival Yard Signs: Festival yard signs are now availabe and are meant to face the traffic on the sidewalks of your home. Please contact Rich or Karen if you would like one to display at your home.

***Yiayia’s Attic: For our “attic sale” during the festival, clean, gently used items are wanted: kitchenware, home decor, dishes, glasses, holiday decorations, yard decorations, handbags and costume jewelry. No linens or clothes, please. Text Paulette Vinton (781.413.6038) to make an appointment to drop off items.

ALTAR & MYRRHBEARER SERVICE THIS SUMMER
Throughout the summer, all Altar servers and Myrrhbearers are welcome to come serve whenever they are in church. Altar servers can come in as usual, and Myrrhbearers/parents are asked to contact Fr. Alex to pick a date for service. We’ll resume our regular schedules in the fall. 

SAINT GREGORY GOLF TOURNAMENT, OCT. 10TH
For a fun and dynamic change of pace, our 2024 tournament will be held at Top Golf in Canton, MA. The tournament page—along with registration and sponsorship information—is now available. Please save the date and plan to join us!

PHILOPTOCHOS NATIONAL AGAPE AWARD
Recently, our Philoptochos members received some terrific news: the chapter will receive the national Philoptochos AGAPE Award at the 2024 Biennial Convention. The awards committee cited the “passion” with which our chapter engages the mission of Philoptochos and how members “are living and breathing examples of [the] convention’s theme: ‘Inspiring Women, Impacting the World.’” Our parish could not agree more, and we congratulate all the members of our Saint Anastasia Philoptochos!

TCI (THRIVING CONGREGATIONS INITIATIVE) UPDATE
Our third of four TCI Lilly Grant projects was recently completed in partnership with First Baptist Church, Mansfield. This $2,500 grant was utilized to renovate areas of the parish kitchen, improve safety issues, and purchase rugs, dehumidifiers, a refrigerator and freezer. These improvements will help First Baptist continue and enhance its vital Food and Friends Ministry in the years to come.

KOLIVA PREPARATION
At any given time of the year, our faithful will seek help in the preparation of Koliva for memorials. Fellow parishioner Gina Drugas is now offering this service, with a cost of $100 per Koliva plate. Please contact Gina to learn more and make arrangements: [email protected] 

FELLOWSHIP HOUR SIGN-UP RESOURCES
All parishioners are invited to host Fellowship Hour on a coming Sunday. 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: [email protected]

RIDES TO CHURCH
George Dimitriou, our Driving Ministry chair, would be happy to help you or a loved one make it to Saint Gregory for worship and events. Contact George directly: [email protected]; 781.769.2085.

LOST & FOUND
When parishioners find items about the church, they leave them with the church office. You will find a mail tray labled for lost and found. If you have misplaced a small item, or found one, please stop by the office.

CHURCH OFFICE HOURS
Fr. Alex: Tue. & Thur., 9 am - 1 pm. Wed., 1 - 4 pm; or by appointment when convenient for our parishioners. Please note that on occasion, Fr. Alex may be seeing to a pastoral situation, visiting with another parishioner, attending a Metropolis event, or otherwise engaged in Church life during office hours.

Church Secretary: Summer Office Hours are as follows: Monday, Thursday & Friday: 12:30 - 3 pm. Secretary Gina Drugas is available via email remotely on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Contact Gina: [email protected].