THE SUNDAY MESSENGER
December 30, 2018

A Very Happy & Healthy New Year to One and All

Sixth Sunday of Advent

The Past and the Future

The name “January” comes from the Roman god Janus, the god with two faces, one looking to the past and the other looking to the future. This is indeed a time to look back at the year that is ending and to look forward to the new year ahead of us. How did I spend this one year of my life? Did I use it to advance my goals and objectives in life? Could I have done better last year in the way I invested my time between the demands of work, family, friends and society, and the demands of my spiritual life?

Through soul searching questions like these we find that a review of the past year naturally leads to setting goals and resolutions for the new year. This is what St. Paul writes: “Brothers and sisters, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:13).

We are called to focus our efforts toward our ultimate goal which is to get the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
For some people New Year resolutions are useless, however setting new goals and making resolutions can be viewed as necessary conclusion to our review of the past year. And we certainly do need to review our lives from year to year because, as Socrates says, the unexamined life is not worth living.

Christ our Lord and Teacher tells us not not to look back and be overwhelmed by it, only learn from the past and press forward by following Him and His footsteps. Yes, we do not know what the future will bring but we know this: Christ is going to be with us every step of the way and he is going to lead us by giving us the right direction and guidance.

May each one of us have a happy, healthy and blessed New Year filled with joy, peace, love and harmony. May all of us, with God’s help be able to map out this new year with a great Christian spirit of determination and right resolutions which will eventually lead us to get “the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

Fr. Hratch Sargsyan

TODAY’S BIBLE READINGS:

Hebrews 13: 18-25 (page 205) New Testament
Luke 22: 24-30 (page 79) New Testament – (Please follow the Armenian Reading in your Bible)
Isaiah 51: 15-52:3 (pages 728-729) Old Testament

REQUIEM SERVICES: Karasoonk (40th Day memorial Service) today will be for:

– REV. FR. DIRAN PAPAZIAN on the 40th Day of His eternal life requested by the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church.
– VARTAN MAZMANIAN on the 40th Day of His eternal life requested by the Mazmanian Family.

Hokehankist today will be for:

– CHARLES SISIAN (6th Anniversary of His eternal sleep) requested by Alice and Denise Sisian.

ALTAR FLOWERS AND CANDLES: are donated today by the Mazmanian Family in loving memory of VARTAN MAZMANIAN on the 40th Day of His eternal life.

ALTAR FLOWERS are donated today by Alice and Denise Sisian in loving memory of CHARLES SISIAN (6th Anniversary of His eternal sleep).

“I urge you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me.” (Romans 15:30) Prayers are requested for Rev. Fr. Shnork Souin, Annabelle Alexanian, Alice Charles, Armenoui Aznavuryan and Pearl Jamgochian for a return to better health and to feel the presence of God in their lives. Pray for our country and her leaders so that peace and kindness will prevail; for our children in their schools – that they may continue their education in a safe environment. As we approach a new year, pray that the “goodwill toward men” that is shown during the Christmas season will carry over into 2019 and beyond.

POMEGRANATE BLESSING SERVICE – In the Armenian tradition, the pomegranate as a national symbol reflects the meaning of life, prosperity and abundance. In the Christian symbolism the pomegranate represents the blood shed by Jesus Christ, symbolizing also the Glorious Resurrection of our Lord and the diversity of God’s grace. In the interpretations of our church fathers, the pomegranate is presented that the church members are as diverse as the granules of the pomegranate but the pomegranate is covered by a solid peel, all being united in one Church. This blessing service was directed by His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, and should be conducted within 30 minutes of the new year. However, for the sake of convenience, we will be conducting this thanksgiving service following Badarak today.

January is designated FAMILY WORSHIP MONTH!
Under Fr. Hakob’s leadership, our Church School and our Adult Christian Education ministry have partnered to plan a month of educational opportunities for children and adults designed to enrich understanding of the faith. The sacred space of our sanctuary will become a classroom, and EVERYONE is invited! Each Sunday will provide a different experience – we’ll hear a translation of selected sharagans, receive a guided “tour” of the sanctuary, and see the Badarak interrupted with commentary that promises to deepen our knowledge of the Liturgy. You won’t want to miss this! You can pick up a flyer in the narthex or the lobby.

FELLOWSHIP HOUR: is sponsored today by the Balasanyan Family. All are welcome.

COFFEE HOUR: This year we are looking for individuals or families, to run a Coffee Hour each Sunday. (Those who have been running it, are overloaded with doing more than one job on Sundays.) There are sign-up sheets for the next 4 month of Sundays. Anyone wishing to sponsor a special Coffee Hour (Birthday, Anniversary, 40 Days or more, etc.) other than the normal Coffee Hour must contact Merle Santerian 215-205-1507, to make arrangements 2 weeks ahead of time. Under the new scheduling, if a Sunday has no one signed up on the Board, to run the Coffee Hour, there will be no Coffee Hour that Sunday. So, please volunteer and let’s fill all the Sundays in on the Schedule. It is not that involved, and Merle will explain what you have to do to run one. Any questions just see her on any Sunday or call her at the above phone number. Thanks, for your cooperation! We know how much everyone enjoys the Fellowship Hour and we would like to keep it going.

We Need Your Help! Imagine children and teens sitting in a classroom wearing coats and scarves because they have NO HEAT. That’s the reality for the 130 children and teens who attend the Sunday school of Soorp Asdvadzadzin in Vardenis, Armenia. The school, which serves an impoverished region, may need to close its doors in the coming months. As it is, their devoted pastor has done his utmost out of his own funds to see that they get to the church center and have a pleasing room to gather. For $6800, a permanent heating system can be installed. The Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR) has asked Sunday schools across the Diocese for help. During this holy Advent and Christmas season, when so much is spend on so many who have everything, please think of those who are struggling and give generously! Checks, payable to Holy Trinity Church School, can be given to Merle Santerian or Nancy Basmajian. (Please write “Vardenis” on the memo line. We thank you for your kindness and your open heart!)

ROAD CLOSURE: Please be advised that beginning on Monday, January 7, 2019, there will be no access to church by way of the intersection at Tookany Creek Parkway and Ashmead Road as the long-awaited reconstruction of the bridge will commence. This closure will require many from Montgomery and Bucks Counties to find an alternate route to church. We have not been advised if detour signs will be put up to help in this regard, nor do we know how long this project will take. Please allow extra time to reach church because of this disruption.

REMINDER: According to the Diocesan Bylaws, membership dues are to be paid no later than December 31st each year in order to be a member in “good standing” and to be eligible to vote at the annual assembly. Any monies received after that date will be applied to the new year. For any questions regarding your status, please call the church office.

2018 Attendance: Plate/Candle Collection:

November
4 – 123 people $660.00
11- 80 people $392.00
18 -169 people $792.00
25 – 70 people $463.00

December
2 – 68 people $400.00
9 – 75 people $547.00

Weekly Expenses: $6,000.00

CHURCH CALENDAR (please mark your calendars)

December
Sunday Dec 30 Pomegranate Sunday

January
Saturday Jan 5 Theophany Eve and Fellowship
Sunday Jan 6 Feast of Theophany / Blessing of Water/ Christmas Pageant Sunday Jan 13 Simultaneous Translation of Selected Hymns Day of Remembrance
Sunday Jan 20 Tour of Sanctuary with Fr. Hakob
Sunday Jan 27 Instructed Liturgy

Using the Pew Book: In order to enrich understanding of the Divine Liturgy, we encourage our faithful to follow along in the large two-part Pew Book. Part One includes the classical Armenian used in the Liturgy; the facing page is the translation in modern Western Armenian. Part Two contains the transliteration of the classical Armenian; the right-hand page has the English translation. This Pew Book includes the prayers of the celebrant usually offered inaudibly. The prayers offered aloud are indicated in boldface type.

PARKING REMINDER –
> Non-Disabled Persons parking spaces are designated with white lines.
> Disabled Persons Parking spaces are designated with blue lines and are reserved for vehicles with a State-authorized disability placard or license plate.
> No parking is allowed in the driveway nearest to the kitchen door.
THANK YOU for your cooperation!

THE NICENE CREED/ HAVADAMK – This is the Profession of our Faith which is recited every Sunday moments after the Gospel is read from the altar. Sometimes it is sung, but more often it is recited by the Deacons and/or the Choir. We invite you to affirm your own “Profession of Faith” by reciting along with us. God longs for all of us to express our faith and devotion to Him.

THE KISS OF PEACE: After the gifts of the Eucharist are brought to the Altar Table, the deacon proclaims, “Greet one another with a holy kiss.” The person giving the greetings says, Kristos ee mech mer Haydnetsav – Christ is revealed amongst us. The recipient would respond, Orhnial eh Haydnootiunun Kristosee – Blessed is the revelation of Christ.

Anyone who wishes to request any Requiem Services MUST inform the office by 1:30pm Wednesday the week before. If you also want to sponsor the Fellowship Hour you MUST call Merle Santerian at 215-947-3777.

Would you like to:

– receive this Bulletin on Friday via email?
– request a Hokehankist, house blessing or hall rental information?
– find in-depth information on our faith, our parish and our activities?
– sign up for an event online?
– If the answer to any of these questions is YES, please visit our parish website at www.holytrinity-pa.org

WE ASK THAT EVERYONE KINDLY TURN OFF ALL CELL PHONES and all other such electronic devices prior to entering the sanctuary out of respect for the sanctity of our services.