THE SUNDAY MESSENGER
June 16, 2024

Fourth Sunday After Pentecost 

Scripture and Feast Day Notes

From Today’s Readings

Isaiah 1:21-31 The prophet continues God’s message to a once-faithful Jerusalem, now depicted as a tarnished prostitute. Justice is not served, rulers seek bribes, and widows are neglected. But God will purge away all these impurities and restore the city to righteousness.  Discuss/reflect: Does your parish spend time working on behalf of the oppressed and the poor in your community? What situations ought it to address?

Romans 7:25-8:11 These verses, in which the word “Spirit” appears so often, answer the question: what does it mean to belong to Christ and live in the Spirit and how does that change my life? Paul declares gratefully that because God offered up his own Son as a sin offering, we have been set free from sin and death, something the old Law could not have accomplished. Those not living according to the Spirit, controlled by a sinful nature, are strangers to God and would not even be able to understand his ways. Discuss/reflect: “The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.” (8:6) In these difficult times, what governs your mind: life and peace or anxiety and fear? If the latter, what might you do to draw closer to the One who can change this?

Matthew 12: 38-45 Despite all the miracles that Jesus has already worked, the scribes and Pharisees ask for more signs. The exasperated Jesus cites Jonah, first for how the prophet’s message of repentance was quickly heeded by the Ninevites (non-Jews) and also for Jonah’s ‘burial’ in the belly of the fish for 3 days and 3 nights, a foreshadowing of Jesus’ burial and resurrection. Jesus laments how evil can easily find a home in the hearts of those who do not understand who He is. Discuss/reflect: Does God dwell in your heart? Do you feel his presence in all you do, think, say? Does that change what happens to you or does it change who you are?

Coffee Hour – as we approach the summer months, coffee hour will be abbreviated. Coffee and tea only will be provided. Please feel free to bring other treats to share during coffee hour.

Send Kids Of War Heroes To Summer Camp:  This summer, you can be a hero for children grieving displacement or the loss of a father in war. Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR)’s Ayo! Program as committed to sending 60 kids in difficult circumstances to summer camp in beautiful, forested Hankavan. It costs only $250 to sponsor one child’s unforgettable two-week experience. (Any donation helps. Camp costs $16 per child per day). If we raise more money, we can send even more kids to camp! Donate here to support Ayo!’s #HappyCamper campaign: https://secure.qgiv.com/event/ayoisyou/ 6/16

Attention Graduates! – Looking for graduates to be included in an upcoming issue of the LOOYS (all levels). We invite you to submit your own details for inclusion. Write-up should include: full name, parents’ names, name of institution, grade level or degree achieved, activity involvement (church or school), and future plans (further education/work/other). Please include a picture (in high resolution color), if possible. Everything should be sent to choirboss@hotmail.com by July 30, 2024.

FAR’s 2023 Impact – Your contributions to FAR change both individual lives and whole communities. Since it was founded in response to the 1988 earthquake, FAR has assisted Armenians through both crisis response and sustainable development programs. Following the capture of Artsakh on September 19, 2023, FAR provided urgent humanitarian aid to over 5,000 displaced people with the support of donors from all over the Eastern Diocese. You also helped provide scholarships, fund small business grants, promote inclusion of people with disabilities, care for our elders, facilitate foster parenting, train village doctors and so much more. Significantly, the Breaking the Cycle of Poverty Program (BCPP) celebrated 10 years in 2023, fostering self-sufficiency in Armenia’s Tavush region and expanding to the Ijevan and Noyemberyan regions. FAR’s fundraising platform Ayo! saw its most successful year, raising over $250,000 to fund big-impact, small-scale development projects and engaging more than 500 new donors. With your support, FAR will continue to empower communities in the years to come. Read more and join the movement here: https://www.farusa.info/2023-home

AYO – Spring is here and Ayo! has just launched its new project “Put Down Roots.” In partnership with the Yerevan Botanical Gardens, the project aims to create an educational-therapeutic horticulture space to provide opportunities for forcibly displaced children (and others) to get their hands dirty, de-stress and learn about the environment! Once built, this special section of the botanical gardens will be available for children and youth for years to come. You can directly support the initiative here: https://secure.qgiv.com/event/ayoisyou/.

Armenian Sisters Academy – The best way to learn about ASA is to experience it for yourself! Visit our campus to see how our deep appreciation for the Armenian language and culture empowers our students, promotes self-respect, and prepares future role models. All visitors must have a scheduled appointment and may not freely enter the building without prior notice. To schedule your private tour contact Legna Santerian at Lsanterian@asaphila.org or (610) 687-4100.

Stay Connected with our New Church Portal – Over the past several months Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church has changed to a new Church Management System called One Church.  The new software puts you in control of your information (email, phone number, giving information, etc.), allows us to communicate with you more effectively, facilitates online, text, and app donations, and provides greater connectivity throughout our community.  You should have received an email.  If you have not gotten one (please make sure to check your spam folder), then reach out to the church office.

Humanitarian Support for Artsakh Ongoing From The Knights And Daughters Of Vartan – As the Azeri government still cracks down on the Armenian people in the nation of Artsakh, the people are not giving up! Please consider making a donation to the Knights and Daughters of Vartan Call to Action Committee! Donations will go towards humanitarian aid. For further information please visit the Knights and Daughters of Vartan website at https://kofv.org/a-call-to-action-from-kdv-for-artsakh/

Mail your donations to Knights of Vartan, Mr. Ronald Nazeley, Treasurer, 558 Kentwood Bluffs Drive, Los Angeles 90045.

Checks should be made to Holy Trinity Armenian Church, Memo: Artsakh, and brought or mailed to church. Online donations can be made by going to www.holytrinity-pa.org, go to donations, scroll down to Open Donation and enter Artsakh.

Seeking Part-time Organists – the Choir of Holy Trinity continues to seek multiple talented musicians who would be seriously interested in playing the organ for the Sunday morning Divine Liturgy (Badarak) on a rotating schedule. Organ lessons will be provided to the interested candidates, along with one-on-one direction from a senior choir person.  For further information, contact Karinne Andonian at karinne.hov@gmail.com.

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.

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.

~~~~~~~~~~TODAY’S EVENTS~~~~~~~~~~

Father’s Day
Jun 19        Juneteenth – Church Office Closed
Jul 04         Independence Day
Jul 07         Feast of the Transfiguration of our Lord
Aug 18        Feast of the Assumption of the Holy Mother-Of-God (Grapes Blessing)
Sep 02         Labor Day – Church Office Closed
Sep 15         Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross
Sep 21         Armenian Independence Day
Sep 29         Feast of the Holy Cross of Varak