THE SUNDAY MESSENGER
April 14, 2019

Palm Sunday

DIVINE LITURGY CELEBRANT – We welcome as Celebrant of the Divine Liturgy, a good friend to our parish, His Eminence Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, Ecumenical Director and Diocesan Legate. Asdvadz Oknagan, Srpazan Hayr, yev Paree Yegak.

Palm Sunday

When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, ‘Who is this?’ (Mt 21:10)

“Who is this,” the amazed crowds asked as Jesus made his final trip to Jerusalem. From the very first ‘Palm Sunday,’ up until today, there are no simple answers to this simple question. This is a king with a great following, who claims his kingdom is not of this Earth. This man Jesus speaks with the authority of God but was from the backwater town of Nazareth. He inspires great devotion from his supporters who spread their jackets and palms before Him, but in a week’s time will be executed by those who fear him.

“Who is this,” the crowds asked. One of Narek’s favorite Armenian books might shed light on this question. Its title is an Armenian proverb; “Ըսէ՛ ով է ընկերդ, ըսեմ ով ես դու | Tell Me Who Your Friends Are, I’ll Tell You Who You Are.” In other words, you can tell a lot about people by the company they keep, so perhaps we can learn who Jesus is by looking to his friends.

Who are our Lord’s closest friends? They are mostly ignorant fishermen, who throughout the Gospels, don’t understand their leader, and in a few short days—to the last man—will abandon him. Either Jesus is the worst leader that ever lived, or He chooses these humble and disobedient ones to show that no one is great until God makes them great. If you have been humbled this Lenten season, by your ignorance, by your weakness, by sickness or pain, may God’s glory show greater in you for your humility. For Jesus is a friend of the humble.

Who else are Jesus’s friends? The sinners; the unfaithful and the addicted as well as the broken and the prodigals. None of the righteous want much to do with Jesus. Indeed they openly criticized him, saying why are you keeping company with sinners? Jesus response, as often, turns conventional wisdom upside down; “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners (Mk 2:17).” If you have fallen short before God and others this Lenten season, may Jesus the physician make you whole, spiritually, mentally and physically. For Jesus is a friend of the sinner.

Only for Jesus is the ironic saying about friendship literally true, “with friends like this who needs enemies?” Because the truth is that with the race of men, Jesus’ friends and enemies are often ones and the same. The hearts of men are fickle, and we are reminded especially so this week. For on Palm Sunday, the same crowds shouting “Blessing in the highest,” would by week’s end be shouting, “Crucify him.” And all of us know, from even the slightest bit of Lenten self-reflection, that we have a foot in each crowd. For just as soon as we worship, we profane, as soon as we love, we betray; and yet through all this, Jesus knows our struggle and remains our friend.

by FR. HOVNAN DEMERJIAN

TODAY’S BIBLE READINGS:

Philippians 4: 4-7 (page 180) New Testament
Matthew 20: 29-21:17 (pages 20- 21) New Testament – (Please follow the Armenian Reading in your Bible)
Song 1: 1-2:3 (page 608)
Zechariah 9:9-15 (page 926) Old Testament

Procedure for Confession and Communion – Today please remain in your seats for confession and participate by praying the general form of confession which can be found on pages 48-49 in the Pew Book. (Pages 48-49 in the front of the book will be in Armenian; and Pages 48-49 in the back of the book will have the English and transliteration.) In an effort to maintain the solemnity of the sacrament, we ask you to not enter the center aisle until your row is called by a member of the Parish Council. We believe this will enable all who are partaking of Communion quiet time for continued reflection.

“Now, my God, may your eyes be open and your ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place” (2 Chron 6:40). Please pray for Rev. Fr. Shnork Souin, Alice Charles, Pearl Jamgochian and Tyrome Thompson for a return to improved health and to feel the presence of God in their lives. Pray for those who were killed and injured in the massacre that took place in two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, and for their grieving families as well. Please continue to pray for our country and her leaders so that peace and kindness can prevail.

Plate Collection will be taken today by our Church Choir.

PALM SUNDAY BANQUET: TODAY is ACYOA DAY. Immediately following Church Services, ACYOA is sponsoring a Banquet. No tickets will be sold at the door.

PALM CROSSES – A sincere thank-you to Alice Torossian who hand made the Palm Crosses that are being distributed today.

SAVE THE DATE: Ladies, Save the date for our annual spring lunch, Saturday, May 11 at 11:30AM. We are going to the Denim American Bistro located in Cherry Hill, NJ. Reservations are limited. Check the flyer in the hall & contact Liz Barone.

PALM SUNDAY PALMS and PALM SUNDAY FLOWERS are donated by:
Florence Boyajian in memory of Janice Boyajian Pinkerton
Hagop and Sonia Ergenian in memory of Mardiros & Yester Ergenian
Kim and Gena Willard in memory of Larry Der Hagopian
Kim and Gena Willard in memory of Nicole Der Hagopian
Albert N. Dandegian Jr. in memory of Albert and Florence Dandegian
Jan Mirijanian in memory of John Mirijanian
Lynn and Michael Hajatian in memory of Arshalooys Gureghian
Virginia Knott in memory of Charles Sisian

PARISH DIRECTORY: The 2019 update of the Parish Directory is available in the Narthex and the Parish Office. Please pick up a copy. If you find that your information is not what you expected, please submit corrections to brianj.hoyle@outlook.com or call at 301-351-7669 and copy the Parish Office.

YOUGHAKIN DONATION: Traditionally during Easter, gifts of oil, Youghakin donations are made to the Church. The notion is that by offering oil you keep the lamps of the church burning, these would always be resources in order to keep the doors of the church open. Your gift is gratefully appreciated.

EASTER SERVICES 2019

April 18 – Holy Thursday:
– Washing of the Feet 7:00 PM
– Betrayal and Passion of Our Lord 8:00 PM

April 19 – Holy Friday
– The Entombment of Our Lord Jesus Christ 7:00 PM

April 20 – Holy Saturday/Easter Eve
– Divine Liturgy 7:00 PM
– Home Blessing/Fellowship 8:00 PM

April 21 – Easter Sunday
– Morning Services 10:00 AM
– Divine Liturgy 10:30 AM

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.

2019 Attendance: Plate/Candle Collection:

February
3 – 82 people $290.00
10 – 70 people $340.00
17 – 94 people $427.00
24 – 122 people $669.00
March
3 – 91 people $510.00
10 – 94 people $529.00
17 – 80 people $327.00
24 – 83 people $388.00
31 – 74 people $447.00

Weekly Expenses: $6,000.00

CHURCH CALENDAR (please mark your calendars)

April
Sunday April 14th: Palm Sunday: ACYOA Day/ Palm Sunday Banquet
Thursday April 18th: Holy Thursday: Washing of the Feet Service and Vigil
Friday April 19th: Holy Friday Burial Service
Saturday April 20th: Easter Eve Liturgy / Community Fellowship Meal
Sunday April 21st: Easter Sunday
May
Saturday May 11th: Mother’s Day Luncheon
Sunday May 19th: Church School Closing
June
Sunday June 2nd: Foods of Armenia
Sunday June 9th: Armenian School Hantess

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.

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:
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– 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.