THE SUNDAY MESSENGER
February 23, 2020

Great Barekendan
Poon Paregentan

Reading: Matthew 6:19-21
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Meditation: [God] created us to live in a perfect world of happiness and contentment. God placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, where every good thing was readily available and where worries and fears did not exist. But they disobeyed God and ended up in an imperfect world, a world we know too well, full of trial and suffering.

What is happiness for us today? This is a difficult question that many people answer in different ways. Some see happiness in wielding power, others in accumulating wealth, and yet others in having a large circle of friends with whom to share ideas and feelings and have good times. The romantic notion of happiness is to find the perfect mate. For some, happiness is the satisfaction that comes from doing something well, whether it’s at work, or in sports or other activities.

But marriages that seem perfect can disintegrate. Friends come and go. Great successes are sometimes followed by failures.

And for some people, the world seems full of grief and pain. They may feel that they have never achieved success. They may have had several failed marriages. Or be deeply in debt, with no way out. They may be working in a dead-end job.

Where does true happiness lie? The answer today is no different from the answer in the time of the Garden of Eden. Jesus reminded us during his earthly ministry. True happiness lies in living to accumulate treasure in heaven. What does this mean? It means that our lives should be focused not on our friends, or success, or happiness on earth. Our lives should be focused on God and doing what he wants. God will help us through life, through good times and bad, with love and friendship, and strength and answers, as no one else can. If our actions make God happy, we will be happy, too. And someday we will return to that perfect world that he wanted for us in the beginning.

Prayer: God, you created us to be happy and to serve you. Help us to find again the happiness that you wanted for us. Help us to know how to put you first in our lives, To do good things that please you, To turn to you when we need a friend. Help us to realize that what we seek is not here around us. Happiness is having our hearts filled with you.

For Reflection: What do I do that pleases God?
If you enjoyed this excerpt from Beside Still Waters, by Deacon Albert A. Keshgegian, join us for the 2020 Lenten Challenge, in which we use this book to guide us through Great Lent. This is an at-home book study with opportunity for group discussion two mornings in March. See Flyer in Narthex and pick up a book at the bookstore today. It’s not too late to join us!

TODAY’S BIBLE READINGS:

Romans 13: 11-14:25 (page 148-150) New Testament
Matthew 6: 1-21 (page 5) New Testament – (Please follow the Armenian Reading in your Bible)
Isaiah 58: 1-14 (pages 733 – 734) Old Testament

“LORD, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night….” (Nehemiah 1:5-6). Prayers are requested for Antranig Garibian, Edward Tatoian, Rose Minassian, Ethel Terzian, Taron Poghosyan, Alice Charles and Armen Mirakian.

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

– BERJ YERETZIAN on the 40th Day of His eternal life requested by the Yeretzian and Lulegian Famlies.

NEW COMMUNION PROCEDURE – Before gathering for confession, please allow time for the Choir Members to come down and join us before we begin.

ALTAR FLOWERS are donated today by the Yeretzian and Lulegian Famlies in loving memory of BERJ YERETZIAN on the 40th Day of His eternal life.

ALTAR FLOWERS are also donated today by the Barbara Papazian in loving memory of her son GEORGE on the 2nd Anniversary of His eternal life.

FELLOWSHIP HOUR: There will not be a Fellowship hour today due to Church School’s Poon Paregentan Celebration.

Did you know that when we participate in Soorp Badarak (Divine Liturgy), we are also being invited to a meal (communion) offered by our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. As such, we should dress in a manner worthy of that invitation. We ask our faithful to dress appropriately for worship. Please, no very short dresses, shorts or bare shoulders. Thank you.

LENT 2020: Our Adult Christian Education (ACE) team has planned an impressive and diverse program for us this Lenten season. It includes four Friday evening dinner programs featuring two guest speakers from our Diocese, an instructive and hilarious game of “Parish Outburst” and the premier of the Holy Trinity Acting Troupe’s performance of “The Foolish Man who went to See God.” In addition, Dn. Albert Keshgegian will guide us through a Saturday workshop on the gospel music of Elvis Presley, and for those looking for something a bit deeper, there’s the Lenten Challenge. For more information on all these opportunities, flyers are available in the narthex and the church lobby.

FIRST LENTEN DINNER AND PROGRAM: Friday, February 28
Join us for the first program in our 2020 Lenten Series. Our guest speaker will be Dr. Christopher Sheklian who currently serves the Diocese as the Director of the Zohrab Information Center. A native of California and an ordained deacon, he attended the University of California at Berkeley and the University of Chicago where he received his PhD. He also studied at St. Nersess Armenian Seminary and spent two years in Istanbul doing field work on the local Armenian community. Prior to accepting the position at the Zohrab Center, Dr. Sheklian, was a Postdoctoral Fellow in Armenian Studies at the University of Michigan. He continues to pursue his research related to secularism, religious minority rights and the role of emotion and the senses in religious life.

SAVE THE DATE!! The Women’s Guild of St Sahag & St Mesrob Armenian Church, Wynnewood, is sponsoring the annual Saintly Woman’s Day Program on Saturday, March 28 at 10:30AM. It promises to be a rewarding experience open to not just women but men and children as well. Look for the flyer with the details & plan to join us.

EMERGENCY CLOSINGS: In an effort to inform parishioners and guests when a Holy Trinity church service or program needs to be canceled or delayed due to inclement weather or other reasons, we request that you check our website (www.holytrinity-pa.org) or facebook page (www.facebook.com/holytrinitypa) for the most accurate information.

CHURCH CALENDAR (please mark your calendars)

February
Sunday February 23rd: Church School Poon Paregentan Celebration! RSVP by 2/16/20

March
Sunday March 1st: Church School Vartanantz Play during Fellowship Hour

2020 Attendance: Plate/Candle Collection:

January
5 – 123 people $1,850.00
12 – 98 people $518.00
19 – 139 people $857.00
26 – 115 people $538.00
These weekly donations from our Parishioners are one part of how we work towards meeting our average weekly expenses of $6,000.00

Armenian Sisters Academy
Open House
March 12, 2020 9:30 -11:00 a.m. Join us for a look into the lives of ASA students. The open house will include a tour with our student ambassadors, followed by open discussion with faculty, staff, and parents. RSVP to lsanterian@asaphila.org or 610-687-4100

Mark your calendars and plan to join us on Saturday, April 25 for what promises to be an impactful program that marks the 105th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. The event, which will take place again in Philadelphia. Look for flyers to come.

Forced into Genocide: A Book Presentation: Sponsored by the Armenian Student Organization – Villanova University Wednesday March 25 7:00-9:00 PM Villanova University Contact information: Kallie Stahl at (610) 519-4458 or kallie.stahl@villanova.edu. Book sale/signing during reception following presentation ($25.00 – cash only) All proceeds donated to the Armenian Student Organization.

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 often sung after the Gospel is read from the altar. Occasionally, it will be 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 Jeanette Der Hagopian at 215-672-4188.

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.