THE SUNDAY MESSENGER
May 8, 2022

Red Sunday

Mother’s Day

 COVID UPDATE:  Masks are recommended, but not required, Please use your best judgement.

Scripture and Feast Day Notes

From Today’s Readings

John 5:19-30 Jesus replies to the Jews who criticize him for healing on the Sabbath and calling God his Father. He affirms that 1) the Father has granted him life-giving power and entrusts him alone to judge the world (vv 21-22) and  2) those who hear his words and believe will have eternal life (vv 24-25, 29). Discuss/reflect: “Whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me,” says the Lord, “crosses over from death to life.” Powerful words that point to eternal life but also to the way we live here and now. In what specific ways do we cross over from death to life when we follow Jesus?

Acts 13:16-43 Just as Peter did at Pentecost (Acts 2) in Jerusalem, here St. Paul teaches the Jews in Antioch the history of God’s intervention in the life of His people right up to Jesus’ resurrection. What God promised has been fulfilled, Paul exclaims, and through Jesus’ Resurrection, our sins are forgiven in a way that would be impossible under the old Law. Discuss/reflect: Paul reviews God’s relationship with the Jews from the beginning all the way to the resurrection of the Son. How might knowing this story deepen your faith? Hearing Paul’s ‘sermon,’ what central truth speaks to you?

1 Peter 5:1-14 Peter exhorts church leaders to serve willingly and generously and to be alert because evil “prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” He urges all  believers to be humble, self-controlled, and firm in their faith, understand there will be suffering in life, and place their anxieties in God’s loving care. Discuss/reflect: What area of your life would you like God to make strong, firm, and steadfast? (v 10)

REQUIEM SERVICES: Hokehankist today will be for:

ALBERT KAPEGHIAN (3^rd Anniversary of His eternal life) and NAOMI KAPEGHIAN (6^th Anniversary of Her eternal life) requested in loving memory by Mr. and Mrs. Tom Harmon & Family and Mr. and Mrs. Robert King & Family.

COFFEE HOUR today is sponsored by Avedis Navasartian, Kaghtzrik Nazarian and daughters Ani, Arpi and Sevana Navasartian. All are welcome.

Starting May 1^st, we will resume passing the plate for collection after communion.

Church School Graduation:  Join our Church School community on May 15 as we celebrate the graduation of Tigran Safarian who has completed all the requirements necessary to receive a diploma from the Diocese of the Armenian Church.  The ceremony will take place in the sanctuary immediately following Badarak; Tigran will renew his commitment to the church and recall the promises made for him at his baptism and chrismation. At the conclusion of the service, Fr. Hakob will anoint the graduate’s forehead and palms.

SAVE THE DATE to join us after Badarak on May 15 for an outstanding Jazz Concert featuring talented artists from Armenia and locally. To assure seating, we encourage advance purchase of tickets ($35 per person) by phone 703-495-2141 or online at SeedsofHopeArmenia.org. Tickets can also be purchased at the door. All proceeds from this event will be for the benefit of Armenia and Artsakh.  Refreshments will be served following the concert. For any questions, contact the church office @ 215-663-1600.

HOLY TRINITY ZOOM BOOK CLUB:  The outgoing Planning Team (Lucy Aghazarian, Nancy Basmajian, and Janet Jordan) invite the faithful to the final book discussion in their 2021-2022 series. It will be the 12^th book in the series. Entitled “The Dutch House” by Anne Patchett, it is a New York Times bestseller that spans five decades and digs deeply into questions of inheritance, love, and forgiveness. It is also a page-turner filled with suspense!  Suzanne Sherenian will facilitate the conversation on Thursday evening, June 2 at 7:00. EVERYONE IS WELCOME! To receive the Zoom link, contact nancybasmajian@verizon.net.

COUNTRY STORE – We invite you to come visit us after church most Sundays.  See Liz or Jeanette. If you wish to place an order for pickup, contact Lorraine Damerjian @ 215-572-8465, and she can help you with that.

FAR UPDATE: Creating a Better Future for her Grandchildren
Teenagers Vardazar and Roza Zakaryan have been living with their grandmother Imastun in Javakhk, Georgia ever since their mother died in 2018 from liver cancer. (Their father died from a head injury in 2012.) The family subsists on the grandmother’s pension and the children’s state benefits. Yet, ever since they started to receive CASP stipends, they have been able to purchase more food and enough firewood to heat their home during the wintertime, thus relieving some of their financial burdens and making their lives a bit more comfortable.

“It’s a huge support for our family, as winters here are very cold, and with my pension, we can hardly make ends meet,” Imastun said. She tries her best to create to better future for her grandchildren despite her hardship.“My dream now is to raise educated grandchildren who can work and improve their lives.”  Vardazar hopes to become an economist while Roza wants to become a nurse. Your support will help – https://www.farusa.org/post/creating-a-better-future-for-her-grandchildren

Seeking Part-time Organists – the Choir of Holy Trinity is looking for 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 @ karinne.hov@gmail.com.