THE SUNDAY MESSENGER
May 13, 2018

Second Palm Sunday 

Mother’s Day
MY MOTHER

My mother—gate to our hopes,
She is the chapel of our homes,
She is our cradle, my mother,
The fort of our home, my mother,
My mother is both mother and father,
She is both slave and master,
She is the homeless of our home,
She is the nest of eagles, my mother,
She is the housemaid of our home,
And the sovereign of our house,
Although helpless, my mother,
And the parched, thirsty sister,
Sleepless guardian, my mother
And our sweet sleep and slumber.
She is the lit candle, ever bright,
My mother is the sun, font of light.
by Hovhannes Shiraz

Shiraz was born Hovhaness Onnig Garabedian, on April 27, 1915, three days after the massacre of the Armenian intelligentsia during the Armenian Genocide. He spent his childhood during these tragic times in deplorable conditions in his native Alexandropol, (now Gyumri).

In 1935, he garnered attention with his first poetic work, Beginning of Spring, which sold out. Novelist Adrbed named the talented poet “Shiraz”, because “this youth’s poems have the fragrance of roses, fresh and covered with dew, like the roses of Shiraz.” (Shiraz was one of Iran’s major cities, famous for its roses and poets). After studying Literature at Yerevan’s State University, and later at Moscow’s Maxim Gorky Literature institute, Shiraz published the first of a three volume anthology Knar Hayastani (Lyre of Armenia) in 1958. It was followed by the second and third volumes, published in 1965 and 1974. These collections include the best of Shiraz’s poetry. Although hailed as one of the best poets of the 20th century, Shiraz is also known for his quartets, parables and translations.

Shiraz was married to famous poetess and academician Silva Gabudikyan. Their son, Ara Shiraz, was a sculptor. Shiraz had seven children with his second wife, Shushanik.

The poet died on March 14, 1984, and was buried at the Gomidas Pantheon, in Yerevan, Armenia, alongside other distinguished Armenians. A school in Yerevan, and a street in Julfa of Isfahan are named after him. Shiraz’s House-Museum is in Gyumri.

The poem My Mother (Մայրս), by prominent Armenian poet Hovhannes Shiraz, is a most fitting tribute to honor all mothers.

Gilda Buchakjian (Kupelian)
Director, Armenian Studies Department

TODAY’S BIBLE READINGS:

1John 5: 13-21 (page 217) New Testament
John 12: 12-23 (pages 97 – 98) New Testament – (Please follow the Armenian Reading in your Bible)

REQUIEM SERVICES: Hokehankist today will be for:

– VERY REV. FR. HAIGAZOUN MELKONIAN (18th Anniversary of His eternal life) requested by our Holy Trinity Family.
– KRIKOR MAHSEREJIAN requested by Anahis Mahserejian .

“Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of your servant…” (Daniel 9:17a). Please pray for Butch Kumkumian, Annabelle Alexanian, Alice Charles, Pearl Jamgochian, & Albert Santerian for a return to better health and to feel the presence of God in their lives. Pray also for our country and her leaders during these trying times; and let us ask the Lord to keep our children in their schools free from further violence and hatred.

FELLOWSHIP HOUR: You are invited, long time parishioners, new members, and first time visitors, please join us after Badarak in our lovely hall for Christian fellowship, enjoy a cup of coffee or tea, and greet fellow parishioners and Der Hayr. The coffee hour begins when Der Hayr blesses the table. There are containers available to deposit your trash before leaving the hall. We appreciate your patience, cooperation, and support. Thank you.

Merle Santerian is seeking parishioners to help her by taking over, preparing and serving at the Sunday Fellowship Hour once a month. A husband and wife team would be nice, or any two parishioners who wish to do it together. Merle would prepare a schedule for those who are interested, where once a month they would run a regular Sunday Fellowship Coffee Hour. Please contact Merle at Coffee Hour, or by cell phone, 215-205-1507; home phone, 215-947-3777, to let her know you are interested and willing to take on this job. She will be happy to fill you in on what the job involves.

MEMORIAL DAY GRAVE BLESSING – If anyone wishes to offer prayers and have a graveside blessing for their loved ones on Monday, May 29, 2017 (Memorial Day), Der Hayr will be available by appointment. Please contact him for additional details at 917-213-8658 (cell) or in person at church.

FAR UPDATE: Gor Bidandunyan and his brother Sergey live in the industrial town of Kajaran with their mother, Rita and grandmother, Svetlana. In 2014, both boys were accepted into FAR’s Children of Armenia Sponsorship Program (CASP), which supports orphans and children of single-parents through annual financial stipends. The boys never actually met their father, who died in 2000 after complications from a sniper bullet wound. Rita works in a local kindergarten and barely makes ends meet. CASP has helped to ease the family’s hardships. It has helped Rita to pay for surgery on her thyroid, as well as for surgeries on Sergey’s tonsils, ultimately improving the entire family’s quality of life. To read more, go to: http://farusa.org/2018/05/03/casp-casp-stipend-helps-family-afford-surgeries/ To support programs like CASP, go to: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/armenianrelief/

Support Me in the Walk to Stop Suicide : Please support me as I walk from dusk till dawn in the Out of the Darkness Overnight Walk on June 16, 2018. Help end the silence surrounding suicide and depression.ToDonateVisit:TheOvernight.org/participant/Maggie Miller or I have donation forms in my office that can be mailed in or you can send me a check or cash and I will make the donation for you in your name. Please consider helping me reach my donation goal for this very important event. Thank you! Maggie

Scholarships Available: Any youth of Holy Trinity Armenian Church who wishes to apply for a scholarship to any of the youth programs of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern) may contact the church office at 215-663-1600 to inquire and receive an Application and Criteria for Scholarship Award information. Among the programs available are St. Vartan Camp and the St. Nersess Summer Conference Programs. Applications and Criteria information are available from the church office and must be presented at least one month prior to the program.

St. Vartan Camp 2018

Staff Training: Wednesday, June 20 – Saturday, June 23
Session A: Sunday, June 24 – Saturday, July 7
Session B: Sunday, July 8 – Saturday, July 21
Session C: Sunday, July 22 – Saturday, August 4
http://diocesansummercamps.org/stvartancamp

2018 ST. NERSESS SUMMER CONFERENCES

Deacons’ Training Program – Thursday, June 28 – Saturday, July 7
High School Summer Conference – Friday, July 20 – Sunday, July 29
Post High School Conference – Friday, August 3 – Sunday, August 12
For more information, contact: 914-273-0200 or info@stnersess.edu

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.

CHURCH CALENDAR (please mark your calendars)

May
May 20 Pentecost/ Church School Closing Program

June
June 13 7:00 pm Home Bible Study in Bucks County
June 20 7:00 pm Home Bible Study in Newtown Square
June 27 7:00 pm Home Bible Study in South Jersey

July
July 8 Feast of the Transfiguration
July 10 10:00 am Summer Study: Scripture and Shnorhali
July 17 10:00 am Summer Study: Scripture and Shnorhali
July 24 10:00 am Summer Study: Scripture and Shnorhali
July 31 10:00 am Summer Study: Scripture and Shnorhali

A GENTLE REMINDER – We wish to remind our parishioners that, by order of the Fire Department, no parking is allowed in the Fire Lane, which is the area next to the lawn and the building in the parking lot. In addition, we have noticed cars who have no handicapped placard or identifying license plate parked in the handicapped spaces, especially behind the building, We ask for your courtesy in respecting the rules and leaving the handicapped spaces for those who truly need them. In addition, No Parking in Side Driveway by Kitchen Door.

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.