THE SUNDAY MESSENGER
June 2, 2019

Second Palm Sunday

For the Whole World

The eyewitness and news of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead caused many to follow and believe in him, and it is this crowd who welcomes Jesus as he enters Jerusalem on an unused donkey, a foreshadowing of him being buried in an unused tomb. The raising of Lazarus from the dead was the last of the signs Jesus performed in his public ministry. It was also perhaps the most dramatic, telling, and pertinent to his ministry. This one miracle summed up who Jesus was and what He had come to do: to save, unite, and draw the world to himself (See John 3:16, 11:52, 12:32). John, who frames Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem within the story of Lazarus, sets his readers up to witness Jesus’ mission in the world: to set us free from the vilest of enemies, death, to give us resurrection life, to raise and renew the created order. As Jesus said to Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live.” Her response was one of belief and confessing that he has come to do this work in the world (see John 11:25-27).

Like the crowd who was propelled to action at the news of the resurrection life, we too gather as followers of Jesus to dine at his sacred table because his Body and Blood, as the priest prays, “is life, hope, resurrection, purification, and remission of sins.” But our gathering around the sacred meal is not just for our own benefit. It is for the peace of the whole world; not the “world peace” about which we often idealistically dream, but peace that is embodied in the person of Jesus Christ and finds its source in forgiveness and unites us with God no matter the circumstances. The choir sings,

We thank you, Lord, for you have fed us at your immortal table, serving your Body and Blood for the salvation of the world and as life for ourselves. (Գոհանամք զքէն Տէր, որ կերակրեցեր զմեզ յանմահական սեղանոյ քո. բաշխելով զմարմին եւ զարիւն ի փրկութիւն աշխարհի եւ կեանք անձանց մերոց։)

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)

“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 Steve Hovnanian, Alice Charles, Pearl Jamgochian and Ani Navasartian for a return to improved health and to feel the presence of God in their lives. Remember to pray for His Grace, Bishop Daniel Findikyan, as he continues his ministry as Primate of the Eastern Diocese. Pray for peace and harmony among all peoples.

TODAY: SPECIAL COFFEE HOUR: SAMPLING THE FOODS OF OUR YOUTH PREPARED BY HOLY TRINITY’S SUPER COOKS TO REMEMBER AND HONOR THOSE WHO CAME BEFORE US.

COFFEE HOUR: On JUNE 9, we will start our POT LUCK Coffee Hour where everyone brings something to the table as mentioned in last Sunday’s Messenger. We still need people to signup on the board in the Lobby to host each Sunday which will run until the date to be announced, when regular Coffee Hour begins in September. Those who sign up, please contact Merle (215-947-3777) and she will explain what hosting a given Sunday involves. Remember, if no one signs up for a Sunday, there will be no Coffee Hour.

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.

Direct Outreach To Armenia – The time is drawing near when Der Hakob will leading a pilgrimage to Armenia. When he travels there, one of his priorities is to visit families who have suffered hardship and/or are living in difficult circumstances. He spends time with them in prayer and provides them with monetary assistance. If you would like to contribute to this worthy outreach for our brethren in Armenia, please mail or bring a check to church made out to Holy Trinity Armenian Church; Memo: Armenia. You will be blessed many times over for “…whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine” (Matt 25:40). Deadline is June 15.

NEW COMMUNION PROCEDURE – Beginning today, we will take a few minutes before we gather for confession to allow time for the Choir Members to come down and join us before we begin.

FAR UPDATE: Pediatrician Credits FAR for Improving Her Medical Skills and Practice – After graduating from medical school, Dr. Sona Antonyan, 43, returned to her home province of Syunik to work at Goris Medical Center. She is now head of its Pediatric Unit. Her relationship with FAR started in 2007, when she was first selected to participate in FAR’s Continuing Medical Education Program (CME). Since also did the program in 2009, 2012 and 2015, each time focusing on pediatrics. “The courses were very effective; the theory and practice of the curriculum was very comprehensive. We discussed our doubts with our supervisors on the spot. The latest medical literature was also available to us,” said Dr. Antonyan, who also compared the CME training with her days in medical school. “Now, it’s different. We need do more research, stay current and up to date with the latest information and skills, and move ahead. This is what matters for any doctor.” To learn more, go to: https://farusa.org/2019/05/15/cme-pediatrician-credits-cme-with-improving-her-medical-skills-and-practice/To support programs like CME, go to: https://farusa.org/donate/

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.

2019 Attendance: Plate/Candle Collection:

April
7 – 108 people $583.00
14 – 180 people $858.00
21 – 236 people $1,968.00
28 – 75 people $460.00
May
5 – 80 people $380.00
12 – 66 people $260.00
Weekly Expenses: $6,000.00

CHURCH CALENDAR (please mark your calendars)

June
Sunday June 2nd: Armenian Foods of our Youth & Armenian School Hantess
June 24th – Pilgrimage to Armenia begins
July
Sunday July 28th – Feast of Transfiguration
August
Sunday August 18th – Feast of the Assumption
September
Saturday September 28th – Dance the Night Away

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:

– 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.