THE SUNDAY MESSENGER
August 19, 2018

Second Sunday of Assumption

“Ah Lord God! It is thou who hast made the heavens and the earth by thy great power and by thy outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for thee.” (Jeremiah 32:17)

The story according to the tradition of the Church briefly goes like this: Joachim and Anna of Nazareth were married and childless for fifty years. Now advanced in age, and in what seemed to be a hopeless, impossible situation, they both prayed and made special vows in order for God to bless them with a child. Eventually, Joachim and Anna were visited by an angel who brought them the wonderful news that Anna would conceive and bear a child. As the result of their prayer and humility, the impossible became possible: Anna’s barrenness was transformed into fertility, and what came forth was the birth of their only child, Mary, a conception nothing short of a miracle.

Each one of us can recall a time, perhaps it’s the present moment, when a plan or desire of ours did not conceive or come to fruition. We often find ourselves in a place that seems barren, desolate, lonely, and impossible, with no hope of joy. Mary herself one day would be questioning an impossible conception announced to her by the angel Gabriel. The angel responded by reminding Mary of a situation similar to that of her parents, Joachim and Anna:

And behold, your kinswoman Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For with God nothing will be impossible. (Luke 1:35)

Akin to the faith and humility of her parents, believing in what God could accomplish, Mary replied to the angel, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.”

It is in this state of powerlessness and during difficult moments that we as Christians derive strength from prayer and humility before the Lord, and precisely the place where God meets us. Thankfully, the Church possesses myriads of those who have demonstrated faith in the face of impossibility, those who have gone before us, such as Sts. Joachim and Anna and their daughter, Mary the Mother of God, as well as those in our present lives today to whom we look as models of faith. Joachim and Anna prayed for something that seemed impossible because they believed in a God who is able to perform the impossible. Do we do the same?

By Dn. Eric Vozzy

TODAY’S BIBLE READINGS:

2Corinthians 6: 16-7:1 (page 166) New Testament
Luke 1: 39-56 (pages 51-52) New Testament – (Please follow the Armenian Reading in your Bible)
Proverbs 11:30-12:4 (page 583) Old Testament
Zechariah 2:10-13 (page 922) Old Testament

REQUIEM SERVICES: Hokehankist today will be for:

– FR. VERTANES KALAYJIAN (2nd Anniversary of His eternal life) requested by our Parish.
–  MICHAEL CHAKMAKLIAN (25th Anniversary of His eternal life).

“Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing” (1Tim 2:8).  Please pray for Doris Alahverde, Anto Vartanian, Butch Kumkumian, Annabelle Alexanian, Alice Charles, Armenoui Aznavuryan, Pearl Jamgochian, & Albert Santerian for a return to better health and to feel the presence of God in their lives. Pray for our country and her leaders; and also for the children who will soon be returning to school that they may continue their education in a peaceful and safe environment.

ALTAR CANDLES, FLOWERS & COFFEE HOUR: are donated today in loving memory of MICHAEL CHAKMAKLIAN (25th Anniversary of His eternal life) by Mrs. Ayshe Chakmaklian and Mrs. Nina Asadoorian & Family.

FELLOWSHIP HOUR: Starting June 17 through Labor Day, our Coffee Hour will change for the Summer. We are going to have a “POT LUCK” Coffee Hour.  The church will provide the coffee but we are going to rely on those who wish to enjoy refreshments with their coffee and chat with friends to please bring something for the buffet table (enough to serve 8 people), either homemade or store bought. You will not be asked to make a donation if you are kind enough to bring refreshment on any given Sunday. This is being done in order to relieve the burden of the same few people making sure that we have refreshments every Sunday.  We hope you will take this opportunity to share your bounty with our church family on these Sundays.

(REMINDER) – Anyone bringing something to the Pot-Luck Table starting this Sunday, must bring it plated or plate it at church.  All that will be supplied is the Coffee, tea, milk, and paper goods.  Everyone is to do their own cleanup. Those who donate something will not be asked to donate to the basket; but for those who don’t participate, there will be a charge; so please bring something for 6-8 people to enhance our table this Summer.  Thank you!

Any questions please ask or call Merle Santerian at 215-947-3777.

SAVE THE DATE: A Banquet honoring The Deacons and Choir of Holy Trinity Armenian Church Sunday, November 18, 2018 immediately following Badarak Stay tuned for more information Contact Holy Trinity Office 215-663-1600or office@holytrinity-pa.org with questions.

HELP Coffee Hour: Parishioners help needed to run a Coffee Hour or we may not be having them in the future. Sign up sheets will be posted in the Lobby for the next 4 months from September thru December. For further information contact Merle, 215-205-1507 or speak to her at Coffee Hour this Sunday and she will be happy to tell you how it works. We would like to have different volunteers for each Sunday starting in September. Thank you!

ATTENTION GRADUATES: The September issue of the Looys will feature information about all graduates. Write-up should include:   full name, parents’ names, name of institution, grade level or degree achieved, activity involvement, and future plans (further education/ work).  If desired, please include a picture (in high resolution color). Everything should be sent to looys@holytrinity-pa.org no later than August 28th

2018 Attendance:       Plate Collection:

June

3 – 83 people               $357.00

10 – 90 people             $442.00

17 – 73 people             $278.00

24 – 83 people             $451.00

July

22- 53 people             $321.00

29 – 73 people             $451.00

CHURCH CALENDAR (please mark your calendars)

September
Sunday September 9th -Sunday School registration in church lobby from 10-11:30
Sunday September 16th: FEAST OF EXALTATION OF THE HOLY CROSS & Coffee Hour Program on “Opioid Addiction, Families in Crisis, and the Armenian Church”

October
26, 27 & 28: Harvest Bazaar

November
Sunday November 18: Banquet

 ATTIC TREASURES will return again to the Harvest Bazaar this fall. With limited storage space available at church, we are more focused on items we can accept to be sold at the Attic Treasures table. Gently Used Items must be CLEAN & UNDAMAGED. Desired items are jewelry, women’s accessories, housewares, and small furnishings. Toys, clothing, books straw baskets & florist vases will not be accepted this year Attic Treasures should be placed on the left side inside the coat room located in the lobby. This is a new location. Please, DO NOT LEAVE in the Sunday School area. Call Ayshe Chakmaklian for more info. at 610-828-2411. If you need a New Jersey pick up call Grace Meranshian at 856-217-9333.

Armenian Assembly of America’s National Advocacy Conference on September 24th & 25th:

This is a conference that invites Armenian Americans around the United States to D.C. to advocate to their Member of Congress the importance of U.S.-Armenian relations, and issues related to Armenia and Artsakh. At the Gala, we will be honoring Mrs. Annie Simonian Totah.

You can visit www.aimhye.com for tickets and more information (note: early bird ticket prices end on Monday, August 23th).

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.

PARKING REMINDER –

> Non-Disabled Persons parking spaces are designated with white lines.
> Disabled Persons Parking spaces are designated with blue lines and are reserved for vehicles with a State-authorized disability placard or license plate.
> No parking is allowed in the driveway nearest to the kitchen door.

THANK YOU for your cooperation!

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.