THE SUNDAY MESSENGER
January 3, 2016

May the source of true comfort and joy bless you this Christmas season and in the New Year!

Seventh Sunday of Advent 

Eve of Feast of the Holy Nativity and Theophany of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Candlelight (Lucernarium) Divine Liturgy

As according to the Church the day is changed at 5:00 p.m., after the evening service, the feast of the Holy Nativity and Theophany of Our Lord Jesus Christ starts on the eve, in the evening of January 5, and is continued after the midnight, on January 6. On the eve a solemn Candlelight Divine Liturgy is celebrated. Following the conclusion of the Liturgy, the assembled faithful take lit candles and lamps home symbolizing the divine light and the blessing of the Church. Lighting lamps symbolizes the light of the Bethlehem Star which guided the way of the magi to the baby Christ

TODAY’S BIBLE READINGS:

• Hebrews 13: 18-25 (page 205) New Testament
• Luke 22: 24-30 (page 79) New Testament – (Please follow the Armenian Reading in your Bible)

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

• TOMAS KHACHATRIAN – requested by the Khachatrian and Kocharian Families on the 40th day of His eternal sleep.

Hokehankist today will be for:

• ANTRANIK HACIKIAN and SAHAK MARKARIAN requested by Vartuhi Hacikian.

PRAYERS REQUESTED: From the Book of James, we are taught that “the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” Therefore, as you pray for your own family, we ask that you keep members of our Holy Trinity family in your prayers as well. Continue to pray specifically for those who are ill. Pray especially for the various ministries within our church and their leaders: our Church School, our faith-based programs, our youth. And mostly pray that Jesus Christ is a Living Presence in each and every person in our church community. You may also advise the church office if you would like to include anyone by name in this column so that we may, as a church family, pray for them.

FELLOWSHIP HOUR: is sponsored today by the Khachatrian and Kocharian Families in loving memory of TOMAS KHACHATRIAN. All are welcome.

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.

With Love, We Remember: Please join us at the Divine Liturgy on Sunday, January 17 for A Day of Remembrance. This involves a short candle-lighting service and hokehankisd to honor the memory of those in our community who passed away in 2015 and received the burial rites of our church. Through this ceremony, the entire Holy Trinity parish shares in each family’s loss and remembers all the departed with love, gratitude and consoling prayer.

ANNUAL PARISH ASSEMBLY: Scheduled for February 21, 2016 with alternate snow dates of February 28 or March 6, 2016.

REMINDER: According to the Diocesan Bylaws, membership dues are to be paid no later than December 31st each year in order to be a member in “good standing” and to be eligible to vote at the annual assembly. Any monies received after that date will be applied to the new year. For any questions regarding your status, please call the church office.

CHURCH CALENDAR (please mark your calendars)
January

• Tuesday January 5th: Armenian Christmas Eve 7:00 pm followed by House Blessing: Please bring food to share during the fellowship hour
• Wednesday January 6th: Armenian Christmas Service 10:30 am
• Sunday January 10th: Service 10:30 am followed by Blessing of the Water
• Sunday January 17th: Day of Remembrance

NEW IN THE BOOKSTORE—Great gifts for kids!
The Pesky Bird by Marianne Markarian. Mariam loves to climb trees, but she is forbidden to do so now that she has come of age. It’s a temptation that is hard to resist, and she soon finds herself caught in a sticky situation. Children will laugh out loud at the clever way Mariam solves her problem. Set in a small Armenian village in the early 1900s, the book captures the countryside life of the Armenian people. The winner of the Best Juvenile Fiction Award at the 2003 Santa Barbara Writer’s Conference, The Pesky Bird also includes a recipe for Armenian lavosh bread! Hardcover, 32 pages, $16.00

Mariam’s Easter Parade by Marianne Markarian. This is a children’s picture book that shares Armenian Easter traditions. It’s a light-hearted story of a young girl who might be too small to help with the Easter preparations, but she is clever enough to figure out a way to make her own special celebration! Learn how to dye Armenian Easter eggs and play the egg-fighting game. Using her grandmother’s life in “the old country” as inspiration, Markarian has crafted a story that displays with cultural accuracy how Armenians in the Ottoman Empire celebrated Easter. Hardcover, 26 pages, $16.00

COUNTRY STORE: The Country Store is open every Sunday after church services in the kitchen. All are welcome.

If you know of anyone who is a shut-in, or ill and would like a visit from Der Hayr, please call the office and give their name to Maggie our church secretary.

CHURCH ETIQUETTE: We wish to remind you, our faithful, to please maintain a quiet and contemplative manner as you approach the chancel for communion. We especially ask that you refrain from conversation while waiting your turn for communion as well as afterwards as you return to your pew. Thank you.

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.