THE SUNDAY MESSENGER
February 20, 2022

Sixth Sunday After the Octave of Theophany

 COVID UPDATE:  August 23, 2021, The Montgomery County Office of Public Health advises that masks should be worn in public indoor settings regardless of vaccination status. Please exercise your best judgment and caring for everyone in our Church community. Thank you   

Scripture and Feast Day Notes

From Today’s Readings

John 7: 37-52 Teaching the crowds at the Feast of the Tabernacles, Jesus calls upon those who thirst to come to him and drink so that “living water” might flow within them (meaning that they will be filled someday with the Holy Spirit). People debate whether this is indeed the Messiah. When the temple guards are chastised by the priests for not arresting him, they declare in awe: “No one ever spoke the way this man does.” (v.46) Nicodemus, who knew and respected Jesus, asks for a fair hearing of what Jesus has to say. Discuss/reflect: How amazing that those hired to keep Jesus from inciting the crowd, have themselves been shaken by His words. Read these verses again, reflecting prayerfully on what Jesus says. What moves you?

Titus 1:1-11 St. Paul writes to his protégé Titus, declaring himself to be a servant of God for a “faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life.” (1:2) Having entrusted Titus to continue building up the community in Crete, he advises him to appoint elders and outlines their required virtues. Without even-temperedness, honesty, self-control, discipline and a clear sense of what is holy and true, they will not inspire confidence and loyalty.  Discuss/reflect: In St. Paul’s list of leadership virtues, it’s not about what you do; rather it’s about what kind of person you are borne out by how you live. What might this teach you about following Jesus?

 Is 63:18-64:12 The people of God lament (how many times, oh Israel!) what once was and is no longer, as they endure defeat and hardship. Blaming their own sinful indifference to their “awe-some” God, they beg His intervention. Discuss/reflect: Verse 7 might well be directed to us in pandemic times. What makes people indifferent to their God? How can you” lay hold” of Him?

February 22 & 24:  St.Ghevont  and St. Vartan

Why are these feast days so important to Armenians? Together they center on the Battle of Avarayr in 451 A.D, the war the Persians waged against the Armenians after their vain attempt to oppress them under Persian rule and religion. The Armenians were hugely outnumbered (reportedly 60,000 Armenians against 200,000 Persians excluding the armored elephant brigade) in this first recorded battle in defense of Christianity. Under the leadership of their commander-in-chief, Vartan Mamigonian, they fought valiantly. Fr. Ghevont was General Vartan’s advisor, serving as what might be called today the army chaplain. Before the battle, he inspired the army with a deeply moving sermon and went among the soldiers, encouraging them, and distributing Holy Communion. In response to his fervent evangelizing, St. Ghevont was later taken to Persia and martyred along with the other priests. Perhaps these men, the soldiers, their wives, daughters and sisters, all represent hope in the face of impossible hardship and oppression, a hope born of Jesus Christ, a hope driven by heavenly goals that go so beyond “winning” it is hard for the average person to comprehend. But not for the saints… Reflection: Today, pray for the souls of all who fell at Avarayr. Ask God for the courage to follow Christ and live your faith boldly, without hesitation.

Dept of Christian Education/Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)/elisea@armeniandiocese.org

REQUIEM SERVICES: Hokehankist today will be for:

PEARL SERABIAN JOSEPHS requested in loving memory of my mother by Larry and Dolly Grocott.

DOROTHY CHINCHINIAN requested in loving memory by Nancy and Lorna Chinchinian.

PRAYERS are requested for Larry Grocott in his struggle with lung cancer.  God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble (Ps 46:1)  

ALTAR CANDLES are donated today by Larry and Dolly Grocott in loving memory of PEARL SERABIAN JOSEPH.

COFFEE HOUR today is sponsored by Larry and Dolly Grocott in loving memory of PEARL SERABIAN JOSEPHS. All are welcome.

ANNUAL PARISH ASSEMBLY: Scheduled for March 6, 2022 with alternate snow date of March 13, 2022.

CHURCH SCHOOL NEWS: Due to the current surge in COVID, the Church School Spring Semester will start on Sunday February 27th, instead of February 6th, and run through Sunday May 15th.

MEN‘S CLUB NEWS – The February 2022 “200 CLUB” drawing was completed on 2/6/22. You can see the results on our HTAC Website. Click on: Organizations, Men’s Club.  –Congratulations to the Winners and Good Luck to the ticket holders for next month!

CHANGE OF DATE—Holy Trinity Zoom Book Club:  Join us on our new date, Thursday evening, MARCH 3 at 7:00 for a discussion on an extraordinary work of non-fiction entitled The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot. It tells the riveting story of the collision between ethics, race, and scientific discovery AND the human story behind the scenes. Marge Ayoub will facilitate the conversation. Those interested should contact nancybasmajian@verizon.net to receive the Zoom link. Invite a friend!

COUNTRY STORE IS OPEN AND READY FOR BUSINESS:  We are well stocked in our store and invite you to come in after church most Sundays or place an order for pickup with Lorraine Damerjian @ 215-572-8465. 

FINAL CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS
Wednesday, February 23, is the deadline to sign up to help prepare meals for the Caring for Friends organization on Saturday, March 5, 2022 @ 10 am.   For students who would like to earn credit for a “Service Day,” an appropriate letter will be given for active participation.  We need a final count of volunteers which will help us determine how much product to purchase for the meals we will prepare. So TODAY- please contact Jeanette (choirboss@hotmail.com or 215-672-4188) and sign up and join our team of  happy cooks!

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.

FAR is Helping to Fulfill a Dream –   Since childhood, Karen Ghazaryan, now 26, has dreamed of one day becoming a diplomat.  To make his dream come true, Karen left his native city of Spitak in 2015 to study international relations at Yerevan State University. When he wanted to continue to earn his master’s he applied for FAR’s Armine and Garabed Zambak Scholarship Program. “The tuition was expensive and I still had to find a way to pay the rent,” said Karen. “I was hoping I’d find a way and soon enough I learned about FAR and the Zambak Scholarship Program.  “Through his work, he aims to support Armenia’s future. “I belong here and will deploy my knowledge effectively in Armenia,” he said. To read more, go to https://www.farusa.org/post/his-dream-is-to-be-a-diplomat-far-is-helping-him-to-make-it-happen  To support FAR’s Education Program, go to https://www.farusa.org/donate

Message from Montgomery County: ” With the colder weather and indoor activities of the holiday season, it’s important that you are protected and are considerate of others. Please stay safe. ”

Our community is stronger when we’re all protected. The best way to protect yourself and others from COVID-19 is to get vaccinated. The COVID-19 vaccine is safe, effective, and widely available. The COVID-19 vaccine will protect you from severe illness, hospitalization, and death; and protects vulnerable people in your community who can’t get the vaccine. A healthier community starts with you. For more information on the COVID-19 vaccine, call the Montgomery County Office of Public Health at 610-278-5117 or visit https://www.montcopa.org/3660/COVID-19-Vaccine.