THE SUNDAY MESSENGER
March 18, 2018

Sunday of the Advent

Sunday of Advent

On this Sunday of Advent, we joyfully celebrate the opening of heavens; and with the angels, we sing: “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” (Luke 2:14)

But the Sunday of Advent is also devoted to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, reminding us that he who has torn apart the heavens in the silence of a night in Bethlehem will tear open them again on the Last Day, at His second coming to judge the living and the dead. In a few minutes, tomorrow or in millennia: “because you do not know the day or the hour.” (Matthew 25:13)
On the first advent, the Messiah came in the humility of the manger and in the humiliation of the cross, but He will return in power and great glory. But He will return in power and great glory. We are between these two comings, an in-between that can only be a vigilant, joyful and hopeful expectation because everything has changed since Christ: everything has been revealed in Him, everything is waiting to be accomplished by Him.

Thus, in these times of vigil: “Be always on the watch, and pray.” Take all the means to stay alert: “If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping.” (Mark 13:36). We must stay awake. Our life on earth must never become a time of sleepiness, even though a large number of sleeping pills are at our disposal. They are called worries, riches, pleasures, sin in general. But also the lack of vigilance to care for the weakest and smallest or the lack of attention in managing our time well in order to not miss what is the most important.
by Fr. Mesrop Parsamyan

TODAY’S BIBLE READINGS:

Colossians 2: 8-3:17 (pages 182-183) New Testament
Matthew 22: 34-23:39 (pages 23-24) New Testament – (Please follow the Armenian Reading in your Bible)
Isaiah 66: 1-24 (pages 741 – 742) Old Testament

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

– DOROTHY CHINCHINIAN on the 40th Day of Her eternal life requested by Lorna and Nancy Chinchinian.

Hokehankist today will be for:

– MARDIROS (20TH Anniversary of his eternal life) and YESTER ERGENIAN requested by Markrid and Nazareth Keshishian and Family.

“Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence this day.”(1 Kings 8:28b). Let us be as servants before God today as we pray for our sisters and brothers: Annabelle Alexanian, Alice Charles, Pearl Jamgochian, & Albert Santerian. We especially ask you to pray for the victims, families and students of the tragic school shooting in South Florida who are suffering in countless ways. May God be a strong presence in their lives.

Coffee Hour is being sponsored by Arousiag Keshishian in memory of her grandparents Yester and Mardiros Ergenian, (20th Anniversary Hokehonkist).

PALM SUNDAY BANQUET: Sunday, March 25, 2018, is ACYOA DAY. Immediately following Church Services, ACYOA is sponsoring a Banquet. Donations: Adults $20.00 – Children ages 7 to 12 yrs. $8.00 – Children 6 and under Free. No tickets will be sold at the door. For reservations, please send in your check by the Deadline: March 18, 2018.

FRIDAY NIGHT LENTEN PROGRAM: Join us this Friday, March 23 for the last program in our 2018 Friday Night Lenten Series. Back by popular demand is HOLY JEOPARDY; this year we have a new game show host with a different “look.” Contestants will vie for points in Jeopardy, Double Jeopardy and Final Jeopardy so whether you play or just come to cheer for your favorite team, you’re sure to learn something new. Here’s a teaser: categories will include The Fab Five, When the Saints Go Marching In, Mr. T and Wonder Woman. The evening will begin with worship at 6:30 followed by a traditional Lenten dinner prepared by Berjoohy Murray and Anne Terkanian.

Please support the Annual Church School Lenten Drive that benefits the needy in both America and Armenia. The students are raising funds two ways. One; by asking for sponsorships for the angels they are decorating. These angels are being hung in the Church School classroom hallway. It would be lovely if the hallway was filled with angels. Second; by putting their weekly collection into a jar marked for this fundraiser. We have placed a tub in the church foyer for you to help. Please be generous. If you would like to sponsor an angel, stop by the Church School office with your donation. Thank you for your support of this worthy cause.

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.

FAR SUCCESS STORIES Lousig, 35, was born and raised in Syria. Six years ago, she took a 10-day vacation to Armenia with her husband Arman, and their daughter, Alik. They decided to stay forever, beginning their new life by searching for jobs, a kindergarten, and a place to live. Lousig had always wanted to cook professionally. In Armenia, she attended different culinary courses and eventually opened up Moon Bakery nine months ago. Just a few days later, she received a grant and a zero-interest loan from Fund for Armenian Relief’s Small Business Assistance Program, which supports Syrian-Armenian business owners, and ultimately helps to lay a foundation for their economic integration in Armenia. She used the financial support to purchase a refrigerator, an oven, a mixer, and various containers and cake decorating equipment. To read more, go to http://farusa.org/2018/03/07/far-economic-program-syrian-woman-opens-her-own-bakery-thanks-to-fars-small-business-assistance-program/. To support programs like SBA, go to https://secure.qgiv.com/for/armenianrelief/

Naira Sardaryan, 24, is one of Fund for Armenian Relief’s most ambitious scholarship students. She received the Zambak Scholarship to study sociology at Yerevan State University, where she focused on conflict and migration. Naira’s also a volunteer at the FAR Children’s Center. According to Naira, there is a huge gap of migration experts in Armenia. “When you grow up in a village and see how the villagers struggle for a daily living, you realize that there is something wrong in the state system. Armenia needs professionals who will certainly make efforts to reduce migration,” remarked Naira. Currently, Naira also works as a project manager at the German Business Association of Armenia and coordinates the programs aimed at contributing to the economic integration of Syrian-Armenians. To read more, go to http://farusa.org/2018/01/29/far-scholarships-for-one-scholarship-student-far-teaches-the-art-of-gratitude/ To support FAR’s scholarship programs, 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

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)

March
Mar 16 Lenten Program: Q & A with Der Hayr
Mar 23 Lenten Program: Holy Jeopardy
Mar 25 Palm Sunday: ACYOA Day/ Palm Sunday Banquet
Mar 29 Holy Thursday: Washing of the Feet Service and Vigil
Mar 30 Holy Friday Burial Service
Mar 31 Easter Eve Liturgy / Community Fellowship Meal

April
April 1 Easter Sunday
April 2-10 Parish Pilgrimage to the Holy Land
April 8 Guest Celebrant: V. Rev. Fr. Simeon Odabashian (Diocesan Vicar)
April 15 10:00-10:30 “All Good and Perfect Gifts” (Emily Movsesian0
April 22 10:00-10:30 “Get Me to the Church on Time” (Brian Hoyle)
April 29 10:00-10:30 “My Faith Pilgrimage to Jerusalem” (Yn. Anna
Gevorgyan) & Film “Women of 1915” (following Liturgy)

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.

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:

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– 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.