THE SUNDAY MESSENGER
April 6, 2025

 In the absence of Der Hakob who is traveling, today there will be a deacon service. We hope many of our faithful will join us.

Sunday of the Advent 

Scripture Notes for Today’s Readings

This sixth and last Sunday of Lent is dedicated not only to the Second Coming of Christ but also to His Incarnation, God’s becoming Jesus, fully God and fully human. He will come again — this time not as the gentle and lowly Savior, but as a righteous judge in the glory of His Father with a retinue of angels. He will sift through the good and evil just as a shepherd separates the sheep and the goats at day’s end. Jesus declares (Matthew 25:31- 46) that we will be judged for acts of righteous goodness born of a loving faith. Did we feed the hungry? Console those in need of comfort, ease suffering? Only on this unequivocal basis, will we be received into eternal life. Reflection: Prayerfully read Matthew 25:31-46. Imagine that day of glory 0and visualize where you will be; pray for Jesus to open your heart that you might see His face “in the least of these.”

Scripture Notes from Today’s Readings

Matthew 22:34-23:39 – In these verses, Jesus summarizes the law in the two greatest commandments in which all the law and prophecies of the Old Testament can be summarized (22:36-40). In 23, there is an extended warning (the “seven woes”) against the vanities and false pieties of the Pharisees. The reading concludes with Jesus’ poignant lament for Jerusalem in which (23:37) – in one of the rare moments when a female metaphor for God is used – He yearns to protect its people as a “mother bird gathers her young under her wings.” Discuss/reflect: Why do you think Jesus asks us to love God (22:37) “with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind?” What is distinct about each of these three ways of loving?

Colossians 2:8-3:17 –  In a beautiful accompaniment to today’s Gospel, St. Paul urges us to depend on Christ rather than human tradition or worldly principles. Through baptism we have died with Him and are raised with Him into faith and a new way of living. That virtuous, good life is eloquently described in 3:12-17. Discuss/reflect: In Christ “you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.” (3:9-10) Comparing the “old” ways described in 3:5-8 with the “new” outlined in 3:12-17, how would you rate yourself? Where do you need more of God’s help?

Isaiah 66:1-24 – Isaiah conveys God’s promise of both restoration and judgment; His children will thrive and be comforted in a new Jerusalem. But those who persist in false worship and rebellion will be harshly judged. Again (as in the Gospel passage above), we are offered a beautiful female image: God will comfort His people as a mother does her child. Discuss/reflect: Isaiah shares these words of God in verse 13: “As a mother comforts her child, so I will comfort you.” God is more often described as a father; what shades of meaning does this picture of God as mother add to your understanding of His love?

REQUIEM SERVICES: Hokehankist today will be for:

• Rudik Safaryan requested in loving memory by the Safaryan family.

Fellowship Today – Coffee hour is sponsored by the Safaryan family in memory of their beloved Rufdik.

Palm Sunday Banquet – Sunday, April 13, 2025, is ACYOA Day.  Immediately following Church Services, ACYOA is sponsoring a Banquet.  Donations: Adults $40.00 – Children ages 4 to 12 yrs. $15.00 – Children 3 and under Free.  No tickets will be sold at the door. For reservations, please send in your check by the Deadline: April 8, 2025.

Church School Cathedral Renovation Collection: Between Poon Paregentan and Easter, the Church School students across the Eastern Diocese have been asked to help raise money toward renovating our Cathedral in NYC that has fallen into disrepair. The Cathedral was a fulfillment of a dream to build a beautiful “national home” uniting all our parishes and faithful in the USA. It began with the generation that survived the Armenian Genocide and found refuge in America. They built our Cathedral out of gratitude to our Lord Jesus Christ, for the blessings He gave them. In the early 1950s, faithful of all ages gave their support to the project—often collecting nickels and dimes in a “Cathedral Fundraising Box” that could be seen in every Armenian home. Like our ancestors, we are being asked to continue this tradition and give our support to ensure that the Cathedral will be strong and sturdy for each of us and many generations to come. Please help our students with collection in your homes or by putting collection in the plate marked Cathedral Fundraising in our Narthex. Thank you!

AYO – Did you know that public transportation runs only sporadically in certain parts of Armenia’s Syuniq region? A medical clinic in Darbas serves patients from seven surrounding rural villages, but transportation is a huge issue, especially for socioeconomically disadvantaged and elderly patients. Going to the clinic can be a full-day endeavor or simply impossible. Fund for Armenian Relief’s Ayo! platform is working to support the Darbas clinic, and its sole physician Dr. Anush, by  purchasing an all-terrain vehicle for them. They will use it to reach elderly and hard-to-reach patients, pick up medicine and handle emergency cases should the roads be closed due to severe weather conditions. Join 20 other donors from around the Eastern Diocese and make your contribution at https://www.weareayo.org (slowly getting there, now the project is 67% funded which is a little more than last week!).

Seeking Part-time Organists – The Choir of Holy Trinity continues to seek 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 for the interested candidates, along with one-on-one direction from a senior choir person.  You know you’ve been pondering volunteering for this rewarding role. Make this the week that you reach out for further information (we double dare you), by contacting Karinne Andonian at karinne.hov@gmail.com.

Apr 08         Deadline to register for Palm Sunday Banquet
Apr 10         Zoom Book Club
Apr 13         Palm Sunday – ACYOA Day
Apr 16         Zoom Bible Study – Last Session will cover two final chapters
Apr 17         Holy Thursday
Apr 18         Holy Friday
Apr 19         Easter Eve and Fellowship
Apr 20         Easter
Apr 26         Armenian Heritage Walk 2025 – Meher Statue, adjacent to the Philadelphia Museum of Art
May 07        ACE Program: Exploring Narek
May 20        ACE Program: Lift Up Your Voice