THE SUNDAY MESSENGER
March 11, 2018

Sunday of the Judge 

Today is the Sunday of the Judge

To underscore the importance of prayer, Jesus tells the parable of an unjust judge who neglects the pleas of a poor widow until, tired of her persistence, he hands down a decision and sends her away. Just as Jesus used the example of a less-than-virtuous-steward (last Sunday’s Lenten lesson), he now uses the example of an exasperated, self-centered judge. If he submits to the supplication of the widow, won’t Almighty God hear and respond to our needs? Prayer is one of the essential ways we grow closer to God. When Jesus called his disciples one by one, they didn’t ask why. They just knew that this Person had life’s answers. Reflection: When do you pray? Only at certain times? When you feel angry or sad? Thankful? Memorize I Thessalonians 5:16-18 as a good mantra for prayerful living.

Department of Christian Education
Diocese of the Armenian Church (Eastern)

TODAY’S BIBLE READINGS:

Philippians 3: 1-4:9 (pages 180-181) New Testament
Luke 17: 20-18:14 (pages 73-74) New Testament – (Please follow the Armenian Reading in your Bible)
Isaiah 65: 8-25 (pages 740 – 741) Old Testament

REQUIEM SERVICES: : Hokehankist today will be for:

LUCEEN ATTARIAN (1st Anniversary of her eternal life) and AZAD ATTARIAN (9thAnniversary of his eternal life) requested by Lynn Asadoorian and Family.

ALTAR FLOWERS: are donated today by Lynn Asadoorian and Family in loving memory of LUCEEN ATTARIAN and AZAD ATTARIAN.

“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.

TODAY is our Annual Mitchink Luncheon followed by a very Special Program as we welcome The Honorable Adrienne Krikorian, founder of Mer Hooys – House of Hope. This facility in Yerevan was created for the express purpose of providing opportunities for at-risk girls in Armenia, many of whom come from severely impoverished families and either have been, or are in imminent danger of being, placed in government-run facilities, boarding schools or crisis facilities. Mer Hooys provides qualified girls with a comfortable and safe home, a family environment, psychological support, family reunification services, and education support, including training in languages, social skills, community relations, arts, religion, health and life skills, and job skills.Along with the program will be an opportunity to make a donation and go home with a work of art created by talented Armenian artists while at the same time making it possible for this indispensable facility to continue in its mission.

Special thanks to Garo and Cece Garibian for underwriting the costs of today’s luncheon.

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.

??QUESTION BOX?? If you have ever had a question or been puzzled about some aspect of our faith or our church, this is the opportunity to get some answers. We have provided a “question box” which will be placed in the narthex during Liturgy and in the lobby during Fellowship. Simply take a blank card and write your question (no signature required); feel free to ask as many questions as you wish. Answers will be provided at our March 16 Friday Night Lenten Program, “Everything You Wanted to Know About Our Faith But Were Afraid to Ask.”

FRIDAY NIGHT LENTEN PROGRAM: We’re doing something different next Friday, March 16, for the fifth program in our six-part Lenten series. Entitled “Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Your Faith But Were Afraid to Ask,” we will open the QUESTION BOX which has been sitting in the narthex and the lobby for weeks. Wondering what will be asked? Wondering if our experts will be able to provide answers? Join us on the 16th to find out. If you have not submitted any questions, the box and blank cards will be available during dinner. The evening will begin with worship at 6:30 followed by a traditional Lenten dinner prepared by Berjoohy Murray and Anne Terkanian.

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 UPDATE: High school students Larisa Yeghoyan and Susanna Mkrtchyan never miss the chance to enhance their programming skills at Fund for Armenian Relief’s Gyumri Information Technology Center (GTech). They are two of the 100 students from Shirak Regional College who intern at GTech every week. “The IT environment here is very encouraging. Regardless of what you want to explore, it makes you want to continue,” said Larisa. Through a collaboration between GTech and Shirak College, students can gain practical experience at GTech, thus enhancing their knowledge and competencies. Many of the advanced students continue their education at GTech after they graduate. Some even stay on and work there. To read more, go to http://farusa.org/2018/03/02/gtech-empowering-youth-to-pursue-careers-in-it/ To support programs like GTech, go to https://secure.qgiv.com/for/armenianrelief/

Daylight Saving Time begins Sunday, March 11, 2018, so please remember to turn your clock forward one hour before you go to bed on Saturday night (3/10/18). Remember: Spring forward, Fall back!

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.

Armenian Sisters Academy

Open House
March 15, 2018 9:00 -11:30 a.m. Join us for a look into the lives of ASA students. The open house will include a tour with our student ambassadors, followed by open discussion with faculty, staff, and parents.
RSVP to lsanterian@asaphila.org or 610-687-4100

CHURCH CALENDAR (please mark your calendars)

March
Mar 9 Lenten Program: V. Rev. Fr. Mesrop Parsamyan
Mar 11 Mitchink Luncheon
Mar 16 Lenten Program: Ani Peckjian
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)

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.

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– 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.