THE SUNDAY MESSENGER
March 13, 2022

Sunday of the Prodigal Son

COVID UPDATE:  Masks are recommended, but not required, Please use your best judgement.

The younger of the two sons sells his inheritance, shameful enough, but then asks for it before his father’s death, and abandons his obligation to take care of his father in his old age. To make matters worse, after he spent his inheritance on frivolous luxuries, he became desperate enough to share food with pigs. The son could not have sunk any lower. We all find ourselves somewhere on the spectrum of shame.

The Church as an oasis, refuge, hospital, and place for thanksgiving

Fortunately, everything can be found in the person of Jesus Christ and his Church. This may be difficult to believe considering some of our experiences in the Church, but when the Church is not getting in the way of itself, when she is living at her best, allowing the Holy Spirit to lead, the Church becomes a place, a people, within whom we encounter and experience the love of our Father, the mercy and healing of our Savior, Jesus Christ. It is the family of God into which we are baptized, where we unite with one another and with the Lord through the Sacraments. The Church is where, both within and without the building, we gather, no matter our shame, and ask God to cleanse us and commune with us. It is where we hear the Scriptures read which remind us we were created as worshiping beings to live in union with God and given freedom to exercise toward that end. The Church is where we are able to admit our sins, faults, and shortcomings, and to give thanks and celebrate what God has already accomplished for his people.

By Dn. Eric Vozzy

TODAY’S BIBLE READINGS:

2Corinthians 6: 1-7:1 (pages 165-166) New Testament Luke 15: 1-32 (pages 71-72) New Testament – (Please follow the Armenian Reading in your Bible)
Isaiah 54: 11-55:13 (pages 731 – 732) Old Testament

REQUIEM SERVICES: Hokehankist today will be for:                  

LARRY GROCOTT requested in loving memory of my husband by Dolly Grocott.

Daylight Saving Time begins Sunday, March 13, 2022, so please remember to turn your clock forward one hour before you go to bed on Saturday night (3/12/22).  Remember:  Spring forward, Fall back!

THE RETURN OF THE MITCHINK LUNCHEON We are two weeks away from our Lenten Luncheon on Sunday, March 27 following Badarak (see detailed flyers in Narthex). Advance reservations would be appreciated by contacting Jeanette Der Hagopian (215-672-4188 or choirboss@hotmail.com). Ticket price per person is $20.  Reservations can also be made online by going to https://holytrinity-pa.org/event/mml/. The event includes a special program presented by Chris Zakian, Director of Communications for the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church.  Hope to see you then!

COUNTRY STORE – We invite you to come visit us after church most Sundays.  See Liz or Jeanette. If you wish to place an order for pickup, contact Lorraine Damerjian @ 215-572-8465, and she can help you with that.

MEN‘S CLUB NEWS – The March 2022 “200 CLUB” drawing was completed on 3/6/22. 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!

ZOOM ADULT EDUCATION LENTEN SERIES:  Exploring Empathy: “Jesus Wept.” Our third Lenten presentation will be facilitated by parishioner and amateur artist, Leslie Movsesian, who will use biblical passages and her artwork to explore God’s empathetic nature and the influence it has in our relationship to him and to one another during difficult times in our lives. Join us Friday evening, March 18 at 7:00 by simply contacting nancybasmajian@verizon.net for the Zoom link.

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.