THE SUNDAY MESSENGER
March 24, 2019

Sunday of the Steward

Archbishop Malakia Ormanian (1841-1918)

The landlord is God and the steward is humanity. But the focus should not be to compare every aspect of the landlord and the steward with God and humanity, only the steward’s ingenuity and the fact that he makes provisions for himself by means of the landlord’s possessions. The general principles of the parable concern the use of the world’s goods.

The world is God’s possession and humanity is its caretaker, or steward (see Genesis 2:15). Just as the landlord’s possessions are in the hands of his steward, who manages them in order to secure a future, God has gifted us with creation so that we, as an act of worship and service, might make good use of it now and for our eternal future. And so the purpose of the parable is to teach us that we are obliged to care for the well-being of our neighbor, to show mercy by using whatever goods of the world come into our hands. How are we using creation to serve the world, God, and His Church? Do we prayerfully use our resources, God’s gift to us, to proclaim the Gospel? If we are not faithful in temporary things (unrighteous mammon), neither will we be in permanent, or eternal things (see Luke 16:10).

TODAY’S BIBLE READINGS:

Ephesians 4: 17-5:14 (pages 176-177) New Testament
Luke 16: 1-31 (pages 72-73) New Testament – (Please follow the Armenian Reading in your Bible)
Isaiah 56: 1-57:21 (pages 732 – 733) Old Testament

REQUIEM SERVICES: Hokehankist today will be for:

– DR. ZAVEN OSKANIAN requested by his brother, John Oskanian.

“Now, my God, may your eyes be open and your ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place” (2 Chron 6:40). Please pray for Rev. Fr. Shnork Souin, Alice Charles, Pearl Jamgochian and Tyrome Thompson for a return to improved health and to feel the presence of God in their lives. Pray for those who were killed and injured in the massacre that took place in two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, and for their grieving families as well. Please continue to pray for our country and her leaders so that peace and kindness can prevail.

COFFEE HOUR: is sponsored today by John Oskanian in loving memory of his brother DR. ZAVEN OSKANIAN. All are welcome.

PARISH DIRECTORY: The 2019 update of the Parish Directory is available in the Narthex and the Parish Office. Please pick up a copy. If you find that your information is not what you expected, please submit corrections to brianj.hoyle@outlook.com or call at 301-351-7669 and copy the Parish Office.

PALM SUNDAY BANQUET: Sunday, April 14, 2019, is ACYOA DAY. Immediately following Church Services, ACYOA is sponsoring a Banquet. Donations: Adults $25.00 – 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: April 7, 2019.

FRIDAY NIGHT LENTEN PROGRAM: The third of our four-part video series on “Wrestling with Angels” will take place next Friday, March 29 with a presentation entitled TROUBLED WATERS: WHY ME, LORD? ACE member Jeanette Der Hagopian will introduce the video and facilitate a short conversation afterwards. The evening begins with worship at 6:30, followed by a traditional Lenten dinner prepared by members of our Church Choir. For more details, pick up a flyer available in the narthex or lobby.

EAT SOUP AND FEED THE HUNGRY: According to the World Health Organization, if children do not receive proper nutrition in the first 1,000 days of their lives, their physical, cognitive, and emotional development is seriously compromised into adulthood. Thus, combating child malnutrition in Armenia is a major effort and a special passion for FAR. We’re pleased to announce that our Church School is embracing this cause during the Lenten season. For a donation of $10, you can eat at our “Soup Kitchen,” open for one-day only—March 31. You may go home a bit hungry, but think of the little ones who will be fed by your gift.

COFFEE HOUR: This year we are looking for individuals or families, to run a Coffee Hour each Sunday. (Those who have been running it, are overloaded with doing more than one job on Sundays.) There are sign-up sheets for the next 4 month of Sundays. Anyone wishing to sponsor a special Coffee Hour (Birthday, Anniversary, 40 Days or more, etc.) other than the normal Coffee Hour must contact Merle Santerian 215-205-1507, to make arrangements 2 weeks ahead of time. Under the new scheduling, if a Sunday has no one signed up on the Board, to run the Coffee Hour, there will be no Coffee Hour that Sunday. So, please volunteer and let’s fill all the Sundays in on the Schedule. It is not that involved, and Merle will explain what you have to do to run one. Any questions just see her on any Sunday or call her at the above phone number. Thanks, for your cooperation! We know how much everyone enjoys the Fellowship Hour and we would like to keep it going.

FAR UPDATE: Two Doctors and Their Dedication to the Families of Rural Armenia – In addition to running Ayrum Medical Center, Dr. Gandzapar Saratikyan and his wife, Dr. Marusya Yeghishyan, have been professional partners for the past 29 years. Since 1990, both have worked relentlessly to provide comprehensive healthcare in their Tavush Province hometown. The only family doctors in Ayrum, Gandzapar and Marusya at one point had to walk miles and miles or travel by horseback to get to patients in need; they’ve become accustomed to working 24/7 without relief. In 2016, the two were accepted into FAR’s Continuing Medical Education (CME) program for comprehensive training in pediatrics, an area where both of them felt they needed more knowledge about the latest approaches and methods of treatment. “The real doctor is not one who just understands his/her patients and their concerns, but also the one who tries to make a difference in the community, in patients’ lives, and in the healthcare system,” says Gandzapar. To learn more, go to: https://farusa.org/2019/02/26/highlighted-beneficiary-two-doctors-and-their-dedication-to-the-families-of-rural-armenia To support programs like CME, go to: https://farusa.org/donate

CHURCH IS IN NEED OF A SMALL PIANO: We need a small piano that can fit into one of the Sunday school classrooms. It cannot be a grand style piano as there is not the room for that. If you have one that can be donated please call the church office or Fr. Hakob.

2019 Attendance: Plate/Candle Collection:

February
3 – 82 people $290.00
10 – 70 people $340.00
17 – 94 people $427.00
24 – 122 people $669.00

March
3 – 91 people $510.00
10 – 94 people $529.00

Weekly Expenses: $6,000.00

CHURCH CALENDAR (please mark your calendars)

March
Saturday March 23rd: Saintly Women’s Day Retreat
Friday March 29th: Lenten Evening
Sunday March 31st: Church School sponsors “Soup Kitchen”

April
Sunday April 7th: A “tour” of the sanctuary guided by Fr. Hakob
Sunday April 14th: Palm Sunday: ACYOA Day/ Palm Sunday Banquet
Thursday April 18th: Holy Thursday: Washing of the Feet Service and Vigil
Friday April 19th: Holy Friday Burial Service
Saturday April 20th: Easter Eve Liturgy / Community Fellowship Meal
Sunday April 21st: Easter Sunday

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.

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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– find in-depth information on our faith, our parish and our activities?
– 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.