THE SUNDAY MESSENGER
May 5, 2019

Sunday of the World Church (Green Sunday)

World Church

According to the Armenian Church calendar, the second Sunday following Zadeeg is designated as “Sunday of the World Church” (Աշխարհամատրամ Կիրակի). Although little is definitively known about the origin of this feast day, or why it is referred to as “Green Sunday” (Կանաչ Կիրակի), is there still something it can say to the Armenian Church today?

What we do know about this particular day can be derived from the sharagan of the day which contains the theme of blessing or consecrating a chapel (possibly a commemoration of some historic church dedication, most likely located in Jerusalem). In fact, a more accurate translation of the feast day is, “Sunday of the World Chapel” implying the physical building of a church (մատուռ), rather than the word for Church (Եեկեղեցի), which refers to the community of believers.

An excerpt of the hymn sung during Առաւօտեան ժամ (Morning Office) tells us what Armenian Christians believe the Church to be, which includes the building:

Having become your disciples by the holy apostles, we learned to glorify you in the temple of your holiness, which you founded upon the rock of faith, Lord, God of our Fathers. Come, people of the nations, let us joyfully celebrate the inauguration/dedication of the holy church, praising the Lord God of our Fathers. Together with the bodiless multitudes, all nations forever praise and highly exalt Christ the King who comes today into the holy church. Come into the church, people whose faith is in the Holy Trinity. Praise God. Joyfully celebrate to the edges of the table, and highly exalt him forever. (trans. Fr. Daniel Findikyan)

Having been consecrated as a house of worship and prayer, every church building is a sacred space that resembles and recalls the holiness of heaven itself. It is where the faithful gather as the Body of Christ, where the richest and deepest mysteries of the Church are revealed and celebrated. The architecture is theologically meaningful as a brick and mortar icon of the presence of Jesus Christ, and our being grafted into him through baptism. As Peter writes to the Church in his first epistle (2:5),

Like living stones, you are being built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

What does it mean, or look like, to be a living stone? Baptized into the Church, the Body of Christ, we all have a priestly ministry to the whole world: to give thanks to God for offering himself to us, and to offer ourselves back to him, to see the world as God sees it, and to offer the world the same eternal life that God gave us. Rather than having a mission, the Church is a mission, a mission to the world. It is one of reaching out and inviting others, everyone – from those already baptized into our family to those who never heard – into communion with Jesus Christ in whom there is healing and peace.

And the healing that we long for as an Armenian people still suffering from ancient and contemporary wounds inflicted upon us by the world, will be found when we share God’s love and healing with others, when we allow God to raise us up, as a people, as the Church to recognize and stand for those in need of his justice and healing in the world.

TODAY’S BIBLE READINGS:

1 Peter 2: 1-10 (page 209) New Testament
John 2: 23-3:12 (pages 85-86) New Testament – (Please follow the Armenian
Reading in your Bible)

REQUIEM SERVICES: Hokehankist today will be for:
– RONALD N. GOOSHIAN (5th Anniversary of his eternal life) requested by Ani Gooshian.

“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 Ani Navasartian for a return to improved health and to feel the presence of God in their lives. Pray for the families affected by those who were killed and injured in another synagogue attack in a small town near San Diego, California. Please continue to pray for our country and her leaders so that peace and kindness can prevail.

COFFEE HOUR: is sponsored today by Ani Goushian in loving memory of RONALD N. GOOSHIAN (5th Anniversary of his eternal life). All are welcome.

SAVE THE DATE: Ladies, Save the date for our annual spring lunch, Saturday, May 11 at 11:30AM. We are going to the Denim American Bistro located in Cherry Hill, NJ. Reservations are limited. Check the flyer in the hall & contact Liz Barone.

CHURCH SCHOOL GRADUATION: With much joy and eager anticipation, we announce that five of our 11th grade Church School students will receive their graduation diplomas on Sunday, May 19. The faithful are invited to witness the anointing ceremony immediately following Badarak and afterwards join our parish community in a celebratory brunch in honor of our newest graduates. Please use the sign-up sheet in the church lobby to reserve your spot.

Direct Outreach To Armenia – The time is drawing near when Der Hakob will leading a pilgrimage to Armenia. When he travels there, one of his priorities is to visit families who have suffered hardship and/or are living in difficult circumstances. He spends time with them in prayer and provides them with monetary assistance. If you would like to contribute to this worthy outreach for our brethren in Armenia, please mail or bring a check to church made out to Holy Trinity Armenian Church; Memo: Armenia. You will be blessed many times over for “…whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine” (Matt 25:40). Deadline is June 15.

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
17 – 80 people $327.00
24 – 83 people $388.00
31 – 74 people $447.00

Weekly Expenses: $6,000.00

CHURCH CALENDAR (please mark your calendars)

May
Saturday May 11th: Mother’s Day Luncheon
Sunday May 19th: Church School Closing

June
Sunday June 2nd: Armenian Dishes of our Youth
Sunday June 9th: Armenian School Hantess

Outreach Volunteers Needed: An in-service day has been scheduled for Saturday, June 1 @ 10 am to prepare and package meals for Aid for Friends, the organization that provides meals to the elderly and isolated shut-ins in the Delaware Valley. See flyer around the church & contact Jeanette Der Hagopian (choirboss@hotmail.com or 215-672-4188) by May 20 so that we know how many “cooks” we’ll have! We hope you will reserve this date on your calendar to join us in being part of a rewarding experience.

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.

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:
– receive this Bulletin on Friday via email?
– request a Hokehankist, house blessing or hall rental information?
– 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.