THE SUNDAY MESSENGER
August 11, 2019

Third Sunday after Transfiguration 

How Does Our Faith Look?

Why didn’t Jesus see the friends tearing up the roof as an interruption as he was speaking, or an inconvenience to the sold out crowd that was trying to listen? Jesus didn’t waste words, so we can be sure that he was in the middle of saying something profound, no? Perhaps what the four friends demonstrated was precisely the model of child-like faith to which Jesus often referred and desires to see.

The story of the paralytic being lowered through the roof is found in three of the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke), and none of the accounts record any words from the four friends (nor any words from the paralytic). Rather, the Gospel writers make it clear that Jesus saw their faith! In light of this, how then should we understand faith? Faith is visible, concrete, active, lived out. It’s not an abstract idea or mental assent. It’s not merely agreeing with the Creed. Faith expects. It tears through obstacles. It loves when it seems so much easier to hate. Faith is confident that our effort is worthwhile and never goes unnoticed by God, even if he chooses to respond differently than we desire. We know that living by faith is the right way to live, the way we were created and born to live.

Does our faith demonstrate ingenuity? Boldness? Do we come close to a faith that expects anything from Jesus, a faith that digs and digs no matter what obstacle is in our way? Do we view obstacles as roadblocks or as opportunities to demonstrate and test the strength of our faith? Do we practice a faith that is visible to God, to others, one that invites others into living their true existence in communion with their Creator? One thing is for certain, faith is not a private or personal matter. It is meant to be seen, shared, talked about, demonstrated, worn on our sleeves, a shining light in the darkness, “the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1)

By Dn. Eric Vozzy

TODAY’S BIBLE READINGS:

1 Corinthians 13: 11-14:5 (page 159) New Testament
Mark 2: 1-12 (pages 32-33) New Testament – (Please follow the Armenian Reading in your Bible)
Isaiah 7:1-9 (pages 687) Old Testament

REQUIEM SERVICES: Hokehankist today will be for:

– NICOLE DER HAGOPIAN requested by Mr. and Mrs. Gary Der Hagopian &  Family.
– HERMINA DAMERJIAN KARAKASHIAN requested by Vincent Karakashian, Dr.  Gary Karakashian, Mr. and Mrs. Mark Markarian & Family.
– AZAD AYVAZIAN (10th Anniversary), HAROUTIOUN & DIRAMAYR AYVAZIAN, HOVHANNES & SHNORHIG DONIGIAN, GARBIS & AROUSIAG KELYAN requested by Alice and Karnig Torossian.

“I love the LORD because he hears my voice and my prayer for mercy. Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath!” (Psalm 116:1-2 NLT). Please pray for Merle Santerian, Steve Hovnanian, Alice Charles, Armen Mirakian, Pearl Jamgochian and Ani Navasartian for a return to improved health and to feel the presence of God in their lives.

THE SUMMER COFFEE HOUR is upon us and can only happen with faithful support from those who enjoy it, meaning different people volunteering each week to set it up and clean up afterward. Coffee will continue to be provided and bagels will be brought in whenever possible. We will depend on our parishioners to supply the “Pot Luck” refreshments each week. Please give serious consideration to volunteering your manpower which will enable us to continue providing this fellowship time that everyone enjoys so much. Call the church office and let Maggie know the Sunday that you would like to volunteer. It will be greatly appreciated.

NEW COMMUNION PROCEDURE – Before gathering for confession, please allow time for the Choir Members to come down and join us before we begin.

Armenia—A Personal Perspective: Parishioners and friends of Holy Trinity are invited to view a new video produced by FAR on one woman’s extraordinary journey to Armenia and its profound impact on her life. Join us on Wednesday evening, August 14 at 7:00 (refreshments included) to share your own experiences or be inspired to visit the homeland. Please RSVP to nancybasmajian@verizon.net or 215-722-3369.

Blessing of the Grapes: This year the Feast of the Assumption of the Holy Mother-of-God will take place on Sunday, August 18. Anyone wishing to make a donation toward grapes should contact the church office no later than August 13.

Did you know that when we participate in Soorp Badarak (Divine Liturgy), we are also being invited to a meal (communion) offered by our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. As such, we should dress in a manner worthy of that invitation. We ask our faithful to dress appropriately for worship. Please, no very short dresses, shorts or bare shoulders. Thank you.

FAR UPDATE: FAR Program Helps One Man to Launch His Own Agribusiness – Manvel Brutyan, 48, has constructed his own greenhouse with help from FAR’s Breaking the Cycle of Poverty Program (BCPP). Despite his skills as a radio technician and farmer, Manvel has found it extremely hard to make a decent living and hoped to diversify his income. Now fully complete, the greenhouse has drip irrigation and an alternative underground heating system, which enable Manvel to cultivate four different kinds of strawberries and raspberries. He decided to grow strawberries after learning his region lacked a producer. FAR’s support was imperative for him to launch this business, Manvel said. His eligibility was determined by his idea and his abilities rather than his level of income and savings, etc., as would have happened had he tried to receive financial support through a bank. Rather, FAR’s support is 40% grant-based, with the other 60% a no-interest loan.Read more here: https://farusa.org/2019/07/18/far-economic-programs-bcpp-far-program-helps-one-man-to-launch-his-own-agribusiness/ To support FAR’s economic development projects, go to: https://weareayo.org/donate

2019 Attendance: Plate/Candle Collection:

July
7 – 42 people $235.00
14 – 49 people $359.00
21 – 27 people $121.00
28 – 98 people $801.00
Weekly Expenses: $6,000.00

CHURCH CALENDAR (please mark your calendars)

August
August 18th – Feast of the Assumption/Blessing of the Grapes

September
Sunday September 15th – Church School Registration
Saturday September 28th – Fall Into Philly Kef @ Holy Trinity

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.