Easter - Սáõñբ ÚարութÇõն

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1 Morning Service - 9:00am Badarak - 10:00am Sunday School - 10:00am Antastan after Badarak Parish Council installation There will be a second plate collection for the Choir. UPCOMING EVENTS ²è²æÆÎ²Ú ØÆæàò²èàôØܺð Holy Saturday March 26, 2016 Reading of the Prophecies 6:30 P.M., Easter Eve Divine Liturgy 7:00 P.M., Following Candle lighting ceremony after Badarak Home Blessing following Badarak Easter Sunday, March 27, 201 Morning Service 9:00 A.M. Divine Liturgy 10:00 A.M., Antastan (Blessing of four corners of the world) 12 Noon Thursday, March 31, at 7 pm Book Signing at the Buttonwoods 240 Water Street, Haverhill, MA "Armenians of the Merrimack Valley" by Phil Brown & Tom Vartabedian Sunday, March 27, 2016 Rev. Fr. Vart Gyozalian - Pastor Daily Lectionary Readings ²êîàô²Ì²ÞÜâ²Î²Ü ÀܺðòàôØܺð Acts 1: Mark 16:2-8. Easter - Սáõñբ ÚարութÇõն Christ is risen from the dead! Blessed is the resurrection of Christ! øñçëïáë Ú³ñ»³ õ Æ Ø»é»Éáó úññý»³é Ú³ñáõÃÇõÝÝ øñçëïáëç

2 HOKEHANKISD DONATIONS Ðà ºÐ²Ü êîú²ü Üìð²îìàôÂÚàõÜܺð Hokehankisd Donations for the souls of Marie Sahagian, Karen Sahagian, Neal Sahagian and Rose - Marie Brady from - M/M John Mosto REQUEST FOR PRAYERS ²ÕûÃùÇ Êݹñ³Ýù Prayers for Garabed & Azadouhie Loosian from - Gail & Paul Cifra Prayers & get well wishes to all who are ill from - M/M Scott Sahagian, Katherine Meranian, M/M John Mosto Paree Nubadag from - M/M Scott Sahagian Happy & Joyful Easter to All from - M/M Scott Sahagian Happy Name day to Larry Pahigian & Conner Richards from - M/M Scott Sahagian In loving memory of Neal Harry Sahagian & Harry Alexander on their Name Day from - M/M Scott Sahagian Happy Easter to All from - M/M Michael Naroian Special prayers of get well to all who are ill from - M/M Michael Naroian, Eva Naroian, Barbara & Richard Naroian Prayers & get well wishes to Rose Q. Azarian, Garabed Loosian & to All who are ill from - Bea Ohanian Happy Name Day to Larry Pahigian from - M/M Charles Bazarian Prayers & get well wishes to Rose Q. Azarian, Garabed Loosian & Betty Kassabian from - M/M Charles Bazarian Prayers for courage, strength & continued good health for Rickey from - Barbara & Richard Naroian Happy Easter to our Hye Pointe Family from - M/M John Mosto Honoring the ACYOA on Palm Sunday from - M/M John Mosto ALTAR DONATIONS ÜíÇñ³ïáõÃÛáõÝÝ»ñ êáõñµ Êáñ³ÝÇÝ Parishioners requesting Altar Flowers and Candles for any occasion or particular Sunday should approach a member of the Parish Council for an Altar Flower or Candle Donation form. Name of the donor will be listed in the weekly Bulletin and Newsletter. Requests for the Altar Donations can also be done by calling or ing the Church. ALTAR DONATIONS ÜíÇñ³ïáõÃÛáõÝÝ»ñ êáõñµ Êáñ³ÝÇÝ Easter Lilies from: Gary & JoAnn Gostanian, Paul & Gale Cifra in loving memory of Vasken & Mary Gostanian, Geoffrey Gary Gostanian & Lazarus & Susan Johnson The Butter for Holy Thursday & Easter Flowers donated by Mary Tatoyian The Butter for Holy Thursday is donated by Gabriel Goshdigian. Thank you!!! God blesses us with family and friends, and sometimes God blesses us with friends that become our family. Thank you for the thoughts and prayers. Your kindness and support are appreciated more than any words can ever express. --The Loosian Family NAME DAY ²Ýí³Ý³ÏáãáõÃÛ³Ý úñ Harootyoon BIBLE VERSE OF THE DAY úñí³ ²ëïáõ³Í³ßÝã³Ï³Ý ÀÝûñóí³Íù Isaiah 60:1-3 Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. 2 See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you. 3 Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

3 TODAY S GOSPEL READING ²Ûëûñí³ ²í»ï³ñ³ÝÁ Mark 16:2-8 2 Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb 3 and they asked each other, Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb? 4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. 5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. 6 Don t be alarmed, he said. You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter, He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you. 8 Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid. Prayer List One of our most fundamental Christian responsibilities is to pray. There is truly great power in prayer. During this Divine Liturgy and throughout this next week your prayers are requested: Prayer of the Week I am most wretchedly tormented, the least of those who pray to you with this book. I have forgiven my debtors with all my soul, so that you might block the cruel wishes of my spiteful voice. And on my knees repeatedly, I have prayed, with all my heart, for reconciliation with those who have betrayed me. I pray for them along with those who have shown kindness. For as you are greater than I, may you visit a comparable portion of mercy upon me, praiseworthy guardian, you who are life for mortals like me, strength for the frail, might for the unsteady, fountain of wisdom for the stupefied. For I am always stumbling in error, like an inexperienced diver in dark waters, unwittingly in the snare of death, I did not comprehend the danger. I did not recognize the trap. I did not see the hidden devices for capturing the quarry. I did not suspect camouflaged traps. I did not sense the ambush on all sides. I did not feel the hostage-taking fishhook net. As the Psalmist said, Evils visited me, and I was unable to recognize them. For the spiritual growth of The Armenian Apostolic Church at Hye Pointe; For more young men to hear the Lord s call to service into the Holy Priesthood of the Armenian Church; For other young men and women also to hear God s call to serve His Church. For Unity of the Armenian Church and of all Churches. For the sick, homeless, hungry, the poor and disabled; those in mourning, lonely or depressed; those experiencing emotional, physical or spiritual difficulties; For those experiencing family, employment or financial difficulties; For the increase of love and understanding among us all; For us all to gain a personal relationship with our Lord, Jesus Christ; And especially for good health for: All our parishioners who are ill or in recovery Charles Loosian, Rose Q. Azarian Betty Kassabian

4 The Parish Council is requesting donations for the following: Please contact Fr. Vart Gyozalyan or Parish Council for more details if you are interested to make the donation. Church Office: Automated External Defibrillator MAKE A DONATION TO YOUR CHURCH The Armenian Apostolic Church at Hye Pointe has developed an option for those who wish to make a donation to their church in the form of stocks, bonds, mutual funds or other securities. The church has established a brokerage account and for those individuals who wish to make such a donation. The church will benefit by the donation, and you as the donor will receive a tax deduction for your donation. It is a win win for both your church and yourself. Please contact a Parish Council for more details if you are interested. Church Office: After just a few short weeks of the new year, Stewardship is on the way to reaching its $30,000 goal. Currently, we are more than ⅓ of the way there. Thank you to those that have submitted their stewardship cards. You do not need to be a dues paying member of the Church to be a steward. Please help us reach our goal by contacting Armen Derderian, Treasurer or Charlie Bazarian, Assistant Treasurer for additional details or to ask questions. Armen can be reached at (978) or at armen@armentaxcpa.com and Charlie can be reached at (978) or at cabazarian@comcast.net.

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7 Bible Study for the month of March Spring: An Ode to New Life As springtime approaches, our attention is usually drawn towards the flourishing world around us, towards the earth that sheds its winter coat and makes room for fresh life to grow. This habitual renewal of creation inspires us to look at our environments and relationships with fresh perspective. Springtime builds a certain anticipation that is closely mirrored by the anticipation of the Church s celebration of Easter. We are patiently humbled through the season of Great Lent by fasting and praying as Jesus did; Easter, then, marks the moment where we, like Christ, roll back the stone, shake off our old cloaks, and declare ourselves alive. 1. Read Romans 12:1-2. How did your Lenten journey this year renew you? 2. This passage addresses the renewal of both the body and the mind. In a world that seems to emphasize that the spiritual is lasting and the physical is fleeting, why do you think St. Paul emphasized both the body and the mind in worship? 3. What new spiritual practices, if any, did you develop and would like to continue after Easter? On Easter morning, we sing Christ is risen from the dead! He trampled down death by death, and by his resurrection he granted life unto us. Glory unto him for all ages. Amen. The feast dedicated to Christ s resurrection celebrates the glory of Christ conquering the grave and God reclaiming his beloved humanity. Through his triumphant son, God is making all things new. Like the springtime itch to clean our homes, we recognize our self s highest potential for beauty, hospitality, and compassion, and we do everything in our power to throw off the old self and put on the new. This spirit is reflected in the very symbol of our faith, in our icon of greatest value: the Cross. A tool once meant for fear and death was transformed by Christ s triumphant resurrection, thus turning it into a symbol of life, love, and growth. 4. Take a look at John 15:1-11. What are the branches that God has been pruning off of you to make you grow stronger? 5. What do you think it means to abide in Christ? Can you name some steps you could take to abide in Christ and strengthen your love for God? In closing, read and reflect upon this excerpt from an Armenian ode during Eastertide: A bright new flower had appeared this day out of the new tomb. The spirits, like unto plants, adorned with many hues, have become green with life. The florescence of the divine light had bloomed in the spiritual spring. He who died for us in love, raised with him our fallen nature. The light of the resurrection shone in the darkness of the shadows of death. THINK ABOUT A TIME WHERE SOMETHING GOOD CAME OUT OF A SITUATION THAT YOU INITIALLY THOUGHT WAS TERRIBLE. WRITE DOWN HOW YOU FELT, THE PROCESS YOU TOOK TO RECOGNIZE ITS WORTH, AND HOW IT HELPED YOU GROW IN THE END. SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCES WITH THE GROUP. Diocese of the Armenian Church (Eastern) Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries March 2016

8 Palm Sunday Sunday School children leaning about the Nshkhar- Communion bread Blessing of the Children Book Signing at The Armenia Apostolic Church at Hye Pointe "Armenians of the Merrimack Valley" by Phil Brown & Tom Vartabedian Easter Egg hunt

9 Glorious Resurrection of Jesus Christ ACYOA Palm Sunday dinner and program ACYOA members serving the dinner The Feast of the Glorious Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ or the Easter Feast is one of the five major feasts of the Armenian Church. The main origin of the feast is the following. The king of Egypt didn t agree to allow the Hebrews to travel into the desert to offer sacrifices to Lord the God, and the last punishment of God on the king of Egypt that should force the king to let the Hebrews out of the country was the death of every first-born son and every firstborn of all cattle in Egypt. In order to save the Hebrews from that punishment the Lord spoke to Moses and by means of Moses ordered the Hebrews to kill a lamb and taking some of the blood and put it on the doorposts and above the doors of the houses. On the night when He would go through the land of Egypt to kill every first-born male, both human and animal, He would see the blood on the doors and would not let the Angel of Death enter the house. He would pass over and wouldn t harm the Hebrews when punishing the Egyptians.

10 Finally, after that punishment, the king allowed the Hebrews to leave the country, and the Hebrews left Egypt. So, mankind obtained life thanks to the Blood of Christ, the Lamb of God, in order to reach the Christians blessed land - the Kingdom of Heaven. The Mystery of Easter is the mystery of Jesus Christ, His Salutary Holy Blood shed for mankind and His Rising from the dead for mankind. The Son of God should incarnate, be subjected to tortures, be crucified, buried and the third day raise from death (Ps 15:9-11, 29:4, 40:11-13, 117:16-17, Ho 6:2-3). Following the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ His body was taken off the cross and placed into the tomb and the entrance to the tomb was closed by a large stone and the soldiers were ordered to control the entrance to the tomb. After three days the three women, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, Mary Magdalene, Mary, the Mother of James and Joseph, and the wife of Zebedee brought spices and perfumes to anoint the body of Jesus. They found the stone rolled away from the entrance to the tomb, so they went in but they didn t the body of the Lord. They stood there puzzled about this, when suddenly two angels dressed in white appeared and said to them, Why are you looking among the dead for one who is alive? He is not here, ha has been raised (Lk 24:5-6). The women returned from the tomb and told all these things to the eleven disciples and the rest. According to Peter more than 500 people saw Christ who had risen from the dead. So, this is the evangelical tiding of the fact of Easter or Holy Resurrection. Resurrection of Christ became the basis of the Christian doctrine and faith. If that is true, it means that Christ has been raised from death, then we have nothing to preach and you have nothing to believe (1 Co 15:13-14). Christ rose from the dead, by means of His Death He destroyed Death and granted eternal life. I am the Resurrection and I am the Life. Whoever believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die (Jn 11:25). Christ died for the salvation of mankind and by His Blood took away the sin in the world, so that we should inherit eternal life. On the day of the Easter feast people dye eggs red as a symbol of fruitful life, salvation and joy. St. Gregory of Datev considers the egg to be the symbol of the world, the shell of which is the sky, the membrane is the air, the white is the water and the yolk is the earth. Dyeing eggs red symbolizes the salvation of the world by means of Blood of Christ. The Armenian Church celebrates the Easter Feast on the first Sunday following the full moon of the vernal equinox, with 35 days moveability, during the period from March 21 April 26. The Armenian Church traditionally celebrates evening Divine Liturgy on the evening prior to Jesus Christ s Glorious Resurrection (Easter). Following the conclusion of the Liturgy, the assembled faithful take lit candles home, symbolizing the Light that Christ brought into the world. The Divine Liturgy celebrated on the eve is the start of the festive ceremonies. On Sunday, the day of the feast, a morning service is conducted the Antastan Service is performed wherein the four corners of the world are blessed, afterwards the Divine Liturgy is celebrated. That day the faithful welcome each other on the occasion of the Glorious Resurrection of Christ conveying the great tiding: Christ is Risen from the dead and receive the answer: Blessed is the Resurrection of Christ. Fifty-day period beginning from the Easter Feast the Holy Feast of the Glorious Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ - and lasting till Pentecost in the Holy Armenian Apostolic Church is called Hinounk or Hinants period. That period is dedicated to the mystery of Resurrection of the Lord, and that is why it is Dominical period. The name Hinounk comes from the word hisuonk (fifty). The first forty days of the period are dedicated to the appearings of Rosen Christ: For forty days after his death he appeared to them many times in ways that proved beyond doubt that he was alive. They saw him, and he talked with them about the Kingdom of God (Ac 1:3). The last ten days of the Hinants period are dedicated to the Ascension of Christ. Hianats period is concluded with the Feast of Ascension. According to the Church laws there are no fasting days during all fifty days of Hinants period, which means that all people can eat everything during that period.