ÚÇëݳÏÇ ÐÇÝ»ñáñ¹ ÎÇñ³ÏÇ

Transcription

1 ê. ñç áñ Èáõë³õáñÇã гÛó. ²é³ù»É³Ï³Ý ºÏ»Õ»óÇ ²ñÅÝ. î. Ø»ëñáå øñýû. Úáíë»³Ý St. Gregory the Enlightener Armenian Church Rev. Fr. Mesrob Hovsepyan, pastor 1131 North Street, White Plains, NY / Office: (914) Pastor: (804) Der Mesrob - fr.mesrob@yahoo.com, Office - saintgregorychurchwp@gmail.com Web: Office Hours: Monday closed, Tuesday-Friday 9:30-3:00 pm Դեկտեմբեր 25, 2016 December 25, 2016 Welcome to St. Gregory the Enlightener Armenian Church! Legacy of Our Martyrs: A Gift to Carry Forward The Morning Service starts at 9:45 a.m. on Sundays and is followed by Soorp Badarak (Divine Liturgy) at 10:15 a.m. Parish Council Members on Duty: All Parish Council Members Today s Scripture Readings: Hebrews 7: Luke 19:12-28 ÚÇëݳÏÇ ÐÇÝ»ñáñ¹ ÎÇñ³ÏÇ Fifth Sunday of Advent MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR! We extend our prayers and best wishes to all parishioners and friends of St. Gregory for a blessed Christmas season and a happy and healthy New Year. May the Light of Christ shine within us and may He bless all of us with the peace of His presence and love in the new year. Wishing you and your family a blessed and healthy New Year. May God bless and keep You well!

2 ST. STEPHEN THE PROTOMARTYR AND THE FIRST MARTYR The Feast of Saint Stephen (Soorp Stepanosi Don) is a very special feast which will be celebrated on December 26. It is a day when the great protomartyr and first deacon of the Church is honored in such a way that all the deacons of the Armenian Church are remembered and honored as well. Saint Stephen (Saint Stepanos in Armenian) was the first Christian martyr and the first of seven deacons to be ordained by the twelve apostles. The responsibility of these seven deacons was to take care of the secular needs of the Hellenic (Greek Speaking) Jewish Christian community in Jerusalem. If we read Acts 6 & 7 we see that Saint Stephen did much more. Reading on in Acts 8, we understand that Stephen began to preach the word of God, and Stephen, full of the grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. Truly feeling the power of God, Saint Stephen worked hard to spread God s name and love in the Jewish community of Jerusalem. However, he became controversial, falsely accused, and taken to the Sanhedrin, charged with blasphemy and convicted. He was stoned to death as he was cast out of the city. The site of his martyrdom was the eastern gate of Jerusalem, which was later, named after him. As he was being stoned, Stephen prayed, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. Then he knelt down and cried with a loud voice, Lord do not hold this sin against them. Acts: Saint Stephen was the first martyr and also the first protodeacon. His feast day holds much meaning for us as Armenian Christians. Saint Stephen has been an example of Christian life. We honor him on his feast day and honor those who have followed his path. Ս. Ստեփանոս Նախավկայի և առաջին մարտիրոսի հիշատակության օր Ս. Ստեփանոսն Ընդհանրական Եկեղեցու ամենասիրված սրբերից է, Քրիստոսի սիրո վարդապետության համար նահատակված առաջին մարտիրոսը: Ըստ Հայ Եկեղեցու եռամեծ վարդապետ Ս. Գրիգոր Տաթևացու` նա գնում է Պետրոս և Հովհաննես առաքյալների մոտ, մկրտվում: Մկրտության պահին ջրի վրա երևում է լուսապսակ: Այդ զարմանահրաշ դեպքից հետո նրան անվանում են «Ստեփանոս», որ նշանակում է պսակավոր: Նա ճանաչեց ճշմարիտ Աստծուն`Հիսուս Քրիստոսին` հետագայում դառնալով Ավետարանի ամենաեռանդուն քարոզիչը: Սբ. Ստեփանոսը դարձավ Քրիստոսի համար նահատակված առաջին վկան ու մարտիրոսը և այդ պատճառով կոչվեց ՆԱԽԱՎԿԱ: Սբ. Ստեփանոս Նախասարկավագն իր աներեր հավատով, սրբակենցաղությամբ, նվիրումով, ծառայասիրությամբ և մյուս առաքինություններով օրինակ է քրիստոնյաների համար` Ճշմարտությունը ճանաչելու և Տիրոջ քաղցրությունը ճաշակելու համար:

3 TODAY S SCRIPTURE READING The Gospel reading is from the Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Luke (19:12-28) So he said, A nobleman went to a distant country to get royal power for himself and then return. He summoned ten of his slaves, and gave them ten pounds, and said to them, Do business with these until I come back. But the citizens of his country hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, We do not want this man to rule over us. When he returned, having received royal power, he ordered these slaves, to whom he had given the money, to be summoned so that he might find out what they had gained by trading. The first came forward and said, Lord, your pound has made ten more pounds. He said to him, Well done, good slave! Because you have been trustworthy in a very small thing, take charge of ten cities. Then the second came, saying, Lord, your pound has made five pounds. He said to him, And you, rule over five cities. Then the other came, saying, Lord, here is your pound. I wrapped it up in a piece of cloth, for I was afraid of you, because you are a harsh man; you take what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow. He said to him, I will judge you by your own words, you wicked slave! You knew, did you, that I was a harsh man, taking what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow? Why then did you not put my money into the bank? Then when I returned, I could have collected it with interest. He said to the bystanders, Take the pound from him and give it to the one who has ten pounds. (And they said to him, Lord, he has ten pounds! ) I tell you, to all those who have, more will be given; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. But as for these enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them bring them here and slaughter them in my presence. Jesus Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem After he had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.

4 SAVE THE DATE May 21, 2017 Opening ceremony of the new Harry & Edna Keleshian Hall. Details to follow.

5 ACOLYTE TRAINING SESSIONS All boys (ages 8 and over) and girls (ages 8-12) who are interested in becoming altar servers are encouraged to attend the Acolyte Training Program that Fr. Mesrob has started in October. Date to be announced; Time: 12:30 PM in the sanctuary The Acolyte s Training Program is tailored for young boys/girls who would like to learn to participate in the liturgical services of the Armenian Church as altar servers. For more information or sign up your child(ren) please talk to Fr. Mesrob. SAVE THE DATE March 26, 2017 Lionel Galstaun Annual Memorial Concert Edward Pogosian: Cellist Vatche Jambazian: Piano Details to follow. Today, please take a moment to remember in your prayers Lucine Adourian, Arshaluys Kaleli, Gale Perzigian, Catherine Papalian, Girair Poladian, Armen Atamian-Sahagian; Mary Azarian as well as all the sick and recovering members of our community. May God touch His faithful servants with His healing hand, and grant them good health & recovery. Please inform Der Hayr if you have friends or family who are suffering any physical or spiritual distress and are in need of prayer, and he will add them to his prayer list where they will be remembered before the Holy and Immortal Lamb of God during the Eucharist. We all need prayer both to say for others and to be said for us. IT S HARVEST TIME It is time to remember those housed in shelters right here in our own town. Please be generous with non-perishable items to fill our local food pantries. Thank you and God bless you! Gail Keyishian, Outreach Committee

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7 CHRISTMAS POINSETTIAS The Christmas season is upon us again and the time has come to adorn our Holy Altar and Sanctuary with beautiful Poinsettia plants. Parishioners who wish to make donation towards the purchase of poinsettias to decorate the altar and the sanctuary can give their donations to the Parish Council members or mail it to the church office. Thank you.

8 Today January 1, Sunday January 5, 2017 Thursday January 6, 2017 Friday January 8, 2017 Sunday January 22, Sunday February 25, Saturday February 26, Sunday Divine Liturgy. Sunday School is on break. Divine Liturgy, 10:30 am. EVE OF THE NATIVITY AND THEOPHANY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST - J RAKALOOYTZ 6:00 pm - Reading of Holy Scriptures in both languages by Armenian School & Sunday School students 6:30-7:45 pm - Divine Liturgy of Light - J rakalootzee Soorp Badarak FEAST OF THE NATIVITY AND THEOPHANY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST 9:45am - Matins - Singing Armenian Christmas Hymns 10:15 am - Christmas Badarak & Blessing of Water Service 12:30 pm - Christmas Lunch "Agape Meal" Please bring a dish to share for the potluck lunch. FEAST OF NAMING OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST 9:45am - Matins, Morning Service 10:15 am - Christmas Badarak & Blessing of Water Service (Bilingual) 12:30 pm - Christmas Brunch Hosted by Women's Guild Lecture/Presentation following the Divine Liturgy "Çüngüsabadoum: Chasing the Unknown Past from Opposite Sides of (His)tory By: Deanna Cachoian-Schanz Manti Night: hosted by the Armenian School. Details to follow. POON PAREKENTAN beginning of the Great Lent