Archbishop Hovnan Derderian April 2018 Primate s Easter Message

Transcription

1 Archbishop Hovnan Derderian April 2018 Primate s Easter Message Bible Readings April 1 Mark 16:1-8 April 8 John 1:1-17 April 15 John 3:1-12 April 22 John 5:24-30 April 29 John 7:14-24 Easter Greetings One who gives: Krisdos haryav ee merelotz. Christ is risen from the dead. One who receives: Orhnial eh harootiunn Krisdosi. Blessed is the resurrection of Christ Easter Message of His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America and Mexico For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light. Psalm 36:9 Easter is the fulfillment of human anticipation for spiritual renewal a longing desire that Christians feel deep down in their hearts with an implicit faith. As the deer pants for streams of water, we as Christians yearn for the fountain of life Jesus Christ (Psalms 42:1). In the resurrected Christ, we see the clear light, which illuminates our entirety. In this spiritual anticipation, the mystery of the Resurrection of Christ, the Lord is revealed. What Christians call a mystery, the rest of the world considers a paradox that subconsciously challenges even the most skeptical minds. Those who perceive the mystery of Resurrection from a spiritual point of view comprehend its life-giving power that leads to eternity. Subsequently, they strive to illuminate their lives with the inextinguishable light of Christ and drink from His fountain of life. Christ is risen from the dead. Blessed is the Resurrection of Christ. Believing in the Resurrection of Christ implicitly is not sufficient. More than ever, we have to have explicit and abiding faith so that we may surmount everyday challenges thrown at our face. Many are worldly distractions that try to deviate us from the path of truth and righteousness. The evil of this world is ready to devour us lest we stumble or succumb to its temptations. As a Christian nation, we continue to thrive because of our faith and essential values we hold in reverence our independent Motherland Armenia, Holy Etchmiadzin, the ingenious Armenian people living in Armenia, Artsakh or Diaspora, the call of the blood of our martyred heroes, and the visionary youth of today. These eternal values embody the true mystery of resurrection and transcend the worldly transient. Historically, the Armenian people shared the Passion of Christ and the anguish of crucifixion. However, through the Resurrection of Christ, we rose victoriously with a renewed life. This year, quite symbolically, Easter coincides with the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the First Republic of Armenia and the heroic Battle of Sardarabad. Derived from the core message of Easter, we witness the awakening of the patriotic spirit and national unity in the hearts and minds of our be-

2 loved faithful. Today, the resounding chimes of Sardarabad ring louder than ever. They testify the freedomloving spirit of our people, which vouchsafed Armenia s first independent Republic in Not too far from Sardarabad, we can hear the prayerful peal of Etchmiadzin bells proclaiming the undying spirit of our resurrected nation. The heroes of Sardarabad, Artsahk, and Avarayr, although chronologically apart from each other, symbolize one and the same historical truth, that nothing can defeat our resilient faith in Christ. Dear Faithful, The secret of our eternity lies in the mystery of the Resurrection of Christ. It is imperative for us to cling firm to our Christian values in order to continue to thrive on the face of this earth. Our forefathers attested to that truth through their personal example and sacrificial life. Therefore, this Easter should be another invitation extended to each of us to live with faith and serve as an example to our children, youth, and young families. Furthermore, we are reminded to preserve our identity, kindle the love for our Motherland, and remember the sacrifice or our ancestors, who always prioritized the mission of the Holy Church in their lives. With this in mind, let us glorify God by proclaiming, Christ is risen from the dead. Blessed is the Resurrection of Christ, the Lord. Amen. Ladies Society Update Easter is almost here and Sue Barsamian, chair of the Holy Thursday luncheon, is busily creating a delicious vegan menu for that day with all of her special touches. Her menu has been tested on husband, Brian, and his Super Bowl Buddies, and meets their stamp of approval. The luncheon will follow Holy Thursday Badarak Services at 10:30 am on March 29. For those who haven t paid your 2018 dues, please don t forget your checkbook with checks made payable to St. Vartan Church in the amount of $25. Please be sure to read the article in this newsletter about new banking regulations and how it affects the Ladies Society checking account. The Kitchen Remodel Committee continues to be hard at work. A lot of planning goes into this process and we continue to deal with unexpected issues by Health and Fire restrictions, City of Oakland Building Permits, the National Safety Foundation and the American Disabilities Department s requirements. Permits price tags are a whopper, but we need to do this right or risk a tear out later. We will be interviewing contractors at our next meeting with Restaurant Design Concepts, so please continue to watch for further updates. Are you considering joining our Ladies Society? Please contact Membership Chair, Sylvia Gozurian, or at sgozurian@att.net. The St. Vartan Voice newsletter is published once a month by St. Vartan Armenian Church. The deadline for all articles is the fifteenth of each month. Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate Rev. Fr. Hovel Ohanyan, Parish Priest and President of All Church Organizations Parish Council Chair: Edward Jamgotchian Parish Assembly Chair: Chris Yaldezian Choir Director: Artin Der Minassians Organist: Araks Aghazarian and Ida Mazmanian ACYO Chair: Sevan Jindoian Sunday School Superintendent: Janet Yeghissian and Nicole Vasgerdsian Ladies Society Chair: Marlene Tolegian and Arlene Hovsepian Cultural Society Chair: Liz Ojakian Hokejosh: Nora Hanoian Newsletter Editors: Arlene Hovsepian and Rachel Harger Church Secretary: Rachel Harger Altar Flowers: Carole Chang Church Custodian: Wartkes Hagopian Divine Liturgy Service Sundays 10:30 a.m. Earth Day April 22, Spruce Street, Oakland, CA Phone (510) Fax: (510) stvartanoakland@aol.com Website:

3 St. Vartan Church Parish Council gratefully acknowledges the following donations: In Honor of their Wedding Anniversary Don and Lisa Manoogian (Ladies Society Kitchen Remodel Fund) Youghakin June Demerdjian In Honor of Arto and Nadya Yagjian s 40th Wedding Anniversary Nurhan and Mary Donikian and Family (Ladies Society Kitchen Remodel Fund) Ladies Society Kitchen Remodel Fund Ronnie and Aram Henesian Priest Discretionary Fund Seta Azizian In Memory Ron Kallan Edward and Karen Sarafian, Alan and Michelle Asadoorian, Carole Jouroyan, Sharon and Bob Leyman (Ladies Society Kitchen Remodel Fund) Harry Shahinian Seno and Dickie Garabedian (Altar Flowers) Nick Mehterian Sandra Cadell Tom Cadell Sandra Cadell Fr. Mesrob Sarafian (Upon the Publication of his Book of Sermons, Life s Lessons Learned) Shannon and Edward Gentry (Orphan Fund), Ed Medzian Barbara Ekizian (Mother of Lisa Manoogian) Gay, Suzanne and Linda Diers (Ladies Society Kitchen Remodel Fund) Frances Stevens Suzanne Diers (Ladies Society Kitchen Remodel Fund) ENDOWMENT FUND In Memory Ron Kallan Alice Sarafian Fr. Mesrob Sarafian (Upon the Publication of his Book of Sermons, Life s Lessons Learned) Frederick and Ardemis Tajirian News From Our St. Vartan Family Baptisms On February 24, 2018 Fr. Hovel baptized Lia Isabelle Mcrtichian, daughter of Karen Mkrtchyan and Astine Alaverdyan. Lia s Godfather is Armen Sedrakian and her Godmother is Ruth Alahydoian. Luna Goitom was baptized by Fr. Hovel at St. Vartan Church on March 24, Luna s parents are Goitom Gebrekidan Tewolde and Samia Chimar Ghebreistos. The Godparents are Tesfaldet Gebrehiwet and Meron Abera Kebede. Condolences Eleanor Meltzer passed away on December 27, Our condolences to her daughter, Mary Ann Meltzer, and son, David (Vivian) Meltzer. Easter Jokes Why did the Easter egg hide? Because he was a little chicken! Where does the Easter Bunny go to eat pancakes? To IHOP, of course! How did the soggy Easter Bunny dry himself? With a hare dryer!

4 Sunday School Update The Sunday School has really hit a great groove with interesting lessons and discussions, singing and fun activities! As a Lenten activity of thanks, children were asked to write letters to their teachers, and the notes and cards they brought in were so special, heartfelt and really wonderfully done. Receiving these cards started our morning off with a great surge of energy and gratitude. Palm Sunday and Easter are always a special time at St. Vartan, but this year feels extra special because of the wonderful students we share our Sunday mornings with. We hope you'll join us! Upcoming Events Easter Sunday Service ACYO Easter Bake Sale Merelots Prayer Service Armenian State Choir Meet and Greet Armenian State Choir sings Badarak at St. Vartan Parish Council Meeting Choir Practice Choir Practice Sunday, April 1 Sunday, April 1 Sunday, April 8 Friday, April 13 Sunday, April 15 Wednesday, April 18 Sunday, April 22 Sunday, April 29 Nicole and Janet, Sunday School Superintendents St. Vartan Armenian Apostolic Church Rev. Fr. Hovel Ohanyan Schedule of Easter Services, 2018 Palm Sunday, March 25 Morning Service...10:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy and Sermon...10:30 a.m. Opening of the Doors & Service of Antasdan (in the parking lot)... following Badarak Palm Sunday Coffee Hour following service Holy Thursday, March 29 Divine Liturgy Memorial of the Last Supper...10:30 a.m. Ladies Society Lenten Luncheon following service Washing of the Feet... 6:00 p.m. Service of Betrayal and Passion of Our Lord... 7:30 p.m. Good Friday, March 30 Service of the Burial of our Lord... 6:30 p.m. Holy Saturday, March 31 Reading of the Scriptures... 6:00 p.m. Divine Liturgy... 6:30 p.m. Easter Sunday, April 1 Morning Service...10:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy...10:30 a.m. Service of Antasdan (Blessing of the Fields)... following Badarak New Sunday, Merelots, April 8 Morning Service...10:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy...10:30 a.m. Requiem Service Following Badarak We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing. 2 Thessalonians 1:3 Christ is risen from the dead. Blessed is the Resurrection of Christ. Hokehankist will not be offered Palm Sunday through Easter Sunday inclusive. 10:30 am After Church 10:30 am 7:30 pm 10:30 am 6:30 pm 12:45 pm 12:45 pm Home Blessing The Home Blessing Service is one of the most ancient and revered traditions of the Armenian Church. The three necessary items to conduct this service are: water, bread and salt. For the traditional Easter Home Blessing, please call Der Hayr for an appointment at Easter Yughakin It is customary in the Armenian Church to provide Yughakin, especially around the feasts of Christmas and Easter. This practice dates as far back as the time of Moses in the Old Testament. Yughakin in Armenian means "price of oil". Each local church community would donate money specially earmarked towards the purchase of oil, which in turn would keep the lanterns burning and ultimately the doors of the Church open. Let us continue the custom of Yughakin, so we can keep our "oil lanterns" burning and our doors always open at St. Vartan. Please be generous to the Church in observing this Armenian custom. Merelots Service A requiem will be said for the souls of the departed on Merelots Sunday, April 8. Those who would like to have the names of their departed loved ones included in the prayers, should contact the church secretary by April 5, 2018 at or stvartanoakland@aol.com.

5 Dear Friends, Meet and Greet the Armenian State Chamber Choir As you know, the fantastic Armenian State Chamber Choir will be in the Bay Area in April for their highlyanticipated concert in Berkeley. This is an opportunity that comes around only once in a lifetime. Therefore, I'd like to invite you to join us and give them a warm welcome! The Meet and Greet event is scheduled for Friday, April 13 at 7:30pm at St. Vartan Church John Marukian Hall, $35 RSVP by March 31: Liz Ojakian, lizojakian@yahoo.com, or Zaven Kanneian, zavenk2@gmail.com, At their concert, the choir will be performing Missa Memoria by David Halajian. I just heard that Haladjian will travel to the Bay Area for this concert and will be with us on Friday. Furthermore, as a "surprise", composer Robert Amirkhanyan will be traveling with the choir as well! Two of Armenia's popular young singers of the traditional songs, Mavr Mkrtchyan and Razmik Baghdasarian, are members of the choir; another member is an expert in Armenian folklore (dance and song) and may show us some dance movements. All in all, it's going to be a friendly, fun, and memorable evening. You will make it even more special, if you join! Looking forward! Yours, Checks for Ladies Society Due to new bank regulations, and the fact that all of St. Vartan Church organizations are under the same federal tax number, it will now be necessary that you address any check you write to simply St. Vartan Armenian Church. We will not be able to deposit any checks made out to the Ladies Society, which includes kitchen remodel donations, the purchases of Khanoot items, Ladies Society Luncheons, and Ladies Society annual dues. Thank You. Artin Der Minassians, St. Vartan Choir Director

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7 ACYO Update On February 28 Fr. Hovel joined worshippers for a special Lenten service at St. John Armenian Church in San Francisco to memorialize the Armenian victims massacred in Azerbaijan from 1988 to Parish Council Update Election of PC Officers At the first Parish Council (PC) meeting representing the new officers elected at the January 28, 2018 General Assembly, the members discussed and confirmed the following PC assignments: Mr. Edward Jamgotchian Chairman Mr. Nazaret Jindoian Vice Chairman Mr. Paul Ohanesian Treasurer Ms. Liz Ojakian Recording secretary, and ACYO and Cultural Committee liaison Mr. Arto Yagjian Maintenance Ms. Nellie Azizian Corresponding secretary and Ladies Society liaison Ms. Kim Bardakian Sunday School liaison Mr. Yeghia Apkarian Athletics liaison and assisting with maintenance Mr. Ara Azizian Membership Mr. Arsen Avanesian Advisor Mr. Mark Henesian Advisor Mr. Michael Krikorian Advisor Pledge donation envelopes The PC has decided to eliminate the boxed set of colored and numbered pledge envelopes in order to save the printing cost and eliminate the waste due to the number of pledge envelopes not being used. Only a small number of pledged members diligently use their envelopes with the vast majority being thrown out, or not even picked-up: dozens of boxed sets remain uncollected at Church. You may keep and use this year s envelopes in future years, regardless of the date stamped on them. Of greater importance is retaining and using your pledged member number, whenever you wish to have your donation specifically applied towards your annual dues. Unnumbered envelopes will be available at church for anyone wishing to make a donation on Sunday mornings. Members can write their name and membership number on these envelopes. Additional information on how to identify your pledge donations in 2019 will be provided over the coming months. Easter Joke Andrew was watching his father, a pastor, write a sermon for the Easter service. 'How do you know what to say?' Andrew asked. 'Why, God tells me', the father replied. 'Oh, then why do you keep crossing things out?' This month the St. Vartan ACYO was in attendance at the 2nd Annual Reclaim weekend at St. Leon Armenian Cathedral in Burbank. The weekend started off with a mixer then led into the opening ceremony, where our very own Nataline Jindoian presented on behalf of the ACYO Central Council, followed by a spiritual dance around the bonfire. Our youth attended various seminars, including: "Why your life is too complicated: Simplicity and Intentionality" led by Fr. Mesrop Ash, "Creativity and the Artistic Process" led by Michael Goorjian, "The Holy Spirit and Mission of the Church" led by Fr. Krikor Zakarian, and "Virtual Reality- Armenian Churches of the World" led by David Karapetyan. The St. Vartan ACYO would also like to thank our Parish Council for sponsoring this trip. This weekend I really enjoyed having a chance to reclaim my faith. When the weekend started I found interest in the message from Isabel Bayrakdarian; Imagine a bright flashlight. If you put it under the covers you will not be able to see it anymore, if you allow the light from within to guide you it will show you where to go and the obstacles without tripping. The quote stood out to me because if we trust God will help us find that light and when we do it means we have tapped into our soul and that through God we can do all things. At Reclaim I am able to really regain the faith in myself as well; I m looking forward to what next year offers. Silva Jindoian At reclaim, I learned that it is important to keep your Christian faith even through tough times. God is always testing you to see if you believe in him and will reward you one day. Also, the reason we are alive is through him, so it is never good to not be thankful for all he has given us. It was important for me to be at Reclaim because I am a strong believer of God, but sometimes I start losing faith, bit by bit, every time something doesn t go my way. At Reclaim, I realized that all I have is thanks to God and I should change the way I react to problems. Also, I met a lot of new people who came to reclaim their faith in God, just like me. I d like to go back next year because I learned a lot and it was overall a great experience. I hope I can learn even more in Reclaim next year, to build my faith in God up higher and higher. Reclaim was a great experience for me and others around me and I cannot wait to go back next year! Michael Karapetyan Silva Jindoian, ACYO Publicity Director