Der Hayr's Weekly Message

August 10 , 2008

Readings- Isaiah 7:1-9, 1 Corinthians 13:11-14:5, Mark 2:1-12

Fast of the Assumption

A warm welcome to all who have come to worship with us this day!!

If Christianity were your full time job what category would you place yourself in, would it be full time, part time, or per diem? Better yet what category do you think that God would put you in, do you think that a time clock would be necessary to measure the time that you devote to your Christianity or would you just completely go about your daily business with absolutely no consideration for time or place?
A great many fall into the last category which is per diem or an on call basis, or in this case God as we need Him and not that we truly need Him, remember that if you do not know God then you do not know what peace is. We will never as humans be at peace with ourselves until we realize that everything that we are both body, soul, and spirit belongs to God and no one else, when it comes to this indisputable truth of our Christianity there really is no gray area! There is no such thing as a cafeteria Christian, you cannot think that Christ called you to a buffet, He called us to His last supper, the feast of all feasts. He said to His disciples take this bread and eat it for this is my Body which is given up for you, He did not say take what you like from the buffet table, the final conclusion being that you cannot pick and choose the parts of your Christianity that makes you feel good and discard the rest of the Gospel, imagine if Christ said to God His Heavenly Father I am ready to die on the Cross today but tomorrow may be a different story.
Imagine where we would be today if those who came before us lived their faith in this very same way do you really think that we would have survived as a Church and Nation? These are choices that only we can make, and if God seems so distant to you then think about it for a moment and guess who moved? As always the choice is yours to make!

Please remember the ill and confined in your prayers:
Archpriest Torkom Hagopian, Yeretzgeen Patricia Dagley, Hagop Garavanian, Berj Karibian, Senator Edward Kennedy, Sarkis Minasian, Aram DerApkarian, Alice DerApkarian

A prayer for the repose of the servants of God have been requested by Jack & Pauline Kachanian in memory of Jack Brian Kachanian, Sarkis Kachanian, Mariam & Manoog Manoogian, Jack Manoogian, & Shavarsh Chilingirian. May their memories be eternal.

Sunday September 7th- Annual Church Picnic/ Festival at the American Legion Grounds in Haverhill form 12:00- 6:00 p.m.
October 17th & 18th- Annual Fall Fair at Jaffarian Hall
Sunday November 9th- 38th Anniversary of St. Gregory Church and 50th Anniversary of the Eastern Prelacy presided over by His Grace Bishop Anoushavan Vicar General of the Eastern Prelacy
Saturday November 29th- Ladies Guild Craft Fair at the Jaffarian Hall-Details to follow. Please reserve the date.

Sunday August 17th- Feast of the Assumption- Divine Liturgy will be followed by the Blessing of the Grapes. This is a major Feast of the Church. No Hokehankist ( Requiem) is held on this day.
Sunday September 14th- Feast of the Elevation of the Holy Cross.  Procession of the Holy & Blessing of Basil- No Requiems on this day.

Sunday September 14th- Registration Day for Sunday and Armenian Schools for the 2008- 2009- School Year.

Donations of Bottled Water and Soda for the Church Picnic on September 7th can be brought to Church on Sundays over the next few weeks. Any and all donations will be gratefully appreciated

Sunday August 24th- Blessing of Water Ceremony with the newly consecrated Holy Chrism Muron consecrated on June 7th in Antelias by His Holiness Aram 1 Catholicos of the Holy See of Cilicia