Der Hayr's Weekly Message

July 20 , 2008

Readings- Isaiah 54:1-13, 1 Timothy 1:1-11, Gospel-John 2:1-11

3rd Sunday after Transfiguration

Today's Epistle reading is one that I have read time and time again, it is a reminder of our fallen humanity, St. Paul uses Himself as the greatest example of what a sinner is capable of and just how merciful and forgiving God really is. Imagine for a brief moment that we take time to stop judging everyone else and make light of our own faults and shortcomings just as the Apostle did when he wrote to Timothy.
What would become of us human beings if we could not complain about what everyone else is doing while overshadowing our own deeds, St. John Chrysostom wrote: When we see the goodness from God in ourselves it is then that we can easily see the goodness in others.
So in essence St. Paul calls us to a self examination that we might take the time and have the ability to see our own shortcomings so that we may become more aware of the difficulties that others endure in their spiritual struggle and in doing so we can perhaps find in ourselves those aspects of our lives that we can honestly make better, by truly realizing that we were created by a God of love, mercy, forgiveness, and charity, whose ultimate desire is that we manifest that love given to us so freely to one another in the very same way that God has showered it upon us. You may ask yourself does God really love me? If you want the answer to that question then all you have to do is look at Christ on the Cross and you will have it.. The greater question really is are we ready to accept that love that God has so freely given to us, and perhaps we should the pose the question to ourselves first!!!!!!

Names commemorated this week:
Andon, Anthony, Guregh, Cyrill, Atanas, Giragos, Julia, Teotos

Please remember the ill and confined in your prayers:
Very Rev. Fr. Oshagan Minassian, Yeretzgeen Patricia Dagley, SenatorEdward Kennedy, Berj Karibian, Jennie Vartabedian, Virginia Ohanesian, Satenig Sarkisian, Margaret Bedrosian, Alfred Collins, Francesca Budakian, Peter Mooradian, Rose Ritchey, Sarkis Minasian, Verjin Chilingirian, Eva Loosigian, Joyce Quinlan, Hagop Garavanian, Paul Kazarosian, Alice Ghourgoian

Requiems for Sunday July 20th, 2008
In memory of the servant of God- Araxie Roxanne Nalbandian
~  Requested by- Pastor & Parish Board, Todd & Kimberly Nalbandian, Elaine Nalbandian, Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Sevoian
In memory of Francis Shottes- 7th day
~  Requested by- Pastor & Parish Board
In memory of Hagop Hananian, Krikor Sevkarian
~  Requested by- Martha Hananian

Sunday August 17th- Feast of the Assumption of the Holy Mother of God ( Verapokhman Soorp Asdvadzadzin) Divine Liturgy at 9:30 a.m. followed by Blessing of the Grapes. Anyone wishing to donate Grapes for this Feast may contact the Church Office.
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 Nov. 9th- 38th Anniversary of St. Gregory Church & 50th Anniversary of the Eastern Prelacy presided over by His Grace Bishop Anoushavan Vicar General of the Prelacy

Spiritual Renewal & Prayer Week for the Feast of the Assumption of the Holy Mother of God August 11th- 15th- Vespers and Meditations will be held on Thursday August 14th at 7:00 p.m. at the Church. There will be a Vesper Service followed by a time of Prayer and Meditation on this Holy Feast. The Service will be in English