Der Hayr's Weekly Message

July 6 , 2008

Readings- Isaiah 3;16-4:1, 1 Corinthians 1:25-30, Matthew 18:10-14

1st Sunday after Transfiguration

Do we really understand what the words faith and devotion mean? Can we honestly say that we try to do our best with the gifts that God has given us? What I have observed unfortunately among a great number of people who claim to believe is that as Christians we like to pick and choose what we will or will not believe or what we will do or not do.
If you call yourself an Orthodox Christian then you cannot say to yourself that everything and anything is acceptable, this is absolutely an absurd assumption and conclusion especially if you say you take your faith and relationship with Jesus Christ with any seriousness.  Our society is in serious need of being redeemed and healed but just like a physical ailment in order to cure it then we have to first come to the reality that we are suffering from it, and it begs the question are we ready to do that?  There really does not exist any longer a sense of right or wrong, responsibility for our actions nor the do we even attempt to acknowledge the presence of sin in our daily lives. Everything has now become a matter of individual convenience and gratification even if it has an adverse effect on the rest of the society as a whole.  There is no disputing the unmistakable reality that we have definitely lost our way out of the light and have entered into the realm of darkness and there is only one that can lead us back to that light and it is Jesus Christ.  As always the choice is yours to make to accept Him or not!!!!!!

Names commemorated this week:
Gibrianos, Cyprian, Justina, Ephemia, Christine, Athanasius, Apel, Adam, Seta, Yenovk, Noah, Melchizedek, Abraham, Isaac, Aharon, Yeghiazar, Movses, Samuel, Sampson, Esau, Jacob, Paragah, Keteon, Hovsep, Joseph, Aristakes, Vertanes, Housig, Krikoris, Taniel

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

Sunday August 17th- Feast of the Assumption- Blessing of Grapes
Sunday September 14th- Feast of the Elevation of the Holy Cross.  Procession & Veneration of the Holy Cross & Blessing of Basil
These are both Tabernacle Feasts of the Church Calendar so please be prepared to receive Holy Communion on these dates.
No Requiems ( Hokehankist) are held on these Feast Days.

Requiems for Sunday July 6th, 2008
In memory of Vram & Armenouhi Hekimian
~  Requested by- Hekimian Family

Anyone interested in donating the Grapes for the Feast of the Assumption of the Holy Mother of God on August 17th please contact the Church Office or feel free to contact Fr. Vartan at home.

Church Calendar:

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 Celebration of the Eastern Prelacy presided over by His Grace Bishop Anoushavan Vicar General of the Eastern Prelacy.
Sunday August 3rd- Morning Prayer only at 10:00 a.m.
Sunday August 31st- Morning Prayer only at 10:00 a.m.

Regular Schedule for Divine Services will resume on Sunday Sept. 14th, 2008

Matins- 9:15 a.m.

Divine Liturgy at 10:00 a.m.