Der Hayr's Weekly Message

June 15 , 2008

Fifth Sunday after the Feast of Pentecost

Readings- Isaiah 2:5-11, Romans 9:31-10:4, Matthew 13:24-30
Feast of Sts. Dertad & Ashkhen

A Blessed & Happy Father's Day

The Psalmist asks the question: Why do the heathen rage? Where is the answer if not directly in our midst, what a spiritually desolate humanity we have become, the Lord said: Your worship of Me is on your lips yet your heart tells a different story and your deeds tell otherwise. We make time to give the world everything we have yet we are reluctant to give back to the Creator because we have become too occupied with the worship of the creation rather than to God who gave it to us. Yes we have become that of which the Apostle wrote in the Book of Revelation in his letter to the Church of Ephesus, Chapter 2- Think of where you were before you fell and repent or else I will come and snatch away your lamp stand from you. Yes today more than ever we need Christ and we need not only repentance but redemption in a world which has seemingly forgot that without the Creator there would be no creation.  St. John of the Cross reminds us that we will indeed fall many times yet it is the way of God that He as our Heavenly Father will be there to pick us up when we stumble, but do we really have any sense of the terms known as repentance and redemption?  Is there anything left that has not become victim to the pagan and secular world in which we live?  There is no longer a sense of personal responsibility for our actions even if they are not in the best interest of a civilized society we have come to the conclusion that just about everything that we do is now become the norm, there is no longer a sense of right or wrong and yet we try to justify all of this by accepting it.  The Gospel of St. John is a reminder of the necessity to defend that which are the truths of our faith when he says: The truth shall set you free! It is then and only then that we will truly be at peace with ourselves and with God.

Names commemorated this week:
Zakar, Zechariah, Zachary, Elishe, Boghos, Yeghise, Ghougianos

Please pray for the servants of God:
Very Rev. Fr. Oshagan Minassian, Archpriest Edward Hughes, Senator Edward Kennedy, Berj Karibian, Carolyn Dagley, Mary Lucchesi, Sarkis Minasian, Verjin Chilingirian, Rose Ritchey Satenig Sarkisian, Peter Mooradian, Francesca Budakian, Jennie Vartabedian, Virginia Ohanesian, Rose Azarian, Helen Mikitarian, Alfred Collins, Margaret Bedrosian

Requiems for Sunday June 15th, 2008

In memory of Edward & Helen Parigian, John & Mary Parigian
~  Requested by- Parigian Family & Isabel Parigian Quimby

Prayers for Father's Day in memory of Dirahayr Ruben Kochakian and Yeghia Annaian

~  Requested by Charles & Elizabeth Kochakian.

Prayers for Father's Day in memory of Krikor Afarian and Yeghia Annaian

~  Requested by Kacher & Maryann Afarian

Church Calendar:

Saturday June 21st- Ladies Guild 2nd Annual Food Fair at Jaffarian Hall from 11:00 a.m.- 7:00 p.m.

Sunday Sept. 7th- Annual Church Picnic - Legion Grounds-Haverhill beginning at 12:00 noon- Please reserve the date and join us.

October 17 & 18th- Annual Fall Fair at Jaffarian Hall

Sunday November 9th- 38th Anniversary of St. Gregory Church and 50th Anniversary Celebration of the Eastern Prelacy.

Tuesday, June 17th- Prophet Zechariah- Matins- 10:00 a.m.
Thursday, June 19th- 12 Apostles of Christ - Matins- 9:00 a.m.

Sunday, June 29th- Feast of the Transfiguration of Christ
Sunday, August 17th- Feast of the Assumption- Blessing of Grapes
Sunday, September 14th- Elevation of the Holy Cross ( Khatchveradz)

No Requiems ( Hokehankist) are allowed on these Feast Days.