Morning Service - 9:00am Badarak - 10:00am Sunday School - 10:00am

Sunday, January 17, 2016 after the Divine Liturgy Choir & Deacon meeting at Der Hayr Office

UPCOMING EVENTS ²è²æÆÎ²Ú ØÆæàò²èàôØܺð

Sunday, Januray 24, 2016 at 2 pm - Ecumenical Prayer Service for Christian Unity at St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church, 61 Bowers St., Lowell, MA 01854 Sunday, February 7, 2016 after the Divine Liturgy - Poon Parekendan celebration Sunday, February 14, 2016 at 1 pm - Annual Parish Assembly, (Snow date February 21, 2016)

January 17, 2016

Rev. Fr. Vart Gyozalian - Pastor

“Daily Lectionary Readings”

²êîàô²Ì²ÞÜâ²Î²Ü ÀܺðòàôØܺð

Isaiah 61:10-62:9. 2 Timothy 2:15-26. John 6:15-21

First Sunday after Nativity

²é³çÇÝ ÎÇñ³ÏÇ Ð»ï Սáõñµ Ծննդեան

Eve (Paregentan) of the Fast of the Catechumens

Բարեկենդան Առաջավորաց Պահոց

Hokehankist

ÐáϻѳݷÇëï

For the Soul of Beulah Parvanian Kasparian (40 days) requested

by Harry Alan Kasparian, Lynne Kasparian Unger, and Lance

Kasparian, Araxie Kasparian, Alice Kasparian and Family, Cynthia

and Lisa Kasparian

For the Souls of Armen and Nevart Kasparian, Levon and Mary

Kasparian, Hagop and Ann Kasparian, George Kasparian

Margaret Kasparian and Alberta Ejemian, Aleppo, Syria Shemavon

and Elbes Der Boghosian requested by: Araxie Kasparian, Alice

Kasparian and Family, Cynthia and Lisa Kasparian

For the Souls of Sarkis & Rose Colombosian, John & June

Colombosian & Alice Colombosian requested by Mr. & Mrs.

William Hallahan

UPCOMING HOKEHANKISDS ²è²æÆβ ÐයвܶÆêîܺð

Sunday, January 24 for the soul of Mary Sarkisian (2nd year) requested by: Mr. & Mrs. Mike & Cheryl Raymond, Mr. & Mrs. David & Susan Sarkisian Sunday January 31 for the soul of Dorothy Shahain (1st year) requested by: Marlyn Shahian Sunday January 31 for the souls of Richard Serabian, Evelyn Mazmanian, Charles & Beatrice Serabian requested by: Robert Serabian, Mr. Mrs. Edward Mazmanian, Jr. Mrs. Aghavni Zemanian, Mr. Aram Zemanian

HOKEHANKISD

DONATIONS

ÐයвܶêîÚ²Ü Üìð²îìàôÂÚàõÜܺð Hokehankisd Donations for the souls of Kachadoor, Josephine & Rose Naroian & Gor Aharonyan from - Charlene Bazarian, For All past Hokehankisds from - Esther Tanoian

REQUEST FOR PRAYERS

²ÕûÃùÇ Êݹñ³Ýù

Merry Christmas & Happy New year to All from - Katherine

Meranian, M/M Scott Sahagian, M/M Barbara & Richard Naroian

Remembrance prayers for All who were born in January & have

passed away from - M/M Michael Naroian

Get well to All who are ill from - M/M Michael Naroian

In honor of John Naroian as our New Godfather from - M/M Charles

Bazarian, M/M Michael Naroian, Melanee Naroian, Stefani, Madison &

Jake Naroian, M/M Scott Sahagian, M/M Barbara & Richard Naroian

Prayers & get well wishes to All who are ill from - M/M Scott

Sahagian

Happy belated name day to Peter Sahagian & to All named "Peter" in

our family from - M/M Scott Sahagian

Paree Nubadag from - M/M John Mosto

In loving memory of my grandfather Avedis Chakurmanian on his

name day from - M/M John Mosto

Get well prayers & good health for our Church Family from - M/M

John Mosto, M/M Barbara & Richard Naroian,

ALTAR DONATIONS

ÜíÇñ³ïáõÃÛáõÝÝ»ñ êáõñµ Êáñ³ÝÇÝ

Altar Flowers from: Kasparian Family in memory of their Loved ones

ALTAR DONATIONS

ÜíÇñ³ïáõÃÛáõÝÝ»ñ êáõñµ Êáñ³ÝÇÝ

Parishioners requesting Alter Flowers and Candles for any occasion or particular Sunday should approach a member

of the Parish Council for an Altar Flower or Candle Donation form. Name of the donor will be listed in the weekly Bulletin and Newsletter. Requests for the Altar Donations can also be done by calling or emailing the

Church.

NAME DAY

²Ýí³Ý³ÏáãáõÃÛ³Ý úñ

Peter

Prayer of the Week

Truly, my sin and lawlessness dwell in me and I am worn away by

them, as the Prophet said of the transgressors,and the Lord

taught in the parable of the new wine in old casks.For as Isaiah

foretold, “Rebels and sinners shall be destroyed together.”And

the same is in store for me, wretch that I am,for I recite the psalm,

“The Lord abundantly requites those who act haughtily,” to

which I link the prophecy, “The Lord has a day against all who are

proud and haughty,” when I recite, “The wicked go astray from

the womb . . .”and I add, “Let the wicked of the earth be destroyed”

and “the haughty be wiped from the earth”and “the unjust shall

be uprooted from the earth.”

BIBLE VERSE OF THE DAY

úñí³ ²ëïáõ³Í³ßÝã³Ï³Ý ÀÝûñóí³Íù

2 Timothy 2:20-26

20 In a large house there are utensils not only of gold and

silver but also of wood and clay, some for special use, some

for ordinary. 21 All who cleanse themselves of the things I

have mentioned[a] will become special utensils, dedicated

and useful to the owner of the house, ready for every good

work. 22 Shun youthful passions and pursue righteousness,

faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord

from a pure heart. 23 Have nothing to do with stupid and

senseless controversies; you know that they breed quarrels.

24 And the Lord’s servant[b] must not be quarrelsome but

kindly to everyone, an apt teacher, patient, 25 correcting

opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant that

they will repent and come to know the truth, 26 and that they

may escape from the snare of the devil, having been held

captive by him to do his will.

TODAY’S GOSPEL READING ²Ûëûñí³ ²í»ï³ñ³ÝÁ

John 6:15-21

15 When Jesus realized that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, he withdrew

again to the mountain by himself. 16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the

sea, 17 got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. 18 The sea became rough because a

strong wind was blowing. 19 When they had rowed about three or four miles,[a] they saw Jesus walking on

the sea and coming near the boat, and they were terrified. 20 But he said to them, “It is I;[b] do not be

afraid.” 21 Then they wanted to take him into the boat,

and immediately the boat reached the land toward which they were going.

Eve of the Fast of Catechumens

The Fast of Catechumens is peculiar only to the

Armenian Church. It begins three weeks before the

Great Lent. In ancient times people could eat only bread

and salt during the fast of Catechumens. On those days

it was not allowed to celebrate Divine Liturgy either.

The meaning of the Fast of Catechumens is the

purification of the five human senses from pagan

impurity. In the ancient Church there was a custom to

fast during five days before baptism. St. Gregory the

Illuminator ordered King Tiridates and others to fast for

five days before baptism in order to get freed of the

evil. That is the reason also for fasting of Catechumens

to be called “fast of salvation” from the evil.

According to the tradition, the fasting of Catechumens

was initiated by St. Gregory the illuminator in memory

of the above-mentioned practice.

There are two explanations regarding the name of this

feast.

It is called the fast of Catechumens:

1. As the precursor of the Great Lent, and

2. As the first Armenian fast.

On the fifth day of the fasting of Catechumens, on

Friday, the remembrance day of the Prophet Jonah is

celebrated, but it is celebrated not as the feast of

Prophet Jonah, but as the memory of an example of

great repentance and abstinence which Jonah urged. At

times, wrongly, the fasting of Catechumens was called

the fast of St. Sarkis, because the Armenian Church

celebrates the feast of St. Sarkis on Saturday following

the fast. In Middle Ages the Byzantine and the Georgian

Churches blamed the Armenian Church for the fasting of

Catechumens, relating it to St. Sarkis, to whom they

ascribed sorcery. According to the testimonies of

Armenian medieval writers. Greek and Latin Churches

also had the fasting of Catechumens in ancient times.

Weekly Wisdoms

Life is short... and it's not about us. Eternity is long... and it's all about God. When God made the universe, he intended that everything in

it would point praise back at Him. Every glittering star, every

speck of sand, every ocean wave, every strand of DNA—

everything was designed to declare how great God is. Even in

making humanity, God really wasn't too concerned about us;

he was thinking mostly about Himself. God was focused on

how we would magnify and glorify Him (see Isaiah 43:7).

God is most concerned about Himself. In essence, God

approaches every decision with this question: "What would

bring me the most glory and honor and what would make me

look the best in this situation?" Then he acts accordingly.

God declares, "I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not give

my glory to another or my praise to idols" (Isaiah 42:8). God

made everything, and He made all of it to give glory to

Himself.

We far too easily forget the truth that this entire universe is

about God, and instead we try to hijack the spotlight to focus

on us. We spend our short, little 60, 70, or 80 years here on

Earth trying to make much of us, forgetting that all of

creation is designed to make much of God.

God made you for a purpose, and He sent Jesus Christ into

this world to invite you to join His purpose for your life,

which is to magnify His name. So, don't waste your life

magnifying something that is like a wisp of vapor or a puff of

smoke, which is visible for a little while and then disappears

into thin air. Instead, leverage your life as part of the eternal

story of God—a story in which every second lifts up and

magnifies God.

Merrimack Valley Middle East Refugee Relief Aid to refugees living in the Middle East

Warned by an angel, the Holy Family fled

to Egypt escaping King Herod’s massacre of the Holy Innocents. After Herod’s death,

they returned to their homeland.

Local Catholic and Orthodox Churches have joined in collecting funds to support refugees of all faiths to remain in the Middle East with the hope of returning to their homes. 100% of all funds will be distributed locally by religious aid organizations. Thank you for your ongoing support. Checks may be made out to: IOCC - International Orthodox Christian Charity Armenian Relief Fund Catholic Charities of Lebanon *20% of Gift Card Purchase at Bishop’s Legacy Restaurant will be donate

STEWARDSHIP is on the way to reaching its $30,000 goal.

Currently, we have met 80% of our objective or $25,848.00

You do not need to be a dues paying member of the Church to

be a steward. So, it’s not too late. For the benefit of our

Church, please help us reach our end. Please see Armen

Derderian, Treasurer or Charlie Bazarian, Assistant

Treasurer for additional details or to ask questions. Armen

can be reached at (978) 794-9200 or at

armen@armentaxcpa.com and Charlie can be reached at

(978) 686-6050 or at cabazarian@comcast.net.

Please be a part of our goal!

Big Thank you to our 2015 Stewards

1. Mr. & Mrs. Martin Aaronian

2. Barbara Sarkisian-Arthur

3. Mr. & Mrs. Michael Arzoonian

4. Alice Atamian & Phillip Picard

5. Emmanuel Baghdayan

6. Charlene Bazarian

7. Mr. & Mrs. Charles Bazarian

8. Mr. & Mrs. John Bedrosian

9. Mr. & Mrs. Paul Cifra

10. Mr. & Mrs. Sevan Demirdogen

11. Mr. & Mrs. Armen Derderian

12. Arthur Derderian

13. Annette Derninasian

14. Mr. & Mrs. Paul Doherty

15. Mr. & Mrs. Keith Ellis

16. Mr. & Mrs. Jerry Gostanian

17. Samuel Hagopian

18. Pauline Harian

19. Bedros Kamitian

20. Alice Kasparian

21. Araxie Kasparian

22. Beulah Kasparian

23. Mark Kazanjian

24. Katherine Meranian

25. Elaine Meuse

26. Virginia Miller

27. Lou Mooradian

28. Aram Mooradian

29. Mr. & Mrs. John Mosto

30. Eva Naroian

31. Melanee Naroian

32. Mr. & Mrs. Michael Naroian

33. Richard & Barbara Naroian

34. Bea Ohanian

35. Mr. & Mrs. Larry Pahigian

36. Mr. & Mrs. Scott Sahagian

37. Cheryl Sarkisian

38. Robert Serabian

39. Marilyn Shahian

40. Lucy Sirmaian

41. Mr. & Mrs. Michael Sirmaian

42. Rose Stepian

43. Mr. & Mrs. Richard Southwick

44. Mary Tatoyian

45. Sylvia Tavitian

46. Virginia Tavitian

If your name does not appear and you have contributed

to Stewardship, please complete a Stewardship card.

Basic Rules and Manners in the Armenian Apostolic Church

The Scripture says: “GUARD YOUR STEPS WHEN YOU GO TO

THE HOUSE OF GOD. GO NEAR TO LISTEN…” (Ecc. 5:1)

Church Attendance: We should all strive to come to church regularly and on time. Our church service begins at 9:00 am for early morning services. Badarak commences at 10:00 am. Effort should be made to acquire the habit of arriving at church at the beginning of the service but if we

cannot, there is no need to feel embarrassed. It is better for you to arrive a bit late than not attend at all. Entering the Church: Your entrance into the church must be reverent and respectful. While entering, if you find that the Bible is being read, or if the Havadamk (the Nicene Creed) is in progress, stay in the vestibule or back of the church until it is over. Other times to wait before entering the church are During the Hayr Mer (Lord’s Prayer) If the choir is singing Soorp, Soorp (Holy, Holy) If the choir in singing Miayn Soorp, Miayn Der (One is Holy, One is Lord) If the choir is singing Der Voghormia, (Lord, have Mercy). At all the above indicated times, wait until the particular hymn, prayer, etc. is completed before entering the church. When you take your place in the pew, bow your head, make the sign of the cross, and inaudibly say a personal prayer or "The Lords Prayer." You are now ready to participate in the service. General Manners in Church: An attitude of reverence and respect forms the foundation of our church manners. Concentration on the ceremony should be our main concern. Therefore, heads turned to look for friends, and other similar distractive motions are bad manners in church. Other general rules are as follows: Dress in modest and appropriate clothing. Think of how you would want to look if you were standing in front of God Himself. No gum chewing or eating of any kind Do not cross your legs while sitting. It is a sign of

“casualness” that is considered irreverent Do not stretch or place arms on pews or across the backs of pews. Participation: Always keep in mind you are not a spectator, but a participant in the church services. Upon entering the church take a liturgy book, turn to the specified page and follow the services. This way you will be able to follow the actual Liturgy and understand the meaning of it. Our church utilizes an electrical device on the wall to depict the appropriate pages for the service. The Liturgy Book will also instruct you as to the proper time to sit, stand or kneel during the service. You are encouraged to sing along with the choir but do not sing, however, with the officiating Priest and the person serving as Deacon at the Altar. Leaving Church: Your departure from church should be as reverent and as orderly as your entrance. When the service is over, the congregation should come forward, kiss the Gospel and receive Der Hayr’s personal blessings. Greeting others, shaking hands and having conversations should wait until you are out of the church proper.

Theophany and Baptism of Our Lord And Savior Jesus Christ

Sunday January 10th, 2016, we had the blessing of the

Water Service, celebrating the Baptism of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The very special privilege of serving as

"Godfather of the Cross" this year was extended to our very active and long time parishioner John Naroian and

his son Jake Naroian. On this occasion, John had the responsibility of bearing the Holy Cross after it was

submerged in the Blessed Holy Water and welcomed the faithful to kiss the cross as they receive the blessed water.

Armenian Church at Hye Pointe extends its appreciation to Jeffery Beeny who served as ''Godfather of the Cross'' last

year.

Sunday School Christmas Program