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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2018
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Morning Service
10:00 AM
Holy Badarak
10:30 AM
Celebrant
Rev. Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan
Ushers
Mrs. Sara Arabian
Mr. Garbis Chubukian
Parish Council Members on Duty
Mr. Onnik
Sivaslian
Mr. Zakar Shahverdian
Mr. Arthur
Sivaslian
Mrs. Edita Kalayjian
Organist
Bible Reading
Isaiah 4:18-31, Hebrews 4:16-5:10,
Luke 18:9-14
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HOKEHANKIST
REQUIEM SERVICE
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HOKEHANKIST
REQUIEM SERVICE
For the Soul of:
Mary Zulik (40 Day)
Requested by:
Nurhan and Lisa Zulik
Hospitality Table Hosted by:
Nurhan and Lisa Zulik
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To request a Hokehankist/Requiem Service
please contact the Church Office
by 12:00 Noon on Thursday
202-363-1923 or E-mail
[email protected]
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We thank all of our Parishioners and
Friends for their
Gift of Love Donations
On the Occasion of the 86th Anniversary of
St. Mary Armenian Church
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ST. MARY CHURCH RENOVATION
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December 30
Blessing of
Pomegranates
December 31
Internationally Acclaimed
Bartev and His Band
New Year's Eve Celebration and DJ Chris
January 5
Schedule of Christmas Services
January 6
Ararat Avak Society Festive Luncheon
January 8, 15, 22, 29
February 5, 12 & 19
Bible Study
See Details here
January 12-13
Pilgrimage to St. Vartan Cathedral and visit to Metropolitan Museum of Art Armenia Exhibit
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December 30
Blessing of Pomegranates
December 31
Internationally Acclaimed
Bartev and His Band
New Year's Eve Celebration and DJ Chris
January 5
Eve of the Theophany and Nativity
January 6
Feast of the Theophany and Nativity
January 6
Ararat Avak Society Festive Luncheon
January 8, 15, 22 & 29
Bible Study
January 12 & 13
Pilgrimage to St. Vartan Cathedral and visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art Armenia exhibit
January 19
Badarak and Blessing of the Water Service Baltimore Armenian Community Saint Philip Neri Catholic Church
February 5, 12 & 19
Bible Study
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FAR Chocolate Bank Project
Ayo! has launched its Chocolate Bank Project for 2018. This amazing initiative collects and then delivers chocolates and other Christmas sweets to children who live in poverty. This year the Ayo! and FAR team plans to visit daycares in 14 villages
- some of which have the coldest conditions in Armenia - to bring gifts of chocolate and other sweets, and to hold a celebration for children in need. Ayo! is also raising money to provide selected daycares with new bedding, including warm blankets and pillows, which will help them through the brutal winter. While the daycares generally have appropriate conditions for the children, they have a vital and urgent need for new bedding. Ayo! will be collecting chocolates, candies and cookies at FAR's Yerevan until December 25th
. Donations online will be collected until January 6th.
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Pilgrimage to St. Vartan Cathedral and V
isit to Metropolitan Museum of Art Armenia Exhibit
We are excited to announce St. Mary Church Pilgrimage to St. Vartan Cathedral on the 50th Anniversary of the
Cathedral Consecration and a visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art Armenia Exhibit in New York City, January 12 & 13, 2019.
Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan will celebrate the Divine Liturgy on Sunday, January 13.
The price of the trip is Adults $100 / Children $70. Cost Includes: Round-trip Transportation Jan. 12 from St. Mary Church to the Museum and Hotel plus Museum Entrance Fee / and Jan. 13 from Hotel to Cathedral to St. Mary Church. Reservations accepted on a first come, first serve basis. Please complete form (available in the church office and on attached flyer) and return to the church office with your check.
Deadline is December 28, 2018
Overnight Stay at Crown Plaza Englewood Hotel, 401 South Van Brunt Street, Englewood, NJ 07631.
You must contact the hotel directly by phone and make reservations on 1-800-227-6963. Reference Code SAINT MARY CHURCH to get our negotiated rate. A block of double-bed rooms are reserved, the rate is $131.82 per room, taxes and Breakfast for 2 included.
Deadline for hotel reservation is December 28, 2018.
Click here
to see the Pilgrimage flyer and details
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ST. STEPHEN THE PROTO-DEACON AND PROTO-MARTYR
Stephen was a shining light in the early Church. When the twelve Apostles recognized they needed assistants to serve the growing Church, seven deacons were appointed to look after the daily distribution to the poor. "The multitude chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, whom they set before the apostles as worthy candidates; and when they had prayed, the apostles laid their hands on them" (Acts 6:1-6).
Stephen was the leader of the deacons, and therefore called the Proto-Deacon, because of his special gifts and attributes. He performed "great wonders and signs among the people," taught in the synagogue, and there debated with the Jews of the Dispersion. His wisdom and success brought about an attack upon him and he was charged with blasphemy against Moses and God. Stephen was among the first Christians to proclaim that the Christian faith and worship is for all people, not only the Jews. Chapter 7 of Acts records Stephen's remarkable "apology" before the Sanhedrin council. As he sat before the council, a divine radiance, the very uncreated energy of God was reflected in Stephen's face.
Stephen's exclamation at the close of his speech is particularly noteworthy: "Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!"(Acts 7:56).
This is the only occurrence of the title "Son of Man" in the New Testament on the lips of anyone other than Jesus Himself and reveals Stephen's messianic understanding of the term.
Such radical thinking was too much for the Sanhedrin. Stephen's vision of the en-throned Christ was the ultimate blasphemy to his opponents and, thus, they stoned him to death. According to subsequent references, this event played a role in the conversion of Paul who was an indirect participant in and witness to the martyrdom of Stephen.
As they cast stones at him, Stephen called on God saying, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." Then he knelt down and cried with a loud voice, "Lord do not charge them with this sin," reminiscent of Christ's words from the Cross. And when he had said this, he fell asleep (Acts 7:60). The martyrdom of St. Stephen, called the Proto-Martyr since he was the first to be tortured and killed for Christ, marked the beginning of the first widespread persecution of the early Christians.
In the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church, between December 24 and 26, the Feast of St. Stephen is celebrated with great reverence and ceremony. On that day, the Church honors all deacons, granting them the privilege of wearing a liturgical crown, recalling St. Stephen and his crown of martyrdom. It is also the traditional day for ordination to the
diaconate.
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Ararat Avak Society Holiday Luncheon
St. Mary Ararat Avak Society hosted its holiday luncheon on December 15. The festive luncheon was attended by over 75 parishioners and friends who enjoyed delicious food and beautiful decorations for the holiday setting. This year's gathering was highlighted by delicious
Ghapama, a traditional Armenian dish consisting of a pumpkin stuffed to the brim with rice, nuts, raisins, apricots and other trimmings.
We are grateful for the Ararat Avak Society's dedication, talent and energy which brings together members of the church community during this blessed holiday season. The next luncheon will be held on the occasion of the Feast of Nativity and Theophany on Sunday, January 6 after the Church Service.
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Shnorhali School Hantes
On December 16 the St. Mary Shnorhali School held its annual Christmas Hantes. This year's Hantes centered around the true meaning of the "Gifts of Christmas" and included the participation of students from Preschool to High school, over 80 students in total. Children of different grades beautifully recited scriptural passages, read from the Bible and sung different Sharagans and Carols as they presented six true gifts of Christmas: Joy, Hope, Giving, Worship, Peace and Love.
Our sincere appreciation goes out to the talented Hantes organizers Miss Becky Baghdasarian and Yn. Jennifer Karapetyan, as well as the co-directors, Gohar Grigorian, Yervand Khoranian and Avedis Seferian, and the entire Sunday School staff and parents for their help and participation.
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Women's Guild Christmas Bake Sale
On Sunday, December 9 and 16, the Women's Guild held their annual Christmas Bake Sale. This year the Women's Guild also offered Armenian wine and Christmas gift items as part of their sale. All of the delicious baked goods, the beautiful packaging and gift items were generously donated by numerous members of the Women's Guild. The Women's Guild Executive Committee sends out a heartfelt thank you to all of their members who donated, packaged and worked at the bake sale. In addition, the Women's Guild thanks the St. Mary community for their wonderful support of this annual tradition.
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Blessings of Pomegranates
Please join us for a special Service of the Blessing of Pomegranates on Sunday, December 30, 2018. Throughout the centuries, the pomegranate has been weaved into Armenian architecture, cuisine, art, manuscripts, literature and liturgical vestments. It represents life, fertility, and abundance.
Pomegranates will be blessed immediately after Badarak. They will be distributed to the faithful afterwards. Everyone is invited to participate in this beautiful service.
Click here to watch a video about blessings of pomegranates
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And the 2018 "Country of the Year" is...
When The Economist magazine set about choosing its 2018 "Country of the Year," it considered one question above all: "Which country has improved the most in the past 12 months?" The editors considered-and made cases for-such nations as Ethiopia, Malaysia, Ecuador, Peru, and Britain. But after due deliberation, they gave their nod to the Republic of Armenia.
"Our annual 'country of the year' award goes not to the most influential nation," explained The Economist, "nor to the richest, nor to the one with the tastiest food (sorry, Japan). It celebrates progress."
Armenians might take issue with that "tastiest food" judgment. But we can also take some pride in the remarkable developments that have shaped our homeland in the past year.
Those developments were ultimately rooted in the courage and character of the Armenian people. In our long history, Armenians have seen political movements-indeed, entire political systems-come and go; and while we always hope and pray for the best outcome, we are well aware that such outcomes require work, vigilance, and more than a little good fortune.
The truly enduring reality, however, in good times and bad, has been the faith and decency of the Armenian people. The world saw and acknowledged those virtues this year. May God reward those same virtues with progress and prosperity, for all our people, in the years to come.
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Sweetening Christmas for Armenia's Kids
The Fund for Armenian Relief's crowdfunding project-Ayo!-has launched a Chocolate Bank Project for 2018. The effort aims to collect and deliver chocolates and Christmas sweets to underprivileged children in Armenia.
A team from Ayo! and FAR will visit daycare centers in 14 villages to bring some cheer to children in need. Along the way, Ayo! is raising money to provide some of these centers with new blankets and pillows, to help the children through the winter.
Ayo! will be collecting chocolates, candies, and cookies at FAR's Yerevan office through December 25. Online donations will be collected through January 6.
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#HyeManners: Greeting Clergy
The latest episode of the online series #HyeManners answers one of the most frequently asked questions in the Armenian Church: How do you greet the clergy?
Learn the ropes for greeting the various ranks of clergymen in this brisk video.
Click here to watch.
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Please Stay Current with Your Membership
St. Mary Church brings us together to worship, educate, and serve, yet we need your help to sustain this mission. We call upon you to renew, or become a new member, because dues are the largest part of our church income to help keep our beloved parish doors open.
Your Membership
MAKES A DIFFERENCE
Help us fulfill our mission to sustain and grow our ministries, worship programs and activities
to
strengthen our church family for generations to come.
Thank you for your generosity and support.
To Learn More About Membership
To Become A Member
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READ MORE NEWS FROM DIOCESE
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9 Այս առակն էլ ասաց ոմանց, ովքեր իրենց ներսում պարծենում էին, թէ արդար են, եւ արհամարհում էին ուրիշ շատերին: 10 «Երկու մարդ տաճար ելաւ աղօթքի կանգնելու. մէկը՝ փարիսեցի, միւսը՝ մաքսաւոր: 11 Փարիսեցին կանգնած էր մեկուսի եւ ինքն իրեն այս աղօթքն էր ասում. "Աստուա՛ծ իմ, շնորհակալ եմ քեզնից, որ ես նման չեմ ուրիշ մարդկանց, ինչպէս յափշտակողները, անիրաւներն ու շնացողները եւ կամ ինչպէս այս մաքսաւորը. 12 այլ շաբաթը երկու անգամ ծոմ եմ պահում եւ տասանորդ եմ տալիս իմ ամբողջ եկամտից": 13 Իսկ մաքսաւորը կանգնած էր մեկուսի եւ չէր իսկ կամենում իր աչքերը երկինք բարձրացնել, այլ ծեծում էր կուրծքը եւ ասում. "Աստուա՛ծ, ների՛ր ինձ՝ մեղաւորիս": 14 Ասում եմ ձեզ. սա՛ իջաւ իր տունը արդարացած, ոչ թէ՝ միւսը. ով որ բարձրացնում է իր անձը, կխոնարհուի, եւ ով որ խոնարհեցնում է իր անձը, կբարձրացուի»:
(Ղուկաս 18.9-14)
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He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt:
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"Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
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The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, 'God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.
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I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.'
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But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!'
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I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted."
(Luke 18:9-14)
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COME VISIT THE ST. MARY GIFT SHOP
Our gift shop is furnished with distinctive and unique items from Armenians all over the world.
Some of the items are Armenian crosses, jewelry, paintings, religious tiles and tapestry icons, children
and adult books, T-shirts, hats, bags, Armenian CDs, Armenian artwork, and much more.
The Gift Shop is open every week after Sunday
Church services and by appointment.
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St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church
Serves the Greater Washington, DC and Baltimore communities. Our mission is to proclaim and grow together
in our Apostolic Faith in Christ Jesus and to sustain our Christian Armenian identity. We celebrate our long and enduring legacy, the beautiful traditions of our religious and national heritage, with Christian servitude, and with love and reverence towards our Church. We invite you and welcome you to be a part of our church,
worship with us, and experience the true love of Christ as we grow together as a community.
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St. Mary Church E-Newsletters and Correspondence.
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St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church
Relies on the generosity of individual donors so that it may continue ensuring service
to God and fellowship
to the Armenian Community.
Your support is deeply appreciated.
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