E-Newsletter - July 10, 2020
Our Church doors are officially open!
You may join us for worship LIVE-STREAMED on Facebook, for a limited time.

You do not need to have a facebook account to be able to watch. You can have access to our facebook page through our website www.saintsarkis.org by scrolling down to the events section and clicking on the facebook LIVE link. Send us a message if you have any questions.

Sunday Morning Service: 9:15 am
Sunday Divine Liturgy: 10:00 am
Wednesday Vespers Service: 6:30 pm
Fr. Hrant Kevorkian, Pastor
Guidelines for Reopening St. Sarkis Church

It is with great joy, tempered with diligent precautions, that we announce the planned reopening of our church doors to the faithful on Sunday, June 14, 2020. This will be a gradual process as we observe all the guidance that has been provided by ...

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SUPPORT YOUR CHURCH WITH YOUR WEEKLY OFFERING

These are challenging times for all of us. The church is committed to supporting you in your spiritual and material needs, but it is a group effort. If you are able, please consider continuing to contribute to the church so that she can continue in her mission. Your Sunday offerings, collection plate and candle donations can all be done online or by mailing a check to the church.
LIGHT A VIRTUAL CANDLE
Lighting a candle is a way of extending one's prayer and showing solidarity with the person on whose behalf the prayer is offered. The candle symbolizes that prayer.  🕯
On Sundays, and Wednesdays, Rev. Fr. Hrant Kevorkian will lite a candle for every request received. If you would like to submit a request, you can contact Fr. Hrant, call the Church office at (313)336-6200, send us a message on social media , reply to this email, or click the button below.
Let's Read the Bible! Readings of the week.
  • Monday, July 13: Romans 11:25-36; Matthew 14:22-36
  • Tuesday, July 14: Romans 15:1-13; Matthew 15:1-20
  • Wednesday, July 15: Romans 15:14-29; Matthew 15:21-28
  • Thursday, July 16: Romans 15:30-16:16; Matthew 15:29-38
  • Friday, July 17: Romans 16:17-27; Matthew 15:39-16:12
  • Saturday, July 18: Commemoration of the Old Ark [of the covenant] and the Feast of the New One—the Holy Church Exodus 25:10-14; Joshua 3:14- 4:18; 1 Samuel 6:18-7:2; 2 Samuel 6:12-19; Hebrews 9:1-10; Matthew 5:17-20
SUNDAY BIBLE READINGS
Bible Readings for Sunday, July 5, 2020
Sixth Sunday after Pentecost

The Epistle of St. Paul to the Romans 11:13-24
I am talking to you Gentiles. In as much as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I take pride in my ministry in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy and save some of them. For if their rejec- tion brought reconciliation to the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? If the part of the dough offered as first fruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches.

If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, do not consider yourself to be superi- or to those other branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. You will say then, Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but tremble. For if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you either.
Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in His kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off. And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!

The Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ According to Matthew 14:13-21
Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand
When Jesus heard what had happened, He withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed Him on foot from the towns. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them and healed their sick.
As evening approached, the disciples came to Him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.”

Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”

“We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.

“Bring them here to Me,” he said. And He directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and look- ing up to heaven, He gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then He gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children. 

ԹՈՒՂԹ ՀՌՈՄԱՅԵՑԻՆԵՐՈՒՆ 11:13-24
Բայց ձեզի՝ հեթանոսներուդ կ’ըսեմ.- Հեթանոսներուն առաքեալ ըլլալու իմ պաշտօնովս կը պարծենամ, մտածելով որ թերեւս այս ձեւով ազգակիցներուս նախանձը գրգռեմ եւ յաջողիմ անոնցմէ ոմանք փրկել: Որովհետեւ, եթէ Աստուած զանոնք մերժեց, որպէսզի հեթանոս աշխարհը հաշտեցնէ իրեն հետ, կը նշանակէ թէ երբ վերստին ընդունի զանոնք՝ մեռելներու յարութիւնը տեղի պիտի ունենայ:

Թէ Աստուած վերստին պիտի ընդունի զանոնք՝ յստակ է, որովհետեւ երբ բերքին երախայրիքը Աստուծոյ ընծայուած է, կը նշանակէ թէ ամբողջը Աստուծոյ ընծայուած է. նոյնպէս, եթէ ծառին արմատները Աստուծոյ նուիրուած են, կը նշանակէ թէ ճիւղերն ալ Աստուծոյ նուիրուած են: Ճիշդ է որ այդ ճիւղերէն ոմանք կտրուեցան, եւ դուն՝ որ վայրի ձիթենի մըն էիր՝ անոնց տեղ պատուաստուեցար եւ այդ ձիթենիին արմատներէն եկող հարուստ աւիշը ըմպեցիր: Բայց մի՛ պարծենար եւ մի՛ արհամարհեր կոտրած ճիւղերը. մի՛ մոռնար որ դո՛ւն արմատներուն վրայ հաստատուած ես եւ ո՛չ թէ արմատները քու վրադ: Հիմա պիտի ըսես՝ «Աստուած այդ ճիւղերը կտրեց՝ զիս պատուաստելու համար»: Իրաւ է, անոնք՝ Հրեաները կտրուեցան, որովհետեւ չհաւատացին, եւ դուն՝ հեթանոսդ, հաւատալուդ համար արմատին վրայ հաստատուեցար. բայց մի՛ հպարտանար, այլ՝ վախցիր: Որովհետեւ եթէ Աստուած բուն ճիւղերուն չխնայեց, թերեւս քեզի երբեք չխնայէ: Տե՛ս թէ ո՛րքան բարի է Աստուած եւ խիստ՝ միաժամանակ: Խիստ է հաւատքի մէջ կործանածներուն հանդէպ եւ բարի՝ քեզի հանդէպ, պայմանաւ որ շարունակես անոր բարութեան արժանի մնալ. այլապէս դուն ալ պիտի կտրուիս: Նոյնպէս ալ, եթէ Հրեաները թողուն իրենց անհաւատութիւնը, կրկին պիտի պատուաստուին արմատին վրայ, որովհետեւ Աստուած կրնայ զանոնք վերստին պատուաստել: Եթէ դուն, որ իսկականին մէջ վայրի ձիթենի մըն էիր, կտրուեցար եւ պատուաստուեցար ընտանի ձիթենիին վրայ, որ քու բունդ չէր, որքա՜ն աւելի դիւրութեամբ պիտի պատուաստուին նոյն այդ ձիթենիին բնական ճիւղերը:
 
ՄԱՏԹԷՈՍԻ ԱՒԵՏԱՐԱՆ 14:13-21
Երբ Յիսուս Յովհաննէսի գլխատումը լսեց, առանձինը նաւակ մտնելով՝ այդտեղէն գնաց ամայի վայր մը: Շրջանի քաղաքներուն բնակիչները լսելով ասիկա, քալելով հետեւեցան իրեն: Երբ Յիսուս նաւակէն դուրս ելաւ, տեսաւ մեծ բազմութիւնը, գթաց անոնց վրայ եւ հիւանդները բժշկեց:
Երեկոյեան, իր աշակերտները մօտեցան իրեն եւ ըսին.
 – Ամայի տեղ ենք եւ ժամանակն ալ ուշ է. արձակէ՛ ժողովուրդը, որպէսզի երթան շրջակայ գիւղերը իրենց համար ուտելիք գնելու:
Յիսուս ըսաւ.
– Իրենք պէտք չունին երթալու: Դո՛ւք տուէք անոնց ուտելիքը:
Անոնք ըսին Յիսուսի.
– Հոս գրեթէ ոչինչ ունինք, բացի հինգ հացէ եւ երկու ձուկէ:
Յիսուս ըսաւ.
– Հո՛ս բերէք ատոնք:
Եւ հրամայեց որ ժողովուրդը նստեցնեն խոտին վրայ: Ապա առաւ հինգ հացը եւ երկու ձուկը, աչքերը երկինք բարձրացուց, օրհնեց, կտրեց հացերը եւ տուաւ աշակերտներուն, որոնք բաժնեցին ժողովուրդին: Բոլորն ալ կերան ու կշտացան. եւ աշակերտները աւելցած կտորները հաւաքելով՝ տասնըերկու սակառ լեցուցին: Իսկ ուտողները շուրջ հինգ հազար հոգի էին, կիներն ու մանուկները չհաշուած:
LITURGICAL CALENDAR
TWELVE APOSTLES OF CHRIST AND SAINT PAUL,
THE THIRTEENTH APOSTLE
On Saturday (July 11) the Armenian Church celebrates the Feast of the Twelve Apostles of Christ and Saint Paul, who is considered to be the “thirteenth apostle.”

Jesus selected twelve apostles to carry on His work and instructed them to preach and to baptize converts all over the world (Mt. 28:19-20). He gave the title “apostle” to the twelve (Luke 6:13; Mark 3:14). The word apostle derives from the Greek word  apostellein  ( arakyal  in Armenian). The apostles dedicated their lives to spreading the Word and fulfilling the sacred mission entrusted to them. Their mission was not just to transmit the message but to put it into practice.

Paul (formerly known as Saul) was initially an enemy of Christians and persecuted them. He had a vision on the road to Damascus and became a fervent Christian convert and was subsequently responsible in large measure for the rapid spread of the new religion. A good part of the New Testament is from the writings of Paul.
 
The Armenian Church has its roots in the apostolic ministry of the apostles Thaddeus and Bartholomew) and is therefore known as “apostolic” ( arakelagan ).
ELISHA THE PROPHET
Today the Armenian Church celebrates the Feast of Elisha the Prophet, whose life and works are recorded in 1 and 2 Kings. Elisha (“God is Salvation”) was a disciple of the Prophet Elijah, who at God’s command anointed Elisha, a simple farmer, to be his successor much like Jesus later did in calling his disciples in Galilee. Elisha performs miracles, healing the sick and reviving the dead, a harbinger of the Gospel miracles. His message to his followers was that they should return to traditional religious practices and acknowledge God’s sovereignty over all aspects of life. When he healed the sick it was to demonstrate God’s power over life and death: when he helped in battle, it was to demonstrate God’s power over nations.
PAREGENTAN OF THE FAST OF TRANSFIGURATION
This Sunday, the sixth Sunday after Pentecost, is the Paregentan of the Fast of the Transfiguration—the five-day (Monday to Friday) period of fasting prior to the Feast of the Transfiguration (Aylagerboutyan/Vartavar ) that we will celebrate next Sunday, July 19.
EVENTS AT ST. SARKIS CHURCH
REQUIEM SERVICE - ՀՈԳԵՀԱՆԳԻՍՏ
In memory of: Takouhi Khatchadourian (40 days)
Requested by: Sarkis and Sossi Khatchadourian, Stepahn,
Sarina, Shawnt. Mr. and Mrs. Aram and Mary Manoogian and family. Mr. and Mrs. Hovagim and Hermine Manoogian.

In memory of: Mary Antonian (40 days)
Requested by: Tom and Cindy Rutherford. Larry and Debra Croff. Sam and Kathy Antonian and family. Bryan and Izzy Hager, Maverick, Serenity, and Journey. Stephanie and Chad Scott, Olive, Willow, and Aspen. Meghann Rutherford and Brad Wakefield. Chris and Stephen Melkonian. Kathy Duby and Ray Ferrer and family.

In memory of: Mary Duby (5 months)
Requested by: Tom and Cindy Rutherford. Stephanie and Chad Scott and family. Meghann Rutherford and Brad Wakefield. Chris Melkonian.

In memory of: Frances Yakmalian (1 year)
Requested by: Karen Yakmalian

In memory of: Audrey Derderian
Requested by: Diane Derderian Lewis. James, Shakay, and Arev Majeska. Lawrence Derderian. Rose Lahiff.

In memory of: Setrak Adajian (5 years) Sarkis Vartanian
Requested by: Hanoug and Sona, Sanan, Talar Malkadjian. Vartan and Ani, Nareh, Sako Vartanian. 

In memory of: George Mourad Gurganian Vahan and Adrene Gurganian
Setrak and Kegui Derovakimian Seranoush Tersian
Requested by: Gurganian and Derovakimian families

In memory of: George Gurganian
Requested by: Phillip and Cynthia Kashigian. Anna Movsesian.

In memory of: Rose Der Hovanessian (16 years) Armenouhie Der Hovanessian Mourad Sagadellian (24 years)
Requested by: Mr. and Mrs. Kaiser Krekorian.

In memory of: Virginia Simonian Madoian (12 years)
Requested by: Ned and Aroxie Apigian

In memory of: Harut Baghdasarian and Krikor Baghdasarian
Requested by: Simon, Maria & Sareen Arslanian. Anjel Baghdasarian.
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
As the Prelacy has redoubled its efforts in these trying days of the Covid-19 emergency, so have grown its needs. More than ever in our living memory, we need your support. Please give as generously as you can, “remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, for he himself said, ‘it is more blessed to give than to receive.’” (Acts 20:35)

Please help us keep alive the huge achievements we have attained with our joint efforts. We will emerge stronger with the hand you lend us.

ARMENIAN PRELACY ANNUAL RAFFLE DRAWING UPDATE!
For many decades, the Prelacy has sponsored an annual raffle drawing that benefits its educational and religious programs. The drawing usually takes place in May at the conclusion of the National Representative Assembly. This year, the coronavirus pandemic hit when the raffle was underway, and the National Representative Assembly, to be originally hosted by St. Gregory the Illuminator Church of Philadelphia, Pa., had to be postponed. The new drawing date has been set for September 12, 2020. The top prize is $5,000; second prize is $2,000; and third, fourth, and fifth prizes are $1,000. However, we always like to point out that in this raffle there are no losers, because all of the money raised benefits our Prelacy programs. 
 
Please consider purchasing one or more tickets ($100 each). For information, please contact our office ( office@saintsarkis.org  or 313-336-6200).
Special Prayers

Father Hrant, the Board of Trustees, and all the auxiliary bodies of St. Sarkis Church request special prayers for the good health and safety of all our parishioners. May these trying days pass in peace and may we reunite again in our churches and celebrate mass together.
The altar flowers, candles, and incense this Sunday are sponsored by Diane Derderian Lewis, James, Shakay, and Arev Majeska, and Lawrence Derderian in loving memory of their mother, Audrey Derderian.
May she rest in peace. 
Karen Hagopian

Dear Facebook Friends, This is difficult for me to write, but I very much appreciate your willingness to read it through. As you may or may not already know, in 1995 I was diagnosed with Primary...

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If you have not noticed, our e-blasts have become super interactive. There are many pictures, links, and flyers that can be clicked on and will take you to various different links.

HAVE SOMETHING TO SUBMIT?
All parish news, photographs, and calendar items should be emailed to office@saintsarkis.org. DEADLINE TO SUBMIT IS THURSDAYS AT 1:00PM. Send us your pictures from Sunday School, Special Services and other Church Events. If your event has an external link (ex. facebook event, eventbrite, etc) send that to us so that we can incorporate it with your flyer.

HAVE A QUESTION, COMMENT, OR SUGGESTION?
We would like to hear from you! Send us an email at office@saintsarkis.org, send us a message on facebook, instagram, or twitter, or chat with us on our website!

WEBSITE LINK: www.saintsarkis.org

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All Available For You Online...
Do you want to request a Requiem Service for your departed loved ones? Do you have a Baptism to schedule? or a Wedding? or do you want to become a member of the Church?
All requests are easy today by using our online forms. Visit our website  www.saintsarkis.org , go to the services tab,  and you will be able to fill out any form you need online, or click on of the options on the right.
Online Donations

For your convenience, St. Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church is now accepting online credit card donations using PayPal which is an easy and secure way to make your donations. To make a donation, please Click Here.

COMMUNITY EVENTS / ANNOUNCEMENTS
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St. Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church
19300 Ford Road, Dearborn, MI 48128
Phone:313-336-6200