E-Newsletter - September 4, 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
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Thanks to the generous donations of the parishioners and friends of the Eastern United States, as of today the Armenian Prelacy has received $258,324, and has made the fourth transfer of $50,000 to Lebanon. Watch ARCHBISHOP Anoushavan's message below.
All Lebanon Relief donations are distributed to our sisters and brothers in Lebanon by the newly established Central Coordinating Committee composed of all Armenian denominations, political parties and organizations.
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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.
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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.
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Let's Read the Bible! Readings of the week. |
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Monday, September 7: 2 Corinthians 8:1-15; Mark 8:1-9
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Tuesday, September 8: 2 Corinthians 8:16-24; Mark 8:10-21
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Wednesday, September 9: 2 Corinthians 9:1-9; Mark 8:22-26
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Thursday, September 10: 2 Corinthians 9:10-10:6; Mark 9:13-26
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Friday, September 11: 2 Corinthians 10:7-17; Mark 9:37-49
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Saturday, September 12: Proverbs 3:9-17; Isaiah 66:12-16; 1 Timothy 3:14-16; John 10:22-42
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Bible Readings for Sunday, September 6, 2020
Third Sunday after the Assumption
(Eve of the Fast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross)
Երրորդ Կիրակի յետ Վերափոխման
Mark 7:31-37
Then he returned from the region of Tyre, and went by way of Sidon towards the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. They brought to him a deaf man who had an impediment in his speech; and they begged him to lay his hand on him. He took him aside in private, away from the crowd, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue. Then looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” And immediately his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. Then Jesus ordered them to tell no one; but the more he ordered them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. They were astounded beyond measure, saying, “He has done everything well; he even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.”
2 Corinthians 7:4-16
I often boast about you; I have great pride in you; I am filled with consolation; I am overjoyed in all our affliction.
For even when we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were afflicted in every way—disputes without and fears within. But God, who consoles the downcast, consoled us by the arrival of Titus, and not only by his coming, but also by the consolation with which he was consoled about you, as he told us of your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced still more. For even if I made you sorry with my letter, I do not regret it (though I did regret it, for I see that I grieved you with that letter, though only briefly). Now I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because your grief led to repentance; for you felt a godly grief, so that you were not harmed in any way by us. For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation and brings no regret, but worldly grief produces death. For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! At every point you have proved yourselves guiltless in the matter. So although I wrote to you, it was not on account of the one who did the wrong, nor on account of the one who was wronged, but in order that your zeal for us might be made known to you before God. In this we find comfort.
In addition to our own consolation, we rejoiced still more at the joy of Titus, because his mind has been set at rest by all of you. For if I have been somewhat boastful about you to him, I was not disgraced; but just as everything we said to you was true, so our boasting to Titus has proved true as well. And his heart goes out all the more to you, as he remembers the obedience of all of you, and how you welcomed him with fear and trembling. I rejoice, because I have complete confidence in you.
ԱՒԵՏԱՐԱՆ ԸՍՏ ՄԱՐԿՈՍԻ 7:31-37
Յիսուս Տիւրոսի սահմաններէն մեկնելով, Սիդոնի վրայով անցաւ Դեկապոլիսի սահմաններէն եւ եկաւ Գալիլեայի լիճին եզերքը: Եւ ահա իրեն բերին խուլ եւ համր մարդ մը, խնդրելով որ ձեռքը դնէ անոր վրայ: Յիսուս զայն ամբոխէն հեռու՝ մէկ կողմ տարաւ, մատները անոր ականջներուն մէջ դրաւ, յետոյ թքեց եւ դպաւ անոր լեզուին: Ապա երկինք նայեցաւ, հառաչեց եւ ըսաւ.
– Եփփաթա՛, որ կը նշանակէ՝ «Բացուէ՛»:
Նոյն վայրկեանին անոր ականջները բացուեցան, եւ լեզուն բացուելով՝ սկսաւ կանոնաւոր կերպով խօսիլ: Յետոյ Յիսուս պատուիրեց ժողովուրդին, որ ոեւէ մէկուն չըսեն: Սակայն ի՛նչքան ալ անիկա կը պատուիրէր որ չտարածեն, անոնք առաւել չափով կը պատմէին այս մասին: Մարդիկ ծայր աստիճան կը զարմանային եւ կ’ըսէին.
– Այս մարդը ամէն ինչ լաւ կը կատարէ. նոյնիսկ խուլերուն լսել կու տայ եւ համրերուն՝ խօսիլ:
Բ. ԹՈՒՂԹ ԿՈՐՆԹԱՑԻՆԵՐՈՒՆ 7:4-16
Մեծ վստահութիւն ունիմ ձեր վրայ. մեծապէս հպարտ եմ ձեզմով: Մեր կրած բոլոր նեղութեանց մէջ ինքզինքս մեծապէս մխիթարուած եւ անսահմանօրէն ուրախ կը զգամ: Որովհետեւ Մակեդոնիա մեր հասնելէն ի վեր երբեք հանգիստ չունեցանք, այլ՝ ամէն կողմէ նեղութիւն: Մէկ կողմէ արտաքին թշնամիները կը նեղէին մեզ, իսկ ներքնապէս՝ մեր վախը: Բայց Աստուած, որ կը մխիթարէ սրտաբեկները, Տիտոսի գալովը մեզ մխիթարեց:
Ուրախացուցիչը միայն Տիտոսի գալը չէր: Ուրախացանք մանաւանդ, եր բ լսեցինք թէ ի՛նչպէս գոհ մնացած էր ձեզմէ: Մեզի պատմեց՝ թէ անձկութեամբ կը սպասէք ինծի, թէ ո՛րքան ցաւած էք պատահածին համար եւ թէ ի՛նչպէս կապուած էք ինծի: Չէք կրնար երեւակայել որքա՜ն ուրախ եմ: Ճիշդ է որ նամակովս քիչ մը վշտացուցի ձեզ, բայց հիմա չեմ զղջար ըրածիս, թէպէտ գրելէս ետք զղջացեր էի. քանի կը տեսնեմ թէ այդ նամակս միայն կարճ ժամանակ մը վշտացուցեր է ձեզ: Ուրախ եմ հիմա, ո՛չ թէ ձեզ տրտմեցուցած ըլլալուս համար, այլ՝ որովհետեւ այդ տրտմութիւնը պատճառ եղաւ որ ձեր վարմունքը փոխէք: Եւ որովհետեւ ձեր տրտմութիւնը Աստուծոյ գործին ծառայեց, ես պէտք չունիմ այլեւս խստութեամբ գալու ձեզի: Աստուած երբեմն մեզ կը ցաւցնէ՝ ապաշխարութեան միջոցաւ փրկութեան առաջնորդելու նպատակով, որուն համար չենք զղջար բնաւ: Մինչդեռ աշխարհի ցաւը մահուան կ’առաջնորդէ: Արդ, տեսէք թէ Աստուծոյ պատճառած ցաւը ի՛նչպէս անտարբերութենէն դուրս բերաւ ձեզ եւ մղեց՝ որ դուք ձեզ արդարացնէք: Զայրացաք, տագնապեցաք, անձկութեամբ լեցուեցաք: Բայց յետոյ նախանձախնդրութեամբ վառեցաք եւ սխալը մէջտեղէն վերցուցիք, եւ ամէն կերպով ցոյց տուիք, թէ դուք յանցանք չունիք այդ խնդրին մէջ: Հիմա ըսեմ, թէ նախորդ նամակը գրելուս պատճառը միայն այդ յանցաւոր մարդը չէր, ո՛չ ալ անոր հայրը՝ որուն դէմ գործուեցաւ յանցանքը. այլ՝ որպէսզի յայտնուի այն հոգածութիւնը, որ փոխադարձաբար իրարու հանդէպ ունինք Աստուծոյ առջեւ: Ուստի մենք մեզ մխիթարուած կը զգանք:
Մեր զգացած մխիթարութեան վրայ Տիտոս աւելի՛ եւս ուրախացուց մեզ, ուրախութեամբ պատմելով՝ թէ ի՛նչպէս բոլորդ ալ գոհ ձգած էք զինք: Ձեզի համար պարծանքս յայտնած էի իրեն, եւ ամօթով չմնացի. եւ ինչպէս ձեզի խօսածներս բոլորը ճշմարիտ էին, նոյնպէս ալ Տիտոսի յայտնած պարծանքս ճշմարտուեցաւ: Գիտէ՞ք թէ որքան մեծ սիրով Տիտոս կը խօսէր ձեր մասին. կը յիշէր՝ թէ ինչպիսի՜ երկիւղած յարգանքով ընդուներ էք զինք: Արդ, ուրախ եմ որ կատարեալ վստահութիւն ունիմ ձեր վրայ:
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ST. JOHN THE FORERUNNER AND JOB THE RIGHTEOUS
On, September 3, the Armenian Church commemorates St. John the Forerunner and Job the Righteous. St. John the Forerunner , also known as John the Baptist (Hovhaness Mkrtich), is an important figure in the Gospels. He is recognized as the “forerunner” (Garapet) to the Messiah. He lived as a hermit in the desert of Judea. At the age of 30 he began to preach against the evils of the times and called for penance and baptism because “the kingdom of heaven is close at hand.”
Job is a good and righteous person who experiences and endures catastrophe after catastrophe. Thus, the phrase “the patience of Job” has entered the English lexicon as a popular cliché. The Book of Job is one of the five books classified as the “poetical books” of the Bible. The central theme is the mystery of suffering. Ultimately, Job is rewarded because “the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning,” and “After this Job lived one hundred and forty years, and saw his children, and his children’s children, four generations. And Job died, old and full of days” (Job, Chapter 42).
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THE HOLY COUNCIL OF NICAEA
It was quite an auspicious gathering, called to convene by Emperor Constantine the Great upon the recommendation of church leaders. Constantine invited 1,800 bishops of the Christian Church within the vast Roman Empire. The number attending (counted by three attendees) varies, but the number 318 has come to be the agreed official number of delegates. Since each delegate could bring with him two priests and three deacons, the total attendance was actually more. A number of controversial topics were discussed including the Arian question, the date of Easter, organization and structure of the church, the question of kneeling, to mention a few. Perhaps the most important result was the formulation of a Creed—a declaration and summary of the Christian faith. It is this event—the First Ecumenical Council—that we celebrate this Saturday, September 5, that took place in Nicaea in the year 325.
Aristakes, son of Gregory the Illuminator, represented the Armenian Church. The Council is mentioned in the writings of Moses of Khoren and Agathangelos. In later centuries, in all their doctrinal writings, the Fathers of the Armenian Church refer to the Council of Nicaea with reverence, and the Nicene Creed ( Havatamk ) was incorporated into the Armenian Liturgy. The Council condemned Arianism that denied the full divinity of Christ, and proclaimed that the orthodox position is the belief in “one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, begotten of God the Father, Only Begotten, that is of the substance of the Father. God from God, light from light, true God from true God, begotten and not made” (from the Nicene Creed recited during the Armenian Divine Liturgy).
Prior to the Council’s conclusion, the delegates celebrated the 20th anniversary of Emperor Constantine, who in his closing remarks spoke of his aversion to dogmatic controversy and his desire for the Church to live in harmony, peace, and unity.
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PAREGENTAN OF FAST
This Sunday, September 6, is the Paregentan of the Fast leading to the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (Khachveratz). Because the Exaltation is a Tabernacle Feast, it is preceded by a week (Monday to Friday) of fasting and followed by a memorial day of remembrance.
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FEAST OF THE NATIVITY OF THE HOLY MOTHER
This Tuesday, September 8, the Armenian Church commemorates the Feast of the Nativity of the Holy Mother of God. The birth of the Holy Mother is not recorded in the Bible; the account of this event comes to us from other writings that are not part of the New Testament. According to tradition, Joachim and Anna were faithful and pious and waiting for the promised Messiah. They were elderly and childless. They prayed to God for a child and were blessed with a daughter they named Mary, who became the mother of the Messiah.
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NEWS AT ST. SARKIS CHURCH |
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Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?
Tuesday's Armenian Prelacy of the Eastern United States Reflection featured Rev. Fr. Hrant Kevorkian, Pastor of St. Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church, Dearborn, MI
Այսօրուան խորհրդածութիւնը կը ներկայացնէ Ս. Սարգիս եկեղեցւոյ (Տիրպորն, Միշիկըն) հոգեւոր հովիւ՝ Արժ. Տ. Հրանդ քհն. Գէորգեան
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EVENTS AT ST. SARKIS CHURCH |
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REQUIEM SERVICE - ՀՈԳԵՀԱՆԳԻՍՏ
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In memory of: ANNE MERIAN (5 years)
Requested by: Bedros and Sandy Magar. Zavin and Anahid Nazaretian and family. Avedis and Aprylle Magar and family. Suzanne Arzoian. Violet Gavoor. Nancy Gavoor. Mark and Judy Gavoor. Ani and Jeff Niffin.
In memory of: LEVON MERIAN (47 years)
Requested by: Suzanne Arzoian. Violet Gavoor and family.
In memory of: AGNES GAVOOR
Requested by: Violet Gavoor and family.
In memory of: EDWARD JEVIZIAN
Requested by: June Constantine.
To request a requiem prayer that is to be included in the church bulletin and email, please contact the church office by noon on Thursdays.
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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.
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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).
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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 the people in Lebanon and all around the world. May these trying days pass in peace.
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Announcement
The church office will be closed on Monday, September 7, 2020, in observance of the Labor Day holiday. In case of emergency please contact Father Hrant directly at 857-318-9799.
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CLICK! CLICK! CLICK!
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?
FOLLOW US!!!
Click the links below to follow us on social media!
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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.
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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.
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COMMUNITY EVENTS / ANNOUNCEMENTS |
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Stay Connected:
St. Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church
19300 Ford Road, Dearborn, MI 48128
Phone:313-336-6200
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