Morning Service – Առավոտեան Ժամերգություն– 9 am Divine Liturgy – Badarak- Սուրբ Պատարագ - 10:00 am Sunday school- Կիրակնօրեա Դպրոց – 10:15 AM

UPCOMING EVENTS Առաջիկա Միջոցառումներ

Sunday, May 6, 2018 We will not Celebrate Holy Badarak in our Church. The Pontifical Divine Liturgy will be available via TV in our Fellowship Hall at 10 am. Friday, June 1 & Saturday, June 2, 2018 11:30 am – 6:30 pm Armenian Food Festival 2017 – 1280 Boston Road, Bradford, MA 01835 CHICKEN KABOB DINNER with pilaf, hot garnish, salad & bread, KHEYMA DINNER with pilaf, cold garnish, salad & bread, LOSH DINNER with pilaf, hot garnish, salad & bread, FRIDAY LUNCH SPECIALS…… ARMENIAN DELICACIES - LAHMEJOON (Armenian pizza) – CHEESE BEOREG – SPINACH PIE - TOURSHI – CHEOREG – KATAIF WITH WALNUTS – KATAIF WITH CREAM – PAKLAVA – AND MANY MORE DELICIOUS ITEMS

Cell phone reminder: Please turn off your cell phones prior to entering the Church, out of respect for the Divine Liturgy, the sanctity of the Sanctuary and your fellow worshiping parishioners. Thank you for your cooperation!

Sunday, April 29, 2018

Կիրակի, Ապրիլ 29, 2018 THE ARMENIAN APOSTOLIC CHURCH AT HYE POINTE

ՀԱՅ ՓՕԻՆԹ ՀԱՅԱՍՏԱՆՅԱՑ ԱՌԱՔԵԼԱԿԱՆ ԵԿԵՂԵՑԻ Rev. Fr. Vart Gyozalyan - Pastor

1280 Boston Road, Bradford, MA 01835

“Daily Lectionary Readings”

Աստվածաշնչական Ընթերցումներ

Acts 17:1-15, 1 John 1:1-10, John 7:14-23 Apparition of the Holy Cross - Սուրբ Խաչի երևման տոն

TODAY’S GOSPEL READING Այսօրվա Ավետարանը

John 7:14-23 14 About the middle of the festival Jesus went up into the temple and began to teach. 15 The Jews were astonished at it, saying, “How does

this man have such learning, when he has never been taught?” 16 Then Jesus answered them, “My teaching is not mine but his who sent me. 17 Anyone who resolves to do the will of God will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own. 18 Those who speak on their own seek their own glory; but the one who seeks

the glory of him who sent him is true, and there is nothing false in him.

19 “Did not Moses give you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law. Why are you looking for an opportunity to kill me?” 20 The crowd answered, “You have a demon! Who is trying to kill you?” 21 Jesus

answered them, “I performed one work, and all of you are astonished. 22 Moses gave you circumcision (it is, of course, not from Moses, but from the patriarchs), and you circumcise a man on the sabbath. 23 If a

man receives circumcision on the sabbath in order that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me because I healed a

man’s whole body on the sabbath?

REQUEST FOR PRAYERS

Աղօթքի Խնդրանք In honor of Sainted martyrs of the Armenian Genocide from –

Katherine Meranian Remembering the sacrifices of all who suffered during the Armenian

Genocide, April 24, 1915 – Michael & Sona Naroian Get well wishes & special prayers to all who are ill from – Michael &

Sona Naroian, Eva Naroian, Marie Thomasian, M/M Scott Sahagian Congratulations to all who celebrate happy events in May from –

Michael & Sona Naroian Remembering the Holy Martyr’s who gave their lives during the

Armenian Genocide from – Barbara Naroian, M/M Charles Bazarian, M/M Scott Sahagian, Linda & Paul Doherty, Esther Tanoian, M/M Mel

Minasian, Marie Thomassian, Emmanuel Baghdayan, Annette DerMinasian Special Prayers for Uncle Charlie Bellanti from – M/M Scott Sahagian

Congratulations to the incoming Parish Council Members from – M/M Scott Sahagian,

Donations for Hokehankist Հոգեհանգիստյան Նվիրատվություններ

For the Soul of Rose Q. Azarian (40 Days) from - Gale & Paul Cifra, Linda & Paul Doherty, Esther Tanoian, Melanee Naroian

The Celebration of Madagh

The Church ritual of Madagh reflects the piety & charity of

the Armenian people. Madagh means sacrifice & is an occasion when gifts or offerings are made by Christians to God as an act of thankfulness & gratitude. Madagh is a very

old custom which dates back to ancient times. It is observed on the days following Christmas, Easter, Transfiguration –

Vartavar, the Assumption of St. Mary the Virgin & the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. These are regarded as days of memorial. Madagh depended on the circumstances of the

donor. Offerings were either cattle, lamb, or roosters, but ordinarily it was lamb. Pieces of meat would be sandwiched

between slices of bread & distributed after the church services. If meat was plentiful, it would be given raw to the poor. And sometimes donors would have the Madagh also

sent to hospitals & orphanages. The celebration of Madagh is still practiced to this day & it helps create between

Armenians a closer sense of their Christian brotherhood.

Holy Communion In the Armenian Church Holy Communion is distributed in the

following manner. The communicant stands before the priest, makes the sign of the cross and says:

“Megha Asdoodzo”, "I have sinned against God."

The priest then places a small particle of our Lord's Body and Blood -- the bread having been dipped into the wine -- directly into the mouth

of the communicant. The communicant again makes the sign of the Cross and steps aside for others to approach the blessed sacrament.

After all have received Holy Communion, using the chalice to imprint the sign of the Cross over the communicants, the priest imparts the

blessing of Psalm 28:9 : "Save your people, Lord, and bless your inheritance; shepherd them and lift them up from henceforth until

eternity".

DIStrIbutIon of ‘MAS’ In thE ArMEnIAn ChurCh tAkIng “MAS”

The Person giving Should say;

Մաս եւ բաժին եղիցի քեզ ի Սուրբ Պատարագիս Mas yev pajin yeghitzi kez ee Sourp Badarakis

May this be to you a share and a portion from the Divine Liturgy.

The Person receiving should say; Բաժին իմ Աստուած յաւիտեան

Pajin im Asdvadz Havidian God is my portion for ever

Family Life and Cultural Center

“Building the Legacy”

If you would like to donate to our Building Fund, you may send your donation, made payable to: "The Armenian Church at Hye Pointe

Building Fund", PO Box 8069, Bradford, MA 01835

MAKE A DONATION TO YOUR CHURCH

The Armenian Apostolic Church at Hye Pointe has developed an

option for those who wish to make a donation to their church in the

form of stocks, bonds, mutual funds or other securities.

The church has established a brokerage account and for those

individuals who wish to make such a donation.

The church will benefit by the donation, and you as the donor will

receive a tax deduction for your donation. It is a win – win for both

your church and yourself.

Please contact a Parish Council for more details if you are interested.

Church Office: 978-372-9227

Weekly Wisdom

Authentic Living Jesus was not making up His teaching, claiming that it came from His

Father who sent Him. In order to test this claim, Jesus challenges His

listeners, which includes us today. If we really want to do His will, if that

is our authentic intent, then we will know Jesus is from God. But why

would we have to live for God in order to know that He is from God? It

almost sounds like a trick. When we live a life consecrated, set apart for

God, with Him at the center informing and influencing everything we say

and do, first of all, we are not trying to make ourselves look good, but

give glory to God, and secondly, we fulfill what God intended for His

creation, to be worshippers of Him.

In other words, to live for God is to live authentically, it’s the right way to

live, and we will know it’s right because union with our Creator fulfills

our true purpose and end in life. Jesus demonstrated what our lives

should look like by taking on human flesh and blood and living like one of

us. We often wish for a manual telling us how to live. The world has been

shown how to live through the person of Jesus Christ. In Christ, we know

who we are supposed to be, as individuals and as the Church.

When we live otherwise, looking to whatever else as our paradigm or

whomever else as our model, we are not living to our fullest as human

beings, who we are created to be and what we are created to do. This is

evident when we sin, that which draws us away from communion with

God, resulting in insecurities, fear, anxiety, fighting, addictions, violence,

war, unforgiveness, and hatred of one another. Commenting on this

Gospel reading, St. John Chrysostom writes, “What [Jesus] is saying is

this, “Cast out from yourselves the malice and wrath and envy and hatred

which has without cause been conceived against Me, then there is

nothing to hinder you from knowing that My words are indeed the words

of God. For at present these things cast a darkness over you, and destroy

the light of right judgment, while if ye remove them this shall no longer

be your case.”

None of this means we cannot and do not go through the motions, turn

on good behavior for show, or hide behind rules and traditions,

nitpicking in order to judge others and do what is seemingly right while

ignoring what is authentically right. Jesus addresses this in the latter

portion of the Gospel reading when He exposes the Jews for having a

distorted view of the law and tradition, nitpicking things that were far

less important than His healing of an entire person a few months prior

(see John 5:2-9).

To live authentically is to keep on the path on which we are placed at

baptism. It is a life during which we will continually need to be cleansed

and continually need to recall the promises made that day: “for courage

to struggle and triumph over the Adversary, for strength to keep the

commandments that enjoin virtuous deeds, for perfect discipline and for

the exercise of godliness, to the end that being enlightened in mind

he/she may live in this world for the salvation of his/her soul…and may

be worthy to enter into the inheritance of the state of the saints…”

Are we speaking and acting and living in a way that boosts our own

message, status, title, or ego? As a parish community, do we advance our

own ideas, agendas, rather than God’s message to us, to be the Church, to

give, put others first, tell others about the truth of the Gospel? Where do

we put our resources and wealth? What do we value? If the Church is

really living out the Gospel, if each person is living out the promises made

at his or her baptism, it will be obvious to the community and to the

world that we are not seeking our own glory, but the glory of Jesus Christ.

Look at Jesus, learn from Him, and look at the world through the lens of

the Gospel. Through Him we know our purpose, who we are meant to be

as individuals and as the Church. When we authentically live for Jesus

Christ, imitating Him, uniting with Him, and loving one another, we will

know that He is from God, because He is God.

By Dn. Eric Vozzy

RESOURCE DEVELOPER

Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)

2018 STEWARDSHIP “The Joy of the Generosity” is on the way

to reaching its $50,000 goal. You do not need to be a dues paying

member of the Church to be a steward. For the benefit of our

Church, please help us reach our end. Please see one of our

Stewardship Committee members Armen Derderian, Treasurer or

Charlie Bazarian, Linda Doherty or Marilyn Shahian for additional

details or to ask questions. You can reached them

1. Armen at (978) 794-9200 or at armen@armentaxcpa.com

2. Charlie can be reached at (978) 686-6050 or at

cabazarian@comcast.net.

3. Marilyn Shahian - marilynshahian@aol.com

4. Linda Doherty linda.ld.doherty@siemens-healthineers.com

or (603) 560-1308

Please be a part of our goal!

ALTAR DONATIONS

Նվիրատվություններ Սուրբ Խորանին Parishioners requesting Altar Flowers and Candles for any

occasion or Sunday should approach a member of the Parish Council for an Altar Flower or Candle Donation form. For Altar

Flowers please contact Alice Kasparian at Alicehaverhill@aol.com. 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.

order of INTERCESSORY PRAYER Of The Holy Martyrs Who Gave Their Lives During The Armenian Genocide For Faith

And For The Homeland

Applications for Diocesan scholarships are now available online. The

application deadline for the 2018-19 academic year is May 20, 2018.

Each year the Diocese awards scholarships to promising youth who

are headed to college. The Diocese seeks students who are active in

their local parishes and have assumed leadership roles in their

communities. To be eligible, applicants must be U.S. citizens enrolled

in four-year undergraduate programs.

For information, contact Maria Barsoumian at (212) 686-0710.

St. Vartan Cathedral 50th Anniversary Badarak and Pontifical Divine Liturgy

This year, as you may now is the 50th anniversary of the

consecration of the St. Vartan Cathedral in NYC. Pontifical Divine Liturgy to be celebrated by His Holiness Karekin II,

Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, in honor of the 50th anniversary of St Vartan Cathedral on Sunday, May 6, 2018. We will not Celebrate Holy Badarak in our Church on

May 6, 2018. Diocese anticipates very large numbers at this Holy Badarak, and warmly invites and encourages participation from all our

parishioners. On Sunday, May 6, 2018 at 10 am The Pontifical Divine Liturgy will be available via TV in our

Fellowship Hall.

Feast of Apparition of the Holy Cross

This feast is dedicated to the Apparition of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem. At noon on May 19, 351, a bright, luminous cross appeared over the skies of Jerusalem, centered over an area

spanning from the Mount of Olives (where Christ was betrayed and arrested) to Golgotha (where Christ was crucified). Awestruck, the faithful of Jerusalem rush to church to give thanks and glorify the

Lord. Bishop Cyril (later St. Cyril of Jerusalem) subsequently wrote a letter to Emperor Constantine of Byzantium wherein he

describes the miraculous and beautiful scene. St. Cyril tells Constantine that the apparition is a true testimony of the orthodox

faith of Christianity. Further, St. Cyril exhorts the Emperor that the appearance is a sign for him to remain steadfast in his faith, and to stop defending the

heretical movement of Arianism and its promulgators. The Armenian translation of the Bishop’s letter has been preserved by the Church, and is read each year on the Feast of the Apparition of the Holy Cross. The Armenian Church celebrates this feast 28 days

following Easter Sunday.

2018 Parish Council

Congratulations to the incoming Parish Council

Members Rev. Fr. Vart Gyozalyan- President

Scott Sahagian - Chairman Katherine Meranian - Vice Chairperson

Armen Derderian - Treasurer Michael Sirmaian - Asst. Treasurer (Men’s Clube Liaison)

Anthony Giragosian- Secretary Lucy Sirmaian – Advisor (Women’s Guild Liaison) Emmanuel Baghdayan – Advisor (Choir Liaison)

Mark Sahagian – Advisor (Sunday School Liaison) John Naroian – Advisor (ACYOA Liaison)