On Thursday, November 20, the Philadelphia Intercommunal Committee along with representatives of local Armenian organizations met to discuss the Philadelphia community's plans for the upcoming 100th Commemoration of the Genocide. Along with members and clergy from the five churches and ASA, representatives from AYF, ARF, AGBU Philadelphia, AGBU YP, ARS Artemis Chapter, Homenutmen, Hamazkayin, and Daughters of Vartan were in attendance. The group discussed the portfolio of events and projects of the Philadelphia community in 2015. More information will be released on the group and the outcome as the meeting, as well as information on how to get involved.

         

 

FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT

 

 

The reading is from the Prophet Isaiah 36:1-9

 

            In the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah, Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the fortified cities of Judah and took them.  And the king of Assyria sent the Rabshakeh from Lachish to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem, with a great army.  And he stood by the conduit of the upper pool on the highway to the Fuller's Field.  And there came out to him Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, and Shebna the secretary, and Joah the son of Asaph, the recorder.

            And the Rabshakeh said to them, "Say to Hezekiah, `Thus says the great king, the king of Assyria:  On what do you rest this confidence of yours?  Do you think that mere words are strategy and power for war?  On whom do you now rely, that you have rebelled against me?  Behold, you are relying on Egypt, that broken reed of a staff, which will pierce the hand of any man who leans on it.  Such is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who rely on him.  But if you say to me, "We rely on the Lord our God," is it not he whose high places and altars Hezekiah has removed, saying to Judah and to Jerusalem, "You shall worship before this altar"?  Come now, make a wager with my master the king of Assyria:  I will give you two thousand horses, if you are able on your part to set riders upon them.  How then can you repulse a single captain among the least of my master's servants, when you rely on Egypt for chariots and for horsemen?'"                                                                                                               

 

The reading is from the First Letter of Paul to the Thessalonians 1:1-10

 

            Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:  Grace to you and peace.

            We give thanks to God always for you all, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.  For we know, brethren beloved by God, that he has chosen you; for our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction.  You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.  And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit; so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.  For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything.  For they themselves report concerning us what a welcome we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols, to serve a living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.

                                                                                                                                               

 

            

THE HOLY GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST ACCORDING TO LUKE 12:13-31

 

Unto Our Lord Jesus Christ:

            One of the multitude said to him, "Teacher, bid my brother divide the inheritance with me."  But he said to him, "Man, who made me a judge or divider over you?"  And he said to them, "Take heed, and beware of all covetousness; for a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."  And he told them a parable, saying, "The land of a rich man brought forth plentifully; and he thought to himself, `What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?'  And he said, `I will do this:  I will pull down my barns, and build larger ones; and there I will store all my grain and my goods.  And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, be merry.'  But God said to him, `Fool!  This night your soul is required of you; and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?'  So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."

            And he said to his disciples, "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat, nor about your body, what you shall put on.  For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.  Consider the ravens:  they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them.  Of how much more value are you than the birds!  And which of you by being anxious can add a cubit to his span of life?  If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest?  Consider the lilies, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of this.  But if God so clothes the grass which is alive in the field today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O men of little faith!  And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be of anxious mind.  For all the nations of the world seek these things; and your Father knows that you need them.  Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things shall be yours as well."   

                                 

 

 

 

 

On Sunday, November 23, we will welcome Majors Robert and Hester Dixon from the Salvation Army, who will be worshiping with us.  Please join us in Founders Hall immediately following the Holy Liturgy for their short presentation of the distribution of our gifts of love to our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ which we have been collecting for over a month.

 

Dr. Arsine Oshagan flocked by her students during one of the sessions of Armenian Language classes for the adults. The Class meets once a week. If you are interested call

Anita Hovsepian 215-242-1247. 

Armenian Sisters Academy is seeking a music teacher.  Responsibilities include teaching general music and choral to Pre K - 8th grades and preparing students for cultural and seasonal programs.  This is a part-time position beginning September 2015.  Anyone interested please contact Sr. Emma at 610-687-4100. 

 

 

 

P.S. See the samples on the yellow side bar