POON PAREGENTAN

            Besides this you know what hour it is, how it is full time now for you to wake from sleep.  For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed; the night is far gone, the day is at hand.  Let us then cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us conduct ourselves becomingly as in the day not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentious�ness, not in quarreling and jealousy.  But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

            As for the man who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not for disputes over opinions.  One believes he may eat anything, while the weak man eats only vegetables.  Let not him who eats despise him who abstains, and let not him who abstains pass judgment on him who eats; for God has welcomed him.  Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another?  It is before his own master that he stands or falls.  And he will be upheld, for the Master is able to make him stand.

            One man esteems one day as better than another, while another man esteems all days alike.  Let every one be fully convinced on his own mind.  He who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord.  He also who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God; while he who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God.  None of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself.  If we live, we live to the Lord, if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's.  For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.

            Why do you pass judgment on your brother?  Or you, why do you despise your brother?  For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God; for it is written, "As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall give praise to God."  So each of us shall give account of himself to God.

            Then let us no more pass judgment on one another, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.  I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself; but it is unclean for any one who thinks it unclean.  If your brother is being injured by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love.  Do not let what you eat cause the

            Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which was kept secret for long ages but is now disclosed and through the prophetic writings is made known to all nations, according to the command of the Eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faithto the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ.  Amen.

THE HOLY GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST ACCORDING TO MATTHEW (6:1-21)

Our Lord Jesus Christ says:

            "Beware of practicing your piety before men in order to be seen by them; for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.

            "Thus when you give alms, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by men.  Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.  But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

            "And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by men.  Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.  But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

            "And in praying do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their many words.  Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.  Pray then like this:

            Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.  Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors; And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil.  For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father also will forgive you; but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

            "And when you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by men.  Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.  But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by men but your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

            "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where month and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither month nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."   

Sunday School teen class during their Day of Stewardship on February 8 surrounded by the younger students at the Trading Post.  Younger ones traded in their medals they earned for attendance, good behavior, learning their lessons, etc for gifts.  Supervising are former students, Katrina and Sara Selverian.
 

In preparation for going into church for Holy Communion on February 8, the older class and some teachers during the General Assembly help to teach the younger students how NOT to behave in church
 

  Sunday School's 2014-2015 Calendar
 

Haigazian Armenian Adult Language Classes, WInter 2015 Term.  Tuesday, January 13 - March 30th.   Beginners 7 - 8:30.  Intermediate 8 - 9:30. For more information, please contact Anita Hovsepian 215-242-1247 or