March 8

TOP STORY   

Judgment by Man and God

A common thread runs through the Lenten Gospel reading for Sunday, March 10-the Sunday of the Judge.

In one parable, our Lord tells the story of a widow who would not cease calling on a judge for justice-and we are meant to think about our own prayers to heaven. In a second parable, a Pharisee and a tax collector praying in the Temple, displaying very different attitudes towards God.

In both stories, Jesus teaches about the coming of God's kingdom and the judgment of all mankind. Christ leads us to see that as human beings, we stand before God every day. Indeed, one day, at the coming of His kingdom, we will stand before Him as our judge.

So, we must ask ourselves: How should we stand before God? How should we prepare to show ourselves to Him?  Click here for some thoughtful answers.

Please join us every Wednesday at 7:00 PM throughout Lent for

Spiritual Journey Toward Easter: Lenten Worship Service, Spiritual Discussion, and Lenten Dinner.



To see the 2024 Lenten Series flyer, click here.

March 10, 2024

SUNDAY

SCHEDULE

Morning Service 

10:00 AM

Holy Badarak 

10:30 AM

Celebrant

Rev. Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan 

Usher

Mr. Garbis Chubukian

Parish Council Members on Duty

Mrs. Svetlana Hovhannisyan

Choir

Mrs. Edita Kalayjian

Organist

Mrs. Karine Muradyan

Bible Readings:

Isaiah 65.8-25

Philippians 3.1-4.9

Luke 17.20-18.14

HOKEHANKIST

REQUIEM SERVICE

For the Soul of :

Dro Der Minasyan

(40 days)

Requested by:

Ruben Der Minasyan (brother)

Prayer of the Week

O Lord, send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling. Then I will go to the altar of God, and I will praise you with the harp, O God, my God.

   Lord, please keep watch over your faithful people, strengthen those fleeing persecution, and protect the holy soil of Armenia—now and always. Foil every aggressor against our homeland. Defend the innocent and voiceless, Lord.

   Preserve the name and spirit of Artsakh in our hearts, forever. Console all those who grieve, and remember those who sacrificed their very lives in your Name. Deliver your faithful children from conflict, and bestow your peace on all mankind. Amen.

Please tune in to St. Mary YouTube channel for the upcoming services and Badaraks

Mid Lenten Luncheon

On Sunday, March 3rd, the community of St. Mary's gathered to observe Meetchink, marking the median day of Lent. This significant day, which falls on the 24th day or the fourth week of Lent, symbolizes the halfway point of our spiritual journey toward Easter. While Meetchink itself does not carry specific religious rites, it holds a cherished place in our traditions, serving as a beacon of fellowship and encouragement. It is a moment to remind each other of the importance of perseverance in our spiritual practices and to renew our commitment to the path that leads us closer to the resurrection.

This year, our Meetchink extravagant luncheon was graciously prepared by the St. Mary Women's Guild. Their dedication in preparing a heartwarming Lenten meal allowed for a true expression of community and shared faith. We extend our deepest gratitude to Harald Sakayan and the Sakayan family for sponsoring this beautiful luncheon in memory of Victoria Sakayan.



The event also featured an enlightening presentation by Mariam Kholoyan from the Armenian Assembly. She shared insightful perspectives on the critical work of the Assembly, particularly highlighting the importance of the upcoming Advocacy Days. Mariam emphasized the essential role of community engagement in advocating for Armenian issues at Congress, inspiring us all to actively participate in these efforts. This program was organized by the Knights of Vartan. 



As we continue our Lenten journey, let the spirit of Meetchink inspire us to maintain our resolve and support one another in our spiritual and communal endeavors. Together, we move forward with renewed faith and dedication, embodying the values that unite us as a community.

Reflecting and Witnessing Together: A Lenten Journey at St. Mary Continues

On Wednesday, March 6, the community of St. Mary gathered for the fourth Lenten service and discussion of the season. After the Peace Hour prayer service, the reflection of the day was led by Ms. Anahit Tevosyan, who presented a deeply moving meditation titled "Witness through charity and hospitality." Her talk encouraged those present to engage in deep introspection about how witnessing the Lord's presence in our lives can be manifested through acts of kindness, charity, and the warm welcoming of others. Ms. Tevosyan shared personal stories that illuminated her journey of faith, intertwined with thought-provoking commentary on biblical passages emphasizing the importance of charity and hospitality. Her message resonated deeply, prompting attendees to reflect on their own experiences of faith and community.

The evening was further enriched by a dinner sponsored by the St. Mary Choir, exemplifying the very themes discussed during the service. The meal provided an opportunity for those present to come together in a spirit of generosity and unity, embodying the essence of Lenten observance. 

During the dinner, the attendees had the pleasure of hearing from Ms. Naira Babayan, who spoke passionately about her work on the English edition of Mark Aren's book, "Where Wild Roses Bloom: The Anatolian Story." Ms. Babayan's presentation highlighted the profound impact the book had on her and stressed its importance, urging everyone to explore its contents. The book will be available at St. Mary's Gift Store. 

Everyone is encouraged to attend future services, held every Wednesday at 7:00 pm, to continue our journey of faith, reflection, and communal connection during this sacred time.

Opportunity to do a Lenten Good Deed!

The annual Shnorhali School Lenten Good Deed is underway and the entire church is invited to participate by bringing small toys to the collection box by the office. 

The toys will be used to entertain children ages 4-16, pre- and post-surgery. These children will be getting Cleft Lip/Palate operations in developing countries, via Operation Smile (OperationSmile.org).   



DONATION LIST

·        New/Gently Used Small Toys (6 inches or smaller)

·        Blowing Bubbles (non-toxic)

·        Pipe Cleaners for crafts

·        Small Balls (tennis ball size or smaller)

·        Sidewalk Chalk

·        Crayons, Colored Pencils/Markers

·        Coloring Books

·        Small Watercolor Paint Sets with Brush

·        UNO or Playing Cards

·        Stickers

DIOCESAN & OTHER NEWS

A Lenten Clergy Gathering in New England

On March 4-5, Diocesan clergy in the New England region held an enriching two-day Lenten Retreat at the serene Betania II Center in Medway, MA.

Diocesan Primate Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan presided over the gathering of 17 priests, representing parishes in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island, as well as Florida, Texas, and California. Joining them were several deacons from the region.

This year the clergy were graced by the presence and wise insights of Bishop Armash Nalbandyan, the Primate of the Armenian Diocese of Damascus.

“Our retreat focused on the dual aspect of our ministry, addressing the challenges we face, and nurturing both our spiritual well-being and our capacity to be sources of comfort within our communities,” said Bishop Mesrop.

“One of the highlights was our evening at the Church of Our Saviour in Worcester, where we engaged in heartfelt worship,” he said. “This was followed by a Lenten dinner graciously hosted by the dedicated members of the Women's Guild.”

The Primate added: “I am grateful for the opportunity to connect with my brother clergy. These moments of fellowship and shared spirituality are crucial in reminding us of the strength we find in our faith and each other.”

Additional Lenten Retreats for Diocesan clergy in the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest regions are scheduled for the coming weeks. Click here to view photos of this week’s gathering.

Women's Day Donation Match 

In honor of Women’s Month, FAR's Ayo! platform has joined forces with the Gyumri Information Technologies Center (GITC) to empower 35 #WomenInTech. GITC’s mission is to leverage technology education to provide long-term employment opportunities in the impoverished Shirak region. Currently, the center is equipping single mothers and displaced women from Artsakh based in Gyumri with the skills they need to enter the workforce. All donations of up to $500 made to the #WomenInTech project on Friday, March 8, will be matched by Linda and Carl Bazarian! Learn more through the link below and check out the new feature which allows you to indicate your parish and see your congregation’s collective impact: https://secure.qgiv.com/event/ayoisyou/

Diocesan Resources to Enrich Your Experience of Lent

To help our faithful realize a more meaningful experience of Great Lent, the Eastern Diocese has created a number of resources—available online, in print, and through our local parishes.

An online discussion series is meeting each week of Lent, as part of the Diocesan Ministries department’s VEMKAR digital ministries program. The sessions meet Tuesday evenings through March 19, at 7 p.m. EST, over the Zoom video platform. Click the following link to find the schedule of speakers and topics, and find details on how to join. View recordings of the presentations so far by clicking here.

Also, the Diocese has published a beautiful resource for families and parishes: a Lenten Family Calendar, to guide young people day by day through the spiritual journey of Lent. Click here to download the digital file, or pick up a hard copy at your local parish.

Additional Lenten resources for children, youth, and adults can be found on the VEMKAR website.

The Diocesan website and Facebook page are frequently updated with thought-provoking essays, images, and information on the theme of Lent—like last Friday’s “art history” journey through depictions of the Prodigal Son.

Lenten Retreats for young adults have been organized by the ACYOA in several regions of the Diocese. And Lenten Clergy Retreats are ongoing throughout the season.

In addition, many Diocesan parishes are holding Lenten services and lectures throughout the coming weeks. Scan the Calendar listings below, or check with your local parish for details.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Transportation is available departing from St. Mary Armenian Chruch at 4 pm. Please call the church office at 202-363-1923 by March 19 to RSVP.

RECYCLING PROGRAM NEWS

Thanks to our Recycling Committee for their work in sorting and bringing home the recyclables every Sunday, especially during our recent Food Festival. What has been discouraging, though, is that people continue to throw half-full coffee cups and food into the container, which makes it very messy for us. Please put only the following in the container:

Empty plastic bottles

Empty aluminum cans

Empty glass bottles

Nothing else!!

No paper, no plastic silverware, no coffee cups, no paper plates, no food. We are trying to keep things simple.

If you have any questions or suggestions, please email Roxanne Paul at rangerrox@msn.com. Thank you for being so supportive in helping keep our planet cleaner!

UPCOMING EVENTS

Special Gift for St. Mary Gift Shop

St. Mary gift shop is offering limited numbers of imported bottles of medieval Armenian health elixirs formulated from ancient manuscripts deciphered at the Matendaran Museum of Ancient Armenian Manuscripts. These elixirs are made in Armenia by Armen Sahakyan, a pharmacologist and botanical scholar who has been working at the Matenadaran Museum for the last several decades. A trained medical doctor ordained a deacon in 1997, Sahakyan has dedicated his life to the maintenance of Armenia’s sacred botanical traditions.

The three different batches available at our gift shop (Royal Elixir, Arates Elixir and Arates Tonic) are made from a codified recipe of medieval Armenian medicine, using a special distillation process. They contain medicinal and aromatic plants, known for their healing properties. Through the distillation and aging process alcohol is created, so think of them as perhaps Armenia’s first (healthy) cognac! 

The supplies are limited and each bottle is numbered, including the batch and year of production. All of the bottles were donated to St Mary Church, so 100% of the proceeds will go to the St Mary Endowment Fund, with a portion also going to support Armenian clergy serving in Artsakh.

"Embrace the Future" Endowment Fund

Dear Parishioners and Friends, 

This year, we celebrate the 92nd Anniversary of the St. Mary Community and Church. "Embrace the Future" Endowment Fund was established on the occasion of the 90th anniversary and continues to help ensure our church has the resources needed to continue serving our beloved community.  

Just as you plan for your future and that of your family, please join us in planning for the future of St. Mary Church. 

We are asking for your support so that St. Mary will be able to continue to fulfill her mission for future generations.  

The link below lists various opportunities for you to make a meaningful gift of lasting significance that will help support our church's long-term security, visibility, and vitality. Please consider making either a one-time gift or pledge, which would allow you to make payments over a five-year period.

Join St. Mary's Prayer Group

We are initiating a new form of ministry at St. Mary Armenian Church. For parishioners who would like to make an electronic prayer request, they can do so by Clicking Here

A group of volunteers will receive the request and pray at their earliest convenience. Additionally, a new physical prayer request box will be placed at the entrance of St. Mary Armenian Church with blank forms that anyone can fill out and drop in the box. These requests will be retrieved weekly and delivered to the members of the volunteer prayer group. If you would like to become one of the volunteers of the Prayer Group please email us. 

Please click on the link below to present your request. 

Buy a Brick and Leave Your Legacy at

St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church

Bricks can be ordered and purchased by clicking below and

filling out a simple online order form.

You can choose to have a 4" x 8" brick

which includes your preselected

3 lines of 20 characters per line of text.

Or you can choose to have the

Armenian Cross artwork on the 4" x 8" brick

which includes your preselected

3 lines of 15 characters per line of text.

Order Today While Quantities Last!

Payment can be made with PayPal or a Credit Card.

Legacy Brick Donations are Tax Deductible.

March 9          ACYOA Seniors Regional Lenten Retreat at St. Mary’s

March 13, 20 Lenten Worship Service and Spiritual Discussion @ 7 p.m.

March 16 Jingalov Hats Workshop @ 11 a.m.

March 17 Jingalov Hats Sale after Badarak

March 21 Armenian Christian and Culture Lecture Series at Catholic University @ 5 p.m (Transportation from St. Mary Church will be provided)

March 24 Palm Sunday & W.G. Easter Bake Sale after Badarak

March 31 Easter Sunday

April 13 Ararat Avak Society Spring Luncheon

April 24 Feast of the Holy Martyrs of the Armenian Genocide

May 9 Feast of the Ascension of Our Lord Jesus Christ

May 17, 18,19 Spring Food Festival

ST. MARY ARMENIAN CHURCH WED EDUCATIONAL

FUND SCHOLARSHIP

Application for the WED Educational Fund Scholarship is now available at St. Mary's website www.stmaryaac.org. The application deadline for the 2024-2025 academic year is

May 31, 2024.

Click here to access the scholarship application. If you have questions, contact the St. Mary Church office at stmarychurchdc@gmail.com

20 Երբ փարիսեցիների կողմից հարց տրուեց, թէ երբ պիտի գայ Աստծոյ արքայութիւնը, նա պատասխանեց եւ ասաց. «Աստծոյ արքայութիւնը դրսից տեսանելի կերպով չի գալիս, 21 եւ չեն ասի, թէ ահաւասիկ, այստեղ է կամ այնտեղ, որովհետեւ ահա Աստծոյ արքայութիւնը ներսում՝ ձեր մէջ է»: 22 Իսկ իր աշակերտներին ասաց. «Կգան օրեր, երբ դուք կուզենաք մարդու Որդու օրերից մէկը տեսնել եւ չէք տեսնի: 23 Եւ եթէ ձեզ ասեն, թէ՝ “Ահաւասիկ այստեղ է կամ այնտեղ”, մի՛ շտապէք գնալ, 24 որովհետեւ ինչպէս որ փայլակը երկնքի ներքեւից փայլատակելով՝ երկնքի երեսը լուսաւորում է, այնպէս էլ կլինի մարդու Որդին իր օրում: 25 Բայց նախ նա պէտք է շատ չարչարուի եւ մերժուի այս սերնդից: 26 Եւ ինչպէս եղաւ Նոյի օրով, այնպէս կլինի եւ մարդու Որդու օրով: 27 Ուտում էին, խմում, կին էին առնում եւ մարդի էին գնում՝ մինչեւ այն օրը, երբ Նոյը տապան մտաւ, եւ ջրհեղեղը եկաւ ու բոլորին կորստեան մատնեց: 28 Նոյնպէս՝ ինչպէս Ղովտի օրով էլ եղաւ. ուտում էին, խմում, առնում էին ու վաճառում, տնկում էին, շինում: 29 Եւ այն օրը, երբ Ղովտը Սոդոմից դուրս ելաւ, երկնքից կրակ ու ծծումբ տեղաց եւ բոլորին կորստեան մատնեց: 30 Նոյն ձեւով է լինելու այն օրն էլ, երբ մարդու Որդին է յայտնուելու: 31 Այն օրը ով որ տանիքում է, եւ իր կարասին՝ տանը, թող չիջնի առնելու այն. եւ ով որ հանդում է, նոյնպէս թող յետ չդառնայ: 32 Յիշեցէ՛ք Ղովտի կնոջը: 33 Ով որ ուզի իր անձը փրկել, պիտի կորցնի այն, իսկ ով որ կորցնի իր անձը, պիտի փրկի այն: 34 Ասում եմ ձեզ. այն գիշերը, եթէ երկու հոգի լինեն մի մահճի մէջ, մէկը պիտի վերցուի, իսկ միւսը՝ թողնուի: 35 Եւ եթէ երկու կին միասին աղալիս լինեն, մէկը պիտի վերցուի, իսկ միւսը՝ թողնուի: Եւ եթէ հանդում երկու հոգի լինեն, մէկը պիտի վերցուի, իսկ միւսը՝ թողնուի»: 36 Պատասխան տուեցին եւ ասացին նրան. «Որտե՞ղ, Տէ՛ր»: 37 Եւ նա ասաց նրանց. «Ուր որ մարմինն է, այնտեղ էլ կհաւաքուեն արծիւները»:

18 1 Մի առակ էլ ասաց նրանց այն մասին, որ նրանք ամէն ժամ պէտք է աղօթեն ու չձանձրանան: 2 Ասաց. «Մի քաղաքում մի դատաւոր կար. Աստծուց չէր վախենում եւ մարդկանցից չէր ամաչում: 3 Եւ նոյն քաղաքում մի այրի կար, որ գալիս էր նրա մօտ եւ ասում. “Իմ ոսոխի դէմ իմ դատը տե՛ս”: 4 Եւ դատաւորը երկար ժամանակ չէր ուզում. դրանից յետոյ իր մտքում ասաց. “Թէեւ Աստծուց չեմ վախենում եւ մարդկանցից չեմ ամաչում, 5 բայց այն բանի համար, որ այրի կինը ինձ յոգնեցնում է, նրա դատը տեսնեմ, որպէսզի անընդհատ չգայ եւ ինձ չանհանգստացնի”»: 6 Եւ Տէրն ասաց. «Լսեցէ՛ք, թէ ինչ էր ասում անիրաւ դատաւորը: 7 Իսկ Աստուած արդարութիւն չի՞ անի իր այն ծառաներին, որոնք գիշեր եւ ցերեկ աղաղակում են. եւ նրանց հանդէպ միայն համբերատա՞ր կլինի: 8 Այո՛, ասում եմ ձեզ. նրանց իսկոյն արդարութիւն կանի. իսկ երբ մարդու Որդին գայ, արդեօք երկրի վրայ հաւատ կգտնի՞»: 9 Այս առակն էլ ասաց ոմանց, ովքեր իրենց ներսում պարծենում էին, թէ արդար են, եւ արհամարհում էին ուրիշ շատերին: 10 «Երկու մարդ տաճար ելաւ աղօթքի կանգնելու. մէկը՝ փարիսեցի, միւսը՝ մաքսաւոր: 11 Փարիսեցին կանգնած էր մեկուսի եւ ինքն իրեն այս աղօթքն էր ասում. “Աստուա՛ծ իմ, շնորհակալ եմ քեզնից, որ ես նման չեմ ուրիշ մարդկանց, ինչպէս յափշտակողները, անիրաւներն ու շնացողները եւ կամ ինչպէս այս մաքսաւորը. 12 այլ շաբաթը երկու անգամ ծոմ եմ պահում եւ տասանորդ եմ տալիս իմ ամբողջ եկամտից”: 13 Իսկ մաքսաւորը կանգնած էր մեկուսի եւ չէր իսկ կամենում իր աչքերը երկինք բարձրացնել, այլ ծեծում էր կուրծքը եւ ասում. “Աստուա՛ծ, ների՛ր ինձ՝ մեղաւորիս”: 14 Ասում եմ ձեզ. սա՛ իջաւ իր տունը արդարացած, ոչ թէ՝ միւսը. ով որ բարձրացնում է իր անձը, կխոնարհուի, եւ ով որ խոնարհեցնում է իր անձը, կբարձրացուի»:

Ղուկասի 17:20-18.14

20 Once Jesus was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was coming, and he answered, “The kingdom of God is not coming with things that can be observed; 21 nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There it is!’ For, in fact, the kingdom of God is among you.”22 Then he said to the disciples, “The days are coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. 23 They will say to you, ‘Look there!’ or ‘Look here!’ Do not go, do not set off in pursuit. 24 For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day.[c] 25 But first he must endure much suffering and be rejected by this generation. 26 Just as it was in the days of Noah, so too it will be in the days of the Son of Man. 27 They were eating and drinking, and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed all of them. 28 Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot: they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, 29 but on the day that Lot left Sodom, it rained fire and sulfur from heaven and destroyed all of them 30 —it will be like that on the day that the Son of Man is revealed. 31 On that day, anyone on the housetop who has belongings in the house must not come down to take them away; and likewise, anyone in the field must not turn back. 32 Remember Lot’s wife. 33 Those who try to make their life secure will lose it, but those who lose their life will keep it. 34 I tell you, on that night there will be two in one bed; one will be taken and the other left. 35 There will be two women grinding meal together; one will be taken and the other left.” 37 Then they asked him, “Where, Lord?” He said to them, “Where the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.”

18 Then Jesus[e] told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart. 2 He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for people. 3 In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Grant me justice against my opponent.’ 4 For a while he refused; but later he said to himself, ‘Though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually coming.’” 6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them? 8 I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them. And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.’ 13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven but was beating his breast and saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Luke 17:20-18.14

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