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QUOTE OF THE WEEK
Jesus said to His Disciples:
“It is I; do not be afraid.”
Find the Jesus within you!
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| Turning Conflict Into Adventure: by Doug Fields
Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it.
(Peter 3:10-11 )
Personally, I hate conflict. Even the word conflict sounds painful! It has a harsh ring to it. The etymology of the word involves the prefix con- and the suffix –flict. Con- is from the same source from which we developed the word constipation. And –flict is the origin of afflicted, as in, What a drag! I’m afflicted with constipation. (Okay, I haven’t really fact-checked all that, but that’s the image I get when I think of conflict–constipated affliction .) I can’t stand the feeling I get when I experience tension with others. Conflict causes me more bodily stress than anything else. People think it’s stressful to speak to crowds and it can be. But, I’d rather speak to a million people than experience tension with just one–especially someone I care about. Believe it or not, conflict can actually be part of God’s strategy to transform us into the people He wants us to be. God can use the conflict in our lives for His glory. In brief, conflict can be part of God’s adventure for us. So how can relational conflict possibly be an adventure? Think of it this way: the one factor present in all adventures is conflict. In order to have an adventure, you need some sort of obstacle to overcome. Whenever we’re involved in conflict, we’re forced to overcome an obstacle and in dealing with that obstacle, we’re invited to seek Christ more intensely. That’s when the adventure begins–when the conflict drives us to our knees. In the midst of the conflict, we encounter a situation that is so unclear, difficult and tension filled, that we need a good Guide to navigate the path. This is where Jesus comes in. Smack-dab in the middle of our battle, He joins us and offers us a clear light to the other side. Think of Jesus walking out on the water to Peter in the midst of a storm (Matthew 14:22-33). With water raging all around him, Peter is offered a new glimpse into a life of faith. He would never have received that opportunity if he had not been out in a storm. That’s our invitation in the middle of relational conflict: to see any such struggle as an invitation to Christ’s adventure in transformation. Christ extends His hand to us and invites us to walk with Him through the storm. As we seek Him, He transforms us into deeper, richer and more meaningful people. Conflict is the catalyst that God uses to show Himself to us and to cause new growth to happen in our lives.
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| Scripture Readings for Sunday, January 21st.. |
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Gospel Reading
(John 6:15-21)
When Jesus realized that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain by himself. When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were terrified. But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” Then they wanted to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the land toward which they were going.
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Epistle Reading
(2Timothy 2:15-26)
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved by him, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly explaining the word of truth. Avoid profane chatter, for it will lead people into more and more impiety, and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have swerved from the truth by claiming that the resurrection has already taken place. They are upsetting the faith of some. But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone who calls on the name of the Lord turn away from wickedness.” In a large house there are utensils not only of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for special use, some for ordinary. All who cleanse themselves of the things I have mentioned will become special utensils, dedicated and useful to the owner of the house, ready for every good work. Shun youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. Have nothing to do with stupid and senseless controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kindly to everyone, an apt teacher, patient, correcting opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant that they will repent and come to know the truth, and that they may escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.
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Gospel Commentary
The Galilean Jews, with their misguided messianic enthusiasm, equate Jesus with the Prophet from Deuteronomy 18:15-19, whom they expect to be an earthly, political leader who will lead them against the occupying Romans, as Moses led his people out of bondage. Because He is not to fulfill these expectations, Jesus withdraws from the crowd. Jesus walking on water, this the fifth of Christ’s miracles reported by John, reenacts ancient Israel’s passage through the red Sea. Moses led the old Israelites through the sea to liberty. Christ walks on top of the water and leads His disciples over the sea to “the land where they were going.” Christ’s walking on the sea is a sign of His lordship over creation.
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Parish Announcements!
Annual Parish Assembly will take place TODAY in the Sanctuary starting at 11:30AM. A quick lunch will be served in the Fellowship Hall, hosted by the Parish Council. The ACYOA members will look after the Children during the meeting. We thank our Nominating Committee, Susan Ciaffi, Andrea Durgarian and Janice Papazian, for their service,
2017 Annual Report: Copies of the Annual Report are available for all dues paid members. You can pick your copy up at Fellowship after Church
Home Blessing and Visitations: According to the traditions of the Armenian Church, Home Blessings are performed each year after Theophany and the Resurrection of Christ, as well as on other joyous occasions, such as moving into a new home. If any wishes to have their home blessed, please contact Der Krikor at 774-292-9116 or by email at frkrikor@holytranslators.org.
Bible Study will meet next on Monday, January 22, 2018 from 10:30 – 11:30 AM
Readings for this Sunday’s Badarak: 2Timothy 2:15-26 and John 6:15-21.
Readings for next Sunday’s Badarak: 2Timothy 3:1-12 and John 6:22-38.
Please Note: Der Krikor will be away from Thursday, January 25th until Friday, February 9th. I will be checking emails daily, however, if there is an emergency, which cannot wait until I return and you need a Priest please call Robin Palombo at 617-680-8988, so that she can make the necessary arrangements.
Poon Paregentan/ Family Fun Day: Sun., Feb. 11th the ACYOA Jrs. will once again host our Poon Paregentan/ Family Fun Day in preparation of the start Great Lent. More details to follow.
Lenten Interactive Prayer Services: Starting on Wed., Feb. 14th, we will have weekly interactive Lenten Prayer Services (in English) in the Sanctuary, starting at 6:30PM.
Mid-Lenten (Michink) Worship and Dinner: On Wednesday, March 7th, we will gather for a 1/2 hour interactive Lenten Worship Service in English (6:30PM) followed by a Vosbov Kheema Lenten Community Dinner (7:00PM) in order to offer support and encouragement as we continue our Lenten journey, by praying together and sharing a community meal. If you are attending. RSVP to: frkrkor@holytranslators.org.
Parish Outreach: The Outreach program at our parish focuses on activities for our local communities as well as meeting parish-wide needs. Renee Ferraro is the Outreach Coordinator (508-541-6770 or reneegferraro@gmail.com.)
Fellowship Sign-up: Volunteers are needed to sponsor and work at our Coffee Fellowship Hours after Church as well as make donations toward the expense of the Altar Flowers and Candles.
Contact Jaymie Babaian to sign up. (jaymie1754@gmail.com)
Please inform Der Krikor at 774-292-9116 or frkrikor@holytranslators.org of those who may be sick at home, hospitalized or may simply want to talk, so that he can make arrangements to visit.
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Sunday Morning Prayer: 8:30AM
Sunday Divine Liturgy: 9:30AM
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Sun. Jan. 21 Divine Liturgy – 9:30am
Annual Parish Assembly
Mon. Jan. 22 Bible Study – 10:30-11:30am
Sun. Jan. 28 Divine Liturgy – 9:30am
Tues. Jan. 30 NO Bible Study
Sun. Feb. 4 Divine Liturgy – 9:30am
Tues. Feb. 6 NO Bible Study
Sun. Feb. 11 Poon Paregentan – Family Fun Day
Mon. Feb. 12 First Day of Great Lent
Tue. Feb. 13 Weekly Bible Study – Fellowship Hall – 10:30AM
Wed. Feb. 14 Lenten Prayer Service (In English) – 6:30PM
Sun. Feb. 18 Sunday of the Expulsion
Tue. Feb. 20 Weekly Bible Study – Fellowship Hall – 10:30AM
Wed. Feb. 21 Lenten Prayer Service (In English) – 6:30PM
Sun. Feb. 25 Sunday of the Prodigal Son
Tue. Feb. 27 Weekly Bible Study – Fellowship Hall – 10:30AM
Wed. Feb. 28 Lenten Prayer Service (In English) – 6:30PM
Sun. Mar. 4 Sunday of the Steward
Tue. Mar. 6 NO Weekly Bible Study
Wed. Mar. 7 Lenten Prayer Service (In English) – 6:30PM
Sun. Mar 11 Sunday of the Judge
Tue. Mar. 13 Weekly Bible Study – Fellowship Hall – 10:30AM
Wed. Mar. 14 Lenten Prayer Service (In English) – 6:30PM
Sun. Mar. 18 Sunday of the Advent
Tue. Mar. 20 Weekly Bible Study – Fellowship Hall – 10:30AM
Wed. Mar. 21 Lenten Prayer Service (In English) – 6:30PM
Sun. Mar. 25 Palm Sunday
Sun. Apr. 1 Easter Sunday
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Far Health Programs
Surgery Helps One Little Boy To Walk Properly . |
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Since early childhood, Mher Avetisyan’s club feet have never hindered him from running around and playing with his peers. Still, after doing so he would feel weak and tired.
A few months ago, the five-year-old underwent foot surgery with the help of FAR’s Child Poverty Reduction Program, and very soon he will be able to walk normally again. While he had clubfoot defect on both of his feet, his family of six was unable to afford the external fixator that was needed to correct his legs.
“It was a sudden surprise, I wouldn’t even believe it at first. Only now, we saw that it is possible,” said Mher’s grandmother Yeranuhi, while at the hospital awaiting her grandson’s recovery.
Mher, his older sister and brother, mother, father, and grandmother live in the village of Kosh in the Aragatsotn Province of Armenia. His mother Karmen used to work as accountant at the village’s kindergarten until it closed due to lack of funding. She is now unemployed. Mher’s father is in Russia working in construction, but has yet has to send money to his family. Right now, the family lives solely on Yeranuhi’s pension and the state poverty allowance.
“This was like a miracle sent to us from God,” Karmen said about the surgery. FAR’s heath team, which inquired about the neediest cases to Aragatsotn Province’s administration, selected Mher to receive assistance. Once they received his medical history, FAR decided to cover expenses for the external fixator, which is more expensive than the cost of surgery itself. Surgery costs were then covered by state.
In 2017, 24 children like Mher received proper health services thanks to the Child Poverty Reduction program that is sponsored by Arpine and Arda Hovnanian Fund.
Mher is now back home and will be under the guidance of his doctor for a while. Keep on smiling, Mher!
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PARISH COUNCIL 2017-2018
Pastor and President: Rev. Fr. Krikor A. Sabounjian
Chairman: Robin Palombo
Vice Chairman: Karnig Durgarian
Recording Secretary: Neil Ferraro
Corresponding Secretary: Karyn Bilezerian
Treasurer: Marco Ciaffi
Asst. Treasurer: Parkoohi Voskanian
Council Members: Elise Durgarian
Mark Jorjorian
Scott Zaleski
Diocesan Delegates: Laurie Bejoian
Karnig Durgarian
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