Sts. Vartanantz Church WEEKLY BULLETIN Archpriest Father Gomidas Baghsarian -- Pastor Reverend Father Kapriel Nazarian -- Assistant Pastor 402 Broadway, Providence, RI 02909 Office: 831-6399 Fax: 351-4418 Email: [email protected] Website: stsvartanantzchurch.org Fifth Sunday After Easter Sunday, May 10, 2015 Please Join Us in Worship this Sunday Մասնակցեցէք Ս.Պատարագին` Morning Service 9:30 am Առաւօտեան Ժամերգութիւն 9:30 Divine Liturgy 10:00 am - Sermon 11:15 Ս. Պատարագ 10:00 - Քարոզ 11:15 Pontifical Divine Liturgy National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception Saturday, May 9, 2015, at 10:00 am (EST) His Holiness Karekin II, celebrant His Holiness Aram I, homilist Click the Link below to watch the live stream of The Divine Liturgy this Sunday, May 9 at 10 AM ET <http://www.armeniangenocidecentennial.org/> Note: Also broadcast live at 10 a.m. over the EWTN television network. CATHOLICOS ARAM ARRIVES IN WASHINGTON; WAS GUEST CHAPLAIN AT THE SENATE THURSDAY MORNING His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Holy See of the Great House of Cilicia, arrived in Washington, D.C., yesterday afternoon for four major events planned by the National Centennial Commemoration Committee. This morning His Holiness was the guest chaplain at the U.S. Senate and delivered the opening prayer. Remarks welcoming the Catholicos were offered by Senator Jack Reed (D-RI). His Holiness offered the following prayer: In the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen. Almighty God, we ask you to guide our reflection, our action and all our endeavors; and we ask your guidance especially in the deliberations and decisions of this noble body, because strong, wise and visionary leadership is essential for the well being of nations. This year is the centenary of the Armenian Genocide, the first genocide of the many that followed in the 20th Century. In commemorating one-and a half million Armenian martyrs, we claim justice. Indeed, justice is a gift of God, and violation of justice is a sin against God. We beseech you, O Lord, to bless the United States of America and its people. Empower them to continue serving humanity through your goodness, as they did when they sheltered the remnants of the Armenian nation and all those who sought freedom and justice. O, Lord, give your children wisdom, love and compassion so that they may live and prosper with the gifts of your Spirit – justice, truth, freedom and righteousness. May your name be praised forever and ever. Amen. TRIBUTE TO MOTHERS WILL CONCLUDE WASHINGTON COMMEMORATIONS A “Mother’s Day Prayer Service and Blessing of Mothers,” will take place on Sunday, May 10, at 9:30 a.m. in the Ballroom of the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Washington. This service, which will bring to a close the commemorative events in Washington, is organized under the auspices of the Dioceses and Prelacies of the Armenian Apostolic Church of the East and West coasts. The service will be presided by His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, and His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia. All are invited to join the leaders of the Armenian Church and the entire community of faithful for this prayerful tribute to mothers. ***************************************************************************************** GOSPEL John 9:39 - 10:10 Jesus said. “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.” Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, “What? Are we blind too?” Jesus said. “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see your guilt remains. “I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in some other way, is a thief and a robber. The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them. Therefore, Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate; I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (Page 1062 in your Bible) EPISTLE 1 John 3: 2-6 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure. Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin. No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him. (Page 1208 in your Bible) Happy Mother's Day May God Bless You and keep you in His care always Today's Altar Flowers are donated in Loving Memory of Stella Takian, Eugenia Pjojian, Mary Markarian and Genieve Takian by the Takian and Pjojian Families REQUIEM SERVICE May 10, 2015 Sophie Nalbandian Downs --- Fortieth Day Remembrance George David Adoian and Adoian and Sarkisian Families Araxi, Jack, Minas, Sirpouie, Haroutoon, Sirape and Stephan Atamian Ardashes "Jack" Atamian Haig and Mariam Barmazian Sarkis Jean Chamalian Deceased Members of the Ladies' Guild Paul Dolbashian Nishan Elmasian Florence and Harry Garabedian Arch Deacon Arshavir Harmaian Siroon and Hagop Harootunian Anahid and Haroutune Hindoyan, and Yervant and Nora Ishkanian Mary Markarian Michael Markarian, Sr. Mariam and Stepan Mesrobian, and Mary Mc Gowan Dickran and Yeghsa Nahabedian Harry and Rena Tavanian Ronald Tomasian Richard "Dick" Zorabedian REQUIEM SERVICE May 17, 2015 Charles A. Adoian Mariam, Varteres and Yeghsa, John and Sarah, Edward and Rose, Henry and Celia, and Harry and Irene Aharonian Harry Bagdasarian Zakar, Mushek, Zartar and Charles Bogoian Raffi Derderian Krikor Diarian, Diramayr Asnik Donikian and Altheah Kouyoumjian Levon and Christine Der Sahagian Nevart, Hovannes and Arshalouys Donabedian Rev. Yeghishe and Yeretzgin Negtar Gasparian Khachkatoon & Markar Khimatian,, Khimatian & Mooradian Families Krikor, Azadoohie and Peter Koshmatian Jr. George, Bedros and Mairiam Navoian, Mel and Elizabeth Sarkisian, and George, Manoog and Hegna Marashian Vernas Simonian CALENDAR OF EVENTS Adult Bible Study meets Monday Evenings at 7 pm Please join us. This Sunday, May 10, 2015 Informational Gathering regarding the Summer Bible Camp following the Divine Liturgy in Fermanian Fellowship Hall Thursday, May 14, 2015 ARS "Arax" Hampartzoum Celebration/Dinner in Fermanian Hall at 6 pm RSVP by May 10th to Nora Simonian 718-775-7942 Friday, May 15, 2015 46th Annual Sports Banquet Honoring RI Armenian Athletes of the Year at Egavian Cultural Center 6 pm Tickets $20 pp Awarding of the Charles Yaghoobian Jr, Scholarships Grants and Vaughan Avedisian Memorial Scholarship For tickets call Ann Ayrassian 401-272-4743 Saturday, May 16, 2015 Mourad Armenian School Annual Hantes/Graduation Aramian Auditorium 6 pm Sunday May 17, 2015 Sunday School Graduation Providence "Kristapor" Gomidehoutiune Celebrate Shushi/Remember Khanasor Picnic Church Parking Lot 12 - 2 pm Thursday, May 21, 2015 AYF Jrs. Talent Show and Spaghetti Dinner/ Fundraiser Aramian Auditorium 6 pm Memorial Day May 25, 2015 Der Hayr will be present at Heritage Park for a Requiem Service 9 – 9:45 am Schedule for Cemetery Visitations North Burial Ground 10 am – 12 noon Swan Point Cemetery 12:20 – 1 pm Friday, May 29, 2015 Pontifical Banquet at the Westin Hotel in Waltham, MA For information, contact our Church Office Saturday, May 30, 2015 Young Adults Seminar at the Westin Hotel in Waltham, MA For information, contact our Church Office Sts. Vartanantz Church welcomes His Holiness, Aram I Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Saturday, May 30, 2015 Visit our website for updated Church news http://www.stsvartanantzchurch.org DATEV SUMMER PROGRAM FOR YOUTH This year's program will be again held at the St. Mary of Providence Center in Elverson, Pennsylvania. Sponsored by the Prelacy’s Armenian Religious Education Council (AREC), the summer program offers a unique weeklong Christian educational program for youth. It aims to instill and nurture the Armenian Christian faith and identity in our youth through a variety of educational activities, coupled with daily church services and communal recreational activities. For information and registration, please visit the Prelacy’s website at armenianprelacy.org/arec/datev or contact the AREC office at 212- 689-7810 or [email protected]. ***************************************************************************************** PONTIFICAL VISIT May 10 - June 4, 2015 The Pontifical Visit National Steering Committee under the presidency of His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan and chairmanship of Jack Mardoian, Esq., has been meeting regularly since last year to plan every detail of the visit of His Holiness Aram I to the Eastern Prelacy. The pontifical visit will begin on Sunday, May 10, with the conclusion of the three-day 100th anniversary commemorations in Washington.