November 4, 2004
MID-ATLANTIC SEMINAR FOR ALTAR SERVERS
NOVEMBER 13 IN PHILADELPHIA
St. Gregory the Illuminator Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, will
host a Mid-Atlantic Seminar for altar servers next Saturday, November
13. The seminar will take place at the church at 8701 Ridge Avenue,
Philadelphia. Altar servers, including archdeacons, deacons,
sub-deacons, poorvaragirs, momagirs, and kshotsagirs, from parishes in
the Mid-Atlantic area will attend to further their knowledge of the
Armenian Church services. The main objective of the workshop will be
to introduce the new Badarak CD for altar servers, which will help to
establish uniformity in our churches in the celebration of the Soorp
Badarak. The seminar will begin at 9 a.m. and continue until 4
p.m. For information contact Archdeacon Shant at the Prelacy,
212-689-7810.
REGIONAL BOARDS OF TRUSTEES WILL
MEET WITH EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, NOVEMBER 13
St. Gregory Church of Philly will also be the host of the regional
meeting of the Boards of Trustees and the Executive Council, on
Saturday, November 13.
This is part of an ongoing program started two years ago by the
Executive Council to establish better communications with the
parishes. Three regional meetings have already taken place: two in the
New England area and one in the Midwest. This Mid-Atlantic meeting
will be the fourth such meeting, and will bring together the pastors,
the boards of trustees, and NRA delegates from St. Illuminators
Cathedral, New York City; St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, NY;
St. Gregory Church, Philadelphia; Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield,
NJ; Soorp Khatch Church, Bethesda, MD; and Holy Cross Church, Troy,
NY.
Each parish will meet individually with the Council at a pre-arranged
time. All of the participating parishes and council will meet in a
joint session.
A Dale Carnegie workshop on Effective Communication will be part of
the program. The internationally known and respected Dale Carnegie
courses are considered to be the best in teaching basic and effective
communications skills. For information contact the Prelacy,
212-689-7810.
ARCHBISHOP OSHAGAN WILL TRAVEL
TO CHICAGO THIS WEEKEND
Archbishop Oshagan will visit the All Saints Armenian Church in
Glenview, Illinois, this weekend, November 6 and 7. On Saturday His
Eminence will attend the anniversary banquet and on Sunday he will
officiate and deliver the sermon during the Divine Liturgy.
ARCHBISHOP OSHAGAN PRESIDES OVER
RIBBON CUTTING AT ST. STEPHEN SCHOOL
Last Sunday, October 31, Archbishop Oshagan presided over the ribbon
cutting ceremony of the new Pre-School addition at St. Stephen
Armenian Elementary School in Watertown, Massachusetts. Attending were
about 150 parents, teachers, students and dignitaries. Following the
ribbon-cutting, Archbishop Oshagan and Archpriest Fr. Antranig
Baljian, pastor of St. Stephen Church, blessed the Pre-School Afeyan
Building.
The School is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year with a series
of programs and events including a special gala, which will take place
on January 29, 2005.
REPRESENTATIVES OF WORLD VISION
VISIT CILICIAN CATHOLICOSATE
Representatives of World Vision visited His Holiness Aram I,
Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, in Antelias, Lebanon, on
Tuesday, November 2. Also in attendance was Bishop Kegham Khatcherian,
Prelate of Lebanon.
The representatives presented an overview of their various
international programs. His Holiness praised their work and emphasized
the importance of the organization working together with the churches.
World Vision International, established in 1950, is a Christian relief
and development organization working for the well being of all people,
especially children. World Vision helps communities help themselves
through emergency relief, education, health care, economic development
and promotion of justice.
PRELACY SUPPORTS ARTSAKH PROGRAMS
Archbishop Oshagan has issued a statement to all parishes within the
Eastern Prelacy asking them to support the initiative of the Holy See
of Cilicia, to help rebuild towns and villages in Artsakh.
His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, has
asked that all churches under the jurisdiction of the Holy See of
Cilicia, collect funds through special collection plates on two
Sundays, November 21 and 28, as well as other means. All of the monies
collected will be allocated to the reconstruction of towns and
villages in Artsakh.
As in past years, the Prelacy is supportive of the Thanksgiving Day
Telethon by the Armenia Fund, Inc. The telethon will be broadcast on
Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 25, from 8 a.m. to 8
p.m. (Pacific Standard Time).
NEXT THURSDAY IS VETERANS DAY
Next Thursday, November 11, is Veterans Day, formerly known as
Armistice Day, the anniversary of the Armistice which was signed in
the Forest of Compiegne by the Allies and the Germans in 1918, ending
World War I. The War (old-timers still call it The Great War) involved
35 countries and lasted five years from 1914 to 1918 and was one of
the bloodiest wars in history. The United States was involved for only
one year (1917-1918). The Armistice was signed on the 11th hour, of
the 11th day, of the 11th month.
In the early 1950s there was a movement to change the name to Veterans
Day to honor all wars and those who fought. In 1954, President Dwight
D. Eisenhower signed a bill proclaiming November 11th each year as
Veterans Day.
In 1968, during that era when holidays were moved to Mondays in order
to create long weekends, Veterans Day was changed to the fourth Monday
in October. There was great protest because the significance of
November 11th was lost. In 1978, Congress returned the observance to
its traditional date.
ARMENIAN CHURCH REMEMBERS
THE ARCHANGELS MICHAEL AND GABRIEL
This Saturday, November 6, the Armenian Church commemorates the
Archangels Michael and Gabriel. Archangel is a title given to an angel
of high rank in the celestial hierarchy.
Michael, which means Who is like God, is the great prince of all the
angels and leader of the celestial armies. He is considered to be the
protector of Christians in general.
Gabriel, which means Strength of God, is one of God’s chief
messengers. He was chosen by our Lord to announce to the Virgin Mary,
and to all Mankind, the great joy of the incarnation of the Son of
God. In Christian tradition Gabriel is considered to be the angel of
mercy. In recent times he has been adopted (unofficially) as the
patron saint of the Internet.
A PRAYER FOR DILIGENCE
In light of the Presidential elections this week and the observance of
Veterans (Armistice) Day next week we end with a prayer by President
Woodrow Wilson delivered as part of his inaugural speech on March 5,
1917.
I know now what the task [of the presidency] means. I realize to the
full the responsibility which it involves. I pray God I may be given
the wisdom and the prudence to do my duty in the true spirit of this
great people.
And while we render thanks for all things let us pray Almighty God
that in all humbleness of spirit we may look always to Him for
guidance; that we may be kept constant in the spirit and purpose of
service; that by His grace our minds may be directed and our hands
strengthened; and that in His good time liberty and security and peace
and the comradeship of a common justice may be vouchsafed all the
nations of the earth.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress