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Sunday E-Bulletin of St Gregory Armenian Church 

Fifth Sunday of Advent -  Յիսնակի Հինգերորդ  Կիրակի
Tone II -  Ayp Gen  - ԱԿ
St Gregory the Illuminator 
Armenian Apostolic Church
1014 W Pontoon Rd, Granite City, IL 62040
 Tel: (618) 451-7884 
 
Morning Service: 9:30 AM
Divine Liturgy: 10:00 AM
Արժ. Տ. Թորգոմ Քհնյ. Չորպաճեան, Հովիւ  
Rev. Fr. Torkom Chorbajian, Pastor
Check out our  Church's New Website
&
                         "The Year in Retrospect" Video                          
You are welcome to join our Church and become a member.
You can use your gifts to
sing in the Church Choir or be a part in the Ladies Guild, the Fellowship Club, or help us in the Church Hall.

Come, let us make a community!

Reminder: Dearest parishioners, please remember to pay your membership dues ($100) by December 31st of this calendar year (2016) so you will be eligible to be a member for 2017. You may pay your membership dues to any Board of Trustee member or Der Torkom.
CHRISTMAS: DECEMBER 25 OR JANUARY 6?

This Sunday is December 25—Christmas for most of the Christian world. Originally all of Christendom celebrated Epiphany on January 6. (Epiphany was a celebration of the birth, the baptism by John the Baptist in the River Jordan, the First Miracle at the Wedding of Cana, and the visit of the Magi). The gradual change to December 25 began in Rome in the 4th century to coincide with a pre-Christian holiday. December 25 was officially adopted at the Council of Chalcedon in 451—a Council the Armenians did not attend and never accepted. To this day the Armenian Church has remained faithful to the original date of January 6. Of course, the actual date of Jesus’ birth is unknown and both traditions are centuries old. What is important is the spirit and meaning of the celebration. (Crossroads)
 
Armenian Language  Class  &   Sunday School  
Be part of our Family
Every Saturday at 3:00 p.m. at the Church classroom or online via Skype. Der Hayr's skype is (torkom.chorbajian).
  • Let's learn the Word of God
  • Grow in Faith
  • Follow Jesus by serving others
Every Sunday, from 10:30 am - noon.
We have classes for all ages
Calendar of Events
 

Sunday, January 1, 2017
 
New Year's Party and Celebration after badarak at the Community Center
 

Saturday, January 7, 2016

The Epistle Reading

Hebrews 7:11-25

Now if perfection had been attainable through the levitical priesthood—for the people received the law under this priesthood—what further need would there have been to speak of another priest arising according to the order of Melchizedek, rather than one according to the order of Aaron?For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well. Now the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar.For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. It is even more obvious when another priest arises, resembling Melchizedek, one who has become a priest, not through a legal requirement concerning physical descent, but through the power of an indestructible life. For it is attested of him,
‘You are a priest for ever,
according to the order of Melchizedek.’ 
There is, on the one hand, the abrogation of an earlier commandment because it was weak and ineffectual (for the law made nothing perfect); there is, on the other hand, the introduction of a better hope, through which we approach God. 
This was confirmed with an oath; for others who became priests took their office without an oath, but this one became a priest with an oath, because of the one who said to him,
‘The Lord has sworn
and will not change his mind,
“You are a priest for ever” ’— 
accordingly Jesus has also become the guarantee of a better covenant.

Furthermore, the former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office; but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues for ever. Consequently he is able for all time to save those who approach God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

The Gospel Reading

Luke 19:12-28
 
So he said, ‘A nobleman went to a distant country to get royal power for himself and then return. He summoned ten of his slaves, and gave them ten pounds, and said to them, “Do business with these until I come back.”But the citizens of his country hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, “We do not want this man to rule over us.” When he returned, having received royal power, he ordered these slaves, to whom he had given the money, to be summoned so that he might find out what they had gained by trading. The first came forward and said, “Lord, your pound has made ten more pounds.” He said to him, “Well done, good slave! Because you have been trustworthy in a very small thing, take charge of ten cities.” Then the second came, saying, “Lord, your pound has made five pounds.” He said to him, “And you, rule over five cities.”Then the other came, saying, “Lord, here is your pound. I wrapped it up in a piece of cloth, for I was afraid of you, because you are a harsh man; you take what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.” He said to him, “I will judge you by your own words, you wicked slave! You knew, did you, that I was a harsh man, taking what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow? Why then did you not put my money into the bank? Then when I returned, I could have collected it with interest.” He said to the bystanders, “Take the pound from him and give it to the one who has ten pounds.” (And they said to him, “Lord, he has ten pounds!”)“I tell you, to all those who have, more will be given; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. But as for these enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them—bring them here and slaughter them in my presence.” ’ After he had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.

Աւետարանի Ընթերցում 


 Ղուկաս 19.12-28

Մեր Տէրը Յիսուս Քրիստոս կ՚ըսէ.-
Այս առակն ալ պատմեց անոնց, որոնք կը պարծենային թէ արդար են եւ ուրիշները կ՚արհամարհէին։ «Երկու հոգիներ տաճար գացին աղօթելու. մէկը՝ Փարիսեցի, միւսը՝ Մաքսաւոր։ Փարիսեցին մէկ կողմ կեցած, առանձին կ՚աղօթէր. «Աստուած իմ, շնորհակալ եմ քեզմէ՝ որ ուրիշ մարդոց նման յափշտակող, անիրաւ, շնացող չեմ, կամ այս մաքսաւորին պէս ալ չեմ։  Այլ շաբաթը երկու անգամ ծոմ կը պահեմ եւ իմ եկամուտիս տասանորդը տաճարին կու տամ»։ Իսկ մաքսաւորը մէկ կողմ կեցած, աչքերը առանց վեր բարձրացնելու կուրծքը կը ծեծէր եւ կ՚ըսէր. «Աստուած, ներէ մեղաւորիս մեղքերը»։  Կ՚ըսեմ ձեզի, - եզրակացուց Յիսուս, - ո՛չ թէ Փարիսեցին, այլ մաքսաւո՛րը արդարացած գնաց տուն. որովհետեւ ով որ իր անձը կը բարձրաձնէ՝ պիտի խոնարհի, եւ ով որ իր անձը կը խոնարհեցնէ՝ պիտի բարձրանայ»։
Requiem Service
The Requiem Service is offered every Sunday.
On the five major feast days of Nativity, Pascha (Easter), Transfiguration, Assumption and Exaltation of the Holy Cross, the Requiem Service is offered on the following day, which is designated as "Remembrance of the Dead". This means that the Church will not offer Requiem Service on these feast Sundays. 
 
Please call the Church Office (618-451-7884) for Requiem requests no later than 12:00 p.m. on Fridays. You may also email Requiem requests to Der Torkom Chorbajian at stgregorychurchgranitecity@gmail.com.
Prayer Request
Please submit any prayer requests to Der Hayr by 12:00 p.m. on Friday (stgregorychurchgranitecity@gmail.com).
Every Saturday: Great Vespers at 5:00 p.m. (Armenian & English). 
After our Sunday service don't leave! Join us at our Community hall across the parking lot. 
Anyone can be a sponsor for refreshments.
Please contact Takouhie Kakligian
(618) 978-2078 
to make arrangements.
  "Praise the Lord, my soul;  
                                        all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
"
Psalm 103:1

Pastor & Choir director invite all those who like to sing for the glory of the Lord.
You don't have to be a professional singer, or have special training in reading music notes. Your simple willingness to commit yourself to the choir and learn new Sharagans - Hymns are enough for our Church and for your spiritual growth!
Our Stewardship
Pastor & Board of Trustees have decided to publish the weekly income/expense figures of our Church, in an effort of sharing knowledge and awareness with our parishioners about how we use our financial resources. This is the fruit of the indirect conversation that we had with our parish through our church survey.

Total Income: Includes only the in lieu of flowers of several weeks: $ 3,955.00
Weekly Expense from 2016 approved budget: $ 2,351.00
 
We would like to talk about the importance of Stewardship. Stewardship is based on the spiritual principles of the Old Testament and the teachings of Jesus. It is a way of thanking God for all the blessings He has given us by returning him a portion of time, talent and treasure. Stewardship can change the spiritual lives of both individuals and the parish as a whole.   
Daily Bread of Life 
1. Monday, December 26 2016: Acts 6:8-8:2; John 12:24-26
2. Tuesday, December 27 2016: Wisdom 9:13-10:2; Isaiah 28:16-19; 2 Peter
    1:12-19; 2 Timothy 4:1-8; John 21:15-22

3. Wednesday, December 28 2016:  Hebrews 5:11-6:8; Luke 18:18-27
4. Thursday, December 29 2016: Wisdom 7:21-24; Jeremiah 16:16-21; Acts
    12:1-11, James 1:1-10; 1 John 1:1-7; John 21:20-25

5. Friday, December 30 2016: Hebrews 13:10-16; Luke 21:34-38
6. Saturday, December 31 2016: Proverbs 11:2-11; Isaiah 4:2-6; Colossians
    1:21-29; John 10:11-16

7. Sunday, January 2017: Hebrews 13:10-16; Luke 21:34-38
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St Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Apostolic Church,
1014 West Pontoon Road
Granite City, IL 62040

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St Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Apostolic Church, · 1014 West Pontoon Road · Granite City, IL 62040 · USA

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