The order of the Readings for this week is as follows:
Is 56:1-57:21; Eph 4:17-5:14; Lk 16:1-31
Monday:
Jer 32:19-44
Tuesday:
Jb 38:1-39:36
Wednesday: Ex 3:16-22; Jl 3:1-8
Thursday:
1 Cor 8:5-9:23
Friday:
Dt 9:11-23; Jb 16:1-17:16; Is 43:22-44:8
Saturday:
Wis 3:1-8; Na 2:1-4; Is 43:1-3; Eph 6:10-18; Mt 13:43-52
--------------------------------------------------In order for Our Church to maintain its daily expenses, to provide ongoing
programs and to continue to serve our needs, the church depends on its
parishioners, namely us, to give faithfully and with a joyful heart. Our dues and
stewardship pledge donations comprise the largest portion of our church income,
and they are vitally important to ensure that the church meets its financial
obligations. To safeguard the future of Soorp Asdvazdadzin Armenian Apostolic
Church, it is important, both Biblically and traditionally that the ministry of
the church be supported by its faithful parishioners (us) rather than relying on
unpredictable outside sources and activities for financial security.
Please reconsider your 2016 dues/stewardship.
----------------------------------------------------EASTER GIFT CARDS
This Easter Season, our church is once again participating in the NAC’s Easter Giving
Program for families in need in our community. We will provide $25 Walmart Gift
Cards. If you would like to participate in this rewarding program, the gift tags are
available today after Church service. Gift cards must be returned no later than Sunday,
March 13th. Our goal is to present 20 gift cards. If you have any questions, please
see/contact Peter or Celeste Bedigian 774-218-0033 or Lisa Hazerjian 508-887-5829.
-------------------------------------------------------Jesus Christ Superstar – Free musical concert
on Saturday, March 19th at 7:00 pm at the United Presbyterian Church of
Whitinsville, 51 Cottage Street. Jesus Christ Superstar is a timeless work set
against the backdrop of an extraordinary and universally-known series of events
but seen, unusually, through the eyes of Judas Iscariot. Come enjoy the free
concert, a freewill offering will support Peace of Bread Community Kitchen
For more information, visit www.whitinpres.org or call 508-234-8220
--------------------------------------------------------------Altar Flowers
Those who would like to donate altar flowers for Palm Sunday, or for the Tomb of
Our Lord on Good Friday or Lillie’s for Easter Sunday either in memory of a loved
one or for a special occasion, Please see or call Lusiya at 508-476-2920.
---------------------------------------------LENTEN LECTURE SERIES
Friday evenings during Lent. The program entitled, “Badarak Basics and Beyond” is
sponsored by our Christian Education Committee (CEC). Lenten Services will begin
at 6 p.m. followed by a light dinner then the Badarak series. Please join us and be a
part of this new and exciting experience so that our Sunday morning church service
can become more meaningful, joyful, and fruitful to each one of us.
------------------------------------------------------TODAY:
SOORP ASDVADZADZIN ARMENIAN APOSTOLIC CHURCH
315 Church Street, Whitinsville, MA
Tel. /Fax: 508-234-3677
Pastor Der Kosrofian – Cellular: 774-462-8041; home: 508-234-0911
E-mail [email protected] ~ www.armenianchurchofwhit.org
SUNDAY BULLETIN
February 28, 2016
Sunday of the Steward
Celebrant Rev. Fr. Mikael Der Kosrofian
EPISTLE: Ephesians 4:17-5:14
So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the
Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their
understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in
them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given
themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are
full of greed.
That, however, is not the way of life you learned when you heard about Christ and
were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught,
with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being
corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and
to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
Therefore, each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor,
for we are all members of one body. “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun
go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. Anyone who
has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with
their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful
for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of
redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along
with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving
each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Follow God’s example, therefore, as
dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave
himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
The Shrewd Manager
Today is the Sunday of the Steward, and Jesus is telling us about the Shrewd
Manager, which is recorded in the Gospel of Luke 16:1-31.
Jesus tells us about the rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his
possessions so he demands that the steward give an account of his management.
Today let’s look at what Jesus said in verse 8, “The master commended the dishonest
manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more
shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light.”
Jesus isn’t commending the dishonest manager rather he is condemning the works of
the luke-warm Christian. Jesus didn’t talk just for the sake of talking. He is once
again teaching and I hope and pray that we are going to learn from Him.
The manager was shrewd, meaning clever. And that’s the point here.
When he finds out he’s going to lose his job, his old predictable games aren’t going
to work. He needed something bigger. He needed to think outside of the box and
come up with something clever. He needed to figure something out pretty quickly or
end up without a job and penniless. This street smart manager doesn’t take too long
to come up with a plan.
He could have given up and said “it can’t be done”. He could have just dropped
everything and got out of town. Instead he did something a little different and this is
the point. He came up with a way to get those who owed money to the master to be
indebted to him by doing some creative accounting.
This is what Jesus wants to teach us today, not the dishonesty or the self-interest, but
the cleverness--the creative use of resources.
But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of
impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should
there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather
thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—
such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of
God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s
wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore, do not be partners with them.
Our time, our talents, and resources are all His, given by His grace and controlled by
His wisdom. If we are going to say that we are Christians, then we have to accept the
fact that He is our loving God, and we must give an accounting to Him. He wants us
to be like the shrewd manager but to use that cleverness for the glory of the Kingdom
of God. He commends the unbelievers for the way they often work diligently, they
plan well and save aggressively, they spend carefully, and invest wisely, but His
followers (Christians) do not.
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of
light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and
find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of
darkness, but rather expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the
disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and
everything that is illuminated becomes a light. This is why it is said:
St. Paul writes, “Remember this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly,
and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.” Invest in eternity by
supporting the mission of the Church. Give a little get a little, give a lot and we will
get a lot. We will reap only as much as we sow.
“Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
-----------------------------------------------------
God is only concerned with one thing: Are we faithful to Him with what we have as
individuals, as families, as a Church? The more we keep from God the more we
cheat ourselves. But the more we give the more He will give to us. Let’s think out of
the box and be clever and eager to build up what God has blessed us with. Amen.
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