On Sunday, November11, 2012 the parish community of St. Gregory the Illuminator Church of San Francisco celebrated the 46th anniversary of the consecration of the Church.
The Prelate arrived in San Francisco on Saturday evening and had a meeting with the Pastor, Delegates, Board of Trustees, and affiliated bodies.
The Church anniversary was observed on Sunday with Episcopal Divine Liturgy celebrated by H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, who also delivered the sermon. Parish Pastor Archpriest Fr. Khoren Habeshian assisted at the altar.
The Prelate began his message by first giving thanks to God for the opportunity to collectively celebrate the 46th anniversary of St. Gregory Church. Reflecting on the anniversary of the Church, His Eminence noted that it is a wonderful opportunity for the community to gather under one roof, as members of one family, to collectively celebrate and commend the endeavors and mission of the Church, to reflect on the achievements of the past and look to them as starting points for even greater accomplishments in the future. Today is also an opportunity to renew our pledge of service with renewed vigor and vision so that we may reach new heights in our mission, stated the Prelate. Addressing the Sunday School and Krouzian-Zekarian-Vasbouragan students in attendance, the Prelate stressed that their religious and national education will always remain the top priority, and that as our future religious, national, and community leaders, we will do our best to ensure that they receive the proper values, education, and training to lead our church and nation when the time comes. He commended the educators for their commitment to the mental and spiritual development and growth of our youth, and congratulated and commended the Pastor, Board of Trustees, Delegates, Ladies Guild, Sunday School, and all affiliated bodies and volunteers for their devoted service to our church and community, encouraging them to continue to serve with renewed vigor and determination, and most importantly with love, unity, and harmony, for the splendor of the Armenian Apostolic Church and the Armenian nation.
The Prelate then turned to the day’s Scripture reading from Luke 8:49-56. In this passage, we read of a man named Jairus who reached out to Jesus to heal his 12 year old daughter who was at the point of death. On their way to his house, Jesus was delayed when a woman with a serious illness approached Him for healing. Soon after, news arrived that Jairus’ daughter had died. But when Jesus heard this, He responded saying, “Do not be afraid any longer, only believe, and she shall be made well”.
The first message, said the Prelate, is that our Lord possesses almighty power, even over death. Death is no match for the Giver of Life. The second message, is that faith in Christ’s love and power is the best remedy, especially in times of trouble. Jairus’ story teaches us to have faith even in the most difficult of situations; to go from fear to faith even when you are feeling hopeless. Our faith should be like that of Jairus. Our belief and faith must be in Him, knowing that He has the power to do whatever our request is, but the decision is His. In conclusion, the Prelate urged that faith and prayer become a way of life for each and every one of us. “The power and importance of faith and prayer cannot be overstated. Unceasing, incessant prayer is essential to the vitality of our relationship with our Lord. St. Paul said to the Thessalonians to “pray without ceasing”. Jesus called His followers to live in this prayerful manner when He told “The Parable of the Persistent Woman” that contrasted an unjust human judge with our righteous God. The lessons was “that men always ought to pray and not lose heart”. Let us never forget that God is always with us, and turn to Him for comfort and care in our time of need. In this chaotic world, let us remember that our God is the God of compassion and is always in our midst. He knows our needs and will provide for us”, concluded His Eminence.
Following the service, the Prelate was led in a procession to the courtyard where the faithful participated in the singing of the Cilician and Armenian anthems.
The 46th anniversary luncheon followed at “Vasbouragan” Hall, during which Sunday School students presented a cultural program of spiritual songs and prayers. In his closing message, the Prelate highly commended Sunday School Director Mrs. Caroline Aristakessian and teachers, and urged parents to give special attention to the religious education of their children by enrolling them in Sunday School and setting a good example by attending Church services regularly themselves.
