The weekend of June 3 – 4, 2006 was a very busy and gratifying time for the Holy Martyrs parish and Parish Council. On June 3, the Parish Council held its 4^th annual Spring Retreat. Unlike years past, this year’s retreat took place in the church. After a casual breakfast, short Bible study and discussion about the meaning of being a member of the church leadership, the council members took a tour of the sanctuary. As a point of practicality, the new council members were shown where important items were in order for church services to run smoothly – light switches, closets, candle boxes, mas bags, prompter switches, thermostats and alarmed doors. Handouts about liturgical duties were also reviewed as well as what is to be expected from each member. The idea that being a Parish Council member is a commitment and a responsibility that should be taken seriously was echoed by each member present. The retreat concluded with a nice lunch at the church with further friendly discussion.

The same evening, many council members returned back to church to welcome our Primate, His Eminence Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, as he bestowed the rank of tbir on many of our young boys and blessed the veils of our young girls who are members of the youth choir.

On Sunday morning, June 4, we were honored to have Srpazan Hayr as our guest celebrant as we witnessed the ordination of four of our altar servers to the rank of subdeacon – John Alexanian, Aram Babikian, Shant Babikian and Roy Seter. On this very special weekend, these young men and women of our beloved parish, passed through the first of many steps in their personal journeys to find their vocation of service to the church.

The word vocation (from the Latin root “vocare” which means “to call”) is an invitation from God to participate in the blessings of His creation. It is a call to join Him in this world and witness Christ. The word vocation represents the process of discovering one’s unique gifts and discovering how God has called us to offer these gifts in service to the church.

Many of us who volunteer our time for the Holy Martyrs community have been called to serve the church. How we have been called is a personal experience. What we have “received” and continue to receive from our time of service is also a personal reflection. However, what binds us all together as a family is the knowledge that our calling is something we have taken seriously, something that is necessary for our daily living and something that is special to each and every one of us. Our path to discover our own vocation in the church may have taken weeks, months or even years. But once we have firmly understood our own callings and opened our hearts and souls to answering this call to service, our life takes on a whole different meaning.

We have all been called to serve Christ in different ways. Some of us may feel at home singing in the choir, others may have found their talents best suited as an altar server, or as a Sunday School teacher or as a Parish Council member. Whatever we have chosen to do to fulfill our call, special people have guided us along the way to help us discover and to nurture our talents.

The young boys and girls of our parish who had their shabigs and veils blessed, as well as our newly ordained subdeacons, received a special gift on this very inspiring weekend that was not something they could feel with their hands, but something that they would hopefully remember and cherish in their hearts forever.

Hayr Soorp, the Parish Council and the entire Holy Martyrs family are extremely proud of the accomplishments of our youth. The hope is that one day all of these young parishioners will come forward with their love of Christ to help guide another generation of faithful in discovering their call of service to God and the Church.  A special note of congratulations is extended to all the families who helped nurture the true spirit and love of Christ in their children. As a member of the leadership of this parish, it was truly a beautiful weekend for our community.

"Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you."             

                                                                                                              John 15:16