by Grace Austin

Since March, all of our lives have changed. In the past, the outreach ministry has had the wonderful opportunity to visit those in our community that don’t always have the opportunity or means to attend church. Something that makes the church a community is the ability to share stories, spend time together, hug and visit.

With all of the changes, outreach ministry teamed up with the ACYOA and Young Professionals. Our goal was to help those that were unable to attend church still feel like a part of the community. We gathered (safely of course, and some via Zoom) at our usual monthly meeting, enjoyed spiritual uplifting conversation with Fr. Hovnan and took to the task of making sure our community received love through the holidays.

We signed more than 80 Thanksgiving and Christmas Cards, sending holiday greetings to those in our community far and wide! Some cards ended up with parishioners that were in the hospital, nursing home or care centers where visiting opportunities are now so limited.

Not to be left out, the Sunday School jumped in to help, creating and signing Valentine’s Day Cards, which will be sent to more of our parish that might need a little extra love!

Special thanks to the Arsenault Family, who donated the stamps for our endeavor. Even more thanks to the young professionals that have always given their time to share the love!  St. Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians charges all of us to “Encourage one another and build one another up.” (1 Th 5:11)  We hope each of you will take this command to heart and use this as inspiration to share the love! 

Our hope is that this small act has brought some cheer to our parish, but outreach and sending the love never ends. Please be encouraged to pick up the phone or send a note to someone in 2021. We hope that our visits will once again resume, but until then we will keep calling and writing to bring cheer to our extended family at St. Hagop.