With Humble Hearts

Offered by Nick Takvoujian

July 2, 2025

Father almighty, we come before You with humble hearts, giving thanks for Your holy word that guides us through every storm. Thank You for bringing us together for yet another evening of learning and celebration of Your presence among us. We are grateful for this time of study, where Your truth and Jesus’ love for us deepens our faith and unites us as Your people.

Father, we lift up our Armenian Apostolic Church, its clergy, and all who serve You boldly, even in the face of turmoil. Grant them strength and protection, and let Your light shine through their witness. We pray that You uphold our Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin as a steadfast beacon of Your grace.

We pray also for the global Christian community, suffering persecution across the world. Comfort those harmed or affected by the recent attack on the St. Elias Greek Orthodox church in Syria, and shield all who face injustice for Your name. We ask that You continue to grant them courage to stand firm in their faith and love for Christ.

Father, fill us with Your wisdom and love, that we may live out Your teachings and reflect Your mercy. Guard our nations, families, and all in need, and may our lives, work, and deeds glorify You always.

Amen.

For our Bible Study

 Prayer for our Bible Study

offered by Genese Phillips, June 25, 2025

Dear God,

Thank you for this precious Bible study group. We are so grateful that we were able to meet tonight to learn more about your word.

Please help us seek a deeper meaning and understanding of the words found in the Bible. We pray that as we part today, we will reflect on the wisdom that was shared today. Help us to always remember the love Christ has for each of us.

Please watch over us this evening and all the days ahead. Help us feel Your loving embrace and guidance in everything that we do. Guide us to demonstrate Your love through our words and actions.  Help us to love one another and have forgiving hearts.

We graciously pray in Jesus' name.

Amen

Longing to know and react to Your Desires

Prayer of thanks and longing to know and react to Your desires:

offered by Yn. Susan Movsesian, June 18, 2025

Lord, we can always count on you to hear our prayers. This I was taught and learned from a very young age. In my family we have our parents, especially our father to thank for this, as we were immersed in our Armenian church, practicing compassion, living our faith and growing our community/family in God's presence.

A parent's sacrifices are many and their love endless. I imagine, not unlike the love our Heavenly Father shared with us through You, Lord, offering the ultimate sacrifice.

We recently celebrated parenting on Mother's Day followed by Father's Day, with much joy and appreciation for all the sacrifice's and love that go into parenting. To our parents/teachers, we give thanks.

The way You always hear our prayers, Lord, it is my hope that we hear Your prayers and desires. Singing praises and standing before You at the altar are valuable components in worshiping together, too, I've also come to know, through Your example that what we do to the least of our brothers, we do unto You. This, I strive to practice in my daily life...

Lord, hear my prayers and help me to see and reflect You in all things, and treat all your creation, with love and respect.

Walking in Your light.
Amen
-Susan Marie

Prayer to our Savior

 Prayer for our Savior

shared by Laura Artinian, June 4, 2025

Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
as we navigate the unknowns of each day, we pray:
Fill our hearts with Your presence and peace that transcends all understanding.
Grant to us wisdom and discernment
in those important decisions we will make throughout the year.

Help us to seek Your will above our own
to trust in Your perfect plan for each of us.
May our choices align with Your purposes
to lead to fruitful outcomes.

Help us to trust more in Your sovereign plan
as we do not have all the answers.
Be our refuge in times of trouble to calm every storm
and remind us that it is to be You who are in control.
Heal every emotional wound

and restore joy and peace in our hearts.
Help us to release bitterness, hurt, and pain of the past,
and fill us with Your love and comfort.
Help us to be a blessing to others and surround us with people who inspire, encourage, and uplift.

For it is written, “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Amen. (Philippians 4:7)

For Palestine

28 May 2025

A Prayer for Palestine by Seza Ouzounian 

Dear God,

We come to you in humble prayer to lift up the people of Palestine. May Your love and

mercy surround them in these very challenging times. Please offer them comfort, hope

and peace amidst the devastation. Send your Holy Spirit that they might know your

peace in their hearts.

We pray particularly for the children who are injured and starving. We pray for an

absolute ceasefire and the delivery of aid and food deliveries. We pray for wisdom and

courage for leaders in position of influence to seek paths of peace and unity. We pray

for a future where all people in the region can live in dignity, security and freedom.

As Armenians, may we raise our voices and stand up for the Palestinians because we

have walked through the same anguish. It is because of Your love for us and our faith

in You that we are standing here today. Please bring forth leaders who bring peace and

love on our broken world.

Amen

An Answer to Shnorhi

An Answer to Shnorhi's (9th Hour) Prayer

26 May 2025

by Fr. Vazken Movsesian

This prayer is offered as an answer to Shnorhali’s nineth hour of prayer:

Lord Jesus Christ, you who opened the eyes of the blind man, open our eyes which are blinded by hatred.

You who gave hearing to the deaf man, open our ears which can no longer hear the cry of babies. 

You who loosened the tongue of the mute, open our mouths so we may share our voice for justice. 

You who restored strength in the legs of the paralyzed man, give us the stamina to walk to bring aid. 

You who opened the hearts of those who hate, open our hearts to give to those in need. 

Amen.

Pope Leo XIV Prayer

 14 May 2025

Submitted by Kathy Markarian

Quote from Pope Leo XIV. 

Brothers, sisters…

I speak to you, especially to those who no longer believe, no longer hope, no longer pray, because they think God has left.

To those who are fed up with scandals, with misused power, with the silence of a Church that sometimes seems more like a palace than a home.

I, too, was angry with God.

I, too, saw good people die, children suffer, grandparents cry without medicine.

And yes… there were days when I prayed and only felt an echo.

But then I discovered something:

God doesn't shout. God whispers.

And sometimes He whispers from the mud, from pain, from a grandmother who feeds you without having anything.

I don't come to offer you perfect faith.

I come to tell you that faith is a walk with stones, puddles, and unexpected hugs.

I'm not asking you to believe in everything.

I'm asking you not to close the door. Give a chance to the God who waits for you without judgment.

I'm just a priest who saw God in the smile of a woman who lost her son... and yet she cooked for others.

That changed me.

So if you're broken, if you don't believe, if you're tired of the lies...

come anyway. With your anger, your doubt, your dirty backpack.

No one here will ask you for a VIP card.

Because this Church, as long as I breathe, will be a home for the homeless, and a rest for the weary.

God doesn't need soldiers.

He needs brothers.

And you, yes, you...

are one of them."

~Leo XIV