What A Great Bible Study Session Tonight – The Priest Chose Me To Write Next Week’s Prayer

Every Thursday nights at 9pm, I go to a bible study, and it started last week again. My priest is a follower of my blog and he announced to everyone that he really enjoys reading my blogs and he introduced me to others who do not really know of me and he used to do bible studies for quite a while. Just the last 2 years, another priest conducted the bible studies. He announced to everyone that I am a lovely writer and that he chose me to say next weeks closing prayer along with the Our Father in Armenian called Hayr Mer – HAI-R MER — It made my whole week when he said that. He has always grown fond of me and I will never forget a time 4 years ago when we were in Bible study, he said something to everyone about me, and again he put me out there and we had about 45 people attend the bible study that one time. It was such a great thing, and he said to others that I am a great writer again and I used to write so many articles to the Armenian newsletter and newspaper and among articles around the church and when we did retreats outside of town. He introduced me to everyone and some people had no idea who were writing those articles and then when people found out who I was, they all approached me after bible study and they said, we finally meet the mastermind behind all your writings you submit to the church and the community center. I will never forget what they said to me. It was so beautiful. It made me feel very nice.

Again like tonight, My priest found out from my blog from someone in the community and he began to follow it, and so now this is the second week he has mentioned me and put me on the spot with everyone and he outright said to others, she is one of the best writers. Again, I said Father Reverend, thank you so much. Hes a very kind and very nice person who raises everyone’s spirits and hes such a lovely priest and I appreciate him. He said, everyone who writes has different ways of writing and nobody is exactly the same. So I am looking forward for next week. I have to think of a prayer to write until next week, but I think I can write it within the next couple of days when I have my mind set on it. The priest always depends on me and he knows I follow through with it. Thank you very much. I look forward to next week. I am committed to bible study and I will not miss a day.

I wish you all the best.

Bible Studies Have Resumed At My Armenian Church – I Am So Happy About That

I was at An Armenian/English Bible Study this past Thursday evening and Hayr Sourp(The Priest) taught us about the Tree Of Life, and the Tree of Life is Jesus Christ and it is important to gather youth and young adults together to hear Gods word and be together to eat from the Tree Of Life.

Bible studies have resumed for young adults and youth sessions, Every Thursday at 9pm at St Mary’s Armenian Church at 45 Hallcrown Pl. Toronto, Ontario — www.stmarytoronto.com

Verses from The Bible.
John 8:24 I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins.”

Revelation 19:17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun, who cried in a loud voice to all the birds flying in midair, “Come, gather together for the great supper of God,

Revelation 22:14 Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates.

Everyone is welcome to The studies. It is educational, yet wonderful. Come make new friends, and be part of it all. It is interactive, and beautiful.

 

 

The Armenia Tree Project — Greening Armenia Since 1994

Just a few years ago, I discovered a vibrant and wonderful program called The Armenia Tree Project, and right away subscribed and became a member. The Armenia Tree Project is something that is very important for Armenia. Nearly 60,000 trees were planted in Armenia’s towns, villages, rural areas, family backyards, in front of churches and other historical monuments and historical structures that make it bloom more. The community tree planting has restored over 1.1 million trees in Armenia and Artsakh. To this day, they will continue to restore forests to make it vibrant and beautiful. Armenia is a beautiful country and it is mountainous. Armenia has beautiful winding roads that lead to a church there, and a church here, and every turn there is always something to see, whether its mountains, or historical monument, statue, and so much more. Armenia’s Agriculture, Forestation and environment is so beautiful and the Armenia tree project is doing their best to make sure Armenia is taken care of.

Armenia and Armenians have faced challenges of the past with the Armenian Genocide of April 24, 1915 committed by the Ottoman Turks of Turkey with killing 1.5 million Armenians and plus the 1988 Earthquake of December which killed about 25,000 people and did a lot of damage, and so the Armenia Tree Project helped restore a country who has been through it all. The main mission to this beautiful project is to make Armenia vibrant which it already has been and to protect the future of the environment, nature conservancy, and provide care and greatness to our beautiful Armenia.

Thank you to Jeff Masarjian for your incredible and beautiful spirit and to all those involved into this, thank you to the donations given by so many people, thank you for all the efforts made to make Armenia whole again.

For more information in regards to this beautiful project, please visit — http://www.armeniatree.org and there you can see photos, and get more in touch with My Motherland Armenia.

 

When People Take Credit For The Work Somebody Else Has Done.

Isn’t it mind boggling when you do all the work for a company, or when you are doing a project that a lot of the group members do not participate in doing anything, then everybody or someone else gets credit for it? That is a terrible thing. Those people do not even admit that they didn’t pull their weight in a job, task or project portion and being dishonest about it. I cannot handle people who take all the credit. When you are working in a group setting everyone must pitch in and do something and not let one person take care of it. Each person must be delegated a task to do and then put the finished product together in the end.

I believe that it is not fair for the other person who has worked extremely hard for something and who has put a lot of time and energy into something and then does not even get recognized for it and does not even get the credit, award, or something they solely deserve. I know from experience. I was a committee member of my Armenian Youth Group at my church for over 7 years and I was the communications director, and secretary for so many years, and I was the one sending out flyers, letting people know of any retreats, events, parties, weekend camping and skiing getaways, sports weekends, meetings, writing up meeting minutes, going to several meetings out of town, in town, going to committee retreats in the states like Chicago and New York, and being a vital person in the committee, the church and the community. During every church anniversary I would hope that my name is called to receive the Youth Female of the Year award and I would be so hopeful to hear them calling my name, but that never came and I was really crushed then I would see a totally different person getting the award that I am supposed to receive. At those times I was in everything from Sunday School, Volunteering at Saturday School, Going to almost every event possible, and promoting events on facebook, e-mails and everything else. You would think after all the hard work, determination and countless hours spent, for them to dedicate me an award and give me credit for the work I have put into it, but I was so wrong. It was a terrible feeling I got in my stomach and in my life. I was crying my eyes out because of it. I have never really been the same again and I just didn’t have it in me to continue anymore. Yes I am still a vital member in my community and I do go to bible studies and everything, but that same poise and that same energy I used to have is not there anymore. There is this emptiness in my heart, soul and mind that is not giving me the drive to do anymore.

That is why when I see well-deserved people not being recognized for all the hard work they do and not getting credit for it, it just makes my blood boil and it just makes me so angry that hey this person worked their butt off and did so much and yet the appreciation and recognition is not there for that person and who was not honored as a great individual who took so much time out of their life to help out and to make sure things succeed. It saddens me to see it. When people do things for me, and when people go out of their way to work at something, I always recognize them and give them the credit they deserve. I mean its a polite and nice thing to do. Now being dishonest and taking the credit upon yourself is not a great thing.

In general, I do see this happening and when credit is not given, its a wrong thing to do. Like if you see something online or if you see somebody writing something its always a great idea to ask and to give credit where its deserved. I don’t know this is my two cents of it all.

Please Vote For My Friend Ani and Her Fiance Johnny With The Kleinfeld Experience For They’re Chance To Be On TLC

Recently I learned about the Kleinfeld Experience on Engaged couples having an ultimate dream wedding. My Beautiful friend Ani who I have known since we were little kids from Armenian Saturday school and Armenian community events and as well as taking a class trip together to our Motherland Armenia, her and I have known each other for years and she is an incredible, intelligent, beautiful human being whom I am so glad to know. This opportunity for her to shine in the spotlight and to get on TLC is one of the most important things for her right now. She is very well deserving of the Kleinfeld Experience and the Link I will provide to you will explain everything else. Ani I wish you nothing but the best and I wish you a lot of Votes and I am with you every step of the way. Please vote for Ani and Johnny by May 14, 2012 as they could be the winners and appear on television. Help them make their dreams come true and you can vote once per day and every vote counts and is very important. There is a little story written about the proposal and about their lives as well as a video of one of the most sweetest proposals ever. I know you may not know the couple, I know in my heart that they deserve this and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Cheers to you both! Here is the following link…

http://www.theringbearer.ca//kleinfeld/ratings

To go to Ani and Johnny’s Page direct: — It takes 2 minutes not even to register and then to cast your vote.

Vote Once Per Day

http://www.theringbearer.ca/kleinfeld/ratings/68

All the best to Ani & Johnny! Lets get you both on TLC!

Once A Year Church Goers On Easter, An Issue That Has Hit Close To My Heart

I attended Church for the Easter Celebrations and to Thank Jesus for sacrificing his life for us, and I was reflecting, praying and giving thanks to God and Jesus for giving me an incredible and loving family, friends, and supporters as well as everything I have. I feel it is very important to me to attend church more often and to be in one roof with uniting with the community to be God’s house. I believe that a church is not a church until there are so many people in it. Or else It will just be a building. That’s what it is when people don’t fill it. What really hit close to my heart was that there were people I had seen at church today that only come once a year and don’t even bother to take 1-3 hours of their lives on Sundays or as much as they are able to attend during the year to get into God’s house and to pray and to reflect.

I know some people will debate with me to tell me that it doesn’t matter where you are, you can always pray to God. Yes I agree with people who think that way, and it doesn’t matter if you go to church or not as long as your a great christian and try to live life clean and happy, I agree as well, but let me tell you something, Going to Church is so much more different, and its good to take Sunday’s and spend it with family, getting dressed, going to church. Its a great feeling. Seeing the Altar, the priests and the altar people. Its incredible to be experiencing church too. I know sometimes life is busy and hectic with family to take care of and people who work and everything else, but try to make time for church, try to give your time to Jesus who gave up his life for us, and to appreciate him. A Church cannot function if people do not go into them.

On Record there must have been over 3000 people at church. This has hit me quite hard. I try my every effort to be in church as much as I am able to and I go a lot every year. I also make it a commitment to attend Bible studies and to keep my faith updated and on track. Hearing God’s words comforts me and making friends and getting into people is something I truly love. I love my Armenian Church community. I have made so many friends from it. Today 1 in 3 or 4 people came to me to shake my hand and kiss me on the cheek to say happy Easter to me and talked to me. A few have come up to me to compliment me and my blog and among everything else. I am super happy for going to church since I was a kid. I am so happy my parents took me as a young child and I am so close to my Armenian community and the church. I love it so much. I know sometimes the Armenian Church Mass takes longer than usual, but its the beauty and the sounds and songs and prayer that make everything else not matter. Its a beautiful thing.

Remember the Easter Bunny, the Chocolates or the Eggs and the colors did not die for us and our sins. Jesus did. God Bless everyone and May God Be with all of you.

Another Easter has come and gone… Lets Pray that people will attend church more often… Amen

****This topic is in General and for the Believer Readers****

Happy Easter To Everyone Who Celebrates It!

Hello! I would like to wish you all who celebrate Easter this weekend a wonderful one filled with togetherness with family and friends and among everything else. It is also to remind ourselves the sacrifices Jesus made and he gave up his life so that we can all be free. He was crucified on the cross and was buried and the third day rose again. It is not really about the bunnies, chocolate, and all that cute stuff, its all about Jesus and the Cross. Easter is a time for remembering him and he should always be remembered. I will be attending church Tonight as its Good Friday and I will be attending church on Sunday as its very important to. I wish you all a great weekend and All the best.

 

Well, Hello April! Nice seeing you Again! – What a Month It Will Be…

Well, Hello April! I cannot believe how time is flying by so quickly. This month will be a jam packed one for me as Easter  Celebrations are just around the corner, as I will be super busy going to church and being with family and friends. I am looking forward to a couple of trips I will take this month. I also will be traveling to Ottawa, Canada, Canada’s Capital and every year on April 24th, We embark on a journey from Parts of Ontario and Quebec and other places and we commemorate the Armenian Genocide at the Parliament Hill at noon then we head to the Turkish Embassy to commemorate the Armenian Genocide of what the Turkish Ottoman Empire committed those crimes against humanity and killed 1.5 Million Armenians. This month will be a bittersweet month with the good and the bad, but this month will be my birthday but not until the end of this Month on the 30th. I have so much to do this month, but not enough hours in the day to do it all in. Well, today is Palm Sunday and its a time where I will go to church to be with my family, seeing friends and people I haven’t seen in a while. I need to make an effort to attend church a lot more often. I do attend bible studies every Thursday nights, but that is not enough. I am going to make the extra effort to attend church on Sundays and that will start again this month. I used to go all the time, but it will start again. I want to bond with God again and I want to go into God’s house more. Today is also April Fools day. When I was in school, I remember we used to do so many things to fool and trick people, but now for several years, I just don’t do it anymore. I should, its fun lol but since its Palm Sunday, I don’t feel it is appropriate. I believe for me going to church is far more important than tricking somebody or some people. Well, here is to April! See you tomorrow!

Attending Bible Study At My Armenian Church Is So Important To Me

Since toward the end of 2006, I began on my own personal spiritual reflection and journey to attend bible studies at my Armenian Church. After a year and a half of attending bible studies, I was appointed the communications director for up to 2-3 years to send out e-mails, to create flyers and keep the Armenian Community in the know about upcoming bible studies, upcoming outreach programs, volunteering at children’s aid to wrap Christmas presents, and spending time in senior homes with the elderly with my Armenian Church community, and I also attend another Armenian Bible Study that we take weekend retreats once or twice a year out of town with the Armenian Religious Education Council (AREC). It was a truly rewarding experience and I still attend bible studies to this day. I love keeping my bond with the Lord Jesus Christ, and reflecting upon how incredible it feels to hear God’s words and to learn about life and the true meaning of what God and the Bible chapters really mean.

I feel so close with God and I feel refreshed each time I attend church and the studies. Now I am only attending bible studies once a week on Thursday evenings. I have made so many friends from it and we all share a special bond together and we have become like family and we continue our journey together outside of bible studies and we go out, and we enjoy each others company so much. We have grown together and we know each other so well that we know what each other will say, we know the moves and signals we give toward each other, we know each others characters very well, we know the importance of togetherness and enjoying each other that we don’t even feel the time going. Our conversations, our inside jokes, and our gatherings are so special to me. They happen to be some of the most awesome people I have ever met in my life. It is great to attend a church function or a community outreach, retreats, bible studies and knowing the outcome of it will be positive and one that is so fulfilling to its fullest extent. It has become a huge ray of sunlight in my life knowing that I have somewhere I look forward to going all the time. I try my best not to miss any bible study discussions or friend gatherings, but sometimes life and busyness gets in the middle, but I am determined all the time.

It is not about the material, physical being, but it is also about the spiritual and inner personal reflections that makes everything great. I wouldn’t be who I am today if it weren’t for the supportive friends and family who always give the energy to me and tell me to never stop going to bible studies which I enjoy thoroughly. Each person who teaches bible studies have their own personal ways of teaching the bible and I do not like to judge people by that. In the end I like to hear Gods words and get different opinions about it from different teachers/priests/fathers/pastors/ etc… I really like my priest very much. He explains the bible to the level where we could understand, he lets us ask questions, and he is so passionate about it and he answers beautifully to us. I can hardly wait until Thursday again to go back to the bible study and hear and learn some more. The Bible is a never ending learning spiritual journey and there is so much to absorb and so much to read and the bible is also beyond the book itself. The life bible and what we can do in our lives to live with the words from The Bible and learn. Life is a never ending process of learning, absorbing information. Just be thankful everyday and never lose hope on anything because you can turn the impossible to possible because I’M Possible (impossible) . Always remember to every physical, mental and emotional side, there is always a spiritual and reflective side to life. Balance out your life today. make positive changes for a better tomorrow.

My Experience seeing the New Holy Cross Armenian Church of Laval being built before my eyes… By: Talin Orfali

I had embarked on a wonderful journey to Laval, Quebec and I had a spiritual, emotional, physical closeness to the future new home of the Holy Cross Armenian Church of Laval, Quebec. It was an experience I will never forget, seeing a new Armenian Church being built from the ground up, seeing the hard work being put into it, and all the hard work our clergyman, and our Armenian Community, Community of Laval and all those who day and night made this possible. I love you all deeply, God Bless this beautiful new church to be and all those who will walk, pray and enjoy this beautiful church once it is built. I am ever so excited and anxiously waiting for the opening ceremonies to take effect. I will be the first one there.

It is an indescribable and emotional feeling I had being there, actually seeing it, and feeling it. Although I will miss the many memories shared in the Holy Cross Armenian Church of Laval house on Boul St Martin, but those memories will forever be cherished and new beginnings and new memories will be rendered into my heart, mind and soul in the new church on Chemin Souvenier. I love Laval, Quebec and Montreal very much. It is again an indescribable feeling being in that city. I feel like I am at home and I cannot wait to call this new beautiful church my home away from home. May God Bless, and keep this church safe and I wish for a successful building process and God Bless and energize the builders and all those who worked so hard to get to where it has got today.

The New Holy Cross Armenian Church of Laval is with me everyday in my heart, mind and soul and not a day goes by where I don’t think of it. Let new memories begin. God Bless everyone.

Bible Study and Friends I have made from that.

In the beginning which was about 5-6 years ago, I started coming out to bible studies at my Armenian Church, which led me to learn more about God and Jesus and a lot more about the bible and theological learnings in the Armenian Perspective. Soon after My life made a complete 360 degree turn. My Life got better, things started to really look up for me, but soon after I had those terrible feelings of unwantedness, and lonliness return back to me due to some stresses, but now everything has found its place.

I now have the most wonderful true friends who have helped me a lot through my tough times, and I am a very happy individual, who has good friends that she can talk with and spend time with. They give me confidence, encouragement, and strength to do what I do, and to know I have people on my side. They know who they are.

I have been taking care of myself a lot more these past several months, by eating sensibly, losing lots of weight, and I am finally thinking about myself for a change, and not thinking about what rude, two-faced, fake, cruel, and persons with big egos tell me, because I have no place in my life for those who bring me down and give me the cold shoulder.

As Long as I have God, My family and friends in My life, evverything else will come to place. I love My life and everyone in My life.

Reader Appreciation Day!

Dear My Lovely Supporters, Readers,

I’d Like to say thank you so much for all your comments, your time reading my blog, giving me wonderful and positive feedback. I appreciate it all so much. I believe all of us have strengths, talents and the way to life and it should never be taken for granted. Blogging has become one of my priorities in my life and writing is my passion and finally I found what I really love doing and what I really am passionate about. I spent a lot of alone time and I was thinking about all the things I can do, and writing was one of them, and I instantly began to write for my Armenian Church and then it escalated from there starting my own blog in Google Blogspot, that did not pan out, so I moved to WordPress and I am loving it ever since. WordPress blogs and other bloggers have taught me a lot about life and how I am not alone in situations and I am so greatful to them all for taking the time to come to my blog and reply and giving me incredible awards, plaques, nominating me for so many different types of awards and you all carry a special place in my heart from my readers, supporters, family, friends and fans and all those websites of blogs that has my name on it, and among other websites. You all are so lovely and sweet and may you all be healthy, happy and everything else in between. All the best of the best in Life and may all your dreams come true. It is never too late to start dreaming. I LOVE you all very much and thanks again for everything.

Everyday should be Reader Appreciation Day but today I decided I dedicate it to you all.

Much Love,

Love,

Talin Orfali

My Ultimate Dream Wedding, My Dream Prince Charming

When I was a little girl, I used to always dream of my fairytale wedding and I admit, I still do even though I do not have anybody in my life right now, and I never have yet. I believe it will happen to me when I least expect it. Sometimes I feel like I am not attractive enough for guys, but I know in my previous blog post I wrote about you are beautiful no matter what anybody says and I always think positively, but I do admit sometimes negativity takes over, but as soon as those feelings come to me, I snap out of it and think positively that my prince will soon come to me and he will think I am the most beautiful to him and I am really important to him and he loves me with all his heart, mind and soul, with someone who will protect, care and appreciate me for who I am. I hope I will find someone who both of us have that special chemistry and we have a lot of things in common. Everyday I wake up, I am hopeful I will find that special someone who shares the same qualities as I do. I am looking for someone honest, straight forward, funny, someone who is fun, who likes to travel, who has respect and appreciation.

Anyway, Let me tell you a bit about how my childhood dreams of my ultimate wedding. I used to take my moms white see through drapes, and I used to use them as a veil. I took my moms white gown and used it as a wedding dress, I took silk flowers from the house and made it into a bouquet, I would go into my mothers make up drawer and used to put lipstick and blush to look like a bride. When I was a kid, I used to have a toy princess Tiara and I used to put that on, then I wore my moms shoes. In my old house, I had a long hallway and I used to pretend I am walking down the Aisle and I used to have an imaginary fiance/husband, with bridesmaids, and pretend guests. It was so fun. Since I didn’t have friends when I was a kid outside my home from school and stuff, I used to have these imaginary friends and I used to invite them to my wedding and then after, I would put some music in my room and pretend I am dancing, then I threw my bouquet. After attending many weddings when I was a kid, I was very observant and I used to watch very closely so as I can play it at home. I had such a blast doing so. It made me feel like a princess for that hour. I used to do that every few days, then I grew out of it by the time I reached 11-12 years old. My mom saw me a few times and she thought I was the cutest little bride ever.

Right now at my age, I still have thoughts on my dream wedding and my criteria has changed a lot of course on how I want the colours to be, bridesmaids, maid of honour, best man, the photos, limo, flowers, invitations, the church, the decorations, my wedding dress, my hair, make-up, the whole wedding ambience. I love weddings. I have been a bridesmaid twice in my life and coincidentally they both happened this year of 2011. It was an incredible feeling to be asked to be a bridesmaid for the first time ever in my life and to take part in wedding parties where as in my whole life, I never got to be in it and I never got to be dolled up with my hair, make up and beautiful dresses. It made me feel so great and it meant a lot to me to be chosen. I know that the dress, the whole wedding day is just a day to get married, and the most important thing is after the ceremony and how your going to live with your husband or wife, and its important after wearing the white gown and having a special day with family and friends. The future is the most important part of what happens tomorrow and the sacrifices both have to make.

Now, I still have dreams to have my bridesmaids wear pink dresses and have pink flowers, but I came to like Purple Themes a lot better and Purple is such a beautiful colour for wedding dresses. Any Purple colour, mostly violets, lavenders. Its so beautiful. I want my bouquet with a mix of purple/white/cream pink roses. A big round bouquet, and my 4-5 bridesmaids wearing purple/violet dresses, and with them having white roses with purple, the church to be decorated with beautiful flowers on the chairs, and an arch by the altar, My dress to be like a ball gown, my hair done up with a beautiful tiara/veil, the photos of the wedding to be professional and a lot with different angles, and different poses for the camera, a nice beautiful stretched limo, the reception hall decorated with an array of purples/whites/pinks… My cake with thick icing, and on the top instead of putting the little bride and groom, have my future husbands name and my name fully put. Our first dance to be the song All My Life by KC and JOJO, lots of dancing, the food to be Armenian / Italian dishes, the centrepieces below eye level and something with purple/white candles with a circle of roses, the bouquet toss, garter toss, the speeches. I plan to get Married just once, so I want that day to be special, perfect and like a fairytale with my family and friends to share that special day with me and to have an incredible wedding party.

I hope I will get lucky and find my prince charming soon.