HAVERHILL — Five months after its consecration, Haverhill’s newest Armenian church hosted hundreds not just for service, but to serve as well.
The pews were packed at the Holy Archangels Armenian Church throughout the week, with a Clergy Conference, from April 29 to May 1, and the 123rd Eastern Diocesan Assembly, from May 1 to May 3.
On Thursday evening, delegates from across the region met between the sanctuary walls for a communal dinner, but it was lunch that came afterward. The clergy of the Armenian Apostolic Church rolled up the sleeves of their robes and took part in a new outreach program.
The mission: For the first time ever, they prepared 750 bagged lunches for four local food pantries, an initiative held in conjunction with the diocese’s annual assembly.
Sandwiches were stacked high, then packed into baggies, with the meals bound for the most underserved in the Merrimack Valley. The delegate-assembled lunches were sent to St. Martha’s Food Pantry, which is part of Lazarus House in Lawrence, Emmaus House Shelter in Haverhill, Merrimack Valley Dream Center in Lawrence, and Daybreak Shelter in Lawrence.
The hands-on service captured the theme of this year’s assembly, “Love One Another.”
On Friday night, the gala banquet and dance of the diocese brought the congregation to the Hilton Boston in Woburn, where members were honored and awarded for contributions to the church.
The assembly culminates with a Divine Liturgy, returning to Holy Archangels Armenian Church, 1280 Boston Road, Haverhill, on Sunday, May 4. The church was consecrated in October and in its first year, is making its mark on the community.