This year Ladies Society held their annual Christmas Party and General meeting on Thursday, December 17, 2015, more than 50 members were present to celebrate Christmas together.

Fr. Mesrop Ash blessed the table and wished everyone a happy and safe Christmas. Following lunch Linda Lester invited everyone to sing along to classic Christmas Carols. This year the ladies decided not to exchange gifts, instead each one brought gifts to be donated to the elderly patients at nearby Laguna Honda Hospital. Following the meeting all the presents were wrapped and delivered to the hospital.

A reflection about the highs and lows of working to realize the Annual Food Festival by Ladies Society Board Member, Linda Lester.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! The Ladies Society will be selling large Christmas Choreg on Sundays after church for $15.00 each. All proceeds will go to Armenian Summer Camp Scholarships for our children.

Prepare for Easter and order your Presale Soubereg now. Ladies Society will be making Soubereg in time for Easter.  Order ¼  or  ½ trays and pay in full by January 10th for pickup at the end of February. $15.00-$30.00 each. Proceeds will go to Armenian Summer Church Camp Scholarships and the Garden committee.

On Thursday, November 19, St. John Ladies Society held their monthly Luncheon and Meeting at Waterfront Pizza restaurant in Foster City. Christina Ardemis welcomed everyone and invited Fr. Mesrop to bless the table.

The Feast of Hampartzoom  (Ascension) is one of the most joyous of the feasts celebrated by the Armenian Church.  It is celebrated after the 40 days of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

St. John ladies gathered together to learn more about fasting and Great Lent. The first session started at 10:30 led by Fr. Sarkis. His Lenten presentation was about the History of Christian Fasting Practices. The second session led by Fr. Mesrop Ash took place outdoors in the garden of St. John Church. Fr. Mesrop talked about the Lenten Journey in the Garden of The Soul. Upon conclusion of the session the ladies harvested some vegetables, lettuce, radishes and prepared a salad for lunch.
 
After lunch, there was a movie presentation followed by a prayer session.

More than 10 ladies along with Fr. Mesrop visited long time St. John Ladies Society member, Bea Bosghossian to celebrate her birthday on Wednesday, February 5. It was an unforgettable and memorable day for our Bea.

They were able to pray, catch up with church news, laugh toghether, eat cake, exchange gifts and enjoy one another's company.

The Ladies Society of St. John Church hosted a luncheon on Saturday, November 9. St. John Paul Family Fellowship hall was filled with the sweet aroma of the Ghapama, along with the beautiful traditional song "Hey Jan Ghapama". More than 40 ladies were present, as well as Western Diocese Ladies Society Central Council chairlady, Gladys Saroyan.

Nearly 50 Ladies of St. John gathered for their monthly meeting and luncheon. The theme of this luncheon was the presentation of Elise Kazanjian's essay "The Oil Stick Man." Elise Kazanjian’s award winning essay, takes place in China where she lived with her parents as a child. We are transported through the back alleys and market place where a precocious child speaks the perfect dialect of the land to the amazement of the locals.

On Thursday, April 18, the members of St. John Ladies society gathered together for their April luncheon. This luncheon was special as it would showcase the work of Mr. James Baloian, a well-known Armenian poet originally from the Central Valley. The luncheon was organized by committee chair Cecelia Baloian, who is also the poet's wife.