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.

St. John Armenian church is happy to release the Unified Camp Scholarship Application for 2013. It is a source of great spiritual joy for our community that many of our young people have applied and been accepted to participate in the Armenian Church Summer Camp of the Western Diocese. Through the generosity of various funds established with the purpose of sending young Armenians to Hye Camp, St. John is offering several scholarships to children and youth who have been active in the life of the parish.

Easter is the most important holy day for Christians all over the world, however, the celebration of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ is the culmination of series of ritual commemorations known as Holy Week. For The Armenian Apostolic Church, Holy Week is the recreation of the events of the last week of Christ’s life.

The Sunday before Easter, Armenian Orthodox Church celebrates Palm Sunday, the triumphant entry of our Lord Jesus Christ to Jerusalem. The altar that had been closed since Poon Paregentan, is once again opened. Palm Sunday is the last Sunday of lent and the beginning of Holy Week.

Palm Sunday, April 13, 2014
Divine Liturgy………………………………………………10:30 a.m.
Opening of the Curtain (Turnpatzek)……............12:00 Noon
Followed by blessing of palm branches and solemn procession.
 
Maundy Thursday, April 17, 2014
Divine Liturgy            and Communion……………..10:30 a.m.
Washing of the Feet Service……………………………7:00 p.m.
Service of Betrayal and Passion……………………….8:15 p.m.
 
Good Friday, April 18, 2014
Service of the Burial of Our Lord…………………… 7:00 p.m.
Buffet dinner ……………………………………………...8:00 p.m.
 

Sunday, March 30, was truly a day filled with the grace of the Holy Spirit for St. John parishioners. It was a special day of many activities incluiding the Episcopal Divine Liturgy, ordination of Deron Kapeghian to the deaconate, Hokehankist requiem service for Sumgayit massacres, our Michink luncheon, and the workshop organized by the Christian Education Council with Northern California Sunday School Students and parents.

On Monday, March 31, 2014 St. John Armenian Church hosted a screening of the documentary film “Ordinary Genocide.” Present were the films producers Marina Grigoryan and Haykaram Nahapetyan.  The film, with cutting honesty, presented the horrible events endured by the Armenians of Azerbaijan and Nagorno Karabagh between 1988-1991. Upon the conclusion of the film screening there were discussions and a Q&A with the film makers.

It has been a wonderful tradition to commemorate St. Vartan and his Companions jointly with all the Bay Area Armenian Churches. Each year's commemoration takes place in one of the Armenian Churches. This year, St. John Armenian Church hosted the feast day.  The Divine Liturgy was celebrated by Rev. Fr. Asoghig Jamgochian, parish priest of St. James Armenian Church of Sacramento.

February 21-23 the Paul Family Hall was transformed in to a warm and intimate gallery decorated by the beautiful and unique artwork of renowned artist Lilit Soghomonyan. Lilit was invited by Saint John Armenian Church for her San Francisco debut solo exhibition.

The St. John Sunday School spent the damp but sunny morning of last Sunday not in the classroom as they usually would, but in a new setting: St. John’s newly established parish garden. Instead of their usual curriculum, they learned about how and why seeds grow in to plants that bare vegetables and fruits. Most importantly, they learned that God gave them, and all humanity, the responsibility to be good stewards of His creation. Each child was given their own plot in the garden, so that they can learn that it takes time, attention, and love to be a good steward.