We need volunteers to lead each cooking sessions as an example, Linda Lester will take the lead for souboreg and kufta. If you are interested please contact Linda Lester at 415-648-3540 and we will contact volunteers to help you.

St. John has enjoyed the bounty of our garden over the past few weeks, but the time has come to share the wealth. Friday, April 25, the Garden Ministry donated the lettuce harvest to the Martin de Porres House of Hospitality soup kitchen, and on Saturday some of the parishioners volunteered in preparing and serving lunch.

On Good Friday, April 18, 2014, St. John Armenian Church held its first Blood Drive, initiated and organized by Anoush Kelegian in memory of the Armenian Genocide Victims. Giving blood is giving the giſt of life for those who need it most. By collectively donating blood in honor of the Genocide Victims as a community, we symbolically expressed our gratitude as genocide survivors and expressed our devotion to uphold life in honor of our ancestors.
 

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.