Continuing St. John's goal to utilize our parish grounds to create a space wherein our faithful, especially our children, can grow closer to God by cultivating the Earth, Sunday School classes have resumed in the garden and several projects have been realized to enhance the space.
Our annual Food Festival Boutique will feature limited themed items. Our Boutique sales will also be available through the holidays, with an expanded inventory.
For the Food Festival boutique we continue to accept donations. We welcome new and gently used unique kitchen themed items, like demi tasse cups, jezvahs, linens, pot holders, aprons, cookbooks, etc. It’s a bonus if your donated items have an Armenian cultural theme. For our Holiday Boutique, we welcome an assortment of new and gently used gift items. Speciality holiday themed items would be appreciated.
Armenians of the Bay Area, including the parish of St. John, feel a sense of great pride that thoughout the Centennial Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, we have organized to mark the somber occasion and achieved many goals. We have honored and even celebrated the sainted martyrs of the Armenian Genocide, educated our youth, advocated for just recognition, and raised awareness in the public sphere.
On Sunday, September 20, following church services, the much anticipated presentation of the “Historic Armenia After 100 years,” by the author Matthew Karanian took place in The Paul Family Hall. Fr. Mesrop Ash introduced Mr. Karanian and invited him to the podium.
It was nearly 3 years ago that our community was stunned by the tragic news of the young Armenian family and the event that befell them at Big Lagoon Beach in Humboldt County. Howard Kuljian, patriarch of the Kuljian family, along with wife Mary and son Gregory were swept out by ocean currents as they tried to save their beloved family dog. Olivia was the only member of her family to survive that infamous event.
The Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross is the most important of the four feasts of the Holy Cross. It is observed on Sunday closest to September 14. This year Armenian churches all around the world celebrated, The Exaltation of the cross on Sunday, September 13.
It isn’t Christmas yet, but we already have a WISH LIST. It’s for our Food Festival coming up ONLY ONE DAY THIS YEAR on Saturday, October 24. As you know, the Food Festival is our main fund raiser.
Our St. John ladies and men are already preparing the delicious foods that all of us, and our usual 2,000 plus guests, will enjoy in October.
The cornerstone of our life as Armenian Orthodox Christians is prayer. The essence of our prayer life can be found in the Prayers of the Hours, the rites of common prayers that are conducted throughout the day, especially in the morning and evening. Therefore, last year we endeavored to re-establish this tradition in our community to observing the evening prayer hour, every Wednesday at 7pm.
Year after year, it has been a true source of joy that more and more youth are attending the Annual Western Diocese Summer Camp program, known as Hye Camp. It is a safe and nurturing environment, where our youth can grow in their relationships with one another, their culture, and with Christ.
We are excited to announce that the 2015/2016 Sunday School year will officially begin on September 13, on the occasion of the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. Students are welcome to go to the Ashjian Room for a welcoming assembly, then they will attend Divine Liturgy as a group to celebrate the Feast, and hear a children’s sermon prepared by Fr. Mesrop.
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