Bible Readings. Dec. 6 Luke 14:12-24 Dec. 13 Luke 17:1-10 Dec. 20 Luke 18:9-14 Dec. 27 Luke 19:12-28

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1 The Voice Newsletter is published once a month by St. Vartan Armenian Church 650 Spruce Street, Oakland, CA , Phone (510) , Fax: (510) stvartanoakland@aol.com Website: The deadline for all articles is the fifteenth of each month. Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate Rev. Fr. Hovel Ohanyan, Parish Priest and President of All Church Organizations Parish Council Chair: Barry Toomajian Parish Assembly Chair: Harry Sherinian Choir Director: Artin Der Minassians Organist: Ida Mazmanian, A. Rodriguez ACYO Chair: Sevan Jindoian and Tanya Jindoian Sunday School Superintendent: Janet Yeghissian Ladies Society Chair: Gail Kezerian and Caroline Arakelian Cultural Society Chair: Liz Ojakian Hokejosh: Nora Hanoian Church Maintenance: Jim Taylor and Arto Yagjian Newsletter Editors: Arlene Hovsepian and Rachel Harger Wedding Coordinator: Gail Kezerian and Stacey Shartzer Church Secretary: Rachel Harger Altar Flowers: Carole Chang Church Custodian: Wartkes Hagopian Divine Liturgy Service Sundays 10:30 a.m. Bible Readings Dec. 6 Luke 14:12-24 Dec. 13 Luke 17:1-10 Dec. 20 Luke 18:9-14 Dec. 27 Luke 19:12-28 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 Rev. Fr. Hovel Ohanyan December 2015 The Man and the Birds Now the man to whom I m going to introduce you was not a scrooge. He was a kind, decent, mostly good man, generous to his family and upright in his dealings with other men. But he just didn t believe all that incarnation stuff which the churches proclaim at Christmas time. It just didn t make sense, and he was too honest to pretend otherwise. He just couldn t swallow the Jesus story, about God coming to earth as a man. I m truly sorry to distress you, he told his wife, but I m not going with you to church this Christmas Eve. He said he d feel like a hypocrite and that he d much rather just stay at home, but that he would wait up for them. And so he stayed, and they went to the midnight service. Shortly after the family drove away in the car, snow began to fall. He went to the window to watch the flurries getting heavier and heavier and then went back to his fireside chair and began to read his newspaper. Minutes later, he was startled by a thudding sound. Then another, and then another. Sort of a thump or a thud. At first he thought someone must be throwing snowballs against his living room window. But when he went to the front door to investigate, he found a flock of birds huddled miserably in the snow. They d been caught in the storm and, in a desperate search for shelter, had tried to fly through his large landscape window. Well, he couldn t let the poor creatures lie there and freeze, so he remembered the barn where his children stabled their pony. That would provide a warm shelter, if he could direct the birds to it. Quickly he put on a coat and galoshes and tramped through the deepening snow to the barn. He opened the doors wide and turned on a light, but the birds did not come in. He figured food would entice them in. So he hurried back to the house, fetched bread crumbs and sprinkled them on the snow, making a trail to the yellow-lighted, wide-open doorway of the stable. But to his dismay, the birds ignored the bread crumbs and continued to flap around helplessly in the snow. He tried catching them. He tried shooing them into the barn by walking around them waving his arms. Instead, they scattered in every direction, except into the warm, lighted barn. And then, he realized, that they were afraid of him. To them, he reasoned, I am a strange and terrifying creature. If only I could think of someway to let them know that they can trust me that I am not trying to hurt them, but to help them. But how, because any move he made tended to frighten and confuse them. They just would not follow. They would not be led or shooed because they feared him.

2 Altar Flower Church Donation Chart The 2016 Altar Flower Donation Chart is located in the Church Hall entryway. Please choose a Sunday during 2016 to sponsor flowers for the St. Vartan Church altar. The suggested donation for altar flowers is $35. If only I could be a bird, he thought to himself, and mingle with them and speak their language. Then I could tell them not to be afraid. Then I could show them the way to the safe, warm to the safe, warm barn. But I would have to be one of them so they could see, and hear and understand. At that moment, the church bells began to ring. The sound reached his ears above the sounds of the wind. And he stood there listening to the bells listening to the bells pealing the glad tidings of Christmas. And he sank to his knees in the snow. -Written by Paul Harvey Bazaar Directories and Offering Envelopes Pledged members, please pick up your 2015 Bazaar Directories from the Church entryway and your 2016 offering envelopes from the Church Hall entryway. If you are not a pledged member, but would like to purchase a bazaar directory, the suggested donation is $5. St. Vartan Voice On-Line You can receive your St. Vartan Voice Newsletter via , rather than snail mail. If you would like to be on our ing list for the newsletter, please contact the church office at stvartanoakland@aol.com or call You can also read the newsletter at the church website: St. Vartan ACYO Executive Officers Co-Chairmen Sevan & Nataline Jindoian Vice Chairman Tanya Jindoian Treasurer Andrew Yagjian Recording Secretary Talin Azizian Corresp. Secretary Tamar Azizian Publicity Silva Jindoian Historian Gayané Kanneian Christmas Questions Q: Mum, can I please have a cat for Christmas: A: No. You'll have turkey, the same us the rest of us. Q: What did Adam say on the day before Christmas? A: "It's Christmas, Eve!" Q: When does New Year s Day come before Christmas Day? A: Every year! Q: What do you call an old snowman? A: Water. Q: What do you call a kid who doesn't believe in Santa? A: A rebel without a Claus. Q: Why are Christmas trees so fond of the past? A: Because the present's beneath them. Q: Who doesn't eat on Christmas? A: A turkey because it is always stuffed. Upcoming Events Parish Council Meeting Wed., Dec. 9 6:30 pm Ladies Society Christmas Lunch Thurs., Dec.10 12:00 noon Christmas Family Night Sat., Dec.12 5:30 pm Western Christmas Celebration & Sunday School Program Sun., Dec :30 am Armenian Christmas Eve Service Tues., Jan. 5 6:30 pm Armenian Christmas Day Service Wed., Jan. 6 10:30 am Armenian Christmas Celebration Sun., Jan :30 am Merelots Service Sun., Jan :30 am Christ is Born and Revealed Blessed is the Revelation of Christ Sunday, December 20, 2015 Western Christmas Celebration Morning Service... 10:00 am Divine Liturgy... 10:30 am Sunday School Christmas Program, Caroling with the Choir followed by special Fellowship Hour Tuesday, January 5, 2016 Armenian Christmas Eve Readings... 6:00 pm Jurakalouyts Badarak (Liturgy of the Lights)... 6:30 pm Home Blessing Service in Church Hall to follow Wednesday, January 6, 2016 Armenian Christmas Day Asdvadzahaidnootiun Nativity and Baptism of Jesus Christ Morning Service... 10:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy... 10:30 a.m. Home Blessing Service in Church Hall to follow Sunday, January 10, 2016 Armenian Christmas Celebration Asdvadzahaidnootiun Nativity and Baptism of Jesus Christ Morning Service... 10:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy... 10:30 a.m. Blessing of the Baptismal Waters Sunday, January 17, 2016 Memorial Sunday Merelots Morning Service... 10:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy... 10:30 am. Requiem for Deceased Loved Ones Christmas Greetings Krisdos dzunav yev Haydensav. Christ is born and revealed among us. Orhinal eh haydnootiun Krisdosi. Blessed is the revelation of Christ. Yughakin It is customary in the Armenian Church to provide Yughakin especially around the feasts of Christmas and Easter. This practice dates as far back as the time of Moses in the Old Testament. Yughakin in Armenian means "price of oil". Each local church community would donate money specially earmarked towards the purchase of oil, which in return would keep the lanterns burning and ultimately the doors of the Church open. At this season of Christ's birth let us remember and continue in the custom of Yughakin, so we can keep our "oil-burning lanterns" always burning and our doors always open at St. Vartan. Please be generous to the Church in observing this ancient Armenian custom. Sunday School Nativity Pageant Please join the St. Vartan Sunday School after Badarak on Sunday, December 20, 2015 as they present the story of Christ s birth through the annual Nativity Pageant. St. Vartan Church will be celebrating Western Christmas this Sunday. The service will include caroling with the choir, and will be followed by a special coffee hour hosted by the Ladies Society. Merelotz Sunday Jan. 17, 2016 A requiem will be said for the souls of the departed on Sunday, January 17, Those who would like to have the names of their departed loved ones included should contact the church office at or stvartanoakland@aol.com before Thursday, January 14, 2016.

3 St. Vartan Church Parish Council gratefully acknowledges the following donations: Sunday School Evelyn Krikorian In Honor of Alexandra Sparr s Baptism Doris Paroonagian, Sylvia and Richard Messian ENDOWMENT FUND In Memory Dennis Stone Richard Nikssarian Mary Thompson Levon Leo Manoogian Grace Izmirian Kacheg Topalian DECEMBER 12, 2015 In Memory Michael Madajian Grace Glatze Clifford Melikian From his loving niece and her families, Karen, Bruce, JD, David and Paul Esajian (Sunday School) Dennis Stone Evelyn Krikorian Annik Taskiran Nadya and Arto Yagjian, Vahe and Hilda Mener Hacik Cilberyan Nadya and Arto Yagjian, Vahe and Hilda Mener News From Our St. Vartan Family ll! for a n u F Enter ta the ki inment fo r ds! Baptism On October 4 Fr. Hovel baptized Avetis Varshavasky and Anastas Arshavsky at St. Vartan Church. Arsen Awanesianc is the godfather for both Avetis and Anastas, and Susanna Petrosova is the godmother. Their parents are Paul Varshavasky and Armena Petrosova. Fr. Hovel baptized Logan James Pasut at St. Vartan Church on November 7. Logan s parents are Derek and Blair Pasut. Daryl Pasut is Logan s godfather, and Ashley Bolduc is Logan s godmother. His grandparents are Jim and Diana Pasut and Bruce and Gail Groefsema. Sevan Saint Pierre Goorjian was baptized by Fr. Hovel at St. Vartan Church on November 15. Michael and Jolie Goorjian are Sevan s parents and Dr. Peter and Sarah Goorjian and Brad Martin and Barbara Marzotte are his grandparents. J. Christopher Ferreira is Sevan s godfather and Nicole Brodsky is his godmother. Wedding Fr. Hovel performed the ceremony of Holy Matrimony for Samuel Weldemariam and Yirgalem Frezghi on November 14 at St. Vartan Church. Samuel Habtemariam was the best man and Luwam Berhane was the maid of honor. Holiday Food Drive As in previous years, St. Vartan Church is sponsoring a food drive for the Alameda County Community Food Bank. The Holiday Food Drive will take place during the months of November and December Please bring your non-perishable, healthy food donations to church and place them in the red bin located in the Church Hall entryway. Let s turn our gratitude for the blessings God has given us toward providing for those less fortunate. Christmas Home Blessing The Home Blessing Service is one of the most ancient and revered traditions of the Armenian Church. The three necessary items to conduct this service are: water, bread, and salt. For the traditional Christmas Home Blessing, please call Der Hayr for an appointment at

4 St. Vartan Ladies Society Thanksgiving Luncheon On November 12 The St. Vartan Ladies Society hosted a delicious Thanksgiving Luncheon, featuring luleh kebab, pilaf, salad, and dessert. St. John Armenian Church parish priest Fr. Mesrop Ash gave a special presentation, in which he discussed Thanksgiving and the nature of angels. During the luncheon Ladies Society treasurer Nadya Yagjian asked that all Ladies Society members pay their 2016 dues of $25 before the end of January Save the Date St. Vartan Church Annual Assembly Meeting & Lamb Shank Luncheon Sunday, January 31, 2016 After Church Services All pledged members are invited to attend this meeting, so a quorum can be met and business can be conducted. If you haven t paid your entire dues yet, please make your donation by December 31, 2015, so you are eligible to vote at the meeting. Everyone is invited to attend the traditional Lamb Shank Luncheon. The St. Vartan 2015 Bazaar Committee met one final time on November 9 to discuss this year s bazaar and make suggestions for next year. Thank you to all the bazaar committee members and all of our volunteers for their tremendous efforts in making this year s bazaar a success. Deadline for January St. Vartan Voice Newsletter December 15, 2015 Quotes About Angels Do not neglect hospitality, for through it some have unknowingly entertained angels. -Hebrews We are like children, who stand in need of masters to enlighten us and direct us; and God has provided for this, by appointing his angels to be our teachers and guides. -Saint Thomas Aquinas We shall find peace. We shall hear angels, we shall see the sky sparkling with diamonds. -Chekov These things I warmly wish for you: Someone to love, some work to do, A bit o' sun, a bit o' cheer, And a guardian angel always near. -Irish Blessing Celebrate the Christmas Season with St. Vartan Ladies Society. Ladies Society Christmas Luncheon December 10, 2015 Luncheon: 12 noon Floral Demonstration Back by popular demand, and just in time to Deck the Halls: Michael Daigian One of the Bay Area s leading floral designers/event planners (michaeldaigian.com) will demonstrate fresh and enchanting new ideas for all of you, for this Christmas Season. St. Vartan Ladies Society Executive Board invites all of our members and guests to celebrate The Christmas Season ~ Buon Natale à la St. Vartan! Menu: Antipasto: Fresh cheeses, Salumis, Olives and Pepperocini, assorted crackers. House Made Manicotti, stuffed with Ricotta, Spinach, Sausage, baked with a fresh tomato sauce. Crostini dressed with freshly marinated giant Italian Corona beans. Elo s Paklava Speciale: Buttery baked Filo stuffed with custard, drizzled with a light syrup. Coffee, Tea, Spa Water Raffle tickets will be sold at the door and luncheon, for a large variety of lovely gifts, $20 for an arm s length of tickets. Please consider donating a gift basket for our raffle. Please contact Marlene Tolegian at Tickets: $15 Tables of 8 may be reserved. Phone Caroline

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6 What Is Advent? Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand." (James 5:8) Advent means coming the coming of Christ. In Armenian it is called Hisnag from the word for fifty. It is the 50 -day period during which we prepare to celebrate the Nativity and Theophany of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is a time for us to think of the why of Christmas why the greeting cards, the decorations, the gifts, the family gatherings? A time to look within our hearts to see if there is anything that stands between us and the Good News of Jesus birth. During Advent, we can rededicate ourselves to Christ through our actions, thoughts, and prayers. This is a good time for us to improve our habits and offer them as gifts to God. Perhaps Advent can also be an occasion to discover God s gifts all around us. We need to have an open heart to receive Christ God s greatest gift of all! We complain that Christmas is too commercial, but there is a way to live out the real reason for the season. Special Feasts and Fasts During Advent The Advent in the Armenian Church is approximately two weeks longer than it is in the Western churches, and that is why it is called Hisnag, "a 50-day period." Fasting During Hisnag Hisnag is, in a sense, introduced by a week of fasting. The fast is officially known as "the Fast of the Beginning of Hisnag." There is a second fast of a week's duration following the third Sunday of Hisnag. This fast is known as "the Fast of St. James, Bishop of Nisibis." The commemoration of the latter takes place on the following Saturday. The third and final fast, again of a week's duration, precedes the Feast of the Nativity and Theophany of Christ our God, and that is how it is officially recognized in the calendar. During the remaining weeks of Hisnag when there is no fasting, the Wednesdays and Fridays are regularly observed as fasting days. Feasts During Hisnag The Armenian Church celebrates a number of feasts and observes some important commemorations during the 50 days of Hisnag. The Feast of the Presentation of the Holy Virgin to the Temple, as it has a fixed date, is celebrated on November 21, even if it falls within the week of the fasting. On such occasions, the feast is celebrated liturgically, but the fasting prevails in dietary matters. The same practice is also observed during the Feast of the Conception of the Holy Virgin by St. Anna, which is always celebrated on December 9. During the Hisnag we commemorate some of the important and major saints of the Christian Church. Among them are the fourth century founders of Christian theology, St. Gregory the Wonderworker and St. Basil of Caesarea; the Holy Apostles Thaddeus and Bartholomew, the enlighteners of Armenia; the Egyptian fathers; the early bishops of the church, such as St. Clemens, St. Ignatius, St. Polycarpus, St. Nicholas; St. James of Nisibis; and at the very end of the year, King David, commemorated as a prophet; the Holy Apostle James, Brother of the Lord; St. Stephen the Protomartyr; the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul; the Holy Apostles James and John, both of them surnamed as Sons of Thunder. A Christmas Reunion - True Story The brand new pastor and his wife, newly assigned to their first ministry to reopen a church in suburban Brooklyn, arrived in early October excited about their opportunities. When they saw their church, it was very run down and needed much work. They set a goal to have everything done in time to have their first service on Christmas Eve. They worked hard, repairing pews, plastering walls, painting, etc., and on December 18th they were ahead of schedule and just about finished. On December 19th a terrible tempest - a driving rainstorm - hit the area and lasted for two days. On the 21st, the pastor went over to the church. His heart sank when he saw that the roof had leaked, causing a large area of plaster about 20 feet by 8 feet to fall off the front wall of the sanctuary just behind the pulpit, beginning about head high. The pastor cleaned up the mess on the floor, and not knowing what else to do but postpone the Christmas Eve service, headed home. On the way he noticed that a local business was having a flea market type sale for charity so he stopped in. One of the items was a beautiful, handmade, ivory colored, crocheted tablecloth with exquisite work, fine colors and a Cross embroidered right in the center. It was just the right size to cover up the hole in the front wall. He bought it and headed back to the church. By this time it had started to snow. An older woman running from the opposite direction was trying to catch the bus. She missed it. The pastor invited her to wait in the warm church for the next bus 45 minutes later. She sat in a pew and paid no attention to the pastor while he got a ladder, hangers, etc., to put up the tablecloth as a wall tapestry. The pastor could hardly believe how beautiful it looked and it covered up the entire problem area. Then he noticed the woman walking down the center aisle. Her face was like a sheet. "Pastor," she asked, "where did you get that tablecloth?" The pastor explained. The woman asked him to check the lower right corner to see if the initials, EBG were crocheted into it there. They were. These were the initials of the woman, and she had made this tablecloth 35 years before, in Austria. The woman could hardly believe it as the pastor told how he had just gotten the Tablecloth. The woman explained that before the war she and her husband were well-to-do people in Austria. When the Nazis came, she was forced to leave. Her husband was going to follow her the next week. She was captured, sent to prison and never saw her husband or her home again. The pastor wanted to give her the tablecloth; but she made the pastor keep it for the church. The pastor insisted on driving her home, which was the least he could do. She lived on the other side of Staten Island and was only in Brooklyn for the day for a housecleaning job. What a wonderful service they had on Christmas Eve. The church was almost full. The music and the spirit were great. At the end of the service, the pastor and his wife greeted everyone at the door and many said that they would return. One older man, whom the pastor recognized from the neighborhood, continued to sit in one of the pews and stare, and the pastor wondered why he wasn't leaving. The man asked him where he got the tablecloth on the front wall because it was identical to one that his wife had made years ago when they lived in Austria before the war and how could there be two tablecloths so much alike? He told the pastor how the Nazis came, how he forced his wife to flee for her safety, and he was supposed to follow her, but he was arrested and put in a prison. He never saw his wife or his home again all the 35 years in between. The pastor asked him if he would allow him to take him for a little ride. They drove to Staten Island and to the same house where the pastor had taken the woman three days earlier. He helped the man climb the three flights of stairs to the woman's apartment, knocked on the door and he saw the greatest Christmas reunion he could ever imagine. by Pastor Rob Reid