Bible Readings Oct 2 Mark 11:27-33 Oct. 9 Mark 12: 23-44 Oct. 16 Luke 4:14-24 Oct. 23 Matt. 24:27-36 Oct. 30 Luke 8:17-21 Petition Lord make me an instrument of thy peace... That where there is hatred I may bring love, That where there is wrong, I may bring the spirit of forgiveness, That were there is discord I may bring harmony, That were there is error I may bring truth, That were there is doubt I may bring faith, That where there is despair I may bring hope, That were there are shadows I may bring light That where there is sadness I may bring joy. Rev. Fr. Hovel Ohanyan October, 2011 On Marriage and Family Life By St. John Chrysostom Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the Church. (Eph. 5:25). You have heard how important obedience is; you have praised and marveled at Paul, how he welds our whole life together, as we would expect from an admirable and spiritual man. You have done well. But now listen to what else he requires from you; he has not finished with his example. Husbands, he says, love your wives, as Christ loved the Church. You have seen the amount of obedience necessary. Do you want your wife to be obedient to you, as the Church is to Christ? Then be responsible for the same providential care of her, as Christ is for the Church. And even if it becomes necessary for you to give your life for her, yes, and even to endure and undergo suffering of any kind, do not refuse. Even though you undergo all this, you will never have done anything equal to what Christ has done. You are sacrificing yourself for someone to whom you are already joined, but He offered Himself up for one who turned her back on Him and hated Him. In the same way, then, as He honored her by putting at His feet one who turned her back on Him, who hated, rejected, and disdained Him, as he accomplished this not with threats, or violence, or terror, or anything else like that, but through His untiring love; so also you should behave toward your wife. Even if you see her belittling you, or despising and mocking you, still you will be able to subject her to yourself, through affection, kindness, and your great regard for her. There is no influence more powerful than the bond of love, especially for husband and wife...even so husbands should love their wives as their own bodies (v. 28). What does this mean? He is using a much stronger image and illustration now, much closer and plainer, and much more demanding. Some might not be convinced by his previous illustration, saying, "After all, he was Christ, and Christ is God naturally he would sacrifice Himself." Paul's method is different now; he says, "Husbands should love their wives," because such love is an obligation, not a favor, "as their own bodies." Why? For no man ever hates his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it (v. 29). That is, he takes particular care of it. How is she his flesh? Listen: This at last is bone of my bones, said Adam, and flesh of my flesh! And also, They become one flesh. So he nourishes and cherishes his own flesh, as Christ does the Church (v. 29). He returns here to his first comparison: because we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones (v. 30). How is this true? Because Christ was born from our matter, just as Eve was fashioned from Adam's flesh. Paul does well here to speak of flesh and bones, for the Lord has exalted our ma-
terial substance by partaking of it Himself: Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise partook of the same nature. It is obvious that He shares our nature, but how do we share His? How are we members of His flesh? We are truly members of Christ because through Him we were created, and we are truly members of His flesh because we are recreated by partaking of His mysteries. St. Paul explicitly says that we are members of His flesh and of His bones. The Son of God shares our nature so we can share His as He has us in Him, so we have Him in us. For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife and the two shall become one flesh (v. 31) So if you think that the wife is the loser because she is told to fear her husband, remember that the principal duty of love is assigned to the husband, and you will see that it is her gain. "And what if my wife refuses to obey me?" a husband will ask. Never mind! Your obligation is to love her; do your duty! ACYO-WD Northern Regional Meeting Held at St. Vartan, Sat. Sept. 10, 2011 On Saturday, September 10, ACYO-WD Central Council Chairman, Raffi Postaldjian, and Recording Secretary, Carmen Kestekyan, along with Western Diocese Youth Director, Father Avedis Abovian, met at St. Vartan with ACYO members of St. Vartan, Oakland and St. John, San Francisco to discuss upcoming diocese-wide events and programs, and hear from the chapters about their accomplishments. Some of the exciting programs include the revival of the Archbishop's Essay Contest which will award a $1,000 scholarship to an ACYO member submitting the best essay on "What makes you Christian," as decided by Surpazan. Also, the introduction of an Alumni Partnership program, where ACYO alumni can give back and reconnect with the organization. The local chapters provided an overview of their events and activities to date, and what they have in store for the rest of the year. Finally, the group enjoyed fellowship and ice cream at Fenton's Creamery on Piedmont Ave., in Oakland. For more information on the ACYO-WD visit www.acyo-wd.org, and for more information on St. Vartan ACYO events and programs call the church office at 510-893-1671 or email stvartanacyo@gmail.com. Youth Programs Available at St. Vartan Hey St. Vartan Community! This fall enroll your children, nieces, nephews, godchildren and friends children in our youth programs, and make the effort to get them to church! Their experiences will provide an amazing journey that s fun and enlightening. Sunday School Program Youth begin their faith based journey in the Sunday School program, where from nursery to high school age, they learn the teachings of Christianity and our Armenian Apostolic Church in fellowship with classmates who can become lifelong friends. Athletic Program St. Vartan boys (and girls if enough participate) of grade school ages engage in the St. Vartan basketball team, a competitive and friendly atmosphere for all skill levels. Competition runs from winter through spring each year in local leagues and regional tournaments. St. Vartan, Armenian Church Youth Organization (ACYO) Worship, Service, Education, Fellowship For junior (12-17 yrs) and senior (18 and up) youth, the ACYO is the only Armenian youth organization connected to the Church, offering opportunities for leadership, and service that transcend their youth. Questions? Contact the Church Office at (510) 893-1671 or stvartanoakland@aol.com. Contact St. Vartan ACYO at stvartanacyo@gmail.com & Diocese Wide Info: www.acyo-wd.org.
St. Vartan Church Parish Council gratefully acknowledges the following donations: St. Vartan Orphan Milk Fund Knights and Daughters of Vartan Chickering Piano Don and Virginia Tafjen Bazaar Donations Case of Wine Craig and Susie Bazigian, David and Nairy Colello, Harvey and Janet Kamian, Archie and Joyce Kamian; Leg of Lamb Louise Jorjorian, Emma and Lida Mazmanian; Bonnie and Jack Peterson (IMO Fr. Mesrob Sarafian), David and Nairy Colello, Harvey and Janet Kamian, Archie and Joyce Kamian, Sonik and Hagop Hakimian, Suzanne and Ed Vasgerdsian, Diana Toomajian, George and Sally Kamian, Michael DeOrian; Garbage and Recycle Bins Bill and Beverly Nalbandian, David and Nairy Colello, Zaven Kanneian and Janet Yeghissian, Suzanne and Razmik Abnous; Case of Armenian Beer David and Nairy Colello, Harvey and Janet Kamian; Miscellaneous Leon and M. L. Yengoyan, Carolyn Miller; Dolores and Zakar Chaghatzbanian, Virginia Ratcliff; Janitorial expense Mary Ann Sievers and Elizabeth Barsamian; Meat Slicer Greg and Seta Tcherkoyan In Memory Martha Serle Virginia Ratcliff (Ladies Society) Lynn Ross Marian Michaels Roxie Kamian Ronald Kallan, Zephyr Kalunian, Archie and Joyce Kamian, Gladys Kermoyan Peters Ed Morjig Ronald Kallan, Zephyr Kalunian, Carol and Harry Dokouzian (Voice Newsletter) Iskont Kalpakjian Barbara Stokely, Ben and Clarice Krikorian and Family, Clara Yenovkian, Gary Garbis Eldemir, Oskan and Nurise Mazlumian, Haig and Marie Kilijian, Varujan and Tatiana Mardirosian (Milk Fund), Arshaguhi Papazyan (Milk Fund), Mr. and Mrs. T. Gamitian (Milk Fund) ENDOWMENT FUND In Memory Roxie Kamian Norma Yaglijian Martha Serle Annabelle Taylor St. Vartan Church Website www.stvartanoakland.org To receive the Voice Newsletter by e-mail send request to stvartanoakland@aol.com. If your phone number or address changes, please notify the church office at 510-893-1671 or stvartanoakland@aol.com, so we can keep our files updated. News From Our St. Vartan Family Baptism On August 20, 2011 Fr. Hovel baptized Ethan Senai Kidane at St. Vartan Church. Ethan s parents are Faben Mesfen and Yohannes Kidane. Weddings On August 27, 2011 Ani Christina Moughamian and Jason Arthur Rosenberg were joined in Holy Matrimony at St. Vartan Church. Fr. Hovel officiated at the service. Parents of the bride are Jirair and Christina Moughamian and the groom s parents are Frank Rosenberg and Madeline Stevenson. David Gavilan served as best man and Lisa Kulelian was the maid of honor. Fr. Hovel performed the ceremony of Holy Matrimony for Marissa Anne Gostanian and Arman Cingoz at St. Vartan Church on September 17, 2011. The bride s parents are Armen and Marilouise Gostanian. Parents of the groom are Antranik and Hasmig Cingoz. Maral Kismetian served as maid of honor and Anton Kismetian was the best man. Condolences We offer our deepest sympathy to the family and friends of long-time St. Vartan members Roxie Kamian and Ed Morjig, both of whom passed away last month.
Basil at the foot of the Cross The Armenian Apostolic Church celebrates the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (Khachverats in Armenian) on the nearest Sunday of September 15. It is one of the five major feasts of the Armenian Church, and the most important of the four feasts of the Holy Cross. According to Armenian tradition, the first one to "exalt" the Cross was the Apostle James of Jerusalem, the "Brother of the Lord". On that Sunday the liturgy is marked with an antasdan service (blessing of the fields) during which the processional cross is adorned with basil (a symbol of royalty) and the four corners of the church are blessed as a sign of the sanctification of the world. The aromatic herb basil has long been associated with the Holy Cross. Etymologically, it is related to basileios, the Greek word for king. According to a pious legend, the Empress Saint Helena found the location of the True Cross by digging for it under a colony of basil. Basil plants were reputed to have sprung up at the foot of the Cross where fell the Precious Blood of Christ and the tears of the Mother of Sorrows. A sprig of basil was said to have been found growing from the wood of the True Cross. Several Projects in a Few Month s Time!!! The downstairs classroom and office area of the Church Hall has undergone quite a renovation this year, included a new library, remodeled and relocated offices, an improved front gate, and an archive room. Zaven Kanneian took the responsibility of improving the appearance and security of the downstairs gate to the Church Hall building. The original wrought-iron cross design was retained, but plates were soldered to the top and bottom of the gate to meet the floor and ceiling. Opaque plastic was installed behind the gate, replacing the cracked, yellowing plastic that had been there. A new mailbox was also placed on the gate. The next major project was creating a church library. St. Vartan has thousands of books in both Armenian and English that were not very accessible or organized. However, our new library, located downstairs in the Church Hall, is comfortable, bright and organized. Koko Cingoz led this project, with the help of his family, Anto Cingoz, and Wartkes Hagopian. The team put in drywall, lighting and a dropped ceiling. The room was painted a bright white and carpeting was installed. Harry and Margaret Sherinian donated shelving for the room, and all the books had to be placed onto these shelves. These books are available to be check out by our members. Please come and see if any of these books can be useful for research projects, Bible study, or just pleasure reading. Koko and Wartkes, with the help of Karnik Hagopian, also took the lead on the next project, moving the secretary and priest s offices. The secretary s office is now the first office when you come into the downstairs area of the hall, so Rachel Harger, our secretary, can more efficiently serve as receptionist. Also, with Rachel and Fr. Hovel s offices next to each other, they can work together more rapidly. Rachel especially appreciates the light and airiness of her new office. The biggest challenge in moving offices was relocating the large storage shelf, which now stretches from one wall to another to the secretary s office, where it was needed. The project also included moving doors and light fixtures, touch-up painting, furniture moving, running phone lines, and reattaching the wires for all the computers, printers, security system camera, modem, router, etc. (Thank you, Fr. Hovel, for your ability to know exactly which wire goes where!) The old secretary s office has been remade into an archive room for the church to store all our file cabinets and important documents. We are blessed to have Norma Yaglijian to organize the church s historical documents. In addition to these major projects, new paintings and artwork now grace the walls of the library, hallways, offices, Parish Assembly Room, and archives. If you haven t had the chance to check out these church improvements, stop by to see them for yourself. Another project Fr. Hovel undertook during his visit to Armenia. There Fr. Hovel visited the orphanage in Vanadzor supported by the Orphan Milk Fund and St. Vartan s previous Sister Church, St. Sahag, and our new sister church, St. Marianne. Joseph Matosian drove Fr. Hovel and Yeretsgin to the churches and orphanage. Fr. Hovel wishes to thank all the volunteers who put so much of their time and expertise into improving our facility for the welfare of St. Vartan Armenian Apostolic Church and for the glory of God.
Dear Parishioners, This year the Bazaar committee presented a Wish List of traditional and new Bazaar expenses for your consideration to alleviate some of the expenses associated with the premier Armenian event of the East Bay. A sincere Thank You to the over 60 parishioners that have contributed towards their specific items of interest. This has given us the financial and emotional support to keep the Bazaar planning momentum on the fast track. I am now reaching out to those still undecided, and to highlight some of the new things planned for this year: Advertising in the East Bay group of newspaper to encourage attendance in the non-peak hours Additional large street banners to promote the Bazaar Exterior lighting of the Church to showcase its unique architectural style More activities and crafts showcasing our rich history These and other efforts the Bazaar team is coordinating require new sources of funding until we can increase and establish a new attendance level. With your support, we are confident we can achieve this. Please review the available Wish List items and mail us your support today. Sincerely, Zaven Kanneian, 2011 Bazaar Chairman Bazaar Wish List Donation Items needed for the Bazaar Bazaar Donors Item Cost Already Received Still Needed Tent 10 $250 10 0 Leg of Lamb 100 $40 88 12 Case of Wine 10 $50 9 1 Case of Armenian Beer 12 $30 5 7 Case of Tan 1 $65 1 0 Armenian Coffee 1 $30 1 0 Kids Games Booth 5 $75 1 4 Garbage & Recycle Bins 20 $20 8 12 Admission Booth* 1 $175 0 1 Newspaper Advertisements* 4 $150 1 3 *New item this year St. Vartan Bazaar October 7 & 8, 2010 Bazaar Week Workday Schedule Oct. 5 Roll Sarma Oct. 6 Plate & Box Sarma Prepare Shish Kbab Box Boorma Workdays begin at 9 am. Please bring a dish for a potluck lunch. SAVE THE DATE Your Church Needs Your Help WANTED People to help make Sarma Yalanchi For the Church Bazaar Wednesday October 5th 9:15 AM We Will Serve Bar-B-Qued Hamburgers. Please Bring A Side Dish To Share Any questions, call Margaret Sherinian, 925-846- 7067. Bazaar News Sunday School still needs dessert donations for the Bazaar. You can bring your treats anytime on the Thursday, Friday or Saturday before the Bazaar. Contact Janet Yeghissian, jhyeg@sbcglobal.net, (510) 528-1807 with any questions or for recipe ideas. If you are at least 16 years old and interested in helping us serve at this year s Annual Bazaar, October 7-8, please contact Sandi Kezerian Capurro at 925-377-5800 or scapurro@sbcglobal.net. Please specify which day you prefer.
Armenian Apostolic Church Sacraments (Part 2, continued from September Newsletter) Ordination The Church is an organized society. It is composed of all the baptized persons who are united in the same Faith, the same Holy Communion, the same Sacraments, and under the same Ecclesiastical authority. Those who exercise this ecclesiastical authority form the clergy of officers of the Church who serve God, teach and sanctify the faithful, and govern the Church. This authority to serve, to teach, to sanctify and to govern is not given by election or appointment, but by a sacred sacrament called ordination. Ordination of the Holy Orders is one of the important sacraments of the Church. Through ordination, men receive the power and grace to perform the sacred duties of a clergyman of the Church. Ordination is a sacrament by which the Holy Spirit offers the elected person the right to perform the sacraments and to feed Christ s flock. It is true that by Baptism all Christians are endowed with the "priesthood" of laymen, who have thus the obligation to offer up to God the spiritual sacrifices of thanksgiving, prayers and acts of faith, hope, and charity. But only those men who receive the sacrament of the Holy Orders are clergyman of God in the full sense of the word. The Sacrament of Ordination is always administered by a Bishop. There are various ranks of clergy within the Church, and consequently, there are various services by which each one of these ranks is granted. However, the one act that is common to all the ranks is the "Laying of the hands" (Tzernatroutiun in Armenian) by the Bishop. By placing his anointed right hand on the ordinate, this continues the unbroken Apostolic succession of authority, granted by the apostles to the first Bishops of the Church, and carried on today through Ordination. For the ordination of any cleric, except a bishop, one bishop is sufficient to administer the Sacrament. The consecration of a Bishop, according to the rules of the Armenian Church, is performed by His Holiness the Catholicos, having at least two other Bishops assisting him at the Ordination. The consent of the laity is expressed formally at the service of Ordination by the choir when they sing: "He is worthy". Before entering the major ranks of ecclesiastical order of the Armenian Church, a person must have been ordained to the four minor ranks. Minor Orders One who receives these four minor ranks is known as a Tbir (or clerk). Through the minor orders, the Tbir is conferred special privileges which are the foundation of his service to the church as a participant during the worship services. There are four distinct functions of a Tbir: Doorkeeper (Trnaban), Reader (Untertsogh), Exorcist (Yertm netsootsich), Candle Bearer (Momagal). In receiving these ranks, one becomes an Acolyte (Pokhasats). The requirements for ordination to the sub-diaconate are extensive. The candidate should already have received the minor orders before receiving the rank of sub-deacon. There are some responsibilities that a sub-deacon may share with a full deacon; however there are limitations to his responsibilities and authority, because this office does not reflect the fullness of one who has become a deacon. The sub-diaconate is a transitional rank between Tbir and full Deacon in which a young man is preparing himself for fuller service to the church. Ecclesiastical Orders (Major Orders) In the beginning the Apostles were the sole ministers in the Church. They were teachers, sanctifiers and rulers in the Church. They even saw to the material needs of the faithful. However, as the membership of the Church increased, the Apostles created other officers to assist them. The first order thus established was that of Deacon. The first deacons were elected by the faithful and were appointed and ordained by the Apostles to distribute aid, as well as to serve the public dinner tables at which Holy Communion was administered (Acts 6:1-7). At present Deacons assist the Bishop and priest in the Church during celebration of the Divine Liturgy, by singing, censing and bringing the gifts to the Holy Altar. The Apostles also chose, appointed and ordained other assistants to help them in baptizing the converts, in administering the Holy Communion and for other functions in the Church. These men were called Elders.
They were the predecessors of our present day priests. (The Greek word for elders is Presbyter from which the English word priest is derived). The Priests administer all the sacraments except the Holy Orders and are the shepherds and the leaders of the local churches under the bishop. In the Armenian Church, the priest receives his authority from a Bishop through ordination and anointment with the Holy Chrism (Muron). During the sacrament of ordination to the priesthood the bishop places his hand on the head of the candidate. This is called ordination or cheirotonia. The sacrament of ordination takes place during the Divine Liturgy. The bishop, while clothing the candidate with priestly vestments, anoints with chrism his forehead and palms in the form of the cross. The sacrament of ordination to the priesthood is not repeated. When a priest who has been deprived of the dignity or office, is forgiven and is empowered to serve again, he is not ordained for a second time. But the sacraments which he has officiated during the period when he was deprived of dignity, are not considered valid. The Apostles did not stay permanently in a town or country. They were ordered by our Lord to go to all parts of the world to preach the Gospel. Therefore, before leaving a town or country, where they had already established a flourishing church, they used to appoint an able and dependable person to supervise the Christian communities of the area to act with full authority in the name of the Apostles. These men were the successors to the Apostles in their own locality, such as a large town, a province, or even a state. They were called Bishops, Episcopos, which is a Greek word meaning "overseer". Bishops, with the full power of the Apostles, are the governors of various Diocese of the Church. They alone administer the Holy Orders. According to the canons of the Armenian Church, Bishops alone are authorized to consecrate churches, altars and baptismal fonts. In the Armenian Church the bishop is ordained and anointed by the Catholicos of All Armenians at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. During the ordination, the bishop receives an Episcopal staff and a ring as signs of his authority. Typically, bishops are elected from among those celibate priests who have achieved the rank of Archimandrite (Vardapet). The higher ranks are those of Archbishop, Patriarch and Catholicos. They have higher authority and jurisdiction in administrative matters. In its proper and ancient meaning, the Archbishop was a prelate who had other suffragan bishops to assist him in governing his diocese. Greeks use the word Metropolitan instead of Archbishop. At present, in the Armenian Church "Archbishop" is an honorary title given by His Holiness the Catholicos to those bishops who are distinguished by their position or good works. Archbishops are consecrated by the Catholicos of All Armenians, and their rank is awarded through Pontifical Encyclical. The office of Patriarch is the highest in the Greek Church. In the Armenian Church however, the Patriarch is an archbishop who has been elected to serve as the Patriarch of one of the historical patriarchal Sees of Jerusalem or Constantinople. Patriarchs are independent in all administrative matters within the areas of their own jurisdiction. The office of Catholicos of All Armenians is the highest office in the Armenian Church. The Catholicos of All Armenians is the spiritual leader of the worldwide Armenian Church. The term "Catholicos" is a Greek word meaning General. The Catholicos is typically chosen from the College of Bishops, and once elected is regarded as the "First Among Equals." Twelve bishops consecrate the Catholicos. Titles within the Ranks of Clergy Upon their Ecclesiastical Ordination, all clergy are bestowed the title of Priest (Kahana). Depending upon the personal decision of the Priest, he may continue on in rank. If a Priest decides to be celibate and dedicate his entire life to the Church, he becomes a Monk (Apegha). He declares a vow of celibacy the same evening on the day of his ordination and is given a Cowl (veghar), a special head-cover, which symbolizes his renunciation of worldly things. After receiving the necessary level of higher education and upon successful completion and defense of a written thesis, on a topic of his choosing, the Monk receives the rank of Archimandrite (Vardapet). This indicates that he is a "Doctor" of the Church and receives the right to carry the staff of an Archimandrite. When an archimandrite receives a scholarly degree, he also receives a staff with a two-headed serpent, which symbolizes wisdom and authority to teach and to preach. This is equal to a Masters of Divinity Degree.
Senior Archimandrite (Dzayrakoun Vartabed) is a title given to those priests who have distinguished themselves by their learning in the fields of theology, religious teaching, and Holy Scriptures, etc. and have successfully completed and defended a Doctoral Thesis. It corresponds to Doctor of Divinity in the Western Church. This rank can only be granted by Bishops who themselves have attained the rank of Senior Archimandrite. The Primate of a Diocese (Arachnort) is a high ranking clergyman who holds the highest position of authority in a given diocese. He may have a lower rank than that of a Bishop, and even if there are retired bishops or even archbishops in his diocese, they come under his jurisdiction in matters of administration. Archpriest (Avak Kahana) is an honorary title given to those married priests who have fruitfully served their church for long years or who have distinguished themselves in outstanding service to the Church. "I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying of my hands," writes St. Paul to his disciple Timothy. (2 Tim 1:6). The Gift of the Grace which is given to clergy at Ordination is the spiritual authority to fulfill all his duties worthily and in a manner pleasing to God, and to live a virtuous life in conformity with his calling. People may devote themselves to the service of the Church not only by entering Holy Order, but also in the lay states. The latter service is sometimes as valuable and meritorious before God as the service rendered by the Holy Orders. Unction of the Sick The Orthodox and Catholic Churches acknowledge the unction of the sick as the seventh sacrament. In the Orthodox Church this sacrament is officiated upon people who are very ill and rely on God s mercy and belief that the Holy Oil will quicken the recovery or in the case of inevitable death, the oil will alleviate any death related sufferings. It was established according to the message of the Apostle who founded it. Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. (James 5:14). According to the Church fathers, the aim is to grant perfect health through penance. The service does not have any association with the preparation for death or last anointment. It is strictly to be used as a sacrament for healing, and can be repeated. From the 4 th to the 15 th centuries, the Armenian Church administered the sacrament of the Unction of the Sick. This is recorded in the Church Canons and commentary works. However, beginning in the 15 th century, the Armenian Church did not refuse, but abstained from conducting the sacrament in order to resist the influence of the Catholic Church. Over time, it was left out of our liturgical life. Today, the Unction of the Sick, is not regularly practiced, but is still recognized as a Sacrament of the Church. In the administration of the Sacrament, the clergyman prays and reads the Gospel of healing, blesses the individual, then offers communion. Thus, both the body and the soul of the individual find peace and healing. St. Vartan Basketball Program With the coming of Autumn and the start of school, it is time, once again, to think about basketball at St. Vartan Armenian Church. St. Vartan s basketball program is a great way for your kids to enjoy the sport of basketball, improve their basketball skills, learn important life skills of teamwork, self-disciple, and focus, and to made and renew special friendships. St. Vartan s program is for children ages 8 through 18. The junior varsity will begin practicing in mid-october. If you know anyone interested in playing basketball at St. Vartan, please call Mike Boloyan at 510-843-2596 or Ken Thompson at 925-356-2434.
St. Vartan Armenian Church October, 2011 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 Morning 3 4 5 service 9:30 am Divine Liturgy 10 am Sunday School 10:15 am ACYO Meeting 9 Morning 10 11 12 service 9:30 am Divine Liturgy 10 am Columbus Day Bazaar Workday 9 am Hamburger lunch Parish Council Meeting 6:30 pm 6 Bazaar Workday 9 am 7 13 14 Annual Bazaar 5:30 pm midnight Deacon Rehearsal 6:30 pm 8 Annual Bazaar 1 pm midnight 15 16 Morning 17 18 19 20 21 22 service 9:30 am Divine Liturgy 10 am Sunday School 10:15 am 23 Morning 24 25 26 27 28 29 service 9:30 am Divine Liturgy 10 am Sunday School 10:15 am Annual Banquet 12:30 pm 30 Morning 31 service 9:30 am Divine Liturgy 10 am Sunday School 10:15 am Halloween Godly One-liners Give God what's right not what's left. Man's way leads to a hopeless end God's way leads to an endless hope. A lot of kneeling will keep you in good standing. He who kneels before God can stand before anyone. Don't put a question mark where God puts a period. When praying, don't give God instructions just report for duty. Don't wait for six strong men to take you to church. We don't change God's message His message changes us. Kids Lord's Prayer When my twin daughters were young, I taught them to say the Lord s Prayer before going to bed. As I listened outside their door, I could hear them say, "Give us this steak and daily bread, and forgive us our mattresses."
The Voice Newsletter is published once a month by St. Vartan Armenian Church 650 Spruce Street, Oakland, CA. 94610, Phone (510)893-1671, Fax: (510) 893-2102 Email: stvartanoakland@aol.com Website: www.stvartanoakland.org The deadline for all articles is the fifteenth of each month. Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate Rev. Fr. Hovel Ohanyan Parish Council Chair: Harry Sherinian Parish Assembly Chair: Don Manoogian Choir Director: Beverly Nalbandian Organist: Virginia Madajian ACYO Chair: Adam Nikssarian Church School Superintendent: Marie Hagopian and Virginia Alexanian Ladies Society Co-chairs: Suzanne Abnous and Suzanne Vasgerdsian Athletic Committee Chair: Mike Boloyan Cultural Society Chair: Liz Ojakian Club Hye Chair: Sako Soghomonian Hokejosh: Nora Hanoian and Pat Barsamian Church Maintenance: Vartan Hovsepian Newsletter Editors: Arlene Hovsepian and Rachel Harger Wedding Coordinator: Carol Rustigian Visiting Committee: Virginia Ratcliff Church Secretary: Rachel Harger Altar Flowers: Diana Toomajian and Sue Barsamian Church Custodian: Wartkes Hagopian