2010 December Newsletter - Saint Garabed Armenian Apostolic

December, 2010
OUR CHURCH
غð ºÎºÔºòÆÜ
MONTHLY PUBLICATION OF THE ARMENIAN APOSTOLIC CHURCH OF THE DESERT
DER (REV. FR.) KRIKOR ZAKARYAN, PARISH PRIEST
ARMENIAN APOSTOLIC CHURCH OF THE DESERT • 38-900 VISTA DUNES RD • RANCHO MIRAGE • CA 92270 • PHONE (760) 773-2155 • FAX (760) 773-2755 • E-MAIL: [email protected]
"And going into the
house they saw the child
with Mary his mother,
and they fell down and
worshiped him. Then,
opening their treasures,
they offered him gifts,
gold and frankincense
and myrrh."
Matthew 2:11
Inside this issue:
4th Annual Armenian Cultural
Festival
2
In Memoriam
2
THANK YOU
2
ANNOUNCEMENTS
3
CALENDAR
4
FUNDRAISING
4
UPCOMING
4
SPONSORS PAGE
5
“A blessing for you,
because the Lord
your God loves
you.”
Deuteronomy 23:5
A Baby's Hug - Christmas Story
They were the only family with children in the restaurant.
The mother sat the baby in a high
chair and noticed everyone was quietly
sitting and talking. Suddenly, the baby
squealed with glee and said, 'Hi.' He
pounded his fat baby hands on the high
chair tray. His eyes were crinkled in
laughter and his mouth was bared in a
toothless grin, as he wriggled and giggled
with merriment.
The mother looked around and saw the
source of his merriment. It was a man
whose pants were baggy with a zipper at
half-mast and his toes poked out of would
-be shoes. His shirt was dirty and his hair
was uncombed and unwashed. His whiskers were too short to be called a beard
and his nose was so varicose it looked
like a road map. The family was too far
from him to smell, but they were sure he
smelled.
His hands waved and flapped on loose
wrists. 'Hi there, baby; hi there, big boy. I
see ya, buster,' the man said to the baby.
Husband and wife exchanged looks,
'What do we do?'
The baby continued to laugh and answer, 'Hi.' Everyone in the restaurant
noticed and looked at the family and then
at the man. The old geezer was creating a
nuisance with their beautiful baby.
Their meal came and the man began
shouting from across the room, 'Do ya
patty cake? Do you know peek-a-boo?
Hey, look, he knows peek- a-boo.'
squarely on the mother’s. He said in a
firm commanding voice, 'You take care of
this baby.' Somehow she managed, 'I will,'
from a throat that contained a stone.
The old man pried Erik from his chest,
lovingly and longingly, as though he were
in pain. The mother received her baby,
and the man said, 'God bless you, ma'am,
you've given me my Christmas gift.'
She said nothing more than a muttered thanks. With the baby in her arms,
she ran for the car. Her husband was
wondering why she was crying and holding the baby so tightly, and why she was
saying, 'My God, my God, forgive me.'
The mother had just witnessed
Christ's love shown through the innocence of a tiny child who saw no sin, who
made no judgment; a child who saw a
soul, and a mother who saw a suit of
clothes. She was a Christian who was
blind, holding a child who was not. She
felt it was God asking, 'Are you willing to
share your son for a moment?' when He
shared His for all eternity.
The ragged old man, unwittingly, had
reminded her, 'To enter the Kingdom of
God , we must become as little children.'
Nobody thought the old man was cute.
He was obviously drunk. Husband and
wife were embarrassed. They ate in
silence; all except for the baby, who was
running through his repertoire for the
admiring skid-row bum, who in turn,
reciprocated with his cute comments.
The family finally got through the meal
and headed for the door. The husband
went to pay the check and told his wife to
meet him in the parking lot.
The old man sat poised between the
mother and the door. 'Lord, just let me
out of here before he speaks to me or the
baby,' she prayed. As she drew closer to
the man, she turned her back trying to
sidestep him and avoid any air he might
be breathing. As she did, the baby leaned
over her arm, reaching with both arms in
a baby's 'pick-me-up' position. Before she
could stop him, the baby had propelled
himself from her arms to the man.
Suddenly a very old smelly man and a
very young baby consummated their love
and kinship. The baby in an act of total
trust, love, and submission laid his tiny
head upon the man's ragged shoulder.
The man's eyes closed, and the mother
saw tears hover beneath his lashes. His
Remember who we are, where we
aged hands full of grime, pain, and hard came from and, most importantly, how
labor, cradled her baby's bottom and we feel about others. The clothes on
stroked his back. No two beings have our back or the car that we drive or
ever loved so deeply for so short a time.
the house that we live in does not
The mother stood awestruck. The old
define us at all; it is how you treat
man rocked and cradled the baby in his
your fellow man
arms and his eyes opened and set
that identifies who you are.
Fr. Krikor Zakaryan and the Parish Council wish you
A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW 2011 YEAR
MAY GOD’S BLESSINGS BE ALWAYS IN ABUNDANCE UPON YOU
Page 2
OUR CHURCH
غð ºÎºÔºòÆÜ
EVENTS REVIEW
4th Annual Armenian Cultural Festival
By Ani Mikaelian
Earlier in November, the Armenians of the Desert were proud to
host a very popular event on the grounds of the newly built and
dedicated Armenian Apostolic Church of the Desert in Rancho
Mirage. With Armenians as well as those of other nations attending
the festival from surrounding cities as well as other states, the
weekend of November 6 and 7 was unforgettable. Equipped with
unique merchants, face painting, traditional food, and dance ensembles, Harout Pamboukjian was apart of the festival finale and
was proud to donate his services for Sunday evening.
Considering the desert to be one of his homes, Pamboukjian
spoke to ACYO member Ani Mikaelian in the comfort of Palm
Springs.
First of all, how did you stumble upon the Armenian Church
of the Desert?
I knew of the church being built and decided to go one day with a
couple friends. It was a Sunday and I could see no one was there
around the time of four or five, so we planned on coming another
time. The next time we were there, I was acquainted with Chris
Markarian and a few others. They were excited to have me there
and brought up talk about the upcoming festival for the Church and
invited me. Of course I accepted gladly because the Church is for
all of us Armenians. I felt like I had to be there one way or another
(you can request the whole interview from Fr. Krikor)…
Special hartfelt thank you goes to the Festival Committee members: Christopher Markarian, Ani Markarian, Lillie Merigian, Greg
Safoyan, Armen Karimyan and VJ Mkrtchian.
YOU’VE DONE A GREAT JOB!!!
Special thank you goes also to all sponsors, the Parish Council,
Ladies Society and all those who volunteered and made the Festival
a GREAT SUCCESS!!!.
BE READY FOR BIGGER AND BETTER FESTIVAL
NEXT YEAR
IN MEMORIAM
THANK YOU
We announce with deep sorrow that the Armenian Apostolic
Church of the Desert lost a long time community and church
choir member
Fr. Krikor and the Parish Council would like to extend their
heartfelt thank you to
Rose Monforte
May God bless her soul
and keep her family and relatives in peace
Mr. and Mrs. Armenak and Inger Yarijian
For their thoughtful donation of $1,500 towards
Priest’s housing
May God bless you abundantly for your generous hearts
غð ºÎºÔºòÆÜ
OUR CHURCH
Fr. Krikor
INVITES
All
Children and Parents
Grandchildren and Grandparents
Community Members
On
December 17, Friday, 6 pm
Kirkjan Family Hall
To
DECORATE THE CHRISTMAS TREE
SING CHRISTMAS CAROLS
AND HAVE A FREE
LIGHT DINNER TOGETHER
(BRING A DISH IF YOU WISH)
Page 3
Page 4
OUR CHURCH
UPCOMING
Ladies Society of the Armenian Apostolic Church of
the Desert Organizes:
DECEMBER 2010
Sun
CHRISTMAS POTLUCK
December 19 after Church services
COME, JOIN US, SUPPORT US
AND LET US ALL CELEBRATE
5
Armenian Christmas Eve
Wednesday, January 5, 2011, 6 PM
JURAKALOUYTS (LITURGY OF THE LIGHT)
Armenian Christmas Day
Thursday, January 6, 2011, 10 AM
CHRISTMAS LITURGY
Armenian Christmas
Sunday, January 9, 2011, 11:30 AM
BLESSING OF THE BAPTISMAL WATERS
Memorial Sunday—Merelots
Sunday, January 16, 2011, 11:30 AM
MAJOR REQUIEM SERVICE
MEMBERSHIP IS DUE DECEMBER 31
ANNUAL PARISH ASSEMBLY
FEBRUARY 13, 2011
KIRKJAN FAMILY HALL
ALL CHURCH MEMBERS’
ATTENDANCE IS NECESSAIRY !!!
Mo Tue We Thu
6
DIVINE
LITURGY
11:30 AM
Fri
Sat
1
2
3
4
7 Ladies8
10
11
Society
Meeting
6:30 pm
Parish9
Council
Meeting
7 pm
17
18
24
25
12
13
14
15
16
DIVINE19
LITURGY
11:30 AM
20
21
22
23
DIVINE
LITURGY
11:30 AM
SAVE THE DATES
ARMENIAN CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION
SCHEDULLE
غð ºÎºÔºòÆÜ
Christmas Tree
Decorating
Night
6 PM
Christmas
Christmas Potluck
26
DIVINE
LITURGY
11:30 AM
27
28
29
30
31
Jan 1,
2011
New
Ney Year’s
Year’s Eve
Day
Breakfast
Party
FUNDRAISING
Dear Friends, we invite you to become part of the history of the Armenian Apostolic Church of the Desert
by having a BRICK engraved with your name or
the name of a loved one.
The bricks will be laid in a pathway that will
lead to the Church.
The proceeds from the bricks will go toward the
construction and completion of the Church which
promises to be an Architectural Landmark in the
Desert, a Spiritual Home for the Faithful and an
accomplishment of tremendous Pride to all Armenians.
Thank you for your support and may God Bless you all.
Parish Priest & Parish Council
For more information talk to a PC member or
call the Church office at 1 760 773 2155
غð ºÎºÔºòÆÜ
OUR CHURCH
Page 5
SPONSORS PAGE
Prestige Auto Design & Body Inc.
Prestige Motor Car
• Auto Body & Paint
• The Collision Repair & Paint Specialists
• Insurance Claims
401 Radio Rd. • C-16 • Palm Springs, CA 92262
Phone 1 (760) 325-1657, Koko Tutunjian
610 NEWPORT CENTER DRIVE,SUITE 1250
Special discounts for the Armenian community !!!
PLACE YOUR AD HERE
PLACE YOUR AD HERE
PLACE YOUR AD HERE
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
We appreciate your interest in advertising your business in our newsletter.
By posting your ad in this newsletter you also support its printing and mailing expenses. Thank you.
ARMENIAN APOSTOLIC CHURCH OF THE DESERT
38-900 VISTA DUNES ROAD
RANCHO MIRAGE, CA 92270
NON-PROFIT
ORGANIZATION
U. S. POSTAGE
PAID
PERMIT No. 27
PALM DESERT, CA 92260
THIS COPY GOES TO:
The “OUR CHURCH/غð ºÎºÔºòÆÜ” Newsletter is published once a month by the
Armenian Apostolic Church of the Desert
38-900 VISTA DUNES RD • RANCHO MIRAGE • CA 92270 • PHONE (760) 773-2155 • FAX (760) 773-2755 • E-MAIL: [email protected]
Editor Der (Rev. Fr.) Krikor Zakaryan
The deadline for all articles is fifteenth (15th) of each month
Parish Priest/President of all Church Organizations Der (Rev. Fr.) Krikor Zakaryan
Parish Council Chairlady, Carolon Nigosian • Vice-Chairman, V. J. Mkrtchian • Treasurer, Alice Safoyan • Recording Secretary, Lillie Merigian • Membership, Armen Karimyan
Corresponding Secretary/ACYO Chairman, Chris Markarian • Fundraising, Rita Walden & Mary Vartanian • Ladies Society Co-Chairlady/PC Advisor, Sonia Matossian • LS Co-Chairlady Rosalie Kalamian