SUNDAY, January 5, 2014
Eve of the Feast of the Nativity and the Theophany of Our Lord Jesus Christ
10:00 AM Morning Service
5:00 PM Evening Service and the Scripture Readings
6:00 PM Candlelight Divine Liturgy (Jragalouytsi Badarak)
7:30 PM Home Blessing at Nishan Hall
Scripture readings:
Titus 2:11-15
Matthew 2:1-12
MONDAY, January 6, 2014
Feast of the Nativity and Theophany of Our Lord Jesus Christ
Divine Liturgy 10:00 AM
Scripture readings:
Titus 2:11-15
Matthew 1:18-25
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2013 New Year's Message of His Holiness Karekin II
 "We are welcoming the redemptive year of 2014. With the sacrament of Our Lord's Holy Nativity we enter a new year. When the clock strikes twelve, we will extend our prayers from our churches to heaven, wishing that the year of 2014 be full of divine blessings and graces, bringing world peace, and the hope that one blessed day, hostility and wars will end, and life will blossom in solidarity, prosperity and joy. "
Click here to to view His Holiness Karekin II's video message.
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Primate's Christmas Message
"Behold, I Make All Things New"
 "The visits associated with Christmas-the angel Gabriel to Mary, the shepherds to the manger, the wise kings to the King of Kings-are so emotionally and psychologically compelling that they continue to be re-imagined in art and music and literature two thousand years later," writes Archbishop Khajag Barsamian in his annual Christmas Message. "Yet we rarely reflect upon the moments that follow. What was the next chapter of Mary's life? In what way did the shepherds 'glorify God' when they returned to their fields, praising him for all they had seen and heard? After the Magi offered their gifts and left for their own country, by another road, how was life different?"
Click here to continue reading the 2014 Christmas Message in English and Armenian.
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Schedule of New Year and Nativity Services at St. James
 On Sunday, January 5-there will be Morning Service at 10 a.m. The Evening Service with Scripture Readings (by young parishioners of St. James) will start at 5:00 p.m. The Divine Liturgy will immediately follow, beginning at 6:00 p.m. Traditional HOME BLESSING SERVICE will be performed in the Nishan Hall at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy. (Please note that because of the 6:00 p.m. Badarak on January 5, there will be no Sunday morning Badarak on that day.)
On Monday, January 6- The Morning Service begins at 9:15 a.m., and the Divine Liturgy follows at 10:00 a.m. ( Please give this letter signed by the Archbishop Khajag Barsamian to school administrators and employers to explain your absence from school or work on January 6.)
On Sunday, January 12- The Morning Service begins at 9:15 a.m., and the Divine Liturgy follows at 10:00 a.m.
The "BLESSING OF WATER" ceremony will follow the Divine Liturgy. Dn. Krikor Mirijanian will serve as "godfather" of the Blessing of Water service.
Women's Guild of St. James invites everybody to their traditional NATIVITY
APPRECIATION LUNCHEON to honor deacons, choir members, and outgoing Parish Council members.
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Eve of the Feast of the Nativity and Theophany of Our Lord Jesus Christ
As the day is changed at 5:00 p.m., after the evening service, the feast of the Holy Nativity and Theophany of Our Lord Jesus Christ starts on the eve, in the evening of January 5, and is continued after the midnight, on January 6. On the eve a solemn Candlelight Divine Liturgy is celebrated. Following the conclusion of the Liturgy, the assembled faithful take lit candles and lamps home symbolizing the divine light and the blessing of the Church. Lighting lamps symbolizes the light of the Bethlehem Star which guided the way of the magi to the baby Christ. |
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Feast of the Nativity and Theophany of Our Lord Jesus Christ
Each year, on January 6, the Armenian Apostolic Church celebrates the Feast of the Holy Nativity and Theophany of Our Lord Jesus Christ, which is the commemoration of the Birth and Baptism of Jesus Christ. God was incarnated and appeared to the people. During the Baptism of Jesus God the Father said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased" (Mt 3:17) and the Holy Spirit descended on Christ in the form of dove, so God appeared to the people for the second time. So, both Theophanies revealed by means of the Birth and Baptism of Jesus Christ are celebrated in the Armenian Church jointly on January 6. The feast starts on the eve, in the evening of January 5, and is continued after the midnight. On the eve a solemn Candlelight Divine Liturgy is celebrated and on January 6 a solemn Divine Liturgy is celebrated. At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy Blessing of the Waters Service is conducted symbolizing the Baptism of Christ in the River Jordan at the commencement of His ministry. By means of His Baptism Jesus blessed water.
Celebrant priest pours out the Holy Chrism drop by drop into water and blesses the water. According to the tradition people take some blessed water with them to use it as a medicinal remedy for the sick. After Blessing of the Waters Service the priests visit the houses of the faithful to proclaim the Christmastide Good News of the Birth of Jesus Christ and hence the tradition of Blessing of the Houses was formed.
The Birth of Jesus happened in this way. "In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. ... And everyone went to his own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn." (Lk 2:1-7) The Son of God was born in poverty, in a manger. The witnesses of His Birth were the shepherds living out in the fields nearby, whom the angels had appeared and brought the good news of the Birth of the Savior singing: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." (Lk 2:18)
Soon afterwards some men who studied the stars came from the East and worshiped Baby Christ, presented him gifts and returned to their countries.
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Christmas in the Armenian Church
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Gift of Love
Christmas Yughakin
In this Holy Season of Christmas it has become a tradition in our church to donate our Christmas Yughakins as a gift of love in memory or in honor of our loved ones. The Yughakin form and the enclosed Offering Envelope are for your convenience.
Yughakin tradition is an ancient custom, which goes back to the Old Testament times. The faithful would bring oil to the temple of God so that its servants would have enough to eat. Later on this custom entered into the Christian religion when oil was brought to Church by believers in order to illuminate it by lighting the lamps in the Church.
Today, Yughakin is simply the price or the value of oil donated to the Church. Yughakin in Armenian means "price of oil." In our church, today, we of course do not burn oil in order to illuminate the sanctuary, but we use electricity, gas and other operating expenses. Let us continue the custom of Yughakin to keep the lights of St. James always burning!
Christmas Poinsettias. We encourage our parishioners and friends also to contribute towards Christmas Poinsettias, which so graciously decorate our sanctuary during New Year and Christmas season.
Christmas Card. Finally, you may make in lieu of Christmas card donation and have your name appear in our Christmas Sunday Bulletins and Deseelk (Vision) Newsletter wishing all of your friends at St. James Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Have a Blessed Christmas and healthy and happy New Year!
Click hear to donate now.
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Living the Gospel of Christ: Who Do You Say I Am?
A Six-Session Bible Study
This year's Diocesan theme is Living the Gospel of Christ. The ultimate goal of this series involves knowing, understanding and doing as Christ prescribed through His actions and teachings as depicted in the Gospels. This series will also help us understand both who Christ is and what His Message is.
As always, you can either join Der Hayr at St. James or participate online on the following Wednesdays: January 15 and 29 at 8:00 PM.
You need to download an application on your computer to be able to participate online. Questions? Click here.
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St. James Church is beginning a new undertaking and needs your help. We are in need of volunteers willing to give a few hours of assistance to elderly members of the Chicago Armenian community with household chores, minor home repairs, shopping, rides or just companionship.
We are in the process of putting together a directory of individuals interested in volunteering their time. This directory will be used by church staff to pair seniors in need of assistance with volunteers. (This is a great community service opportunity for students.) If you or someone you know wishes to help, please contact Der Hovhan at [email protected] or (847) 864-6263.
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Altar Guild's Wish List
1. Two jajanch radiance (ostensorium). $300-600 each, not pledged.
2. Painting for the main altar. $5,400, pledged.
3. Painting of the St. Gregory the Illuminator for the left altar. Donated.
4. Painting of St. James of Nisibis. $1000, not pledged.
5. Painting of St. Stephen the Protodeacon. $1000, not pledged.
6. Curtain for the vestry and choir rooms. Donated.
7. Priest's 'half-vestments'. $500 - not pledged.
8. Set of a Chalice Veil and a Sadarium (linen-holder) for the Gospel book. $150- not pledged.
9. Twelve children's albs- shabeeg. $100 each. Pledged
10. Large silver Hand-cross. Donated
11. Censer stand- $300, not pledged
Sunday School's Wish List
1. Cabinet for storage of books and supplies. Not pledged.
2. Room furniture for students and teachers. Not pledged.
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FEASTS
January 5
Eve of Feast of the Holy Nativity and Theophany of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Candlelight (Lucernarium) Divine Liturgy
January 6
Feast of the Nativity and Theophany of Our Lord Jesus Christ
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ANNUAL NATIVITY APPRECIATION LUNCHEON
SUNDAY
January 6, 2012
12:00 noon
Click here for details.
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ST. JAMES ARMENIAN CHURCH ANNUAL PARISH ASSEMBLY
JANUARY 26, 2014
12:30 PM
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HOME BLESSING
All parishioners who wish to have their homes blessed should call the Church Office
Der Hovhan (847) 644-7389 to make arrangements. Have a piece of bread, dish of salt and glass of water available for the blessing.
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WATCH THE LATEST ADDITION TO OUR VIDEO GALLERY
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Name Day greetings
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LIKE OUR FACEBOOK PAGE
and stay up to date with all the latest and greatest happenings at St. James including worship services, special events, classes, announcements, photos, and more.
Click here to see our recent photo gallery dedicated St. James' deacons.
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2014 PILGRIMAGE TO HISTORIC ARMENIA
The Eastern Diocese will sponsor a pilgrimage to historic Armenia, from September 3 to 15, 2014.
Participants will have the opportunity to celebrate the Divine Liturgy at Holy Cross Church on the island of Aghtamar, and to take part in prayer services at St. Giragos Armenian Church of Dikranagert and the St. Gregory Church in Kayseri.
The pilgrimage also includes visits to other cities of historic Armenia-Kharpert, Malatya, and Sepastia, among other locales. The journey will include a stop in Istanbul, where pilgrims will visit the Armenian Patriarchate.
Click here to view a flyer for registration information. To view a short film about the Diocese's 2012 pilgrimage to historic Armenia, click here.
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WORSHIP SERVICES
AT ST. JAMES
In addition to Sunday Morning Service and Divine Liturgy there will be
Saturday Evening (Kirakamtits) Service every first Saturday of the month at 5 pm (Feb. 1, March 1) and
Midday Service every third Thursday of the month
(Jan. 16, Feb. 20).
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#ArmenianChurch
The Eastern Diocese is now sharing photos on Instagram, the online photo and video-sharing social network.
Follow @easterndiocese as we document the day-to-day from our headquarters in New York.
Our Instagram stream is also available on Vemkar, the Diocese's official mobile phone app. Download the app today, and join the 7,700 other users who have turned to Vemkar for daily scripture readings, a rich music library, videos, and more.
Vemkar is available for free download on the iPhone, Andorid, and iPad platforms.
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E-BULLETIN ARCHIVE IS NOW AVAILABLE
Missed or accidentally deleted any of the previous E-Bulletins?
You can read all our previous issues in the archive here.
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PARKING ON SUNDAYS
Parking is FREE on Saturdays and Sundays at the large condominium building at Clark & Benson (Quartet Copies). Enter the garage from Benson street.
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