SUNDAY, March 16, 2014
Sunday of the Prodigal Son
Morning Service 9:15 AM
Sunrise Service: 10:00 AM
Divine Liturgy: 10:30 AM
Scripture readings:
Isaiah 54:11-55:13
2 Corinthians 6:1-7:1
Luke 15:1-32
HOKEHANKISD- REQUIEM SERVICE
For the soul of:
Garabed Kurtjian (2 years)
Sara Buyukkurt
Manug Buyukkurt
Nurise Duzeltir
Isahag Duzeltir
Mardiros Buyukkurt
Ohannes Buyukkurt
Sarkis Buyukkurt
Requsted by:
Mrs. Fransuhi Kurtjan
Mr. and Mrs. Isahak Kurtian
Mr. and Mrs. Varujan Kurtjian
Grandchildren: Mr. and Mrs. Arden Kurtjian, Garen Kurtjian, Daron Kurtjian
and Nareg Kurtjian
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Sunday of the Prodigal Son
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Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn
The Return of the Prodigal Son, circa 1668
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The third Sunday of Great Lent is called the Sunday of the Lost Son based on the Parable of the Prodigal Son told in the Gospel of Luke (15:15-32). There was once a man who had two sons. Upon the request of the younger son, the man divided his property between his two sons. After a few days, the younger son sold his part of the property and left home with the money. He went to a country far away where he wasted his money in reckless living. Soon, he had spent everything he had. Then a severe famine spread over that country and he was left with nothing to his name.
In that time of trouble he remembered his father's house, began to regret his reckless living and soon returned to his father's home. Seeing that his younger son was repentant, the father received him joyfully. Seeing this warm homecoming, the elder son began to complain, saying that during all those years he had worked for his father like a slave and had never disobeyed his orders yet had never deserved such honor.
His father answered him, "My son, you are always here with me, and everything I have is yours. But we have to celebrate and be happy for your brother was dead but now lives, he was lost but now he is found."
The elder and the younger sons allegorically represent our simultaneously righteous and sinful souls, and the father's receiving of his lost son represents God's acceptance of us as repentant sinners. Furthermore, in telling this story, Christ reminds us to guard against self-righteousness, and the Parable admonishes our self-conceitedness.
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Arevakal: The Sunrise Service (Continued)
By Fr. Zaven Arzumanian
Central Theme of This Service
It is exclusively the light. The word Looys (light) occurs in the Sunrise Service 32 times, of which 17 alone are part of the distinctive hymn which begins with Looys, Ararich looso, arachin Looys (Light, Creator of light, primal light).
As an introduction the sunrise is proclaimed which is for sure the creation of the Creator. The background of the service being the physical light of the sun which shines both on the righteous and the sinners, and which makes manifest the deads of men, good and evil alike, the essence of the Sunrise Service is the shining of the divine light through the three Persons of the divine light through the tree Persons of the Holy Trinity. This divine light is identified by St. Nerses Shnorhali as the "intelligible light" which becomes brighter and more meaningful to us on earth through the intercession of the saints.
Whereas the transitional theme of this service is found in the prayers addressed to the saints, the conclusive theme is a direction toward the way Janabarh, the Truth and Life. For a change this is the only service where we do not find a dichotomy of the two opposing forces: light and darkness; sinfulness and righteousness. There is only one use of the word Khavar (darkness) and one use of the word Meghk (sin), a case which makes the Sunrise Service the more pleasant, positive and sustaining service.
The intelligible light is its central theme, which is at the same time the light of God, above and beyond the sun light, both of which however make manifest our daily lives and our deeds, leaving behind no room for darkness, except of darkness becomes our choice. The central theme of the intelligible light is preceded by the profession of the doctrine of the Holy Trinity and by the intercession of saints, and finally is concluded in the finding of the true way. (To be continued)
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St. James Parish Retreat
 The Parish Council of St. James Armenian Church will be hosting thefirst annual retreat on Saturday, March 22 from 10 AM to 4 PM at the Techny Towers Conference and Retreat Center (2001 Waukegan Road, Techny IL 60082). The purpose of this retreat is to get the Parish leadership and congregation together to have a Bible Study session followed by a working session to develop the mission and vision for the church. There is no charge to attend and lunch will be served. Please RSVP by sending an E-mail to [email protected] or by calling the church office at (847) 864-6263 by Friday, March 14. |
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Lenten Worship Schedule
 The 2014 Lenten Series will begin on Wednesday, March 5, and continue through subsequent Wednesdays during Lent. Wednesday vigil will begin with a worship service following by a spiritual discussion. The theme of the discussions will be "I Confess with Faith", Nersess Shnorhali's prayer consisting of twenty-four verses. As always we will conclude the evening with our traditional potluck supper.
We encourage you to download the prayer on your iPhone, iPad, and a Kindle or to purchase for $5 a copy of the book from church's office.
In addition to Wednesday vigils prayers will be offered on Friday morning- Sunrise Service will begin at 10:00 AM. (Note: there will be no Sunrise Service on Friday, March 7th).
Sunday worship services will begin at 10:00 AM with Sunrise Service followed by "Veiled" Divine Liturgy.
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Video of the Week
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Everyday, A Source of Hope
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Altar Guild's Wish List
1. Two jajanch radiance (ostensorium). $300-600 each . Pledged.
2. Painting for the main altar. $5,400. Pledged.
3. Painting of St. James of Nisibis. $1000. Not pledged.
5. Painting of St. Stephen the Protodeacon. $1000. Not pledged.
6. Priest's 'half-vestments'. $500. Not pledged.
8. 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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CALENDAR OF UPCOMING EVENTS AND WORSHIP SERVICES
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March 15
March 16
March 19
March 22
March 23
March 23
March 26
March 29
March 30
April 2
April 4-6
April 5
April 6
April 9
April 13
April 20
April 24
April 27
May 4
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Saintly Women's Day (Greenfield, WI)
Youth Choir Rehearsal (12:30 PM)
Lenten Vigil (Wednesday)
St. James Parish Leadership Retreat
Mid-Lenten Luncheon (Mejeenk)
Youth Choir Rehearsal (12:30 PM)
Lenten Vigil (Wednesday)
ACYOA Sr. Regional Retreat
Youth Choir Rehearsal (12:30 PM)
Lenten Vigil (Wednesday)
ACYOA Jr. Lenten Retreat at Camp Hickory
Women's Retreat (Racine, WI)
Youth Choir Rehearsal (12:30 PM)
Lenten Vigil (Wednesday)
Palm Sunday. ACYOA Day
Easter Sunday
Martyr's Day Commemoration (Sts. Joachim & Anne)
Commemorative Concert hosted by ACYOA of St. James
Instructional Divine Liturgy
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FEASTS
March 22 - Commemoration of St. John the Patriarch of Jerusalem, Armenian Patriarch St. John of Otzoon, St. John of Vorotan and St. Gregory of Datev
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Armenian Churches of IL and WI invite you to attend
Saintly Women's Day
Saturday, March 15, 2014
Church Service: 11:00 AM
Luncheon and Program: 12:00 PM
Guest Speaker
Rev. Fr. Vazken Movsessian,
Founder of Datev Outreach
Topic
Reaching out to families affected by Domestic Violence -
Healing the pain with the LOVE of Christ
Hosted by St. John the Baptist Armenian Church (Greenfield, WI)
Luncheon/Program $15:00
For Luncheon reservation kindly inform Yeretzgin Diana Keutelian by March 9th by calling (847)485-9610 or Diane Blinka (414)423-1358
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BIRTHRIGHT ARMENIAN HOLDS AN EVENING AT ST. JAMES
Friday, March 14, 2014
7:00pm
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St. James Armenian Apostolic Church
WOMEN'S GUILD
invites you to its annual
MID-LENTEN LUNCHEON
March 23, 2014,
following Divine Liturgy -12:30 PM
please join us for a variety of delicious Lenten foods and an afternoon of fellowship
Suggested donation: $10 - Adults, $5 - Children under 10
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KNOWING CHRIST.... LIVING THE GOSPEL
A WOMAN'S JOURNEY
Saturday, April 5, 2014
9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Siena Retreat Center
5637 Erie Street
Racine, Wisconsin
Sponsored by
the Women's Guild Central Council
Registration Fee: $20
Morning refreshments and lunch included
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YOUTH ISSUE OF E-BULLETIN
Click here to access our special E-Bulletin featuring numerous programs (camps, retreats, training, scholarships, etc) made available to you by our parish, the Diocese, St. Nersess Armenian Seminary, AGBU, Armenian Assembly of America and the RA Ministry of Diaspora.
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PHOTO GALLERY
Have you visited the photo gallery on our church's website lately? We recently posted new photos from past events.
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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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PLEASE SIGN UP FOR A COFFEE HOUR
Coffee hour tables can be simple or complex. Sometimes when people do a coffee hour table they put out coffee cakes and doughnuts; sometimes they put out some fruits. Others put out entire lunch. We encourage you to sign up for coffee hour a couple of times each year. It can be simple or an entire meal - either is fine. The sign-up sheet is in the church hall.
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