In the Armenian Church, all Lenten Sundays have a particular theme. The Church provides these themes for the purposes of communicating the teachings of Christian life and of preparing the penitents for communion with Jesus Christ.  

First Sunday - Sunday of the Eve of Great Lent

Second Sunday - Sunday of the Expulsion

Third Sunday - Sunday of the Prodigal Son

Fourth Sunday - Sunday of the Steward

Fifth Sunday - Sunday of the Judge

Sixth Sunday - Sunday of the Advent

This Sunday,after Divine Liturgy, the altar curtain will be closed for the forty days of Great Lent and will not be reopened until Palm Sunday (April 13th). There will also be no offering of Holy Communion during Divine Liturgy until Palm Sunday. (Should anyone desire Holy Communion during Great Lent, please contact Father Hovhan for special dispensation.) 

In addition to these two major changes, the following changes also occur to the celebration of Divine Liturgy during Great Lent:

• There is no Kiss of Peace during the Divine Liturgy
• The Holy Gospel Book is not venerated after worship
• Hymns are sung in penitential manner
• The organ is not played when you depart from the sanctuary
• All should remain silent when exiting the sanctuary after worship in respect of those who remain for devotional prayers
• Wedding are not celebrated

The Peace Service, the Rest Service and the Sunrise Service are performed more often during Lent than at other times of the year.  (Usually, Peace and Rest Services are performed only on Friday evenings.)  These three services are part of the Church's cycle of seven daily worship services but are of particular significance during Lent because they are penitential in nature and remind us of the effort we are making to restore our pure and joyous relationship with God.

The Peace Service consists of prayers for peace to end each day.  The prayers remind us that God is with us even in the face of trial and temptation.

The Rest Service, which comes just before retiring for the night, asks God's continuing care through the night. It includes the prayer of St. Nersess.

The Sunrise Service, performed first thing in the morning, reminds us that God is the giver of the light of morning and the light of salvation.  Its beautiful prayers and hymns reflect the fresh and serene quality of the most beautiful time of day. This service is performed in our churches before or after Sunday morning liturgy.

According to Armenpress, the founder of Technology and Science Dynamics, Inc. Vahan Zakaryan stated that the idea for Armtab was made public in 2013. Zakaryan noted, "Today we have come together to celebrate Armtab's birth for all of us, for our motherland, and society."

Vahan Zakaryan stated that he is hopeful that in the coming months the factory will start mass production of the tablets. "We received incredible support to get to work as soon as possible," Zakaryan noted.

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Please join Birthright Armenia for an inspiring evening and presentation on volunteer opportunities in Armenia for students, working professionals, mid-career individuals, and retirees presented by Linda Yepoyan, Executive Director of Birthright Armenia, Friday, March 14th, 7:00 pm, at the St. James Armenian Apostolic Church of Evanston, 816 Clark Street, Evanston

Birthright Armenia sponsors young diasporans from around the world, 20-32 years old, on a life-changing journey to Armenia in exchange for community service.  Participants get to experience every aspect of the Homeland's modernity and ancient treasures with hundreds of their peers from around the world, while gaining valuable work experience in their field of interest.  Birthright Armenia sponsorship includes travel fellowships, homestay living, educational forums, weekly excursions and language instruction, all designed to provide a total immersion experience for the volunteers.  To date, over 820 volunteers from 31 different countries have been sponsored by Birthright Armenia in Armenia.  To learn more visit:  www.birthrightarmenia.org.  Armenian Volunteer Corps, a sister organization of Birthright Armenia, is a registered, non-profit foundation in Armenia that provides skilled volunteers, 21 years of age and over, with the opportunity to share their talents with Armenia for terms ranging from one month to one year. Volunteers need not be of Armenian heritage to serve.  To learn more about AVC programs, visit:  http://www.armenianvolunteer.org

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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.

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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

Calling all youth!

The summer conferences dates have been announced and registration forms will be available soon. Each conference is limited to only 25 participants. Please save the date as you make your summer plans! For information regarding this year's special Deacons' Training Program, please contact the program director, Very Rev. Fr. Daniel Findikyan, at frdaniel@stnersess.edu.

High School Summer Conference A: 

July 14 - 23

High School Summer Conference B: 

July 26 - August 4

Post High School Summer Conference: 

August 6 - 12

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.