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St. James Armenian Apostolic Church 3240 "B" Street Sacramento,
CA 95816 (916) 443-3633 Rev. Fr. Yeghia Hairabedian Pastor HISTORY OF THE ARMENIAN COMMUNITY OF SACRAMENTO The first Armenians who settled in Sacramento came from Fresno in 1919. They were Mr. and Mrs. Arshag Sarkisisan and family. At present the Armenians in the Capital City number about 325 families. On January 10, 1930, Bishop Karekin Khachaturian, the first prelate of the Armenian churches in California, visited Sacramento and celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the Episcopal Church. Prior to the construction of the present church, for their spiritual needs, the Armenians used the Episcopal
churches, mostly St. PaulOs at 15th and J Streets. At that time the Ladies Aid Society was the only active body of the church since there was not enough membership to have a duly elected Board of Trustees.
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For many years the community was not able to have its own priest.
Visiting clergy would perform services for Christmas, Easter and special occasions. The desire to have a church of their own was cherished for a long time. A certain sum was set aside toward this goal each year. In July, 1951, at a joint meeting of the Ladies Aid Society and the Trustees, presided over by Rev. Fr. Kassardjian (of Oakland), it was decided that the present church site located at 3240 B Street would be purchased. The church building, however, was in bad condition and needed a complete remodeling to meet the requirements of the Armenian Apostolic Church. For this purpose, a committee was elected with, under the leadership of Sarkis Shirinian, architect,
who did his best to accomplish the rebuilding of the church with the least possible expense. On May 10, 1953, the consecration of the St. James Armenian Church took place. This gave the Armenians of this beautiful Capital City of California their small but permanent spiritual and social center. It is expected that all children of the Armenian Mother Church will continue to carry out the work of their founders with faith and dedication to our Lord Jesus Christ.
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SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE We welcome everyone to participate in the
unique worship of the Armenian Church. Worship of God through, His Son
Jesus Christ, is the most natural response to the One who is our Creator and Sustainer. In addition to worship, St. James Armenian Church offers the following programs: 4Sunday School The St. James Sunday School offers an excellent program for children and youth of all ages. The Sunday School Department is dedicated in its desire to provide our children with a solid and interesting Armenian Christian Education which is so vital in this day and society. During the course of the year, the students are treated to special events and parties such as the Easter and Christmas party/celebrations which are designed as memorable occasions for the young participants. Oftentimes, class sessions end with arts and crafts projects which the students find difficult to leave, even when it is time to go home.
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4Ladies Society Our Parish is blessed with a group of dedicated
and talented women who have been working hard for the enrichment and support of the St. James Parish from the very beginning of its history. The Ladies Society meets on a monthly basis in order to plan both fund raising and fun social activities for the group and also the entire parish. Countless people, Armenian and non-Armenian have praised the fine cooking abilities of the Ladies Society, especially during the annual Food Fest. 4A.C.Y.O. Youth Group Young people certainly have a place in the St. James Parish. They meet on a monthly basis and plan fun activities as well as educational
and cultural events. Fascinating discussions have taken place concerning topics relevant in the daily lives of the youth. They also enjoy yearly activities such as the picnic at Donner lake and the Diocesan Sports Weekend, and also the Diocesan Assembly. Our close knit group enjoys a healthy fellowship which will provide a lifetime of friendship for those involved. 4The Hye Society Group This is our SeniorsO group which meets every Wednesday during the daytime. The Hye Society Group provides good fellowship and social activities for all those who participate. This is a very friendly group, and all adults and seniors are welcome to participate in the fun and fellowship.
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4Church Choir Although the singers in St. James Church Choir are
not professional singers, and it is not a very large choir, it is dear
to the hearts of all church members. We depend on the commitment of the regular choir members to help in the worship life of the parish. All Armenian Church affiliated parishioners are encouraged to participate in the choir. If you donOt have any knowledge or experience, we will be happy to teach you! 4Community Night Dinner & Presentation Once a month the church offers this event for the entire community - for members, non-members, families, singles and people of all ages. This is a great family activity, starting with a community dinner at 6:30 (for a nominal fee to cover costs, and free for children under 12 years of age). After the dinner, Fr. Yeghia
presents an interesting topic or a film is shown on the big screen. Some of the fascinating topics of the past have included OWhat is a Cult?O; OHas NoahOs Ark Been Found?O; OWhy Do Armenian Priests Use Vestments?O; etc. All those who have participated in the Community Night program have enjoyed themselves and benefited educationally.
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Give yourself a treat - attend Community Night. 4Bible Study The
Christian life and our Armenian Church faith are made alive by the study of GodOs Word. As a matter of fact, it is nearly impossible to live as a Christian without Biblical knowledge. This weekly activity ( on Wednesday nights) is offered to all for their spiritual enlightenment and growth, and also to enable them to meet the hardships and challenges of life with GodOs power. Spiritual knowledge produces faith, genuine Christianity and a strong healthy church. 4Pastoral Care Fr. Yeghia believes in the importance of visitations to the homes and to the sick. Do not hesitate to invite
our pastor to your home for any reason - fellowship, home blessing, to
ask any questions pertaining to the church, etc. You are especially encouraged to notify Fr. Yeghia if a loved one is sick or in the hospital. Fr. Yeghia offers pastoral counseling to any individual, couple or family who request it. 4Hye Lites Newsletter The Hye Lites newsletter is published monthly and serves as the main publicity tool between the St. James Armenian Church and Armenians of the greater Sacramento area. Contained in the newsletter is information regarding the activities of the church and also announcements of upcoming events. In addition, spiritually uplifting articles are provided
for the reader. If you wish to be included on our mailing list, please
call the church office with your request.
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Note: All of the above is possible with your help and cooperation.
As you can see, the financial support of all parishioners is essential
for the continuance of all the above services and programs, along with
the necessity to meet the monthly financial obligations of the church.
Receive the ChurchOs blessing, as you bless the Church with your giving.
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