Armenian Evangelical Emmanuel Church's Board of Elders and Board of Trustees Visiting the Pastor on Christmas

On Sunday, 8 January, after the church worship service, a group of old and new members of the Board of Elders and the Board of Trustees gave a visit to the pastor on Christmas season, remembering that Christ is the real reason.


Mr. Manoug Ibitian (Elders Board), Ms. Ani Baboghlanian (Elders Board), Mr. Raffi Chilingirian (Trustees Board), Rev. and Mrs. Hovanness and Vera Svajian, Mrs. Ani Svajian (church secretary), Mr. Samuel Svajian (Elders Board), Mr. Garoudj Aroyan (Elders Board), Mrs. Araxi Mazmanian (Elders Board), Ms. Houry Barsoumian (Trustees Board, Mr. Manoug Chilingirian (Elders Board)

AMAA Elects New Board Members, President and Officer

In accordance with the appropriate policies and procedures, the Armenian Missionary Association of America (AMAA) elected its new Board members, President and officers.

On October 15, 2011, at the Annual Meeting of the Association, held in Los Angeles, CA, the names of the following nine individuals were announced, who were elected by the general membership to serve on the Board of Directors as the Class of 2014: Bryan Bedrosian, Anita Buchakjian, Nazareth Darakjian, M.D., Robert Hekemian, Sr., Louis Kurkjian, Kenneth Kevorkian, Lori Muncherian, Harold Nahigian and Arsine Bedrosian Phillips, Esq. The new Board members were installed on Sunday, October 16, during the AMAA Annual Meeting Worship Service, which was held at the United Armenian Congregational Church of Los Angeles.

On December 3, the Board of Directors elected its officers and approved the Executive Committee as follows: Joseph Zeronian, Ed.D., President; Nazareth Darakjian, M.D. and Peter Kougasian, Esq., Vice Presidents; Thomas Momjian Esq., and Arsine Phillips, Esq., Secretaries; Nurhan Helvacian, Ph.D., Treasurer; Anita Buchakjian, Assistant Treasurer; Berjouhy Gulesserian, Advisor; Levon Filian, Executive Director; Albert Momjian, Esq., Solicitor; and Joyce Stein, Representative of the Stephen Philibosian Foundation.

The AMAA was founded in Worcester, MA in 1918 and incorporated in New York in 1920 with the purpose of strengthening and supporting the Armenian people in their Christian faith and to encourage religious education as well as literary and philanthropic work. Since its founding, the AMAA has expanded its programs of educational, evangelistic, relief, social services, church and child care ministries to 24 countries around the world.

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Christmas Concert at Haigazian University

On Monday, December 19, 2011, the Haigazian University Classical Music Club organized their traditional semester concert, which they have been holding each semester for nearly 20 years. The concert was divided into three parts, the classical, the modern and the oriental, with a touch of Christmas added to the mix.

Nine students participated in the concert, which started with classical pieces by Brahms, Hayden and Chopin, played beautifully on the piano and the violin. This was followed by some notable modern songs, including “Somewhere over the rainbow” and “River flows in you,” as well as a vocal rendition of the ever-popular “You raise me up.” Adding a new dimension to this semester’s concert, the program also included oriental music, namely three celebrated songs by the Rahbani brothers as well as the song “Bleil ou Shety” played on the ‘oud.

Completing the concert with a bit of Christmas cheer, the audience enjoyed listening to a duet of “Silent Night” and sang along to the beloved Christmas carol “Joy to the World.”


Christmas Chapel at Haigazian University

One of the most popular chapel services of the year at Haigazian University is the annual Christmas chapel, which reminds people of the reason for the season. On Wednesday, December 21, 2011, the university auditorium was packed with faculty, staff and students, as well as several guests from outside the university.

Everyone was greeted by the cheerful music played by the seven-member band, which included three former HU students who came especially for this chapel. Reverend Greg Lee-Parker, the campus minister, welcomed everyone and thanked them for coming before proceeding to show a short Charlie Brown cartoon that answers the question “What is Christmas all about?” The next ten minutes were spent joyfully singing Christmas carols including the classical “Oh Come All Ye Faithful,” “What Child is This?” and “Do You Hear?” One Haigazian student read a beautiful passage from Isaiah chapter 9 and then the band played a very touching song called “Merry Christmas,” which a father had written for the daughter he was waiting to adopt.

Lee-Parker delivered his message on the first Christmas, revealing some interesting facts uncovered by a New Testament scholar about the town of Bethlehem in that period. He also emphasized the real meaning of Christmas and what impact it can have on our lives.

To conclude this Christmas service, everyone sang “Silent Night” accompanied by the sweet musical tones of the flute and the violin and finally ended with “Joy to the World.” Lots of delicious and homemade cookies, brownies and cakes were waiting at the back of the chapel once the final note had been sung.