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Pilgrim’s Pilgrim’ s Progress 3673 North First Street Fresno, California 93726-6870 p 559-229-2915 f 559-229-6431 pilgrimchurch.com 3673 North First Street Fresno, California 93726-6870 p 559-229-2915 f 559-229-6431 pilgrimchurch.com February 2020 A Message from Pastor Nerses Balabanian Our annual theme is “Living Right Side Up in an Upside Down World.” This was a reality for Joseph who was raised in tough family circumstances. One can easily wonder if anything good could come out of this mess. His journey in life is a good example of how God works in an upside down world, where everything goes against Joseph. He was rejected, abandoned, sold to slavery, falsely accused, forgotten. What else? Instead of being bitter, he refused to bear a grudge. One can wonder if the story of this man is even real. It is real, and it is written in the Bible to teach us about integrity and forgiveness. It is there to teach that the sovereign God has a plan for the salvation of humanity. Throughout my years of ministry I have often felt sad to see family relationships become bitter. I have often helped brothers and sisters reconcile. Sometimes I have witnessed good results and other times no result at all. Disputes are usually are about money, property, inheritance, and misunderstanding like “you said, he said” and so on. How sad is this. God loves relationships. God created us so we can worship Him. We can have a relationship with Him and each other. When I look to Joseph’s family situation, my heart breaks. Joseph’s family was very dysfunctional. You need to understand in those days polygamy was permissible. That made family life even more complicated. To examine how in the world Jacob’s family ended up this way, we need to go back. In Genesis 12 we read that God commanded Abram (Abraham later) to leave his land and move on to a new place. “I will make you into a great nation,” God promised him, and Abraham obeyed and left. We learn a lot from the life of Abraham. We also learn from his mistakes. When Abraham, or Abram at that time, went to Egypt with his wife Sarah, he lied to Pharaoh’s officials saying Sarah was his sister. Pharaoh took Sarah as his wife, and a plague hit Pharaoh’s household. Pharaoh said to Abraham: “What have you done to me?” Do you think Abraham learned his lesson? In Genesis 20 Abraham makes the same mistake again. This time he visits Abimelech, the king of Gerar. Now Sarah was 90 years old and beautiful. Abraham lied one more time and said Sarah was his sister. Trouble came to Abimelech, the poor king who took Sarah. God is merciful. God visited this king and warned him to give Sarah back to Abraham. He did. Next morning Abimelech said to Abraham, “What have you done to us?” Why did Abraham lie twice? Was it the fear of losing his life? Abraham acted out of fear, which was in his head. The text does not show that those people were going to kill him if he said that Sarah was his wife. He acted out of fear and not faith. We all can fall in the same trap. Abraham and Sarah had a promise from God to become a great nation. Both were impatient to see when God was going to fulfill this promise. Therefore, they tried to fulfill God’s promise using human maneuvers. You all know it did not work. You see, Abraham and Sarah did not trust God to give them a child. She even laughed when she heard that God was blessing them with a new child (Gen 18). Isaac (he laughs) was born. A generation after Abraham, his son Isaac repeats the same mistake. In Genesis 26, we read that Isaac and his beautiful wife Rebecca visit the same king, king Abimelech of the Dysfunctional Families and God’s Grace continued on next page
UPCOMING 2020 PACC Events Dorcas Guild Sunday .February 9 Vartanantz Commemoration . Thursday, February 20 (Holy Trinity) PACC Family Retreat (Bass Lake), . February 28- 29 (CE) World Day of Prayer . Saturday, March 7 (Holy Trinity) AEUNA Pastors Retreat . March 17-19 (LA) Christian Women of First Street . Thursday, April 2 (Dorcas) Palm Sunday. April 5 (CE) Maundy Thursday.April 9 (Deacons) Easter Sunday. April 12 Genocide Commemoration Gathering. Friday, April 24 Annual Evensong. Sunday, April 26 (Music Committee) Merchants Lunch .Thursday & Friday, April 30, May 1 (Trustees) Mother’s Day . Sunday, May 10 (CE) Memorial Day PACC and FAPC Joint Picnic. Monday, May 25 PACC Annual Meeting,.June Graduation/Acolyte Elevation . Sunday, May 31 or June 7 (CE) Summer Student Mission Trip .June Father’s Day . Sunday, June 21 (CE) AEUNA Biennial (Philadelphia) . June 25-28 Vacation Bible School . July 13-17 (CE) Rally (Renewal) . Sunday, September 13 Harvest Banquet.Saturday, October 3 AMAA & World Council Meetings.October 22-25 Harvest Festival . Sunday, October 27 (CE) Thanksgiving Sunday . November 22 Badveli Nerses Message: Dysfunctional Families Continued from page 1 Philistines in Grear. Like father, like son. When people ask him about his wife Rebecca, he says she is his sister. Do you see how it passes from generation to generation? Now this time (Gen 26:8) the king sees from his window that Isaac is “ laughing ” (it meant to have a sexual relationship) with Rebecca. The king says to Isaac, “She is really your wife! Why did you say, ‘She is my sister’?”(Gen 26:9) Same answer: “I was afraid that ” -Just before this incident, God spoke to Isaac, and told him He would bless them. He would keep His covenant with him, as He had done with his father Abraham. I mean we expect Isaac to act differently after all the promises God gave him. The question I ask myself again: Do we trust God? Fear or Faith. Yet, God’s grace is greater than our sins and mistakes. He blessed Isaac and Rebecca and gave them two boys, Esau and Jacob. Did they learn their lesson? Isaac favored Esau who was a hunter. Rebecca favored Jacob who was a cook. I don’t know what you think, but favoritism in families destroys relationships. I don’t know how healthy your family will be when you prefer one child over the other. This is a human tragedy. Sin destroys relationships. Like grandfather, like father, like son. This time Jacob lies to his father to receive the blessings. The problem continues after this. While poeple are making mistakes, God is not giving up from them. God is walking with His creatures day-by-day. Jacob learned to trust God in his life. God gave Jacob (deceiver) a new name Israel (God strives). Yet, going CHURCH RETR S LAKE EAT S A B Congregational Budget Meeting . December 6 Christmas Worship Celebration . Sunday, December 20 Christmas Eve Candlelight Service . Thursday, December 24 SATU RDAY FEB. 29 2020 back and looking at Jacob’s family, it was a big mess. Two wives (Leah and Rachel), two maidservants (Bilhah and Zilpah) and thirteen children. Think about the problems in this house. Joseph had: three stepmothers, ten stepbrothers, a stepsister a brother, and all living in the same area, probably different tents. Talk about a dysfunctional family! There was favoritism. There was gossip. There was jealousy. You name it The problem moves from generation to generation. Joseph grew up in this mess. Application: Who controls you? Do you remember Badveli Kevin’s sermon: Do circumstances control our faith? Or does our faith control how we engage circumstances? Can the situation be different? Of course. Learn from Joseph. He stood firm. Later we will see that even in Egypt he learns to trust God daily. Joseph learned such things in Egypt that later in his life would be very important. Maybe he did not understand why these things were happening. Joseph was not perfect. He was human like you and me. One thing was very important for him: He learned to walk with the Lord despite unpleasant circumstances. One can have an imperfect family (dysfunctional background), but God is able to grant us a new life. Dysfunctional families and God’s grace. Paul says: But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me (1 Cor. 15:10 ESV). Amen. Join us for this annual retreat – enjoy fishing, boating, hiking, board games, sledding, snowball fights (if we can find snow), good food, good friends with small groups and speaking engagements. All ages are welcome and encouraged to attend. For more information, contact the church office, 599-229-2915
2019 ANNUAL GIVING RECAP For where your Treasure is, there your heart will be also. – Matthew 6:21 The graph displays collections DEC 31 of contributions through year end 403,550. 387,937.02 2019 as compared to the budgeted NOV 30 amount. We will still be reviewing 2019 for OCT 31 a couple of weeks to make sure everything SEP 30 is accounted for. If there are any major AUG 31 changes I will be sure to inform you of those in my next report. We collected 96% JUL 31 of the budgeted amount of contributions. JUN 30 2019 was an amazingly blessed year. The MAY 31 Board of Trustees would like to thank everyone for your participation in taking APR 30 care of our church home. There were MAR 31 numerous projects that were needed and FEB 28 completed during 2019. They could not JAN 31 have been done without the generosity of our congregation. Thank you and let us always remember we are giving back to God that which He so generously gave to us. As many of you must be doing I am thinking a lot about Joseph and his family. I love theatre so I’ve also been thinking about the Broadway version of the biblical story. Not that Andrew Lloyd Webber is a theologian but I found the lyrics of one of my favorite songs from the musical in line with our studies. It speaks clearly to being not of this world. We are God’s children and our home is with Him. No matter what happens in our earthly home to us, as Christians we know God has us covered. He loves us and will not abandoned us. Close every door to me, Hide all the world from me Bar all the windows And shut out the light Do what you want with me, Hate me and laugh at me Darken my daytime And torture my night If my life were important I Would ask will I live or die But I know the answers lie Far from this world Youth and Sunday SchooL Activities Jonathan Parvanian 2/17 Adam Garabedian 2/24 Matthew Parvanian 2/17 Happy Belated Birthday to Nareg Jalhayan, whose birthday was January 6. “May you be blessed by the Lord, the Maker of Heaven and earth.” Psalm 115:15, NIV February Sunday School Information February 2: In church for worship and communion February 9: Regular Sunday School & Mission’s Sunday February 16: Regular Sunday School February 23: Regular Sunday School During the month of February we will continue to learn about how powerful and loving God is and how we can trust and love God as we study about Moses and the Israelites, Deborah and Ruth. Mission’s Sunday – February 9 We would like children to stay in Sunday School until 12:45 on February 9 to make Valentine’s Cards for the members of our congregation who are on the Deacon’s Shepherding List. Children will be given a snack while we make the cards and will be walked over to the Social hall when we are done. Close every door to me, Keep those I love from me Children of Israel Are never alone For I know I shall find My own peace of mind For I have been promised A land of my own He is always faithful and has a plan for us. – Close Every Door by Andrew Lloyd Webber “God has sent me ahead of you to keep you and your families alive and to preserve many survivors. So it was God who sent me here, not you!” – Genesis 45: 7-8 – Prepared By Treasurer Patrice Ruble Preschool through 6th grade Sunday school students have been studying about Moses and the Israelites and their journey out of a Egypt. On a recent Sunday the Preschool/Kindergarten class engaged in a fun activity of gathering “manna”, in their “baskets”. Mighty Memorizers is FUN – CHALLENGING – and A VERY REWARDING WAY to learn God’s Word. If you have not signed up, do so soon!
BROOMBALL! 119th Founders’ Day! On January 26, PACC celebrated its annual Founders Day Celebration, with its program theme: Faithful Through It All. Founders Day celebrated 119 years of faithful service and dedication of PACC. In March, the Sanctuary will celebrate its 50th year—hard to believe these years have passed so quickly. Over 180 parishioners were treated to a fabulous Tri-tip luncheon (with all the fixins’) prepared by the PACC Men’s Forum. A variety of delicious cakes were prepared by Dorcas Guild members for each table and the PACC Youth Group efficiently served the meal to all those in attendance. Special musical guest, Timothy Ketenjian, entertained guests with his mix of Christian, inspirational and love songs. Tim has released two original albums and is currently working on his first gospel album release. Tim is a cousin of Badveli Kevin and his assortment of music was very well received by the entire luncheon gathering. PACC exemplifies being “Faithful Through It All” through the following verse, Psalm 100:5 “For the Lord is good. His loving kindness lasts forever. And, He is faithful to all people and to all their children to come.” Go-KARTS
Thursday, February 20, 2020 at 5:30 p.m. Divine Liturgy SPONSORED BY: Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Mother Church of Fresno and The Knights and Daughters of Vartan Yeprad Tahlij and Alidz Otyag WITH THE PARTICIPATION OF: First Armenian Presbyterian Church, Fresno St. Paul Armenian Apostolic Church, Fresno Pilgrim Armenian Congregational Church, Fresno St. Gregory The Illuminator Armenian Apostolic Church, Fowler AFTER THE PROGRAM, A COMPLIMENTARY LIGHT DINNER WILL BE PROVIDED BY THE KNIGHTS AND DAUGHTERS OF VARTAN IN THE CHURCH SOCIAL HALL HOLY TRINITY ARMENIAN APOSTOLIC MOTHER CHURCH 2226 VENTURA STREET, FRESNO (559) 486Ǧ1141
TUESDAY 10 5:30 pm BSF 6:30 pm Fruit of the Spirit Women’s Fellowship, Room 8 17 President’s Day Office/GFLC Are Closed Pilgrim Progress Articles Due 5:30 pm BSF 6:00 pm Working Women’s Bible Study, Marie Callender's, Cedar/Shaw 6:30 pm Fruit of the Spirit Women’s Fellowship, Room 8 24 8:00 am Dorcas Guild Baking 10:30 am Dorcas Guild Executive Board Meeting, Overflow Room 5:30 pm BSF 6:30 pm Fruit of the Spirit Women’s Fellowship, Room 8 3 6:30 pm Council Meeting 10:00am Women’s Bible Study, Room 6 6:30 pm Trustees, Library 7:00 pm Deacons, CE 10:00am Women’s Bible Study, Room 6 10:00 am Women’s Bible Study, Room 6 7:00 pm CE Committee, Library 10:00am Women’s Bible Study, Room 6 6:00 pm Working Women’s Bible Study, Applebee’s, Cedar/Herndon 25 18 11 4 5 5:30 pm Vartanantz/ Divine Liturgy Commemoration, Holy Trinity 7:00 pm Program 1:00 pm Dorcas Guild Circle, Overflow Room 4:30 pm Worship Band Practice, Sanctuary 7:00 pm Young Couples’ Night, Kuppajoe 5:00 am BSF 7:00 am TGIF Bible Study, Fireside Room 5:00 am BSF 7:00 am TGIF Bible Study, Fireside Room 5:00 am BSF 7:00 am TGIF Bible Study, Fireside Room FRIDAY 4:30 pm Worship Band Practice, Sanctuary 7:00 pm Young Adults, Fellowship Room 28 21 14 7 1 29 22 15 8 10:30 am Tabitha Circle, Kathy Jenanyan's SATURDAY Bass Lake Family Retreat 5:00 am BSF 7:00 am TGIF Bible Study, Fireside Room Badveli Kevin Kasper is off on vacation 26 27 20 7:00 pm Home Bible Study, 7:00 pm Young Adults, Fellowship Room 19 4:30 pm Worship Band Practice, Sanctuary 13 6 10:00 am Dorcas Guild, Bible Study, General Meeting/Luncheon, Fireside Room/Social Hall 7:00pm Young Adults, Fellowship Room THURSDAY 12 7:00 am Men’s Forum Executive Board Meeting, Yosemite Falls 6:30 pm Choir Rehearsal, Sanctuary WEDNESDAY February 2020 5:30 pm BSF 6:30 pm Fruit of the Spirit Women’s Fellowship, Room 8 MONDAY Badveli Kevin Kasper is off on vacation 3:30-5:30 pm Youth Group 9:30 am Adult Sunday School 11:00 am Elem. Sunday School, Sanc/Classroom 11:00am WORSHIP-Fellowship Time, GFLC 23 16 9:30 am Adult Sunday School 11:00 am Elem. Sunday School, Sanc/Classroom 11:00am WORSHIPFellowship Time Men’s Forum 1-3 pm Sunday Funday 3:30-5:30 pm Youth Group 9 9:30 am Adult Sunday School 11:00 am Elem. Sunday School, Sanc/Classroom 11:00am WORSHIP Dorcas Guild Sunday/Fellowship-Dorcas Guild 3:30-5:30 pm Youth Group 2 HOLY COMMUNION Pantry Sunday 9:30 am Adult Sunday School 11:00 am Elem. Sunday School, Sanctuary 11:00am WORSHIPFellowship Time, Carol Forrest 1-3 pm Sunday Funday 3:30-5:30 pm Youth Group SUNDAY
Non-Profit Org. Non-Profit Org US Postage PAID US Postage PAID Permit No. 41 Permit Fresno CA No. 41 Fresno, CA 3673 North First Street Fresno, California 93726-6870 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED Save the Date! FIFTH ANNUAL World Day of Prayer HAMA QARHA#IN A ):KI )R Thursday, April 2, 2020 The Dorcas Guild of Pilgrim Armenian Congregational Church invite the women of the churches on First Street from Ventura to Herndon Avenue. Join us for a time of fellowship and lunch. To pray for our world, country, state, city, Our neighborhood, our churches, and Our sisters in Christ. First Street is the heart of Fresno and the best place to start this powerful unity of prayer. Fellowship begins at 11:00 a.m. Lunch will be served at 11:45 a.m. in the church’s social hall 3673 North First Street, Fresno, California Cost is 12. Gather to pray at 12:45 p.m. The bells of the churches will ring at 1:00 p.m. For information, Joyce Kierejczyk, 559-307-3733 and reservations, Donna Robinson, 559-260-0205 by March 24 or Pilgrim at 559-229-2915 Prepared by the World Day of Prayer Committee of Zimbabwe and the World Day of Prayer USA Committee Saturday, March 7, 2020 at 10 am Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church 2226 Ventura Ave., Fresno, 93721 World Day of Prayer USA www.wdp-usa.org 212.870.2466 Art for WDP 2020 by Nonny Mathe HA
Non-Profit Org US Postage PAID Permit No. 41 Fresno, CA RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED Pilgrim's Progress 3673 North First Street Fresno, California 93726-6870 3673 North First Street Fresno, California 93726-6870 p 559-229-2915 f 559-229-6431 pilgrimchurch.com continued on next page February 2020 A MessAge FroM PAstor Nerses BAlABANiAN .
2233 Kern St., Fresno, CA CVAC provides services to victims of crime. Fresno County Juvenile Probation (559) 600-3996 3333 E. American Ave., Fresno, CA Fresno County Sheriff's Department (559) 600-3111 (Non-Emergency) 2200 Fresno St., Fresno, CA Fresno County Superior Court (559) 457-2011 Directory 1100 Van Ness, Fresno, CA Family Court Services
Auditor-Controller Court Executive Officer Fresno County Superior Court of California, Fresno County P.O. Box 1247 1100 Van Ness Fresno, CA 93721 Fresno, CA 93724 Dear Ms. Crow and Ms. Beard: The State Controller’s Office (SCO) audited Fresno County’s court revenues for the period of July 1, 2005, through June 30, 2011.
A Key to the Pilgrim's Progress, by Adronicus, second edition, 1797. The Pilgrim's Progress, with original Notes, by the Rev. Thomas Scott, Birmingham and London, 1801. The Pilgrim's Progress with Life, by M'Nicoll and Dr. A. Clarke, 1809. The Pilgrim's Progress, with Historical and Practical Notes, by the Rev. J. Ivemy, Oxford, 1824.
1130 O Street Fresno, California 93724 Superior Court of California County of Fresno August 23, 2018 Board of Retirement, Fresno County Employees’ Retirement Association FCERA Office 7772 N. Palm Avenue Fresno, CA 93711 Re: Proposed Addendum to Agreement Dear Board of Retirement: The Court seeks to restructure its Annual Leave program.
Fresno State University, Fresno, CA. Research Focus Recognizing Eating Disorders . Urgent Care, Fresno, California 2011-2016 APNA Urgent Care, Fresno, California, Family Nurse Practitioner . 3 2010-2011
The Pilgrim's Progress As a Literary Classic The Pilgrim's Progress is a paradox. On the one hand it is a work of folk literature. Eis makes it a book of the common people, just like the Bible. Erough the ages, parents have read The Pilgrim's Progress to their children much as they read Bible stories to them. Reinforcing this identity of .
Fresno Superior Court June 2016 Page iv . STATISTICS . The Superior Court of California, County of Fresno (Court) has 49 judges and subordinate judicial officers who handled more than 171,025 cases in FY 2013–2014. The Court operates five courthouses and an archives facility located in Fresno. The Court employed approximately
BEC Higher Second Edition Bilingual Wordlist English and German Tapescripts Tapescripts Resulting Terms English Translation (be the) catalyst for (v) der Beschleuniger (with the utmost) discretion (n) die Diskretion adventurous (adj) abenteuerlich appraisal (n) die Beurteilung assertiveness (n) die Bestimmheit assumption (n) die Annahme attribute (n) die Attribute audience reach (n) die .
