Clergy Corner
TV & Teens: How Much is Too Much?
By Rev. Fr. Untzag Nalbandian

Recently, a parishioner of mine, who graduated from high school in 1948, told me that at that time he only knew two or three families who had a TV set in their home. To my question as to what his generation of teens did in their free time, he responded, "We listened to the radio for four hours a day, usually from 6 to 10 pm."

Today in almost every American home there is more than one TV sets, due in great part to their affordable price. Sixty years ago however, when an average person’s salary was $50 a week, a black and white TV set would cost between $500 and $1,000.

(Click here for more)

Words to Live By
Pick up your Bible and read about the "real" story of Christmas from the Gospel. Here are some Bible passages to help you get started:
The Birth of Jesus
   Matthew 1: 18-25; Luke 2: 1-7
The Shepherds Watching Over their Flock
   Luke 2: 8-20
The Wise Men Bring Their Gifts
   Matthew 2: 1-12
Escape to Egypt and Back to Nazareth
   Matthew 2: 13-23

In Your Words
I want to hear from you and publish your thoughts in next month’s HYE-mail. Take a few minutes to send me an e-mail about your prayers and thoughts for the year 2007.

Upcoming Events
Saturday or Sunday, January 6/ 7: Church and Home: One in Spirit Kickoff (check your with local parish for more details)

Saturday, January 20:
ACYOA Jrs Daylong Retreat at St. Leon Church in Fair Lawn, NJ for all NY/NJ teens ages 13-18 (click here to see the flyer)

2007 St. Vartan Camp
Staff training: June 20 - June 24
Session A: June 24 - July 7
Session B: July 8 - 21
Session C: July 22 - August 4

2007 Hye Camp -- July 29-August 4

2007 St. Nersess Summer Conferences -– TBD

If you have an upcoming event you want posted in HYE-mail, e-mail me at: jenniferm@armeniandiocese.org.

www.learnarmenian.com is a website to enhance your Armenian language skills. Most of the text is in Armenian.

Welcome back to HYE-mail, a monthly e-newsletter of the ACYOA Juniors sent out to young Armenian Orthodox Christian teens throughout the Eastern Diocese to help keep you connected to the Armenian Church. Thank you for helping us continue to grow. If you know of anyone that might want to receive HYE-mail, let me know. I welcome your thoughts and ideas for upcoming HYE-mails. Please feel free to contact me.
-- Jennifer E. Morris, Youth Outreach Coordinator

JENNI'S JOURNAL -- MIRACULOUS GIFT OF CHRIST

At this time of year we are bombarded with messages of peace and goodwill from every shop window and TV ad, but how often do we really stop and reflect on the true meaning of the Christmas season and bring it into our daily life throughout the year?

Take some time this Christmas season to revel in the glory of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Think about the miraculous gift each of us have received as an Armenian Christian and fill your hearts with peace, hope, and love as the New Year draws near. May each of you have a blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year!

With Love and Prayers,
Jenni

DIOCESAN DEPARTMENT OF YOUTH AND EDUCATION
Below is a picture of the dynamic team that I am blessed to work with throughout the year. I thought I would take this opportunity to share with you who we are and what we each of us are responsible for here at the Diocesan Center.

Pictured left to right:
Jennifer Morris, coordinator of youth outreach
Elise Antreassian, coordinator of Christian education
Ruzanna Hovsepyan, assistant to the department
Julie Hoplamazian, facilitator of college ministry
Gilda Buchakjian-Kupelian, coordinator of Armenian studies
Nancy Basmajian, ACYOA executive secretary

DID YOU KNOW?
In the Armenian Church, Advent is not a one-month preparation. Counting back from January 6, the Feast of Theophany (popularly called Armenian Christmas), the Armenian Church spends 50 days preparing for Christmas! In Armenian this is called Hisnag (Hees-nahg), which comes from the word for "fifty"or hisoon (hee-soon).

This year the First Sunday of Advent was November 26. Click here to learn more about the Advent season and to download a Teen Advent Journal.

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT
The History of the "12 Days of Christmas"

Have you ever wondered what in the world leaping lords, French hens, swimming swans, and especially the partridge that won't come out of the pear tree have to do with Christmas? If so, read on.

From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young Catholics. It has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to members of their church. Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality which the children could remember.

The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.
Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments.
Three French hens stood for faith, hope, and love.
The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.
The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.
Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit: prophesy, serving, teaching, faith, stewardship, leadership, and healing. (1 Corinthians 12)
The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes. (Matthew 5)
Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:9)
The ten lords a-leaping were the Ten Commandments.
The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.
The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the creed.
 

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