2002 Annual Report | 2003 Annual Report
The Boyajians Get Involved
"We're retired, we have a little time now, and we thought the best place to direct our energies would be St. Nersess, because that's where our future priests are coming from, and that's where our young people are going to rediscover their Armenian roots and their Christian faith," Sarkis Boyajian.
Armenians share their time, treasure, and talents with their fellow parishioners and the Diocese in all sorts of ways. But Sarkis and Alice Boyajian from Sts. Joachim and Anne Armenian Church in Palos Heights, Illinois set an example that few of us can match.
Several times a year they drive 800 miles from Palos Heights to St. Nersess Seminary. Their SUV is laden with tools, hardware, cabinets, food and inexhaustible stores of energy and love. They unload and immediately begin painting, wiring, plastering, renovating, building, cooking, and organizing--accepting not a penny in return. They see this as their way to give back to a seminary that gave so much to them and their children.
No one asked them to do this. They saw a need and an opportunity. They rolled up their sleeves, got to work, and have blessed many people.
Do you have an idea about how you can be involved in the Church? Share it with us, email info@armenianchurch.org
Do you want more information about ministries that need your talents? Email us at info@armenianchurch.org
Learn more about the Boyajians
How You Can Get Involved in Worship
- Arrange for one instructed liturgy per year at your parish.
- Organize a seminar on the Armenian Divine Liturgy.
- Donate copies of the Divine Liturgy companion volume to your parish, so they can be placed behind every pew in the church.
- Keep a Lenten journal and write about the experience.
- Make Sunday morning a family affair.
- Encourage your children to ask questions about their faith and the Divine Liturgy.
- Help create a positive environment--befriend a newcomer to your church.
- Remember that worship is not just a static noun--it is also an active verb.
- Purchase books on the Armenian faith for yourself or for members of your community.
- Organize a one-day symposium for adults or children.
- Older parishes can donate their unused liturgical vessels, vestments and books to fledgling mission parishes.
- Altar servers and choir members can volunteer to serve in mission parishes, to encourage local participation and training.
- Volunteers are needed from each community to serve as deacons. After receiving the proper instruction, volunteers would be ordained not only to serve when there is a visiting priest but also to lead weekly worship in the absence of a priest.
How you can get involved with Armenian Youth
- Join a teen discussion at Sunday School. Share your opinions and vision with the younger generation.
- Become a Sunday School or Armenian School teacher.
- Become a youth group advisor or chaperone.
- Enroll your children in Sunday School or Armenian School.
- Become a mentor and change a young life.
- Help educate all of the Church's children--it's their best defense against the temptations of today's society.
- Keep in touch with a teenager: they need to know we care.
- Add dym2000@armenianchurch.org to your address list--send your ideas, suggestions, and feedback.
- Remember that children learn from example--and act accordingly.
- Encourage the formation of youth groups.
- Volunteer as a youth advisor.
- Help establish and operate weekly Armenian language and church schools.
How You Can Get Involved in Promoting Armenian Heritage
- Organize a lecture or seminar series at your parish on matters related to our Armenian faith and heritage.
- Promote lectures or seminars for non-Armenians about the Armenian Church and heritage.
- Volunteer to work on your parish paper.
- Create a parish youth newsletter.
- Volunteer to develop your parish website.
- Volunteer as a reporter for The Armenian Church magazine.
- Volunteer to take photos of key events in the life of your parish.
- Add your name to the Diocesan e-mail list so you are better informed.
- Go through your address book and provide your parish and the Diocese with names and addresses of friends to add to their mailing lists.