Happy New Year to You All!

We’re very happy to be back to your homes in the New Christian year of 2006. You notice that we
have chosen the name “Nuhra” from among number of suggested names. We hope that this newsletter
would be a beacon of light, especially for the youth, coming to your home from your church.

 

You’ll also see that in this issue we have articles and news in different languages as we receive them
from various contributors to this publication, enabling us to reach various groups with different
background before coming to US.

From Fr. Tomy Tomikeh:

 

The Teachings of Our Church Fathers on Prayer

There is no revelation, which does not have prayer as its cause. Prayer is the narrow and
confined gate through which the faithful enter into heaven. Continual prayer is the light, which is true
love for God and for one’s neighbor. Compassion is the gate by which the faithful enter into
knowledge of God. Voce gives birth to the utterance of faith. Heart gives birth in silence to prayers.
Prayer that rises up in someone’s heart serves to open up for us the door of heaven. That person stands
in converse with divinity, and gives pleasure to the Son of God.

 

 

Announcements:

January’s Event Calendar:

Jan. 8th: Celebration of the Feast of “Denha”, “Meya Qudshe”, “Qareewa D’maran” and “Shemoon
Sawa”.

Jan 15th: Memorial Mass for the 1st year anniversary for “Shamiramis Malek” the daughter of Mariam
Golpashin. There is a breakfast offering (Tamta D’rahme) by her family after the Mass.

Jan. 22nd: Memorial of St. Peter and St. Paul. As you know St. Paul is the Patron of our Church. Mar
Sarhad Jammo, Bishop of our dioceses will celebrate the Divine Liturgy.

A breakfast offering (Tamta D’rahme) in memory of Pelepus Nazaneen Anhar who passed
away in Iran about 40 days ago will be offered by Angel Vartanian and her family after the
Mass.

 

Youth Convention: As some of you might recall the First Youth Convention was held two years ago
in San Diego. This year the convention would be held here in our church, July 20-23. As we’re
planning to send the registration forms to you as early as possible, please let the youth know and
encourage them to register quickly.

 

What did happen last month?

Friday December 9

Appreciation Dinner

 In a small gathering of all those parishioners who in
various groups in St. Paul Church are donating their time
effortlessly for the benefit of the church and parishioners, Fr.
Noel gave a warm and sincere speech to appreciate their
contribution. He pointed that The Church is it’s People and all
those who work in different groups such as Ladies Sacred
Heart, the Parish Council, Choir, Social Activity, Newsletter,
and other groups are doing so for the benefit of the church
which is to stay regardless of who is it’s priest as they come
and go.

Sunday, December 18

Christmas Play

The second work of Ms. Zina Zaflow, (the first one was
presented at the dinner party for Mar Emmanuel Delli III) was performed on the Sunday, December 18th. As the

title “The First Christmas Pageant Bethlehem, 1 A.D.
was projected on the wall, the actors took their position
on the stage and three vocalist standing on the side
sang along when directed. The fast pace of the play
was accompanied with number of songs from Beatles,
such as “
All You Need Is Love” and other songs. The end of the
play was followed with a big applaud from the
audience, packed in the hall to watch the play
performed by the talented youth group. We’re all very
proud of them!    

 A Letter From One of Parishioners:

 Below is a letter from Mrs. Virginia
Campbell. Mr. And Mrs. Campbell have joined
our parish since 2000.

Dear Fr. Noel;

Just a note to tell you again how blessed John and I feel now that we have joined your parish family.

We know many of you have come to America for refuge from the Moslem world. John and I feel that we have
found refuge in your church. Your liturgy is so devout that reminds us of the old Latin Mass, which was taken
away year 1962. We replaced the beautiful Latin-Gregorian chants and many of the ancient rites of the Roman
Catholic Church with a loose translation of English. Although we have gone to several Eastern Rite Churches
before finding yours, we’re amazed how much your church reminded us of the Western Rite. You had real
statues not icons, you had music and you did the blessing the same we had always done. I would like to join one
of your parish councils but I’m afraid that English would be in the way. However I’m thinking of maybe doing
some of your classes in Aramaic, I would like to know how the Blessed Mother talked to the baby Jesus. May
you have a blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year!