PILGRIM ARMENIAN CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
By Ron Orozco
Fresno Bee
09/19/08 15:00:00
CA
Children gather to pray along with the Rev. Ara Guekguezian at Pilgrim
Armenian Congregational Chuch. Photo
Congregants of Pilgrim Armenian Congregational Church in east-central
Fresno say they have a special feeling about their church.
"We feel like family here," Adele Eleazarian says. "It’s been a great
place to train children."
Families and youth play important roles on a recent Sunday at Pilgrim
Church, which was founded by 14 members in 1901.
Here are key parts of the service:
Andrew Rettig, 14, is part of a musical trio — and he steals the
show playing acoustic guitar with a lot of heart.
A little girl, Cassie, holds up a picture as the church’s pastor,
the Rev. Ara R. Guekguezian, gives a special message to about two
dozen children sitting on the altar steps.
Eliza Hakobyan, 12, gives a stirring rendition on piano of Johann
Sebastian Bach’s "Toccata and Fugue" in D Minor. This follows her
father Benjamin Hakobyan’s performance on classical guitar.
Carissa Buchanan, a college student, is introduced as a new member —
and gets a hug from Guekguezian.
Here are other notes from the visit:
What’s the first thing you notice from your pew? The sanctuary’s dome
features many small stained-glass windows. The architect, Richard
Manoogian, is a church member.
What might you experience here that you can’t other places? A
deacon, Arshak Sargsyan, reads the Gospel of Mark 7:1-20 in
Armenian. Congregants also recite the Lord’s Prayer ("Hyer Mer")
in Armenian.
What’s everyone talking about? It’s the church’s recent Vacation Bible
School, led Tracy Bright and Karen Jaramishian. Dozens of children
memorized Scripture.
Who’s the behind-the-scenes hero? Faye DeLong hits all the right
notes playing the church’s Reuter Pipe Organ.
Does this congregation reach out to the community? Mary and David
Brown of Palo Alto were planning to move to Fresno this summer. The
deal was sealed when the Browns ate lunch at Bedrosian’s Armenian
Deli — Guekguezian and his father, the Rev. Bernard Guekguezian,
81, invited them to church.
The basics
Location: 3673 N. First St.
Contacts: (559) 229-2915; pilgrimchurch.com.
Services: 11 a.m. Sundays
Child care: Available
Pastor, years of service: The Rev. Ara R. Guekguezian, eight years
Congregation: 400 members
History: Established with 14 members in 1901. Moved into former
First Congregational Church at Van Ness and Inyo streets in 1911
and the former First Presbyterian Church at Merced and M streets in
1921. Relocated nearly 40 years later to current site, where social
hall, educational and administration buildings built. Completed
sanctuary on March 15, 1970. Opened Family Life Center.
Religious association: Armenian Evangelical Union of North America
Doctrine: Evangelical Reformed
Key ministries: Pilgrim Kids, Sunday school classes, Christ Saved Our
Souls junior-high group, Evangelizing X-ians in Training high-school
group, college group, career group, Kuppajoe, women’s Dorcas Guild,
men’s TGIF Bible study, Men’s Forum, GFLC missions, Armenian adult
class, Dayton Square Apartments outreach, prayer time, food pantry,
Armenian Home Guild, picnic and grape blessing, sister city in Gyumri
in Armenia
Of special note: The church will hold a Parking Lot Yard Sale to
support missions 7 a.m.-1 p.m. Oct. 4 at 3673 N. First St.
The reporter can be reached at [email protected] or (559)
441-6304. Enlarge this imageA detail of a stained-glass window at
the church.