FRESNO, CA - California's oldest Armenian church will mark the Coming of the Christ Child with a series of services and observances during the Year 2000 Advent Season.

The First Armenian Presbyterian Church of Fresno will celebrate the birth of the Prince of Peace on the following occasions:

Saturday, December 9, 3-7 p.m. Fidelis Women's Society's Christmas Party. Members and friends of the FAPC auxiliary gather in fellowship for the 61st consecutive year to inaugurate the Advent Season in the congregation and community. Details: (559) 229-7547.

Sunday, December 10, 5:30 p.m. Sunday School Christmas Dinner and Program. The Children of FAPC present "The Fumbly Angel," a warm recounting of the Nativity through story, song, and multimedia. The event begins with a 5:30 p.m. soup and sandwich buffet followed by a 7:00 p.m. pageant, dessert hour, and live Nativity scene and petting zoo.

Sunday, December 17, 11:00 a.m. Chancel Choir Christmas Cantata. The gifted musicians of the FAPC Family, under the baton of Director Jane S. Bedrosian, present Benjamin Harlan's classic chorale "Canticles of Christmas." "Canticles" features a medley of traditional and modern hymns and carols in celebration of the Advent Season, with organ accompaniment by Marcia Klinder-Badgley and instrumentation by a brass choir.

Sunday, December 24, 10:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Candlelight Service. The congregation and community welcome Christmas Day through praise worship, readings from the Holy Scriptures, and homilies in the English and Armenian languages.

Friday, January 5, 2001, 6:30 p.m. Armenian Christmas Eve Dinner and Service. The Church family observes Epiphany -- the visit of the Wise Men to the infant Jesus -- with a fellowship dinner and praise worship in the Armenian language.

Sunday, January 28, 11:00 a.m. Homecoming Sunday. The FAPC congregation and community bid farewell to Senior Pastor Bernard Guekguezian and Mrs. Knar Keukguezian as they conclude 22 years of ministry in the San Joaquin Valley of California and enter honorable retirement.

All Advent observances will be held at the FAPC Campus, 430 South First Street at Huntington Boulevard in Fresno. Details about specific events are available by calling the Church Offices at (559) 237-6638.