Message of Fr. Vazken Movsesian, parish priest of St. Andrew Armenian Church, Cupertino, from the Nakhagoch Newsletter. Electronic version archived on: SAIN-- St. Andrew Information Network -------------------------------------- c. 1988 Fr. Vazken Movsesian Address comments to: dervaz@sain.org -------------------------------------- November 1988 Pastor's Message Dealing with Homeless after the Election Dukakis and Bush. This has been quite a season of campaigning, negative as it was. Promises and rhetoric. The issues were clear even though sometimes their stands weren't. The homeless are always an easy target. People inherently know that it is wrong to have homeless. No one really wants to see people living from the gutter. So our politicians quite naturally address this issue. By the time you read this articles we will have elected our new President. Be assured that there will still be homeless, poor, hungry people after the election. Can this problem be answered? Yes. Now? No. But we can do (and must do as Christians) something along the way to ease the pain. For the past five years, our St. Andrew congregation has been active participants in hunger relief programs. Our food and clothing drives have been very successful during the Holiday Seasons. We have fed the hungry, clothed the naked and housed the homeless. This year we will be going a step further. On Saturday, December 10, 1988 the members of the St. Andrew Armenian Church will be feeding the homeless on a "trial run." If all goes well, we hope to make this a quarterly program in 1989 and monthly by 1990. All sections of our community have been involved in helping us with this program. Ascension Catholic Church (Prospect & Miller) has graciously offered us their facility and Cupertino Community Services will arrange for the guests (from the battered women's and children's centers). And St. Andrew folks will provide, cook, serve and share with our fellow man. I am asking you at this time, to commit your help for December 10th. Can you buy food? (Turkeys and canned foods especially) Can you cook? Can you serve? Can you buy toys for children? Let us know. Either call me at the Church office or drop me a line. Also, the Priest's Discretionary Fund will take donations for this event. This month we celebrate Thanksgiving. As Armenians who have immigrated to America we know there is much for which we are thankful. Armenians have been out on the desert, hungry, starving, near death, and now we see ourselves in our prosperity. Thanksgiving is our reaction to God's goodness. Look around you. Look at all you have to thank God for. And now, ask yourself, how can you help on December 10. --Fr. Vazken -------------------------------------- c. 1988 Fr. Vazken Movsesian Address comments to: dervaz@sain.org --------------------------------------