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
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c. 1992 Fr. Vazken Movsesian
Address comments to: dervaz@sain.org
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November 1992

Parish Priest's Message

	Church can sometimes be annoying. Especially lately. You come and you hear
stories of famine, persecution, loss and intolerance. On top of it all,
you're also asked to help in one way or another to eliminate some of the
pain.
	Last month alone, we at St. Andrew were involved in the airlift of
supplies and goods to Armenia; began a mechanism to aid the Coptic Orthodox
Church suffering the aftermath of the earthquake in Cairo; struggled with
neighbors who tried to smear
the reputation of our church with false accusations.  And on top of it all,
we at St. Andrew had our usual struggle to raise funds to pay our mortgage.
	Where does it end? When does it end?  At this Thanksgiving season, it is
my duty to inform you that it does not end. Our giving is directly tied in
with our thanksgiving.
	Every Armenian who lives in America today does so by the Grace of God.  If
not you, then your parents or grandparents have come to America to seek
refuge: from the Genocide of 1915; from the persecution under Khomeni; from
the massacres in Baku & Kharabagh.  It is only by the Grace of God, that we are living in 
a free country today.  And therefore, there is a tremendous responsibility and
obligation upon us which God helps us endure.  Our responsibility begins by
not forgetting our roots to
remember that we are here because there was somewhere in the world where we
were unwanted.
	Our responsibility is to others who are the suffering and persecuted.  In
Leviticus we are reminded, "When a stranger sojourns with you in your land,
you shall not do him wrong.  The stranger who sojourns with you shall be to
you as the native
among you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you were strangers in
the land of Egypt: "(19:33-4)
	Furthermore, during this election season we are very concerned with the
state and future of America. We are well aware of the depressed state of
the economy here in our back yard, in the Silicon Valley.  You ask, how can
we help others, we we can't
even help ourselves?  Yes, individually we may not make a change in the
world.  But together as The Church we can.  The Holy Church is the Body of
ChristÑthe hands, feet, mouth of ChristÑto do the work, to walk the road
and to speak for justice.
	Last month an airlift to Armenia and Russia was organized (see flyer
inside).  Here you see the work of the Church.  The many parts of the body
coming together and helping.  This is the power of Christ's Holy Church in
action.  This is the
challenge to which we are all called as Christians, and especially us
ÑChristian Armenians who have known hunger, discrimination and persecution.
	
	Thanksgiving is an opportunity for us to give thanks to God for our many
blessings.  Although every Sunday in our Church is a Thanksgiving, it is
one of the conveniences of life to have a designated day, this year on
November 26.
	Let us join together in offering our thanks to God for the blessings we
have here in the United States of America.  Let us be thankful and not take
for granted our place and status.  We have the opportunity to make money
and get ahead.  But our
money and our status is only as good as its ability to bring about a
positive change in this world.  And that change comes only with the Power
of Christ vested in His Holy Church.  May your thanks be coupled with a
prayer for God to waken the
strength and power within you to help others.
	--Fr. Vazken

Faith and works should travel side by side, step answering to step, like
the legs of men walking. First faith, and then works; and then faith again,
and then works againÑuntil you can scarcely distinguish which is the one
and which is the
other.	--William Booth
	

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c. 1992 Fr. Vazken Movsesian
Address comments to: dervaz@sain.org