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. 1992 Fr. Vazken Movsesian Address comments to: dervaz@sain.org -------------------------------------- Parish Priest's Message Beyond gum diseaseÉ When questioned about His disciple's behavior, Jesus told the Pharisees, "It is not what enters one's mouth that defiles that person; but what comes out of the mouthÉ" (Matt. 15:11) This year, I ask our parishioners to take the Lenten practice one step beyond dietary intake and focus not only on what enters the mouth, but what comes out of the mouth. Observe our "human interface." Far beyond the capabilities of modern computers, the human model has the ability to process multiple inputs (audio, video, & sensory) simultaneously and provide output via the mouth. Input data is raw and pure while the output has been screened and processed. When we speak, we bring a large part of ourselves and our biases into a statement and this, unfortunately, brings with it its share of problems. An old Armenian proverb tells us that the wound caused by the sword will heal, but not so the wounds caused by the tongue. Our Church fathers warn us of the dangers of the tongue in the confession Ñ expressions of anger, of discontent, lying, making false oaths, and of course the Big "G" Ñ Gossip! Going back to the human inter-face, the problem with gossip is that it involves the processing of information by many sources and here, information is mutilated and destroyed. One of our members recently spoke to me about a rumor control system at the company where he works. This was appealing to me. We hear rumors and seldom have control over them. I wish in the Armenian Church we could have a mechanism of controlling rumors. In church life, because so many of us, of different personalities, are concerned with the welfare of our parish, it is easy to exaggerate a situation and over emphasize problems. Rumors undergo a snowballing effect, and before you know it, they're full-blown-out-of-proportion problems. The best way to avoid rumors is to not start them or not to participate in their spread. The best way to have a rumor addressed or answered is either to go to its source or to the top. As Pastor of St. Andrew, I always appreciate it when you, the parishioners, ask me about a rumor or story you have heard. It tells me that you're concerned about its spread and that you're dealing with it in an ethical manner. Just as we are responsible for our actions, we must remember that we are accountable for our words as well. When we speak, we are doing much more than exchanging an idea. Our words communicate, and more often than not, they communicate something about ourselves rather than others. Jealousy, discontent, envy are expressed in our words and these, of course, hinder our efficient functioning within this world. Use the Lenten Season as a period for inner reflection. As much as you observe what goes into you, observe the feelings and expressions that come out of you. These past few months have been exciting times for the St. Andrew parish. Things have been moving at a phenomenal pace. Every group is functioning and activities are always happening. Financially, we are faced with raising $11,000 each month ($6K mortgage+$5K operations). Thank God, we have been able to meet our obligations, though many times it has been close. I am proud of the many families who accepted the call to pledge to the mission of our church here in the Santa Clara Valley. If you have not yet done so, we are asking for pledgesÑ promisesÑ of $10, $20, $50, $100 (or any amount you desire), on a monthly basis. We have often claimed that we do so much with so little here at St. Andrew. The achievements we have accomplished, despite the earthquakes, the recession, the Valley's economy, should tell us that God is with us. And by His Grace, we will be consecrating our church on May 16 & 17. This is a day of victory and celebration. Our consecration committee is working hard to insure this event will be filled with memories for a lifetime. We look forward to a spectacular celebration, as it must be-- we are dedicating this building to the service of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. May God bless your Lenten journey and you always. Ð --Fr. Vazken -------------------------------------- c. 1992 Fr. Vazken Movsesian Address comments to: dervaz@sain.org --------------------------------------