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. 1990 Fr. Vazken Movsesian Address comments to: dervaz@sain.org -------------------------------------- September 1990 As Iraq has held the headlines during the past month, fear and anxiety have grabbed a hold of us with war becoming more and more probable every day. Here at St. Andrew it caused us great concern to learn that members of our own Stephanian family had been detained in Bagdad. Thank God, at this writing they have been released and reunited with their husband and father Hagop Stephanian here in San Jose. Although, we know that wars boost economies and opportunities exist for some to make a profit from the death of the innocent, for the most part "civilized" man fears war, as do we. War is nothing new. Ever since man has recorded history we are aware of this primitive means of resolving disputes. Each incident has it's own threshold--the point at which someone says enough--when the tolerance for inequity ceases and freedom and honor are measured in terms of spilled blood. To borrow the phrase from the poet, "find the cost of freedom, buried in the groundÉ," everything has its price. The things so precious and valuable to us are those for which we pay dearly. I do not wish to lessen the seriousness of the situation of Iraq by drawing a parallel to our parish; however, in the grand scheme of things it is all part of the same equation. During the Summer, the parish council graciously offered me a leave of absence from my pastoral duties at St. Andrew. For two months I had a unique opportunity to reflect on our ministry and activities here. A few years ago, we as a community reached our threshold of tolerance. We needed bigger facilities. We made a decision to expand by building a new edifice. We began the construction project two -- count them TWO -- years ago. Not 20 years ago, not 10, not five, but TWO years ago. And yet, we are asked with puzzlement "Why is it taking so long?" {Sometimes I feel that I need to change my last name. No longer should I be Der Vazken Movsesian, rather Der Vazken Whenwillthechurchbedoneian!} The reality is that we are building a very special building that takes time and patience. I wish I had a magic wand. I wish I could tell you the neighbors are without complaints. I wish I could tell you the City will not pose any more obstacles. I wish I could tell you someone just donated a half-a-million dollars. BUT I CAN'T. But what I can tell you is what I've been saying all along: HAVE FAITH! "What man of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give things to those who ask him!" (Matt. 7:9-10). Since we began our building fund in 1985 we have raised over $1 Million. When we started, people asked, where will the money come from. Have faith! You cannot bargain with God! You cannot second guess God! When will the church be finished? When we have accepted the call of God! When we put our pettiness aside and truly believe and show that we are worthy of this building! When we accept the building is not for our glory but for the Glory of God! In the next few months, with God's help we will be moving into the new building. At this time we have monthly obligations of $5,000 on an outstanding construction loan. By next month, we will be making $6,000+ per month payments. We made a decision to build this building. Although we talk with dollar amounts, there is a cost to our building that cannot be measured by money standards. The real cost of the building is found in our response to God. What is the price we pay for God's goodness to us? It is a choice each of us must make and it is a choice just a critical as the choice between peace and war, between life and death! During the Summer our family journeyed through the Grand Canyon. I was standing near a cliff on the Southern rim, absorbing it all, when I heard this man behind me say to a friend, "It's incredible. I've never seen anything like it before, and I've seen them all." I looked back at this man expecting to see a man awe struck by the Canyon's beauty. Instead he was talking about a Cadillac parked there. Its "incredibility" described an altered front-end design. I could have searched in all the anecdote-for-sermon books and never found such a perfect story to express the sickening disease that plagues us all. Our senses have become so dull that we turn our heads to God's grandeur and opt for inanimate dead metal. God gives us life! God gives us health! God gives us love! God gives us eternity through Christ Jesus! There is a price for this. Nothing is free! Unlike other churches, the Armenian Church does not enforced any ridged plan of giving/pledging. The time has come for some decisions to be made and this practice to change. There is a cost to every thing. The Old Testament speaks of 10% of a person's income being set aside for the Lord. This may be difficult for us all at once. Therefore I am calling on families to give 5% of their annual income to the Church. I am asking that families sit down together, count their blessings and consider a budget for the Church. There is no excuse for an Armenian Church, particularly here in the Valley, to be in debt. We live in one of the most affluent areas in America. Consider pledging a specific amount. Even $1,000 over 3 years amounts to less than $1/day! Is God not worth the price of Coke, the price of a bag of french fries? What will you get in return? A Church. A Family. Life. Value. Worth. The cost of life. You will be able to see the canyon and not the Cadillac. Do not wait until it is too late. Please call me, or a parish council member and let us know of your pledge as soon as possible. In closing, let us remember Iraq in our prayers. Our men and women in uniform on the Saudi desert know there is a cost to freedom just as we know there is a cost for everything that is dear and precious in our lives. -Fr. Vazken -------------------------------------- c. 1990 Fr. Vazken Movsesian Address comments to: dervaz@sain.org -------------------------------------- Daylight Again by Stephen Stills Daylight again Following me to bed I think about a hundred years ago How my Fathers bled I think I see a valley Covered with bones in blue All the brave soldiers that cannot get older Been asking after you Hear the past a'calling From Armageddon's side When everyone's talking and no one is listening How can we decide Do we find the cost of freedom Buried in the ground Mother Earth will swallow you Lay your body down.