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. 1986 Fr. Vazken Movsesian Address comments to: dervaz@sain.org -------------------------------------- NEW IMPROVED--SUNDAY SCHOOL Our Sunday School opened it's doors for the new semester on September 27, 1987. On this occassion I wish to share with you some of my thoughts and concerns. As a Church community we are faced with the responsibility of passing the Christian Traditions of our Holy Church to our youth. Sunday School is of course a direct means of achieving our goal. Five years ago, hen I came to this parish, Sunday School classes were being held every other week. That first year, with Yeretzgin's help, we organized classes on a regular basis, teaching Bible basics and Armenian Church traditions. For three years we operated with three classes. However, we had some very real concerns. For starters, we did not have adequate room. Our facilities were, and still are, too small for proper classrooms. Secondly the time of Sunday School was wrong. It did not make sense! Here we were, the BODY of CHRIST, coming together to break bread and worship from Sunday to Sunday. We were a unified community except we were excluding our youth by putting them in Sunday School. For these reasons, two years ago we made a very important change at St. Andrew. We continued educating our youth but not on Sunday mornings. Sunday mornings became a time for all, young and old, to come together for the Divine Liturgy. It gladdens all our hearts today, when we see our church filled--as a "Family Church"--parents with their children. This year we will try something new. We will hold Sunday morning classes. Not during worship, but before. Class begins at 9:30 a.m. By 10:30, the students will be ready to enter the Church for worship. We will start off with one class (we still have the space problem), for ages 9-13. Lory Bedikian will be the teacher. The success of Sunday School, as well as all our youth projects, depends heavily upon the cooperation of parents. With all the fears and problems children grow up with today, the Church youth programs are even more important now. This year our Armenian language school has registered close to 50 students. I am confidents, Sunday School will also be a successful program. When Jesus said, "You are the salt of the earth, but if that salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltness be restored?", I believe He was referring to those like our children. Our youth are the flavor of our life! Let us insure that they will not lose their flavor--support our schools and youth projects. --Fr. Vazken -------------------------------------- c. 1986 Fr. Vazken Movsesian Address comments to: dervaz@sain.org --------------------------------------