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 -------------------------------------- Christmas 85 PASTOR'S MESSAGE The Christmas Season is upon us. We are given every opportunity in America to enjoy that Christmas Season. It is the life-giving season: The entire nation's retail economy relies on this time. There are fantastically unusual opportunities given us during this season. According to the newspaper ads Payless wishes us a Merry Christmas, Macys has Christmas rugs for every one of our rooms, Sears wants us to "wrap us a beautiful Christmas," Vallco has one stop shopping for Christmas. Before you give up on this article: I am not writing against the commercialization of ChristmasÉ Heaven ForbidÉ Gifts, stores, commercials, and Christmas have always gone togetherÉ Rather I wish to issue a complaint. It is in regard to the use of the word "Christmas." You see, I use the root of the word all year long: CHRIST. I'm happy that all of the stores use his name in their advertising, perhaps it might work the other way around as well and the consumer may start thinking about Christ? In any case, I'm glad they use His name so freely, it was given to us freely. What does disturb me though is this: when I use the name of Christ in our Church, we are referring to a certain Man and all that he taught us. When we (the stores and all of us) use the word "Christmas" (the event developed around that same Man) He is noticably and/or unnoticably missing from the action. Where is the Christ in Christmas? We use His name to refer to this holiday, why not find Him? It becomes our responsibility to tell the world about Him--the Christ in Christmas. So what do we tell the world? What's the story of Christmas? Away in a manger, no crib for His bedÉ Well maybe. We can tell that story but it is not the central Christmas story. Bethlehem, the three wise men, the shining star (or was it Halley's comet), those are all secondary details. The main Christmas story is found in the gospel of St. John: "And the WORD became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father!" (1:14). THE WORD BECAME FLESH. The LIGHT OF THE WORLD has come to take us out of our darkness. A new opportunity is given us: not for one stop shopping, nor for Christmas carpeting, but an opportunity to LIVE! An opportunity to Live in Light! An opportunity to become children of God! "To all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God" (Jn. 1:12). Best of all, He gives this all free of charge. That's right F-R-E-E! Now where can you beat that deal. Not even with $25 worth of purchase at Alpha Beta can you get a deal like that. It's the kind of gift that is given, and an example of the way giving at Christmas should be: unconditional, without expectations. Jesus tells us (Luke 14:12f), When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your kinsmen or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return, and you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. You will be repaid at the resurrection of the just! After reading this passage, we see why it is so difficult to be Christian in America--where's the profit motive? But what a beautiful expression of Christmas--to give without any expectations. Nothing in return. It's what Christ wants for His Birthday, if you will. This is the meaning of Christmas Giving. To give, not token items, but things that matter, things that show care and concern. God cared enough for the world, He loved the world, that He sent His only Son. What does He ask in return--that we love one another, unconditionally, wholeheartedly. Where do we start? 1) Do something for someone that has no possible means to repay you. Believe me, you won't have to wait long for your reward -- you'll feel it immediately. 2) Those of us who gather together with the family for Christmas can surely think of a few people, perhaps new families in the area, who would be delighted to share in a family meal. 3) Our Church's collection of food, clothing, and toys is an opportunity for everyone to get involved. This will be distributed to families in the area. Give and give generously -- foods that you and your family would eat, clothes that you wouldn't feel ashamed to wear. Bring them down to the Church. 4) Our ACYO's Christmas caroling, goes into the homes of the elderly and shut-ins. Come and join, volunteer your car, your service, your voice. 5) (Fill in your own) Finally, there is a monetary side to Christmas. It goes without saying, that your church is active in many programs throughout the year, helping, reaching out and ministering to many. Your financial donations ensure that this work get done. We all can't go to Etiopia to feed the starving, we can't go to Columbia to help survivors of volcano, but we can do the next best thing, by sending our hard earned money. In the same way, we ask you to remember your church and all that it does throughout the year. When you receive your Christmas offering envelope, please be generous in your offering. Let us open our hearts this Christ season. Let us remember that God gave first -- unconditionally, to all -- let us give in that same spirit. Let us put the CHRIST in CHRISTmas. My wife Susan joins me in wishing all our parishioners and friends a very Happy New Year and a Blessed Christmas. KRISTOS DZUNAV YEV HAYNEVETZAV CHRIST IS BORN AND REVEALED! Prayerfully, Fr. Vazken Movsesian -------------------------------------- c. 1986 Fr. Vazken Movsesian Address comments to: dervaz@sain.org --------------------------------------