Halloween/Saints Day – “Key” Message

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Parish Priest’s Message from the “Key” Newsletter – 30 October 2011
                                                                                         
All Saints Day is celebrated in all ancient Christian traditions, including the Armenian Church. In Western traditions it is on a fixed date, November 1, and therefore the night before, October 31, is All Saints Eve, translated to “all hallow’s eve” and say it fast enough, it comes out as “Halloween.”
Today the celebration of Halloween is mixed with all kinds of traditions of fun, tricks or treats, candy, tooth decay, pumpkins turned jack-o-lanterns, scary costumes, movies and parties. It’s a time of celebration. It’s a time to put aside inhibitions and try the absurd. And why not?
Think of the saints. Their lives were exemplary. Why? Because they shared Christ’s victory. Our Lord says, “Courage, the victory is mine! I have overcome the world!” (John 16) The saints lived a life of courage. The path they took – choosing death over life at times – seemed absurd by human stan-dards, but in the end, that courage and willingness to spread the Love of God is what allowed them to participate in victory – the Victory of the Resurrection, the Victory of Christ.
Halloween is nothing to be ashamed of nor is it to be feared. Like anything else, once we educated ourselves we can better understand and participate in this celebration.
Use this opportunity – to celebrate the saints, to study the lives of the saints, to participate in the courage and the victory that comes with a life in Christ Jesus. Happy Hallows’ Eve/ Happy All Saints Day!
~ Fr. Vazken
This message is elaborated at www.youtube.com/armodoxy
*The “Key” is the weekly newsletter of the St. Peter Armenian Church, Glendale, CA – Jesus asked the Disciples, “Who do YOU say that I am?”  Peter responded “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” Jesus promised the Keys to the Kingdom for this profession of faith. (Mt 16)  At the St. Peter, Glendale Parish, our faith and actions are based on that same profession of faith. It is the Key that opens the doors to our journey as Christians…

Virtual Reality Check via Christ

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Next Step #177 – October 27, 2011

The Next Step runner gives cause for a metaphysical test which then leads to a reality check. Virtual reality in cases of images, concepts and God are checked by the reality around us. Can God be checked? Christ gives us a sure-fire method of making God real in our lives. Identity check with the Armenian and Christian realities. More on the family as the story of sacrifice unfolds.
Kicking Cancer and Kicking off Team In Her Shoes
Listen to In His Shoes Radio
Song: Forever Young by Norah Jones at Apple Steve Jobs Memorial: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdFt2KFcZdQ
Ani’s Bubbles: Happy Celebrations at Halloween
Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for epostle.net
Look for The Next Step on blubrry.com

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Discovery of the Cross – “Key” Message

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Parish Priest’s Message from the “Key” Newsletter – 23 October 2011
                                                                                         
When referring to our Parish, people invariably comment on our outreach programs. To us, that outreach is a definition of our Christian responsibility. It is accented further by our Armenian ethnic makeup. That is, we understand Christ’s challenge to reach out to the “least of His brothers” (Matthew 25) but the invitation is even more compelling because as Armenians we have stood “In the shoes” of these brothers and sisters. For we were once homeless, hungry, thirsty, naked, in prison and naked. We were, in fact, the survivors of terror, war and genocide. How can we ever forget our past? And so, that past defines our today.
Today’s feast, The “Discovery of the Holy Cross” points to an event in history when the actual Holy Cross of Christ was found. Our forefathers found strength and victory in that cross. The outreach that defines our ministry is the modern “crosses” that we continually discover around us. Whether on a global scale, like the work we do with refugees of the Darfuri genocide, or the atrocities in our back yard expressed in domestic violence, or just reaching out on the streets of LA through our monthly homeless feed, the cross of Christ is revisited by our parishioners.
Today is an opportunity to once again dedicate our lives to Christ’s Holy Cross—the One at Calvary and the One that we discover in our lives today. My prayer today is that God give each of us the strength and the courage to discover and carry our crosses – in our individual lives and the collective life of our community and world.
~ Fr. Vazken
This message is elaborated at www.youtube.com/armodoxy
*The “Key” is the weekly newsletter of the St. Peter Armenian Church, Glendale, CA – Jesus asked the Disciples, “Who do YOU say that I am?”  Peter responded “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” Jesus promised the Keys to the Kingdom for this profession of faith. (Mt 16)  At the St. Peter, Glendale Parish, our faith and actions are based on that same profession of faith. It is the Key that opens the doors to our journey as Christians…

For Marriage and Children Too?

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Next Step #176 – October 20, 2011

The discussion about end times consumes this podcast – but not all about the Rapture! Once again, the headlines discredit the Christian church by throwing the baby out with the bath water. Two Catholicoi land on the North American continent; Marriage is losing and so are the children as modern family life looks beyond the children it produces. Beginnings of a discussion/dialog about the forgotten children.
Story of Stacie Crimm’s sacrifice
Song: “Fire of your Love” by Hover
Ani’s Bubble: Questions for God.
Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for epostle.net
Look for The Next Step on blubrry.com

This Episode is Sponsored by Nicholas & Janine Economides

Holy Evangelists “Key” Message

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Parish Priest’s Message from the “Key” Newsletter – 16 October 2011
                                                                                         
The Good News is that God loves you! (John 3:16) He loves you so much that He gives you life and life abundantly. (John 10:10) And… he wants you to enjoy His Love for eternity. (John 11:26) This IS the Good News. It is THE “gospel” message that the early Evangelists proclaimed and continues to be THE message of the Christian Church.
This week the Armenian Church celebrates the Holy Evangelists: Sts. Matthew, Mark, Luke & John. The four Gospels in the New Testament bear these names and give the account of Christ’s life in our world. The Gospel is the unchanged today. It is the message of love, faith and hope. The Gospel is alive and touching us in our ministry at our parish. Today, the invitation is extended for all of us, to read the gospels and make the Gospel real in our lives.
… The reading today points to the “Mission Statement of the Christian Church. It was for this purpose that Jesus came to this world. It is for this purpose that we continue this Holy Work.
Today’s reading from the Gospel of Luke 4:17 and following:
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
~ Fr. Vazken
This message is elaborated at www.youtube.com/armodoxy
*The “Key” is the weekly newsletter of the St. Peter Armenian Church, Glendale, CA – Jesus asked the Disciples, “Who do YOU say that I am?”  Peter responded “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” Jesus promised the Keys to the Kingdom for this profession of faith. (Mt 16)  At the St. Peter, Glendale Parish, our faith and actions are based on that same profession of faith. It is the Key that opens the doors to our journey as Christians…

Surreal Church: So close and Yet so Far Away

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Next Step #175 – October 13, 2011

The Church today is so close and yet so far away. Fr. Vazken gives a view from the 8th floor of the medical building, looking over Little Armenia, watching a Pontiff and the children he visits. The weekly feasts of the Holy Evangelists comes as a reminder to The Gospel and The Mission of the Christian Church. In His Shoes and Armodoxy as expression of that mission today – hear how. (More on the visit of Catholicos Aram in last week’s NS #174)
Music: “Vagharshapati Bar” by Khatchadour Avedissian
Ani’s Bubbles: “The Sparrow at Starbucks”
Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for epostle.net
Look for The Next Step on blubrry.com

This Episode is Sponsored by Nicholas & Janine Economides

Translators – “Key” Message

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Parish Priest’s Message from the “Key” Newsletter – 9 October 2011
                                                                                         
A big thank you to all of you who have been praying for those in the local abortion clinic. I wish to share with you a moving message from Geri Urrutia:
“This morning during our regular prayer and counseling, we had two couples turn away. One couple went in with a stroller and their 8-month-old daughter, but came down in a matter of 10 minutes with tears streaming down the mother’s face. “I can’t do this. Thank you for being here.” Dad was pleased and happy, too. The other couple came with their young son in a stroller. While I talked to you, mom said to the father, “See, I don’t think we should be doing this. Let’s go.” The father thanked us and said, “If you weren’t here, we would have just gone up and had the abortion. Thanks. All the prayers are spilling over.”
God bless all of your who have been participating in the 40 days of prayer. You’re making a difference. Let us never discount the power of prayer, nor take our actions for granted. Ours is to pray and leave the rest to God.
This coming week, we begin counselor training for our domestic violence hot-line. If you’re interested, this will be the last opportunity to sign up for the current session. Please contact me by mid week.
…
Unique to the Armenian Church is the Feast of the Holy Translators. This week we commemorate the men who translated and passed along the faith to us. From Mesrob Mashdots to Nersess Shnorhali, these saints were the ones who brought us the message of salvation and hope as expressed through our Lord Jesus Christ.
The spirit of the Translators is very much alive in the work we do at our parish. Most notably in our efforts via epostle.net. Please be supportive of this powerful ministry with your donations and prayers.
~ Fr. Vazken
This message is elaborated at www.youtube.com/armodoxy
*The “Key” is the weekly newsletter of the St. Peter Armenian Church, Glendale, CA – Jesus asked the Disciples, “Who do YOU say that I am?”  Peter responded “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” Jesus promised the Keys to the Kingdom for this profession of faith. (Mt 16)  At the St. Peter, Glendale Parish, our faith and actions are based on that same profession of faith. It is the Key that opens the doors to our journey as Christians…

Yettem in Glendale – “Key” Message

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Parish Priest’s Message from the “Key” Newsletter – 2 October 2011
                                                                                         
We’re pleased to welcome the priest and parishioners of the St. Mary Armenian Church of Yettem, California to Glendale and to our church. A few months back a group of us visited St. Mary as a pilgrimage. We prayed with the congregation there and enjoyed the very warm Yettem hospitality.
Yettem was one of the first communities to be established by immigrants from Armenia. And here, Glendale is one of the last communities to be established by Armenians escaping persecution and unrest in the Middle East. Glendale is home to one of the largest population of Armenians outside of Armenia.
Today, as we celebrate the Holy Divine Liturgy, we bring together generations and communities. We become a witness to the power of love and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, to bring peace and stability to a hurting world.
Welcome Fr. Vartan and parishioners of Yettem to Glendale. My your pilgrimage to this holy house be blessed. Your brothers and sisters greet you in love and harmony.
—
The week in brief: We launched the 40 days of prayer for Abortionists in the Glendale area. Our Primate, Abp. Hovnan has blessed the outreach by proclaiming a season of “Healing through prayer.”
Further, we launched our Domestic Violence Action committee. By the grace of God we should see the Hotline launched before the Christmas season.
Thanks to everyone for all the support at the annual festival last weekend. And congratulations to our Epostle staff for their constant move forward! 
Please continue to pray for your church and her ministry.            ~ Fr. Vazken

*The “Key” is the weekly newsletter of the St. Peter Armenian Church, Glendale, CA – Jesus asked the Disciples, “Who do YOU say that I am?”  Peter responded “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” Jesus promised the Keys to the Kingdom for this profession of faith. (Mt 16)  At the St. Peter, Glendale Parish, our faith and actions are based on that same profession of faith. It is the Key that opens the doors to our journey as Christians…