Parish Priest’s Message from the “Key” Newsletter – 22 January 2012
Today’s scriptural passage comes to us from the first letter of St. Paul to Timothy. In it he writes, “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.”
Of course, as St. Paul writes to his colleague and young delegate, Timothy, he is reminding him that youth may lacks experience but it brings with it adventure and freshness.
We can easily attribute these same words to us, as a parish. For indeed, the St. Peter Armenian Church in Glendale is young. We are eight years old, having begun the parish in 2003. But, as if we were listening precisely to St. Paul’s words, we are setting “an example for believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.”
Our programs are a fresh adventure within the entire Armenian Church. We will let God be the judge of how effective our outreach is. Nevertheless, we have taken to heart the message that we must be the ambassadors and delegates of the Church (as Timothy was) and therefore our speech, conduct and actions must be grounded in “love, faith and purity.”
Sure, sometimes it’s difficult to reach these standards and we admit, we’re far from the ideal, yet as a young parish, we are laying the groundwork for the growth and development of the Christian community here in Glendale.
May God bless you all for your untiring efforts to aid the poor and helpless. May we always be inspired to keep it young and fresh.
~ 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…
