Go Ask Alice

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Next Step #211 – June 21, 2012

 A 35 year old debt is paid back, across generations and across continents with the passing of two gracious ladies Alice & Freda.
Song: Yerginkn Ambel E by Artur Sedrakian
Compass: “Tit for Tat”
Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for epostle.net
Look for The Next Step on blubrry.com

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Fathers, Roles and Family – Fathers’ Day 2012

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Parish Priest’s Message from the “Key” Newsletter – 17 June 2012
                                                                                                               
It’s disheartening when we see how the role of father has deteriorated into something silly and even superfluous in society today. Television has done a good job of documenting the decline. People in my generation will remember Jim Anderson and Ward Cleaver who were the fathers who new best. A generation later, Archie Bunker was bigoted enough that you wanted to rid your house of him. Of course, Cosby was a fun dad, but was he necessary to the family? Murphy Brown had her child without the need of a father, and Homer Simpson threw fatherhood out with the bathwater.
 
Of course, art mimics reality. The family structure has changed; fatherhood has become an extra variable rather than a necessary constant in the family equation.
 
Traditionally, in the Armenian Christian family, mother and father have come together to raise children. In this model of parenting, father and mother compliment one another. Neither is dominant or submissive to the other. But for this model to work, Christ needs to be at the center of that family unit for “we are all one in Christ, Jesus.” It is for this reason the Armenian family is established as a sacrament called “Unity in Christ.”
 
 Last year, when the “Oprah Winfrey show ended it’s run of 25 years she was asked to what she attributed her success? Her answer: “My staff and Jesus.” She had the same formula our Church has had for 2000 years.
 
On this Fathers’ Day, my prayer is that we rededicate our family to Christ-centeredness. May Christ’s presence guide fathers and mothers in their God-ordained role to create vibrant and lively Christian families, filled with goodness always. – 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…
 archived:

Transit to & from Lamenting

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Next Step #209: Poet/writer Lory Bedikian interviewed on “Book of Lamenting” – Topics: difficulties, lament, life-travels and healing. More topics discussed by Fr. Vazken on this episode – by-passing evil and “going to Hell.” The Transit of Venus, on the Queen’s Jubilee – Her Majesty’s a pretty nice girl. “Etchmiadzin as Mission.” Epostle.net at the end of Year  #4 – what’s done and what awaits. A visitor from Down Under.
Book of Lamenting: http://www.anhinga.org/books/poet_info.cfm?poet_name=lory%20bedikian
Song: “Prayer of St. Gregory” by Alan Hovhaness
Ani’s Bubbles: “Doll Maker” – www.bacheegsandlove.blogspot.com
Silent Auction: https://www.facebook.com/events/280249275402685/
Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for epostle.net
Look for The Next Step on blubrry.com

Lory Bedikian

An unorthodox orthodoxy

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Next Step #208 – May 31, 2012

Artificially inseminated women bringing their children for baptism? Continuing on discussions of same sex unions, the next step with the children. Finding better weapons to bring about peace. Is it possible? Here’s a true story – Yvette’s website. The Mormon dilemma of the evangelical right.
Ani’s Bubbles: Strength & Weakness
Song: “As I am Alive” by Yeghish Manoukian (with Gregory Beylerian, dahm)
Silent Auction: https://www.facebook.com/events/280249275402685/
Yvette’s Website: www.inhisshoes.org/yvette
Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for epostle.net
Look for The Next Step on blubrry.com

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Carnal Ethics

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Next Step #207 – May 24, 2012

Beginning steps in sexual and reproductive ethics, in light of Obama’s evolutionary revelation. Expressions of gay lifestyle and tolerance through the Armodox lens. Another lens points to the Eclipse of the Sun. Reflections on the Pentecost feast and the descent of the Holy Spirit.
Song: “Amen. Hayr Sourp” by Vazkenian Seminarians
Ani’s Bubbles: How much do you make?
Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for epostle.net
Look for The Next Step on blubrry.com

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Cutting the string at Ascension

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Next Step #206 – May 17, 2012

The Feast of Ascension (Hambartzum) is celebrated as a reminder of Christ’s Great Commission, to take the Gospel message to the world. The power of God within our lives. Rejecting the superstitions of the destiny via Tumanian’s poem, Anush. An Ascension day experience: are pork-chops the menu-item of choice? Have you seen the little piggies…? Why is Jesus missing from the list of philosophers? Cutting the 7 knots that keep us captive.
Song: Excerpt from Anush Opera, live recording by Viola & Ben Choupak, Marineh Huntsman
Anush Opera in the UK: http://www.accc.org.uk/anoush
Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for epostle.net
Look for The Next Step on blubrry.com

Fr. Vazken removing the ‘tel’

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Chapter Books to the Rescue

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Next Step #205 – May 10, 2012

Obama evolves on homosexual marriages while others evolve on the genocide recognition. Gay and Lesbian Marriages and the Armodoxy Response; “Chapter” books have the answer. More on Mary Madelyn’s status update from the Holy Sepulcher. Armodoxy surfaces.
Song: “Sevani Tzugnors Baru” – 1970 Personal Recording
Ani’s Bubbles: Touchstone
Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for epostle.net
Look for The Next Step on blubrry.com

Post-Genocide “Key” Message

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Parish Priest’s Message from “The Key” – 29 April 2012
 
   This Sunday is a stop between two travels. Last week, we remembered the 1.5 million martyrs of the 1915 Genocide with commemoration events that took us to different places, primarily three college campuses: UCLA, USC and UCSB. At each of these stops we talked about our obligation and responsibility as Genocide survivors to speak out against injustice everywhere. If you haven’t done so yet, check out the videos at InHisShoes.org or our Facebook page. 
We were very encouraged by the response of the students. It reminded us about the original mission and charter we had as a parish, to be a youth ministry.
  The second part of our travels takes place this week as we head out to Arizona to participate in the Annual Diocesan Assembly, held at the St. Apkar church there. It’s a difficult transition for us to make. There we will be reminded of the backward thinking that dismantled much of our efforts here as a youth ministry. It’s not just the mentality that is so prominent, but it’s hearing about and seeing a church that is missing its calling as a Body of Christ and missing its potential.
   Thankfully our inspiration comes from the sacrifice of the Martyrs and the Resurrection of our People, both grounded in the promise of Jesus Christ. From that, I know, that wherever our travels take us, we have one mission and one focus. I ask for your prayers. Pray for our Church –  our church on the corner and the greater Armenian Church.
 
– Fr. Vazken
The “Key” is the weekly newsletter of the St. Peter Armenian Church in Glendale, California. 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…

The Traveling Genocide

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Next Step #203 – April 26, 2012

Stories from a week of commemorations. The UCSB Commemoration and the lonely Turk. Santayana and Hitler – an axiom delivered 15 years later. In a Rwandan museum and the Question “Which Genocide?” as humanity running backwards.The Misunderstood Jesus and the power of Armodoxy: Overcoming with the power of love. European education and community issues. A priests log of commemoration events – bringing it all together with solid answers for victory.
Links from today’s show:
In His Shoes: http://InHisShoes.org
Rwandan Genocide Blog: http://dervaz.blogspot.com/
Adam Schiff & Condoleezza Rice: http://youtu.be/OhF-y6k3AI8
April 24 in Etchmiadzin, Armenia: http://youtu.be/d1rJP2fbc38
Song: “Jesus” by Cat Stevens
Ani’s Bubbles: He needed me.
Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for epostle.net
Look for The Next Step on blubrry.com

Hayoo Acher

Conundrum of April

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Parish Priest’s Message from “The Key”* – 22 April 2012
It’s a conundrum, isn’t it? We just celebrated the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ a couple of weeks ago. Priests stood up from the altar area of all the Armenian Churches in the world the news was heralded, “Christ has Risen!” I know I did. And now, just weeks later, from the same altar areas we’re talking about death, evil and the ultimate expression of darkness, Genocide! 
Today we commemorate the 1.5 Million Armenians who perished at the hands of the Turks in 1915.
Since that time, there have been many geno-cides. Strange, isn’t’ it? We think we’re living in such advanced and modern times, yet we still resort to barbaric forms conflict resolution! Since the Armenian Genocide, there have been the Holocaust, Cambodia, Bosnia and Rwanda, just to name a few where the words “ethnic cleansing” are used. And today, there is the Genocide in Darfur!
We as Armenians KNOW the meaning of pain and suffering. We KNOW crucifixion. But we also KNOW resurrection, and as such we need to be equal witnesses to Crucifixion AND Resurrection. This is why, at our church, our efforts and our attention is not only on the past, but on the present. We’re calling for justices through-out the world through our In His Shoes Ministries. I thank you, as parishioners and parish administrators, for adopting this stand. We’re living out Christ’s commandment to be the LIGHT in the world. 
~ Fr. Vazken
To hear the entire message of the day listen to Next Step Episode #202 at www.epostle.net
 
*The “Key” is the weekly newsletter of the St. Peter Armenian Church in Glendale, California. 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…