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Excerpts
from Pastor's Corner,
updated
Aug. 28, 2000
This summer, I once again
had the privilege of being asked to teach at the Nergess
Summer Study program at St. Vartan Camp. For me, it
is indeed a privilege to be entrusted with the minds
of the children of our Diocese. I and the other reachers,
realize that within this short, two week period, "ooour
kids" can receive more of an education in faith,
relationships, ethics, etc. than a year ofSunday school
classes or listening to sermons of their pastors.
One evening at a
discussion among teenager campers took place. These
were some of their comments and complaints:
-
Church is boring just sitting there.
- Keep the Divine Liturgy authentic- don't let society
break into the church.
- Learning must be developed with a personal relationship
of the priest and the person who wants to learn.
- There is an insecurity of parents speaking with
their kids about moral and ethical issues.
-
Parents want to discuss issues at their pace while
kids want to do it now.
- Parent/teen dialogues ought to take place within
the church setting.
- Sunday School curriculum does not allow for in-depth
discussions
The most surprising reply came when the group was
asked to whom do you go to if you need advise or
were in trouble? The overwhelming majority said
a firend- not their parents, not their priest, not
their teachers, but a friend. This even when the issue
was about the dangers of drugs; teen pregnancy, abortion,
or sex; issues of faith in God...
Our youth are
asking the adult community to see them and to listen
to them, to include them in the active life of the
Church, not simply as slave labor at our picnics and
bazaars.
Sometimes
adults will ask, where are the young people, why
don't they come? My response is to ask them, to
listen to them. Then when their answers are given,
to act upon their comments as a good parent would
whenever their child would say: I'm hungry and
cold. I'm frightened. I feel alone. I want to talk.
Let's play. I love you.
As
always, the choice is yours...
For more info: e-mail office@stsahmes.org
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Last Updated November 17, 2000 |
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The Electronic Age and the Armenian Churchman
The resourcefulness required of the Armenian Churchman to effectively
minister to his community has gone beyond the knowledge of Bible,
Sacraments, Counseling, History, etc. -the standard fare that
was and still is found in all of our seminaries. Today, a clergyman
must also have the necessary computer skills to give him access
to the world around him and to his parishioners who, most probably,
are all "on-line". This is most true with the school-age members
who may well know more about the myriad of web sites than the
names of the state capitals.
To
keep abreast of this technology, clergymen find they need to
devote time in learning how to use computers, familiarizing
themselves with basic computer operations such as e-mail services,
word processing, or desk-top publishing and clip art. Some Armenian
Churches have been fortunate to have individuals capable of
creating and maintaining web sites that serve as a valuable
tool of communication to parishioners and others. .
Pioneering
this effort was Fr. Vazken Movsesian of California, who created
the first web site of an Armenian Church www.sain.org
The St. Andrew Information Network back at the dawn of the
proliferation of this technology. Fr. Vazken has used this site
most effectively to publish religious articles, sermons and
other materials for the faithful. He also was the first to have
broadcast live over the Internet the Armenian Divine Liturgy
from Pasadena, CA on Easter morning, 2000. His vision for the
Church through technology can be read on-line at the web-site.
This technology is also at work at Sts. Sahag and Mesrob Armenian
Church, Providence, RI, The site www.stsahmes.org
sends its Sunday Bulletin, Parish Newsletter and special announcements
to well over 100 names of individuals who value the contact
with their home parish. The Pastor, Fr. Tateos Abdalian, states
that this is the only site where an individual can receive information
as to the meaning of Marriage or Baptism, Prayers for the Sick,
or Requiem Prayers, and apply for them on-line. The daily e-mail,
which ranges from 10 to 25 messages, is answered immediately
and provides efficiency in communication. The rebroadcast of
the Armenian Radio Hour of Rhode Island is appreciated especially
during the winter months as people travel to Florida and the
southern states.
It
is hoped that the faithful of the Armenian Church, who have
the skill and knowledge to enhance the work of our church and
clergy by the utilization of today's technology, will offer
themselves to their Pastors and parishes without hesitation.
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