A New Hope

Posted on by Lisa Bell

We having been praying for our neighbor, Hope Lutheran Church, for the past few months, as they studied, prepared and voted on taking the faithful step of becoming in word and deed a Reconciling in Christ [their version of Open and Affirming] congregation within the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA).

The congregation voted overwhelmingly in favor of Reconciling in Christ (72% for). Now the work begins for them. There was the expected loss of some congregants. There is the challenge of maintaining the ministry and mission of the church that remains unchanged: reflecting the love of God now even more fully and faithfully.

Hope Lutheran is a strong and faithful congregation. They have an excellent hunger ministry. We take our contributions of food for our narthex to their pantry for distribution to those in need.

We had the great opportunity and privilege of contributing testimony of our experience at an informational session at Hope a couple of months ago. We hope to be an encouragement to our sibling congregation through prayer and anything else they need during this moment of transition. Please pray for them ceaselessly.

Note: We of Community United Church of Christ will be celebrating our 21st anniversary of our faithful response to God’s call to be Open and Affirming at our COMING OF AGE banquet on Friday, April 26, 2019 beginning at 6 p.m. in Hayden Hall.

Peace,

Pastor Ara

A Message from Pastor Ara: God Comes to Us — the Birth of Jesus

Posted on by Lisa Bell

We need at least four weeks to unwrap the gift of Jesus. I have been unwrapping for 40-plus years, in a serious way, this gift of God in flesh appearing. It is a most wonderful endeavor.

This year Robin and I will be gathering with all who show up to consider the four Gospel ways that the gift is received. In our more efficient way, we have a fifth story of welcoming the Christ child, as witnessed in the Nativity scenes that include all the major characters at the same time and place, cows, sheep, shepherds, wise ones, Joseph, Mary, and the babe lying in a manger.

I am ready to hear the sixth story, your story. Join us on Sundays, Tuesday’s or Wednesday’s this Advent season, beginning this Sunday evening with dinner.

We have three locations, and three times and days for you to attend. We will be discussing the four Gospel accounts of Jesus’ birth/The Divine present with us.

Sign up for Sunday evenings at 5 p.m.; Thursday evenings at 7 p.m. at the Pressley’s home in the Tower District; or Wednesday afternoon at 2 p.m. at Patty Parks’ in Sunnyside. Robin or Ara will be the facilitators. The Study begins on the first Sunday of Advent, Dec. 2.

I am also on the edge of my seat, as I await ‘the Hanging of the Greens’ on Sunday morning.

Another great way to hear a sixth story is by daily reading the Advent Devotional produced in partnership with First Congregational Church (Big Red). Paper copies will be available on Sunday and each day’s devotional will be posted on our website and Facebook page.

Peace,
Pastor Ara

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A message from Pastor Ara

Posted on by Lisa Bell

It has been my great joy to serve with others throughout the world during 34 years of pastoral ministry. I took my first trip to Armenia in 2003. I thought it would be my one trip, but here I am at trip No. 15.

This one is different: little work and a lot of celebration.

Usually, my group works on a house in the village of Lusaghbyur. We have finished 16 houses in a village destroyed by the earthquake of 1988. There were only four habitable structures remaining, out of 240+ after the ground stopped rolling.

My former congregation established a sister church relationship with a church in Gyumri. Over the years, we purchased chairs, refinished hardwood floors, equipped a computer lab, donated a projector, replaced lighting and purchased a piano.

We have started several businesses. We have purchased cars for pastors. We have encouraged several young people to go to college and pursue advanced degrees, in word and deed ($).

I have done weddings, baptisms, preached, celebrated communion. This trip I celebrate the fruit borne of over a decade of nurture.

On Sunday, Sept. 30, we dedicate a new sanctuary and community center in Gyumri. The following Sunday, we attend the wedding of a young woman we encouraged through college. I have known Anna since she was 8 years old. It will be a great party.

Finally, a bit of work, several Fresnans are sending the resources to buy a delivery van for Grand Hope, a ministry that takes donated goods from the capital to the border villages of Armenia.

Please pray for me and the 11 fellow travelers. See you on Sunday, Oct. 14, in worship at Robinson Park for our congregation’s second annual Blessing of the Animals (more details to come).

Please allow me to introduce myself

Posted on by Lisa Bell

I am Ara, Pastor Ara. I have served as a pastor for over 34 years, most recently as interim pastor/head of staff at First Congregational Church

Prior to Big Red, I was pastor/head of staff at Pilgrim Armenian Congregational Church, a multi-staffed ethnic and long-established congregation in Fresno, CA. I also serve part-time as the chaplain for Bright Horizon Hospice.

I love what I have been called to do. This is my second interim position, so although I will touch things, I am very aware of being gentle so I don’t break anything. Pray for me, please.

I am a YES person. I say yes, then do all I can to do it. “Can we, pastor?”  Sometimes I take a moment to think, if I or we haven’t done it before. Then “Sure,” say I.

Being a lifelong Presbyterian and a long-serving pastor in a congregational church, it is easier to say YES, for there is a council or session to say wait, … And a strong group to make the Yes talk a reality.

I am a Mission person. I talk a lot, a part of the job, sure. Ask my family, I am rarely at a loss for words.

Talk is easy, action is hard. I endeavor to match my deed to my word. By the grace and power of God, I have been able to live an integrated life.

I have been to many places, rarely as a tourist. There are always siblings to relate to and work with as we seek to reflect the love of Christ. I look forward to the places we will go in 2018 and 2019.

I serve on the board of directors of the Armenian Missionary Association of America, the mission arm of the Armenian Evangelical Union of (mostly UCC) congregations of the Americas. I have a couple of ongoing projects in Armenia and Buenos Aires, Argentina. I hope to visit South Korea again in 2019. This time to Daejeon, South Korea, where a friend and colleague is establishing a great work, I pray.

I am vice moderator and Stewardship Committee chair of the Presbytery of San Joaquin. There I am planning a local mission project and a week-long project in El Salvador. Again, I solicit your prayers.

Finally, some fun stuff. I am, along with Diane Wieble (our conference minister) and millions of others, a St. Louis Cardinal fan, have been since 1967.

I am a 58-year-old grandfather. I am not a rational, reasonable person around the grandson, Zekiel.

I wear interesting socks. No gifts of socks, please (unless you clear it with Vivy, my wife). My rather large sock drawer is overflowing.

The music here is exceptional. I appreciate most genres of music, but my personal non-worship playlist would include the Clash, Peter Gabriel, the Ramones, Rage Against the Machine and Radiohead.

I enjoy film. I go to the movies on my day off and I was able to attend the most recent Fresno Filmworks Festival for the first time this past year, Great Joy.

I am available. This call — as the four previous — is my priority (that is why no film festival before). Call, text or email me. My cell number is 559.862.3874. I put my phone on vibrate around 10 pm and back to ring around 7 am. Occasionally I forget, because I am a forgiven sinner, a broken creature, restored and occasionally put to good use by his creator, redeemer and sustainer.