On Tuesday, May 6, Der Nareg led the second session of his transformative 6-part series entitled, “Pasta with our Pastor.” This unique and powerful series delves into the connection between Armenian Chirstian spirituality and psychology, while enjoying a delicious meal, lovingly prepared by Yn. Annie and Der Nareg.
During Tuesday evening’s session, over 35 parishioners gathered to share a heavenly Cacio-de-pepe and Orrechiette with sausage, with Arpie Bezdikian bringing her mastery of Italian cuisine to prepare the meal alongside Yn. Annie. With our appetites heartily satisfied, Der Nareg began the session aimed at nourishing our souls and minds. The evening’s focus was on “Emotional Well-being and Spiritual Growth.”
During the first session , Der Nareg’s core message was that the foundational tenet in our holistic journey of physical, emotional and spiritual well-being is the deep understanding that our core identity and purpose is realized through our union with Christ, who is the way. Der Nareg helped us to understand that this truth is not just theological – it is deeply personal in terms of our relationship with God and ourselves.
During this past Tuesday's second session, Der Nareg built upon this core tenet to help us embrace this truth in navigating the emotional healing process, which is vital for authentic spiritual growth. Emotional wounds are an inevitable part of the human experience. But healing them is not a solitary effort; it is spiritual work. As we repair our relationship with ourselves—with our past, our pain, and our patterns—we open space to deepen our relationship with God. And at the heart of the connection between our emotional health and spiritual growth lies the deeper truth that our identity is rooted in being the beloved Children of God.
In this way, our spiritual growth and emotional health share a symbiotic relationship: the more deeply we see ourselves as loved children of God following Christ’s way, the better equipped we are to confront and work through our emotional wounds with love, compassion, and forgiveness for ourselves and others around us. Through this healing process in which we enable Christ to truly save us, we find purpose and the way in Christ. Our emotional restoration becomes a sacred act—one that draws us even closer to God. When nurtured together, our spiritual growth and emotional health form a powerful foundation for wholeness and transformation.
With tremendous wisdom and understanding, Der Nareg has intentionally designed a series that holistically integrates the enrichment of our body, mind, and soul, with our faith at the very foundation of our well-being. Please join us for this transformative experience. We look forward to seeing you next Tuesday for Part 3, focusing on, “The Role of the Holy Spirit in Mental Health.”
We also wish to express our heartfelt appreciation for our generous sponsors of the weekly meals.