“There are three ways to ultimate success: The first way is to be kind. The second way is to be kind. The third way is to be kind.”

~ Fred Rogers

By Mary O’KEEFE

Leading with this philosophy of Fred Rogers’, a dinner hosted on Sunday by the Crescenta Valley Armenian Community and Youth Center was deemed a success.

The idea was to gather people from different cultures who would reach out to those in need. The Armenian Center partnered with the Crescenta Cañada Lions Club and St. Luke’s of the Mountains Episcopal Church to share a meal with those in the community who are struggling. The meal, held on the eve of Armenian Christmas and the Feast of the Epiphany, was the first time an outreach project was held at the church by the Crescenta Valley Armenian Community and Youth Center.

“We want to thank you all for coming,” said Sarkis Garabetian, of the outreach committee for the Center, to those gathered. “We know this is a very difficult time.”

Since this was the first year that the Center hosted this type of event, there was uncertainty as to how many people would take part in the free turkey dinner.

“If we have one person show up or 100 or 500 we will feed them,” Garabetian said prior to the doors opening.

But any concerns that no one would show up soon melted away as St. Luke’s Sadler Hall began to fill with people, all ready to share a meal.

The dinner began with a blessing from St. Luke’s Episcopal priest Antonio Gallardo and CV Armenian Apostolic Church priest Father Ghevont. Arick Gevorkian played traditional and non-traditional holiday music on an accordion, which added to the festive spirit.

St. Luke’s of the Mountains has an English and Spanish service. Members of both congregations joined the dinner. The date of the event, Jan. 5, was chosen due to its significance to the Armenian and the Latino communities.

The meal was a cross-cultural feast that included a Three Kings Cake. This celebrates the visit made by the Three Wise Men to the baby Jesus. Inside the cake are dolls of baby Jesus. Luck and prosperity is said to be with those who find a doll in their piece of cake.

Santa Claus also stopped by on Sunday and handed out presents, courtesy of the organizers.

“Everything you see was donated,” Garabetian said.

The dinner reflected what the Christmas season is about – accepting others, celebrating with friends and reaching out to those in need. No doubt anyone visiting Sadler Hall on Sunday afternoon would be impressed with how embracing all were as the sounds of Spanish, English and Armenian were heard throughout the room.

At the end of the event, Father Ghevont performed the Blessing of the Water that commemorates the baptism of Christ. The ceremony ended with those who wished coming forward to kiss the cross. Then everyone went home with a small vial of water that was blessed.

Garabetian thanked all those who helped with the event including the ACF Armenian Cultural Foundation, the Meher and Satig der Ohanessian Youth Center Outreach Committee, ARS Armenian Relief Society, AYF Armenian Youth Federation, Homenetmen Armenian General Athletic and Scout Organization and CV Armenian Apostolic Church as well as Crescenta Cañada Lions Club and St. Luke’s of the Mountains Episcopal Church.

To see more photos, visit www.cvweekly.com/NEWS.

  Mary Okeefe