Connecticut Post (Bridgeport, CT)
July 19, 2005 Tuesday

Pastor develops book discussion program in Easton

FELICIA HUNTER, Correspondent

EASTON — When several of the Rev. Nayiri Karjian’s parishioners
asked her about claims in a popular novel last summer, she realized
where religious education and personal growth are concerned, fielding
questions can be just as important as providing answers.

The queries centered on Dan Brown’s “The Da Vinci Code,” which posits
a matrimony between Jesus and Mary Magdalene.

“It was one book that many parishioners had read,” said Karjian,
pastor of Congregational Church of Easton. “They kept asking, ‘Is it
true? Is it true?’ So I thought it would be really fun to discuss
it.”

That discussion group led to others about other books in meetings
held monthly at Easton Public Library, with Karjian as facilitator.
She and library Director Bernadette Baldino select featured works.

Those talks have attracted many who are not members of the
Congregational church, in addition to parishioners, and have evolved
into a way for the church “to be part of the community and connect
with others,” Karjian said.

“It really has attracted different groups from the community. I’ve
really appreciated members from outside the church.”

Attendance at past discussions has varied from several core members
up to 25 participants.

“It’s excellent,” Baldino said. She said there always is “a lively
discussion and thought-provoking material.”

The next meeting will focus on “Middlesex” by Jeffrey Eugenides.
Multiple copies are available at the library.

The books that are chosen are not necessarily overtly religious, but
they do stimulate conversations about spirituality and “life
journeys,” Karjian said.

“They have kind of existential themes,” she said.

Previous books discussed were “War Is a Force That Gives Us Meaning”
by Chris Hedges, about the attraction and effects of war; and “Rise
the Euphrates” by Carol Edgarian, a novel about a survivor of the
1915 Turkish massacre of Armenians.

The latter hits close to home for Karjian, a daughter of Armenian
natives. Her parents fled the country during the 1915 genocide.
Although Karjian was born in Syria, she is proud of her Armenian
heritage, a fact well known to her congregation. They suggested
reading “Rise the Euphrates” with her in mind.

“People said, ‘Let’s do something for you,’ ” Karjian said.

After growing up in Syria, Karjian attended college in Beirut,
Lebanon. War broke out there, and in 1982 she came to the United
States to continue her studies at Lancaster Theological Seminary in
Lancaster, Pa.

She said because she emigrated from an Arab region, people here
assume she is Muslim. However, she and her family are Christian, in
keeping with their Armenian heritage. In 400 AD, Armenia was the
first country to formally adopt Christianity.

Karjian came to Easton three years ago.

Having experienced different cultures, she said she’s detected common
threads among seemingly disparate populations.

“I think that we human beings, really what we strive for is
wholeness,” Karjian said, adding she has found that group discussions
enhance self-discovery. She said she hopes the book discussions serve
as a form of enlightenment for participants, and invites anyone
interested to join in a talk.

“I hope people will find some insight into their own hearts and
lives, and really find ways as human beings for connections,
commonalties, rather than ways that separate us,” she said.

For more information, call Karjian at 261-2527 or Baldino at
261-0134.