o നക ക റ വ ച ര ടര ത ; eലല ല പ ര ർഥനയ ല a പക ഷയ ല ന ള ട ആവശയ ൾ ത ര ട ദവ ട aറ യ ക ക കയ ത ര വ ത.

Transcription

1 The Official Monthly Newsletter of CSI Church, Toronto Volume 16 Issue 3 MARCH Motto Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. o നക ക റ വ ച ര ടര ത ; eലല ല പ ര ർഥനയ ല a പക ഷയ ല ന ള ട ആവശയ ൾ ത ര ട ദവ ട aറ യ ക ക കയ ത ര വ ത. Philippians 4:6 INSIDE THIS ISSUE Achen s message... 3 Men s Fellowship... 4 Bible Portions... 5 Celebrations... 6 Church News... 7

2 Editorial.. Are you ready?. MARCH 2016 EDITORIAL BOARD Chief Editor Rev. George Jacob Editor Samuel Anselm Samuel Publication Team Shini Samuel Suja Sarah Koshy Akshay Koshy Chris George Address CSI Parsonage 1311 Kipling Avenue Etobicoke M9B 3N7 ON (416) The Lenten season is progressing with the decisions we ve taken. It seems good to have given up something during these days. Was it a favourite food or habit that we painstakingly decided to go without during this season? What was the real motive behind the decision? We ought to be aware that nothing is hid from the great I AM. Before a word is on my tongue, you, Lord, know it completely. (Ps 139:4) Is our attitude like that of the Pharisee or the tax collector? Humility combined with diligence can help us in our journey towards the Easter morn. Bernard was an alcoholic, and he hated his family. After repeated counselling, he was finally convinced, and he agreed to be taken to a rehab. He genuinely felt the need to quit. Days went by and he crawled out of the clutches of alcohol. He saw the bright light of happiness and peace descend on him. He started a new life. It was a hard decision though. After two months of peaceful coexistence, one day, Bernard returned from his work fully drunk. In just a few days, he turned to his old self. When asked about it, he replied, I quit drinking just for that horrible period of time. Now that I m out, I don t care. Do our decisions resemble Bernard s? Then, it is high time that we reconsider them during this Lenten. As we proceed towards the empty tomb, and behold the light of resurrected Saviour, let the darkness within be annihilated by the dazzling radiance of the Son. Let this glory of the resurrected Christ fill us with divine light. Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:16) Are we ready? Samuel Anselm Samuel Editor Articles/ Feedback May be sent to pilgrimcsi.to@gmail.com 2

3 Achen s Message Dearly beloved in Christ, Greetings to all of you in the name of our Risen Lord who had undergone sufferings for our sins! As we are continuing our journey through the lent, it is important that we amend our life as per the norms of our heavenly master and be fruitful in our life. The Cross beckons us for a more serious discipleship, walking so close to our Lord and experiencing the abundant life that He offers us with a responsible freedom. The message of the Cross is that we offer ourselves for the plans and purposes of Heaven that each one of us is entrusted with. So let us in all humility accept the call of our Master and be true disciples with earnest and implicit obedience. I continue to encourage each one of you to take part in the Lenten services that are taking place in our congregation. Come prayerfully and be blessed. Christian life is a life of offering and not receiving only. We are persuaded to seek His Kingdom and Righteousness first, and then only we can receive what He intends to give us. So let us offer our best devotion, time, talents, and resources and so on. Our GOD IS NOT A DEBTOR TO ANY ONE. Once again, after a break, we are continuing with the Area Prayer Group Meetings. I urge every member to take this gathering very serious, as it offers a time to praise the almighty God, to open up our hearts to pray for different needs very closely, to share our testimony, to celebrate the goodness that the Lord has lavished upon each one of us by His infinite mercy and to study the Word of God interactively and deeply. I request every member of each area to give your participation fully. I am quite anxious and a little disheartened at the thought that whether we are losing the focus of our spiritual journey as a congregation with regard to our Area Prayer Group gatherings. Ephesians 5:19-20 reads as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts, giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. And Matthew 18:20 reads for where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them. So let us gather in the name of the Lord for the edification of ourselves and the life of the congregation and may the name of the Lord be praised in our midst. I thank Mr. Joseph Thomas, the Men s Fellowship, for organizing and conducting the Retreat for the Men of our Church. Also thanks to all men for taking various assignments in relation to the Retreat. I thank the Vice President, the Secretary, the Treasurer, Joint Secretary, Joint Treasurer, the Trustees, the s of Sunday School, Church Choir, Youth Fellowship, Women s Fellowship and Men s for all their initiatives and support to the life of the Congregation. The Annual General Body of our Church was held along with the Election of members to the Executive Committee. The newly elected members will be dedicated for their responsibilities after we receive the approval from the Diocesan Bishop. As the Vicar, I am a little worried and disappointed about the lesser number of participants in the Annual General Body. May the good Lord continue to keep our Congregation in His grace and mercy so that we continue to be a source of life to all who are around us. (Continued on page 4) 3

4 Men s Retreat (Continued from page 3) May the Almighty continue to bless us and keep us as we move in faith in this lent season. Wish you all a meaningful Holy Week and a very happy Easter. Our Lord is Risen. Indeed He is Risen Yours in His service, Siby Achen. 4

5 Bible Portions Transforming the Oppressive Structures March 06 3 th Sunday before Easter Old Testament Nahum 1: 1-15 English Service Psalm 113 Read by Epistle Acts 4: Sam Daniel & family Gospel Luke 13: March 13 2 nd Sunday before Easter Passion Sunday Cross and a New Paradigm to Discipleship Old Testament Genesis 26: Malayalam Service Psalm 92 Read by Epistle II Corinthians 11: Jophy Jacob Philip & family Gospel Mark 10: Hosanna: Lord, Save Us March 20 Palm Sunday Old Testament Zechariah 9: 1-12 English Service Psalm 118: Read by Epistle I Timothy 4: 6-16 Nibu Varguise & family Gospel Luke 19: Eucharist: Communion of Suffering Humanity March 24 Maundy Thursday Old Testament Exodus 12: 1-7 English Service Psalm 116 Read by Epistle I Corinthians 11: Samuel Anselm Samuel & family Gospel Mark 14: Cross: Accomplishment of Salvation March 25 Good Friday Old Testament Exodus 14: Malayalam Service Psalm 22 Read by Epistle Hebrews 13: 8-17 Daniel Thomas & family Gospel John 19:

6 Celebrations BIRTHDAYS 02 Thankamma Mathew 20 Vilayil I. Kurian 03 Raimole Joseph 20 Mathew George 04 Jeena Joseph 22 Elzy George 05 Joseph Thomas 23 K.P. Alexander 08 Abigail Cherian 25 Marilyn M. Verghis 11 Sidhant Mathews 25 Emily A. Verghis 12 Joshy Ani Mathew 27 Bryan Philip Joseph 12 Jewel Mariam Toms 28 Mona Anna Abraham 13 Vivek Philip 30 Susan Alex 17 George Mathew 31 Rakesh Thampi 18 Vaiga Thampy 31 Shruti Balakrishna 18 Neil Joseph Mathews ANNIVERSARIES 07 Niranjan Byru & Shobha Byru 11 Oommen Cherian & Mariamma Cherian 30 Sam Daniel. P & Selva Daniel 6

7 Church News Lenten Prayer Lenten Prayer service starts at 7.30 PM on March 2nd, 9th, and 16th. Please come and attend the service. Monthly Fasting Prayer Our Monthly Fasting Prayer will be held at AM on Saturday, March 5. All are invited. Holy Week Service Palm Sunday We will be celebrating Palm Sunday on March 20 starting at AM. All are invited Maundy Thursday Maundy Thursday Holy Communion Service will be held at 7.30 PM on Thursday March 24. All are invited. Service will be in English Good Friday Service at AM Our Good Friday Service starts at 10.00AM. Please note this time change and plan to attend the service. Service will be in Malayalam. Easter Sunday Easter Sunday Holy Communion service starts at our usual worship time AM. All are invited for this special Service Resurrection: Celebrating Boundless Transformation March 27 Easter Old Testament II Samuel 22: 1-20 Malayalam Service Psalm 16 Read by Epistle I Corinthians 15: Joseph Thomas & family Gospel Mark 16:

8 Committee The Executive Committee Members of the CSI Church, Toronto President Rev. George Jacob Men s Fellowship Mr. Joseph Thomas Vice-President / Rector s Warden Mr. Abraham P. George Women s Fellowship Mrs. Susan Joseph Secretary / People s Warden Mr. Christy Abraham Youth Fellowship Mr. Sanju Cherian Joint Secretary Mr. Varghese V. John Choir Mr. Daniel Thomas Treasurer Mr. Ajoy Lional Social & Recreational Mr. Benjamin Chacko Joint Treasurer Mr. Samuel Anselm Samuel Sunday School Mrs. Diani Mathai For Private Circulation Only Published by CSI Church, Toronto, 1315 Kipling Avenue M9B 3N7, ON. All rights reserved 8