THE BANGALORE EAST MAR THOMA CHURCH

Transcription

1 THE BANGALORE EAST MAR THOMA CHURCH PARISH HERALD January to March 2012 No. 2, Banaswadi Road, Bangalore Tel: Office : Time: Tel: (Parsonage). Mob bemtchurch@gmail.com Vicar s monceyphilip@yahoo.in Website.

2 FROM THE VICAR s DESK Dearly beloved in Christ, Christmas and New Year are here again. Christmas is not a sentimental story. It is the historical event of God s coming and being present to those oppressed and depressed, those poor and marginalized, those in need of justice and righteousness and peace and to those who need Gods presence and Gods deliverance. Our God of Salvation, giver of life to all of us, saw the sinful situation of the world and preferred to pitch his tent among us as a sign of solidarity with us. (John 1:14). Incarnation is therefore nothing but God s identification with us. Christmas is not for Christians. Christmas is for all. Jesus makes visible the love of God for each and every human being. This is the message of Christmas, and therefore we as a Church need to celebrate the Universal love of God by having more inter-religious programmes in future. As the New Year 2012 has blossomed with all its fragrance and beauty, let us enter into the New Year with an attitude of gratitude. God has given us another year to do something more, something better. There are lots of potentials in all of us. With the help of the Holy Spirit let us witness Christ so that the kingdom of God may spread and take strong root in all places of our ministry I dreamt that life was joy, I awoke and found life was service. I worked and behold service was joy wrote Rabindranath Tagore. Let us put our hearts and souls into the mission of serving the Lord so that we may find lasting joy and unending happiness. Wishing you all the best and Gods choicest Blessings. May God Bless You Yours in Christ Ministry Monsi Achen Dec 25,

3 SUNDAY SCHOOL Church am. Kammanahalli am EDAVAKA MISSION Intercessory Prayer: Every Wednesday at am at Church Santhawana & Palana Fellowship & House Visit : Every Friday am to Bible Study: At Church Every Thursday at 4.15 pm Bible Study: A, E & F Grps. as given below: - Jan. 3 Tuesday 6.30 p.m. Mrs. Ponnamma Ponnachen 231, Fr.Ullasappa Road, Kammanahalli Bangalore Tel: Jan. 17 Tuesday 7 p.m. Mr. Jubin Aby Alex No. 6, 2nd floor, 3rd Cross, Nehru Road, Kammanahalli Bangalore Tel: Feb. 7 Tuesday 6.30 p.m. Mr. Sharat Socrates 306, D' 3rd Main East of NGEF, Kasthuri Nagar Bangalore-16 Tel: , Feb. 21 Tuesday 7 p.m. Mr. Thomas Cherian Defence Enclave, Kothanur P.O., Bangalore Tel: Mar. (To be announced) Mr. Santhosh Abraham YUVAJANA SAKHYAM Saturday: 5 pm. at Church; Sunday after Service CHOIR Sundays: After service practice session in the Church -3-

4 SEVIKA SANGAM Every Friday at 4.30 pm at Church OR at member's home. Group B, C, D (at Houses) To be announced Groups A, E, F (at Houses) Jan p.m. - Mrs. Sicily Kurien, 729, Divya Nilaya, 7B, Main 1st Block, HRBR Layout, Bangalore-43. Tel: , (Grp.E) Jan p.m. - Mrs. Rosamma Kurien, 203 SRK Enclave, 63, 2nd Cross, 3rd E Main, Ramaiah Layout, Bangalore -33. Tel: (Grp. A) Jan p.m. - Mrs. Bindu Mani, Kallappurathu (H), # 001, Subin Residency, BDS Garden, Near St. Michels School), Gedalahalli, Kothannoor, Bangalore-77. Tel: , Women's Fellowship : Time and Venue will be announced. Young Couple's Fellowship HEARTY WELCOME TO THE NEW MEMBERS Anish J. Varghese & Family (A grp.) No. 4, 5th Cross, Sadhasiva Temple Road, R.S. Palaya, Kammanahalli Tel: , Thomas Cherian & Family (F grp.) Defence Enclave, Kothanur P.O., Bangalore Tel: Sinu Thomas & Family (E2 grp.) Site No. 23, Akhary Nagar, T-C Palya Main Road, Near (SBI)& Balaji Traders, Bangalore Tel: Sharat Socrates & Family (E1) 306, D - 3rd Main, East of NGEF, Kasthuri Nagar, Bangalore-16 Tel: , ' Omana Daniel & Family (C grp.) R 212, Purva Apt., 53, MSO Colony Bangalore -05 Jubin Aby Alex & Family (A grp.) No. 6, 2nd floor, 3rd Cross, Nehru Road, Kammanahalli Bangalore Tel: ,

5 Jan. 8 Jan. 12 Jan. 13 Jan. 14 Jan. 15 SPECIAL PROGRAMMES - Harvest Festival - Holy Communion - 8 a.m. - Bangalore Centre Convention p.m. at Hebbal Jerusalem - Bangalore Centre Convention p.m. at Bangalore East MTC - Bangalore Centre Convention p.m. at Primrose Road MTC - Bangalore Centre Convention a.m. at Beerasandra Centre Jan Republic Day - Special Holy Communion - Counseling and retreat for students appearing public exam - Saly Mathew Mem. Centre, St. Thomas Centre Jan Feb. 2 - Diocesan Clergy Conference at Chennai Feb. 4 - Bangalore Centre Sevika Sangham Meeting - venue will be announced Feb Maramon Convention Feb Great Lent begins Mar. 2 - Felicitation to newly consecrated Bishops Mar. 4 - Shivanapura Mission Anniversary - Chief Guest - Rt. Rev. Dr. Thomas Mar Thithoos Mar Mid Lent Mar Parish Day Mar a.m. - Nalpatham Velli - Special Holy Communion Congratulations to the newly wedded couples Sony Varghese & Sandra Valuchirayil, No. 372, Babusabpalaya, Kalyan Nagar, Bangalore Tel: , Vishal & Noveen V. V. Emarald Apt., 4A, 4th Floor, 22, 2nd Cross, 7th Main, Chikkananjudappa Reddy Layout, Agra Road, Babusapalya, Kalyan Nagar P.O. Bangalore Tel: ,

6 WORSHIP SERVICE SCHEDULE Date Service Assisted by Bible Read by Remark Reading Jan. 1 9 am Holy Communion Lessons (I&II): Outside (Malayalam) Pradeep Thomas (E1) Gen. 1: Suja Johnson (A) Kerala Ani Alex (A) Heb. 6:13-30 Thomas Mathew Mission (Tom) (C) Epistle&Gospel Rom 1: 9-17 Luke 1:26-31 Jan. 8 9 am Holy Communion Lessons (I&II): Harvest (Malayalam) Abraham Sam (A) Dan. 1:1-21 Ritu Susan Kurian (F) Festival & Cherian K. M. (C) Acts. 7:54-60 E. V. Samuel (D) St. Stephens Epistle&Gospel Day Acts. 6:1-7 Mat. 24:45-51 Jan am Holy Communion T. Thomas (D) Lessons (I&II): Bangalore (Malayalam) Sijo John (UTC) Micah 4:1-7 Centre Rom. 5:1-11 Convention Epistle&Gospel Beerasandra Eph. 2:11-19 Baby Thomas (A) Mat. 5:1-9 V. I. Chacko (C) Jan am Holy Communion Lessons (I&II): Chinnu Anju (English) Sunny Jacob (E1) Isa. 60:1-14 Varghese (A) Ecumenical Sunday Akhil Kurian (E1) 2Pet 1:1-11 Siju Eapen (D) Eph.4:1-7 John 17:21-26 Epistle&Gospel Jan am To be announced Lessons (I&II): Repent & Joel 2:12-17 Ruth Cherian (B) Return Rev. 2:12-17 Joshua Joseph (C) Epistle&Gospel Eph. 5:8-14 Luke 13:1-5 Feb. 5 7 am Holy Communion Lessons (I&II): (English) C. A. Mathew (D) 2King 2:19-22 Medical Mission Sijo John (UTC) Rev. 22:1-7 9 am Holy Communion Epistle&Gospel (Malayalam) Abraham Sam (A) 2Cor. 12:7-10 Achamma Chacko (E1) Thomas Joseph (A) Mark. 5:25-34 Saju Varghese (A) Feb am Holy Communion Lessons (I&II): Maramon (Malayalam) Sijo John (UTC) Josh. 6:12-20 Lissy Philip (B) Convention - Kunjuvarghese (A) Rev. 22:5-17 C. T. Thomas (C) 'Arise Let us Epistle&Gospel go forward' Rom 13:11-14 Mark. 14:

7 WORSHIP SERVICE SCHEDULE Date Service Assisted by Bible Read by Remark Reading Feb am Holy Communion Lessons (I&II): Pethrutha - (Malayalam) Job. 1:1-5 St. Thomas Cntr. Rom 12: 1-15 Nombu - 9 am Holy Communion Epistle&Gospel begins (Malayalam) Alex Kurian (A) 2Cor. 5:16-21 Santhamma John (B) Sijo John (UTC) John 2:1-11 George E. Mathew (D) Feb. 26 Lessons (I&II): 9 am Holy Communion Sunny Jacob (E1) 2King 5:1-16 Roshni Jacob (B) Compassion (English) Sajith Varghese (D) Jam. 2:1-10 Ashish John of God Epistle&Gospel George (D) Acts. 5:12-16 Luke 5:12-16 Mar. 4 Lessons (I&II): 7 am Holy Communion Sijo John (UTC) Isa. 1:1-20 Jesus who (English) Cherian Thomas Jr. (F) 1John 1:5-2:6 absolves 9 am Holy Communion Epistle&Gospel our sin (Malayalam) Sonu Varghese (A) Heb. 9:24-28 Rosamma Kurian (A) Pradeep Thomas (E1) Mark. 2:1-12 George Varghese (D) Mar. 11 Lessons (I&II): 9 am Holy Communion Abraham Sam (A) Isa. 45:1-8 Sunitha Abraham (C) Faith (Malayalam) Sijo John (UTC) Acts. 16:6-15 Milan Eapen (F) Epistle&Gospel 5.30 pm Holy Communion Gal. 2:11-21 (English) Mat. 15:21-28 Mar. 18 Lessons (I&II): 8.30 am Holy Communion Pradeep Thomas (E1) Isa. 59:9-21 Parish Day (Malayalam) Philip Thomas (A) Rom. 8:31-39 Epistle&Gospel Eph. 6:10-20 Jolly Varghese (A) Luke 13:10-17 Sajan Mathai (C) Mar. 25 Lessons (I&II): 9 am Holy Communion Thomas Mathew Isa. 42:1-9 Leetha Thampi (E2) Messiah - (English) (Tom) (C) Acts. 16:19-34 Jojin Varghese (A) the Sunny Jacob (E1) fulfillment Epistle&Gospel of the 2Cor. 11:18-28 promise Mark. 10:

8 COTTAGE PRAYERS GROUP - A Jan. 1 6 pm Mr. T. A. Samuel At Church Jan pm Mr. Liju Abraham Flat No. S-5, Anugraha Lotus Apt., Kacharakanahalli,Off Hennur Main Road, Near Mosque, St. Thomas Town Post, Bangalore - 84 Tel: , Jan pm Mr. George 158/174/1, 4th A-Cross, II Block, Mathew HRBR Layout, Kalyan Nagar P.O, Bangalore Tel: Feb. 5 5 pm Mr. Sibi Mathew # 3/2, Lakshmaiah Reddy Road, Varghese Kacharakkanahally, Bangalore Tel: Feb pm Mr. Thomas #37A, Eden Villa, 2nd Block, 3rd Cross, Joseph Behind BDA Complex, HBR Layout, Bangalore-43 Tel: , Mar. 4 5 pm Mr. Thomas 1639/A, Akkani Farm Road, St. Thomas Mathew Town, Bangalore-84 Tel: , Mar pm Mr. Wilson 99 Jalvayuvihar Sector A, Kammanahalli, Mathew Bangalore-43. Tel: , GROUP - B Jan pm Mr. Jacob M. No. 5,(Old 8) 3rd Cross, Vivekananda Nagar, Bangalore-33. Tel: GROUP - C Jan pm Dr. Benjamin Philip 26, High Street, Cooke Town, Bangalore-05. Tel: , Jan pm Mrs. Mariamma 16 (41),2nd Cross, Hutchins Road, Alexander Cooke Town, Bangalore Tel: Jan pm Mrs. Kunjamma #54, THE CASILDA, GF 1, Hutchins Road, Mathai 2nd Cross, St. Thomas Town P.O., Bangalore Tel: Feb. 5 5 pm Mrs. Aleyamma No. 6/2, New No.12, North Road, Thomas (MM) Cooke Town, Bangalore-84 Tel: , Feb pm Mrs. Mary Fellowship House, 325 Wheeler Rd. Extn., Alexander Eipe D-Costa Sq., Bangalore Tel: , Mar. 4 5 pm Mr.George Mathew 201, Suraj Apts., 3rd Cross, D-Costa Square, Bangalore-84. Tel: ,

9 GROUP - D Jan 22 4 pm Mr. Sajith Thomas 23/2, 1st Main Road, Chinnappa Garden, Varghese Benson Town, Bangalore C/o M.O. Varghese Tel: , Feb 19 4 pm Mr. C. Rajan C-004, Chandrakiran Apts, 42/1, Netaji Varghese Road, Frazer Town, Bangalore Tel: , Mar 11 4pm Mr. George E. 97, Ramakrishnappa Road, Cox Town, Mathew Bangalore C/o Thankamma Tel: , Mathai GROUP - E1 Jan. 1 5 pm Mr. Ajay Varghese T 220, Keerthi Royale No. 3, Outer Ring Joy Road, Banaswadi, Bangalore-43 Tel: , Feb. 5 5pm Mr. Mathew P.G. No. 523, Annaiah Reddy Layout, Banaswadi, Bangalore Tel: , Feb pm Mr. Mathew G 604, Raghav Residency, 6th Cross, Vijaya T. George Bank Colony, Banaswadi, Kalyan Nagar P.O., Bangalore Tel: , Feb pm Mr. Anoop F-306, SMR Castle, Dodda Banaswadi Main Varghese Road, Bangalore-43 Tel: , Feb pm Mr. Saji K. George H4,Block 2, Indra Prastha, Indraprastha Apts,5th Main OMBR Layout, Banaswadi, Bangalore-43 Tel: , Mar. 4 5 pm Mr. Thankachen P. H No. 282,Balappa Layout, Babusa palaya, Kalyan Nagar P.O. Bangalore Tel: , Mar pm Mr. John K. K. Kalluvathukkal House, GNR Garden, Babusaheb Palaya, Kalyan Nagar, Bangalore-43 Tel: , GROUP - E2 Jan pm Mr. Raju Tharakan 26 Bethel Villa, 4th Main Rd, Kalkere Upanagar, Horamavu P.O. (next to petrol bunk), Bangalore Tel: , Mar pm Mr. Mathew V. No. 51, P&T Layout, Anandapura, Philip Bangalore Tel:

10 GROUP - F ( Hennur - Kothanur Group ) Jan pm Mr. George # A Block, 5 th Floor, Flat No. 1 Kuruvilla ( A-05-1) Classic Royal Garden, Hennur Main Road, Bangalore 43 Mobile : Jan pm Mrs. Mary # 40, Premier Park, Byrathy, Abraham Bangalore 77 Mobile : Feb pm Mr. Canny Jacob # 1432, 18 th Main, HBR 5 TH Block, Thomas Bangalore 43 Mobile : Feb pm Mr. Vishal George # B-4, West Wing, Grace Garden Apts., Hennur Cross, Bangalore 43 Mobile : Mar pm Mr. Binoy # 208, SMR VIinay Crescent, Hennur Cross, Abraham Bangalore 43, Mobile : CHANGE OF ADDRESS / PHONE NUMBER Johnson George (A Grp.) House #62/1, 4th Cross, Lakshmya Layout, Near Panchamukhi Ganesh Temple, Subbanapalaya, Banaswadi Main Road, Bangalore Tel: , Thomson M. George (A Grp.) No. 183, New No. 10, 1st Floor, Happy Home, 4th Cross, Ramagopal Layout, Subbaiahnnapalya, Banaswadi Main Road, Bangalore-43 Tel: , Renji Easo Mathew (B Grp.) No. 28, Gulfam Residency, 2nd Cross, Vivekananda Nagar, Bangalore Tel: , Sajith Thomas Varghese (D Grp.) No. 28, 3rd Cross, Anjanappa Block, Krishnamma Garden, Benson Town, Bangalore Tel: , Viju Samuel (E1 Grp.) Flat No. S-2, 253/2, Good Hope Residency, Hormavu, Agara, Bangalore Tel: , OBITUARY - We extend our heartfelt condolences to the family members of: - Ravi George Tharakan, T-1, 3rd Floor, Crescent Calibre, 19, Davis Road, Cooke Town, Bangalore-5, on the passing away of his wife Mrs. Saro George Tharakan on December 16,

11 IY SENIOR CITIZENS COLUMN ""FSm alm]m]o...'' Mr. Koshy Thomas CXv ASpØ ImeØv \S Hcp kw`-h-i- Y-bm-sW p ]d- m AXn HØncn \pwbpw CØncn kxy-hp-ap-s - p- -XmWv kxyw...! AX-, CXv BtKm-f-X-e-Øn A\p-Zn\w Actß-dn-s m- n-cn- p Hc-`ym-k-am-bn v ImWp- - XmWv DNn-Xw. F m-bmepw kw`-hn- -Xm-Wv. F\n v Gsd kvt\lhpw AXn-tesd BZc-hp-ap Fs Hcp kplrøv IpSpw-_-k-taXw ChnsS \n v snss hsc t]mim-\n-s-bmbn. At-±-l-Øns ASpØ Hcp _ p Hcp A]-I-S-sØ-Øp-S v AXym-k \ne-bn BsW- -dn v s]s v ]pd-s - -Xm-Wv. Hcp apxn ]uc F ]Zhn-bn em _mkv FIvkv{]kv s{sbn-\n cmhnse 5.30 awn v It m sa v tãj-\n-se-øn. BImiw Ccp- p-aq-sn-s - nb \nebn, \ iox- m pw Nm a-g-bpw. πm vt^mw \ndsb bm{x- m Xnßn-\n p-i-bm-wv. bym-k-abw h n h p. AXn Ib-dn- - n. CS-\m-gn-bn \ Xnc- v. Htc {]mb- m-cmb aq p bphm- ƒ ]pd-tø- n-d-ßm Xnc- p-iq- p- p. A w _p n-ap- n-bm-sw- nepw Iym_n-\n IS- p. t\csø _p p snbvxncp p _ Øv In n. lm-hq...! Bizm-k-am-bn...! Nqfw-hn-fn-tbmsS h n apt m- p-\o-ßn. GXm v Ac-a-Wn- q Ign- -t mƒ samss_ t^mwn Fs hnfn- p. ""FSm CXp Rm\m...'' ""ltem... Fhn-sS-sb-Øn...'' ""FtSm F\n-s m-c- nsn ] n ""Atøm... AsX m...'' ""Fs t]gvkv \jvs-s - p...'' ""Btcm t]m - -Sn- -Xm-sW v txm p- p...'' ""Atøm... AXp henb IjvS-ambnt mb-t m... C\n F p snøpw...'' AXn Iptd ]W-ap- m-bn-cp- Xv \jvs-s - -X {]iv\w. AXn Fs s{iun v Im Upw IqSmsX ss{uhnwkv ssek kp- -11-

12 ap- m-bn-cp- Xv t]mb-xn-emwv {]bm-kw. GXm-bmepw s{iun v Im Upw _ -s A u- p-sams ac-hn- n- m _m n-te v hnfn- p-]-d- n- p- v. _m n Imcy-ß-sfms ASpØ Znhkw Rm as-ßn-h- n v t\m mw. \jvs-s - -Xn-s\- - n-bp tcmjhpw, \ncm-ibpw IqSn- -e p- mb Hcp PmfyX At±-l-Øns kzc- Øn-ep- m-bn-cp- p. ASp-Ø-Zn-hkw hrµm-h h n v as-ßn-sb- Øn. ASpØ ]cn-]m-sn-i-sf- n Nn n v c p-aq p Znhkw Ign- p. \memw Znhkw sabn t_m-ivkn AXm Hcp XSn Ih. ta hn-emkw hfsc IrXy-ambpw \ hsn-shmø ssi -Sn-bn Øs. BImw- -tbmss Xpd- p-t\m- n. AXm \jvs-s - p-sh v Icp-Xnb s{iun v Im Upw, ss{uhnwkv ssek kpw IqsS Zo Lamb Hsc-gp-Øpw. \ ip -a-e-bm-f-øn. BImw- -tbmss IØp- Xp-d v hmbn- p... "{]nb-s kmdn-\v... \jvs-s - p-sh v Icp-Xnb s{iun v Im Upw, ss{uhnwkv ssek kpw Ab-bv p- p. kmdns t]gvkv s{s-bn-\n Ib-dnb ka-bøv Xs Rm ssi -em- n. Iym_n- \n-te v IS- p CS-\m-gn-bn A\p-`-h-s Xnc v Rß-fpsS Imcy-]-cn-]m-Sn-bpsS BZysØ L -am-bn-cp- p. AsX R߃ aq p-t]-c-s-ßnb "Hm -td-j kvizmuv' F Hma-\-t -cn Adnb-s -Sp Rß-fpsS ]cn-]msn Ime-t -]-amwv e yw. R߃ aq p-t]cpw _ncp-z-[m-cn-i-fm-wv. ]Øv h j- m-e-ambn Cu ] - W-Øn Ø-s. IpSpw-_mw-K-߃, Ip n-iƒ F mw \m n. AhcpsS Nne-hn-\mbn amkm-amkw ]Xn-\m-bncw sh v Ab-bv -Ww. R߃ Xma-kn- p c p-apdn ^vfm n\v ]{ - m-bncw sh v simsp- -Ww. IqSmsX sse^v C jp-d kn\v \ XpIsh -S- -Ww. R߃ aqhcpw Chn-sS-bp CS-Øcw Iº-\n-I-fn am - nwkv FIvkn-Iyq- o-hmbn ]Wn-sb-Sp- p- p. B hi-bn In p- Xv Rß-fpsS Blm-cmZn Nne-hp-Iƒ p-xs XnI-bn-. kmdns t]gvkv It m sa n Xs c m-a-\n-te v ssiamdn-bxv Ah s{sbn-\ns hesø hmxn-en IqSn tãj-\n- Cdßn Rß-fpsS ^vfm n-te v as-ßn. Rß-fpsS c m-asø Dugw ImSv]m-Sn-bm-Wv. h n \n Xpw Ib-dm Ipsd-t]. AXn Hcp Idp-Øp-X-Sn- p-cp sndp- - mc\pw `mcy-bpw. Ah-cpsS ImXnepw Igp-Ønepw Iøn-ep-ambn GItZiw 200 ]hs B`-c-W-߃. kmº-øn-i-ambn ta Ø- p-imcm-sw v hnfn-t m-xp Xc-Øn-ep hkv{x-[m-c-ww. ` Ømhv [cn- n-cn- p ]m vkns ]n t]m- - n Aan-X-`mcw hnfn-t m- Xp Xc-Øn XSn t]gvkv. XSn- p-cp ico-c-øn\v Hcp sh p- -12-

13 hn-fn-t]mse kvxqen- p- nb \nxw-_-߃ ]n t]m- - n t]gvkv GXm v Cu n-ø-sn v ASn B p-am-xn-cn. ]cn-]msn G w Zpjv c-sa v t_m y-s - Xpw DS Hcp F n-tum- -an v Xøm-dm-bn. ssihn-c-ep-iƒ n-s-bn Hcp tªuv ISØn Hcp Iod {]tbmkw Xs hfsc [rxn-bn th n-h- p. XSn- p-ho Ø t]gvkv Hcp ]gpø ]qh ]gw ]S-e-bn \n pw AS p-ho-gp eml-htømss Iøn howp. IqsS-bp- m-bn-cp aq m-a-\n-te v DS Xs ssiam-dn. Ah Iºm p-sa ns he-tø hmxn-en IqSn ImSv]m-Sn-bn Xs Cdßn ASp-Øp-h _mw q h n v Xncn v apdn-bn FØn. Xs samss_-en tk^v em UnwKv \yqkv X p. kmdns Iym_n-\n Rm\pw snss hsc-bp- m-bn-cp- p. bm{x-bn-ep-s-\ofw kmdns apjøv I PmfyX Fs A cm -Øn IpWvTn-X-s -Sp-Øn. AØcw arzp-e-hn-im-c-ß-sfm pw Rß-fn-ep- m-bn- q-sm-ø-xm-wv. ]s kmdn-s\- n F\n v IqSp- X-e-dn-bm-hp- -Xp-Im-c-W-am-bn-cn mw Aßs\ txm n-b-xv. Pohn- X-Øn At\Iw t] v sxmgn simsp- p- -Xpw, At\Iw ]mhs -hsc klm-bn- n- p- -Xpw, AXn-tesd F m Imcp-Wy- {]-h Ø-\-߃ pw XnI a\-t mss ]Ww simspøpw klmbn- p-sim- n-cn- p Hcp am\y\pw BZ-c-Wo-b-\p-amb hy nbm-sw- -dn-bmw. AXp-sIm- p-x-s -bmwv Fs a\- n\v De- n X n-bxpw Hcp Ipº-kmc kzc-øn Cu IsØ-gp-Xn-b-Xpw. kmdns t]gvkn \n pw Hcp ap -Xn-\m-bncw In n. AXpt]mse Hcp \ XpI as ImSv]mSn ]m n-bn \n pw In n. Abm-fpsS Im Upw CtX X]m-en Xs Ab-bv p- p. km an- -Ww. Rß-fpsS ZuXyw hfsc Zpjv -c-am-wv. CXns dnkv v ^mivs Hm Øm Ft m-sg- nepw ]nsn- -s - m? Hcp Iq -a ±\w XpS v t]meo-kns aq mw-ap-d, tikv, tims-xn, Pbn in ]ns Hcn- epw ambmø Zpjvt cpw kaqlw Rßsfbpw IpSpw-_mw-K-ß-sfbpw Icn-º- n-i-bn B pw...!! e yw Ime-t -]-am-sw- nepw am w A{X-I v `bm-\-iam-sw- -dnbmw. km s]mdp- -Ww. kmdn\v F m `mhp-i-ßfpw t\cp- p. Bbp-cm-tcm-Ky-k-º-Zvk-ar- n-bn ]p{x-an-{x-i-f-{xm-zn-ifp-samøv Zo L-\mƒ hmg-s... IØv hmbn- Xpw Hcp s]m n-sødn t]mse ]d- p-t]m-bn. ""FSm alm-]m]o...'' *** -13-

14 kpdn-bm\n {InkvXym-\n-Iƒ v ""am nf'' F ]Zhn ]n. kn. spbnwkv BZy-{In-kvXym-\n-I-fpsS t]cns IqsS "am nf' F p tn Øp hnfn- m-dp- m-bn-cp- p. simsp-ß- q-cn-\-spø Hcp ] n-bnse tee- pdn-bn Icp-a-t cn Imc-W-h-cmb IrjvW \mb apx t] tn ncp- p. Ipdn teew snbvx-xn-\m \n n-x-k-a-b-øp-xs ] n-bn \n pw Ipdn ]W-bm-[mcw Xøm-dm n simsp-øp. AXn ] n ssi m-c-\mb kpdn-bm\n {InkvXym-\n-bpsS t]cn-t\msp tn Øv "am nf' F v tn Øn-cp- p. F m \mb {]am-wn-iƒ "am nf' F `mkw sh n Xmsg bmzm-sÿ-gpxn ]W-bm-[mcw cpn-ã snbvxp. F m ] n- m CXp-Im-cWw kwjy simsp-øn mw \º-dmbn \mb {]-am-wn-iƒ Nmh- m v ap kn^v tim n Hcp hyh-lmcw ^b snbvxp. {InkvXym-\n-Iƒ hmzn-i-sf- mƒ IogvPm-Xn- m-cm-sw pw AXn-\m am nf F ]Zw B[m-c- Øn Fgp-Xn-bXv \ymb-c-ln-x-am-sw pw Ipdn-]-W-Øn Fgp-Xn-bXv \ymb-c-ln-x-am-sw pw Ipdn-]-W-bm-[m-c-{]-Im-c-ap kwjy Int - - Xm-sW pw hmzn- p. {]Xn-Ifmb kpdn-bm-\n-{in-kvxym-\n-iƒ hmzn-i-tf- mƒ D -X-Pm- Xn- m-cm-sw- pw, B[m-c-Øn am nf F ]Z-߃ sh n- -f- Xv Xß-fpsS A`n-am-\sØ X-s -Sp-Ø am{x-am-bn-cp p F v ImWn v ] n-ssi- m-c ]{XnI t_m[n- n- p-ibpw Ipdn-kwJy tim n si n-h-bv p-ibpw snbvxp. ap kn^v anã Fw. B. i -c-ø A\ymbw snehpk-lnxw X n hn[n- p. {]Xn-I-fpsS kap-zm-bmw-k߃ v am nf F m alm- n F ]Z-hnbv v Ah-Im-i-apt m F Imcy-Øn bmsxmcp kwi-b-hp-an-s v hn[n FgpXn. AXn-t timgn-t m v Unkv{SnIvSv tim n hmzn-iƒ 1913 \º 642 Bbn A o ^b-em- n. timgn-t m v tims-xnbpw snehp-k-lnxw X n hn[n- p. Unkv{SnIvSv PUvPn anã FUvPnw-KvS kmbv]mwv hn[n- -Xv. At±lw kpdn-bm-\n-{in-kvxym-\n-iƒ Hcphn[- Ønepw \mb- m-sc- mƒ XmW-h-c-. Hcp B[m-c-Øn \n pw \mb ]Zw sh n- -f- m Ah v F{]-Imcw A]-am\w D m-ipsa v Ah kω-xn- p- pthm A{]-Imcw Xs am nf F ]Zw sh n- -f-bp-tºmƒ Ah pw A`n-am-\- Xw D m-ip-sa v Hm Ww F v hn[n-bn {]kvxm-hn- p. hmzn-iƒ B hn[n-bn-t mw \º-cmbn a{zmkv sslt m-s-xn-bn c m-axpw A o ^b-em- n \hw-_ 9 \v _lp-am-\-s PÃnkv kzm-inh Aøcpw PÃnkv F\m- n-b kmbv]pw tn v {]Y-a-hn-Nm-c-W-bn Xs A o X n hn[n Iev]n- p. Aßs\ am nf F ]Zhn hn[n-aqew ÿm]n- -s - p. (B Øm p-] n Ncn{Xw ) -14-

15 A testimony by Wing Commander E. C. John (Rtd.) Fighter Pilot of Indian Air Force I joined Bombay Flying Club in 1950 as a Trainee Ground Engineer. I was fascinated seeing young men flying light Aeroplane and decided to take flying as a career. During that time a team of Royal Air Force Pilots visited to select Pilots for the Air Force. And they selected me to undergo further flying training in Air Force Academy in Jodhpur. I passed out as the Best allround Pilot and I was awarded the "Sword of Honour" by the Royal Air Force Chief Air Marshal Gibs who flew in a Spitfire Fighter aircraft from the United Kingdom to Jodhpur for the Passing out parade. I joined No. 4 Fighter Squadron which had the Fighter aircraft Tempest II and was the best at that time. It had a radial engine of 18 sleeve-valve cylinders. At one time, when I was flying at 30,000 ft. the engine abruptly stopped and myself far away from Aerodrome, a crash seems to be eminent. I was repeatedly ordered by the Commanding Officer to bail-out as life was important. But I decided to land to save the Aircraft and to enable us to find out the cause of the failure. A height of 30,000 ft, a comfortable cruising speed and a sky clear of clouds was to my advantage to glide the aircraft to the Aerodrome and to make an Emergency Landing. It was the hand of my God that could save my life and I thank Him for His Grace. Thereafter I flew another aircrafts such as Spitfires, and Vampires, DC3, B24 and I flew a total of 6,000 flying hours without an accident. In all types of aircraft I flew, I was ranking first even in combat operations. Later on, I was posted as the Commandant of the NCC Squadron in Madras until I retired from Air Force. If I continued my service, I could probably become an Air Marshal on retirement. During the tenure of my flying career it was the love of God that kept me safe and alive to be at 82 to-day and I glorify Him for His mercy. However, I was very much privileged to have the support of my home-town friend (now 85 in our Church) who was the maintenance Expert of my Fighter Squadrons. Wing Commander E.C. John (Rtd.) -15-

16 Let s Get Acquainted with Josephus, the Jewish Historian -16- C. T. Thomas The Importance of Josephus 1. As far as Christians are concerned, our chief interest in Josephus is due to his testimony regarding Jesus Christ. The importance of the testimony is that, apart from the Gospels, the only piece of evidence we have for the historicity of Jesus of Nazareth is found in the writings of Flavius Josephus. Here is what he says: Now, there was about this time [A.D. 33] Jesus, a wise man, if it is lawful to call him a man, for he was a doer of wonderful works a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew over to him many of the Jews, and many of the Gentiles. He was the Christ; and when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men amongst us, had condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at the first did not forsake him, for he appeared to them alive again the third day, as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand things concerning him; and the tribe of Christians, so named from him, are not extinct at this day. (The Antiquities of the Jews, Book XVIII, Chapter 3). 2. Moreover, Josephus is our chief source of information on the three principal Jewish sects, namely the Pharisees, the Sadducees, and the Essenes. Contrary to the impression we derive from the Gospels Jesus denounced them as hypocrites according to Josephus, the Pharisees were, by far, the most popular and the largest among the Jewish philosophical schools. They led a life of good deeds and believed in a future life of rewards and punishments according to one s actions. The Sadducees, a much smaller sect, on the other hand, were relatively out of touch with the common folk. They believed that the soul perished along with the death of the body and paid heed only to the Law of Moses, i.e. the first

17 five books, and disregarded the rest of the Jewish Bible, the Old Testament. While there are numerous references to Pharisees and Sadducees in the Gospels, our sole source of information on the Essenes is Josephus. The Essenes avoided the Temple and condemned its sacrificial cult, but instead preferred frequent ritual cleaning. They lived as a commune and had common possessions. They led a life of sanctity and performed virtuous actions and believed in the immortality of the soul. In connection with his account of this ascetic sect, Josephus narrates an interesting episode about the boyhood of Herod. Manahem, a prophet among them, predicted that Herod would one day become king of the Jews. This he did at a time when there wasn t even the remotest possibility of his attaining to such high office. However, the upshot of this was that when he became king, Herod paid special respect to the Essenes. 3. Yet another reason for the importance of Josephus for us is that the fullest eye-witness account of the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple is found in his writings. Within a generation of Jesus prediction (Matthew 24: 1-2), the Temple was utterly destroyed and razed to the ground by the Romans. What we get in The Jewish War by Josephus is a sort of ringside-view by an actual participant in many of its battles along with the author s futile attempts to dissuade his compatriots from the suicidal and catastrophic event. His Life Born less than a decade after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, Josephus hailed from a prominent Jewish family with a long priestly tradition. A precocious child, he was trained in both Jewish and Hellenistic education and culture at the end of which he decided to throw in his lot with the sect of the Pharisees. As a young man, a chance visit to Rome to secure the release of some Jewish priests wrongly condemned to prison by Felix, the Roman procurator, fetched him the friendship of Emperor Nero and Poppaea, his wife. On his return to Jerusalem with the imperial edict granting freedom -17-

18 to the captives and in addition loaded with expensive gifts from Poppaea, to his dismay he found various Jewish sects hastily busying themselves for an armed insurrection against Roman hegemony. Having experienced at first hand the enormous military might of Rome while at the imperial capital, Josephus clearly foresaw the ruin of the Jewish nation as the inevitable consequence of any such foolhardy attempt. Having failed to dissuade his compatriots from the suicidal enterprise, he being a patriotic and devout Jew, sided with the insurrectionists. Taken prisoner by the Roman general Vespasian, he secured his freedom in the most unusual and dramatic manner. When Josephus was brought before Vespasian, to the utter dismay of the general and all those present, he hailed him as Caesar Vespasian. Needless to mention, the general was mightily pleased with the prophecy and kept Josephus in his close custody. Soon afterwards when the prediction indeed came true, needless to narrate, Josephus standing with Vespasian and his son Titus, the future Caesar, rose rapidly. As Josephus feared all along, the threeyear-long encounter with Roman imperial might ended with the utter destruction of the Temple and ruin of Jerusalem and the end of the Jewish nation as a unified entity. His Works Returning to Rome with the victorious general Titus, Josephus spent the rest of his life in Rome and became the interpreter of Jewish history and culture to the people of the empire through his writings. Although Latin was the mother tongue of the Romans, owing to the passion for spreading Greek language and culture of Alexander the Great all along the route of his world conquest, the Greek language enjoyed the status of an international language, in the same manner in which English is now regarded as a global medium. Therefore, naturally the original writings of Josephus are in Greek. His first work, intended to correct inaccuracies in earlier histories, is his first-hand, objective and detailed history of the Jewish War of Independence. The Jewish War was the original title furnished by its author. The Antiquities of the Jews, divided into twenty books, is Josephus s longest and most mature work. It covers the history of Jewry from Creation to the reign of Nero. The fortunes of the House of Herod are dealt with in great detail and Josephus showers great -18-

19 encomiums on the early career of the young and dashing Herod, who happily earned the honorific, Herod the Great. Because of his friendship with the Roman administrators, and his often ambivalent attitude to his own people, most of his co-religionists looked with suspicion upon Josephus and regarded him as a traitor to the cause of Jewish national interests. To clear his name of such taint he penned a short autobiographical note called Life. Basically it is an apology and defence of his conduct during the war. The Works of Josephus rank as classics of their king and are a virtual treasure-trove of information on God s chosen people and often complement and supplement the Old Testament. *** IhnX si. hn. txmakv 1. ad p-\ns Rm AI- p-t]m-b-t mƒ apdn-th Ic-ß-fm txsn-h- -hs\ Ccp-fmb a\- n \ng-emb X]- n km z-\-ta-isw F s]m p-\mym \ns cq]w Rm I -Xn-\m \ns i_vzw Rm ti -Xn-\m \ns kvt\lw Rm cpnn- -Xn-\m \ns Rm F pw kvxpxn- n-ss lt -epøm Rm ]msospw (]m-so-spw) tbip-hns\ Bcm-[n pw (B-cm-[n- pw) l-t -epøm Rm hmgvøospw (hm-gvøospw) k -i- -\m-b-hs\ 2. Im h-dn-{iq-inse Xncp-c- -Ømse tkm tkmzm ae-bnse Zml-Ømse \nh Øn-bmsb \ne-hn-fn-bm XI lrz-b-øn kvt\lw Hgp-tI-W-sa. (\ns cq]w) hcptam F -cn-in-te v Hcp \nanjw hcptam F apdn-hp-iƒ kujy-am- m hcptam F IÆp-\o XpS- o-sp-hm a\- en-thmss \n kvt\lw ]I-c-W-sa. (\ns cq]w) -19-

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