Immanuel CSI Church. 780, Salem Ave, Elizabeth, New Jersey Parish News - November Motto for the Year Year of Discipleship

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1 Immanuel CSI Church 780, Salem Ave, Elizabeth, New Jersey Parish News - November 2018 Motto for the Year Year of Discipleship Make disciples of all nations, I am with you always, to the end of the age. Matthew 28:20b Worship Service at 9.30 AM Sunday School at AM

2 2 IMMANUEL CSI CHURCH, ELIZABETH, NJ COMMITTEE MEMBERS & THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES Vicar : Vice President: Secretary: Treasurer: Members: Board of Trustees: Rev. Joby Joy Mullackal (M)/ (H) Mr. Thomas Mathew Mr. Jacob Puthuparampil Mrs. Mary Sachariah Ms. Rony Abraham Mr. Robin Varghese Mr. John William Mr. Mohan Cherian Mrs. Ciji Thomas Mr. Johnson Eapen Choir Secretary - Mr. John Abraham Sunday School Superintend - Mrs. Shameetha Jacob Youth Secretary - Ms. Ruth Sachariah Women's Fellowship Secretary - Mrs. Sujatha Arikupurath Laity Fellowship Coordinator - Mr. John Mullavelil CSI North American Council Rep. - Mr. John Sachariah

3 3 LETTER FROM THE VICAR Dear beloved in Christ, Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The meditations in the month of November was based on the signi.icance of the Sundays such as World Sunday School Sunday, Unity Sunday, Girl Child Sunday and Preparation for Advent. I would like to focus on children s involvement in the church for this newsletter volume. Children are the promise of the future of any community/ social institution and humanity visualizes its future in the children. In children we see the image of God, God s equality, love and justice. Children as the parable for those who are pure in heart, help us to encounter faith without doubt, in all obedience, sincerity and innocence. Children make us understand our world, they teach us lessons of life. In every child birth, pain, struggle, suffering and joy are bundled together. Children, through their innocent questioning become the hermeneutic to see the world from a new perspective. Children help us to share and cross boundaries very easily without prejudice. The Church needs to.ind innovate ways and instruments to make the community child-centered. The Church should allow its members to sustain the 'child' in them and enable them to reinvent and innovate, be creative and sincere and practice a child-like sincere spirituality. The primary identity of a child in.irst century Palestine under Roman Regime heavily depended on whether a child is born into a family of a slave or a freed man. If a child was born in a slave's household, s/he had automatically become a slave and property of their master's household. Interestingly enough, it was the mother's owner who took slave children as their property. Children were at the mercy and disposal of fathers, especially the girl children. Based on this Palestinian social context that we need to discover how radical Jesus's words would have sounded when he told the disciples keeping a child in their midst, unless you change and

4 4 become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven (Matt 18:3). Becoming like children demands a radical transformation in adults to the point of exposing their vulnerability to be taken advantage of. Becoming like children demands becoming humble (Matt 18:4). Matt 18:5 exhorts if someone welcomes a child it is equivalent to welcoming Jesus/God. But if any one causes stumbling to any such little children, the punishment would be severe and harsher that a great mill stone will be tied around their neck and drowned in the depth of the sea (Matt.18:6). In Matt.18:10, Jesus warns his disciples strictly to not despise any one child. In order to ensure Jesus' vision for children, as a church we need to ensure friendly spaces in our Sunday schools and congregations for children. Child friendly church is a concept that is developed to welcome and integrate children actively into the worship life of every church. A church becomes child friendly by listening to the life experiences of children from their own means of telling as narratives. Adults in churches need to develop willingness to listen to children's expressions of wisdom and spirituality. If Jesus has asked his disciples to change and become like children imitating their humility, then there are certainly values and qualities inherent in children that adults can learn from. Thus child-friendly churches can embrace the kingdom values children bring to the reign of God and to the local churches. Children in our churches ought to feel that they are valued as persons and their active participation is retained in church programs. For children to grow up in the church worship, they need to be encouraged to attend the Sunday worship and participate in leading worship and reading the Bible. This will enhance children's total involvement in church activities. Children get their initial exposure to faith nurturing from their Sunday schools and churches. Let us join our hands and minds together to consider our children and their spiritual growth more seriously in order to protect the future of our children and our church safe and secure. God bless our children. Yours in Christ Rev. Joby Joy Mullackal Vicar

5 5 News and Events Parsonage Fund Raising: On Oct 14 th, members of our Church congregation went to East Brunswick Marthoma Church as part of our parsonage fund raising. Women and Laity Fellowship: Region 1 & 2 Women and Laity Fellowship one day retreat was held on Oct 20 th at Emmanuel CSI Church, Philadelphia. Joint Carol Service: Region 1 & 2 Joint Carol Service will be held on Dec 29 th. This event is hosted by our church. Auxiliary Fellowship Meetings: Women s Fellowship meeting will be held every 1 st Sunday of each month after worship service. Youth fellowship meetings will be held every 2 nd and 4 th Sundays after worship service. Women s and Laity Fellowship meeting with Bible study will be held every 3 rd Sunday after worship service. Sunday School: Sunday School is held every Sunday after church. Sunday School welcomes Mrs. Neethu Samuel who will be teaching the beginner class. Heartfelt appreciation to Ms. Rony Abraham for her invaluable contributions to Sunday School. Refreshments: Special thanks to Mr. Johnson Eapen & family, Mr. Samuel Abraham & family, Mr. Mathew Cherian & family and Mr. Charles Frank & family for sponsoring the food for the month of October. Immanuel Cycle of Prayer: We will be praying for the following families in the month of November. Nov 4 Nov 10: Mr. Walter Das & Family Nov 11 Nov 17: Mr. Johnson Eapen & Family Nov 18 Nov 24: Mr. Mammen Eapen & Family Nov 25 Dec 1: Mr. Thomas Eapen & Family Dec 2 Dec 8: Mr. Anil T Eapen & Family

6 6 Youth Fellowship In October, the youth participated in a volunteer event at the Community Food Bank in Hillside, NJ. This was a great event where we sorted pasta into separate packages for under-privileged families that rely on this as their food source. Thank you to those that came out and participated. Laity & Women s Fellowship Ruth Sachariah Jesus Christ is the same yesterday today and forever. He loved us with his eternal love and will never leave you nor forsake you. We are his children having inheritance of his heavenly kingdom. This kingdom is not on food and drinks but on the might and power of our lord and saviour Jesus Christ.it is not the word alone but the empowerment and encouragement of the Holy Spirit. If you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ you can hear his voice and feel his presence. He will guide you and protect you till the end. At the age of thirteen I had a revelation from God. I had a dream and I heard a big thunder. Then I was taken up and I saw a beautiful place of green pastures and a beautiful young man. With snow white robe smiling at me and said, Mole I will give you this. It was the theme of Psalm 23. Then I said my parents are down on earth. I woke up and praised Him. From that day onwards his presence is with me. After that I had many visions, revelations, and dreams. I started reading the whole bible many times. In my life there were so many occasions of near death experiences. But God has a purpose and that is why I am still living. When we were in Dubai and did not have any plans to move anywhere else, God told me to go to Trivandrum. I was totally perplexed and shared it with my husband, who was literally shocked hearing this. But after a week my husband had to go to Muscat to start a new of.ice and I had to come to Trivandrum and live with my children there. He guided me to go to Trivandrum and told me to write

7 7 Laity & Women s Fellowship cont.. Jehova Nissy on top. He blessed us and so many miracles happened. I wanted to become a doctor, but God had another plan. He healed many people through my prayers and touch. Let His name be praised. Abram an idol worshipper became a friend of god and his name changed as Abraham the father of gentiles. He obeyed god by faith and he became righteous in his sight. When God interferes in our lives, it is our responsibility to recognise his voice and will, and do accordingly. Rebecca Kuruvilla Sunday School Corner Jiya Thomas

8 8 Order for Songs of Worship November Procession Sermon Offertory Recession 11/04/18 (M) H-23 H-321 H-324 H /11/18 (M) H 19 H 382 L 224 L /18/18 (M) H-27 H-316 H-262 L /25/18 (E) H-8 H-62 H-75 H-121

9 9 ALMANAC November 2018 November 11/04/ /11/ /18/ /25/2018 Service in Malayalam Malayalam Malayalam English World Sunday School Sunday Unity Sunday Worship at St. Peters Marthoma Church, Teaneck Sunday for the Girl Child Theme Children in the Church Light on the Lamp Stands Protecting the Girl Child Waiting Prayerfully for the Coming of the Lord 1st Lesson Exodus 2 : 1-10 Shana Zech 4 : 1-14 Job 42 : Manju Kochamma Malachi 4 : 1-6 Shibu Psalm 47 Mathew : 8-14 Alona 121 Alex S 2nd Lesson 3 John : 1-15 Jiya 1 Cor 3 : Acts 16 : Sara M 2 Thess 2 : 1-17 Naomi Intercessory Achen Achen Achen Sara D Peace Neethu & Jeny N/A Rincy & Shiny Shaji & Sheela Offertory Nevin N/A Teena Raju

10 10 Birthdays For through wisdom your days will be many, and years will be added to your life - Proverbs 9:11 Mr. Prateesh Daniel Mr. Tom Pothen Mrs. Winsy Kurian Ms. Laiba Ninan Mrs. Rincy Prateesh Mr. Jerry Pothen Mr. Johnson Eapen Mrs. Mathew Cherian Rev. Joby Joy Mullackal 3 rd Nov 8 th Nov 9 th Nov 13 th Nov 14 th Nov 17 th Nov 20 th Nov 22 nd Nov 26 th Nov Anniversaries With all humility & gentleness, with patience, showing forbearance to one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace Eph 4: 2-3 Mrs. & Mr. Daniel John Mrs. & Mr. John Mullavelil Mrs. & Mr. Shebin Alex 3 rd Nov 24 th Nov 29 th Nov Thanks to Mrs. Sheba Benjy and Mr. Benjy Pothen family for sponsoring the Newsletter for the month of November 2018.

11 11 Church Calendar 2018 Jan 1 21 Feb Mar Apr 1 May New Year Covenant Day. Ecumenical Sunday Annual General Body Meeting Healing Ministry Sunday Ash Wednesday 1 st Sunday in Lent Passion Sunday Palm Sunday Maundy Thursday Good Friday Easter Mother s Day Pentecost Sunday Womens Fellowship Seedling Auction Trinity Sunday Sep Oct 7 TBD Nov Dec Education Sunday/Sunday School Reopening Region 1 &2 Sunday School Competition Women's Sunday/Harvest Festival Mission Sunday Senior Citizen s Sunday Laity Sunday Convention Laity Meeting Reformation Sunday Youth Sunday World Sunday School Sunday Unity Sunday Girl Child Sunday Thanksgiving Sunday Jun Jul Aug Family Night Ecology Sunday Father s Day Independence Day -USA Youth & Womens Fellowship Retreat Region 1 &2 Combined Service Mid-Year General Body Laity Sunday Church Picnic Onam Sunday 8,15, Carol Rounds Christmas Carol Service Christmas Day Region 1 & 2 Combined Carol Family Sunday Please plan & pray to participate in all the events of Immanuel Church of South India, Elizabeth NJ.

12 If Undelivered, please return to Secretary Immanuel CSI Church 780 Salem Ave, Elizabeth, NJ For private circula3on only To - - -