World Sunday School Day Nov 6

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1 The Official Monthly Newsletter of CSI Church Toronto Volume 11 Issue 11 NOVEMBER Motto How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! INSIDE THIS ISSUE 1 John 3: 1 Achen s message Church News. Bible Portions. Celebrations.. Cleaning Kids Corner... Harvest Festival Inspirational World Sunday School Day Nov 6

2 Editorial Parenting NOVEMBER 2011 EDITORIAL BOARD Chief Editor Rev. Shaji M. Johnson Editor Samuel Anselm Samuel Publication Team Suja Sarah Koshy Annie Koshy Abraham P. George Samuel Chacko Address CSI Parsonage 15 Masters Green Crescent Brampton ON L7A 3K3 CANADA (905) We are part of a Hi! Bye! world. We scarcely get time to reflect on our actions and enjoy calm. Our children love to move with the latest trends. It is no wonder if you hear Hey Dad! Mom! Do you care? Though children are our biggest responsibility, we sometimes neglect this conveniently. We don t realize that children are more susceptible to the evil ways. Our vision is momentarily clouded from seeing the lurking enemy, Satan. Children definitely need our support. Ephesians 6:4(b) says, bring the children up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. How far have we succeeded in this? Sunday School provides instruction and a platform for children to grow in the Lord. The service put in by the teachers is really commendable. But let s not forget the responsibility God has given us as parents. We have to command our children to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice (Genesis 18:19). Can we pray for them fervently and be role-models? Whoa! Wait a minute! I love my children! But have I given them the greatest gift? They should taste and see that the Lord is good! I need to.. Articles/ Feedback May be sent to pilgrimcsi.to@gmail.com Samuel Anselm Samuel Editor 2

3 Achen s Message Dearly beloved in Christ, Greetings in the precious name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Psalm 127:3 Children are a heritage of the Lord and the fruit of the womb is His reward. This month we observe Sunday school Sunday. I greet all our children in Jesus precious name. Children need special attention from the church and we, as a church are indebted to render this to our future generation. Children s Sunday is one of the occasions when our children are acknowledged and their leadership talents are received by the church. They also get openings to witness Jesus to the congregation. The main function of Sunday school is to educate children about the word of God according to God's methods. The gospel presented through lively classes can make an impact on them, nurturing them towards maturity and bringing revival to communities and nation. Children born in Christian homes must be trained to carry on the work done by their parents. They must be brought to the saving knowledge of Christ and equipped to be leaders when they come of age. Since a church may naturally die away, Sunday school education is crucial to carry on the future of the church. I appreciate all our Sunday school children for their enthusiasm in attending classes and the teachers for their truthful and prayerful obligation. May God help us to have a lovely Sunday school with the widest outreach to our community! Let s continue to uphold our Sunday school students and teachers in prayer. I would like to convey my sincere thanks to you all for making our harvest festival a grand success. I am in fact touched by your generosity, spirit, and willingness to help our church. May God accept all your offerings and bless you in abundance for the years to come! As your humble servant in ministry I am so grateful to you all for giving sincere support in church activities. I appeal to pray for the cure of the existing issues. Christians often have tough times getting along. This has been so, right from earlier days of the church. At times of disagreement, we must stand firmly upon the Scripture because God s ways of dealing with conflict are normally very different from the world s ways. When we re in the midst of some kind of church battle, we may be tempted to adopt the ways of the world. The chief among these ways is the craze to win. We can also be tempted to use human schemes to defeat our opponents. But rarely are these the ways of God who tells us, For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways (Isaiah 55:8). So during the times of conflict, we need to rely on His words for the different ways of operation: the ways of peace, the ways of the gospel, and the ways of Jesus Christ. 3

4 Church News If we truly trust that the church belongs to God, then we ll be more committed to finding God s solution to our conflicts than making sure that our side wins. We ll be quick to admit that our personal ideas about what should happen in the church may very well be wrong. Only one opinion really matters, the opinion that belongs to God. We ought to realize that the church is not something to be trifled with. The church is definitely not a vehicle for self-expression, or professional security, or enjoyment, or whatever. It is, first and foremost, a vehicle for God s glory. The church exists to do God s bidding, to represent God s kingdom, and to bring praise to God. Let us work towards unity in our church! May God bless you all Yours in Christ Shajiachen NEWS Fasting Prayer will be held at 10 am on Saturday, November 5, 2011 World Sunday School Day is celebrated on Sunday, November 6, 2011 Clean Up Program is to be held after the worship service on Sunday, November 6, 2011 Confirmation Classes will be conducted after the worship service on the second and fourth Sundays. Sunday School and Malayalam Classes will be held as usual Cottage Prayer is to be held at Mr. Sajan Itty s residence on Saturday, November 5,

5 Bible Portions November 6 World Sunday School Day Nurturing in faith Old Testament Proverbs 23: English Service Psalm 1 Read by Epistle Hebrews 12: 1-13 Gospel John 6: 1-14 Sunday School students & teachers Uniting in worship November 13 Old Testament Ezekiel 37: Malayalam Service Psalm 95 Read by Unity Sunday Epistle Ephesians 4: 1-6 Gospel John 4: Mr. Abraham P George & family Assuring a future for the girl child November 20 Sunday for the girl child Old Testament II Kings 5: 1-5a English Service Psalm 8 Read by Epistle Ephesians 6: 1-4 Mr & Mrs Philip Z Mathai Gospel Mark 5: Joyful expectation of Christ s coming November 27 Old Testament Genesis 33: 1-17 Malayalam Service Psalm 68: Read by Advent Sunday Epistle I Thessalonians 3: 6-13 Gospel Luke 1: Mr. Shibu Paul Pulikaparambil & family 5

6 Celebrations BIRTHDAYS 3 Ani Chacko 15 Elizabeth Kuruvilla 4 Christina Fredrick 18 Jared Chacko 5 Jyothi Cheriyan 19 Chris George 5 Asha Jesudas 20 Biby Esther Abraham 7 Sajany R Koshie 26 Milly Johnson 8 Vivek Joseph 27 Leanne Chacko 9 Nikhil Joseph 28 Deepthi Anna Jacob 10 Joseph Thomas 29 Sonijya Raj 11 Koshy Oommen 29 Mathew Gajraj 12 Ani Thomas 30 Smitha Titus 13 Reji Johnson 30 Susan George ANNIVERSARIES 12 Mathew Kurien & Mariamma 13 Vijayan Kunnankody & Annamma 14 Mathews Jacob & Mini 25 Nibu Varguise & Ajin 26 Abraham P George & Siby 26 Varghese Jacob & Aleyamma A Peaceful Day lowers smiled and my heart F Thumped with delight The sky showed its colors That woke my heart I saw children playing I heard the bees humming It brought peace to my mind And filled me with glee The wind sang a sweet melody The birds chirped to the tune I saw happiness all around I could feel my heart A beautiful dove flew past me A glorious symbol of peace I felt I am blessed With the peace of God Anna Esther Samuel 6

7 News Clearing the Bushes and Hedges... The church muscles at work...!!! Under the leadership of our dear Achen, a cleaning program of the church premises was launched on Saturday October 29, Many members including women and children took part in this massive clean up. The bushes and hedges were trimmed and wastes removed. Now the whole area has got a grand face lift. The enthusiasm and vigour shown by everyone were really commendable. Special thanks to Mr Michael for his service. The hamburgers, cake, coffee and juice by chef Aby and team added flavour to this task. Thanks to all who participated and made the event a success. But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. II Corinthians 2: 14 7

8 Kids Corner Try to find the hidden words in this maze of alphabets using the clues given below. They run along all directions, upwards, downwards, sideways etc L O R T N O C F L E S A A T S H J I U K Z G M D S H P R A B B I C U I X D P J E B R T G H M W A E R T A Y F P A O S B N M K L P D P H B B N M T O O M H N E F A G E T H S E M A N E T L T A T G D D S D F G H K U F G U L R L N S R R E G Y P T T B R N A A S J F Y R C E D E S U L A V D D I M G X T H U J U F C A F D B X E G F I K U L R O Y F S B M D R O O R S Y R B A C U R L R P A N A S L O G B J I R E H D F A Y T P D E T Y K W Y N A A T T P S R T S E F A R T R Y R H M I I S H C A E O P R J I H H W E E N R C H A A H V E S I A N F R I K T H D E H R D N F A H M R R M I W A E F P V C O S H Y P O C R I T E S Q S A J O T A P E R F E C T H T I A F D U T I G H I L L G J D R U Y T W E F V Clues: 1. The land where the Israelites were slaves 2. Name of Moses' sister 3. He who provides - Jehovah 4. Nabal means 5. Uriah's wife 6. Jesus called the Pharisees this 7. means teacher 8. Jesus was anointed at 9. Jesus was arrested in the garden of 10. John the Baptist used cloth made of this animal's hair 11. Two of Jesus' disciples were sons of 12. He who blasphemes against the has no forgiveness Ms. Suja Sarah Koshy 13. Disciple chosen instead of Judas 14. Saul was converted at the road to 15. God loves a giver 16. This is a fruit of the spirit 17. The just shall live by 18. Every good and gift is from above 19. Noah made the arc out of 20. Title given to the royalty in Egypt 21. The sixth commandment says You shall not 22. Name of Naomi's daughter in law 8

9 News Annual Thanksgiving and Harvest Festival The annual thanksgiving and harvest festival were celebrated in our church on Sunday, October 23 in an enormous way. The special service was led by our Achen and was assisted by the office bearers and the coordinators of the festival. The sanctuary and the alter were decorated delightfully with fruits, grains and vegetables. This cooling sight was really the reflection of the marvellous blessings showered on us by of our God. Following the worship service, the auction and games took place in the basement from 1.30 P.M. until 4.30 P.M. Over 170 diverse articles were auctioned off. Zac Santhosh did a wonderful job in making the course of auction a unique one. Shabu and his dynamic team harmonized everything in time. Youth and kids enjoyed a variety of games. It took a lot of effort and dedication to make this event memorable. All in all, the response of the folks was very encouraging. It was a great way to celebrate the harvest festival. 9

10 Inspirational Showing God s Love Doug Nichols went to India to be a missionary, but while he was just starting to study the language he became infected with tuberculosis and had to be put in a sanitarium. It was not a very good place to be. It was not very clean and conditions were difficult because there were so many sick people there. But Doug decided to do the best he could in that situation. So he took a bunch of Christian books and tracts and tried to share the gospel with the other patients in the sanitarium. But when he tried to pass out tracts, no one wanted them. He tried to hand out books, but no one would take them. He tried to talk with them, but he was handicapped because of his inability to communicate in their language, and he felt so discouraged. There he was. Because of his illness he would be there a long time. But it seemed like the work that he had been sent to do would not be done because no one would listen to him. Because of his tuberculosis, every night at about 2 o'clock he would wake up with chronic coughing that wouldn't quit. Then one night when he awoke he noticed across the aisle an old man trying to get out of bed. He said the man would roll himself up into a little ball and teeter back and forth trying to get up the momentum to get up and stand on his feet. But he just couldn't do it. He was too weak. Finally, after several attempts the old man laid back and wept. The next morning Doug understood why the man was weeping. He was trying to get up to go to the bathroom and didn't have enough strength to do that. So his bed was a mess and there was a smell in the air. The other patients made fun of the old man. The nurses came to clean up his bed and they weren't kind to him, either. In fact, one of them even slapped him in the face. Doug said that the old man just laid there and cried. Doug said, "That next night about 2 o'clock I started coughing again. I looked across the way and there was the old man trying to get out of bed once more. I really didn't want to do it, but somehow I managed to get up and I walked across the aisle and I helped the old man stand up. But he was too weak to walk." Doug said, "I took him in my arms and carried him like a baby. He was so light that it wasn't a difficult task. I took him into the bathroom, which was nothing more than a dirty hole in the floor, and I stood behind him and cradled him in my arms as he took care of himself. Then I carried him back to his bed and laid him down. As I turned to leave he reached up and grabbed my face and pulled me close and kissed me on the cheek and said what I think was 'Thank you.'" 10

11 Inspirational Doug said, "The next morning there were patients waiting when I awoke and they asked if they could read some of the books and tracts that I had brought. Others had questions about the God I worshiped and His only begotten Son who came into the world to die for their sins." In the next few weeks Doug Nichols gave out all the literature that he had brought, and many of the doctors and nurses and patients in that sanitarium came to know Jesus Christ, too. He said, "Now what did I do? I didn't preach a sermon. I couldn't even communicate in their language. I didn't have a great lesson to teach them. I didn't have wonderful things to offer. All I did was take an old man to the bathroom and anyone can do that." Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love (1 John 4:7-8). Alan Smith Source: M E D I A E F F C T Randy Glasbergen [ 11

12 Thoughts Every child comes with the message that God is not yet discouraged of man! Rabindranath Tagore Know that the LORD is God. It is he, who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. Psalm 100: 3-5 Begin in prayer; continue in prayer; end in prayer. All the help that we have in the conversion of the children comes from God. We cannot convert their souls, but God can by the influence of His Spirit. When we study our lessons, let us go first for illumination to God, that we may so impress it on the minds and hearts of those we are teaching, that they may bring forth fruit for salvation; that they may see our earnestness see that our desire is for their conversion. Let us pray individually for each one of our scholars. A. O. Van Lennep For Private Circulation Only Published by CSI Church, Toronto. All rights reserved 12