The Official Monthly Newsletter of CSI Church, Toronto Volume 16 Issue 11 NOVEMBER 2016 2016 Motto Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:6 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. INSIDE THIS ISSUE Achen s message... 3 Celebrations... 4 Bible Portions... 5 CSI Edmonton... 6 Church News... 7 Youth Sunday... 8
Editorial.. Disciples of Lord Jesus. NOVEMBER 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) 231 1717 Articles/ Feedback May be sent to pilgrimcsi.to@gmail.com Have you ever determined your worth? Have you ever thought about your role in your family or the society? Are you an indispensable person or a needless person? We can determine our worth through the sound judgement of our own abilities. Insurance companies might help in this assessment. But the real question is what others think! You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. (Matthew 5:13) Salt is not an expensive commodity anymore. It used to be the touchstone of worthiness in history. Though people are sure about the inevitable role of salt in their lives, they sometimes fail to understand the roles they have been entrusted with. If we claim to be followers of Jesus Christ, it is imperative that we display the characteristics of salt in our lives. We ought to be refined like the salt, and help in removing the impurities that flood our lives. Our actions should help create in others, an excessive thirst for the life of abundance in Jesus. Our involvement in the lives of our others should add the seasoning power of salt and ultimately transform them into salt. Since salt can lower the freezing point and thaw the ice, the disciples should be able to thaw the bitterness and prejudices that cloud the peaceful existence of humanity. Though salt has been reduced to an inexpensive commodity, it has never lost its essence. It remains an integral part of our lives. If we claim to be disciples and are not compromised, then we are by far the salt of the earth. This state demands the saltiness or the characteristics of salt from our lives. Are you prepared to be the salt of the earth? God bless Samuel Anselm Samuel Editor 2 http://csichurchtoronto.org
Achen s Message Dearly beloved in Christ, Greetings to all members in the name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ! We have come to the 11th month of the year. As the saying goes, time and tide waits for none. Time flies and it is our responsibility to have time handy with us by our planning. Two more months and the year turns history! Let us be wise with time and opportunity that comes our way. Let us start to evaluate our lives spiritually and be prepared to get to 2017 meaningfully. God has entrusted our congregation with the responsibility of hosting the 31st Annual CSI North American Family and Youth Conference and the CSI North American Council. It is a great privilege and an immense responsibility. I am glad to express my deep gratitude to all members who have taken this huge endeavor as God s call to host our fellow congregations in North America. I request all of you to plan and prepare yourselves to be available for the conference which is to be held from 2017 July 6 to 9 (Thursday to Sunday). Various Sub Committees have already started to pray and work to make the conference meaningful and fruitful before our Lord. Kindly bear the council, the conference and all who hold various responsibilities in your valuable prayers - family and personal. I am thankful to each of them as they have shouldered various tasks according to the talents and taste with which they are endowed. Let us allow the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us in our planning, preparations, presentation and participation. Bicentenary Observations in Madhya Kerala Diocese are coming to its finale. November 11, 12, and 13 will witness the culmination of the observations. Let us be thankful to our Lord for having prepared the hearts of missionaries to set out for a great cause for eternity. Their life model challenges us to be mindful and responsive towards the souls that lose the fruitfulness of their being. The Holy Spirit is still asking us whether we are ready to leave our comfort zones for HIM. Let us pray for God s blessings upon the function and the Divine Service which will be held at Kottayam. November is important in the Church calendar since it bears the Sunday School Sunday, worldwide. We are very fortunate and blessed to have children in our Congregation. That compels us to be responsible for molding them in the image of God. The children are to be raised up incorruptibly in our families and congregation. When they look for models to be followed, let us offer ourselves showing Jesus to them with the solid foundation of the Bible. Let us bring up our generations wisely with the right investment of prayer and relationship with Christ. May the Lord bless the Ministry of the Sunday School. The Operation Christmas Child Shoe Boxes will be presented this month. On 13th Sunday the packed boxes will be presented by our Sunday School children for dedication, and will be exchanged to the Collection Centre. We are having the house to house carols this month. Kindly extend your support and assure your participation for this endeavor as this is a time of fellowship. Youth Sunday was observed meaningfully. I thank God for all the young people in our Congregation. May God bless abundantly the ministry of the Youth Fellowship as they continue to develop their talents for God and prepare themselves as witnesses for Him. Thanks to Mr. Sanju Ben Cherian, the of Youth Fellowship for all the arrangements and leadership. May the Almighty bless all our young people. May God bless you and keep all of you in His abundant mercy and grace. Yours in His service, Siby Achen. http://csichurchtoronto.org 3
Celebrations BIRTHDAYS 03 Ani Chacko 20 Biby Esther Abraham 04 Christina Fredrick 26 Milly Johnson 08 Vivek Joseph 26 Prem Narayan 09 Nikhil Joseph 27 Mary Jacob 13 Reji Johnson 27 Leanne Chacko 14 Ashley Lional Ajay 29 Matthew Gajraj 15 Elizabeth Kuruvilla 29 Sonijya Raj 16 Balaji I. Kuruvilla 30 Smitha Titus 18 Jared Chacko 30 Susan Mathew 19 Chris George 19 Ajoy Lional & Rejy Elizabeth ANNIVERSARIES 22 Rakesh Thampi & Neena Kuruvilla 25 Nibu Varguise & Ajin Annie Varguise 26 Abraham P. George & Elzy George 4 http://csichurchtoronto.org
Bible Portions Vine & Branches November 06 25 th Sunday after Pentecost Unity Sunday Old Testament Ezekiel 37:15-23 Malayalam Service Psalm 133 Read by Epistle I Corinthians 12:12-27 Suby Mathews & family Gospel John 15:1-8 November 13 26 th Sunday after Pentecost World Sunday School Day Be Transformed to Transform Old Testament Judges 13:1-14 English Service Psalm 119:9-16 Read by Epistle Ephesians 6:1-4 Sunday School Team Gospel Luke 1:57-66 Affirming the Worth of the Girl Child November 20 27 th Sunday after Pentecost Old Testament Numbers 27:1-11 English Service Psalm 71:1-12 Read by Epistle Acts 21:7-14 Daniel Thomas & family Gospel Mark 5:35-43 Celebrating the Promise of God November 27 1 st Sunday in Advent Old Testament I Samuel 2:1-10 Malayalam Service Psalm 66 Read by Epistle Hebrew 11:29-40 Jacob P John & Family Gospel Luke 1:39-45 http://csichurchtoronto.org 5
Special CSI Congregation of Edmonton Rev. George Jacob During the Bicentenary Year of the Madhya Kerala Diocese, it was perfectly the will of our Lord to probe the possibility and initiate the process of having a new congregation for our Diocese in Edmonton. Thanks to the efforts of all CSI families in Edmonton who were in favour of the new movement. I want to reiterate the fact that this was God s plan and timing for the formation of a new congregation. 2016 October 15, Saturday marked the beginning of a new chapter for CSI in Edmonton. The congregation records its gratitude and remains indebted to Rev. Michael Williamson (Rector), Mr. Peter Jackson (Administrator / Treasurer), Mr. Rick Michelson (Member), Mrs. Rubi De Chavez (Office Assistant) and Kjeryn Beverly Allard (Altar Guild) of the St. Paul s Anglican Church at Stony Plain Road and 145 St. NW in Edmonton. The Vicar of CSI Church, Toronto celebrated the first Eucharist for the congregation consisting of 18 families. 58 members attended the Divine Service and participated in the fellowship lunch and a general meeting afterwards. Kindly pray for the Congregation as it proposes, plans and prepares to grow by having regular gathering for Matins Service on all Saturdays at St. Paul s. 6 http://csichurchtoronto.org
Church News House to House Carol Singing This year we are planning to start our House to House Carol singing from November 5 onwards visiting parts of Mississauga, and then to Stratford and London area. Your Area Prayer Group leaders will arrange this Ministry in your area, please cooperate with them. Carol Rounds Schedule: November 12 & 13 Scarborough, Whitby, Richmond Hill, North York, Thornhill November 19 Morning till 3 PM Etobicoke area November 26 Mississauga, Burlington, Brantford, Hamilton, Guelph, Milton December 3 and 4 in Brampton December 11 closing at the Parsonage Children's Sunday We are observing Sunday November 13 as Children's Sunday. Our Sunday School Children and teachers will be taking an active part in the worship service. Everyone is invited. Kerala Christian Ecumenical Christmas Celebrations The Kerala Christian Ecumenical Fellowship Christmas Celebrations will be held on November19, at 5.30 PM at Don Bosco Secondary School, Etobicoke. All are invited. 31st CSI Family and Youth Conference of North America 2017 Our Church is hosting the 31st CSI Family and Youth Conference of North America from Thursday, July 6 to Sunday, July 9, 2017. The Conference will be held at Hilton Toronto/Markham Suites: Conference Centre. All our members are requested to plan, participate in coordinating this conference. Your support and attendance is very important. Please block July 6 to July 9, 2017 in your calendar. The Registration is going to start in December. Church Dues Those who haven't paid the membership fee and other church dues, please remit them as soon as possible. http://csichurchtoronto.org 7
Committee The Executive Committee Members of the CSI Church, Toronto President Rev. George Jacob Vice-President / Rector s Warden Mr. Abraham P. George Women s Fellowship Mrs. Susan Joseph Secretary / People s Warden Mr. Christy Abraham Men s Fellowship Dr. Nibu Varguise Joint Secretary / Trustee Mr. Rennie Philips Joseph Sunday School Mr. Philip Z. Mathai Treasurer Mrs. Sheeba L. Ghosh Youth Fellowship Mr. Sanju Cherian Joint Treasurer / Trustee Mr. Abhilash Raj Mission Mr. Joseph Thomas Choir Mr. Daniel Thomas Social & Entertainment Mr. Joshua Shaji Moothedom For Private Circulation Only Published by CSI Church, Toronto, 1315 Kipling Avenue M9B 3N7, ON. All rights reserved 8 http://csichurchtoronto.org