News Letter , January2013

Letter from the Vicar

Epiphany: God Reveals in Baptism

A dying judge said to his pastor; "Do you know enough about law to understand what is meant by "joint tenancy?" 
"No," was the reply, "I know nothing about law; I know a little about grace, and that satisfies me." 
"Well", said the judge, "if you and I were joint tenants on a farm, I could not say to you, that is your hill of corn and this is mine, that is your blade of grass and this is mine; but we would share and share alike in everything on the place. I have been just lying here and thinking with joy that Jesus Christ has nothing apart from me, and that everything He has is mine and we will share alike through all eternity."

 In Jesus’ Baptism, this was a sign for Jesus as well as John that God had indeed chosen Jesus to be his incarnate presence in this world. Jesus’ Baptism was an Epiphany event, or a manifestation, or a light, or a revelation of God’s presence in this world. 

Jesus as he grew up in his father’s carpenter shop must have been looking for a sign from God to tell him when he was to go about his public ministry. John’s preaching, John’s baptism was just that sign. Jesus came to John not because he needed to be forgiven of his sins, but as a sign, a revelation to all people and a revelation to himself that he was to begin his public ministry. He received conformation in a physical way what he knew in his heart to be his task. God’s voice, the coming of the spirit on him all confirmed for Jesus he was indeed God’s chosen one, the one who would bring the good news to all people. In Baptism, we too become God’s chosen ones. In the pouring of the water and in the saying of the words, we become God’s children in Baptism. We are chosen by God. He acts, he comes to us through the water and the word to make us his. A baby might be either sleep or cry during Baptism, but that is all it will do. The baby will have no active part, that is because God is the one who acts. God comes to the baby and claims it for his own. God does all the action in Baptism. God claims it’s life for eternity. Yes, the claim upon us in Baptism is for eternity.

In our baptism, we are also anointed with the Spirit. A sign of the cross is made to seal the covenant agreement made through the water and the word. Our sins are forgiven, and at the same time, we agree, since that what an covenant is, an agreement between two parties, to fight against sin and to confess our sins daily to God so that he might drown them and raise out of the waters of our Baptism a new person. Baptism is not a magical rite, but in Baptism an agreement is made between us and God. 

This agreement is for a lifetime. God agrees to forgive our sins, and we agree to fight against sin and when we do sin, to ask, God to cleanse us and renew us again in the waters of our Baptism. That is not to say we need to be baptized each day, but each day we relive our Baptism in that God drowns our sinful self and rises up a new person. 

So Baptism happens once, but we live in it daily. And if we don’t keep our part of the agreement, to confess our sins, to seek God’s forgiveness, then the promise of Baptism means nothing, because in our forsaking we also turn away from God’s action of forgiveness. 

By God’s grace we enter into yet another new year. As usual 2013 too offers new hope and challenges for our lives. Let us pray that this year may be a blessed year for all of us. As church we have completed another year in our history and we all thank God almighty for guiding and leading us magnificently thus far. As the vicar I would like thank the church committee members for their relentless efforts to keep the calendar running and holding the community together, particularly the works of the executive committee, John Thomas, Devid George and Babu K George for their positive interventions in organizing the activities of the church. 

Our church organized the Chicago CSI Carol 2012 in last month and participated in the Ecumenical Christmas Carol. Our choir has done a commendable job in making the Carol Service a melodious event. We look forward to see the same enthusiasm and commitment from community as we enter into a new year.

With Prayers,

Rev.Joseph Samuel.

Fasting Prayer

Wednesdays 10am at Church

Youth Sunday

Sunday the 27^th January at 10.30am

Sunday School

Every Sunday at 9am

Auxiliaries’ Anniversary

The auxiliary groups of the church will have their anniversary celebrations on Sunday the 20^th January at our Church. The Holy Communion Service will begin at 9.30am which will be followed by presentations by the auxiliary groups.

Cottage Prayer

Jubel Koshy & Family will be hosting a prayer meeting at the church on Saturday the 26^th January 6pm.

Annual General Body Meeting

It will be held on Sunday the 27^th January after the Worship Service.

Birthdays

01/01   John Joseph

01/01   Kevin Kurien

01/01   Shaun G Devid

01/04   Shantah Christudas

01/05   Sam Joseph

01/11   Jashley Thomas

01/14   Jubel Koshy

01/18   Julie Thomas

01/18   Namitha John

01/20   Moncy Thomas

01/21   Lovy George

01/25   Sheryl Devid

01/25   Carolyn Daisy Koshy

01/26   Ruth Varghese

01/31   Akkina Abraham

01/31   Susamma Varghese

Wedding Anniversaries

01/07   Annamma & Kurien C Kurien

01/18   Sheela & Abraham Joseph

Almanac

01/06/13         Second Sunday after Christmas (Malayalam Service)

Proclamation of the Truth

Isaiah 56: 1-8

Psalm 27:1-6

Acts. 17: 16-34

John 12:20-26

01/13/13         First Sunday after Epiphany (English Service)

Baptism of Jesus

Isaiah 49:1-6

Psalm 1:1-6

1Peter 3:13-22

Matthew 3:13-17

01/20/13         Second Sunday after Epiphany (Malayalam Service)

Commitment for Peace and Unity

Leviticus 25:35-42

Psalm 43

2Corinthians 4:1-15

Matthew 8:5-13

01/27/13         Third Sunday after Epiphany (Youth Sunday)

Creation: From Chaos to Order

Genesis 11:5, 26-31

Psalm 29: 1-11

Revelation 21: 1-7

John 1:1-13