From the Vicar
Dear friends,
The six weeks before Easter is called
the "Lenten Sea-son". It is a time to focus on the suffering, death
and resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Because Jesus died, and thus paid
for our sins, we have life. Because Jesus rose from the dead, we too will rise
and enjoy heaven forever. The
word "lent" means "lengthen" and stands for that time in
spring when the days grow longer. The original period of Lent was 40 hours. It
was spent fasting to commemorate the suffering of Christ and the 40 hours He
spent in the tomb. In the early 3rd century, Lent was lengthened to 6 days.
About 800 AD it was changed to 40 days. Lent starts on Ash Wednesday, 40 days
before Easter. Sundays are not included in those 40 days. Those 40 days correspond
with Christ’s 40 days in the wilderness. THE LENTEN SEASON IS THE TIME OF
PREPARATION. The Lenten season is
intentionally set aside for examination, instruction, repentance and prayer.
This season is one of preparation for all the people of God. THE LENTEN SEASON IS THE TIME
FOR PENITENCE AND DISCIPLINE. Lent
is the time for mourning, solemnity and sadness. In the Lenten season,
self-examination is crucial. An individual’s response to the call for
purposeful reflection on one’s need for God is an important factor in choosing
a discipline with which to actively observe Lent. For some, fasting is a means
of self-examination and denial; yet, fasting is not an appropriate discipline
for all people. The purpose of a Lenten discipline is to strip away those
things which clutter one’s life or impede one from being in relationship with
God. It is also a time for people to experience and reflect on the sufferings
of Jesus, in light of personal sin and unrighteousness. THE LENTEN SEASON IS THE TIME FOR SPECIAL
PRAYER. During Lent many people give
extra time to personal and public prayer. The traditional symbol for these
forms of Lenten prayer is the pretzel. In the fifth century, Christians were
known to make dough of flour, salt and water, which they shaped into the form
of two crossed arms to remind themselves to pray. Pretzels stem directly from
Lent. The crossed arms of the pretzel were in-tended by German bakers to
represent a Christian at prayer, with his palms on opposite shoulders, making a
crisscross of his forearms. The product was called little arms or bracellae,
which later was called brezel or pretzel. The pretzel was only eaten during the
season of Lent, as a reminder to pray. THE
LENTEN SEASON CAN BE A TIME OF SPIRITUAL RENEWAL AND GROWTH. As Christ fasted and prayed in the desert
for forty days, we try to be mindful of Christ for the standards by which we
live our lives, with goals of self-giving and suffering love. With such high
goals, any programmatic response may seem to fall short, yet an attempt to
incorporate prayer, meditation, and useful action in the path of Christ into
our lives, is invaluable.
Therefore,
as a community of faith, let us be in to this special season of Lent being more
prepared, repentant, disciplined in prayer for the spiritual renewal and growth
of the individual and corporate life.
Rev.Shine
John Mathew and family is appointed here from 1st May on by the
Rt.Rev.Thomas K Oommen, our bishop as the new vicar of our church to lead us
for the next 3 years. We will be going back to India on 31st March
2013 as our tenure ends to be a theological teacher at KUTS,
Thiruvananthapuram. We thank you all for
your support in our ministry here in Chicago.
With
Prayers,
Rev.Joseph
Samuel.
Parish Day
We celebrate our 9th Parish Day on Sunday the 3rd
February at 10.30am
Dedication of New Committee
The following are elected to serve in the Church committee
2013 and there will be a dedication prayer for them on Sunday the 3rd
February;
Mr. Ben Kurien, Vice
President
Mr. Tony Philip, Secretary, Rep. CSICNA, Ecumenical Council
Chicago
Mr. Babu K George, Treasurer
Mrs. Jain George, Sunday School
Mr. Nikhs Prabha, Youth Fellowship, Rep. CSICNA
Mr. Babu Philip, Choir
Mr. Shaji Kurien, Men’s Fellowship
Mrs. Anna Devid, Women’s Fellowship
Mr. John Thomas, Auditor
Mr. Thomas Koshy, Auditor, CSICNA
Mr. Devid George, Ecumenical Council Chicago.
Mrs. Swarna Prabha, Ecumenical Council Chicago.
Tithe Thanks Giving Offering
Sunday the 3rd February during the service
Ash Wednesday Service
We will have Ash Wednesday service on 13th
February 7pm at our Church
Lent Prayers
We will have Lent prayers on every Wednesday after the Ash
Wednesday at 7pm at Church.
Youth Sunday
Sunday the 24th February
Cottage Prayers
02/02 Saturday
6.30pm R/o Mr.Abraham Joseph
02/16 Saturday
6.30pm R/o Mathew Prabha
Birthdays
02/02 Omana Thomas
02/03 Shibu Kurien
02/10 Krislte
Thomas
02/11 Nisha Joseph
02/15 Cherian
Kandappally
02/25 Ben Kurien
02/26 Laila Prabha
Wedding Anniversary
02/06 Bibi &
Biju Kurien
02/14 Annie &
Nikhs Prabha
02/23 Aleyamma
& Eappen Thomas
Almanac
02/03 4th
Sunday after Epiphany (Malayalam
Service)
1Kings
8:22-30
Psalm
84
1Corinthians
3:9-17
Mathew
16:13-20
02/10 7th Sunday
before Easter (English
Service)
The
Healing Ministry of the People of God
2Kings
5:1-14
Psalm 6
1Timothy
1:12-17
Mark
7:31-37
02/13 Ash Wednesday
Cross:
Symbol of Spiritual Discipline
Jeremiah
9:17-21
Psalm
43
Galatians
6:11-18
Mark
10:32-34
02/17 6th
Sunday before Easter (Malayalam
Service)
1st
in Lent, Materialism and Spirituality
1Kings
21:1-16
Psalm
49:1-7, 16-20
1John
2:15-17
Mark
1:40-45
02/24 5th
Sunday before Easter (English
Service)
2nd
in Lent, Relationship in mutual trust and respect
1Samuel
18: 1-4
Psalm
55
Philemon
8-16
Mathew
5:43-48
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