Letter from the Vicar
"Even
now," declares the LORD, "return to me with all your heart, with
fasting and weeping and mourning." Joel 2:12
The book of Joel
was written to the people of Israel. It looks back to the judgment of God
on them for their sins. It also looks forward to a glorious day when they will
enjoy the great blessings of the Lord. Even though they are experiencing the
judgment of God, there is still hope! God reaches out to them one more time to
address their condition and to call them back to Him. Genuine repentance is the
only hope they have for survival.
God calls on them
to “turn” to Him “with all your heart”. He calls on them “rend” their “hearts”
and not their “garments”. He is looking for a people who are broken over
their sinful nature and who are willing to change. He is looking for a people
who will be sorrowful over their sins, (i.e. “with fasting, and with weeping,
and with mourning”). As long as the Church continues to walk in rebellion
against God, the world will mock us and our God. When we sincerely repent and
are restored to a place of blessing, the world will be forced to acknowledge
the God Who dwells among us.
We are going to observe another great day as per our lectionary i.e Pentecost Sunday. Amazing things took place that
day. Some
believe that God expects all His people to speak in tongues. Tongues were not
the primary miracle that day. Tongues were never given as a sign to the Church;
tongues came for the Jews (1 Cor. 14:22). Tongues are mentioned in the book of
Acts when a new people group is brought into the church (Act. 2; Act.
8; Act. 10; Act. 19) We cannot duplicate the events of Pentecost. One
of the striking characteristics of the early church in the day of Pentecost was
that they were together “with one accord”. The word “accord” means “to have one
mind.” They waited on the Lord together and prayed together. One of the
problems in the modern Church is that the members are in all different stages
of spiritual development. Some are saved but immature. Some are saved and
growing. Some are saved and Spirit-filled. Some are not even saved. This
diversity makes for difficulty in the family.
Let us pray that our good Lord may visit us one
more time and restore us from the judgment. It will come when walking and
working together!
Yours in His
Ministry,
Shine Achen
Events (May 2013)
1) Every Sunday
9:00 - 10:15 Sunday school
9:30 - 10:15 Adult Bible Class
10:30 Holy
Communion Service
1:00 - 3:00 Choir Practice
2) Birthdays
1 st Samuel (Ashish) Pati
2 nd Han
Joseph
8 th Vinod
Skariah
9 th Kelly
Kurian
12 th Thushara
Vinod Skariah
15th Molley
Babu
23rd Sony
Philip
27th Leah George
28th Nirmal
John
30th Bibi
John
31st Biju
John Kurien
3) Wedding Anniversaries
11th Molley & Babu K George
12th Marilyn & Tony Thomas
18th Ushus & Jubel Koshy Joseph
18th Sophia
& Shine J. Mathews
19th Sosamma
& Jacob Mathews
29th Bindu
& Samu Thomas
30th Susamma & Abraham Varghese
Almanac
19th May Pentecost Sunday Holy
Spirit, the gift of God Malayalam Service
Lesson
1 1st Joel 2:
18-22
Psalm 139:
1-12
Lesson2
2nd Act 2:1-13
Gospel John:
16:5-16
Assistants
of Worship:
26h May Trinity
Sunday Trinitarian Experience of God English Service
Lesson
1 1st Genesis 18:
1-15
Psalm 24
Lesson
2 2nd John 5:
1-12
Gospel Mathew 3: 13-17
Assistants
of Worship:
