the official monthly newsletter of csi church,...
TRANSCRIPT
Philippians 4:6
The Official Monthly Newsletter of CSI Church, Toronto
Volume16Issue11
NOVEMBER2016
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Achen’s message .... 3
Celebrations ............ 4
Bible Portions .......... 5
CSI Edmonton ......... 6
Church News .......... 7
Youth Sunday .......... 8
2016Motto‘Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication
with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.’
o ിെനക്കുറി ം വിചാരെ ടരുത്; eലല്ാ ിലും പ്രാർഥനയാലും aേപക്ഷയാലും
നി ളുെട ആവശയ് ൾ േ ാത്രേ ാെട ൈദവേ ാടു aറിയിക്കുകയേത്ര േവ തു.
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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
Editorial …..
Have you ever determined your worth? Have you ever thought about your role in your family or the society? Are you an indispensable per-son 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 touch-stone of worthiness in history. Though people are sure about the in-evitable 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 in-volvement 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 charac-teristics of salt from our lives. Are you prepared to be the salt of the earth?
God bless
Samuel Anselm Samuel
Editor
Disciples of Lord Jesus ….
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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 Ameri-can Family and Youth Conference and the CSI North American Council. It is a great privilege and an im-mense 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 mind-ful 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 Col-lection Centre.
We are having the house to house carols this month. Kindly extend your support and assure your partici-pation 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 Director 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.
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Celebrations
ANNIVERSARIES
19 Ajoy Lional & Rejy Elizabeth
22 Rakesh Thampi & Neena Kuruvilla
25 Nibu Varguise & Ajin Annie Varguise
26 Abraham P. George & Elzy George
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
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Bible Portions
November 06
25th Sunday after Pentecost
Unity Sunday
Vine & Branches
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
26th 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
November 20
27th Sunday after Pentecost
Affirming the Worth of the Girl Child
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
November 27
1st Sunday in Advent
Celebrating the Promise of God
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
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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 Edmon-ton. 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 congre-gation records its gratitude and remains indebted to Rev. Michael Williamson (Rector), Mr. Peter Jack-son (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 congrega-tion consisting of 18 families. 58 members attended the Divine Service and participated in the fellow-ship 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.
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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 teach-ers 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 pos-sible.
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For Private Circulation Only
Published by CSI Church, Toronto, 1315 Kipling Avenue M9B 3N7, ON. All rights reserved
Committee
President Rev. George Jacob
Vice-President / Rector’s Warden Mr. Abraham P. George Women’s Fellowship
Director Mrs. Susan Joseph
Secretary / People’s Warden Mr. Christy Abraham Men’s Fellowship
Director Dr. Nibu Varguise
Joint Secretary / Trustee Mr. Rennie Philips Joseph Sunday School
Director Mr. Philip Z. Mathai
Treasurer Mrs. Sheeba L. Ghosh Youth Fellowship Director Mr. Sanju Cherian
Joint Treasurer / Trustee Mr. Abhilash Raj Mission Director
Choir Director Mr. Daniel Thomas
Mr. Joseph Thomas
Social & Entertainment Director Mr. Joshua Shaji Moothedom
The Executive Committee Members of the CSI Church, Toronto