April 2002

Church—Holy Temple in the Lord

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

 Greetings in the name of the risen Lord!

  This is probably the last letter I write to you as the Vicar of this Parish. It was indeed a great privilege and honor to serve you as your Achen. We as family enjoyed the warmth of your fellowship,  and the touch of your love. I am sure that I didn’t do much for the parish that I should have because of my own limitations. But I thank the Almighty God for His grace that strengthened me, for His guiding presence in the unknown paths of life. Thanks you all for your prayerful support, care, and concern for my family and me. Hope the new Achen will assume his responsibilities by the beginning of May. I wish him all the best for a meaningful ministry here and request everyone to give all sorts of prayerful support.

  One of the imageries that St. Paul uses for the Church is that of a building and a living temple (Eph 2:21). A building is a construction formed by fitting different kinds of material together. The cement foundation is laid, a wood frame is put up, plywood sheering, and plastic board are added. God’s Church, and our parish also is a construction, and this too requires that different kinds of materials, i.e.., ourselves befitted together.

  It’s only in  Christ the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. Whatever may divide us, Christ brings us together. Whatever fears or suspicions arouse hostility or partisanship, Christ brings peace, And we must let Him. For the “holy temple in the Lord” that Jesus is building today rises only as we, His people, are “joined together.”

  Dear friends don’t let the partisan divide you. As you live in a complex culture, don’t let race, or age, or social status, or education, or wealth, or poverty, drive you apart. Christ had brought your near to God through faith and in bringing you near to God. He has brought your near each other. Now as parish let us dedicate ourselves to reach out for others, and hand-in-hand be built, “together to become a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit.”

  “Finally brethren, good bye. Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.” 2 Cor 13:11

 Thank You and God Bless You.,

Yours Lovingly,

 Thomas Chandy Achen

 LECTIONARY

April 2002

Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
	1	2	3 EM Prayer	4	5 Sev San Prayer YF Area Bible Study	6 Sun S Regional  YS Regional GB
YF Auction  7 Sun S Teachers Mtg EM Regional	8	9	10 EM Prayer	11	12 Sev San Prayer YF Area Bible Study	13 Sev San Regional
14  YS Meeting YF Meeting	15	16	17 EM Prayer	18	19 Sev San Prayer YF Area Bible Study	20 Sun S Festival
21 YF Meeting	22	23	24 EM Prayer	25	Sev San Prayer  26 YS Cottage Prayer YF Area Bible Study	27 YF Bible Study
28  YS Meeting YF Meeting	29	30

IMPORTANT DAYS IN SABHA/DIOCESAN CALENDAR

Date	Day	Importance of the Day
Apr 7	Sun	Christ’s Appearance to Apostle Thomas—New Sunday “My Lord and my God”
Apr 14	Sun	“Live in the Risen Lord”
Apr 21	Sun	Walk with “Christ the Light”
Apr 28	Sun	Jesus the Way, Truth and Life
Apr 30	Tues	Anti Child Labor Day