October 2001


“Not an Answer, a Friend”

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Read the last chapter of the book of Job. When God finally spoke to Job, He did not explain why He permitted Job to suffer. This has left many puzzled, for the book of Job seems to hold no answer to the questions it raises. During the last two months when we faced a lot of terrific and tragic realities of life, many doubts would have come out into our minds. Why do the innocent suffer? Why do tragedies strike good people? Why does God allow crime and terrorism to overshadow our lives? There is no answer here.

But perhaps this is the point. The book of Job portrays a God who is wise beyond our comprehension, a God who can and does judge the wickedness. It also portrays a God who permitted Satan to torment Job and who, after Satan’s defeat caused Job’s suffering to continue. At the same time the book emphasizes that Job was a blameless and righteous man. How does all this fit together?

By the end of the book Job had suffered far more than he could have feared or even imagined. Yet Job had also met God . He had been rebuked, but he had also been commended. Job realized that even in his suffering God was for him. God had observed his actions, and approved. Even when his pain was greatest, his doubts overwhelming, and his words the most foolish, God cared. Through the experience of suffering Job had at last come to know that God was his friend. This may be the true message of the book of Job that despite our suffering God is our friend. With this assurance, we can face and be victorious in our pain. Philosopher-theologian Soren Kierkegard wrote like this “… when a man’s heart groans in despair, and in bitterness of soul he cries to heaven, then Job still walks at the side of the race and guarantees that there is a victory, guarantees that even if the individual loses in the strife, there is still God…”

Now let me express our heartfelt condolences to the families of those who lost their dear ones on the tragic incident of September 11th. Let us up hold the nation and leaders in prayer and stand united in solidarity with them.

Beloved in Christ, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” Ps 46:1

Yours Lovingly,

Thomas Chandy Achen

 



Date

Day

Time

Worship

Oct 

07

Sun

9:30 am

10:30am

Adult Bible Class

Holy Communion Service, English

Oct 

14

Sun

9:30 am 

10:30 am

Adult Bible Class

Holy Communion Service, English

Oct 

21

Sun

9:30 am 

10:30 am

Adult Bible Class

Holy Communion Service, Malayalam

Oct 

28

Sun

9:30 am

10:30 am

Adult Bible Class

Holy Communion Service, Malayalam

  • Family Night – October 6th Evening, Sunday

  • Family Sunday – October 28th, Sunday

  • Edavaka Mission Millennium Theater Trip Nov. 9 

    • Miracle of Christmas and Christmas Water Show

  • Church Convention – Nov 16 – 18

  • Thanksgiving – Nov 22  

  • Northeast Regional Youth One Day Conference – 11/24

  • Christmas

  • Caroling

  • 24th Christmas Eve Carol Service

  • 25th Morning Service

  • Northeast Regional Yuvajana Sakhyam Christmas Choir Competition– Sat., December 15

  • Northeast Regional Yuvajana Sakhyam Reception to Thirumeni – Sat., December 15

IMPORTANT DAYS IN SABHA/DIOCESAN CALENDAR

Date

Day

Importance of the Day

Oct 07

Sun.

Care for the physically and mentally impaired (celebrated, actual date is Oct 14)

Oct 14

Sun.

Youth hood a gift of God—Youth Sunday (celebrated, actual date is Oct 21)

Oct 21

Sun.

Ministry of the Laity: Voluntary Evangelists Day (celebrated, actual date is Oct 7)

Oct 28

Sun.

Family God’s Plan—Family Sunday

 


 LECTIONARY

Date

1st Lesson

2nd Lesson

Epistle

Gospel

Oct

07

2 Sam. 9:1-13

1 Thess 5:12-22

2 Cor 12:1-10

St. Luke 14:15-23

Oct

14

Gen 39:1-23

1 Tim 4:6-16

1 Peter 4:7-11

St. Mat. 19:16-24

Oct

21

2 Kings 7:3-10

Rom 1:8-17

Acts 8:1-8

St. Mat. 4:18-25

Oct

28

Josh 24:1-17

1 Peter 3:7-14

1 John 2:7-17

St. Mat. 12:46-50

ARCHIVES

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