From the desk of Rev. Simon Behanan

Inside this Issue

1. Message from the Vicar

2. Wedding Anniversaries

3. Birthdays

4. Bible Readings

5. News and Announcements

6. Worship Services

7. Answers to last months quizzes

8. Bible Quizzes: Malayalam

Theme For The Year 2004: FELLOWSHIP

Key Verse For the Year : "But if we walk in the light ... we have fellowship with one another" (I John1:7)

     Lent: The Season for Costly Offering

"Nor will I offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God with that which costs me nothing." 2Sam 24: 24

Jesus offered his best for us. Lent is the season to offer our best for Jesus: not only the best, but also the costly. There is a story about a doctor, who worked, many years ago in a remote area in America. Once a Native Indian family approached im and begged him to visit their village and treat their beloved grandmother. This old woman was very sick, but she was admired for her love and leadership in the family and in the clan. He visited the village and treated the old woman. After few weeks, she recovered completely. Some days after the recovery, the entire family visited the Doctor and ceremoniously presented him with a 150-year-old pair of moccasins (soft leather heelless shoe) made by their great grandfather. He recognized it as a valuable antique piece (worth thousands of dollars) and so hesitated to accept it. But the head of the clan insisted him to accept the gift and said, "You have saved my mother’s life. We do not want to express our appreciation with a cheap gift." Finally the doctor accepted the gift.

God asked King David to offer a sacrifice in the land of Aranuah the Jebusite. David could have done that easily. But he did not want to offer the sacrifice in the land of another person. Even though as the king he could acquire anybody’s land in the country for his own use, he decided not to do that, but to pay the price and buy the land. He did not want to offer burnt offerings to the Lord in a land that costs him nothing. So he paid the price and offered the sacrifice. These stories remind us that we need to give the best but the costly to Jesus. Lent is the season to learn giving qualitatively. Giving need not mean giving money; anybody can do this. Giving Jesus our best that nobody else can offer is the best way of giving. John the Baptist offered his disciples, the widow offered her two coins, the boy offered his five loaves and two fish, Mary Magdalene offered her costly perfume and Pilate offered the cross. What are we going to offer Him during this season and thereafter? While we give, Jesus will look at our hearts rather than our hands.

March Birthdays

The vicar and the members of Atlanta Mar Thoma Church wish the following members a very happy birthday. Please plan to attend the celebration communion service on the Sunday following the occasion.

March Wedding Anniversaries

The vicar and the members of Atlanta Mar Thoma Church wish the following members a very happy Wedding Anniversary. Please plan to attend the celebration communion service on the Sunday following the occasion.

Bible Readings for March 2004

Worship Services