April 2008
Volume 9, Issue 4 |
From the Desk of Rev.
Abraham P. Varkey
|
Inside this Issue
1. Message from the Vicar
2. Wedding Anniversaries
3. Birthdays
4. Bible Readings
5. News and Announcements
6. Quiz
7.Sunday School Announcement
8. Worship Services
9. Deadline for article submission and Acknowledgement |
RESURRECTED CHRIST CHALLENGES OUR
PRIORITIES (John 21:15-19)
“….Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”(v.15 a)
The resurrected Lord appeared to the disciples in the
midst of their toil in the sea. Having finished the breakfast provided by
the risen Lord, the Lord began to put some uncomfortable questions before
peter. Before the sea, boats nets and the fish they caught, the Lord ask
him,” Do you love me more than these?” It implies that if peter had
loved the Lord, he would not have gone for fishing after the crucifixion
and resurrection of Jesus. Yet Peter pretends that he loves Jesus. The
Lord repeat the same question, “Do you love me?” Peter replies to both
the questions in the affirmative. Here two different words are used for
the verb ‘love’.
While Jesus uses the word ‘agapao’, meaning
sacrificing, self-less, divine love, Peter in this reply uses another verb
‘phileo’, meaning friendly love. Peter claims to have at least
friendly love, while Jesus demands sacrificing love from him. Jesus
repeats the question for the third time, “Do you love me?”, using the
verb phileo, which clearly means “do you at least have friendly love?”.
This time Peter stumbles and crumbles and cried out, “Lord, you know
every thing; you know that I love you”.
At a certain musical concert, several eminent singers
rendered great musical pieces and received much applause from the audience
.The last performer was a man with out legs who was carried in by others
into the stage. He sang in a beautiful voice, with all the depth of
emotion he could muster-“Tell me the old story of Jesus and his love”.
At the end of the song, the whole audience stood in ovation. Some were
seen wiping their tears. While other singers had impressed the audience
with their musical talents this man made a great impact because he sang of
Jesus’ love with great conviction, despite his physical
limitations.
When the priorities of disciples changed the risen Lord
challenged them to review and commit their lives to him. It is this
challenge that made them firm in their commitment.
Peter’s life was turned upside-down after he saw the
resurrected Christ. Once an impetuous fisherman disciple who denied even
knowing Christ after his arrest, he became bold witness for him (Acts
2:14- 36). The resurrected Christ challenges us to make a list of
priorities in life and compare it with the first commitment we made with
Christ.
“To love Christ is to serve Christ” |
|
|
Identify the Bible references from the book of Genesis.
1. Abraham deceives the King Pharoah.
2. Abraham returns to Canaan.
3. Abraham and Lot separate.
4. Lot goes to Wicked Sodom
5. Renewal of God's promise to Abraham.
6. The battle of the Kings.
7. Abraham rescues Lot.
8. Abraham's unselfishness
9. The Lord's promise to Abraham.
10. The Lord's covenant with Abraham.
11. The two women, Sarai and Hagar.
12. An Angel Speaks to Hagar.
Answers will be in the next edition of the newsletter.
Please E-Mail your answers before April 20, 2008 to :
danielthampi@bellsouth.net or mail to: PO Box 33864, Decatur GA
30033-0864.
Tel;/Fax 404-687-9155 or 404-964-2974.
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Answers
for March Quiz
1. Genesis. 9: 20-24.
2. Genesis. 9:25-29
3. Genesis . 10: 1-5
4. Genesis. 10: 6-20.
5. Genesis. 10: 21-32.
6. Genesis. 11: 1-6.
7. Genesis. 11: 7-9
8. Genesis. 11: 10-26
9. Genesis. 11: 27-30
10. Genesis. 11: 31-32
11. Genesis. 12: 1-9
12. Genesis. 12: 10-13.
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Sunday School Announcements
There will be competitions for the following items for Sunday
School Students during the month of April 2008.
Story Telling:
For grades from Nursery to Grade 3. Stories from Bible with suitable
actions.
Time : 5 to 7 minutes
Singing: For
all grades, one song in Malayalam and another Song in English as selected by the
judges
from the following four songs
Malayalam:
Maramon Convension 2007 song No. 17, ”Padume njan padume …”
Maramon Convension 2007 Song No. 99, “Aaralum Asadyam Ennu Paranju...”
English:
Song No. 11 from the order of worship, “O Lord my God…”
Song No. 35 from the order of worship, “Sing them over again to me…”
Elocution: For grades 4th
to 10th Topic: “Salvation through Christ” Time: 5 minutes
Bible verses memory competition will be in the month of
April 2008 in their respective classes on any Sunday selected by their teacher.
Students up to grade 3 in the Sunday School will havetheir competition orally.
Grade 4 onwards the competition will be in writing (Time 1 hour).
Students have to study verses from NIV Bible. 1st and 2nd prizes will be awarded
and all
students telling/writing more than 60 bible verses is assured of a special
prize. The bible
portion for the competition is shown below:
Exodus 20: 1-17
Psalms 1: 1 - 6
Psalms 23: 1 - 6
Psalms 136: 1- 26
Proverbs 2: 1- 22
Romans 12: 1- 21
II Timothy 2: 1-13
Diocesan Sunday School Exam is scheduled on May 11, 2008.
Students from Grade 5 onwards who scored more than 60% marks in the class exam
are eligible. Teachers are requested to give the names of students latest by
March 30, 2008.
(Sunday School Superintendent)
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