2015.04
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Grace Times Vol. XVIII/8 Grace Bible Church, C 930, Sector B Mahanagar, Lucknow, India April 2015 Pulpit Calendar April 2015 Check-in 15 minutes before services 02 6.30 Maundy Thursday COMMUNION SERVICE Morning Services at 10 sharp 03 Good Friday—Hour of Devotion 05 Easter Sunday COMMUNION SERVICE 12 Ashish Khan 19 Pastor Raja 26 Pastor Kuru Allipur Grace Bible Church at 10.00 a.m . 03 Good Friday—Hour of Devotion 05 Easter Sunday COMMUNION SERVICE 12 Pastor Raja 19 Shyam Babu 26 Shyam Babu from the pastor My dear People, In the New Testament Church every Sunday was a celebration of the Resurrection of Christ Jesus. It wasn’t until the Second Century that Easter was celebrated, to replace a pagan festival so that converts would not hanker and lust for the wicked fun that pagans enjoyed at their festivals. There’s nothing wrong with celebrating the Resurrection of Christ on one day, as long as it is to see Easter in the total context of the life, work and teaching of Jesus. That’s what we do when we observe the cycle of the Christian calendar—which starts with Advent (announcing the coming of Christ) and going on to Pentecost (celebrating the coming of the Holy Spirit of Christ). There are people who leave out “ordinary” Sundays and come only on special occasions such as Christmas and Easter or whenever communion services are held. When they do that, they do not keep Christian festivals. They are just celebrating pagan festivals and observing rituals. They are really not Christians, but pagans. You may think that I am making a big deal about this. I’m not. Read your Bible. It clearly designates Sunday as “the Lord’s day” (Rev. 1:10). That is why, when someone doesn’t keep the Lord’s day, all they do is keep pagan festivals on Christmas and Easter. When persecution came to Communist countries, it was those who kept the faith during ordinary times, that re- mained faithful. Things are changing around the world— even in our country. The persecution of Christians is on the rise. If you are not faithful now, you won’t have the strength of faith to withstand the coming persecution. If you think that I have spoilt all your Easter fun with this doleful message, remember that the New Testament Church celebrated the Resurrection of Jesus every Sun- day while being persecuted. Easter is not about fun, which depends on circumstances being good. Easter is about joy and that comes from faith in the Risen Lord—that He’s with you now and will be with you when you face trouble. Love, Kuru WOMEN’S PRAYER at the Sanctuary on Saturday, 18th, at 5 p.m Sunday School held during REGULAR worship services Tuesdays at 6.30 p.m 14 Bible Study at Poonam & Ravi’s 21 Prayer at Suseela’s 28 Bible Study at the Sanctuary EVENTS AFFIRMING CHRISTIAN UNITY Easter Procession on April 5 will start at 4.30 pm from the Central Methodist Church and culminate at St Joseph's Cathedral. Easter Milan on Tuesday, April 7, starting at 6.30 p.m. in Christ Church College grounds.
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Newsletter of Grace Bible Church, Lucknow, India
Transcript of 2015.04
Grace Times
Vol. XVIII/8 Grace Bible Church, C 930, Sector B Mahanagar, Lucknow, India April 2015
Pulpit Calendar
April 2015
Check-in 15 minutes before services 02 6.30 Maundy Thursday COMMUNION SERVICE Morning Services at 10 sharp 03 Good Friday—Hour of Devotion 05 Easter Sunday COMMUNION SERVICE 12 Ashish Khan 19 Pastor Raja 26 Pastor Kuru
Allipur Grace Bible Church at 10.00 a.m.
03 Good Friday—Hour of Devotion 05 Easter Sunday COMMUNION SERVICE 12 Pastor Raja 19 Shyam Babu 26 Shyam Babu
from the pastor
My dear People,
In the New Testament Church every Sunday was a
celebration of the Resurrection of Christ Jesus. It wasn’t
until the Second Century that Easter was celebrated, to
replace a pagan festival so that converts would not hanker
and lust for the wicked fun that pagans enjoyed at their
festivals.
There’s nothing wrong with celebrating the Resurrection
of Christ on one day, as long as it is to see Easter in the
total context of the life, work and teaching of Jesus.
That’s what we do when we observe the cycle of the
Christian calendar—which starts with Advent (announcing
the coming of Christ) and going on to Pentecost
(celebrating the coming of the Holy Spirit of Christ).
There are people who leave out “ordinary” Sundays and
come only on special occasions such as Christmas and
Easter or whenever communion services are held. When
they do that, they do not keep Christian festivals. They
are just celebrating pagan festivals and observing rituals.
They are really not Christians, but pagans.
You may think that I am making a big deal about this. I’m
not. Read your Bible. It clearly designates Sunday as “the
Lord’s day” (Rev. 1:10). That is why, when someone doesn’t
keep the Lord’s day, all they do is keep pagan festivals on
Christmas and Easter.
When persecution came to Communist countries, it was
those who kept the faith during ordinary times, that re-
mained faithful. Things are changing around the world—
even in our country. The persecution of Christians is on
the rise. If you are not faithful now, you won’t have the
strength of faith to withstand the coming persecution.
If you think that I have spoilt all your Easter fun with
this doleful message, remember that the New Testament
Church celebrated the Resurrection of Jesus every Sun-
day while being persecuted.
Easter is not about fun, which depends on circumstances
being good. Easter is about joy and that comes from faith
in the Risen Lord—that He’s with you now and will be with
you when you face trouble.
Love,
Kuru
WOMEN’S PRAYER at the Sanctuary on
Saturday, 18th, at 5 p.m
Sunday School held during
REGULAR worship services
Tuesdays at 6.30 p.m
14 Bible Study at Poonam & Ravi’s 21 Prayer at Suseela’s 28 Bible Study at the Sanctuary
EVENTS AFFIRMING CHRISTIAN UNITY
Easter Procession on April 5 will start at 4.30 pm from the Central Methodist Church and culminate at St Joseph's Cathedral.
Easter Milan on Tuesday, April 7, starting at 6.30 p.m. in Christ Church College grounds.
Income March 31, 2015
Jan –March 2014 Mar 2015 Jan–March 2015 Budget 2015 Projection
General Offerings 43,205 42,360 92,597 2,50,000 3,70,000
Donations 15,575 1,000 5,100 50,000 erratic
Pledged Giving 1,79,050 52,775 1,28,100 4,90,000 5,12,400
2nd Mile Pledges 34,500 11,875 27,800 1,20,000 1,11,000
Lent/Christmas offer. 1,340 500 1,790 20,000 erratic
Hindi Services 9,585
Designated collections
Sunday School 2,947 2.245 6,705 26,800
Grace Church in Village 33,500 12,500 60,000 erratic
Medical Aid Fund 69,200
GRAND TOTAL 3,19,702 1,13,255 3,43,792 9,90,000 10,20,200
Birthdays in April 01 Ricky Singh
04 Stanley Khan
10 Sandy Singh
12 Amrit Modwell
15 Malini Ravis
18 Martha Khan
20 Jenni Hampshire
26 Pastor Kuru
For Pastoral Care contact
Rev J T Raja 995 639 9835 Emeritus Pastor Kuru 4049392
[email protected] www.gracebiblechurchlucknow.org
Arpita Prakash is down with chicken pox.
Kanta Singh is suffering from spondyllitis.
Jeba Raja is still battling with knee pain.
Martha Khan has a torn ligament in her right foot from a fall last year.
Anita Singh recovered from a bout of viral fever.
Indu Eisenberg and Neha were down with viral fever.
Deepak Nag had a stomach infection.
Yeshaiah had a severe stomachache.
Pastor Kuru recovered from severe back pain.
Geetu & Gary Goodwin have been blessed with twins – Noah and Zoya
Elishba & Joe Chacko are blessed with a baby – Zachariah Kuruvilla Chacko
Pushpa & Santhosh Rawat (of Allipur Grace Bible Church) are blessed with a baby – Anmol David
Vibha & Manish Joshi were in Dehradun to spend time with their families.
Susheela enjoyed her time in Hyderabad with her son and family
Della Singh and Sumitabh Singh are looking for jobs.
Bunny Philips is back in Lucknow, looking for a new job.
Mary & James Pearce have moved to a new home closer to work.
