ST. STEPHEN’S CHURCH (CHURCH OF NORTH INDIA)

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NEWSLETTER

OCTOBER 2018

(For Private Circulation Only)

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Almanac and Lectionary: October 2018

Date

Theme & Readings

Liturgical colour

Sunday, 7 October 2018 Holy Communion Services: 7 a.m., 9 a.m. & 6 p.m.

Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost Theme: The spiritual danger of trusting in wealth. O.T. : Deuteronomy 8:6-18 Psalm : Psalm 49:1-2,16-19 Epistle : Revelation 3:14-22 Gospel : Mark 10:17-27 Refer to Readings for Sunday Worship ~ page 184

Green

Sunday, 14 October 2018 Holy Communion Services: 7 a.m., 9 a.m. & 6 p.m.

Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost Theme: Faith is the beginning of a pilgrimage. O.T. : Isaiah 35:3-6,8-10 Psalm : Psalm 66:1-3,8-20,16,20 Epistle : Acts 16:25-34 Gospel : Mark 10:46-52 Refer to Readings for Sunday Worship ~ page 187

Green

Sunday, 21 October 2018 Holy Communion Services: 7 a.m., 9 a.m. & 6 p.m.

Twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost Theme: The true temple of God. O.T. : Jeremiah 7:1-4,8-14 Psalm : Psalm 84:1-2,10-11 Epistle : Ephesians 2:13,17-22 Gospel : Mark 11:11,15-18 Refer to Readings for Sunday Worship ~ page 190

Green

Sunday, 28 October 2018 Holy Communion Services: 7 a.m., 9 a.m. & 6 p.m.

Twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost Reformation Sunday O.T. : II Kings 23:1-9 Psalm : Psalm 81:1-14 Epistle : Romans 11:1-6 Gospel : Luke 11:33-54

Green

Sunday, 4 November 2018 Holy Communion Services: 7 a.m., 9 a.m. & 6 p.m.

Twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost Theme: The great commandment. O.T. : Micah 6:2-8 Psalm : Psalm 24:1-6 Epistle : I John 4:16b-21 Gospel : Mark 12:28-34 Refer to Readings for Sunday Worship ~ page 196

Green

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FROM THE PASTOR’S DESK

Practising the Presence of God

It seems to be a common human tendency to turn to God in the face of adversity. As Christians, we draw comfort from the presence of God – Emmanuel (“God with us”). Confronted with difficulties, we are encouraged by the promises of God like “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified … for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you” (Deut. 31:6), and the words of Jesus himself: “… surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).

Even though we profess that God is always with us, we tend to be conscious of his presence only during certain times of the day or week. Sometimes, it may be convenient for us not to remember the promised presence of God so that we can pursue our sinful pleasures. There are also times when God may seem to be distant or even absent. ‘Where is God when it hurts?’ (Title of a book by Philip Yancey) is a question many Christians ask when they struggle to cope with some tragedy or loss.

If God is indeed present with us always, how can I be sure of that? Also, what difference can the constant presence of God make in our lives? It is Brother Lawrence, whose reflections were published in the book The Practice of the Presence of God, who has provided us with much insights in this regard.

At a young age, Brother Lawrence was left crippled following an injury in a war. Later, he joined a newly set up monastery in Paris where he served as the cook for the community. After fifteen years, his duties were shifted to the sandal repair shop. He would, however, often returned to the busy kitchen to help out. While repairing sandals or working in the kitchen, Brother Lawrence discovered and then followed a pure and uncomplicated way to walk continually in God’s presence. For some forty years, he lived and walked with God at his side. But, can it really be possible to think of God constantly? Wouldn’t it be burdensome to try and keep our focus on God while we go about with our daily duties? Brother Lawrence wrote, “A little lifting up of the heart suffices; a little remembrance of God, an interior act of adoration, even though made on the march and with sword in hand, are prayers which, short though they may be, are nevertheless very pleasing to God, and far from making a soldier lose his courage on the most dangerous occasions, bolster it. Let him then think of God as much as possible so that he will gradually become accustomed to this little but holy exercise; no one will notice it and nothing is easier than to repeat often during the day these little acts of interior adoration.”

“That we need only to recognize God intimately present with us, to address ourselves to Him every moment, that we may beg His assistance for knowing His will in things doubtful, and for rightly performing those which we plainly see He requires of us, offering them to Him before we do them, and giving Him thanks when we have done.”

May the presence of God be real to us at all times so that it gives us courage and hope in all situations, and also enabling us to live our lives in a way that pleases Him. In His Grace, Thomas Jacob

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NEWS & NOTES Sunday School: The Sunday School children and teachers visited the St. Anthony’s Home, Bandra, on 2 September 2018. Children presented songs and choreography with much enthusiasm, and spontaneously mingled with the residents. The residents were also served a special meal, which was much appreciated. WFCS Food Festival: Members eagerly participated in the Food Festival organized by WFCS on 30 September 2018. Rs.56,795/- raised from the sales would go towards the outreach initiatives undertaken by WFCS. PC Meeting: The monthly PC meeting was held on 23 September 2018. Weekly Bible Study: Members meet every Thursday at 7.30 p.m. in the PHCC for a time of fellowship, singing and interactive Bible study. Obituary: We are sad to announce the sad demise of two of our senior members:

Mr. Christie Santineer, aged 71 years, on 30 August. Ms. Judith Rallia-Ram, aged 87 years, on 25 September.

May the Lord God comfort and strengthen the bereaved families. Guest Speaker: Rev. V. Samuel Abraham from Indian Missionary Society shared from the word of God in the 9 a.m. service on 30 September. Senior Citizens: We pray for all the senior citizens of our Church that our merciful God will give them good health and strength. Sick & home bound: Let us continue to pray for the sick and homebound members: David C. Mathew, Prakash Naik, Olga Nazareth, Loolu Thomas, Lizzy Kurian, Padmini Abraham, Anitaa Thakur, Nancy Razdan, Thankam Venkatraman and Joyce Nichols. Pray that the Lord’s hand will be upon them, granting them protection and healing. Sushill Augustine Hon. Secretary

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HEARD FROM THE PULPIT

2 September 2018 ~ 15th Sunday after Pentecost Theme: ‘God’s judgment is just and merciful.’

“You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things” (Romans 2:1). Now, this goes with what Jesus says in Sermon on the Mount, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?” (Matthew 7:1-3). Jesus did not condemn judging as such, but hypocritical judging. Matthew 7:1 is often used by people who would want us to think it’s entirely wrong to use critical thinking when it comes to the sins of others. When Jesus said, “Do not judge,” he did not mean that we should not lovingly confront others about their sin. Jesus was referring here to passing harsh verdicts on others while overlooking our own sins. We must not judge the sins of others and deceive ourselves to think that we are better off, or that we will get away. We must not misunderstand God’s patience with us to mean that we are ok, that God will not punish us for our sins. We must not wrongly assume that we are the favoured ones. God shows no partiality. He will certainly “repay each person according to what they have done” (Romans 2:11). The purpose of God’s kindness and patience is to give us the opportunity for repentance. We must remember that one day we have to give an account for our lives. We cannot continue to live a life of disobedience to God, and yet hope to escape his judgment and punishment.

9 September 2018 ~ 16th Sunday after Pentecost Theme: ‘Nothing is impossible for faith.’

The theme ‘Nothing is impossible for faith’ is based on Jesus’ words in Mark 9:23 - “Everything is possible for one who believes.” Jesus was not talking about self-belief, about faith in oneself. Rather, it is trusting in God as is worded in today’s Collect: “… grant us so to trust in your power that in face of danger or trouble we may never lose hope…” When Jesus said, “Everything is possible for one who believes,” he meant that everything is possible for those who trust in him; those who trust in his wisdom, in his will, and in his strength. When he was called to lead the people of God out of the Egyptian bondage, Moses expressed his inadequacy (Exodus 4). Moses said, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.” Earlier in Exodus 3:11, Moses had said, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” And God said, “I will be with you...” Further, God told Moses what he must do once he reach Egypt. God also assured him that the elders of Israel will listen to him. But Moses was still reluctant. He said, “What if they do not believe me or listen to me…” Sometimes we lose hope in the face of danger or trouble. We feel it is an impossible situation. Sometimes, doubts hold us back, like Moses said, “What if they do not believe me or listen to me…” But as someone said, “God is looking for your availability, not your ability.” Whether we are facing a fearful situation, or whether we are overwhelmed by our sense of inadequacy, remember ‘Nothing is impossible for those who trust in God.’ Impossibilities become possibilities when God is with us.

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16 September 2018 ~ 17th Sunday after Pentecost Theme: ‘Lessons of the cross for daily life.’

True Christianity is an all-out commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ. It is possible to be a follower of Jesus without being a disciple. The crowds that followed Jesus, while he walked on this earth, often were mere followers, not disciples. Once someone was talking to a great teacher about a younger person. He said, “So and so tells me that he was one of your students.” The teacher said, “He may have attended my lectures, but he was not one of my students.” Tragically, in the Church today, there are so many distant followers of Jesus and so few real disciples. One of the popular hymns that we sing is: “All to Jesus I surrender / all to him I freely give… All to Jesus I surrender / humbly at his feet I bow / worldly pleasures all forsaken / take me, Jesus, take me now.” Another familiar and well-liked hymn is ‘Take my life, and let it be / Consecrated, Lord, to Thee / Take my moments and my days / Let them flow in ceaseless praise / Let them flow in ceaseless praise. Take my will, and make it Thine / It shall be no longer mine / Take my heart; it is Thine own / It shall be Thy royal throne / It shall be Thy royal throne.” Talking about surrendering fully to the Lord makes many people feel uncomfortable. And we would say: ‘We have to be practical and sensible, moderate and balanced in all things. Isn’t that what Bible says?’ Yes, we must avoid going to extremes. We must be balanced. But, when we talk about moderation and balance, it is usually a very convenient excuse for compromise and half-heartedness. The moment you talk about whole-hearted commitment to God, we become very cautious. It is like some guys who shy away from marriage because of their fear of the commitment that is required in a marriage.

23 September 2018 ~ 18th Sunday after Pentecost Theme: ‘The family – husband and wife.’

One of the most tragic things facing humankind is the breakdown of the family unit in society. The destruction of the family unit begins with the destruction of what starts a family - the marriage of a man and a woman. Divorce is on the rise. We all know of people in our family and friend circles who are divorced. Why so many divorces? Because, the institution of marriage and family is generally not held in the esteem that God meant for it to be. At a Christian wedding, the couple pledge to each other “to have and to hold, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and cherish, according to God’s holy law, till death us do part.” But, many enter into a marriage relationship already thinking that they will walk out if things don’t work out the way they expect. When you enter marriage keeping divorce as an option, you are likely to consider that option even at the smallest conflict. The Lord detests divorce (Malachi 2:13-16; Mark 10:2-12). It is not difficult to see why God despises divorce. He stands on high looking down on the destruction of his first institution! He sees children suffering greatly and shedding many tears at the hands of selfish adults who will not fulfil their vows and work out their problems! He sees his children break his commands and his children's children learn to do the same! We must always remember that it is God who has instituted marriage, and that, therefore, it is sacred.

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QCCCS NEWS [June to September 2018] The QCCCS is functioning smoothly, but the shortage of volunteers is a perennial problem. Day Care Centre: After the first round of admission, it was seen that there were still a few vacancies. So a second round of interviews were taken in June, after the summer vacation. Now there are 55 students in the DCC. Two teachers, a cook cum helper and an ayah make up the DCC staff. Study Centre: There are 52 children in the SC. Children from Std I to Std X are enrolled in the SC. They are from both English and Marathi medium schools. There was only one English medium student who appeared for the SSC Examination, and he passed with satisfactory marks. There are two teachers for the English medium students, two teachers for the Marathi medium students and a Computer teacher. The volunteers of the SC also help the children with their study. The students of the SC observed Independence Day with a speech on patriotism, with particular focus on Sarojini Naidu, poetess and freedom fighter, and a speech on poverty and how to eradicate it. They also put up a dance based on a song related to freedom. At the end of the function snacks were given to the children. The students also celebrated Teacher’s Day where they paid tributes to their teachers, with a cultural programme. The teachers were given gifts on behalf of the QCCCS Kumary Koshy Hon. Secretary

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GRATEFUL REMEMBRANCE We thank God for the lives and faithful service of all those who passed away in month of October of earlier years. YEAR NAME CORKE RICHARD 1922 WELLES WILLIAM 1923 FRY AMY 1928 MENESSE ELIZEBETH JANE 1949 CHRISTIE SARAH 1950 LORD HENRY 1972 CHAINANI CHRISTABEL 1975 VENKATARAMAN SUNDER 1976 CAPTAIN QUEENIE 1978 FANTHOME GEORGE 1992 KANGA GODREJ 1998 PUSHONG DESMOND 1998 MERCHANT SUNDAR AZIZ 2002 SHUKLA A.K. 2004 PATRICIA HURST 2007 MERCY GODAY 2014 ROBERT MARSHALL 2015 ADAMS JOHNSON 2016 ROY MIRA 2016 ABRAHAM KOSHI P

IMPORTANT DATES

HARVEST FESTIVAL

25 NOVEMBER

CAROL SERVICE & SUNDAY SCHOOL CHRISTMAS PROGRAMME

16 DECEMBER

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REGULAR ACTIVITIES

Worship Services on Sundays: Holy Communion (Said): 7 a.m. & 6 p.m. Holy Communion (Sung): 9 a.m.

Church Office: Saguna Doshi (Monday to Saturday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.)

26423955

Rev. Thomas Jacob, Presbyter-in-charge

9820736359 / 26428803 presbyter@stephenschurch-bandra.com

Sushill Augustine, Hon. Secretary

9820657433

K.P.George, Hon. Treasurer

9821074653

P.K. Kurian, Hon. Jt. Secretary

9820525567

Sabina Solomon, Hon. Jt. Treasurer

9820080456

St.Stephen’s Church 46, Mount Mary Road, Bandra (West), Mumbai – 400 050

E-mail: church@stephenschurch-bandra.com

Website: www.stephenschurch-bandra.com

facebook page: @stephenschurchbandra

Activity

Venue

Day & Time

Contact Person

Phone No.

Pastorate Committee

Meeting

Parsonage

28 October 10.45 a.m.

Sushill Augustine

9820657433

Sunday School

PHCC

Sundays 9 a.m.

Beulah Anand

9967170867

Bible Study

PHCC

Thursdays 7.30 p.m.

Rev.Thomas Jacob

9820736359

QCCCS:

Day Care Centre &

Study Centre

PHCC

Monday to Friday 9 a.m.to 4 p.m.

Saturday 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Kumary Koshy

9820217524