Greetings to you all in the blessed name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Let us thank our Almighty God for all the providence and the protection in our daily walks of the life. As our children are zealous to enter a new academic life, shall we uphold them in our prayers to inculcate in them the Fear of the Lord which is the beginning of wisdom.
On the first Saturday of this month, 6th August, the Church contemplates the transfiguration of our Lord. The Church looks up on its redeemer filled with glory and in power. August 7th is Mission Sunday. May St. Paul’s words “I am not ashamed of the Gospel” encourage us to live for the Gospel. Our zeal to build the Kingdom of God has its own reflections upon the building of the nation where we live also. On second Sunday of the month, 14th August, we probe how best we could engage ourselves in the building up of the earthly systems of governance for the well-being of the people. On 15th August we thankfully remember the hard struggle of the people of India to attain the political freedom.
Reformation is the ongoing process that the Church should undergo with the guidance of the Holy Spirit. On third Sunday, 21st August, the Church mediates on reformation. We proclaim our legacy as the reformed Eastern Church. It is the time of redefining, re-signing, and re-directing the mission, vision, and the goal of the church. Holy Qurbana is the center of our worship. It is the sacrament that our Lord instructed us to contemplate till His coming again. For a faithful believer, it is for the healing of the body and soul. By participating in communion, we partake in the pain and pathos of our Lord in redeeming the world. Fourth Sunday is set apart for mediating the Holy Qurbana.
Edavaka Mission organizes annual convention from 4-6, August. Rev. Joymon S K, Vicar, Indiana Polis MTC will be the speaker. May the Holy Spirit empower Achen to minister from the Word of God and us all to listen. Parish Yuvajana Sakhyam organizes the Harvest Festival on 13th August at our Parking area. I do appreciate the Yuvajana Sakhyam for their effort to help the needy through “Home for Homeless” project.
Many of our Children are graduating from schools and going to colleges and Universities to pursue their further studies. Let us uphold our generation next in prayers that their ambition, the ways to achieve that should be in line with the will of God. Let us also pray for the well-being of the parish and its members. May the people of God receive that divine holistic healing that sustain our physical, mental, and spiritual wellbeing.
May the peace of God that surpasses all human understanding guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, Amen.
Rev. Aby M. Thomas Tharaken
Vicar, The Chicago Mar Thoma Church