WHAT IS THE MEANING OF PRAYER?

First  and foremost , prayer is an expression of our relationship with God.  God is our father and we are his children.  As such we are dependent in Him.  Therefore it is a relationship of dependency. Rashi the 11^th century biblical commentator, explains that God has not brought rain because He wanted the first human being to pray for it for it. Indeed, when they recognized the need for rain  in the world,  they prayed for it. This is the first hint that the basic relationship between humanity and God is expressed through prayer.

WHAT IS THE REAL REASON FOR PRAYER

                          As human beings one can choose to pray the recitation of blessings and Psalms -  in fact  advice it…but prayer can never be a formality.  It is not  dashing off a bunch of words in a prescribed sequences.  It is speaking of God our creature to father to the almighty from the innermost recesses of our being.  The shortest prayer reported in the Bible is the prayer of Moses when he discovered that his beloved sister Mariam has been afflicted with leprosy.  He cries out to God from the depth of his belly “Please Lord heal her now”. This prayer is seeing as it is simple and it captures his anguish and his deep faith in God that his prayer can and will be answered….and it is.  Actually prayer is not a half hearted ritual recitation of words, but is an out pouring of the heart.

 WHO TEACH US TO PRAY

           The tax collector (chunkackaran) and the Thief of Right (valathu bhagathe kallan) and the vesya sthree…. Among them,  see,  the difference of their attitude towards the prayer… The first given all of his property to the poor and went  behind the Jesus.with out extra force  . The thief just have seen His struggles while crucifying and believed and begged to him…..for the  heaven(parudeesa)and the third…the bitch…she realized and repented about her sin and prayed……she was the one, has  received the first chance to see the resurrected Jesus..  They  were very notorious to the society but they become a  part of the Holy Bible and good moral to us…

 Now in the Great Lent  {40 days Lent}we should look into ourselves…Take the morals of the above….pray..Our prayers should be our work…Our work should lead us to worship…Let us all be good morals to the society. and prepare for the part of the Grate  Resurrection………….of Jesus Christ.

BINOY THANKACHAN

Are You prepared to meet thy God ?

Every day we get ready to go somewhere or the other, then why are we not ready to meet our god? Have we ever realized that we could change our plans for going somewhere but we cannot change the last meeting with GOD! This is the impeccable truth of life! The temptations have over powered our life. We enjoy all the comforts but never try to walk with Him. We never understand the importance of being in readiness to meet God. Then, how can we be prepared to meet Him? Acts 4:12 exhorts that a sinner can only be prepared to meet God through faith in His Son, the lord Jesus Christ.

                               Hence, we should strive to build a strong attitude to meet God anytime of the Day and be like children who have pure hearts. God gave us life. Spend it wisely!

                             May the Divine God inspire and bless us all.

Yours in Christ

Fr. Jacob George

Accepting God's plan

              Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans i have for You, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
                  The Bible teaches us that God has plans for each one of us. But is it easy to live as per God's plan? Many of us often do things trusting God with the beginning but we want to maneuver the end of the plan according to what seem best to us. The end result is that we do not get things as we had wished for or worked hard for... but find events happening that we never desired for... or our plans do not match God's plan.
                        My dear friends, God is looking for complete surrender through our lives. When we surrender our lives to the plans of God, it changes our whole perspective on how we see blessings. Then it is not about where I was in life but instead about where God wants me to be. Jesus has showed us this way in his own life...... Even, when Jesus was hanging on the cross, with the three nails holding Him up, calling out, " My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" He was still in the centre of the will of God.
                    A right approach to find happiness and peace in our life would be to accept and live as per God's plan.

- Fr Jacob George

Importance of Forgiveness in Christian Lives

Forgiveness is very important part of Christian lives. We need to imbibe in us the quality to forgive as no person is perfect for a healthy living.
              Through the mercy and forgiveness that we receive from God, we enable ourselves to forgive others. The Passion Week is a time for us to realize the divine forgiveness that God has bestowed to all who believe in him. The ultimate reality is that God-through the birth,life,suffering and death of his Son, Jesus Christ - is the fundamental author and architect of forgiveness.
             Understanding how to forgive, how to accept forgiveness, when to forgive, and the importance of forgiveness are all possible when we understand that God has forgiven us first and is the source of all mercy and forgiveness.
            forgiveness of sins, which we receive through the risen Christ, also means fullness of life with him in his resurrection. may the divine forgive and bless us all.

-  Fr. Jacob George

Programme for the Holy Week 2012

March 31 ( Saturday )
6.30 PM           Evening prayer of the Palm Sunday


April 01 ( Palm Sunday )
7.00 AM          Morning Prayer
8.00 AM          Holy Qurbana
9.00 AM          Hosanna Service
7.00 PM           Evening Prayer


April 02 ( Monday )
6.30 PM           Evening Prayer


April 03 ( Tuesday )
6.30 PM           Evening Prayer

April 04 ( Wednesday )
6.30 PM           Evening Prayer of the Pessahaperunal 
7.00 PM           Night Prayer of the  Pessahaperunal 
8.30 PM           Holy Qurbana
10.00 PM         Pessahaperunal 


April 05 Maundy Thursday ( Pessaha )
6.30 PM           Evening Prayer

April 06 ( Good Friday )
8.00 AM           Morning Prayer
9.00 AM           Prayer of the 3rd hour
10.00 AM         First Procession
11.00 AM         Prayer of the 6th hour
11.45 AM         Prayer of the 9th hour
12.30 Noon      Devotional Address, Meditation
1.30 PM           Adoration of the Holy Cross
3.20 PM           Second Procession
3.30 PM           Holy Burial Service & Chorukka
3.45 PM           Kanji Nercha
6.00 PM           Evening Prayer
7.30 PM           Vigil Prayer & Recital of Psalms


April 07 ( Holy Qurbana )
7.00 AM        Morning Prayer
8.00 AM        Holy Qurbana
6.30 PM           Evening Prayer of the Easter


April 08 ( Holy Easter )
5.00 AM          Night Prayer of the Easter
5.30 AM          Proclamation of Resurrection Holy Easter Service 
                        Holy Qurbana


1. Those who confessed during the lent may receive Holy Qurbana on Pessaha.

2. The mambers are to bring PessahaAppam on PessahaPerunal service as Nercha and candles, lncense and other essential things for Good Friday and Easter service.

3. Proceeds of the self-denial and fasting during lent period shall be given for the charity activity of the Church.

4. All the members are requested to take part in the vigil prayers and recital of psalms in the Church on Good Friday night.

               May the suffering of our Lord strengthen us in our life and the everlasting joy and peace of the Risen Lord abide in us forever.

Fr. C D  Rajan Nellila 
Vicar

God loves a cheerful giver ( 2 Corinthians 9 :7 )

             Giving is an important aspect of being a Christian and an opportunity to give is provided on the Lord's Day ( 1 Corinthians 16 :2 ). How much someone gives is between him and God. 
             Every gift is a perfect gift from above and comes down from the father of lights ( James 1 :17 ). God never asks us to give more than we can. We are not really giving if we just give what is left over. Our giving should be planned. Jesus said: But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly ( Mathew 6:3,4 ). The Lord commands and expects EACH member to contribute in the same manner and degreeas God has prospered him. This is where the equity in giving is to be found, and not necessarily in the amount each one gives.
                We as Christians must always learn what it means to " walk by faith" and not by what people of the world do "walk by sight".
God Bless you All.

- Fr. Jacob George

" Prepare to meet your God "

We all should start preparing to stand before God. Our death and Judgement are inevitable. When we take our last breath, our fate is sealed. In the judgement day we have to stand before the Lord and be judged. " So then each of us shall give account of himself to God" (Romans 14:12).
       The vast majority of the world is living as though thinking there is no God. People, who are not prepared to meet God in judgement, do not realize how fearful this will be because the majority of people have not prepared to meet God.

   But what about the few who are prepared to meet God as they " Enter into the joy of your Lord" ( Mathew 25:21) In Heaven " God will wipe away every tear from their eyes, there shall be no more death. nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away" (Revelation 21:4). Let's be prepared to meet God so we can go to Heaven.


- Fr Jacob George

Stop: Learn from Parables

                    "Hurry! " " Grasp & Run" , " Use & Throw" these are few of the mechanical soundings seems that go to make like stressful and prevent modern man and women from exploring their full potential and thus living comfortably.
                  Here, I am not looking into the cause of these shadows, though that would be useful. I will just try to offer a therapy so that all may enjoy serenity, calmness and health, both physical and psychic.
                   Every area of our life calls for a varied degree of self control, of which, ofcourse, we are not much concerned really. For we fall to recognize the need to slow down, take it easy, reflect and control our emotions and our moods. Lack of self control is the root of our problems.


A 'Step' is a must.


To Stop is the first need so as to:


* Discover self knowledge and self reliance. " No man has any conscience except the man who      
    pauses to reflect"
   (Johann Von Goethe ).
* Discover wounder, inwardness, spontaneity;
* Have a break;
* Realize the sense of time and refresh your life;
* Keep yourself going;
* Keep your energies alive;


To start is the next need so as to:


* Be in touch with people;
* Be in touch with nature;
* Relenish your spirit with a prayer;


Reflection is both a stopping and starting point.

Let us therefore stop and start a life which as the John the evangelist stated when he set about to write the story of Jesus " I write about Jesus like from the very beginning: what i have heard , what i have seen with my eyes and what my hands felt when this life was intelligible, visible and experienced, so I write of it".




-  Fr Jacob George

Four Things To Remember.

1 .Why Fast? What Kind of Fast?

Fasting opens the door to a deeper, more intimate, more powerful relationship with God. Denying your appetite for God’s purpose focuses you beyond yourself and highlights your hunger for God and your dependence on Him.
"I sought the Lord and He delivered me. Taste and see that the Lord is good." (Psalm 34:4,8) "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.: Matthew 5:6 Jesus taught us to prayer and fast, saying, “that this kind does not go but by prayer and fasting”. (Matthew 17:21) Fasting accompanied prayer in the critical breakthroughs throughout the Bible.
I ask you to consider doing without something you love during this 40 days of prayer and fasting from 22 February – 1 April, which is the period of Lent. The decision as to what you fast from is up to you! Why not ask God his invitation for you and let God lead you in a life enhancing season, “unto the Lord.”
1.Some people will give up caffeine, sweets, a meal a day, or food on 1-3 days each week, or food for 40 days ingesting just water, juice and broth.
2.Some will fast from TV / Facebook etc and spend this time in prayer.
3. Some will do a Daniel Fast which basically means going vegetarian! Your food choices might include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds and oil, and exclude animal products and processed foods, such as flour products, preservatives, additives, sweeteners, flavourings, caffeine or alcohol. Daniel 1:12, 10:3 "Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink... I ate no pleasant food (bread), no meat or wine came into my mouth nor did I anoint myself at all...”

2. Purification ( Purity of Heart, Soul and Mind )

What is Purity?

In a physical sense, purity is the condition or quality of being pure; freedom from anything that debases, contaminates or pollutes. In an emotional and mental sense, purity is freedom from guilt, shame and evil tendencies. In a spiritual sense, purity is using the Spiritual Light (called in esoteric teachings the "Mother" Light because all of the physical plane is said to be the Mother, while the Father is said to be all of Spirit) in accordance with God’s Will, i.e. not for selfish purposes but for raising the All.

Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

(Matthew 22:36-37)

Purity is a quality of God and it is our basic quality, when we are aligned with God - when we are being our True Self. Purity starts in the heart, with the intention to follow the will of God, which is our Higher Will. Like the blessed Mother said when Archangel Gabriel announced that she would conceive the future Messiah:

Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. (Luke 1:38)

Purity implies unselfishness, loving our brothers and sisters, and willingness to serve a greater good. It also implies honesty - being willing to see where we may have impure motives, impure thoughts and deeds, and then to gradually purify ourselves from them.

The moment of coming back to God and saying "God, I've been impure, I've followed the ego and false desires. But now I am back and I am ready to walk the true path. Please guide me". This is the moment of baptism by water - the moment of repentance for our sins, of seeing all that is impure in us, and choosing a different course of action: I want Life, I want Purity, I want my True Self!

This decision starts in the heart, with a sincere remorse for the impurity that we lived so far, and with the decision that we wouldn't hide from God any more. Whatever weakness and imperfection surfaces, we are willing to face it and surrender it. Maybe it will take days, maybe months or even years, but we are willing, for we know it is not the part of who we are in God.

Jesus said "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." (Matthew 5:8).

3.How to let go of impurities?

We are not required to be perfect before we face God. We are required to have a pure heart and willingness to surrender our attachments. And how do we do it? By loving God more than the things of this world. When we say "please God, take this false desire away from me, I don't need it any more". Or "take these thoughts away, I don't need them", or whatever attachment or impurity we are dealing with. But letting go of impurities can be tricky because we think we need them.so be careful.

4. Surrender: Loving God more ....

Once we return to God and start walking with Him, we will turn to Him whenever we are faced with a challenge. Whenever we feel there is an attachment or impurity, we will pray and ask for it to be taken away. Each of us will have one issue that is the major stumbling block keeping us from Being the Christ. For some it will be fear of the unknown, for some self-condemnation, for some the need to be accepted by others. This could very well be the original reason of our fall, which we are faced with again and again over more lifetimes. And now is the time to deal with it - to decide to love God more and to simply let go ........

all the very best.......

-  Kiran Babykutty

Fasting and Prayer

                True fasting brings humility and alignment with God so that we are able to do amazing things that he wants us to do. Jesus Christ fasted for forty days in the desert before he started his Public Ministry. The Lent calls each one of us to be like Jesus and inspires us to undertake fasting like Jesus to focus entirely on God for some time amidst our bust lives. When we are faced with the worldly challenges, where does our strength come from it is through the grace of God. So in order to overcome the challenges, we need to fast and receive the much needed grace required to lead our lives peacefully. Through fasting and prayer we humble ourselves before God so that the Holy Spirit stirs our souls and strengthens us.
                 We should understand during this season it is a time  to learn how to live. Please join me in seeking God and we can pray for each other that God will strengthen us in our resolve to let Him teach us to wait upon Him with fasting, prayer and the world. I conclude from a verse in the Book of Joel - God made it clear through the prophet Joel that the last days outpouring of the spirit will be in proportion to our fasting and crying out to God in humility, hunger and repentance.

-Fr. Jacob George