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THE MAR THOMA PARISH PERTH
PARISH MESSENGER
Volume 71 / September 2014
TWO-EDGED
SWORD
This notion that grace
is healing omits the fact
before it heals, it cuts
with the sword Christ
s a i d h e c a me t o
bring (OConnor 1979)
OConnor was not in the
least sentimental. Her
story deals directly with
the power of grace to
shat t er peopl e and
change them violently.
This causes some good
peopl e t o bec ome
s q u e a mi s h a b o u t
reading her work. They
want a gentler vision of
the church and Gods
grace. But she will not
give them one.
Her vision of the powers
o f Go d s g r a c e i s
purifying and radical.
The idea that Christ
simply takes us as we
are and does nothing to
us is not very Christian.
From the very rst God
is out to re-create us. In
baptism, we are put to
death in Christs death
so that we may rise
again with him each day.
To thi nk thi s as an
e n t i r e l y p a i n l e s s
undertaking is foolish.
God is out to change us.
One image of this is
God as the potter who
shapes the clay. This
shaping and remaking
of the lump of clay into a
useful pot is hard work.
The potters hands slap
and caress the wet clay
until it takes the shape
of the potter has felt
within the clay.
Or we may speak of
God as being like a re
in us, burning out the
dross, cleansing us with
the intense heat of the
r e n e r s r e . T h e
purging that gives on
rening re is violent
and yet beautiful. Gods
work in us is like that.
The idea that Gods
grace is simply a sunny
addiction to our already
nice lives misses hat
most terrible of facts
about human beings: we
have all sinned and
come short of the glory
of God. There is no
standing before the re
of Gods love for us on
our own. Only Christ
can spare our being
c o n s u me d b y t h e
ames. His life in us
saves us, even while it
changes us utterly. For
this, we thank God.
For the word of God is
living and active sharper
than any two-edged
sword, piercing to the
division of soul and
spi ri t , of j oi nt s and
marrow, and discerning
t h e t h o u g h t s a n d
i n t e n s i o n s o f t h e
heart. (Heb 4: 12)
May our good God bless
you all,
With prayerful regards,
Mothy Achen
PARISH MESSENGER www.perthmarthoma.org.au 0426 283 829
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PARISH MESSENGER www.perthmarthoma.org.au 0426 283 829
CHURCH SERVICE & AREA ACOLYTES
Date Theme
1
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2
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Epistle
Prayer
Group
07 Sep 2014
(Malayalam)
Education for
Liberation-
Education Sunday
Prov.8:1-12 Acts.8:26-38 Col.1:24-29
Canning
Vale
14 Sep 2014
(English)
Women as Change
makers- Sevika
Sanghom Day
Num.27:1-11
Acts.
16:11-15
Rom.
16:1-16
Willetton
21 Sep 2014
(Malayalam)
Accepting the
Elderly (Senior
Citizens Day)
Isa.40:21-31 Eph.6:1-9 1Tim.5:1-10 Murdoch
28 Sep 2014
(English)
The Sacrament of
Babtism
Exo.14:15-31 Rom.6:1-11 Titus.3:3-8 Fremantle
05 Oct 2014
(Malayalam)
Witness of the
People of God
Amos.
7:10-17
1Pet.2:1-10 1Thes.4:1-8
Joondalup &
North of
River
(combined)
NEW ARRIVALS - CONGRATULATIONS!
Our Parish members Anish & Rini are blessed with a baby girl, Neffy Anish on Tuesday 26th
August 2014. Please uphold the family in your prayers.
The Parish congratulate them with the new arrival and pray that God Almighty will bless
the family abundantly.
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PARISH MESSENGER www.perthmarthoma.org.au 0426 283 829
YOUTH FELLOWSHIP
Youth Fellowship meets fourth Saturdays of every month at 04:00pm at
the residence of a parish member.
Encourage all youngsters of our parish to participate in the activities of the
Youth Fellowship. For further details, please contact Ms Shauna Rivya
Jacob (youth@perthmarthoma.org.au).
SUNDAY SCHOOL
Regular Sunday School on all Sundays before the Holy Communion
Service. Contact: Mr Ninan Thomas or Mrs Susan Abraham for further
details (sunday-school@perthmarthoma.org.au).
EDAVAKA MISSION
Edavaka Mission meets at the residence of a parish member every
month. For further details, please contact Mr Solomon Jacob.
PARISH CHOIR
Parish Choir meets for practice every Sunday after the Holy Communion
Service at Murdoch Worship Centre. For further details please contact Mr.
Ginsu Ninan (choir@perthmarthoma.org.au).
SENIOR CITIZENS FELLOWSHIP
Senior Citizens Fellowship meets fourth Saturdays of every month at
12:00pm at the residence of a parish member. For further details, please
contact Mr Retnarajan.
SEVIKA SANGHAM
Sevika Sangham meets once every two month at the residence of a
parish member.
Encourage all women in our parish to participate in the activities of the
Sevika Sangham. For further details, please contact Mrs Babbin Mathews
(sevika@perthmarthoma.org.au).
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PARISH MESSENGER www.perthmarthoma.org.au 0426 283 829
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PARISH MESSENGER www.perthmarthoma.org.au 0426 283 829
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PARISH MESSENGER www.perthmarthoma.org.au 0426 283 829
PRAYER POINTS
For Your Prayers
Pray for our Parish, Vicar and the members;
Pray for all our Parish Organisations and for all their activities;
Pray for our youth preparing for their exams;
Pray for the blessing of upcoming National Youth Camp 2014;
Pray for the blessing of upcoming VBS 2014;
Pray for our Sunday School kids and teachers;
Pray for this nation and its government;
Pray for world peace and for all war torn countries; and
Pray for the kids and youth of our parish for them to have a
blessed and God fearing future.
AREA PRAYER GROUP MEETINGS
Area Prayer Group Date & Time Venue (residence of) Representative
Canning Vale TBA TBA Mr Abraham Kurien
Fremantle
06 September 2014,
6:00PM
Mr Jaico Jose Mrs Reny Mathews
Joondalup
27 September 2014,
6:00PM
Mr Soney Titus Mr Soney Titus
Murdoch
14 September 2014,
6:00PM
Mr Philip Mathew Mr Kurian Parayil
North of River
13 September 2014,
12:00PM
Mr Toms John Mr Joji Varghese
Willetton
07 September 2014,
6:30PM
Mr Benny K David Mr Shibu Mathew
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PARISH MESSENGER www.perthmarthoma.org.au 0426 283 829
BIRTHDAY - September 2014
Sheeba Mathew (1 September)
Sharlene Merin Alex (5 September)
Elizabeth John (5 September)
Manu Eapen Thomas (5 September)
Sanju John (6 September)
Moni Santhosha Kumari (7 September)
Beena Soney (9 September)
Samuel Abraham (9 September)
Aswathy Joji (10 September)
Dr. Thomas T Kurien (10 September)
Nathan David (13 September)
Rachael Sanju (13 September)
Melissa Soumya Biju (13 September)
Kurian S Parayil (17 September)
Bindu Anil (22 September)
Ashwin Titus Soney (27 September)
Tania Sarah (28 September)
God Created You with his own hands; He Knows your name and your thoughts; He Blesses you with
life, with love; And the joy of another year to know him.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALL!!
WEDDING ANNIVERSARY - September 2014
J Retnarajan & Moni Santhosha Kumari (2
September)
Varughese Komattu Mathews & Molly
Komattu Mathews (9 September)
Mathew Kaimala Varghese & Kavitha Mathew
(10 September)
Sam Koshy & Mercy Koshy (15 September)
Renchi P Mathews & Linda Susan Mathew
(19 September)
May the Almighty God continue to bless your family more and more in the coming years. May you be
an inspiration and example for others in the days to come.
WISHING ALL CELEBRANTS HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!
PARISH MESSENGER www.perthmarthoma.org.au 0426 283 829
Messenger Notes
Please feel free to drop in your comments and suggestions regarding our Parish
Messenger at admin@perthmarthoma.org.au.
We are looking for articles to be published in our monthly newsletter. Those who can
write articles, poems, drawings (kids) please contact the Webmaster at
admin@perthmarthoma.org.au. This is another opportunity to use our God given
talents for the Glory of God.
PARISH FAMILY
CONTRIBUTION
ACCOUNT DETAILS
the National Australia Bank
BSB - 086 136
Account# - 865 285 498
PARISH BUILDING
FUND
ACCOUNT DETAILS
the National Australia Bank
BSB - 086 136
Account# - 195 940 763
PARISH GIFT FUND
ACCOUNT DETAILS
the National Australia Bank
BSB - 086 136
Account# - 848 646 298
preferred transaction mode is electronic transfer to the Parish account.
For more information, please contact
Rev Mothy Varkey
(Vicar)
Mob: 0426 283 829
Landline: 08 6161 6797
email:
vicar@perthmarthoma.org.au
Mr Christy Tom
(Secretary)
Mob: 0431 479 134
email:
secretary@perthmarthoma.or
g.au
Webmaster
email:
admin@perthmarthoma.org.a
u
The Mar Thoma Parish Perth, P.O. Box 3104, Shelley, WA 6148
for private circulation only