Newsletter

Noah saved enough food for his family and every animal on the ark. Joseph saved Egypt from 7 years of famine by storing food in the granaries during the seven years of plenty. Ants gather food during harvest for leaner days. People work hard to save for their future and for their children's future.

Recently, 'Norway's Ark' caught my attention. A vault is being built on the Norwegian island of Spitsbergen, to safeguard around 3 million seeds from important food crops against the potential ravages of war, epidemics or cataclysms. It is carved under the Arctic island's permafrost skin and can withstand even nuclear disasters. So just in case if we ever run out of food we can always go to the cold storage! Yet, Jesus says do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own!

Yours in Christ,
Preethi Samuel

Friends, it is another new month, with new challenges and blessings. Our Lord is the same yesterday, today and forever. He is able, and will enable us to overcome the worldly desires, struggles and temptations and prepare us to be the children of the Kingdom of God.

In the Gospel, Jesus urges us to choose faith over doubt. Mustard seed faith, he says, can move mountains (Matthew 17:20). Faith believes that despite all the bad stuff in the world nothing can separate me from God's love; that God knows my every need and desire; that I can and should live gladly because of the knowledge of his love and that all things work together for good to them that love God.

Faith isn't hoping for the good. It's not a leap into the irrational, or "believing what you know isn’t true." Rather, it's what you give your heart to, and at least in this sense everyone has faith in someone or something, even an atheist.

Habakkuk chose faith and decided to watch and wait: Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. (Hab.3:16–18)

Habakkuk and others challenge us to wait upon God rather than complain and murmur. We need faith to ‘wait’, because God is in control of everything – our lives, our family, our church and the whole World. How much faith do you need to do this? Jesus says, ‘Mustard seed Faith’. May our good Lord bless you all during this new month with His riches in glory. Amen.

- Pastor Godwin

தேவ சமூகம்

பேரின்பமே உம் சமூகம்
தேடிடுவேன் எந்ந நாளும்
எண்ணில்லா மாந்தர்க்கு இல்லாத பாக்கியம் எந்தனுக்கு ஈந்தாரே தேவன் - ஆஹா

தோத்திரம் இயேசு நாதா - 3
தோத்திரம் தேவனே

திக்கற்ற காட்டில் நான் சென்றேனே
திடனற்று சோர்ந்து போனேனே
வழித்துணை தேடி நின்றேன் - எந்தன் வழியாய் ஆவீரய்யா

ஒப்பற்ற அன்பை நான் ருசிக்கின்றேன்
ஒவ்வொரு நாளும் நினைக்கின்றேன்
சத்திய வாழ்வில் முன் செல்வேன் - எந்தன்
சர்வமும் நீர்தானய்யா

மாசற்றோர் கேண்மை நான் கொள்கின்றேன்
மானுடத் துன்பம் தொலைக்கின்றேன்
ஒரு குடும்பமாய் ஆனோம் - எம்மில்
ஒருமனம் தந்தீரய்யா

This song has been composed by Ulahanathan Santhanackumar. It speaks of God’s presence among the family of believers. It has been set to tune and should be released shortly.

I consider myself a defensive driver. I do not honk at people if they cut me off, I jam the brakes the moment the light turns amber and I follow the speed limits. But recently I realized how much I had to learn from my driving.

When I change to a faster lane I get frustrated if the slower lane starts to speed up. I wish it would remain slow, even though my situation would not get any better by them staying slow. When some body drives well below the speed limit on the left lane, I wish I could smack them on the back with the sign that says “Slower Traffic Keep Right”. I even give them a cold stare as I pass them. When I get to the mall, I try to find a spot as close to the entrance as possible. I seldom think of the old people who might need the spot more than me. When I see a parked police car, I automatically take my foot off the gas pedal and slow down. It is not the “Move Over or Slow Down for Stopped Emergency Vehicles” rather it is the fear of attracting the cop’s attention.

So how could a fairly decent, defensive driver like me end up being a not-so-nice guy on the road? I don’t mind if others get ahead of me in life. People are not a nuisance that I try to get around or avoid. I try to help people as much as I can. I don’t need the best seat or spot or dish or whatever at a dinner. I would skip a meal for others. I pride myself on having a servant heart. But there’s one thing that I missed. I was being myself while driving. I did not have to put up a show until I saw the cop’s car. This was the real me, a jealous, rude, and selfish guy masquerading as a nice guy.

Some of you might be able to relate to me. You might be maintaining a stand at work or in the church or with your friends just because others expect you to. It might not be your real self. It is better to run a check and see if you are really who you are. You never know when you’ll run into an unmarked police car.

And for the record, I do drive over the speed limit quite a few times.

- Samuel Davidson

- Joe Kingsly

Family Camp
Family camp was a good break. Special speaker, Rev. Dr. Desmond Francis shared God’s word. Mr. Robert Samraj, a notable song writer led worship. Hayride for the kids, a juggler’s show and a fruit carving exhibition were all new at this year’s camp. Also new this year was a college planning session for eager parents.
Our very own editor organized a host of games and was crowned the Director of Boring Games! Volleyball and swimming were fun. Unfortunately, there were no board games or tennicoit for the elders! Hats off to Bro. Israel Rajkumar for successfully pulling off this year’s family camp. Next year might be a whole different story.

Drummers For Jesus
It was a clash of cultures on September 8th, when the Wisconsin chapter of Drummers for Jesus performed at Tamil UCC. It was not a day for the faint hearted. Pastor Jerome danced to the rhythmic drum beat and acted out Nebuchadnezzar’s pride, fall and revival and delivered a wonderful message. It was a great evening.

Missionaries have always been a great inspiration in every Christian’s life. Many people believe martyrs belong to bible times and the early Christianity days. Graham Stuart Staines martyrdom caught the attention of millions on Jan 23 1999.

Staines (1941-1999) was an Australian missionary who had been working in Orissa among the tribal poor and especially with leprosy patients since 1965. He worked with Evangelical Missionary Society of Mayurbhanj (EMSM). Staines took over the management of the Mission at Baripada in 1983. He also played a role in the establishment of Mayurbhanj Leprosy Home as a registered society in 1982. He met Gladys June in 1981 while working for leprosy patients, and they married in 1983, and worked together since then. They had three children, daughter Esther and two sons Philip and Timothy.

During his ministry he faced lots of obstacles by from the Hindus of Sangh Parivar. On January 23rd of 1999, Graham and his two sons, Phillip (11 yrs.) and Timothy (6 yrs.) were murdered by a large mob of militant Hindus. They had gone to a Christian camp in the jungle, where Graham was ministering. At midnight the mob attacked, setting fire to the jeep in which Graham and his sons were sleeping. They were burned alive.

The death caused a profound change in the hearts of many but the response of his wife Gladys, made many more get a glimpse of Christ’s love and forgiveness towards mankind. Gladys said, “I have only one message for the people of India. I’m not bitter. Neither am I angry. But I have one great desire: that each citizen of this country should establish a personal relationship with Jesus Christ who gave his life for their sins...let us burn hatred and spread the flame of Christ’s love.”

Congratulations! Correct entries for Crossword No. 4 submitted by
Hannah Daniel, Aurora, IL
Edith Andrews, Chennai, India