Lighthouse – June
Monthly Newsletter of Horeb Mar Thoma Church
Message from Rev. Larry Varghese, Vicar
Dearly Beloved in Christ,
Give us this day our daily bread…
When we were living in Othera, Kerala we were lucky to live close by a family that raised a cow from which we would get fresh milk each day. Our day basically wouldn’t start until we got the milk for that day since we both needed it in our coffee to function. The milk was as fresh as can possibly be. It came to us slightly warm even. The only catch was we got enough for only one day’s worth.
The prayer taught to us by Christ has us asking for our daily bread. Christ is trying to get us to acknowledge God as our provider. When, in India, we only received our daily supply of milk it made us aware of our dependence on our milk man. Similarly, our realization of God’s providence is only possible when we aren’t taking for granted his daily provisions for us. Give us this day our daily bread doesn’t mean that we only have one day’s worth of food in our homes. It doesn’t mean that we stop acting responsibly in preparing and providing for our families for the future. But it is a reminder to us that we are not independent of God’s provident hand. We are not hording for ourselves in order to survive a time in which God might forget us and when we will truly be on our own. We are not to be like the rich, yet foolish man, whom Jesus says built for himself a new storage house for his crops and proclaims, “And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.” (Luke 12:19)
The Lord’s Prayer is to be a reality check for us. When we receive God’s abundant blessing there might be a tendency to think we have all we need for days, months, and maybe years to come; and therefore let’s live how we want to. Asking God, and moreover, teaching our hearts to ask him for daily provisions is a way to keep pride at bay and give him all the glory he deserves. Asking for God’s daily bread is humbling but it is to be a constant reminder that he alone meets all our needs
Rev. Larry Varghese.
Worship Service
Sunday School
All Sundays – 1:30 pm (Currently OFF for Summer Break and Summer Programs Only)
Praise & Worship
All Sundays – 2:30 pm
Service Times
All Sundays – 3:00 pm
First Sunday Holy Communion Service (Malayalam)
Second Sunday Holy Communion Service (English)
Third Sunday Holy Communion Service (English)
Fourth Sunday Holy Communion Service (English)
Fifth Sunday Divine & Witnessing Service (English)
(when applicable)
Lectionary
Bible Lesson Readers & Deacons
News, Events & Monthly Meetings
Parish (Edavaka) Mission
Tuesday Evening Meeting @ 7:00pm
6/3: Mr. & Mrs. Mathew Thomas
6/10: Mr. & Mrs. Isaac George
6/17: Mrs. Annamma Mathai
6/24: Mr. & Mrs. Saji Baby
Fasting and Prayer
Friday, June 27 at 7:30pm
Location TBD
Divine Witnessing Sunday
June 29th
Western Regional Youth Conference
June 19 -22
Hosted by Los Angeles Mar Thoma Church.
Venue: California Baptist Church, Riverside
Sunday School
Sunday School Olympiad
Saturday, June 14th * 10am
At GGUMC.
Sevika Sangham (Women’s Ministry)
Monthly Meeting
Friday, June 2nd – 6 pm
At the residence of Mrs. Swapna Chacko
Young Family Fellowsip
Monthly Meeting
Saturday, June 28 * 4pm
At residence of Abey and Jiby Mathews
Youth Fellowship
Social Activity
Friday, June 13
Location: TDB
Bible Study
Sunday, June 29
Location: GGUMC after service
Birthday and Wedding Anniversary
https://www.horebmtc.org/anniversaries/
Visit of Rev. Dr. Joseph Mar Thoma Metropolitan and First Communion
The Horeb Mar Thoma Church celebrated the Holy Communion Service with His Grace Rev. Dr. Joseph Mar Thoma Metropolitan thirumeni on Sunday, May 11 2014. This was thirumeni maiden visit to the Horeb Mar Thoma Church. Thirumeni conducted the first communion service of our very own Yasmeen, daughter of Ivan and Reni Thomas. God bless you and keep you !!
The best mother’s day gift ever.. 🙂
The Horeb Mar Thoma Church celebrated Mother’s day this year on Sun, May 4th. As Paul says in his letter to the Corinthians, “So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love”. Motherhood is a gift, and the children are a gift.. which we all cherish, and this is a special day for all of us, where Love Abounds ! Happy Mother’s Day !!
Lighthouse – May
Monthly Newsletter of Horeb Mar Thoma Church
Message from Rev. Larry Varghese, Vicar
Dearly Beloved in Christ,
Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven…
There’s a stream of thought in popular Christianity that seems to simplify the Gospel by directing its focus primarily on the afterlife. There is a particular longing to leave this world behind and go to heaven. For them Christ came to show the exit door and so Christianity doesn’t care so much about the world and its betterment as it does about individual escape from this present world of evil and pain.
Jesus’ message wasn’t aimed at our spiritual retirement but towards a kingdom that is immediate and at hand. While some assume that he came as a flight steward, pointing to the emergency exits; in actuality he came as an architect establishing the Kingdom of God here on earth. So then the location of his kingdom is not found in the clouds or in the future. Instead it is found here and now. This feels unreal to us since all around us we find evil roaming unhindered. What part of this world looks like His kingdom? To explain this Jesus taught that the kingdom of Heaven looks like wheat – among which the enemy has planted weeds (Matthew 13:24-30). Geography and physical boundaries do not distinguish the kingdom. Instead it’s marked by those people and places where God’s will is done.
“Your Kingdom come, Your will be done” is a petition for the manifestation of God’s kingdom here on earth, Now. This is also a reality check. If we are citizens of his kingdom then we to actively make his kingdom more and more visible here and now. Our recitation of this prayer means we must align ourselves with his kingdom initiative. We submit in the present reality of his reign over our lives and look forward to the full consummation of his reign over all creation once again.
Rev. Larry Varghese.
Worship Service
Sunday School
All Sundays – 1:30 pm
Praise & Worship
All Sundays – 2:30 pm
Service Times
All Sundays – 3:00 pm
First Sunday Holy Communion Service (Malayalam)
Second Sunday Holy Communion Service (English)
Third Sunday Holy Communion Service (English)
Fourth Sunday Holy Communion Service (English)
Fifth Sunday Divine & Witnessing Service (English)
(when applicable)
Lectionary
Bible Lesson Readers & Deacons
News, Events & Monthly Meetings
Parish (Edavaka) Mission
Tuesday Evening Meeting @ 7:00pm
5/6: Mr. & Mrs. Mathew Philip
5/13: Mr. & Mrs. Mathew Koshy
5/20: Mr. & Mrs. Isaac George
5/27: TBD
Fasting and Prayer
Friday, May 23 at 7:30pm
Location TBD
Mother’s Day Celebration
Sunday, May 4
Metropolitan Thirumeni Visit
Sunday, May 11 @ 3pm
Our Metropolitan Thirumeni will be conducting the Holy Communion service and also administer the First Communion to our participating Sunday School Student.
Area Prayer Meeting
Saturday, May 17 * 10 am
Acker Hall, GGUMC.
General Body Meeting
Sunday, May 18
HorebMTC general body meeting will be held immediately after the service.
Sunday School
Sunday School Baking Program
Saturday, May 10th
At members home.
Sunday School Bake Sale
Sunday, May 11th
At GGUMC.
Sunday School Diocesan Exam
Sunday, May 4th * 8:30am
AT GGUMC, Room 20
Last Day of Sunday School for 2013-2014 Year.
Sunday, May 25th
Sevika Sangham (Women’s Ministry)
Monthly Meeting
Friday, May 2nd – 7pm
At the residence of Mrs. Ann George
Young Family Fellowsip
Monthly Meeting
Saturday, May 31
At Carbon Canyon Regional Park, Brea
Youth Fellowship
Bible Study
Sunday, May 25
Location: GGUMC after service
Birthday and Wedding Anniversary
https://www.horebmtc.org/anniversaries/
Easter Fest 2014 Slideshow
The Horeb Mar Thoma Church celebrated Easter Fest at the GGUMC this year on Sat, April 19th. Thanks to all the organizers, sponsors, donors, volunteers and the especially participants. Praise God for his mercies all through the Passion Week.
Homeless Shelter Outreach – Buena Park, CA
The Horeb Mar Thoma Church (Edavaka) Mission is conducted an outreach to the Buena Park Homeless shelter on Saturday, April 12 at 5:00 pm. We got an opportunity to pray, sing worship hymns and a share the word of God with the inhabitants of the homeless shelter. Of course, we had food to share with everyone.. Thanks to all who could make it.
Lighthouse – April
Monthly Newsletter of Horeb Mar Thoma Church
Message from Rev. Larry Varghese, Vicar
Dearly Beloved in Christ,
Hallowed by thy name…
Jesus continued teaching his prayer by saying, “Hallowed be thy name”. This second line of the Lord’s Prayer is one of those lines that are likely recited without much clue about what is being said. Hallow – It sounds so similar to hollow. What a difference one letter makes. Hollow means empty, resonating, dull. A vapid motivational speaker can be said to have a hollow message, or head. On the other hand to hallow something or someone means to revere, respect, or bless. After addressing God as Father, Jesus adores and gives due honor to the Father. Prayer, and worship, always begins with adoration. In our Qurbana (Holy Communion) liturgy the first words from the congregation are “We magnify you, O Lord our king, only begotten Son of God…” It’s important that we start this way. Everything hinges on our adoration of God. We first establish the truth of his magnificence. This is the reason we come to him in prayer. Imagine if we thought our boss ineffectual. Then we would not report our concerns to him. If our teacher is incompetent then we wouldn’t bother asking any questions. If God is not as big as he should be then we would take our problems somewhere else. If we thought God to be less worthy then we wouldn’t come to him. (Unfortunately this can be seen in our lives at times) If we do not respect and honor him in our hearts then our prayers for help to him are superficial. If we do not hallow him, then our prayers are merely hollow.
The world nowadays give little respect to God. He hardly receives credit for abundance but reaps all the blame for the misfortune. If an engine fails but the flight lands safely, then society praises the pilot. If an engine fails and the plane goes down, then a renewed hatred of God rises. His name is dragged through the mud by people who despise the faith. We are to counter to the world’s incredulous attitude. Jesus’ prayer reminds us that we are the chosen vessel to radiate his glory. Read what Paul says in 2 Corinthians 4:7, 15: But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. … For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.
As we recite the Lord’s Prayer, let us remember that we are to give glory to God and bring honor to his name. This is the mark of one who is now in tune with God’s will, which we will take up next month.
This month, as our 50 day Lent gravitates towards the resurrection climax, I urge you to participate in the ancient practice by giving up something so as to focus that energy on Christ and what he has done for us.
Rev. Larry Varghese.
Worship Service
Sunday School
All Sundays – 1:30 pm
Praise & Worship
All Sundays – 2:30 pm
Service Times
All Sundays – 3:00 pm
First Sunday Holy Communion Service (English)
Second Sunday Holy Communion Service (Malayalam)
Third Sunday Holy Communion Service (English)
Fourth Sunday Holy Communion Service (English)
Fifth Sunday Divine & Witnessing Service (English)
(when applicable)
Lectionary
Bible Lesson Readers & Deacons
News, Events & Monthly Meetings
Parish (Edavaka) Mission
Tuesday Evening Meeting @ 7:00pm
4/1: Mr. & Mrs. Saji Baby
4/8: Mr. & Mrs. Isaac George
4/15: Passion Week Evening Service: Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Mammen
4/22: Mr. & Mrs. Mathew Koshy
4/29: Mr. and Mrs. Juby Mathew
Fasting and Prayer
Friday, April 25 at 7:30pm
at the residence and Dr. Thomas and Susan Mathew
Passion Week Service
Sandhya Namaskaram – Evening Service @ 7pm – 8:30pm
Mon, April 14: Philip & Anna Jacob, Yorba Linda
Tue, April 15: Thomas & Thankamma Mammen, Long Beach
Wed, April 16: Isaac & Ann George, Buena Park
Maundy Thursday Service, April 17
– Place to be Determined
Good Friday Service, April 18 at 6:30P
At Garden Grove United Methodist Church
Easter Fest
Saturday, April 19, 9am – 2pm
At Garden Grove United Methodist Church
https://www.horebmtc.org/hp_wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/HMTC-Easter-Fest-Flyer-2014.pdf
Also, additional info at events page at HorebMTC
https://www.horebmtc.org/events/
Sevika Sangham (Women’s Ministry)
Monthly Meeting
Friday, April 4th – 7pm
At the residence of Mrs. Reni John
Young Family Fellowsip
Monthly Meeting
Saturday, April 26 – 4PM
At the residence of Rajan and Naomi Abraham
Youth Fellowship
Outreach
Saturday, April 12
TBD
Bible Study
Sunday, April 27
Location: GGUMC after service
Birthday and Wedding Anniversary
https://www.horebmtc.org/anniversaries/
2014 Sevika Sangham Western Conference
The 13th Annual Western Regional Sevika Sangham Conference was held at the Horeb Mar Thoma Church on Sat, March 15. As the psalmist says in Psalm 118 vs 23 “It is the Lord’s doing and it is marvelous in our eyes”. Thank you for all our sister church for your prayers and participation. A special thanks to each and every one of our members for the commitment and time as a part of planning for the conference.
World Day of Prayer
The World Day of Prayer was held on March 7th at the Horeb Mar Thoma Church. The theme for this year was “Streams in the Desert” dedicated to the women in Egypt with special prayers for them. The special service was prepared with the World Day of Prayer Committee in Egypt and was conducted all over the world.
Let The Nations Be Glad
Unapproachable, inaccessible in location or situation, untouched, untouchable, disconnected, unable to be met or out of touch. These are all words and descriptions given for yet another word: Unreached.