Alone Yet Not Alone
Lights, glamour, indulgence, actors, these are a few of the words that might come to mind when we think of the Oscars. In March, one of the most coveted nights in Hollywood will include big names, glitz, and a low-budget, obscure Christian film — Alone Yet Not Alone.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has nominated “Alone Yet Not Alone” for best original song, taking everyone by surprise, including its singer, Joni and Friends Founder and CEO, Joni Eareckson Tada. “When I heard the news I thought they were kidding,” said Tada.
Set in the mid-1700s and based on a true story, Alone Yet Not Alone depicts a family fleeing religious persecution in Germany to America. The movie was adapted from a book by Tracy Leininger Craven. The Oscar nominated song (also by the same name) captures the vision of the struggle the family endured while living during that era. The lyrics of “Alone Yet Not Alone” also captured the heart of Tada.
“I really resonated with the words – after all, I sit down in a stand-up world and often feel ‘alone;’ but of course with my faith in God, I’m never really alone! The Bible is filled with stories of God picking ill-equipped, unskilled people for places of great influence – that’s how I feel, me, a quadriplegic, singing an Academy Award nominated song.”
Tada, 64, is the Founder and CEO of Joni and Friends International Disability Center, a Christian organization dedicated to advancing disability ministry within churches and assisting families affected by disability around the world. Joni and Friends was founded in 1979, 15 years after Tada, then 17, suffered a diving accident leaving her a quadriplegic.
Friday morning while preparing for the day, Tada’s phone rang and on the other end was her long-time friend. “(On Thursday) my good friend Bobbie Wolgemuth called while I was still getting up and shared with me about the academy nomination. It takes me about two hours to get up in the morning. I have women who help me,” she said. And though mornings can be arduous for Tada, this one was special, “It was quite a fun way to start the day. I thought they were kidding. Christian films are never given that platform and that this little film would beat out Taylor Swift. Wow.”
Last year, while speaking at the closing session of the National Religious Broadcasters’ Convention, Tada was spotted by representatives of Enthuse Entertainment, the producer of Alone Yet Not Alone, and asked to consider singing the theme song of the movie. During her session, Tada intertwined singing hymns as she spoke, which caught the producer’s attention.
“When I heard the simple, humble song, I wanted to record it,” she said, “I’m over the top about what God is doing. It is a little Christian film and here it is, up for an academy award.
As news broke about the Best Song nominations, People Magazine featured all five songs on their website, including video of the performances. Shocked to see this, Tada reflected on watching the song and her prayer offered prior on a secular magazine site.
“People Magazine posted the video of me singing the song and offering up a prayer in the beginning. In that prayer I’m speaking of the Lord’s power in my life. And to think of how many people will see that. God did that. I’m excited.”
Tada’s prayer begins with acknowledging her limitations and dependence on the Lord: “We are the ones that run to you when we are weak. And, uh, you know this body, you formed this body. This is a quadriplegic body. That is broken. My lungs are limited. But there’s this fine balance with presenting to you all of my weakness and thinking that it can’t be done. I don’t want to think that it can’t be done. So Father, I pray that you will mitigate any crackiness in my voice . . . and so, give me your strength.”
Admittedly, Tada is not a professional singer and because of her limited lung capacity, she has a difficult time staying on pitch and hitting high notes. She has, however, previously recorded songs available for purchase on her website.
“Upon hearing the news, I kept thinking of the millions of singers who would want to be in my shoes,” she said, “I’m not a professional singer. Though this doesn’t mean as much to me as to some, I’m not cavalier. This is a huge surprise. Extremely honored.”
Each year the Oscars feature the nominated songs throughout the evening. Although Tada is unsure whether she will be singing, Christianity Today reported that the song will indeed be performed live during the televised awards night.
When asked what she would say if the “Alone Yet Not Alone” received the coveted award Tada said, “If it did win, it would be a miracle. If I were ever asked to share my thoughts, I would paint a quick picture of God’s heart and what he wants to see done with this marvelous themed movie. What God wants to see happen. I’d make much of the miracle of this simple little story. He’s saying something, so we should listen.”
Alone Yet Not Alone releases on June 13 and is set to release in 185 cities per the website. This is the second Academy Award nomination for Bruce Broughton, the composer of “Alone Yet Not Alone”. He was previously nominated for: Silverado (1985) – for Music (Original Score).
Along with leading Joni and Friends, Tada has written over 70 books including When God Weeps (Zondervan, 2010) and her latest along with her husband, Ken Tada, Joni & Ken: An Untold Story (Zondervan, 2013).
God With Us
In 1854, a young Charles Spurgeon preached his Christmas Eve sermon on Isaiah 7:14-15. Using Spurgeon’s words from that sermon, an original score and a collection of animated paintings, this video illustrates the wonder of the ages, God with us.
HMTC – Year 2013 in flashback
A very beautiful collage of images from the year 2013 on how God had faithfully led us in many ways, as the first year of the parish among many other things. Thanks for the unity in fellowship leading to a meaningful workship. Thank you specially to the Saji Baby for putting this altogether.
Lighthouse – January
Monthly Newsletter of Horeb Mar Thoma Church
Message from Rev. Larry Varghese, Vicar
Dearly Beloved in Christ,
And the one who was seated on the throne said, “See, I am making all things new.” Revelation 21:5
This new year is a fresh start for some, but for most it’s another week just like the last one. It’s easy to get caught up in the monotonous and mundane cycle of life. The Teacher, from Ecclesiastes, warns us about the repetitive cycle that our lives follow. Refer to Ecclesiastes 1:3-10 and see if this is a description of your life. We wake up, eat, go to school or work, eat, come home, study or work some more, eat, sleep, lather, rinse, repeat. The world is stuck in a rut and we succumb to it.
How are we as Christians any different? Our schedule may be similar to everyone else, but do we realize the uniqueness of life in Christ? God promised the Israelites who went through exile that he would be doing a new thing. “I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” – Isaiah 43:19. He started a new thing in the 5th century BC and in Revelation 21:5 he’s still at it. Christian hope is founded, in part, on this idea that God has the power to break us out of the vain, repetitious cycle and infuse our lives with newness. What is this newness? It’s forgiveness of sins. Being set free from the hold of destructive and unfruitful living, and having our mistakes and faults wiped away is a renewing experience. But I think it’s more than forgiveness of sins. It’s an upgrade in the character and quality of our beings. We are being conformed into the image of Christ. This is a life-long process of constant newness. This year, let us be the proof of Revelation 21:5’s truthfulness. Let us strive to be Christ-like in our character. Allow God to do a new thing in your life. Attend church more regularly, pray more often, forgive sooner, give bigger, read the Bible more thoughtfully, spend more quality time with family, work more diligently, rest more Biblically (even God took a break), fellowship more deeply, love more patiently, rejoice constantly, think more empathetically, live more sacrificially, act more humbly…. You get the point. May bless you in this new year so you would experience newness that only he can bring.
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
Monthly Meetings
Parish (Edavaka) Mission
Committee Meeting
January 21 – 8:30pm
Committee meeting will be held after the Tuesday evening Parish Mission meeting.
Meeting is held at the residence of Mr. & Mrs. Mathew Koshy, Cerritos
Monthly Fasting and Prayer Meeting and Annual Meeting for 2013
Friday, January 31 @ 7:30pm
Held at the residence of Juby and Riya Mathew, Signal Hill
The annual meeting of year 2013 will also be conducted during this time. Report and accounts for Parish mission will be presented.
Tuesday Evening Meeting @ 7:00pm
1/7: Mr. & Mrs. Isaac George
1/14: Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Mammen
1/21: Mr. & Mrs. Mathew Koshy
1/28: Mr. & Mrs. Saji Baby
Youth Fellowship
Bible Study
Friday, January 10, 6:45 pm
At the residence of Aidan Arasasingham
Sevika Sangham (Women’s Ministry)
Annual Meeting (for 2013)
Saturday, January 18 – 10am
Held at the residence of Mrs. Thankamma Mammen.
Western Regional One Day Conference
Saturday, March 15 – 8am to 4pm
Hosted by Horeb MTC.
Young Family Fellowship
Saturday, January 25, 4:00 pm
At the residence of Anna & Philip Jacob
Yorba Linda
Prayer for the New Year
O Lord, our Father!
We have gathered here at the turn of the year
because we do not want to be alone but want to be with each other,
and together be united with you.
Our hearts are filled with somber thoughts
as we reflect on our misdeeds of the past year.
And our ears are deafened by the voices of the radio and in the newspapers,
with their numerous predictions for the coming year.
Instead we want to hear your word, your voice, your assurance, your guidance.
We know that you are in our midst,
and are eager to give us all that we need, whether we ask or not.
On this night we ask for one thing only:
that you collect our scattered thoughts,
getting rid of the confused and defiant thoughts that may distract us,
and thus enable us to concentrate on your limitless generosity to us.
You were abundantly generous to us last year,
and will be no less generous to us next year, and in every year to come.
Fill us with gratitude to you.
– Karl Barth
Christmas Carol Service 2013
The Horeb Mar Thoma church celebrated its first Christmas Carol service as a parish on Sat, December 21st at 5:30 pm at the GGUMC sanctuary. It was a time to join together as a fellowship of believers to sing as praise joyously as the angels sang “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
Jesus vs. Santa
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
Outreach Mission – Grandma House of Hope in Anaheim
A vignette of the the Edavaka Mission’s (Church Mission) outreach activity to Grandma’s House of Hope in Anaheim on Nov 13th, 2013. For more information, please visit http://grandmashouseofhope.org/
Power of the Gospel at work in India
Light in the Darkness
A documentary film featuring real people and stories from the country of India. Conflict over religion extends to every culture and country on the globe today, and India is no exception. This documentary presents an amazing mission field where God is doing a great work; lives are being changed, and churches are being planted.