The warmth of the summer has giv-en way to the colorful fall. The fall has two aspects. Change of color and falling of leaves. Change of col-or widens our eyes to praise God for the beauty of His creation. The fall-ing reminds us of the transience of beauty and alerts us of the impend-ing winter. With the utterance of the word ‘winter’ comes the sigh, ‘How dreadful was last year’s win-ter!’. Now we use a variety of clothes to keep our body warm and safe. Then comes the question, “How far are we caring to keep the inner being warm and healthy?”. The parish convention we had from Oct. 16-18 was an occasion for such a retro-spection. Paul’s prayer for the be-lievers in Ephesus is relevant. “I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being root-ed and grounded in love.” (Eph.3.16,17). It is the outer being that we strive to cater through food, clothing and orna-ments. It also includes the cognition part which we try to expand through education and knowledge. We submit out body to strenuous training to improve skills and regular exercises to maintain its strength. We toil day and night, meeting tar-gets and labor hard to cater to that

aspect that fall in the outer being. It is to this that Jesus responds, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?” (Matt. 6.25). It is life that is more important. We need to remember that it is the inner being that gives meaning to the outer be-ing. A person with a weak inner be-ing is like a body without life or skel-eton without flesh. Not that the outer being is unimportant, but the inner being is more important. Out-er being is like the leaves in the fall, beautiful yet transient. In short it is the spiritual life that gives meaning to our existence and creaes the per-son out of homo sapiens. November First Sunday is celebrat-ed as World Sunday School Day. Parents are to be reminded that our children are God’s gift to us and we are their care takers for God. We need to ask ourselves the question, ‘How far are we catering to the growth of the inner being of our children?’. Rich heritage of faith is transferred to us with the responsi-bility of transferring it to the next generation. Our home is the first scripture classroom and worship place. Children need to understand the value of life and faith through participation in the life of the church. The taste of worship is learnt in the same way that we get

acquainted with the taste of food. Both happen through familiarity and repetition. I am glad that we have a good team of Sunday school teach-ers and students. As they lead the worship this Sunday, let it be an ex-perience that brings our children close to God and our worship patterns and give them the feel that they are part of it. It will have a lasting effect on them. Ecumenical experience happens when we open our mind to hold hand in hand with the communities that follow faith practices that are different from us. It should grow further to extend our hands with the brethren who hold a different religious faith. On November 22 we have the Ecumenical thanksgiving service at St. Mary’s Indian Ortho-dox Church, Maynard. It is an occa-sion to join in worship with other Christian communities near us which becomes a witness in this country. It is the belief that we be-long to the same father that adds beauty and richness to the fellow-ship. Let me end with the thought of Ma-hatma Gandhi who was inspired by Christ, “Where there is love, there is life.” Let us submit ourselves that we radiate the fragrance of love that others may find the fullness of life. Denny Achen.

Letter from The Vicar

November 2015

Monthly Newsletter of the Carmel MarThoma Church Boston

Cottage Prayer : Nov 14 Sat 2.30 pm

Saji Jose, 5 Forrest, Westford

Youth Fellowship

Nov 29

Sevika Sangham Meetings

Nov. 8 Sun Nov 22 Sun

Ecumenical

Thanksgiving

Service Nov. 22 Sunday

2.30pm

Venue: St. Mary’s

Indian Orthodox Church 65 Great Rd

Maynard, MA

Ascension CSI

Carmel Mar Thoma

St. Basil’s Syriac

Orthodox

St. Mary’s Indian

Orthodox

St. Stephen’s Knanaya

Syro-Malabar Catholic

Church

Page 2 Upcoming Programs

Fasting Prayer at Church

Nov 17 Tuesday 10.30 am

Prayer Meetings

Nov 13 Fri 7.30pm Vinu George and Thankam

60 Gibson St., Medford, MA 02155

Nov.14 Sat 6.30pm Oommen George and Leelan

39 Lexington Rd, Billerica

Nov. 21 Sat 6.30pm Jeji Cherian and Susan

54 Westview Dr. Brooklyn

Sunday School

Classes on Sundays 9 am

Parish Study Forum

Nov 15: Ecological Perspectives in the Bible Mr. Varghese Kattappuram

Young Couple Fellowship

Nov. 14 Sat 10.30 am Bible Study Church

Nov. 15 Sun Christmas Box Collection Ends

1 Vinay Mathai Cherian

2 Sheeba Thomas

4 John Cherian M.

4 Abie Thomas Samuel

6 Vinod Thomas Johnson

7 Rajan George

7 Chris John Sabu

8 Divya Annmarie Mathew

10 Isaiah Joseph Thomas

10 Elijah John Thomas

10 Christy Mathew

10 Anna Alexander

11 Vivek Jacob Cherian

12 Sydney Ann Mathew

14 Jean Lyttle Kurien

15 Somi Kim

15 Philip John

16 Mareen Elizabeth Mathew

22 Jonathan Koshy

25 Dileep Kurien Varghese

25 P C Mathew

26 Cecil Thomas (Ajith)

27 Annamma Mathew

28 Reanna George

30 Lisy Varghese

1 Paul Varghese & Chinnamma Varghese

5 Ajith Varghese Eapen & Divya Accu Varghese

7 Ted Malvey & Rachel Thomas Malvey

9 Ashok George Kuruvilla & Honey Elizabeth Thomas

12 Mammen Jacob & Cyndia Susam Mammen

22 Joseph Thomas & Leelamma Thomas

22 Reji Kurien Varghese & Lijo Varghese

Birthdays November

“Love does not

say to the beloved

that it does not

matter, for the

beloved matters “

Richard John Neuhaus

Death on a

Friday

Afternoon

Page 3

Wedding Anniversary November

Condolence 1. Mr. Easow Simon 81 New Jersy Father of Mr. Bob E Simon Sept

29 2015

2. Mr. P.C. Mathew, Cherupalathil, Vennikulam Father of Mr. Jeji Cherian Oct. 11 2015

The Parish expresses deep condolence to the bereaved families

467 River Road Hudson

MA 01749

Phone: 978 567 1015

E-mail:

revdennyphilip@yahoo.co

m

CARMEL MAR

THOMA CHURCH

BOSTON

Lectionary

Sunday Sunday School 9.00 am Holy Communion 10.00am

NOVEMBER

Date Lessons Epistle-Gospels Evening

1 Sunday Kudosh Eetho-Sanctification of the Church - Beginning of the Liturgical Year ;Children in the Church -

World Sunday School Day (All Saints Day)

Exo. 2:1-10 Eph. 6:1-9 Deu. 28:1-6

3 John. 1-15 St. Luke. 18:15-17 St.Mat.21:15-17

8 Sunday Hudos Eetho-Renewal of the Church - Light on the lamp Stands [Festival of Unity Communion of Churches in India -

(CCI) CSI-CNI-MTC]

Zech. 4:1-14 1 Cor. 3:10-15 Ps. 27

Rev. 1:12-20 St. Mat. 5:14-16 Phil. 2:1-11

15 Sunday Annunciation to Zechariah

1 Chr. 24:1-19 2 Cor. 2:12-17 Ps. 145

Rev. 8:1-8 St. Luke. 1:5-23 Heb. 5:1-10

22 Sunday Annunciation to Virgin Mary

Zech. 2:10-13 Eph. 1:3-10 Gen. 18:1-15

Gal. 4:1-7 St. Luke. 1:26-38 1 John. 3:1-16 29 Sunday Visitation of Virgin Mary to Elizabeth - Celebrating the Good

News, Inauguration Day of Church of North India (CNI)

Gen. 18:1-6 2 Cor. 1:3-11 Ps. 146

2 Tim. 4:9-18 St. Luke. 1:39-45 1 Pet. 1:8-12

***** Thanksgiving day

1 Chr29:10 – 15 1 Corinthians 1:1-5

2 Cori 9:1-12 Luke 17:11-19

30 Monday St. Andrew the Apostle’s Day

Zech. 8:20-23 1 Cor. 4:9-16

Rom. 10:12-18 St.Mat. 4:18-22