Post on 15-Mar-2020
CSI Congregation of Dallas
2422 North Glenbrook Drive
Garland, TX 75040
www.csicod.org
Vicar
Rev. K. G Thomson
2725 Red River Street
Mesquite, TX 75150
Parsonage (469)757-8285
Cell (214) 434-3639
The Trumpet CSI Congregation of Dallas
(Newsletter published for private circulation only)
Beloved in Christ,
PRAISE GOD FOR THE “NEW YEAR 2019”!
Praise God for He provides grace, His unmerited favor in our everyday life. The thoughts of the New Year fill us with freshness and
newness. Simultaneously, we need to organize our life and make it better. This does not mean that we should forget the past; for the
past had led us into the present. The guiding principle for the life of every Christian is the Word of God. The Church, the body of
Christ cannot live without the insight coming from the Scripture.
The year 2019 is declared as the “Year of Spirituality”. Spirituality brings purpose and meaning to life. A believer must have a normal
spiritual life- this is the foundation for experiencing God’s words and entering into reality. Spiritual life is not limited to prayer,
singing, praising or any other such practices. Rather it implies to ‘live’ a spiritual life. A normal spiritual life is to live a life surrendered
to God. When praying, one can quiet one’s heart before God and through prayer he can seek for enlightenment by the Holy Spirit,
know the word God and can understand the will of God. By reading and meditating the word of God an individual can understand
what God wants him to do right now and can have a new path of practice and not be conservative, so as to achieve progress in life. If
you wish to walk the right path, then you must do all that you can to satisfy God. The more you live the spiritual life, the more your
heart will be occupied by the word of God.
The motto for this year 2019 is taken from James 1: 27 where it says ‘Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father is
this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained from the world’. James uses two synonymous
adjectives to define the most spotless kind of religious faith- that which is measured by compassionate love. Orphans and widows
need to be cared. Since they are usually unable to reciprocate in anyway, caring for them clearly demonstrate true sacrificial Christian
love. We need to be compassionate to them.
Firstly we need to look upon Christian conduct, the outward expression of true religion. James indicates in his Epistle that a person
who is in true Christian faith will reflect his faith in his outward expression. It is pleasing to God to visit the orphans and widows
especially in times of affliction. This would never be simply an act of visit rather indicative of being empathetic to them. It is the duty
of the Christian Church in lending a hand in support to these groups of people. Secondly I would like to point on Christian character,
the outward expression of true religion. An individual who exercises true religion is a person who abstains and is never confounded
to the evils of the world. James uses the sacrificial language as of in Exodus 12: 5 ‘lamb without blemish’ to describe the pure religious
person.
We need to seek and live a life worthy of His calling in which he has been called(Eph 4:1). The Word of the Lord is powerful, his
blood is powerful and the presence of Holy Spirit too is powerful. This power enables us to achieve a victorious spiritual life. May
2019 be a year of spirituality trusting in the power of the Holy Spirit. Let spirituality be the New Year resolution, where Christ has a
permanent place in our heart and thus let us rise over the trivial things of the world.
Rev. K. G Thomson
May God bless us all.
Wish you all a Prosperous New Year.
January 2019 Worship Service & Bible Readings
01/06/2019 2nd Sunday in after Christmas Revelation for Salvation
(Malayalam)
1st Lesson - Exodus 3: 1-14 Mr. M.K.Raju Psalm 27 Jason Kurien
2nd Lesson - Acts 16: 6-10 Mrs. Aleyamma Thomas John.12:20-32
01/13/2018 Birth of John the Baptist 1st Sunday after Epiphany
Be Holy (English))
1st Lesson – Deut. 7:1-11- Mr. Babloo J Williams
Psalm 5 - Aaron Davidson Jacob
2nd Lesson – Eph.5:18-20-Mrs. Happy Johnson
Gospel-John 17:13-17
01/20/2018 2nd Sunday after Epiphany One Body and One Baptism
(Malayalam)
1st Lesson – Amos 9:5-12- Mr. Jacob Cherian
Psalms – 115-Joydin Varghese
2nd Lesson – Eph. 4:1-6-Mrs. Padma Susan Mathew
Gospel –Matt. 16: 13-20
01/27/2018 3rd Sunday after Epiphany Ecumenical Sunday
United in Love (Youth Sunday)
1st Lesson – Deut. 4:1-10
Psalm-30
2nd Lesson – 1 Cor. 1: 10-18
Gospel- John 15:11-17
02/03/2019 4th Sunday after Epiphany Praise the Lord (worship)
(Malayalam)
1st Lesson –Exod.9:1-7-Mr. Joji V George
Psalms -81 -Cleo Mathew
2nd Lesson – Rev.5:1-14 Anusha Sara Jacob
Gospel- John 2:13-22
January Birthdays
Mrs. Aleyamma Thomas 1-Jan
Mr. Rony Joseph 4-Jan
Ariel Lilly Cherian 4-Jan
Mrs. Jolly Samuel 5-Jan
Sarah Ann Cherian 7-Jan
Aaron D. Jacob 7-Jan
Mrs. Lovely Raju 7-Jan
Mrs. Mariamma V. John 8-Jan
Mrs. Happy Johnson (Anu) 8-Jan
Mrs. Padma Susan Mathew 10-Jan
Mr. Mathew Kaippalimalil (Sushil) 10-Jan
Jason Kurien 12-Jan
Mr. Joji V George 16-Jan
Jikku Jacob John 17-Jan
Mr. George T Thomas (Tiji) 20-Jan
Mr. William George 20-Jan
Jay Kuruvila 22-Jan
Edwin Mathew Jacob 24-Jan
Mr. Bill Cherian 26-Jan
Mr. Wesley Cherian 26-Jan
Mr. Jacob Cherian (Vivek) 27-Jan
Mrs. Leelamma Varghese 29-Jan
Joshua Cherian 30-Jan
Mrs. Saramma Mathew 30-Jan
Mr. Jacob Jacob (Ruben) 31-Jan
January Wedding Anniversaries
Mr. M.K. Raju & Mrs. Lovely Raju 5-Jan
Mr.Babloo John Williams & Mrs. Reesha Thomas 5-Jan
Mr. George Itty & Mrs. Sherly Itty 7-Jan
Mr. Jacob Varghese (Jossy) & Mrs. Thresiamma Jacob 7-Jan
Mr. William George & Mrs. Jolly William 10-Jan
Mr. Jacob Abraham Cheeramkulam (Shaji) & Mrs. Lisa
Jacob 11-Jan
Mr. Jeevan Joseph & Mrs. Lintu George 14-Jan
Mr. James Thomas (Saji) & Mrs. Viji George 16-Jan
Mr. George M Varghese (Raju) & Mrs. Mariamma George
(Leelamma) 22-Jan
Mr. Prakash Varghese & Mrs. Ann George (Pinki) 30-Jan
Mr. Suresh Agrawal & Mrs. Lilly Agrawal 30-Jan
Choristers’ Corner
Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee.
Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty,
God in three persons, blessed Trinity!
“Holy, Holy, Holy” by Reginald Heber (1783-1826) is unique in many regards. Indeed, it spans many Christian
traditions and centuries, unifying them in four timeless stanzas. Not only that, but Heber was an Anglican bishop whose
ministry spanned continents and races, placing him as one of the heroes of the Christian faith.
Perhaps the most intriguing characteristic of the hymn is how the text does not initiate praise, but instead encourages the
singer to join in an endless song. Both Isaiah 6:1-5 and Revelation 4:2-11 inspire this hymn, spanning the Testaments,
reminding us that the Trisagion (thrice holy) has been uttered in worship for centuries. Isaiah received his vision in the
eighth century B.C.; John the Apostle recorded his revelation in the first century C.E.; while Reginald Heber composed
his hymn in 1826, in the nineteenth century.
Congregations continue to be inspired by Heber’s text in the twenty-first century. It is safe to say that songs of praise,
begun by the seraphim and cherubim, have been echoing throughout the millennia through the voice of the people.
What makes this hymn so special? First, the rhyme scheme is unique since all four lines of each stanza rhyme with the
word “holy.” One won’t easily find another hymn written this way. Another reason why “Holy, holy, holy” is such a
timeless hymn is its pairing with the well-known tune NICAEA. Written by John Bacchus Dykes (1823-1876),
NICAEA has a unique elegance and magnificence, which in turn complements Heber’s stately language. There’s no
cheap emotionalism and subjectivity apparent in the music or the words. Named after the Council of Nicaea, where the
nature of the Trinity was shaped theologically, NICAEA is also a classic example of Victorian hymn tune writing,
notably with its solid harmonies and subtle chromaticism.
Heber is careful to describe the Trinity without encroaching upon its mystery. This is especially evident with the phrase,
“though the darkness hide Thee” in stanza 3, and this separation between God and man is exacerbated by sin (“though
the eye of sinful man thy glory may not see”). Though we may not see or completely understand the Trinity in its
fullness in this lifetime, Heber’s and Dykes’s collaboration reminds us those are not reasons that preclude our worship
of the Triune God.
One particular characteristic of “Holy, holy, holy!” is the unusual meter of 11.12.12.10. This distinguishes it from most
English texts that preceded it, especially those of Isaac Watts (1674-1748) and Charles Wesley (1707-1788), who wrote
in relatively short stanzas including CM (8686), SM (6686), and LM (8888). This unusual meter, however, is finessed
by Dykes’s craftsmanship with the rhythm.
Along with the rhythm, the melody was masterfully constructed. The tune commences with a rising third, which
could easily symbolize the Trinity, and continues with a chant-like character (there are few leaps and many
consecutively repeated notes). Hymnals have left the original four-part harmony of Dykes's untouched, although
most of them have transposed the key down a whole step from the original of E Major.
Reginald Heber was born in Cheshire, England, in 1783, with a precocity toward poetry. By the time Heber was
twenty, he had already penned a poem titled “Palestine,” which won the prestigious Newdigate Prize. Four years
later, he was writing numerous hymns while he was vicar of Hodnet, Shropshire. This is the most probable time
he composed “Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty,” as he stayed there fifteen years.
Most of his hymns, though, were not published until he passed away in 1826. His widow published Heber’s
impressive volume of hymns, which are arranged according to the church year, Hymns Written and Adapted to
the Weekly Church Service of the Year (1827). This, along with A Selection of Psalms and Hymns for the
Parish Church of Banbury (Third Edition, 1826), brought his most eminent hymn into the spotlight.
Heber intended for “Holy, Holy, Holy,” written for Trinity Sunday, to be sung between the sermon and the creed
by his parish in Hodnet. This was iconoclastic at the time, since hymn singing was prohibited in Church of
England liturgies. In contrast, the Methodist societies in the eighteenth century were known for their hymn
singing, along with the dissenting churches that had been using the hymns of Isaac Watts for nearly one hundred
years. Consequently, then, British hymnology scholar J. R. Watson notes Heber was a man who “helped to dispel
the idea that hymns were associated with Methodists and extreme Evangelicals” (Canterbury Dictionary of
Hymnology). Unfortunately, he failed to persuade church authorities within the Church of England to grant
permission for hymn singing during Sunday services while he was alive.
In 1826, Reginald Heber died in British India from a stroke while bathing (often referred to in India as coup de
soleil), leaving an impressive legacy within Christianity. That was because Heber was the Anglican bishop over
all of British India from 1823-1826. He worked tirelessly to build a training school for local clergy and traveled
extensively around India preaching the gospel. He also embodied nineteenth-century British missiology, which
purposed to use Britain’s divine right and calling to evangelize the rest of the world. This is seen in Heber’s
hymns “From Greenland’s Icy Mountains” and “Brightest and Best,” two other of his commonly sung hymns.
Heber had continued to write a few hymns, although most of his corpus was written during his Hodnet vicarship.
John Bacchus Dykes was not quite as copious in his output with hymn tunes as Heber was with hymn texts, but of
his hymn tunes, NICAEA was his best-known work. He worked as the choir director of the Durham Cathedral for
most of his life and passed away in northern England at the age of fifty-three. It is safe to say Dykes would be
pleased his NICAEA has stood the test of time paired with “Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty,” and may
that it “evermore shalt be.”
Christmas Moments 2018
Secretary’s Notes
2019 Election General Body Meeting
As per our Constitution, the annual Election General Body Meeting of the CSI Congregation
of Dallas for 2019 will be held at church, after the Holy Communion service on Sunday, January 27th 2018.
Note:
➢ Nomination forms can be obtained from Vicar in charge Rev. K.G. Thomson or from Secretary
➢ Nominations must be submitted in a sealed envelope to Vicar in charge Rev. K.G. Thomson
2019 Election for Auxiliary Organizations
Election dates for all auxiliary organizations will be announced soon.
Secretary’s Notes continued…..
1. Tele prayer is every Friday from at 8-9 pm, the dial in number is 515-604-9057; access code is 539672
followed by the “#” sign.
2. Women Fellowship prayer at 1000 am every Wednesday at Parsonage.
3. CSI Region 3 Youth and Young Adult Retreat at Austin will be held on Jan. 4-6, 2019 at Trinity Pines
Conference Center.
Topic: Worship and Community. John 15:15- "I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not
know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I
have made known to you."
The W.F. Saturday Morning Prayer is on Saturday, January 19th at Betty Cherian's residence. The prayer
starts at 10 AM. All are requested to attend.
Address:
1201 Ponca Street
Carrollton, TX - 75010
Home phone: 9723938792
.
CSI Congregation of Dallas Executive Committee 2018
Vice-President Mr. Cherian Varghese (214) 424-7556
Secretary Mrs. Tessymol Kurien (214) 218-1358
Joint Secretary Mr. Vinod Philip (914) 403-5634
Treasurer Mr. John Thomas (214) 621-3870
Joint Treasurer Mr. Vinn Varghese (817) 600-8731
Warden Mr. Eapen Samuel (469) 324-7484
Warden Mrs. Mariamma George (214) 546-4792
Committee Member Mr. Jacob Jacob (214) 893-6898
Committee Member Mr. Roshan Abraham (704) 219-0134
Committee Member Mr. Mathew Kaippallimalil (972) 747-7298
Auditor Mr. Sreejith John (214) 695-8052
Choirmaster Mrs. Rayni Tharian (469) 226-4530
Choir Secretary Mr. Sreejith John (214) 695-8052
Sunday School Superintendent Mrs. Annu Vinod (914) 439-4777
Women’s Fellowship Secretary Mrs. Deepa John (972) 533-7153
Women’s Fellowship Treasurer Mrs. Lisamma Jacob (469) 569-6397
Youth Secretary Mr. Ryan Tharian (469) 226-7719