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MESSA
GE
THE MAR THOMA PARISH PERTH
PARISHMESSENGERVolume 71 / September 2014
TWO-EDGED
SWORD
This notion that grace
is healing omits the fact
before it heals, it cutswith the sword Christ
s a i d h e c a m e to
bring (OConnor 1979)
OConnor was not in the
least sentimental. Her
story deals directly with
the power of grace to
shatter people and
change them violently.
This causes some good
peop le to become
s q u e a m i s h a b o u t
reading her work. They
want a gentler vision of
the church and Gods
grace. But she will notgive them one.
Her vision of the powers
of Gods grace is
purifying and radical.
The idea that Christ
simply takes us as we
are and does nothing to
us is not very Christian.
From the very first Godis out to re-create us. In
baptism, we are put to
death in Christs death
so that we may rise
again with him each day.
To think this as an
e n t i r e l y p a i n l e s s
undertaking is foolish.
God is out to change us.
One image of this is
God as the potter who
shapes the clay. This
shaping and remaking
of the lump of clay into a
useful pot is hard work.
The potters hands slap
and caress the wet clayuntil it takes the shape
of the potter has felt
within the clay.
Or we may speak of
God as being like a fire
in us, burning out the
dross, cleansing us with
the intense heat of the
r e fi n e r s fi r e . T h epurging that gives on
refining fire is violent
and yet beautiful. Gods
work in us is like that.
The idea that Gods
grace is simply a sunny
addiction to our already
nice lives misses hat
most terrible of facts
about human beings: we
have all sinned and
come short of the glory
of God. There is no
standing before the fire
of Gods love for us on
our own. Only Christ
can spare our being
c o n s u m e d b y t h e
flames. His life in us
saves us, even while it
changes us utterly. For
this, we thank God.
For the word of God is
living and active sharper
than any two-edgedsword, piercing to the
division of soul and
spirit, of joints and
marrow, and discerning
t h e t h o u g h t s a n d
i n t e n s i o n s o f t h e
heart. (Heb 4: 12)
May our good God blessyou all,
With prayerful regards,
Mothy Achen
PARISH MESSENGER www.perthmarthoma.org.au 0426 283 829
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MEETIN
GS
PARISH MESSENGER www.perthmarthoma.org.au 0426 283 829
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MINIST
RIES
PARISH MESSENGER www.perthmarthoma.org.au 0426 283 829
YOUTH FELLOWSHIP
Youth Fellowship meets fourth Saturdays of every month at 04:00pm at
the residence of a parish member.
Encourage all youngsters of our parish to participate in the activities of theYouth Fellowship. For further details, please contact Ms Shauna Rivya
Jacob ([email protected]).
SUNDAY SCHOOL
Regular Sunday School on all Sundays before the Holy Communion
Service. Contact: Mr Ninan Thomas or Mrs Susan Abraham for further
details ([email protected]).
EDAVAKA MISSION
Edavaka Mission meets at the residence of a parish member every
month. For further details, please contact Mr Solomon Jacob.
PARISH CHOIR
Parish Choir meets for practice every Sunday after the Holy CommunionService at Murdoch Worship Centre. For further details please contact Mr.
Ginsu Ninan ([email protected]).
SENIOR CITIZENS FELLOWSHIP
Senior Citizens Fellowship meets fourth Saturdays of every month at
12:00pm at the residence of a parish member. For further details, please
contact Mr Retnarajan.
SEVIKA SANGHAM
Sevika Sangham meets once every two month at the residence of a
parish member.
Encourage all women in our parish to participate in the activities of the
Sevika Sangham. For further details, please contact Mrs Babbin Mathews
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]8/11/2019 Edition 71 - News Letter September 2014
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KIDSO
NLY
PARISH MESSENGER www.perthmarthoma.org.au 0426 283 829
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KIDSO
NLY
PARISH MESSENGER www.perthmarthoma.org.au 0426 283 829
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PRAYERS
PARISH MESSENGER www.perthmarthoma.org.au 0426 283 829
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WISH
ES
PARISH MESSENGER www.perthmarthoma.org.au 0426 283 829
8/11/2019 Edition 71 - News Letter September 2014
8/8PARISH MESSENGER www perthmarthoma org au 0426 283 829
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