“Glory to God in the highest”
Lk 2:14

Dearly beloved in Christ,

Greetings to you in the name of the Immanuel. One more Christmas is at hand and we have entered into the season of Advent. Let our hearts and homes be prepared to receive Jesus Christ our Savior.

In the Old Testament, God was an invisible abstraction. For the Jews, God was the Mighty and Holy, Lord of Hosts who reigns over all, and the one who cannot be conceived. God had been sending to humanity the light of reconciliation partially through prophets and finally through his only begotten Son. “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of shadows of death, a light has dawned” (Isa-9:2). As we visualize the new dawn of this wondrous birth, our gaze is directed to the new light of hope that has inspired many generations.

The Angelic invitation to the humble shepherds to come and see the new born babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger, is the realization of an expectation. Eternal God becomes real and accessible. Anyone could hold this child. The shepherds were as a community despised by the orthodox Jews . They could not adhere to the details of the ceremonial laws; their hands were unclean and their clothes worn out. Although they sold to the worshippers unblemished lambs for sacrifice, they never had the opportunity of conducting this rite for the cleansing of their own sins. On that Christmas Day, however, they received the favor of seeing and experiencing the true Lamb of God who could transform their very being.

Mother Mary and Joseph had great conviction and trust in the promisesof the Almighty and the experience of Christmas was a challenge to their commitment. They were willing to undergo any pain or privation, to see this child survive and grow. As these parents watched their child grow into a man, their hopes were not belied. Theirs was a tumultuous journey, no doubt, but one that eventually saved the whole world.

The wise men had a different vision and experience commensurate with their intellectual faculty, but even so they had to redirect their ways to reach the Holy Child. Incarnation is not a simple story, but a radical entry of God into humanity.

“Christmas is not just tinsel and lights and our outward show. The secret lies in an inner glow. It is lighting a fire inside the heart and where goodwill and joy play a vital part”.

Let this Christmas be a wonderful time of receiving Jesus, the light of the world into our hearts. Let this morning star of righteousness and peace guide our quiery and quench our thirst for a Savior. Let us share God’s wonderful gift to humanity.

I thank God for all the manifold blessings showered upon us throughout the year 2009. Together we have all been able to bring to the House of the Lord during the Harvest Festival a sum of Rs.10,70,078/- This shows the abundance of God’s blessing in our lives and the improvement in our faithfulness to honor God. May God reward all our dear ones who sincerely responded to the needs of the church. Let the Almighty bless and keep you with much more blessings and grace in the new year 2010.

Wish you all a very Blessed Christmas and a Joyful and Prosperous New Year.

Blessings,

Yours in His service,
Kurian Peter Achen


                   “Christmas is the season for kindling the fire of hospitality in the hall, the genial flame of charity in the heart.”

                                                                                                                                              Washington Irving