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