St. Peter’s Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church Vol 1: Sept.

2007
9946 Haldeman Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19116

Rev Fr. Jose Daniel Paitel Seraphim?

S
To: The St. Peter’s Syrian Orthodox by Jingle Thomas
Youth Association
Our publication is named
Dearly beloved, Seraphim, for those who cannot read the
I am immensely glad about your Anglican font in the center. You must be
new venture. It is not only a venture but wondering what the name means.
also an adventure too. Be certain that Seraphim are mentioned many times in

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the effort behind a publication is huge; Christian liturgy. Seraphim are six-
and getting it read by the benefactors is winged angels who are considered the
very, very, very huge, i.e. 100x. I am so highest-ranking angels. They are the
confident about your talents, and hope angelic choir in heaven. It is said that
that you can win the goal tomorrow or they continually cry out singing “"Holy,
day after tomorrow. Let your publication Holy, Holy is the Lord of Hosts, the whole

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multiply the reading habit of our earth is full of His Glory" (Isaiah 6:3).
teenagers, younger parents and senior This chanting is referred to as the
members of our community. This is the Trisagion. The Trisagion prayer is the
central point of making a creative impact prayer we start of with every Sunday
in our community. morning or whenever we pray. If you are
not familiar with the term, it is the name
Wish you all success by hundred folds. given to the prayer “Holy art thou, O

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My prayer follows. God, Holy art thou, Almighty, Holy art
thou immortal, Thou who was crucified
for us, have mercy on us”. An example of
the Seraphim in the Bible is in Isaiah’s
vision “"... I saw the Lord sitting upon a
throne, high and lifted up; and His train

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filled the sanctuary. Above Him stood the
Upcoming event Seraphim; each had six wings: with two
he covered his face, and with two he
October 6 covered his feet, and with two he
Sunday school regional flew"(Isaiah 6:1-3). In naming this
competition publication Seraphim, we want to give an
Submit all names for competition opportunity to the younger generation to

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by Sept. 9 express their thoughts and feelings
about God to everyone. Take the extra
step, make the effort to take one step
closer to God.

A Child's Prayer

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by A Spiritual Youth

The Lord provides me with peace.

He strengthens me each day.
Through his blood, my sins were forgiven Night Prayer
Through tears, he showed me the way. By A Spiritual Youth
To the Lord I offer glory,

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Praise, and homage too. Lord, as I lay here, I know there
He is my Almighty Savior. is a chance that tomorrow may not come.
Thank You Lord, from me to you So I come to you to ask you for
forgiveness. Forgiveness for any sorrow I
have caused You, my family, or friends.
Although I have not always been a
to be continued on p. 2…

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 Vol 1: Sept. 2007

perfect sheep, you have always guided

Wing of laughter My friend replied, "I'm already in the
(Taken from an online source. Contact publication board for
me back to the flock. Thank you for the more info.) Army of the Lord, Pastor."
courage you gave me when times were Pastor questioned, "How come I don't
rough. So, now, if in case the new day Money Goes To Church "see you except at Christmas and
doesn’t arrive for me, I can go to sleep in Easter?"
peace knowing I spent the last day on A well-worn one dollar bill and a similarly
Earth with you. distressed twenty dollar bill arrived at a He whispered back, "I'm in the secret
Federal Reserve Bank service."
to be retired. As they moved along the
conveyor belt to be burned, they struck
up a conversation.

Extra! Extra! Read all about it. The twenty dollar bill reminisced about its
travels all over the county. "I've had a Why Go to Church
The messenger is here.
pretty good life," the if I have God in My Heart?
twenty proclaimed. "Why I've been to Las by Debbie Mathew
Vegas and Atlantic City, the finest
Take the Plunge: The VBS story
by Eldhose Thekkethottiyil
restaurants in New York, We all have a friend or family
performances on Broadway, and even a member that looks at the idea of
This year’s VBS, as always, cruise to the Caribbean." gathering at a church in puzzlement.
was an eventful one. The theme was How can we explain our behavior to such
“Take the Plunge, Make a Splash with "Wow!" said the one dollar bill. "You've people? It is true, God is in our hearts.
Jesus” and every organized event really had an exciting life!" This is what the Apostle Paul desired
reflected upon this theme. VBS was held from us when he said: "I pray that
over a period of three days where the "So tell me," says the twenty, "where according to the riches of His glory, He
following sub-themes were addressed have you been throughout your lifetime?" may grant that you may be strengthened
such as obedience, worship, courage, in your inner being with power through
faith, and service. Everyday, there were The one dollar bill replies, "Oh, I've been His Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in
two teaching sessions, one craft session, to the Methodist Church, the Baptist your hearts through faith as you are
and one group discussion session called Church, the Lutheran being rooted and grounded in love."
Bibleland Bay. At the end of each day, Church .and St. Peter’s Church in (Ephesians 3:16-17). So then how do
water sports were conducted. The goal Philly..." you abide with the continual presence of
of every activity organized in this year’s God in your heart? What fruits of the
VBS was to increase the spirituality of The twenty dollar bill interrupts, "What's Spirits have you become aware of in
children and promote interaction a church?" yourself? Here I'll remind you: "The fruit
between children to exchange their ideas of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long
on the Christian faith. suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
VBS began with an opening meekness, temperance." (Galatians
ceremony conducted by Fr. Paul 5:22-23). Do you have these feelings and
Parambath and Fr. Jose Daniel. Both of no, they are not personal characteristics,
them gave inspiring messages to the they are gifts. A gift is that which we
children and pointed out the importance formerly did not possess, but which
of the biblical passages they were going through spiritual growth has come into
to encounter at their study sessions. The
The Army of the Lord out life.
morning prayer of all the VBS days was
followed by a song teaching session A friend was in front of me coming out of So why do we go to church? To
conducted by VBS volunteers. Songs church one day, and the preacher was listen to the sermon? But these days you
were in English and Malayalam and often standing at the door can get that from a radio presenter. To
involved actions to go along with them. as he always is to shake hands. He pray? But you can pray everywhere at
The participation of youth, Sunday grabbed my friend by the hand and any time. Then, to make an offering? But
school teachers and kids, parents, and pulled him aside. these days there are numerous
many others made this year’s VBS a The Pastor said to him, collections on the streets.
success. "You need to join the Army of the Lord!"
to be continued on p. 3…

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 Vol 1: Sept. 2007

of announcements? But you can get that The woman went out and asked Love to
from an acquaintance. To put up a please come into their house and be our
candle? But you can put up a candle in guest." Love got up and started walking
front of the icons at home. And so, why toward the house... The other 2 men also
do we go to church? got up and followed him.
Surprised, the lady said: "I only invited
Why does His Word invite: "Come Love... Why are Wealth and Success
The Invitation Parable
unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy http://www.rosebudchristianchurch.org/readingroom/inviteparabl coming in too?"
laden, and I will give you rest...and ye e.html The old men replied together: "If you had
shall find rest for your souls." (St. invited Wealth or Success the other two
Matthew 11:28). Thus, God calls us to A woman came out of her of us would have stayed outside... but
Himself, so that he might present us with house and saw 3 old men with long white since you invited Love, wherever he
something. Learning - "Learn of Me"; beards sitting in front of her house. She goes we usually go with him.
Spirit – "Receive ye of My Spirit"; Love, did not recognize them. She said "I don't
peace, joy - "Abide in My love", "My think I know you, but you look hungry... Always remember, Love first... if you
peace I give unto you", "That my joy Please come in and have something to want Wealth and Success to follow!
might remain in you." But Christ grants eat." "Is the man of the house home?",
us something further, " Abide in me and I they asked. "No," she said. "He's out." Who have you invited into your
in you...Receive ye this, this is My blood, "Then we cannot come in," they replied. home?
which I shed for you..."
In the evening when her husband came
And so we come to church, so home,she told him what had happened.
that we might receive something therein. He said, "Go tell them I am home and
Therefore, to visit church is not an invite them in."
onerous obligation, but a wondrous
privilege. We are granted the right to The woman went out and invited the men
stand as participants in the Mystical to come in. "We rarely go into a house
Supper. We are granted the possibility of together," they replied.
becoming partakers of the divine nature.
God sought us and has found us. We One of the old men explained: My name
simply need to go to church so we can is "Love," his name is "Wealth" (pointing
be as close to God as we can. Church is to one man), and his name is "Success"
the place where God approaches the (pointing to the other man). Then he
people. If Christ presents us with the Cup added, "Now go in and discuss with your
of Communion through the royal gates, husband which one of us you want in
does it make sense for us to affirm that "I your home."
have God in my heart"? Therefore, if
anyone ever looks at the idea of The woman went in and told her
gathering at a church in puzzlement, you husband what was said. Her husband
are now better equipped to explain our was overjoyed. "How wonderful," he
behavior to such people. said!... "Since that is the case, let us
invite Wealth... Let him come in and fill
The Faithful our home with wealth."
His wife disagreed... "My dear, why don't Moses and the burning bush.
By Jingle Thomas By Paul Parambath
we invite Success"?
By faith I was born, Their daughter was listening from the
Through faith I will grow, other side of the room... She jumped in
Through prayer and good deeds, with her own suggestion: "Would it not With Him in Death
be better to invite Love? Our home will By Eldhose Thekkethottiyil
Through trials and tribulations,
Through love, loyalty, ascension and then be filled with love."
"Let us heed our daughters advice," said I feel great pain! I cannot move
vision will I affirm my belief in Him. my body. No matter where I turn, no
By faith I will stand till my last breath, the husband to his wife... "Go out and
invite Love to be our guest." matter how hard I cry, the pain leaves
To be born again as the faithful in me not. It is like a snake that does not let
heaven, go until its prey is dead for sure.
To take my rightful place at the right to be continued on p.4…
hand of God.
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 Vol 1: Sept. 2007

I can barely open my eyes for the sun by leading people towards God and having acknowledged his words in these
falls straight on my face. Through its thereby prevent the evolution of sinners last moments of my life. And then, the
powerful rays it deprives me of my life, like me. I had seen Jesus preach but prisoner that hangs on the cross to the
little by little. I am ready to fall on the never gave an ear to his teachings right of Jesus shouts at him to rescue us
ground. But the ruthless nails on my because I never believed in God. I all. A force within me compels me to yell.
palms and feet will not let go until they believed only in myself and in what I did. I ask the prisoner if he does not fear God
have fulfilled the duty assigned to them- But now I feel I should have listened to even at the time of his death. I turn to
to kill me. So, from three nails I hang on Jesus because if I had he would have Jesus and I tell him to remember me
a cross that now drenches with my cleansed me from sin, the same way he when he ascends into his kingdom. I
blood. Flowing down the cross, the blood cleansed the leper and gave sight to the never expect a reply because I know the
from my body soothes me not but the blind. These people believed in Jesus depth of my sins and my lack of purity to
dried, sand smeared stones lying on the and were therefore able to see his comprehend him in his wholeness. But
ground. I think I have been cursed. Yes, miracles in their lives. Believing in him Jesus baptizes me in his words on the
cursed I am by all the people that I killed would have rescued me from the cross when he says that I would be with
and stole from in my dark, sinful life. I suffering that I am going through now. him, from that night on, in paradise. I
see them laughing and rejoicing in front now know that he is the son of God
of me as I struggle to take a breath. They because I believe in him. Even though
spit at me and throw stones at me. I lie death, in a few moments, will engulf me I
helpless on the cross accepting my fate have received the love that I longed for
and awaiting the clutches of death. But throughout my life and it is this love that I
somewhere in my dying soul, I feel that I will live by after I die.
do not deserve the grave suffering I am
going through.

I grew up on the streets and

never knew whom my parents were. The
In the Footsteps…
people around me showed no mercy to
me. They treated me like a dog and
would kick me away from their path if I
blocked them. My need to survive forced
me to steal. Everyday, as I stole more
and more from people, I got better at it.
Stealing for me was a form of revenge The soldiers and people on the
Syrian Orthodox Teachings
against the people who hurt me and the ground mock Jesus. They claim that if he (taken from Queen of the Sacraments by Fr.
law that never delivered to me what it is the Son of God let him rescue himself. K. Mani Rajan)
promised. Every time I stole, my Deep in my mind, an urge rises to shout Compiled by Jingle Thomas
contempt towards society increased and at them to not mock him anymore
so did my arrogance. I quickly became because he has not done anything
Do you know that the church
the most sought after thief of the Roman wrong to them. But Jesus responds by
building has five parts to it?
soldiers. But pride always goes before a pleading God to forgive the people
fall and I was captured and condemned because he claims that they do not know
The Narthex
to death. Burning with pain and a sense what they are doing. Jesus is bleeding
profusely from head to toe. He has lost It is the western-most part of the
of failure I turn my head to my right to let
his strength. And yet he does not lose church. It is usually at a lower level from
the winds kiss my face. As I open my
the rest of the church. In our church, it is
eyes with the slightest of relief, I see his trust in the God he believes in. How
is it possible for this man? Nowhere the room that we enter into from the
Jesus on the cross. I had heard about
outside.
him and his mission on the streets. before in my life have I seen a man who
People referred to him as “The Messiah” sticks to his principles so firmly as Jesus.
The Nave
and he had touched the hearts of people Even in the moments of death he is
praying for his enemies. He truly is It is the largest part of the
through his actions. Again, I feel that the
practicing what he preaches. There is church where the men and women
law is unjust because it has lead to the
surely a great goal he wishes to achieve gather for worship. Men are on one side
crucifixion of an innocent man who
through his death. I know not what it is and the women are on the other side. It
sought to spread the word of God
but it through this goal that he will prove symbolizes where the people of Israel
through love and thereby change
his greatness. My mind urges me to gathered together while Moses went to
people’s perception of the divine law. to be continued on p. 5…
Jesus was trying to make a better society speak to him. But I feel ashamed of

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 Vol 1: Sept. 2007

Mt. Sinai. This part of the church is

reserved for the faithful. Only COGs
(Children of God) permitted entry here.

The Kesthrumo
It means “not risen from earth”. Publication Board Letter
It is the space between the nave and the
Sanctuary. A railing and a step from the As a part of St. Peter’s Church
nave separate it. It is separated from the and as members of the S.P.Y.C youth
sanctuary by two or more steps. The group, we are glad that our first venture
Kesthrumo is also where the prayer table into publishing a spiritual newsletter was
and the Baptism fountain are located. At accomplished. Through a lot of hard
our church we do not have one, but this work and research, we have put together
is where the deacons stand for morning a newsletter that both the young and the
prayer. mature readers will enjoy. We hope that
the future editions are filled with creative
The Sanctuary works from both Sunday school and the
The Syriac word for this is the youth in our church. We hope this
Madhb’ho, meaning the holy place. It is newsletter is informative and serves as a
located in the eastern part of the church, closer understanding of our faith. This
symbolizing paradise. The paradise is newsletter can be found on the church
Seraphim in the Bible is in Isaiah’s vision
referred to in Ezekiel 43:1,2,4 as coming website (www.Stpeterspalli.com) and a
“"... I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne,
from the east. In heavenly paradise there link will be provided on the youth blog high and lifted up; and His train filled the
are two things, the Tree of Life and the site. We give thanks to all who submitted sanctuary. Above Him stood the
holy beings. In the Sanctuary, the Holy their works for the first edition of Seraphim; each had six wings: with two
Cross represents the Tree of Life and the Seraphim. he covered his face, and with two he
priests represent the Holy beings. The covered his feet, and with two he
Holy place is also said to be glowing in flew"(Isaiah 6:1-3).
fire. This is why the priests wear Publication Board
ceremonial shoes when they enter the Jingle Thomas
Sanctuary. The altar, which is located in Debbie Mathew
the center of the sanctuary, represent Eldhose Thekkethottiyil
Christ’s tomb and also it refers to Mount
Golgotha (site where Christ was
crucified). The altar symbolizes the home
of the Holy trinity.

The Baptistery
Located in the Kesthrumo is
used for Baptism. The Baptismal font is
made of granite and has carvings on it.
At baptism, we are cleansed of our
original sin and receive the Holy spirit.
We are made a part of the church. The
baptismal font symbolizes two different
things. It represents the Holy Virgin Mary
because it gives a new life to us and we
are made as brothers and sisters of
Christ. The baptismal font also
represents the Holy Sepulcher of our
Lord. This is referred to in James 6:3,4.

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