Pilgrimage is always remarkable one in our Christian journey

LTCC had a great privilege to encourage people to do a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. 16 of us including myself joined the Special Pilgrimage Tour. 

Altogether there were 53 people journeying for 8 days (from 9^th to 16^th Nov 2013) and stayed in various Hotels at Bethlehem and Tiberius.  Rev. Leszek Gamracy led us at the pilgrimage.

Every day our journey began with prayers which was encouraging and was a good reflection for each one of us to travel to the places  where Jesus lived and worked. It helped us to focus more  on our  own spiritual lives. As we were travelling in coaches throughout these fantastic 8 days we had a great privilege to attend the Mass at historic places  such as in the church of St John the Baptist at Ein Karem, Church of Dominus Flevit  at Beth-Fage, Shepherd’s field, Mount of Beatitudes, the traditional site of Cana, and  the Basilica of Transfiguration. 

Our time of singing, praying, chatting, eating and reading Bibles all enabled us to think and reflect   on Jesus who was moving, walking and living to give glory to God in those places 2013 years ago and his miracle and teachings all became living again within us. This experience cannot have more words to explain! This can only be experienced individually. Because every one’s experience is different!

We were able to remind our sacraments such as Baptism and Marriage and we were led to renew our Baptismal vows at Yardenit (the Baptismal site of our Lord Jesus) and to renew our wedding vows in the traditional site of Cana where Jesus performed his first miracle: water was changed into wine.

16 of us as LTCC family members were able to reflect during our daily evening prayers separately from the larger group with reflections and readings. Some though not able to attend the prayers everyday, the conversation with them and the reflection they carried were more inspiring and encouraging one as well.

Swimming in the Dead Sea was also a remarkable experience (we were floating and not swimming). This situation made me to think more on the power of God over His creation!

When I came out of the very moving Mass at the Bascilica of transfiguration, I was challenged by some of the young people from Catholic News from Canada to interview some of us including myself to express our reflection on ‘how this pilgrimage to the Holy Land makes difference in our lives’ which was encouraging and thought provoking for our future..

Their question made me to reflect on my 8 days of journey with the ecumenical pilgrims from Catholic churches and our LTCC congregations as an Ecumenical Christian Congregation. Very challenging and thought provoking experiences to me and I do hope many of us could feel the same! Visiting these places makes the Bible real and our faith livelier. Many times I had the God given opportunity to have conversation with  other pilgrims and local people where I met them in different sacred spots and local shops. One time particularly I was perplexed when I saw the following words written beautifully on the wall in Nazareth during our lunch.

I asked our coach driver the meaning of those words: ‘’Nahunu  Noridu Ilhaya behorea’’ ,  He said,’’ we are hear for living together’’ .

What a wonderful testimony! Christians, and Jews are giving the message to us that they are there in the Holy land to live together. I took this challenge; I am here in this world to live together in the midst of perplexed and peace less people and situations. Giving peace was the unique reason Jesus came to this world to help us.

Rev. Jessie Anand

29^th Nov 2013

Day trip to West Wittering in 2013

The main purpose of this day outing was to understand each other better within LTCC.

 51 members  started the journey from London to West wittering on 10^th August.  It was marvellous to see some of  LTCC family members bring their own family members.  They too laughed and chatted with us. So we were able to realise how much more LTCC is welcoming and integrating with unfamiliar people with Christian love. Every item of the day  brilliantly revealed the participants intention to mingle with one another and sharing what we have with one another.

While we were travelling in the bus lots of Sri Lankan folk songs inspired people not to forget their childhood and the life experiences back in Sri Lanka. Songs were played loudly with Tambourine music.  Lovely breakfast was shared in the bus.

Once we arrived the seashore parking fee was a challenging one to everybody. In addition to that  the elders encouraged and inspired the members to focus on the itinerary of that day to have proper organisation and  relaxation.. When we were in the sea, an elderly friend (Rajkumar’s Aunty..75yrs old) swam in the sea which was challenging and motivating many of us never to fail to appreciate her confidence to swim in her age!

Afternoon was a time we had different choices to see the creation and men and children were able to play Cricket joyfully together.

We had  fantastic time spending time in the seashore before our lunch together and Games and later filled the day with people’s own choices in the afternoon and we retired to our bus  at 5pm.

People never forget to praise God for the food and understand Jesus miracle story of 5 loaves and 2 fish motivated which  the disciples to collect the left over which filled  12 baskets.

Only one or 2 coffee shops were on the seashore. As we came out of the seashore  people felt how much more we were able to  relax in God’s creation without any shopping .Singing, Swimming, playing, chatting and eating were the highlights s of that day.

In His Service

Rev. Jessie Anand

First LTCC VBS

The first LTCC Vocation Bible School for 3 days have been held from 29th October to 31st October 2012 at South Harrow Methodist Church.

There were 9 children, 5 teachers and 2 VBS assistants participated enthusiastically VBS was started at 10.15 and finished before 1.00 pm with ½ an hour break.

Every day in the assembly children learnt on different themes: Bible, Prayer and Giving. Every morning VBS had begun with an Assembly for a half an hour. 

 

We  had 4 Bible classes: Nursery, Beginner, Primary and Junior  for  one and a half an hour with the 15 minutes during Bible class hours teachers taught children with the work book 

 

VBS was not only for Children it enriched our time for both Children and adults to learn and reflect our Christian journey together.

 

The participants were left with the final day feast on 31^st October but the following reflection from children is still resonating within us:

• I love God’s order in His creation
 
• I love to have confidence, faithfulness and obedience on God
 
• God created trees and plants too

• I learnt about God of Trinity.
 
• I reflect and build my relationship with God and with others to share Christ love in my daily lives.
 
• I pray for the suffering people in the world but I never fail to thank God for my own family and friends as well.  

 

In His service

Rev. Jessie Anand
 

A day trip to Margate....



On Saturday 25th August at 8am, 13 adults and 4 children were travelling together to Margate.

On the day before we were perplexed about the picnic day due to the weather forecast seemed to be a heavy rain at Margate. In the morning we started from South Harrow and had a prayer at Heston Methodist Church. Totally we trust the Lord for our good time in Margate.

We were reminded ourselves Psalm 121 and sang together, “Father I place into your hands”. Yes indeed, God was so faithful and we really enjoyed such a lovely and beautiful weather in the seashore at Margate without rain!

Children were excited to swim in the sea with adults and play cricket as well. I admired their Fathers’ real commitment to look after their children very carefully in the risky sea shore.  Very caring Parents!

Sharing Food was also brought the Christian community spirit within us. Breakfast, lunch, tea, coffee and even ice cream were offered for us to enjoy!

Our small group was a mixed age group. Unfortunately in the coach CD player was not favour to us. So microphone was provided. People were singing Christian songs and old well prepared Tamil Cinema songs. Children one by one shared lovely Bible stories using the microphone. Lovely to hear their imaginations when they shared the Bible stories as well.

There is no doubt our journey to and from made us to enjoy with Christian loving spirit. The famous song Hallelu..praise ye the Lord was the hit songs of that day !

Everyone had brought something to share with others during lunch time. The Plenty of food reminded our culture of  Asian hospitality and Christian community spirit!

 

 

 

Above all God blessed us throughout the day. Though we were very few in numbers we really had a fun, fellowship and friendship.

I was thinking and reflecting about one of Jesus miracles, He blessed 5 loaves and 2 fish and fed more than 5000 men. It was such an experience.  When we have Christ like nature even a few can be a model of overflowing blessing to many!

All glory to God!

Rev. Jessie Anand

Minister LTCC

www.putneychurch.org

Special Evening on Prayer - Sunday 29th April 2012

Our gathering with enthusiasm to learn more about the prayerful life on the special evening on 29th April from 4 to 7.30pm at River Court Methodist Church at Hammersmith was an exciting time within LTCC. We were able to remind ourselves who am I and How am I taking efforts to walk with my Risen Lord in my life.

36 people including 25 adults, 3 youngsters and 8 children gathered together on that day. It was very colourful to see all Age group sharing the definition for what is prayer was also remarkable one! Some said,

· It is communion with God                                      
· Asking God to help
· Listening to God in silence
· Trusting God totally
· Praising God
· Being in His presence
· Talking with God
· Talking to God

People were asked to remind themselves when and how they pray? What kind of postures and some models of Old Testament prayers. Importantly they were able to understand how did Jesus pray and example he shared with his disciples. Then they were divided into 3 adult Groups and a group with young people and another group with children. How can we intercede as a church with the people in Sri Lanka was well discussed in the groups and particularly with Adult groups and youngsters group with Group leaders. We worshiped together with the prayers from the groups.

The questions raised on that day were:

Do we need to pray or do we need to work or do we need to extend only financial help to have my relationship with God and people.

The above questions are the realities today. The answers were

Yes of course we need to pray. We need to have Family prayer and personal prayers in our life journey.

Yes of course we need to do our work but we need to have a communion with God with thankful heart for the work we do and show the total commitment to Him in our work which is also a part of prayer while we work.

Yes of course I need to pray, and I need to give financial help because the help which I can’t do God may be able to raise from another person to do it.

Yes of course I need to pray because I become God’s co partner in God’s creative and redemptive work. So we all agreed to Practise to pray without ceasing in our daily lives..

Here I am...

A reflection from the January Bible quiz

Here I am.........This sentence appears 8 times in the book of Genesis.

Abraham: His conversation with God, with his son Isaac and with Angel
Easu : His conversation with his father Isaac
Jacob: His conversation with his father Isaac, with Angel, and with God
Joseph: (In some translation) with his father Jacob
The response “Here I am” always expresses a person’s readiness or willingness to say “yes” with Joy to do things. But at the same time in some cases it shows the humbleness/hypocrite of the people as well.

Please reflect:

Who are we when we say ‘Here I am’ to people and to God.

What can we make up of ourselves when we develop our character

A big difference in learning together at Hounslow

On 2^nd Sunday of Epiphany in 2012

On 15^th January nearly 12 people including 2 children were gathered to worship the Lord at the United Reformed Church, Hounslow. We decided to sit in a circle. We sang and prayed together. During the time of sermon we were able to discuss about the 2 lessons of that day from the Bible (I Samuel 3:1-10 and John 1: 43 to end)

Description from the passage:

1. Samuel as a small lad and Elai as a elderly priest: There was encouragement , teaching of a prayer in a polite way and also understanding, “how God can reveal the situation through a small child”.
2. Philip and Nathaniel as friends would like to meet Jesus together: But the first invitation was extended politely and patiently from Philip to his friend, Nathaniel who had a challenging question.

The following thought provoking questions were asked to the congregation:

• What could we learn from these passages ?
• How and where God can reveal himself to us today ?

Following inspiring thoughts were shared to learn together:

1. God can reveal himself to us despite different situations, ages, gender and ethnicity or nationality.
2. God’s loving nature was revealed through Jesus. For e.g. Jesus pointed out and appreciated Nathaniel as (an innocent) truly an Israelite in whom there was no deceit.
3. Here Nathaniel expressed the human nature of love in a sarcastic way. For e.g. When Philip pointed out Jesus as a Nazarene, Nathaniel sarcastically said can anything good come out of Nazareth.
4. Do we need to be innocent like Nathaniel always in our life? Here Jesus’ teaching with his disciples from the Gospel of Mathew was reminded. (Mathew10:16) The message was shared as a good Christian disciple we need to be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.

Continuing thoughts for the week:

• God’s love is so amazing and his expression of His love through Jesus Christ is also incredible
• God’s ways are creative not destructive. Jesus’ conversation with Nathaniel was creative because Jesus was able to recognise Nathaniel’s good characters and pointed out to bring creative relationship with him. We can understand here Jesus ignored Nathaniel’s ill feeling about him and also to helped him to understand his continuing revelations as well..
• Epiphany reminds us God’s revelation overcomes all the differences and God’s nature of true love is expressed among all kinds of people in a creative and mysterious ways. .