Welcome

Established in 1994 as a Church of South India (CSI) congregation and also a member of the United Church of Christ, we are located in Valhalla, New York, a small village in lovely Westchester County. You are warmly invited to come worship with us!

Upcoming Events (see events page for more info)

April
13 (Sunday) - Parish Day Service, 10 AM. 14th anniversary of the congregation.
19 (Saturday) - Cottage prayer meeting at the residence of Mr. Philip Itty, 6:30 PM.

From the Presbyter - April 2008

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:

Greetings to you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Every Easter reminds us of the fact that Jesus is risen. Appearances of the risen Jesus were important events in the life of the early Christians. The risen Jesus' encounter with two disciples in St. Luke 24:13-35 has many distinctive features. Let us draw some insights on the manner in which the risen Lord's encounters us.

Emmaus was a small village 8 miles northwest of Jerusalem. The two men walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus were discouraged ordinary people who followed Jesus, who had no reason to be discouraged. They had heard the reports of the woman and the disciples that the tomb was empty and that Jesus was alive, but they did not believe them. The risen Christ appeared directly to the ordinary people who followed him. The risen Christ revealed himself without any mediator. Even today he is walking with us.

The two disciples did not realize the risen Christ who appeared to them as their fellow traveler. They did not expect to meet the risen Christ on the road to their village. But the risen Christ chose to encounter them in most unexpected time and place. The real problem was not in their heads but in their hearts. What they need was a fresh understanding of the word of God and Jesus gave that understanding to them. Today we need a fresh understanding of the scripture and the risen Lord is giving it through different means. Are we able to listen ?

The risen Christ who was with them interprets the scriptures to them yet they could not realize the risen Christ. They were able to identify the risen Christ only when he took the bread blessed it and broke and gave it to them. Their eyes were open only when they found the connection between the earthly Jesus who gave his life for others and the risen Lord before them. The two men immediately left Emmaus and return to Jerusalem to tell the believers that they had met Jesus. The best evidence that we have understood the Bible and met the living Christ is that we have something exciting to share with others. What a difference it would make in our church services if everybody who gathered came to tell about meeting the living Christ. If our services are dead it is probably because we are not really walking with and listening to the living Christ.

Let's be sensitive to the risen Lord, who walks with us and talks with us and enlighten us in our faith journey.

Yours in His service,

Shajanachen
(Rev. Mathew P. George)