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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)

May
24 (Saturday) - Youth Fellowships hosts a One-Day Youth Conference. 9:30 AM - 4 PM. See flyer here.
31 (Saturday) - Women's Fellowship Retreat

From the Presbyter - MAY 2008

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:

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

May 1^st is being celebrated as the World Labor Day. According to Church calendar, we remember Joseph the Carpenter on this day. It is indeed significant to commemorate the day of Joseph the carpenter as the Labor Day. This significance is that God chose a carpenter to participate in the salvation history. By genealogy Joseph belongs to the house of David. He belongs to Bethlehem and settled in Nazareth. Gospel pictures him as a righteous man. Therefore it is no wonder that God chose him as his vessel. Let us go through the scripture and see some of the qualities of Joseph.

1. He was a man of respect for God's plan.

Joseph frequently received guidance from Angels in his dreams. Following the instruction of the Angels he has agreed to accept Mary as his wife. As guided the Angels he took the baby to Egypt to protect the child from King Herod. An Angel of the Lord also appeared in a dream at Egypt, told him to go back to Israel with family. Joseph acted according to the divine plan revealed to him.

2. He was a man of piety and faithful observer of law

Jesus was God's Son, but as a Jewish family Joseph has to go through several religious ceremonies. 1. Circumcision- Every boy was circumcised and named on the eighth day after birth. (Leviticus 12, Luke 1:59) 2. Redemption of the first born- A first born son was presented to God one month after birth. (Exodus 13, Numbers 18, Luke 2:23) the ceremony included buying back- redeeming the child from God through an offering. 3. Purification- For 40 days after the birth of a son and 80 days after the birth of a daughter the mother was ceremonially unclean according to the law. At the end of her time of separation the parents were to bring animals for burnt offering and sin offering. The priest would sacrifice these animals and declare her to be clean. (Leviticus 12, Luke 2:22) Joseph observed the law of the Torah faithfully.

3. He was a just man to his wife and faithful and affectionate father to Son.    

Mathew 1:19 says “Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly.” He was kind, wise and compassionate. He has devoted his life to the righteous standard. Not only that Joseph trained his son in the trade of carpentry, made sure he had good spiritual training in Nazareth and took the whole family on the yearly trip to Jerusalem for the Passover which Jesus continued to observe during his adult years.

May God help us to follow the divine guidance, faithfully observe the Word of God and posses the fine qualities in family relationship.

Yours in His service,

Shajanachen
(Rev. Mathew P. George)