Malankara World Journal Abstracts

Christmas (Yeldho) Special - 2014

Volume 4 No. 254 December 24, 2014

Nativity ICON - (Antiochian Orthodox) Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is seen wrapped in swaddling clothes (Luke 2:7,12). This not only represents his total submission to the human flesh, but also foreshadows His death and resurrection. He is lying on the altar which symbolizes He is the bread of life. The manger represents His crib, His Church, and His tomb - all in one. Note the similarity of the box (manger) to that of a casket used for burial. The wrapping of the clothes resemble the covering of a dead body in Middle East. The symbolism is very powerful here. Jesus came to the earth to die for us. He was very well aware of his ministry at the time of His incarnation. He died for us so that we can inherit the eternal life as His children. I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any man eat this bread, he shall live forever, and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. - John 6:51

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Malankara World Wishes You a MERRY CHRISTMAS and A HAPPY NEW YEAR

I. This Week in Church

1. Bible Readings for Christmas (December 25)

Bible Readings For Yeldo / Incarnation of our Lord (Christmas) (December 25)

http://www.Malankaraworld.com/Library/Lectionary/Lec_Christmas.htm

2. Bible Readings for This Sunday (December 28)

Bible Readings For First Sunday after Yeldo (Christmas)

http://www.Malankaraworld.com/Library/Lectionary/Lec_1st_sunday_after-christmas.htm

3. Sermons for Christmas (December 25)

Sermons For Yeldo / Incarnation of our Lord (Christmas) (December 25)

http://www.Malankaraworld.com/Library/Sermons/Sermon-of-the-week_christmas.htm

4. Sermons for This Sunday (December 28)

Sermons For First Sunday after Yeldo (Christmas)

http://www.Malankaraworld.com/Library/Sermons/Sermon-of-the-week_1st-sunday-after-christmas.htm

5. Malankara World Advent and Christmas Supplements

To learn more about the spiritual significance of Christmas and Advent Season Malankara World has created special supplements so you can read all about them in depth. Click below to visit:

Malankara World Christmas Supplement
http://www.MalankaraWorld.com/Library/Seasonal/Christmas/Default.htm

Malankara World Advent Supplement
http://www.MalankaraWorld.com/Library/Seasonal/advent/Default.htm

We also invite you to read the Malankara World Journal Specials on Christmas in 2013 and 2012. You can read them from our archives here:

Malankara World Journal Christmas Special - Issue 185 - December 23, 2013
http://www.MalankaraWorld.com/Newsletter/MWJ_184.htm

Malankara World Journal Christmas Special - Issue 115 - December 23, 2012
http://www.MalankaraWorld.com/Newsletter/MWJ_115.htm

II. This Week's Features

6. Inspiration for Today: Jesus, our Emmanuel

7. The Greatest Event in Human History

Jesus came to earth that we might go to heaven. Jesus was born of a virgin that we might be born again. When you celebrate this Christmas season, may it be with an increased love for a Father who sent His only begotten Son - and a Savior, the Second Person of the Trinity, who laid aside His royal robes and stepped onto earth to become "obedient unto death - even the death of the cross." No wonder we say that is human history's greatest event. ...

8. Orthodox Prayer: The One Who Was Born of The Virgin

Eniyono (Emo d’Kitho/Kanyakayam) - From the Christmas Liturgy of Syriac Orthodox Church

9. The Nativity: 'Where Does God Fit In?'

In the incarnation, God says to each of us, "You are worth so much to me that in Jesus Christ I came to identify with you in all of life's sorrows and struggles. I came to live with you, to save you from your sins so that I could have a personal relationship with you. If you will let me be born into your life, everything will be different - everything will change." ...

10. All I want for Christmas

All He wants for Christmas is you.
You and I and others like us were the motivating reason for Christmas in the first place.

"But when the fulness of time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, that He might redeem those who were under the Law…"
(Galatians 4:4).
"…that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life"
(John 3:16). ...

11. What Christmas Is About

Christ came to this earth. God came near to you so you can come near to Him - to give your life purpose and meaning, to forgive you of your sins, and to give you the hope of heaven beyond the grave. Christmas is not about tinsel or shopping or presents. Christmas is not about the gifts under the tree. Rather, Christmas is about the gift that was given on the tree when Christ died there for our sins and gave us the gift of eternal life. ...

12. Good News of Great Joy

God sends Jesus, the Messiah, out of a sense of delight and pleasure with his creation. The Messiah coming as one of us, Immanuel, God with us, is the greatest good news we could ever hope to receive. Jesus says in John's gospel, "For God so loved the world that he gave his only, begotten son; that whosoever believes in him will not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). ...

13. Greed vs. Joyful Giving

God is much more interested in our motive for giving than in the gift itself. If that motive is tainted with greed of any kind, the gift simply does not count. This year, before you give, ask yourself, "What's in it for me?" If the answer is "nothing," then go ahead and give the gift. Be a joyful giver. A wonderful story illustrates this. ...

14. Four Things You Can Do When Christmas Is Not Merry

For some individuals, the holiday season feels anything but merry and it's hard to pretend. You've lost a loved one and this season does not feel the same without him or her. ...

15. Recipe: Tom Kha Chicken Soup- Thai Recipe for Cold and Flu

The flu season is upon us and the latest flu vaccine, reportedly is not very effective in the strain of the flu that is expected this season, according to CDC. So, we are on the lookout for traditional remedies. Chicken soup is the grandma's recipe for Cold and Flu. This modified chicken soup that incorporates several spices, known to help in flu and cold, is worth trying. It is delicious, too!

16. About Malankara World

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http://www.MalankaraWorld.com/Newsletter/MWJ_254.htm

and the archives at:

http://www.MalankaraWorld.com/Newsletter/Default.htm

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