The Trinidad Presbyterian | September 2020 - Magazine - Page 1
The BOTE encourages us to explore
this message through four themes
during this month of September:
WEEK 1: “IN THE VALLEY: THE PREPARED
TABLE”
Prepared by: Rev Keron Khellawan
Scripture: Matthew 26:26-29
The first Sunday of September
sets the tone for the month by
looking at the Table Ministry that
God practices throughout salvation
history. This Table Ministry reminds
us that God prepares the table for
“me”, in a very personal manner.
However, this does not mean that
whatever we want to eat is at the
Table. We must submit to God and
embrace the special relationship
that God desires to build with us.
This is especially done through
the celebration of the Eucharist
(a Thanksgiving meal) for the
Sacrament of Holy Communion that
also shows that we must have a
relationship with others, as well as
God. When we consider that God’s
Table has more than enough room
for all, it is a call for us now to be
good stewards of that invitation
and extend it to others who may be
starving spiritually and physically.
WEEK 2: IN THE VALLEY: THE ANOINTING
OF PURPOSE
Prepared by: Candidate for
Ordained Ministry, Stefan Wilson
Scripture: 1st John 2:27,29
To anoint means to consecrate and
set apart something/someone,
usually with oil, for the work,
witness and glory of God. When the
Psalmist says, “He anoints my head
with oil”, it points to a powerful
truth that we, as God’s children,
have a specific purpose to fulfil.
God’s Spirit dwells in each of His
people, and this is what equips us
to endure the Valley. This Anointing
of Purpose also means that Christ
is our guiding light and compass
who will lead us through the Valley
of the Shadow of Death. We do not
have to give in the fear or despair,
but instead fix our eyes on Christ,
who has already conquered Death
and lives in victory.
WEEK 3: “IN THE VALLEY: THE GIFT OF
THE MIND”
Prepared by Student Minister,
Cynara Dube-Sookoo
Scripture: Psalm 77
Oftentimes, Christians are tempted
to practice a harmful type of
theology that encourages us to
dismiss pain and hardship, reject
doubt as blasphemy, and leave
no room for confusion. Psalm 77 is
a human universal reminder that
distress can happen to anyone
- even those who “all night long
lift my hands in prayer”. Although
life in the Valley may be bitter,
stewardship calls us to put our
minds to work and remember,
recall, think and meditate on who
God is and what God has done. By
doing so, we can be assured of the
wonderful promises of God who is
holy, mighty and a loving shepherd.
WEEK 4: THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION
SUNDAY - “IN THE VALLEY: OVERFLOW”
Prepared by Rev Adrian Sieunarine
(SATC Principal)
Scripture: Luke 6:45
This final Sunday of September
allows us to mark another
special day in the life of PCTT
with Theological Education
Sunday. It continues the theme
for Stewardship with a sense of
remembering the past, celebrating
the present and journeying into the
future. The key of the “Overflow”
in this context is selflessness. God
is the only one with the power to
truly transform hearts away from
the selfish individualism that has
deeply harmed our nation and
world in their attempts to contain
nCoViD-19, into selfless servant
leaders. These are leaders who
will walk along with others on
the journey towards a world of
enlightenment, love, justice, faith,
grace and encouragement. This
overflowing abundance of gifts is
given by God and then streams
out in varied directions across the
world.
In closing, Stewardship Month for
2020 truly is a departure from the
usual calls to sound management
of material and other gifts from
God. However, the heart of the
message remains the same: All
good things come from God.
Even when we are in the Valleys
of our lives, our response must
be gratitude because God’s
faithfulness cannot be denied. In
the Valley, the Table is Prepared in
full abundance. In the Valley, we
are anointed for a purpose. In the
Valley, our minds must stay honest
and alert. In the Valley, God’s
goodness overflows in each of us.
THE TRINIDAD PRESBYTERIAN | SEPTEMBER 2020 | www.pctt.org.tt
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