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Priest's Desk

From Vicar's Desk

MARTHOMA LIGHT

August 2023     Monthly Newsletter of Mar Thoma Church of Greater Seattle.

What are humans that you are mindful of them, mortalsthat you care for them?Yet you have made them a little lower than Godand crowned them with glory and honor - Psalm 8:4-5

VICAR’S MESSAGE

Dearly beloved in Christ, greetings to you all in the name of the Triune God,

The question of what constitutes a humanperson is not a novel inquiry; however, with the rapid advancements in artificial intelligence(AI)over recent years, it has gained renewed urgency and complexity. These technological developments have added new dimensions to the question, prompting us to reevaluate the very essence of what it means to be human.Bible clearly affirms that humans are the “image of God-(imago Dei)”For a long time, it is believed that humans, the image of God has the capacity and authority to have dominion over othercreatures. This interpretationled to the notion that humans have the authority to exploit nature and other creations. This interpretation has led to the notion that humans possess the authority to exploit nature and othercreations.Now humans created AI, the “image of humans-(imago hominis).”Willitexploit humans? Or can humans completely control AI? Time will tell and reveal the answers to these questions.

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But the more important thing atthis junctureis not about intelligence but about consciousness. Intelligence is the ability to solve problems. Consciousness is the ability to feel things, like pain and pleasure and love andhate. But computers or artificial intelligence, they don’t have consciousness. They just have intelligence. They solve problems in a completely different way tous.Let us be real humansin this world of AI.

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As we step into the month of August, we find ourselves in the heart of summer, surrounded by the beauty of God’s creation. Thissummer, letus take a moment to pause and express our gratitude for all the goodness in our lives. 


The warm sun, the gentle breeze, and the bountiful harvest are reminders ofGod’s providence. Let us remember to be thankful for the simple pleasures that enrich our daily lives.As always, our church doors are open to welcome you for worship, prayer, and fellowship. Join us each Sunday for uplifting services, where we can come together to praise and worship our Lord. Don’t hesitate to participate in our parish events and gatherings, which provide excellent opportunities to connect with one another on a deeper level.We are planning to conduct our Parish Retreat from 18-20of this month.Join us for a weekend of togetherness and spiritual growth, where families can bond,share, and strengthen their faith in the loving embrace of our parish community.Take a break from the hustle and bustle of daily life and immerse yourself in prayer, reflection, and devotion.Hope our retreat will provide the perfect opportunity to rejuvenate your spirit and deepen your connection with God.We are also planning to conduct a devotional music concert byKester, a famous devotional singer, on September 10. Let us uphold it in our prayers and creatively participate in it. As we progress through August and beyond, let us remember that every day is an opportunity to draw closer to God and to shine His light in the world. 
Wishing you all a blessed August.

Yours in his service.
Manu Achen

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Portland Area Information

Holy Communion Service

Saturday August 5th, at 9AM,

United Methodist Church Chapel located at 12755 NW Dogwood St, Portland, OR 97229

Seattle Area Information

Church Services

August 6th-Holy Communion service in Malayalamat 9.30AM. 
August 13th, 20th and 27th-Holy Communion service in English at 9.30AM.

Edavaka Mission

Saturday August 5th at 6PM.

Sevika Sangham

Sunday August 6th after Church Service.

North Area Prayer

TBD

South Area Prayer

Sunday, August 13that 6.00 pm at the residence of Johnson and Elizabeth Daniel

Youth Fellowship

Sunday August 27th after service.

Senior Fellowship

Sunday August 6th at 6PM.

Choir Practice

Senior Choir on Saturdays at 8.30pm online. 
Junior Choir Sundays at 3.30pm

Sunday School

Sunday school will resume on 10th Sep

YFF

TBD

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