Greetings to you in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
I thank and praise God for the privilege to serve Him. I thank Him for watching over us all these years and helping us in growing both spiritually and in numbers. Praise the Lord for His continued blessings. Our regular worship services have been a great blessing to many. We are privileged to hear the word of God through our honorary Pastor and guest Preachers.
Apart from regular Sunday worship services, we had special services on Christmas, New Year Eve (Watch Night Service), Palm Sunday, Good Friday, Easter, Thanksgiving, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. On the scheduled Sundays, Sr. Honorary Pastor Rev. Dr. David Ravinder shared the God’s Word and spiritually encouraged us all through the year. We are also blessed to hear the Word of God through many of the guest preachers from India and around New Jersey. The guest preachers for the year 2016 included the following eminent servants of God: Dr. Paul Dhinakaran, Rev. Dr. A. B. Joseph Kishore, Rev. Dr. Joe Payarda, Rev. Dr. Jessie Payarda, Rev. Dr. Stephen Paul, Dr. Vijay Benedict, Rev. Joseph Theophilus, Rev. Stanley Joseph, Rev. Dr. David Mertz, Bro. Josiah Srigiri, Bro. Sunil Robert Vuppula, Bro. Pravin Charles Dhara, Rev. Raj Punuru, Rev. Bhanumurthy, Bro. Sunny Joseph, Pastor Deevanaiah, Bro. Bhogi Santha Rao, Rev. Varakumar Lam, Bishop Kishore Daroga, Rev. D. C. Daniel Babu, Rev. Dr. Samuel Mohanraj, Rev. DJM Vinod, Bro. Raj Prakash Paul and Rev. John Sunder Earla.
Our special meditation programs included the Cottage Prayer meetings during the 6 weeks of Lenten season. UECF participated in New Jersey, Virginia and Connecticut annual family conferences.
Missions/ Outreach Ministry:
UECF goal and purpose is to participate in the great commission given by our Lord Jesus in Mark 16:15 ‘Go ye into the all the world and preach the gospel to every creature’. UECF is supporting missionaries who are doing missionary service in spreading the Gospel of our Lord and savior JESUS CHRIST primarily in India where many people do not know Christ.
UECF supported Theological College Student Tuition support, Bro. Joseph Dawson, Lutheran Boarding Home, AEL Revival Outreach, Rev. G.C.R. Arun Rao, Bro. J. Prem Kumar, Blind & Prison Ministry(Followers of Christ Ministries), Partners India International, Love of Jesus Christ Ministries, Pileru, Physically and Mentally differently abled ministry, Save a Child ministry, Peace Proclamation Ministries, Poor Widows Ministry, Orphanage support, Naya Jeevan, Sunshine Village Outreach, HIV Ministry, Village Ministry, Inter Varsity Christian Fellowship, Egypt Outreach Ministry, Indian Mission support(Late Mr. Paul Rapaka), Orphanage in Hyderabad, Rev. Suresh’s ministry in Chennai as part of missions support. Thanks for your prayerful financial support.
UECF is humbly following the word in Acts 1:8, ‘Ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem and all Judea and in Samaria and unto the uttermost parts of the earth’. We thank and praise the Lord for all those who have participated in this ministry in different caliber for the glory of GOD.
Old Age Home Ministry: The nursing home ministry has become an integral part of UECF evangelism. Because of UECF Nursing Home evangelism, people who are touched by God through worship and by the Word of God got saved at CareOne Nursing home and now they are spending their eternity with the Lord. It’s good to see more and more UECF representation at the CareOne Nursing Home. We thank the Lord for all the families joining at CareOne Nursing home worship service on every third Saturday of the month at 10:30 AM. In glorifying our Lord Children are also participating in the worship service by singing special songs. We also thank all those speakers who are bringing the Word of God and also we thank all the Musicians and Singers who are participating in the worship service.
The highlights of the Nursing Home Ministry:
1. The residents of CareOne Nursing Home are tremendously blessed, in fact the residents request us to come again soon.
2. The CareOne Nursing Home staff were also blessed with our music, singing and the Word of God.
3. The Nursing Home Ministry has become a great encouragement and inspiration to UECF families participating in worship service.
In conclusion we are spreading the love and message of Jesus Christ in nursing home, providing support and encouragement to the inmates of CareOne by regular monthly visits by UECF.
Music Ministry: We thank and Praise the lord for UECF music Ministry which is a vital part of our Worship Service every Sunday. UECF music Ministry is based on four key factors.
1. Adoration of God's power and majesty. 2. We praise and worship the Lord in response to God's goodness towards us. 3. Our worship is an expression of our love towards God.
4. Our worship is all about Jesus.
Highlights of Music Ministry: 1. The music ministry of UECF has been a blessing to so many people around the world.
2. The music ministry is a blessing to so many people in USA also.
3. The UECF choir is highly appreciated by well known musicians as one of the top Telugu choirs in USA.
4. UECF music ministry has become a blessing to so many local people as well as the local Churches too.
Thanks to Mr. Samuel Sudhakar Chilaka for leading the Music ministry and praise the Lord for other musicians: Bro. Josiah Srigiri, Sis. Suneela Ponnapalli and Yuko Unehara, Singers, Sound Engineers and AV people who are committed to serve the Lord by exalting the Lord's Name.
Sunday School Ministry: We thank the Lord for UECF Sunday School Children for participating in all special occasions with their individual talents, Dramas and group dances and a successful VBS program. Thanks to Mrs. Emily Myla and the Sunday’s School staff for their efforts to nurture our children in Word of God.
Youth Ministry God has blessed us with a tremendous year of youth ministry. There were lot of apprehensions about the number of actively participating youth on a consistent basis. But on an average we had about 7-10 youth coming to our fellowship. One of the goals for our youth is to know and love Jesus more. To experience Jesus in our everyday lives and live out our faith in our everyday lives. This past year we started a series based on “Not a Fan Student Edition: What does it really mean to follow Jesus?” book by Kyle Idleman. Through this book God gave his grace to really challenge our youth to think about their personal faith in a more serious, more definitive dimension. We looked into some personalities from the Bible that Jesus called to be disciples (eg: Matthew) and also some who didn’t heed that call (eg: the rich young man). The cost of the discipleship - what does it mean in their school, family and church life. This new year we started an incentive laden bible reading challenge to foster consistent/daily reading and to follow up on their reading by encouraging the youth to journal after their quiet time. Lord willing we are also planning to go on a one day outreaches during the spring/early summer to give our youth a taste of short term missions. Thanks to Mr. Vivek Sandela for leading and Mr. Clarence Ponnapalli for helping youth as well.
Junior Bible Quiz(JBQ) Ministry: Our children and Youth continued to growing in the knowledge of God and develop their faith. Thanks to Mr. Sunil Robert & Mrs. Prafulla Vuppula for leading this ministry.
Married Couple’s Ministry: The Married Couple’s meeting usually held on the 4th Saturday of every month in various homes that are pre-decided. Couples discussed and debated on various topics that are very practical and tried to use the Bible as a guiding tool. Thanks to Rev. Dr. David Ravinder & Mrs. Sarita Ravinder for leading this ministry. Thanks to Mrs. Asha Chakravarthy for coordinating.
Bible Study: Rev.1:3, - "Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand".
It was indeed a blessing to all the believers to have studied the book of Revelation Chapters 8 to 14. Starting from events that commence from blowing of the first of seven trumpets to all the way to mid tribulation period a detailed study was done. These include the various plagues on earth similar to the ones that happened in Egypt at the time of Exodus and much more severe calamities that take place during tribulation. The 2 witnesses that witness to the whole world, Israel driven to wilderness for 1260 days during which time they realize who the real Messiah is. How the earth, millions of its inhabitants, the rivers are destroyed due to the wrath of God, the Lamb/Lord descends on mount Zion unleashing His wrath on Satan and his followers. God willing it is planned to study the remaining chapters in the following year and complete the study of the book of Revelation. Thanks to Bro. Josiah & Sis. Satya Srigiri for leading this ministry.
Christmas Carols: As we do every year, we participated in Carol rounds during the Christmas season. In the year 2016, we had visited 57 families as part of our carol rounds and received prayerful gifts.
Picnic: Last year, we had an Annual Family picnic at Roosevelt Park. Rev. Dr. David Ravinder shared the word of God during our picnic time. Many families have actively participated in various items of the picnic.
Fellowship Hour: Many of our members have volunteered to host Fellowship Coffee hour after each Sunday service while celebrating their Birthdays and Anniversaries. I thank all the congregation members for keeping the sanctuary and the fellowship hall clean and neat after the usage.
Women’s Prayer Fellowship: UECF Women’s Fellowship is dedicated to glorifying God by bringing women into a more intimate relationship with Jesus as Lord and Savior through the use of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, Prayer and praise, meditation, study of the scriptures and loving fellowship.
Monthly Prayer: Women’s monthly prayer is held on every fourth Friday of the month. In the year 2016, we have devoted more time to pray for the UECF church and our individual needs. Thanks to Mrs. Satya Srigiri, Mrs. Preethi Pilli for sharing the word of God in our monthly prayer. This prayer has been a blessing to each of us who attend. We share our prayer needs and encourage each other through word and prayer so that we grow as a believer, wife, mother and friend.
Women’s Christmas: We had a fun filled UECF Women’s Christmas 2016 at Mrs. Jyothi Nakka’s residence. Thanks to Mrs. Evelyn Dundi, Mrs. Beaula Koduri, Mrs. Emily Myla and Mrs. Rebecca Pagadala for sharing the word of God during Women’s Christmas and Mrs. Jyothi Nakka for hosting. The offering of $677.00 has been given to an orphanage "Cherish Foundation, Hyderabad" and an Old age home, Warangal.
Baby Showers: As a sign of celebrating God’s Blessing, UECF women have come together to joyfully celebrate the baby shower for Mrs. Sunitha Perumalla. Thanks to all the women.
Thanks to Mrs. Kavitha Shaik for leading and the UECF women for their fellowship, generosity, tireless cooking, and service to maintain the sanctuary and fellowship hall clean and for their love and faithfulness towards God and the UECF Church in every little thing they do.
Men’s Prayer Fellowship: Men's Prayer group meets every last Friday of the month at 8:00 PM in the church. This ministry is based on the Scripture: As Iron sharpens iron, so over man sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17. Men are involved in praying for UECF families and relatives for spiritual needs, financial needs and for God's protection over the children. We thank and praise the Lord for answering so many of our prayer requests. We thank all those who are participating in the Men's prayer group meeting with a grateful heart.
UECF.NET: The presence of UECF is known all over the world through this web site. Many visitors have attended our worship services and testified that they came to know about UECF through the website. Some such visitors started attending regularly.
Many guests have visited us and worshipped with us during regular Sunday worship and other Special services. Mr. Ruben Kambham as a Stewardship Coordinator has helped to reach out the visitors and Mr. Mr. Sunil Pagadala for preparing colorful flyers on all occasions, also thanks to Mr. Prabhakar Akula and Mr. Clarence Ponnapalli for auditing the UECF finances.
I am thankful to the Executive Committee Mr. Samuel Sudhakar Chilaka(Vice President), Mr. Anand Devi(Treasurer) and Mr. Joshua Shaik(Secretary) for providing their continual cooperation and support. I also thank the Board of Trustees and Pastorate Committee, Coordinators and all the members of UECF for their cooperation. I express my thanks to our Pastor Rev. Dr. David Ravinder for ministering to us. Thanks to Rev. Dr. David Mertz and FUMC Westfield leadership for welcoming and supporting UECF worship services.
I am extremely happy to inform you that the Lord has blessed UECF ministry with wonderful messages by Pastors and other eminent Servants of God, Praise and Worship, Offerings, Children activities and Bible Studies and Outreach and our Lord’s name was glorified.
In Him,
Joshua(Phani) Pilli 22- Jan- 2017