Dear brethren,

     Our Bible is the book of eternal life, so it is important that we have fixed times every day to study it. Here we would like to remind you that if we read every day one chapter of the New Testament and three from the Old Testament, we will finish reading the whole Bible in one year.

The books of the Old Testament are divided into four sections:

1)    The Pentateuch (Torah): the books of Genesis – Exodus – Leviticus – Numbers – Deuteronomy.

2)    The Historical Books: tell the story of the life of the Jewish people and teach us the dealings of God with man: Joshua – Judges – Ruth – first and second Samuel – first and second Kings – first and second Chronicles – Ezra – Nehemiah – Esther.

3)    Books of wisdom and poetry: teaching us the wisdom of life with God: Job – Psalms – Proverbs – Ecclesiastes – Song of Songs.

4)    Books of the Prophets: divided according to the size of the books into major prophets: Isaiah – Jeremiah – Ezekiel – Daniel, and minor Prophets: Hosea – Joel – Amos – Obadiah – Jonah – Micah … Etc..

Not to forget the Deuterocanonical books: Tobit – Judith – Wisdom of Solomon- Sirach – first and second Maccabees … etc., which we will talk about them in detail, God willing, at a later time.

Perhaps it is useful to note the similarities in this division with the New Testament:

1)    The Pentateuch (Torah)  à corresponds to the four Gospels in the New Testament.

2)    Historical Books à corresponds to the book of Acts.

3)    Books of wisdom or poetic à corresponds to the epistles in the New Testament.

4)    Books of prophets  à corresponds to Book of Revelation.

It is very important to read the Bible regularly and with perseverance, and to hold the words in our hearts and live according to His commandments, remembering the words of our Lord Jesus Christ: “blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” (Lk 11: 28).
For the church news, we would like to remind you that our annual banquet celebrating the feast of St. Mercurius will be on Sunday, November 21. Its income will be dedicated to complete the payments of the new house, bought by the church, and is called after the name of St. Mina and Pope Kyrollos.

Asking you to keep the church, its priests, servants and all services, in your prayers. May the blessing of St. Mary, St. Mercurius Abou Sefein and all the saints be with us all.

Fr. Youssef Halim & Fr. Luke Istafanous

Belleville, November 1, 2010

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