Thomas said to him, “My Lord and My God”. (St. John 20:28)
Issue No. 8 Vol. VIII
August 2014
A Monthly publication for the St. Thomas Mar Thoma Church, Kuwait
Jesus Our Liberator
Independence Day
AUGUST 15
India wrested its independence from Britain in 1947 after a long freedom struggle led largely by the Indian National Congress and its visionary leaders, especially Mahatma Gandhi. From 1920 the freedom movement leaders began a highly popular mass campaign against the British rule using peaceful methods. India’s independence resulted in the formation of two countries – India and Pakistan. On 15th August 1947, our first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru raised the Indian National Flag at the Red Fort in Delhi. Commemorating this, each Independence Day, our Prime Minister raise National Flag at Red Fort and gives a speech to the Nation. Let us remember the great leaders who struggled for the freedom of the country and join hands to work together for a better nation. P.O. Box 25562 Safat 13116 Kuwait Tel : 25635253 (Res.) Mob : 6603 0775 St. Thomas Centre Tel: 2564 7060 E-mail: st.thomasmtcq8@gmail.com www.st-thomasmtckuwait.com
St. Paul wrote in Galatians: 5:13, "For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another".God's calling frees us from wrong spiritual concepts. Galatians: 4:3-7 says: "Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world. But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, 'Abba, Father!' Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ." A Christian is called away from superstition, error, bondage, deception, guilt, depravity, ignorance and a destructive life, from being a captive of Satan and facing eternal death. He is called to liberty in Christ, receiving forgiveness of sins through His shed blood, now knowing freedom from guilt, an awareness of the truth of God and, as a free gift, the hope of eternal life.
Rev. Sunil Joy Vicar
revsuniljoy@gmail.com (For Private Circulation only)
Parsonage Location Salmiya, Street 10, Bldg No. 20 1st Floor, Flat No. 14 Al-Dhahok Bin Qays Street Opp. Bestow Super Market
Message from Vicar Dearly Beloved in Christ, Greetings in the precious name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
I am happy to write to you all once again through the St. Thomas Messenger. “Tryst with Destiny” was a speech made by Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of independent India, to the Indian Constituent Assembly in The Parliament, on the eve of India’s Independence, towards midnight on 14 August 1947; “Long years ago, we made a tryst with destiny and now the time comes when we shall redeem our pledge... At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom….” Now we are at the threshold of the 67th Independence Day of our nation. Freedom is not to sit back and relax, and not dependent on any one, but tells that we are dependent, independent and interdependent. God observed, “It is not good for man to be alone,” which reminds we are independent human living in interdependence. “The ambition of the greatest man of our generation has been to wipe every tear from every eye. That may be beyond us, but as long as there are tears and suffering, so long our work will not be over.” We might have heard of people boarding the trains on those days after Independence Day without tickets. They thought that India was free and they could do anything as they wanted. What does it mean by freedom? “Freedom means knowing right and wrong, having the ability to distinguish between them, and then deliberately, with full responsibility and in consciousness, choosing to do the right thing, only the right thing.” In Christian point of view freedom from sin is understood in relation to Jesus’s death on the cross. God in His love sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to come to earth and willingly die in the place of sinful humans like us to take away all our sins, rebellions and wrongdoings. Therefore, all who entrust their complete life to Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of their sins will be saved from their bondage to sin, and given eternal life in Him. Rabindranath Tagore wrote about true freedom in Gitanjali;
Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high; Where knowledge is free; Where the world has not been broken up into fragments by domestic walls; Where words come out from the depth of truth; Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection; Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way into the dreary desert sand of dead habit; Where the mind is led forward by thee into ever-widening thought and action-Into that heaven of freedom, my father, let my country awake.
The Almighty God may help us all to own up the meaning and substance of freedom with courage and responsibility. Wishing you all A Happy Independence Day, With Blessings and Prayers, Sunil Joy Achen Vicar
Kuwait Centre Mar Thoma Joint Fellowship Counseling and Guidance Center The Kuwait Centre Mar Thoma Joint Fellowship has decided to commence a Counseling and Guidance Center for the Kuwait community. Providing counseling services for the needy, guidance for youngsters & parents and palliative support for the sick & weak are the main objectives of this Guidance Center. Services of a qualified and experienced counselor, periodical seminars and get-togethers of children and parents of different ages, a dedicated team to meet and support sick and weak in the community, etc. are to be achieved through this Center, on a continuous basis. All these activities will be under the guidance and leadership of Vicars of our Parishes in Kuwait together with the sincere support from Parish members. The programs planned for this year are, • Youngsters Meet • Premarital Guidance Classes • Couples Fellowship • Parents meet • Palliative Care Unit. Prayerful support from all Parishioners is requested to make these plans successful. Let us join hands prayerfully and work together to make our mission a more meaningful one. Rev. V.S. Skariah 66590491(Chairman) Mr. Mathews Koshy 66511065 (Co-ordinator) Mr. Abu Sam Thundathil 66280185 (Co-ordinator) Note: To start with, we will have a program for Youngsters on the 8th, 15th and 22nd of this month. The title of this meet is “Springtide 2014” and the theme is “Life in 3D”. Details of this event and registration forms are available in all Parishes for distribution.
Birthdays in august Date 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 3 3 4 4 4 4 4 4 5 5 5 5 5 6 7 8 9 9 11 11 11 12 12 12 13 13 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 15 15 15 15 16 16 16 17 17
Name JOSHUA ABRAHAM JACOB ALEENA RACHEL TIJU ALEXANDER VAIDYAN P. K. ALICE KURIAN (DR.) EMILY ANN RENGIT DEEPU THOMAS PHILIP EVELYN SARA SUNLEY SUSAN JOHN MATHEW TIA ANILA SARI SANJAY JACOB CHACKO MATHEW PARAPPATTU KEVIN VARUGHESE T. MARIAMMA OOMMEN REBEKAH ELIZABETH SUNIL SHINU ABRAHAM VARGHESE MATHEW ABRAHAM ANU ALICE ANDREWS THOMAS VARGHESE K. RACHEL ALEXANDER PRIYA SAIRA ABRAHAM DANIEL JOSEPH NOBLE SUNLEY P. VARGHESE CHERIYAN T. CHERIYAN SARAH PHILIP SHEENA ELIZABETH MATHEW ANDREA ANN ABRAHAM ALEN VARUGHESE ABRAHAM KRISTEF VARKEY CHACKO RAHALAMMA THOMAS JERIN ANIL SANDRA ELIZA MATHEW (DR.) ANOOP K. ALEX SUJA MATHEW SHARON NISHANTH THOMAS SHARON C. MATHEW CARMEL C. MATHEW JESSY KOSHY GEOL ABRAHAM RIYA MEERA KURIAN JIJIN CHERIAN JOSE HANNAH SHAJI JOSEPH ALVIN ROY JOHN NISSY SARA GEORGE EZEKIYA AUSTIN MATHEWS ABRAHAM MATHEW JOBY GEORGE CHERIAN SAMSON MANOJ SHERIN VARGHESE ALAN K. EBY
Member No 04164 03253 00601 01532 04523 03133 01773 00242 02463 03771 02003 00483 01912 00814 04181 00281 00402 03741 00602 04502 04423 01771 02931 00192 01792 01913 01914 03504 00222 00904 00094 02911 04601 00265 01313 01314 03004 02031 03025 04533 01414 01114 00894 04835 01543 03763 00593 01154 01873
pet name
Prayer Group
JOSHUA ALEENA THAMPICHEN AJI EMILY DEEPU EVELYN JENNY TIA RAJAN BEN KEVIN LENI REBEKAH SHINU SHIBU ANU JERRY MOLLY PRIYA DANIEL SUNLEY CHERIYAN SARAH SHEENA AMMU APPU KRISTEF MOLLY JERIN SANDRA ANOOP SUJA SHARON SHARON CARMEL JESSY GEOL RIYA JIJIN HANNAH IAN NISSY EZEKIYA AVARACHEN JOBY SAMSON SHERIN ALAN
KADESH MIZPAH EPHRAIM GETHSEMANE MAHANAIM EMMAUS ARARAT EMMAUS MIZPAH EPHRAIM OLIVET EMMAUS EPHRAIM MAHANAIM KADESH OLIVET OLIVET OLIVET EPHRAIM EMMAUS GEEHON ARARAT MAHANAIM EDEN KADESH EPHRAIM EPHRAIM EPHRAIM EDEN EDEN GEEHON EPHRATH EMMAUS EMMAUS EPHRATH EPHRATH EPHRATH KADESH GEEHON MAHANAIM EDEN KADESH MIZPAH ARARAT GEEHON EPHRAIM MIZPAH KADESH GENERAL
Telephone
Mobile
25617209
99228448 66751937 97205846 99468253 65526339 99596858 99105702 66711102 67766034 97216460 97839101 99112919 66295483 66197107 66657380 99550996 66396367 55861204 97205846 65608221 6605176 99105702 66403712 99796536 99291895 66295483 66295483 99331738 99727126 99682433 9973069 99436077
24318176 25663820 55667602 25643019 24318939 25642194 23727529 24337438 25661536 25619683 25349052 25615203 25646983 25616048 24318176 65100023 24318939 25648202 25629665 25613750
24745215 25644965 25625837 22657126 5081489 25610213 24314590 24314590 24342128 25621963 66921883 25612248 25613051 25659639 24336752 25341972 24316910 25612452 25650623 25639980
9979543 66760075 66760075 97201070 66588150 66224297 94063161 99740830 66552969 9766398 66935777 99662437 66599269 66391082 99985373
Birthdays in august Date 17 18 18 18 19 19 19 19 20 20 20 20 20 21 22 22 22 23 23 23 24 24 24 24 25 25 25 25 25 25 26 26 27 27 28 29 29 30 30 31 31 31 31 31 31
Name KESIA ANN JAMES JOVIN MATHEW GEORGE MATHEW. K VINEETHA MARIAM CHERIAN ELIZABETH ZACHARIAH SEBINA THOMAS ANGELA SUSAN ALEX JOSHUA SHOBIN MATHEWS SHIBU CHERIAN SHAJU K. ABRAHAM JOHN MATHEW NANCY WILSON SUBY M VARGHESE GIBI SKARIA ANISH KURIAN GEORGE VILAS VARGHESE ALLAN VINCE VARGHESE JAIRO NANTHIYATTU SAM JERAMI NANTHIYATTU SAM MATHEW P. JACOB BEN GEORGE THOMAS SILY MARY MATHEWS ASHISH SONY THOMAS RYAN THOMAS MATHEW SAM GEORGE KRIS JAMES ABEL ZACHARIAH TINKU ABHILASH A. ABRAHAM LEELAMMA PHILIP LINY THOMAS MANU ABRAHAM C. JOHN SUSAN KOSHY REEVES THOMAS GEORGE SIBU THOMAS ANI ISNARENI SATEMAN ANIESH ALEX VARGHESE ANSLY SUSAN REJI RIA KRISTINE GEOL LINCY SOSA VARGHESE BLESSON DANIEL PHILIP MATHEW C. M. SANTHOSH JOHN VARUGHESE RAJU PHILIP JOSEPH ABRAHAM EAPEN SHINY NISHA
Member No 03353 00804 03151 04682 02802 01733 01333 01613 00411 03631 00241 04112 04162 03901 00965 03341 04113 03574 03573 02901 03333 04012 04463 04683 00211 03354 03984 01641 00182 04592 01751 03672 00665 00834 02462 00783 01144 02033 01132 00113 00371 04141 00181 04991 03652
pet name KUKKU JOVIN ROY VINEETHA VEENA SEBI ANGELA JOSHUA SHIBU SHAJU SUNNY NANCY SUBY GIBI ANI VILAS ALLAN JAIRO JERAMI RONEI BEN SILY ASHISH RYAN SAM APPU ABEL ABHILASH LEELAMMA LINY KOCHU JYOTHI SACHU SIBU ANI ANIESH ANSLY RIA LINCY BLESSON MOHAN SANTHOSH RAJU JOSEPH SHINY
Prayer Group ARARAT OLIVET EPHRAIM CANAAN KADESH EDEN EPHRATH GENERAL KADESH ARARAT EMMAUS OLIVET KADESH KADESH EDEN GEEHON OLIVET EPHRATH EPHRATH GETHSEMANE ARARAT EPHRATH GETHSEMANE CANAAN OLIVET ARARAT CANAAN OLIVET MIZPAH KADESH KADESH ARARAT ARARAT EMMAUS SHEKAM MIZPAH ARARAT KADESH GEEHON GETHSEMANE EPHRAIM EMMAUS MIZPAH KADESH EPHRATH
Telephone
Mobile
24315306 25617268 24316340 5071810 25668263 66761362 24330564 25638289 25649403
97287546 99426691 97100727
25642194 25617209 25659514
24348036 24348036 25627036 24330423 25650610 5071810 25616048 24315306 25648067 25640337 6042493 25643756 24335198 24335198 25629186 23727529 97214239 24344521 25621963 25652543 25638325 24885372 25640337 99992546 24334581
Thanks to God Almighty for his mercy that kept you safe and sound during the past year. Praying to Lord God to shower his Blessings, on each of you, all through the year ahead.
“Happy Birthday"
66543990 99138548 67096465 65010514 99891450 99281665 66711102 55108344 99228448 55150583 66512291 99899379 55108344 97104307 97104307 97692934 99381691 90076484 97677536 66290253 97287546 66421904 99416554 99598570 66224249 66735828 66044008 60631272 67766034 9795210 97219433 66588150 97910385 66035539 99438263 94465675 99598570 99420168
Medical Staff Retreat
LAY TRAINING PROGRAM
Lay Training Program will be held this month at St. Thomas Centre under the able guidance of Rev. K. A. Varghese, Rev. C. V. Symon, Rev. V. S. Skariah, Rev. Sam T. Koshy, Rev. Santhosh Philip and Rev. Sunil Joy. Date will be announced.
Medical Staff Retreat 2014 was held on Friday 11th July 2014 after the Service at St Thomas Center. After the opening speech by the Parish Vicar, Dr. Abraham Kurian, Dr. Susan Mathews, Ms. Shebymol Raju, Mrs. Moly Chacko and Mrs. Usha Abraham shared their experiences. In the group discussion, it was decided to seek possibilities to initiate the following services:• Medical seminar Hypertension
on
Diabetics
and
• Classes on dental care for Sunday school children
CONGRATULATIONS
Our member Mr. Laloo Thomas is nominated to the Mar Thoma Sabha Prathinidhi Manadalam by our Metropolitan, His Grace the Most Rev. Dr. Joseph Mar Thoma.
• Medical Camp – During Harvest Festival • Medical Sunday • Palliative care • Medical Counseling 20 members who are in the medical field attended the retreat and it was a memorable event for all. Dr. Renjith George served as convener.
NEW MEMBER
DELHI DIOCESAN ASSEMBLY
Sharon Maria Sunny
Annual assembly meeting of our Diocese will be held at Mar Thoma Centre, Delhi on 2nd August, 2014.
Prayer Group - Mizpah
Mem. No. - 501
REGULAR PROGRAMS AT ST.THOMAS CENTRE Sunday School
Summer Vacation
Yuvajana Sakhyam
Every 1st and 3rd Friday after the Worship service
Junior Choir
Summer Vacation
Sevika Sanghom
Summer Vacation
Senior Choir
Every Thursday at 7.30 to 9.30 PM
Edavaka Mission
All Sundays at 7.30 PM
Wedding Anniversaries in august Date 1 3 3 4 4 4 8 9 9 10 13 14 14 16 16 17 17 17 19 19 19 20 21 21 22 23 24 24 24 24 26 26 28 29
Name KOSHY K. CHERIAN & SUNI K. KOSHY SIMMY VARGHESE & SOJI JOHN JACOB P. JABBU KOSHY & RACHEL JACOB SUNLEY P. VARGHESE & JULIE ELSA JACOB BYJU P. MATHEWS & LENA MARIUM THOMAS MANOJ K. VARGHESE & RAKHEE ELIZABETH MATHEW VARGHESE I. CHEERAN & LEENA VARGHESE JOBY C. GEORGE & BINCILY K. IDICULLA THOMAS MATHEW & SHEEJA SUSAN THOMAS CHACKO PHILIP & SHEENA KOSHY MATHEW VARGHESE & GIGI OOMMEN FEBY MANI MATHEW & CISAL GEO JOSE PALATHINKAL JOY & BEENA ANNIES JOSE THOMAS C. GEORGE & LALIAMMA THOMAS SUNIL C. JOSE & ANCEY ANIYAN SHAJU K. ABRAHAM & ANPU ANN ZACHARIAH MALLIKA GANESH JOMOLE SUSAN GEORGE SHIBU PHILIP MATHAI & NEETHA MARIAM ABRAHAM CHERIYAN T. CHERIYAN & SUNITHA ANNIE CHERIAN RENJIT GEORGE (DR.) & JOLLY RENJIT (DR.) RAJAN DANIEL. N. & SUSY RAJAN BINU THOMAS KUREEKKATTIL & BIJINU K. BINU GEORGE CHERIAN K. & SUJA GEORGE CHERIAN MADATHILPARAMPIL VARGHESE JOHN & MARIYAMMA JOHN DANY V. JACOB & NINI ELSA MATHEW MATHEWS KOSHY & SICY MATHEW CHERIAN MATHEW & GRACE CHERIAN JOSE V. MATHEW & SHEILA SUSAN JOSE VIJI VARGHESE & JILSA V. VARGHESE SATISH MATHEW KAITHOTTA & JASMINE SATISH SAM MATHEWS & MOLLY SAM JOJU JOSE & TEENA SARA JOHN MATHEW JOHN & SHERLY MATHEW
Prayer Grp. MAHANAIM OLIVET MAHANAIM ARARAT OLIVET EPHRAIM ARARAT ARARAT CANAAN ARARAT KADESH MAHANAIM MAHANAIM ARARAT KADESH ARARAT EDEN GENERAL EDEN MAHANAIM MAHANAIM CANAAN MAHANAIM EPHRAIM GETHSEMANE OLIVET CANAAN MAHANAIM CANAAN CANAAN OLIVET EMMAUS ARARAT EPHRAIM
Tel. Res.
Mobile
25629583
97942893 97242359 99056031 99105702 97839101 97153151 97765456 99802172 99398297 97213522 66232678 94445645 66921883 99381691 99228639 99281665
25623596 24318939 25661536 24346703
25660857 24348934 25659976 66194291 24330423
25621374 25636526 25648202 55667602 25629747 25658460 24316910 55479452 25641766 25629583
25667847 24338529
99568783 99615724 66403712 65526339 99068514 66180986 99662437 97488017 99381676 66511065 66087509 66481465 97541288 97220734 99280938 66660764 66808735
We wish all these couples a Happy Wedding Anniversary.
Please attend and partake in the thanksgiving prayer during the Holy Communion Service. “Come unto Me, all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” - Matthew 11:28
CONDOLENCES ON THE SAD DEMISES OF:
Mr. A. S. John (84), Delhi, father of Mrs. Mercy Saju, wife of Saju Pappachan, Membership No. # 86, Eden Prayer Group, Tel: 25650391, 99421457. Mrs. Thankamma Mathew (83), Mepurathu Niravil House, Kuriannoor, mother of George Mathew (Moni). Membership No. # 140, Emmaus Prayer Group, Tel: 97615189. Mrs. Rachel Abraham (95), Kuzhimattathil House, Pulikkayam, Kodencherry, mother of Sally George, wife of Mathew George Abraham (Santosh). Membership No. # 44, Gethsamene P. G., Tel: 25639462/ 99450411. Grandmother of Vince Varghese, Mem. No. 411, Olivet P. G, Tel: 25646703/ 55108344 St. Thomas Parish expresses our heart-felt condolence to the bereaved family members on the sad demise of his beloved ones. May the Lord strengthen and comfort them.
St.Luke 4:16-22
GOSPEL
Gen 2:18-25
Isa 55:1-5
FIRST LESSON
Heb 13:1-6
Acts 10:34-43
SECOND LESSON
EPISTLE Eph 3:1-13
St.Mat. 19:3-6
PROGRAMME HOLY COMMUNION Eph 5:21-32
The Sacrament of Holy Qurbana
Reformation Sunday-Worshipping Community Which has to be reformed by the Word of God
Celebration of the Sacrament of marriage
HOLY COMMUNION
HOLY COMMUNION
HOLY COMMUNION
HOLY COMMUNION
1Pet 2:1-10
1Cor 10:15-17
1Pet 1:13-25
Eph 5:21-32
St.Mat 5:13-16
St.Mark 14:12-26
St.Mat 7:21-27
St.Mat 19:3-6
Dan 1:1-21
Gen 14:17-24
2 Kings 23:1-6
Gen 2:18-25
Acts 10:9-16
1 Cor 11:23-34
Rev 1:1-9
Heb 13:1-6
THEME Gospel:Good news to all HOLY COMMUNION
Christian Witness in a multi faith society
Fasting Prayer
Celebration of the Sacrament of marriage
OLIVET
EMMAUS
EDEN
CANAAN
KADESH
EPHRATH &EPHRAIM
EDAVAKA MISSION
MIZPAH
GETHSEMANE
GEEHON
PRAYER GROUP/ ORGANIZATION
WORSHIP SCHEDULE FOR THE MONTH OF august 2014 VENUE STC, SALMIYA
TIME 7.30 AM HOP, NECK, Kuwait City
DATE 1 FRI 7.30 PM 7.30 AM 10.00 AM
STC, SALMIYA
HOP, NECK, Kuwait City
STC, SALMIYA
HOP, NECK, Kuwait City
STC, SALMIYA
HOP, NECK, Kuwait City
STC, SALMIYA
5 TUE
8 FRI
7.30 AM
12 TUE 7.30 PM 15 FRI
7.30 AM
19 TUE 7.30 PM 22 FRI
7.30 AM
26 TUE 7.30 PM 29 FRI
Prayer Groups shall identify and assign appropriate personnel as two Laymen to assist in Church services, two Lesson Readers and four Children to collect offertory, during Worship services and Holy Communion services for both St.Thomas center & Hall of Peace. Please co-ordinate with Lay Readers .
Sponsorship for St. THOMAS MESSENGER We request individuals / organizations / prayer groups to sponsor our monthly bulletin “St. Thomas Messenger” every month. You could even share the special occasions in your family with St.Thomas family by sponsoring an issue of “St. Thomas Messenger”. Your kind co-operation in this matter is solicited. For further details, please contact the office bearers in advance. Abraham Varghese (Prasad) Secretary
25659153 / 97227413 matsmanoj@gmail.com
Mathew John Trustee - Accounts
97214239 / 97952102 alexander7214239@gmail.com
Kunjappan Alexander Lay Ministrant
25661536 / 97839101 byjuparappattu@gmail.com
Byju P. Mathews Lay Ministrant
ST. THOMAS OFFICE BEARERS 2014-2015 Dr. Abraham Kurian Vice President
25652846 / 97592351 25641766 / 66511065 abrahampanamthottathil@gmail.com mathek54@yahoo.com
Mathews Koshy Trustee - Finance
25663820 / 99468253 amie_kurian@yahoo.com
Note : Any changes in worship venue or time will be informed through e-mail.