Thomas said to him, “My Lord and My God”. (St. John 20:28)
Issue No. 14 Vol. VI
February 2012
A Monthly publication for the St. Thomas Mar Thoma Church, Kuwait
Congratulations and best wishes on the occasion of National Day & Liberation Day
P.O. Box 25562 Safat 13116 Kuwait Tel : 2563 5253 (Res.) Mob : 6603 0775 St. Thomas Centre Tel: 2564 7060 E-mail: st.thomasmtcq8@gmail.com www.st-thomasmtckuwait.com
Rev. Thomas Koshy Panachamoottil Vicar fatherpanachi@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
From the Desk of Vicar Dearly beloved in Christ,
The Great Lent (Valia Nombu) of the Church is beginning on 19th February 2012.Being Christians; Season of Lent is a time of soul-searching and repentance for us. Lent originated in the very earliest days of the Church as a preparatory time for Easter, when the believers rededicated themselves and when converts were taught and prepared for baptism. By observing these forty days of Lent through fasting, Christians imitates Jesus’ withdrawal into the wilderness for forty days and forty nights. Though Jesus did not require that as much as we the humans require it, because He is a perfect God and perfect man but He observed these forty days and forty nights to prepare himself for his upcoming ministry. We also see many other biblical references in Old and New Testaments which teach us about the importance and effectiveness of fasting and praying in the lives of nation, church and people of God. During this season our basic purpose of observing it should be forgetting worldly desires and giving more and more time to prayer, worship and study of Word with self evaluation that Am I ready for the kingdom of God? Being a believer, am I fulfilling the purpose of my life? Am I obeying God by abiding by the way of Christ and His apostles? During lent season fasting and praying are the vital parts of its observance. As we see Acts: 13:3 and Acts 14:23 we learn the significance of prayer and fasting within the early Church and apostles lives. Therefore I would say that fasting and praying are the most powerful spiritual disciplines of all Christians’ lives. Through fasting and prayer, the Holy Spirit transforms our lives and guides us about becoming a good disciple of Christ. I believe that our observance of lent or fasting should be purposeful, because Christianity is not merely a regular practice of few disciplines of faith as we see in many other religions of the world. Every practice of Christian faith is meaningful and objective oriented. Today, we are all afraid of at least something; like natural calamities, loss of security, terrorism, loss of love, patience, care and concern among friends and families, especially in times of recession and war. Therefore I would suggest that lets observe the season of lent in true words and spirit because fasting and prayer can work on much grand scale than we sometimes think. According to Scripture, personal experience and observation, I am convinced that when God's people fast with a proper Biblical motive, seeking God's face and His hand, with a broken, repentant, and contrite spirit, He hears from heaven and heal our lives, our churches, our communities, our nation and world. Fasting and prayer can bring a revival in the direction of our nation, the nations of earth and the fulfillment of the Great Commission in our lives, our church and in the universal church. I urge all of you to please observe this Great Lent with a passion to see and adopt the life of Christ. Have a blessed Season of Lent. Yours in Christ, Panachamoottil Achen
Maramon Convention Maramon Convention is an annual convention of Mar Thoma Sabha held at the vast sandbed of river pampa beside Kozhencheri bridge at Maramon in Kerala. The convention is organized by Mar Thoma Evangelistic Association, the missionary wing of the Mar Thoma Church. Origin of this one week long annual convention has its trace back to the great revival movement that gathered momentum by the reformation in ancient Syrian church of Malabar under the pioneering leadership of Abraham Malpan Thirumeni. By 1877, there were two factions in Malankara church, known as bishop faction (Methran Kakshi) and patriarch faction (Bava Kakshi). Through a court verdict on 12 July 1889, the bishop faction had lost all its properties. However, just prior to this verdict on 5 September 1888, 12 members of the bishop faction had formed a missionary group called “Mar Thoma Evangelistic Association” and they the founding fathers of Maramon convention. The twelve founding fathers are ;- 1. Kottarathil Thomas Kasseessa, Chengannur 2. Edavamvelil Mathai, Eraviperoor. 3. Kottooreth Yohannan, Chengannur 4. Chempakasseril Kadavil Abraham, Kallissery 5. Chakkalayil Cherian Upadesi, Puthencavu 6. Chempakasseril Kadavil Mathew, Kallissery. 7. Azhakinal Thommi, Kallooppara 8.Nathaniel Upadesi, Chengannur 9. Kurichiath (Vattadiyil) Ittiyavara, Niranam 10. Arangat Philipose, Maramon 11. Ottaplammoottil Kunju Mathew, Kallissery & 12. Kochumannil Skariah, Edayaranmula. They had for the first time met at the Kadavil Malika house, belonged to Kadavil Abraham and Kadavil Mathew, a house built by their grandfather Unnithan Kathanar and father C. Abraham in early 19th century at Kallissery near Chengannur. This historic Kadavil Malika was reclaimed by the Marthoma church and was renovated in September 2005. By 1894, numerous small prayer groups were formed in ‘Methran Kakshi’ through the big revival and they held regular meetings at various parishes. As the number of people attending such meetings went on growing, a decision was made to conduct a common meeting of all the prayer groups. Responsibility to organize this common meeting was assigned to Mar Thoma Evangelistic Association, thus the first Maramon convention took place for 10 days between 8th and 17th March 1895, in the vast sand-bed of river Pampa close to Maramon church. Parishes in and around Maramon and Kozhencheri constructed a large thatched tent (panthal) to accommodate the ten thousand strong crowd. Main speaker of this convention was Mr. David and Wordsworth. Maramon convention is been conducted since then regularly as an annual convention and all who attends the convention can feel the spiritual enlightenment that inculcates self-discipline. Of course, the ardent and unbroken prayers that goes up during the convention is the force behind such spiritual inspiration. Maramon Convention invariably displays the co-operation and unity among various churches of Kerala and fosters an ecumenical outlook, providing a platform for intense spiritual growth and enlightenment for thousands of believers. Its St. Thomas Family’s prayer; that ‘May Lord God Almighty blesses Maramon Convention of 2012 beginning this week and May the convention be a blessing to thousands of believers.
Birthdays in FEBRUARY Date 1 1 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 5 5 5 5 5 6 6 6 6 7 7 8 8 8 8 9 9 9 10 10 10 13 13 14 15 16 16 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 18 18
Name SAMUEL KOSHY VILANILAM SISSILI JOHN PAZHOOR VARUGHESE ABRAHAM JEENA MARY SABU SHIBU OOMMEN VARGHESE JOSEPH MATHEW KOLLAMALA SWAPNA MANOJ NIKHIL JACOB KURIAN REEBA SUSAN THOMAS PRATHICK THOMAS MATHEW FEBY MANI MATHEW SANDRA ANDEL SUNIL MATHEW GEORGE ABRAHAM JESSY C BABY ABRAHAM T.C. JOHN MATHEW VARGHESE K.V. BINCY JAMES LOVELY CHACKO SANTHOSH MATHEW KAITHOTTA LITTY P.MATHEW PREETHA ABRAHAM (DR.) SHAJI GEORGE BEN GEORGE RINI V. CHANDY LALIAMMA THOMAS ELIZABETH JOSEPH MARY THOMAS AARON VARGHESE MATHEWS MERLEY ELIZABETH (DR) SERAH MOLLY SHIBU ZACHARIAH MATHEW KOMATTU (DR.) ALIN T. JACOB BIJU VARGHESE JOHIN MATHEW CELIN ROY MANOJ P. KOSHY (DR.) BINU VARGHESE JOHN (DR.) SUSAN ABRAHAM IRINE SARAH PAUL DANIEL K. GEORGE JOSHIN DANIEL GEORGY REJI VEEMBUKATTU THOMAS SHEJIN JOHN MATHEW SHERIN ANN RAJU AJAY PHILIP MATHEW SATISH MATHEW KAITHOTTA ANWIN JAMES KOTTARAM EAPPEN P. MATHEW NICK MATHEW CHERIYAN MANOJ MATHEW
Prayer Group
Telephone
Mobile
EMMAUS KADESH MIZPAH EDEN ARARAT EMMAUS EMMAUS MAHANAIM MIZPAH CANAAN MAHANAIM MIZPAH CANAAN ARARAT EMMAUS MAHANAIM EDEN ARARAT MAHANAIM CANAAN GEEHON EMMAUS EDEN MIZPAH ARARAT ARARAT ARARAT EDEN GEEHON OLIVET ARARAT OLIVET EDEN MIZPAH OLIVET EPHRATH OLIVET OLIVET CANAAN MIZPAH GEEHON EDEN MAHANAIM MAHANAIM CANAAN MIZPAH CANAAN ARARAT EPHRATH ARARAT EMMAUS
23727907 25613051 25612559 99735194 24311746 25657821 25652861 25610029 67785016 25660857 66194291
99468239 99740830 66277363 66174259 66644803 99601604 99844364 99531965 66257383 99398297 94445645 66605358 99450411 99289624 99807632 66049592 99808234
25639462 24335361 25758782 94403845 99450894 25611739 25619359 65970401 25660975 25732895 24330423 25611281 25626196 25617784 24311746 25629532 25632914 25617268 99762431 25662310 25617784 25641749 25616347 25621374 25641355 94403845 25640337 25659153 25667847 99450894 24341003 25652861
99845904 99578545 66533284 99691730 66897629 94063349 99381691 94453095 99590819 99835773 65078450 66644803 99107822 66490385 55742722 99426691 97742620 66236469 65078450 66575826 66732206 94495370 97211981 66717905 66049592 55041085 97227413 97220734 90076484 97551132 99844364
Birthdays in FEBRUARY Date 19 19 20 20 20 20 20 21 21 22 22 22 22 23 24 24 25 27 28
Name BIJU P. ABRAHAM DEEPU MOHAN MEECHAL MERCY RINU JAMES NATHANIEL ELAINE MARY BINU NATHAN JOHN JIBI JOHN GEORGE P. ROY JOHN JIMMY CHERIAN VARGHESE TIJU NINAN DAVID JOHNS LESSLY THOMAS ABRAHAM ABRAHAM P. VEDA ELIZABETH ZACHARIAH SHERLY VARUGHESE BENEETA ANN JACOB KITTY VARGHESE ALISHBA TANYA JOHN TIMOTHY THOMAS GEORGE TARUN KOSHY MATHEW
Prayer Group
Telephone
Mobile
OLIVET ARARAT KADESH ARARAT MAHANAIM MIZPAH MIZPAH KADESH EPHRAIM MIZPAH EDEN EDEN OLIVET MAHANAIM MAHANAIM MAHANAIM KADESH CANAAN MIZPAH
25630169
99223165 99583014 99076494 99308151 66180986 99826875 99463476 99740830 99967590 66751937 65915720 97434147 99107822 67094578 94060957 99562405 99740830 97934381 97810618
25652342 24315306 25658460 25743908 25637568 25613051
25632914 25647805 25629532 25653582 25630261 25613051 25623273 25611453
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"
NEW MEMBERS
Member Number-429
Member Number - 0430
Member Number-0431
Prayer Group: Mizpah Sehion, Venmony Contact No – 55742722
Prayer Group: Mizpah Trinity - Kottanadu Contact No - 97176482
Prayer Group: Canaan Salem Marthoma, Vazhuthacadu Contact No - 96639002
BIJU VARGHESE
SANOJ K.MATHEW
SIJO JOHN THOPPIL
Member Number-0432
Member Number-0433
Prayer Group: Mahanaim Ebenezer, Punnamoodu Contact No - 97488017
Prayer Group: Canaan Jerusalem, Kottayam Contact No - 99425816
Madathilparampil Varghese John
P.K. Cherian
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His Highness Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas has concented to be the Chief Guest of the Pravasi Sangamam 2012. He is the PATRIARCH OF ANTIOCH AND ALL THE EAST Supreme Head of the Universal Syrian Orthodox Church, based in Damascus Syria. H.H. is the 122nd successor to St. Peter in the Apostolic See of Antioch. He is one of the very few primates of the Syrian Church who have been in the Patriarchal office for three decades. It is a glorious moment for all of us syrian Christians, who are the descendents of St. Thomas since AD 52, to get him as our chief guest.
St. Thomas Fest 2012 We have scheduled to conduct our 4th harvest festival - ‘ST Thomas Fest 2012’. Harvest festival is a thanksgiving celebration for the blessings that brought successes in our lives. It reminds us of all the good things God gives us which in turn triggers the realization to share our success with others who are less privileged. We will be celebrating the day with songs, prayers and a broad variety of cultural events to rejoice in Gods’ love. The event is also utilized as a platform to support social uplift programs for the needy people; such as medical aids, housing, and marriage, rehabilitation of orphaned children without any religious or caste distinctions. The harvest festival is planned as a day of arts, cultural and sports activities on 3rd of Feb 2012 at the Indian school junior at Salmiya. The day promises exciting and outstanding display of cultural and games activities in a spiritual environment for all visitors. An added attraction of this year’s festival is the live singing by ‘Asianet Star Singer’ fame Immanuel Henry, supported by local artists Neelima (Asianet star singer), Roni Cherian, Poornima and Shyju together with a local orchestra team. Raffle draw will be conducted for 51 fabulous prizes and an I-pad 2 will be given away as a bumper prize. The ‘American auction’ for I-phone 4S is projected to be a closely contested affair to gain ownership of the latest apple I-phone model with I-cloud feature. The fest 12 day’s evening session is planned with a variety of Arabic and Indian style varities of food in a ‘thattukada’ environment.
Wedding Anniversaries in FEBRUARY
We wish the following couples a Happy Wedding Anniversary. Please attend and partake in the thanksgiving prayer during the Holy Communion Service. Date
Name
2
JOHN ALEXANDER & SHERLY JOHN
3
RAJU GEORGE & JIJI RAJU
Prayer Grp.
Tel. Res.
MAHANAIM
25610139
CANAAN
Mobile 66249240 65884620
5
RAJU PHILIP & LEELAMMA PHILIP
MIZPAH
25640337
99598570
5
BENNY THOMAS & JIJI BENNY
KADESH
25659310
99671087
5
VARGHESE K.V. & LOUSEY VARGHESE
EDEN
99808234
6
MATHEW THOMAS & LEENA MATHEW
EPHRAIM
97913429 65831508
7
SHIBU PHILIP & JINI ANN ISSAC
OLIVET
8
SHIROJ JOSEPH & RETTY THOMAS
SHEKAM
8
ROY THOMAS & MERCY E. VARGHESE
KADESH
25649143
8
MATHEW M. M. & SHEENA MATHEW
MAHANAIM
25650429
8
SIMON ABRAHAM & SAUMINI SIMON
EDEN
97236694 99506276 99893110 66890925
10
MANOJ MATHEW M. & SUNITHA MANOJ M.
CANAAN
10
DENNY KOSHY & SONIA MOHAN GEORGE
SHEKAM
10
DEEPU THOMAS PHILIP & SMITHA P. THOMAS
EMMAUS
25643019
99596858
16
RAJAN V. JOHN & ELCY RAJAN
CANAAN
25656855
99406860
25629174
65581644
16
JOY THOMAS & JENU JOY THOMAS
17
ABRAHAM T.M. & SOSAMMA ABRAHAM
19
PHILIP MATHEW & LAILA PHILIP
19
VINU OOMMEN JACOB & CELIN ROY
25646726
EDEN MAHANAIM
99816826 66691680
66014866
MIZPAH
25630152
66400194
EPHRATH
99762431
97742620
21
HAROLD S. WARTIKA & ANITA JOSE (DR.)
GEEHON
25359283
66893031
22
SHAJI THOMAS & JESSY SHAJI
EPHRAIM
24319387
97904217
23
STEPHEN JOHN M. & ALIAMMA JOHN
MIZPAH
25616795
66782239
23
MATHEW ABRAHAM K. & MARIAMMA MATHEW
GEEHON
25344763
66409359
EPHRATH
24753854
66893288
OLIVET
25629532
99107822
24
ABRAHAM T. MATHEW & LEENA ABRAHAM
27
ZACHARIAH MATHEW KOMATTU (DR.) & RENY THOMAS ABRAHAM
27
JACOB GEORGE & SUNITHA K. BABY
GEEHON
99276267
REGULAR PROGRAMS AT ST.THOMAS CENTRE Sunday School
Every Friday at 2.30 PM
Junior Choir
Every Thursday at 6.00 to 7.30 PM
Senior Choir
Every Thursday at 7.30 to 9.30 PM
Yuvajana Sakhyam
Every 1st Friday at Centre after the Worship service And 3rd Sunday at Abbasiya
Sevika Sanghom
All Saturdays at 5.00 PM
Edavaka Mission
All Saturdays at 7.30 PM
Condolence We, The St. Thomas family express our deepest condolence to Mr. Mathew K. Abraham & family Mem # 0061; at the sad demise of his mother Mrs. Graceyamma Abraham (77) Grace home, Uthimoodu, Pathanamthitta. May The Peace that passeth all understanding abide with the bereaved.
7 TUE
3 FRI
DATE
7.30 AM
7.30 PM
7.30 AM
TIME
STC, SALMIYA
STC, SALMIYA
HOP, NECK, Kuwait City
STC, SALMIYA
VENUE “JESUS THE HEALER” MEDICAL MISSION SUNDAY
THEME
PROGRAMME Worship Service HOLY COMMUNION
2 CORI 12 : 7- 10
EPISTLE
ST.MARK 14: 32-42
ST.MARK 5 : 25-34
GOSPEL
JOSHUA 22: 5-17
2 KING 2 : 19-22
FIRST LESSON
JOSHUA 6: 12-20
REV 22 : 1-7
SECOND LESSON
PRAYERGROUP/ ORGANISATION
WILL BE ASSIGNED
ARARAT
SUNDAY SCHOOL
JOSHUA 22: 5-17
REV 22 : 1-7
JOSHUA 6: 12-20
MAHANAIM
WILL BE ASSIGNED
KADESH
ENGLISH HOLY COMMUNION
ST.MARK 14: 32-42
2 KING 2 : 19-22
ROMA 12 : 1-15
EDAVAKA MISSION ROMA 13:11-14
ST.MARK 5 : 25-34
JOB 1 : 1-5
FASTING PRAYER
ROMA 13: 11-14
WORSHIP SCHEDULE FOR THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY 2012
10 FRI 9.00 AM
HOLY COMMUNION
2 CORI 12 : 7-10
JOHN 2 : 1-11
ARISE LET US GO FORWARD
10 FRI
HOLY COMMUNION
2 CORI 5 : 16-21
HOP, NECK, Kuwait City
HOLY COMMUNION
JAMES 2:1-10
14 TUE 07:30 PM PETHURTHA: BIGINNING 17 FRI 7.30 AM STC, SALMIYA OF GREAT LENT ”LENT FORMATION AND 21 TUE 07:30 PM HOP, NECK, Kuwait City TRANSFORMATION OF LIFE”
2 KING 5:1-16
MIZPAH
WILL BE ASSIGNED ST.LUKE 5:12-16
HOP, NECK, Kuwait City
STC, SALMIYA
ACTS 5:12-26
7:30 AM
HOLY COMMUNION
24 FRI
THE COMPASSION OF OUR LORD
28 TUE 7.30 PM
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 .
Sponsership For ST. THOMAS MESSENGER We request individuals /organizations/prayer groups to sponsor our monthly bulletin “Messenger” every month. You could even share the special occasions in your family with St.Thomas family by sponsoring an issue of “messenger”. Your kind cooperation in this matter is solicited. For Further details, please contact the office –bearers in advance.
Vice President
John Alexander
99086449 / 25627036
Secretary
John Varghese (Reji)
97867814 / 25663520
Trustee
Christy Thomas
97100853 / 22623051
Trustee Accounts
Vijoy Alexander
97835292 / 25650273
Lay Ministrant
Mathew P Alexander
66284427 / 25624177
Lay Ministrant
Abraham Stephen
ST.THOMAS OFFICE BEARERS 2011-2012
66249240 / 25610139