Great Lent or Valiya Noyambu

Transcription

1 Thomas said to him, My Lord and My God. (St. John 20:28) Issue No. 3 Vol. VIII March 2014 A Monthly publication for the St. Thomas Mar Thoma Church, Kuwait Great Lent or Valiya Noyambu Feasts and fasts are the part of the tradition of all religious communities. In the Christian Churches of Antiochian tradition, including Mar Thoma Church, the Great Lent consists of 40 days ending with 40th Friday, with an extension of 10 more days inclusive of Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter. It spreads to 7 weeks with a total of 50 days. Lent is a season observed by our church as a time set apart for fasting and prayer and also a time of introspection. Observing silence is a great help during these days to have transcendence of mind. In the life of the community of the faithful, lent provides a time for spiritual discipline regularly. It is the practice of a life of denial, taking up the cross and following Jesus Christ. Here we recognize that permissiveness is not the principle of life. Freedom in life is a restricted and responsible freedom. Lent is based on the spiritual practice of fasting and prayer-both in the Old Testament and in the New Testament. Jesus began His public ministry with forty days of fasting and communion with God (Matt. 4:2, Mk 1:13, Lk 4:2). Here the mind is not kept idle but will be very active in communion with God. Fasting and prayer remain as an undeniable character of the Church from the early days (Acts 13:2, 14:23). We wait upon the Lord in fellowship for renewal and strength. Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing you have made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen P.O. Box Safat Kuwait Tel : (Res.) Mob : St. Thomas Centre Tel: st.thomasmtcq8@gmail.com 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

2 Message from Vicar Dearly Beloved in Christ, Greetings to all of you, in the precious name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! We have entered another Lenten season of our Church. Lent is a time to renew our commitment to God in order to arrive at Easter in a new and stronger state. It is a time marked by studying the word of God, prayer, fasting and sacrificial giving. In this consumerist society, fasting may have little importance. Our Lord Jesus gives instruction on fasting in the Sermon on the Mount, that And when you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by men (Mat.6:16). Jesus did not say if you fast, but when you fast ; it shows that Christ-followers must fast and pray. Fasting does not simply mean abstaining from food like meat, chocolates etc. It refers to voluntary and temporary denial of food for spiritual purposes. What value and meaning has it as oneself being deprived of food, which is useful for our bodily sustenance? And why must a Christian practice it? 1. Fasting moves us to look inward into things that control oneself We are not aware of how much our appetites control and enslave us. Paul tells the Corinthians that appetite should not have mastery over oneself; All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be enslaved by anything (1Cor. 6:12). Various appetites like certain foods, internet, face-book, television etc must not control us. Fasting may enable us to control our worldly appetites, and discipline our way of life. 2. Fasting moves us to look upward towards intimacy with God Though food is one of the basic needs of a person, human life does not depend only on food, but also on God who is the giver of life. Jesus said, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God (Mat.4:4). We may forget God when we are satisfied with our requirements. Moses warned Israelites about this, Take heed lest you forget the LORD your God Lest, when you have eaten and are full, and have built goodly houses and live in them, then your heart be lifted up, and you forget the LORD your God. (Duet.8:11-14). David sings in Psalm 35:13, But I, when they were sick--i wore sackcloth, I afflicted myself with fasting. I prayed with head bowed on my bosom. Fasting helps us to humble ourselves before the Lord for His grace and mercy. 3. Fasting moves us to look outward to minister others Our fasting should be linked to our concern for the less fortunate, to those whose poverty forces them to starve. Giving alms helps maintain the true spirit of the fast as a means of self sacrifice rather then self gratification. Prophet Isaiah points out, Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? (58:6f). May God bless you all to attend continuously the Sandhya Namaskaram arranged at the centre and the residence of our members. Let this season help us to grow more in Christ Jesus. Yours in Christ s Love, Sunil Achen Vicar

3 St. Thomas Fest 2014

4 Date Name Birthdays in march Member No pet name Prayer Group Telephone Mobile 1 REV. SUNIL JOY CANAAN JINCY MERIN ISSAC JINCY CANAAN TINU ANNA THOMAS TINU OLIVET SANJAI MATHEW SANJAI MAHANAIM SIVIN SOJI SIVIN OLIVET SHIRLY JERRIN SHIRLY EPHRATH BRYAN PHILIP THOMAS BRYAN EMMAUS ALEENA MARY BINOY EDEN TUSHAR ABRAHAM JOSHI TUSHAR KADESH ELMA JOHN ELMA CANAAN MANU ANN VARGHESE MANU OLIVET JIJAN SAM THOMAS (DR.) JIJAN KADESH JAMES THOMAS BEJO OLIVET SHINU P. THOMAS SHINU CANAAN FAITH MARIA ASHISH AMMU CANAAN LINU CHACKO THOMAS LINU EPHRAIM SINU JOHN SINU ARARAT JEMY GEORGE AMMU MIZPAH RENJINI SUNIL PHILIP RENJINI MAHANAIM SUSY VARGHESE THOMAS SUSY EMMAUS SAJI THOMAS SAJI EMMAUS ANKITA ANN BINU ANNA GETHSEMANE RENJI VARGHESE RENJI OLIVET JASMINE SATISH JASMINE OLIVET RUBEN GEORGE THOMAS RUBEN MAHANAIM TOBBY MATHEW VARUGHESE TOBBY CANAAN AARON ROY AARON EMMAUS RENU CHRISTY RENU EDEN ABRAHAM PHILIP ABY EDEN ABEL MATHEW ALEX ABEL EPHRATH PHILIP VARGHESE (DR.) PHIJU MIZPAH ROSHAN P. JACOB ROSHAN EMMAUS FENE MARY ABRAHAM FENE EMMAUS JEEVAN VARGHESE JOHN JEEVAN OLIVET SUNNY THOMAS SUNNY MAHANAIM MINI CHERIAN MINI KADESH REJI IDICULLA PHILIP REJI KADESH SHERLY P.Y SHERLY EDEN JEE ANNIE MATHEW JEE MIZPAH SARAH ROSE SONY SARAH GETHSEMANE ROY VARGHESE ROY EMMAUS NIDHIN K. RAJ NIDHIN MIZPAH ALKA SUZA KURIAN ALKA GETHSEMANE JOSEPH BEN JACOB BEN GETHSEMANE SUBIN THOMAS (DR.) SUBIN OLIVET GEORGE MATHEW SABU MIZPAH VARGHESE I. CHEERAN IVYS ARARAT ALIAMMA JOHN MOLLY MIZPAH

5 Date Name Birthdays in march Member No pet name Prayer Group Telephone Mobile 14 JACOB JOHN GEE MIZPAH SHOBA ANNIE MATHEW SHOBA KADESH NEENA ANN VARGHESE NEENA KADESH JOHN SAM GEORGE JOE OLIVET SONIA MOHAN GEORGE SONIA EPHRAIM GIJI SAJIMON GIJI EDEN JOHN MATHEW ALEXANDER JOHN GIHON MATHEW M.M ANIYAN MAHANAIM ROSHITA MARIAM GEORGE RICHU ARARAT SIMON GEORGE (DR.) MANOJ EPHRAIM SOSAMMA THOMAS BIJI GETHSEMANE DEENA GEOL DEENA KADESH AMY MARIIE ALAN AMY CANAAN JAGAN JOHN THOMAS JAGAN OLIVET BRITO MATHEW VARGHESE BRITO GIHON DAVE MATHEW ZACHARIAH DAVE CANAAN CHACKO DANIEL RAJU EDEN NOEL SHAJI PHILIP NOEL OLIVET PREETHI VARGHESE PREETHI GIHON TOBIA JOEL ALEXANDER TOBIA MAHANAIM GREESHMA ELIZABETH GEORGE GREESHMA CANAAN AKHIL KURIAN AKHIL GETHSEMANE REJITA MARY JOSEPH REJITA EPHRAIM MARY MATHEW ABRAHAM MARY OLIVET ALAN ALEX VINOD ALAN MAHANAIM JIBI JOHN KIDANGIL JIBI MIZPAH LIZAMMA ALEX KOCHUMOL EPHRAIM SUBY MATHEW THOMAS SUBY CANAAN THOMAS GEORGE THOMASKUTTY MIZPAH MERCY JACOB KOCHUMOL OLIVET SHAWN VARGHESE BLESSON SHAWN MAHANAIM JOMOLE SUSAN GEORGE JOMOLE GENERAL AREA ABRAHAM ISSAC ABRAHAM ISSAC OLIVET MARIAMMA VARGHESE KUNJUNJAMMA GENERAL AREA NOBLE TOM JOSEPH NOBLE GIHON MONSY MATHEW (DR.) MONSY GETHSEMANE JUSTIN RAJ JUSTIN MIZPAH SHARON ELIZABETH MATHEW SHARON KADESH SHAJI THOMAS SHAJI GETHSEMANE MATHAI ALEXANDER RAJU MAHANAIM NIKHILA MARIAM THOMAS NIKHILA EMMAUS GRACY THOMAS GRACY EPHRATH NIDHIN JACOB GEORGE NIDHIN MIZPAH BENITA SARA MATHEW BENITA OLIVET VALLIYA THAZHEL SAJAN SAJAN KADESH MANOJ K. VARGHESE MANOJ ARARAT JOSHUA STEPHEN MULLASSERY JOSHUA MIZPAH

6 St. Thomas Fest 2014 Prize Distribution St. Thomas Fest winners (1st & 2nd) receiving the prizes from Rev. Sunil Joy Farewell Farewell meeting for Rev. Chacko Thomas, Vicar, St. Peter's Mar Thoma Church, Kuwait on 28th Feb VBS 2014 This year's VBS for our children will be conducted from 20th March to 28th March 2014 at the St.Thomas Center. Timings : 5:30 to 9:00 pm daily. Theme : Treasures in Clay (Isaiah 64:8 ) Leader : Evg. Pradeep David from Mission Center, Mumbai. For any information, contact Mr. Anish George / Ms. Molcy Abraham or Varghese Oommen PARISH DAY 2014 The 7 th Parish Day of St. Thomas Mar Thoma Parish will be held at St. Thomas Centre on April 11 th, 2014 immediately after the Holy Communion Service. Our Diocesan Bishop Rt. Rev. Dr. Abraham Mar Paulos will be the Chief Guest. Other dignitaries from NECK and Vicars from sister parishes will also be attending the function. We invite the presence and participation of all St. Thomas family members. We thank God Almighty for the blessings He has showered upon our parish and also for keeping us under His care. Sandhya Namaskaram Schedule 2014 Saturday to Thursday - Except Tuesdays, Time: 7:30PM, Venue : St. Thomas Centre/Cottages Note: During VBS (20th - 28th March 2014), Sandhya Namaskaram will be arranged in the residence of parish members.

7 Birthdays in march 28 STEVEN VERGHESE GIGI STEVE OLIVET NANCY KURIAN NANCY ARARAT JOE JOHN JOE EDEN SANDRA ANN THOMAS SANDRA CANAAN ROBY JOHN GEORGE ROBY KADESH THOMAS K. MATHEW THOMAS EMMAUS ALEYAMMA ISSAC PONNAMMA CANAAN RONA VARGHESE RAJU P RON CANAAN SAVITHA MATHEW SANGEETHA EPHRATH ABRAHAM VARUGHESE REJI EPHRAIM JONATHAN ABRAHAM PAZHOOR JONATHAN MIZPAH ELIZABETH SOMINI ABRAHAM SOMINI GETHSEMANE KEZIA ANN JACOB KEZIA OLIVET ALLEN JACOB MATHEW ALLEN MIZPAH SAM CHERIYAN KOCHUMON MIZPAH LIJI VARUGHESE SONNY MIZPAH BEELA MATHEW BEELA MAHANAIM P.K. CHERIAN CHERIAN GETHSEMANE 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" Wedding Anniversaries in march Date Name M. No. Prayer Grp. Tel. Res. Mobile 2 DEEPU MOHAN & SUSHA ZACHARIA ARARAT BOBAN VARGHESE K. & SUJA BOBAN CANAAN LALU BABY & RINI V. CHANDY ARARAT JOSEPH OORIYATHARA P. & CHRISTY MARY JOSEPH MAHANAIM DAVID GEORGE & LALY GEORGE MAHANAIM CHACKO THOMAS & RAHALAMMA THOMAS EDEN THOMAS CHACKO & REENA THOMAS EPHRAIM SHIBU CHERIAN & SOMY SHIBU CHERIAN KADESH SINU JOHN & SHIJI GEORGE ARARAT JOHN MATHEW & MERCY PHILIP ARARAT SANTHOSH JOHN VARGHESE & TIJI ANS ABRAHAM EMMAUS We wish all these couples a Happy Wedding Anniversary. Please attend and partake in the thanksgiving prayer during the Holy Communion Service. REGULAR PROGRAMS AT ST.THOMAS CENTRE Sunday School Every Friday 2.30 to 4.30 pm Yuvajana Sakhyam Every 1st and 3rd Friday after the Worship service Junior Choir Every Thursday at 6.00 to 7.30 PM Sevika Sanghom All Saturdays at 5.00 PM Senior Choir Every Thursday at 7.30 to 9.30 PM Edavaka Mission All Saturdays at 7.00 PM

8 WORSHIP SCHEDULE FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH 2014 DATE TIME VENUE THEME PROGRAMME EPISTLE GOSPEL 4 TUE 7.30 PM STC, SALMIYA Pethrutha - Beginning of Great Lent - Transformnation of Creation Romans 11:13-24 St. John 2:1-11 FIRST LESSON Isaiah 44:21-28 SECOND LESSON 1 Timothy 1:12-17 PRAYER GROUP/ ORGANIZATION EMMAUS 7 FRI 7.30 AM STC, SALMIYA Cleansing Christ ( 2nd Sunday in Lent) Ephesians 2:1-10 St. Mark 1:40-45 Zechariah 13:1-9 11TUE 7.30 PM HOP, NECK, Kuwait City OLIVET 1 John 1:5-10 KADESH 14 FRI 7.30 AM STC, SALMIYA Forgiving Christ ( 3rd Sunday in Lent) Romans 5:6-11 St. Mark 2:1-12 Genesis 4:8-16 Acts 16:11-18 GETHSEMANE 18 TUE 7.30 PM HOP, NECK, Kuwait City MIZPAH 21 FRI 7.30 AM STC, SALMIYA Accepting Christ ( 4th Sunday in Lent) Galatians 6:1-5 St. Matthew 15:21-28 Hosea 2:14-23 Philemon 1-21 ARARATH AM FASTING PRAYER EDAVAKA MISSION 25 TUE 7.30 PM HOP, NECK, Kuwait City IN ENGLISH Galatians 6:1-5 St. Matthew 15:21-28 Hosea 2:14-23 Philemon 1-21 SUNDAY SCHOOL & JUNIOR CHOIR 28 FRI 7.30 AM STC, SALMIYA Redeeming Christ ( 5th Sunday in Lent) Galatians 5:1-12 St.Luke 13:10-17 Exodus 3:1-10 Romans 8:31-39 MAHANAIM 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. Vice President Alexander Vaidyan P. K / pkalexandervaidyan@gmail.com Secretary Jiji Mathew George / jiji.raji@gmail.com ST. THOMAS OFFICE BEARERS Trustee - Finance Thomas P. Abraham / thomaskwt@gmail.com Trustee - Accounts Binu John Zachariah / binujohnz@yahoo.com Lay Ministrant Lukose Raju / lukoseradisson@gmail.com Lay Ministrant Mathew Varghese / manojannivilla@yahoo.com Note : Any changes in worship venue or time will be informed through .