SAINT THOMAS THE APOSTLE

Transcription

1 Thomas said to him, My Lord and My God. (St. John 20:28) Issue No. 7 Vol. VI July 2012 A Monthly publication for the St. Thomas Mar Thoma Church, Kuwait SAINT THOMAS THE APOSTLE Born in Galilee, Thomas the Apostle, also called Didymus (meaning Twin ) and Doubting Thomas, was one of the Twelve Apostles. He was believed to have been the only Apostle who traveled outside of the Roman Empire to preach the Gospel. He is also believed to have crossed the largest area, which includes the Persian Empire and India. Thomas appears in the Gospel of John soon after Lazarus dies (Jn.11:16). He also speaks at the Last Supper (Jn.14:5), and is best known doubting the Resurrection of Jesus (Jn. 20:24-29) in the upper room, but then comes to believe after seeing Jesus alive, declaring Jesus, My Lord and my God. When the feast of Saint Thomas was inserted in the Roman calendar in the 9th century, it was assigned to 21 December, although the Martyrology of St. Jerome had a mention of the Apostle on 3rd July, the date to which the Roman celebration was transferred in 1969, so that it would no longer interfere with the major ferial days of Advent. 3rd July was the day on which his relics were translated from Mylapore, a place along the coast of the Marina Beach, Chennai to the city of Edessa in Mesopotamia. Branches of St. Thomas Christians July 3 - St. Thomas Day P.O. Box Safat Kuwait Tel : (Res.) Mob : St. Thomas Centre Tel: st.thomasmtcq8@gmail.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

2 From the Desk of Vicar Dearly Beloved in Christ, Our Sabha is observing July 03rd as St. Thomas Day. The Mar Thoma Church holds the apostolic tradition of St. Thomas. The word apostle means one who is sent. The term Church came from the word ecclesia which means a called out community for a mission. The risen Christ gave great commission to his disciples to make others his disciples (Matthew 28:19, 20). After receiving this commission, St. Thomas, the apostle of Jesus came to India in 52 A.D. and preached the gospel thus started the Malankara church. This is the common belief that we have. This church came in relationship with foreign churches; and received their faith practices. Through reformation in 19th century under the leadership of Abraham Malpan became a missionary church. The reformation was a process of going back to the apostolic tradition and apostolic mission. We are reformed church and reforming church. Preaching the gospel became main goal of the church. In 1888, Marthoma Evangelistic Association started to evangelize India. For this purpose the Marmon convention started, mission fields and Ashrams were formed at different parts of India. Many people were converted to Christian faith. At the same time the members of the Mar Thoma church in Kerala migrated to other states of India and other countries and they started parishes. Thus the Mar Thoma church became a global church. The great vision of our church is that we are Lighted to Lighten the world. The motto of our church is that every Marthomite is a missionary. St. Thomas day reminds us about the call and mission of our church. St. Thomas is the one who gave his life for the gospel. As we hold the tradition of St. Thomas, let us accept Jesus as our Lord and God as Thomas proclaimed. Let us hold up the faith and vision of St. Thomas. We have set apart 1st July as Tithing Sunday. We should make our tithe offering on that day. We have the noble tradition of setting apart one tenth of our income and using it for evangelistic work. All the earning members of our church should set apart a tenth of their income for evangelistic work. Time, money, ability, intellect - all these are gifts from God. We must accept them with gratitude and use them for the good of others as God desires. We should give a part of our tithe for the gospel activities of our Church. The rest may be used for the growth of the parish and thereby for the growth of the Kingdom of God. This day challenges us to fulfill our role in the work for the Kingdom of God and for the good of others using the gifts God gives us. Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in my house, and thus put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts; see if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing. Malachi 3:10. May God Bless us and strengthen us to participate in the mission of Jesus that we are entrusted to do. Yours in Christ Panachamoottil Achen

3 Our Sevikasangham won the Trophy for the Bible Quiz Competition organized by Kuwait Centre Sevikasangham. Hearty Congratulations. World Environmental Day Painting Exhibition organized by our Yuvajana Sakhyam New Prayer Group Representatives Gethsemane Prayer Group Mobile Residence Vice President Santhosh Mathew Kaithotta Secretary Elizabeth Jessy Mathew Committee Members Joshi Abraham Binu John Zachariah Shekam Prayer Group (Mangaf - Fintas Area) Vice President Secretary Committee Member Kunjachen John M. Ebey Abraham Ebey Abraham Mahanaim Prayer Group Committee Members Biju George Thomas Binu Thomas Kureekkattil Emmaus Prayer Group Secretary Sheeba Roy Committee Members John George Geevarghese Thomas

4 Date Name Birthdays in july Member No pet name Prayer Group Telephone Mobile 1 LALOO THOMAS LALOO GETHSEMANE SHERLY GEORGY SHERLY EDEN ALEX M. GEORGE BIJU CANAAN JACOB JOSEPH VELLOOR BIJU GETHSEMANE KEZIA RACHEL GEORGY KEZIA EPHRATH ABEY P. THOMAS ABEY ARARAT SAMGEO PHILIP SAMGEO EMMAUS VARUGHESE MATHEW BABU EDEN JOMOL ABRAHAM JOMOL MIZPAH NINI ELSA MATHEW NINI OLIVET JACOB C. KOSHY JACOB EDEN SEEMA RAJESH VARKEY SEEMA EDEN LENI ELIZABETH MAMMEN LENI ARARAT JIJI IDICULLA JOHN JIJI KADESH BETH JOSEPH KOLLAMALA ISHA EMMAUS AARON MATHEW MATHAI AARON MAHANAIM STEFFY MERIN SUNIL STEFFY MIZPAH NANMA MARIAM MATHEWS AMMU KADESH ANNE THOMAS ANN CANAAN SUNIL PHILIP SUNIL MAHANAIM ALEYAMMA ISAAC SUJA EPHRATH ANGEL MARIAM SUNNY ACHUS MAHANAIM CHACKO PHILIP MANU ARARAT MARIYAMMA SAM KUNJUMOL OLIVET DANIEL THOMAS KOLETH DANY EDEN RON PHILIP IDICULLA RON EMMAUS VARGHESE PHILIP NIKHIL SHEKAM ISSAC JACOB JOY CANAAN BIJU THOMAS BIJU MAHANAIM BLESSEN BOBAN VARGHESE BINU CANAAN ANNI SHYLA PHILIP ANNI KADESH CIBY SHIBU VARGHESE CIBY ARARAT PRAKASH JOHN MATHEW PRAKASH OLIVET REVITHA THANKOM GEORGE ACHU ARARAT SMITHA THOMAS SMITHA MAHANAIM JERRIN VARUGHESE JERRIN EPHRATH ANN MARY SAJI MUTHU EDEN RIYA GEORGE MATHEW RIYA EPHRAIM MELVIN VARUGHESE T MELVIN EMMAUS JACOB P. JABBU KOSHY JEBU MAHANAIM REUBEN RENJI VARGHESE REUBEN OLIVET ASHLY SHIBU CHERIAN NICHU KADESH PRIYA CHARLS PRIYA ARARAT SHIJU MAMMEN GEORGE SHIJU KADESH TOBY GEORGE MATHEW TOBY MIZPAH ELIZABETH JESSY MATHEW JESSY GETHSEMANE

5 Date Name Birthdays in july Member No pet name Prayer Group Telephone Mobile 15 ARON ALEX ARON EPHRAIM MARIA CARMEN MARIA EDEN AGASTYA RAJAN AVINASH AGU CANAAN SLINJU MONCY SLINJU EPHRATH KEZIA ALEXANDER KEZIA MIZPAH JUVIN KURUVILLA JOHN JUVIN CANAAN SUSAN JACOB (DR.) JESSY EPHRAIM KRIPA ELSA VARGHESE KRIPA KADESH ALVIN MATHEW VARGHESE ALVIN EPHRATH VINCE VARGHESE VINCE OLIVET SHIBU THOMAS JOHN (DR.) SHIBU EMMAUS SINI SOJI PHILIP SINI OLIVET BABUKUTTY P BABUKUTTY ARARAT MOLCY RACHEL ABRAHAM MOLCY GETHSEMANE GEORGE VARGHESE K KUTTAPPAN GEEHON NEVIN MATHEWS KURUVILLA NEVIN OLIVET JACOB MATHEW CHACKOCHEN GEEHON CIBI AJU CIBI MIZPAH ABRAHAM T. MATHEW JIM EPHRATH SANDRA BIJU VARGHESE SANU MAHANAIM MATHEW P. ALEXANDER CHARLY GETHSEMANE SARAH GRACE MATHEW MEENU SHEKAM SASHA ANN JOSHI SASHA GETHSEMANE KEVIN JOHN THOMAS KEVIN EMMAUS DIYA SUSAN VINOD DIYA MAHANAIM JOMIN MARIAM JACOB CHINNU EDEN GEORGE KURIAN GIGI KADESH LEENA MARIAM MATHEWS LEENA OLIVET DIYA ELIZABETH SUJI DIYA KADESH ROBY D. MATHEWS ROBY KADESH ANDREWS CHERIAN SURESH OLIVET ROHAN JACOB MANI ROHAN EDEN MATHEW JOHN MANOJ MIZPAH MADATHILPARAMPIL VARGHESE JOHN GETHSEMANE IRENE MARY KURUVILLA IRENE OLIVET KUNJAPPAN ALEXANDER ALEX MIZPAH HANNAH ANNE FINNEY HANNAH MAHANAIM ALEXANDER VAIDYAN T.O KOCHUMON ARARAT MATHEW K.C JAMES EPHRATH SABU GEORGE SABU EDEN MILAN KOSHY PHILIP MILAN CANAAN EBY SAM K EBY JACOB MATHEW CHUDUKATTIL RAJESH EPHRAIM SHARON ELIZABETH MATHEW SHARON EMMAUS JIJI MATHEW GEORGE JIJI CANAAN 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"

6 NEW MEMBERS P. C. Thomas & Family Member No : 0445 Prayer group: Mahanaim Thambaram Immanuel Tel. No: Manoj Kuruvila & Family Member No: 447 Prayer Group: CANAAN Christ Church, Palayam Tel. No: Willy Mathew & Family Member No: 449 Prayer Group: EMMAUS Jerusalem, Nanthancode Tel. No: Sony Thomas & Family Member No : 446 Prayer Group: GETHSEMANE Cherukole, Mavelikara Tel. No: Mrs. Sunu Anie Thomas Member No: 448 Prayer Group: GIHON Sehion Arayanpara, Kunnam Tel. No: Samgeo Philip & Family Member No: 450 Prayer Group: EMMAUS Kumplampoika Salem Tel. No: NEW BORN BABieS Michelle Cyra Sam Date of Birth: D/o Sam Thomas Samuel & Princy Mary Sam Prayer Group: Ephrath Family No.: 0188 Royce Rinu Date of Birth: S/O Rinu Sam Thomas & Shiny N Sam Prayer Group: Ephrath Family No.: 0365 FAITH SUNNY THOMAS (THOMU) D O B S/O Sunny Thomas Chakkumchira & Viji Sunny Thomas Prayer Group: MAHANAIM Family No.: 0343 Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man s friend by hearty counsel. - Proverbs 27:9 Friends always show their love. What are brothers for if not to share troubles? - Proverbs 17:17 Some friendships do not last, but some friends are more loyal than brothers. - Proverbs 18:24

7 Wedding Anniversaries in july We wish the following couples a Happy Wedding Anniversary. Please attend and partake in the thanksgiving prayer during the Holy Communion Service. Date Name Prayer Grp. Tel. Res. Mobile 5 THOMAS PHILIP KOLETH & SHERIN THOMAS EDEN JACOB MATHEW & MARY JACOB EPHRATH GEORGE EAPEN & SHEENA ANNA GEORGE MAHANAIM GEORGE MATHEW & SUMA P. EAPEN CANAAN ROSHAN P. JACOB & JISHAMOL KURUVILLA EMMAUS JAMES NATHANIEL & SHEEBA JAMES ARARAT CHACKO V.J. & LEELAMMA CHACKO. K EDEN SAJI VARGHESE SAMUEL & LOVELY CHACKO MAHANAIM BLESSON DANIEL PHILIP & SHERLIN MARY VARGHESE EMMAUS JACOB CHACKO ABRAHAM & SUBY M. VARGHESE KADESH ANU ABRAHAM K. & ELIZABETH ABRAHAM EMMAUS RONI THOMAS JOHN & SHERIN ANU RAJU MIZPAH BIJU GEORGE THOMAS & SEEMA ANNIE JOHN MAHANAIM SAJI MATHEW GEORGE & SOSAMMA CHACKO MIZPAH JACOB C. KOSHY & TERSY THOMAS EDEN CHACKO DANIEL & LISSY DANIEL EDEN ALEXANDER DAS & MARYKUTTY ALEXANDER MAHANAIM EBY SAM K. & SHALU EBY OLIVET ANU GEORGE THAKADIYIL THOMAS & ELIZABETH ANU ARARAT SUNIL PHILIP & RENJINI SUNIL PHILIP GEEHON SANTHOSH PHILIP & LINCY SOSA VARGHESE GEEHON VINEETH ABRAHAM PAZHOOR & SHERLYN MARIUM SOMAN MIZPAH SAM MATHEW & BEENA THOMAS EPHRATH SHOBIN K. MATHEWS & PREETHI ELIZABETH CHERIAN OLIVET CBSE XII Std Top Scorer Kevin Varughese Thottungal Science Group: 92.6% Indian Community School (CBSE XII) S/o Mr. Varughese Mathew & Mrs. Mini Varughese Mathew (Emmaus Prayer Group) We the St. Thomas family congratulate for his excellence and wish him a bright future. An honest answer is the sign of true friendship. - Proverbs 24:26 A friend means well, even when he hurts you. But when an enemy puts his hand round your shoulder - watch out! - Proverbs 27:6 The greatest love a person can have for his friends is to give his life for them. - John 15:13 Sunday School Junior Choir Senior Choir Yuvajana Sakhyam Sevika Sanghom Edavaka Mission REGULAR PROGRAMS AT ST.THOMAS CENTRE Closed for Summer Vacation Every Thursday at 6.00 to 7.30 PM Every Thursday at 7.30 to 9.30 PM Every 1st and 3rd Friday after the Worship service All Saturdays at 7.00 PM

8 WORSHIP SCHEDULE FOR THE MONTH OF july 2012 DATE TIME VENUE THEME PROGRAMME EPISTLE GOSPEL 3 TUE 7.30 PM HOP, NECK St.Thomas Apostle s Day 6 FRI 7.30 AM STC, SALMIYA 10 TUE 7.30 PM HOP, NECK Tithe Offering Sunday - The Gift of giving Ordained Ministry - Imitation of Christ 1 Timothy 3: Corinthians 9: Corinthians 4: 1-6 St. John 20:24-29 St. Luke 6: St. John 10:1-11 FIRST LESSON Isaiah 52:7-15 Malachi 3:7-12 Exodes 40:1-16 SECOND LESSON 1 Thesssalonians 1:1-9 Acts 5:1-11 Hebrews 10:8-25 PRAYER GROUP/ ORGANIZATION EPHRAIM & EPHRAT EDEN KADESH 13 FRI AM STC, SALMIYA 17 TUE 7.30 PM HOP, NECK The Priesthood of the Baptized 1 Peter 2:1-10 FASTING PRAYER EDAVAKA MISSION St.John 13:1-11 Gensis 18: John 3:1-12 GATHASEMANE 20 FRI 7.30 AM STC, SALMIYA Anointing the Holy Muroon: Gift of the Holy Spirit 1 Corinthians 12: 4-13 St.Matthew 3: 8-12 Exodes 30:22-33 Acts 1:1-8 GEEHON 24 TUE 07:30 PM HOP, NECK CANAAN 27 FRI 7.30 AM STC, SALMIYA Christian Witness of the Diaspora 2 Thesssalonians 1:3-12 St. John 12:20-28 Deuteronomy 28: TUE 07:30 PM HOP, NECK OLIVET Acts 8:1-8 MIZPAH Prayer Groups shall identify and assign appropriate personnel as 2 Laymen to assist in Church services, 2 Lesson Readers and 4 Children/Adult to collect offertory, during Worship services and Holy Communion services for both St.Thomas Centre & Hall of Peace. Please co-ordinate with our Lay Readers. Vice President Laloo Thomas St. Thomas Messenger for the month of July is sponsored by the following couples on the occasion of their wedding anniversaries: Mrs. & Mr. Christy Thomas, Mrs. & Mr. Roby D. Mathews, Mrs. & Mr. Thomas Chacko and Mrs. & Mr. Jacob Philip. St.Thomas family takes this opportunity to thank them for their support. 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. Secretary Shibu Cherian ST.THOMAS OFFICE BEARERS Trustee - Finance Abraham Mathew P. Trustee - Accounts Chacko Daniel Lay Ministrant Boban Varghese K. Lay Ministrant Dr. Abraham Kurian / / / / / /