Thomas said to him, My Lord and My God. (St. John 20:28) PARISH THEME : PARISH A WITNESSING COMMUNITY. Concept & design Dr.

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1 Concept & design Dr. Regi Vettathu d Thomas said to him, My Lord and My God. (St. John 20:28) St. Thomas Mar Thoma Church, Kuwait For a Cause Presents adhu waralaya andhya km[p kzceb 2018 kôy A Musical extravaganza of Sadhu Kochukunju upadesi s songs A charitable venture envisioned to support Cancer and Kidney patients Issue No. 11 Vol. XII November 2018 Monthly newsletter of Kuwait St. Thomas Mar Thoma Church PARISH THEME : PARISH A WITNESSING COMMUNITY PARISH FAMILY PICNIC FRIDAY 30 TH NOVEMBER 2018 at GREEN ISLAND Time : 2:30PM to 10:00PM On November 24th 2018, 6.30 PM At ICSK Senior School Auditorium Salmiya, Kuwait St. Thomas Mar Thoma Church prayerfully presenting first time in Kuwait, a Journey through the life of Sadu Kochukunju Upadesi and rendering of heart touching evergreen songs. The contributions received from this event will be utilized for supporting Cancer and Kidney patients. A Day filled with lot of entertainment - Games, Magic Show, Musical Extravaganza, Barbecue, Thattukada & Much more. For more details and registration contact respective area prayer group secretaries. 01 hymgw kie hnip²cptsbpw \mä 04 RmbÀ IqtZiv Cut m- k`m ip²oicww 04 RmbÀ k`mkwhõc ns³d Bcw`w 04 RmbÀ temi k tu kviqä Zn\w 11 RmbÀ k`m hntij Znhk Ä kn. Fkv. sf- - kn.f³. sf - amàt mam k`ifpss sfiy BtLmj Zn\w 18 RmbÀ skjcnbmhnt\mspå Adnbn v 25 RmbÀ I\yIadnbmant\mSpÅ Adnbn v 29 hymgw D tc y k`bpss Øm]I Zn\w 30 shån amà A{ tbmkv Èolm \mä Kuwait St. Thomas Mar Thoma Church. Rev. Bobby Mathew Parsonage : Flat No.14, 1st Floor, P.O. Box Safat Kuwait Vicar Bldg # 20, Street 10, Al-Dhahok Bin Qays Street, St. Thomas Centre - Tel : Block 10 Salmiya. (Opp. Bestow Super Market) revbobbymathew@gmail.com Tel : (Res.) Mob : st.thomasmtcq8@gmail.com (For Private Circulation only) Page 1 of 8

2 From the Vicar... Page 2 of 8 Dearly beloved in Christ Greetings to you all in the precious name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. By the grace of God we have received good participation from the members of our parish for parish convention and family dedication services. Rev. Shaji Thomas explored the various dimensions of our theme Parish: A witnessing community through his powerful messages. Achen in his message defined Esther s life as star of inner beauty, star of obligation, star of sacrifice and star of faith. Joseph s resistance to temptations, humility, attitude of reconciliation are exemplary and his life is a model for all the Christians. Achen also mentioned that redemption in our family life is inevitable. By exploring the messages from the book of Ruth achen taught us that way of redemption is the way of confession, way of blessing, way of trust in God and way of receiving the reward from God. We are also indebted to our Abraham Mar Paulos Thirumeni for his presence and leadership in family dedication day service. November first friday we are celebrating the world Sunday school day. Sunday school children are the future of our parish and church. So we need to organize children friendly programmes to motivate our children. Jesus in his public ministry always accepted and offered welcoming spaces for children. For Jesus children are the icons of the kingdom of God. Jesus said Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them, for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. Let us uphold in our prayer the activities of our Sunday school. Our parish is organizing a programme entitled Teens on Move to train teenagers for the harmonious development of their personality. Physical activities, exercise for improving emotional skills and life skills and bible messages for practical life etc. are included in this programme. Whole hearted support from the parents and participation from teenagers are expecting. We are also planning a musical evening on November 24th at ICSK Senior school. Hope and pray that Sadhu Swaralaya Sandhya will be a blessing for all of us. With prayerful regards Bobby achen FAITH AND PRACTICES OF THE MAR THOMA CHURCH Festivals, Feasts and Fasts. Are there any festivals in the Marthoma Church? This is a question asked by many of us. But our constitution strictly admonishes us that the festivals, feasts and lent are not to be removed or altered. These include the observance of the Sundays as per the church calendar, the different feast days and lent, especially feasts commemorating the important events in the life of our Lord. These feasts are called Maranaya Perunalukal. For a Christian, Sunday is the most important day in a week, because it is the day of our Lord. Since our Lord has resurrected on Sunday, it is regarded as the first day of the week. So, Sunday is separated for worship and witness. Sunday is known as the Day of the Lord. As a church we must gather together to worship the Lord who came down from heaven to save us. Fasts. During the season of Lent every member of the church is expected to set apart a time for serious reflection self-examination and renewed commitment with fasting and prayer. It is a time in which we wait upon the Lord in fellowship and are transformed to fulfill his will. During Lent some people observe restrictions regarding food, it is good if it facilitates concentration more importantly leading to a feeling of deep concern for the hungry and poor and a real sense of self-denial. We observe 50 days as Lent period including the 40 days in which our Lord fasted and 10 days commemorating his passion and crucifixion. There are some important days in these 50 days. First Wednesday of this 50 days is known as Ash Wednesday, ash symbolizes repentance. There is Dahana Perunal (Epiphany) on 6th January, Christ s glory revealed to the Gentiles. (Commemorating the day, the magi (wise men) from the East visited the infant Jesus. There are some other events that are also important during the Lent season. They are Feast of Annunciation, March 25th the Gabriel, the angel announced about Christ s birth to Virgin Mary. Then Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter are also important days in the Great Lent. During the Great Lent season, the Eastern churches reveal the glory of our Lord through the Gospel readings

3 starting from the sign that the wedding at Caana where Jesus changes water in to wine till the resurrection of Jesus. There is 25 days of Lent from 1st of December to 25th of December, which includes annunciation to Zechariah, to Virgin Mary and to Joseph. Beside these on the month of January there is three days of Lent, which reminds us the repentance of Jonah. On June 13 Days Lent that reminds us about all the Apostles. On August we have 15 days Lent. All these Lent seasons should lead us to repentance and renewal. Eight weeks before Christmas are separated for sanctification and renewal of the church. There are two more festivals on 2nd &3rd Sundays of the month of November that are known as koodash eatho (means consecration of the church) and huedas eatho (means reformation or renewal of the church.) Beside these festivals there are some other festivals, which reminds us about the life and ministry of Mar Stephen, Mar Thoma, Mar Matthew and John the Baptist (Mar means Holy). The important feast and festivals observed in the Church are given below (some of these are mentioned in the above paragraph) Dahana(Epiphany): celebrated on 6th January, commemorating the day the magi (wise men) from the East visited the Infant Jesus and his glory was revealed the Gentiles. Feast of Annunciation: It is on March 25th, the Day of Gabriel; the angel announced the news of Christ s birth to Virgin Mary. The Great Lent finishes with Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday Good Friday and Easter. Palm Sunday:-On Palm Sunday Jesus rides in to Jerusalem. So, on Palm Sunday we remember the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem.Mk.11: 1-10 Maundy Thursday: It is the remembrance of the Passover meal, which is, narrated in Exodus 12. In the New Testament it denotes the last meal of Jesus Christ with his disciples (Mk.14) The Holy Qurbana was instituted on this day (1Cor ) by our Lord. Good Friday: This is the day our Lord was crucified. The self-emptying of Jesus for the remission of our sins (Mk.15) Easter: It is the day that our Lord has resurrected from the dead (Mk.16) The Day of Ascension comes 40 days after Easter. The Day of Pentecost: -The day when the Holy Spirit was poured on the church. The Day of Transfiguration. (Will be continue) Sunday School Organizations - Schedules at St. Thomas Centre Friday 1.00 pm to 3.00 pm & 2.30 pm to 4.30 pm Yuvajana Sakhyam 1st and 3rd Fridays after the Worship service Junior Choir Thursdays 6.00 to 7.30 pm Sevika Sanghom Saturdays 5.15 pm Senior Choir Thursdays 7.30 to 9.30 pm Edavaka Mission Saturdays 7.00 pm NILATHEZHUTHU Our Vicar was the 'Guru' for the 8 Tiny Tots on writing their First Alphabet. May God shower wisdom on all of them. Page 3 of 8

4 FAMILY DAY Parish celebrated Family day Dedication service on Friday 26th October. Rt. Rev. Dr. Abraham Mar Paulose Episcopa (Adoor Dioceses) was the chief Gust and celebrant of Holy Qurbana assisted by Rev. Shaji Thomas, Chathannur and our vicar Bobby Mathew. PARISH CONVENTION 2018 Parish annual convention was held on October 22nd Monday to 25th St. Thomas Centre & Parish Hall. Rev. Shaji Thomas, Chathannur was the main speaker of this year convention. It was a blessed occasion for St Thomas members with his thought-provoking messages based on parish Theme - PARISH A WITNESSING COMMUNITY. Page 4 of 8

5 ECUMENICAL SERVICE Our parish had arranged Ecumenical service Holy Qurbana in CSI order in-corporation with St. Pauls CSI Church Ahmadi on Friday 12th October at St. Thomas Centre. Rt. Rev. Dr. Oommen George (Bishop Kollam Kottarakkara was the celebrant of Holy Qurbana Service Rev.Levin Koshy, Rev.J.J Immanual and Rev.Bobby Mathew,St.thomas & St. Pauls Church Choir assisted the service. HARVEST FESTIVAL 2019 The release of the Raffle Coupon for Kuwait St. Thomas Marthoma Church Harvest Festival 2019 was held on 26th October 2018 (Friday) in a meeting at St. Thomas Centre after the Holy Qurbana. Rev. Bobby Mathew, Vicar - St. Thomas Marthoma Church handed over the Coupon to Rt. Rev. Dr. Abraham Mar Paulose Thirumeni (Marthoma Church Adoor diocesan bishop) to release the coupon for the event and sold the first batch of coupons to our fest preliminary contributors. Rev. Shaji Thomas (Vicar Alwaye Marthoma Church and our main speaker of the convention) graced the occasion with his presence. Renji Varghese (Fest General Convener), Manoj M. Mathew, Biju George Thomas & Jiji Mathew George (Fest Joint Conveners), Christy Thomas (Vice President), John Varghese (Reji -Parish Secretary), George K. Thomas (Parish Trustee), Jiji Idiculla John (Trustee - Accounts), Lukose Raju and Sunley P Varghese (Lay Ministrants) were present. LOGOS 2018 MAR THOMA SUVISESHA SEVIKA SANGHOM CENTENARY Our Sunday School students achieved overall championship for LOGOS 2018 in students category and the teacher's secured 3rd place in teacher s category organized by Sunday School Kuwait centre. Congratulations to the winners and the complete Sunday School team Sevika sanghom Secretary Mrs. Jeny George and Treasurer Mrs. Elcy Rajan presented initial contribution of Rs. 50,000/- collected for "A Rupee A Day" to president Rt. Rev. Dr. Abraham Mar Paulose Episcopa Page 5 of 8

6 BIRTHDAYS DATE Page 6 of 8 NAME MEM. NO PRAYER GROUP 2 ANGELLA MARIA SANJAY MIZPAH 2 SARHAN THOMAS EDEN 2 SAPNA ELIZABETH THOMAS MAHANAIM 2 OLIVIA KRISSY JOHN MIZPAH 2 DIYA MARY SAM HERMON 2 NIKHIL MATHEW THOMAS JERUSALEM 3 MERCY MATHEW GETHSEMANE 3 NISHA PAUL OLIVET 3 JOHN KURUVILLA CANAAN 4 THOMAS CHACKO EMMAUS 4 ALAN MATHEW MATHAI MAHANAIM 5 EMMA ANN EAPEN JERUSALEM 5 RHEA JOSE WARTIKA GIHON 6 SHERLYN MARIAM SOMAN OLIVET 6 CHELSEA DANIEL SAJU EDEN 6 ALWYN THOMAS JINU GETHSEMANE 6 ROSHNA VARGHESE EPHRAIM 6 KRIPA MONACHEN ARARAT 6 KRISTEEN MONACHEN ARARAT 6 NATHAN SAJU THOMAS EPHRAIM 6 JOYAL SAM MATHEW OLIVET 7 MANOJ MATHEW M CANAAN 7 JOANNE SUSAN VARGHESE GIHON 7 KEZIAH RACHEL VARGHESE ARARAT 8 ANDREA ANNA MATHEWS EMMAUS 8 IVANA LIZ THOMAS OLIVET 8 SHAMA MATHEW EMMAUS 8 ASHWATHY MATHEW JERUSALEM 8 MANOJ ROY OLIVET 8 LICEY MARIAM JOHN CANAAN 9 JEFFIN MANOJ CANAAN 9 SAJI VARGHESE SAMUEL HERMON 9 RONY KOSHY KURUVILLA GIHON 9 MANU P. VARGHESE MIZPAH 10 ALICE LALOO GETHSEMANE 10 RAJAN DANIEL N CANAAN 10 MONCY ABRAHAM EPHRAIM 10 SHIJI P ABRAHAM CANAAN 11 MATHEW C. OOMMEN CANAAN 11 MATHEW D. KOLLAMALA GETHSEMANE 11 JULIE BIJU OLIVET 11 JOHN GEORGE EMMAUS 11 ANCEY ANIYAN JERUSALEM 11 ANI RENCY MATHEW GIHON 11 JOBIN JOSE MAHANAIM 12 REMYA MARIAM CANAAN 12 SHEELA PHILIP HERMON 12 RIYA SARA JOHN ARARAT 12 CHARLES PUTHUR THOMAS MAHANAIM 13 MITHU CHERIAN MAHANAIM 13 SUBIN MATHEW THOMAS MAHANAIM 14 FINNEY GEORGE MAHANAIM 14 ANU MANI OLIVET 14 AIREEN ANN LALU ARARAT 14 ANUP THOMAS KOSHY ARARAT 15 CHACKO ALEXANDER P MIZPAH DATE NAME MEM. NO Thanking God Almighty for His mercy. May Lord God Bless you abundantly. Happy Birthday PRAYER GROUP 15 NIKKY ELIZABETH GEORGE MIZPAH 15 SHINAYD SARAH JOHN OLIVET 15 AARON SHIJU GEORGE JERUSALEM 15 JEBY JACOB OLIVET 16 RHEA REBECCA PHILIP JERUSALEM 17 MINI VARUGHESE MATHEW EMMAUS 17 SANJEEV SAMUEL MATHEW GETHSEMANE 17 NAINU SUSAN ALAN ARARAT 18 JEFFIN NEBU JOHN MIZPAH 19 JENCY SARA EASOW MIZPAH 19 REEBA GEORGE MIZPAH 19 SHANTEL ANN SOJI OLIVET 19 ABRAHAM VARGHESE MIZPAH 19 JESSY ABRAHAM GETHSEMANE 20 ALEYKUTTY ABRAHAM OLIVET 20 SOSAMMA ABRAHAM MAHANAIM 20 SHIYA MOL TOM EDEN 20 KEZIA LIZ JOHN EMMAUS 20 THOMAS C. GEORGE ARARAT 20 ALEYAMMA PHILIP HERMON 20 RONI THOMAS JOHN MIZPAH 21 JINI JOHN GETHSEMANE 22 SUSAN VARGHESE EMMAUS 22 JOHN MATHEW ARARAT 22 BINU ABRAHAM EDEN 22 ANNIE ALEXANDER CANAAN 23 MELVIN MANOJ MATHEW CANAAN 23 THOMAS PHILIP KOLETH EMMAUS 23 EMILY LIZA SUNLEY ARARAT 23 SIBI BABYKUTTY EDEN 23 RINKY SUSAN JOHN MAHANAIM 24 LISSY DANIEL EDEN 24 ABRAHAM T.M MAHANAIM 24 NITHIN GEORGE ABRAHAM MIZPAH 25 ALEYAMMA VARGHESE GIHON 25 SUBIN KOVOOR JOHN OLIVET 26 IRIS ANN JERRIN ARARAT 26 JIBU CHACKO VARGHESE EPHRAIM 26 AMBILY K MANI CANAAN 26 BEENA ANNIES JOSE HERMON 27 THOMAS MATHEW CANAAN 27 ANNAMMA JOSE MIZPAH 28 REXY GIGI OLIVET 28 JOSHI ABRAHAM HERMON 28 ACHANKUNJU K. M HERMON 28 CHRISTIN P. THOMAS JERUSALEM 28 SAM PHILIP EMMAUS 28 NINAV RONY KURUVILLA GIHON 29 JASMINE VINOD CANAAN 30 DHANYA MARY ALEXANDER MIZPAH 30 BIJU GEORGE THOMAS MAHANAIM 30 MELBA MARY ABRAHAM OLIVET 30 JEFFRIN JOHN CANAAN

7 FAREWELL Joshi Abraham & Sunitha Susan Joshi, Family No. 068, Hermon Prayer group is leaving Kuwait. We express our gratitude for their fellowship and support rendered to our church, choir and Sunday school during their stay in Kuwait. Pray for God s Blessing on them their onward journey. DATE WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES NAME MEM. NO PRAYER GROUP 1 TONNY VARUGHESE MATHEWS & LINJU KURIAN MAHANAIM 1 BIJU VARGHESE & SMITHA THOMAS MAHANAIM 5 ABRAHAM VARGHESE & SRUTHY ABRAHAM MAHANAIM 7 JOHN C. MATHEW & SNEHA JOHN EDEN 8 ALAN ABY VARGHESE & LEYA SARA JACOB MIZPAH 10 GEOL ABRAHAM & DEENA GEOL JERUSALEM 10 JACOB THOMAS & SOUMYA MARY VARGHESE MAHANAIM 10 VINCE VARGHESE & NANCY WILSON GETHSEMANE 10 SUBY MATHEW THOMAS & ELIZABETH MATHEW CANAAN 11 ABRAHAM STEPHEN & BIJI ABRAHAM GETHSEMANE 12 JIMMY CHERIAN VARGHESE & PRIYA VARGHESE EPHRAIM 13 ALEXANDER ABRAHAM & ELIZABETH ABRAHAM GIHON 13 JIBI JOHN KIDANGIL & NIKKY ELIZABETH GEORGE MIZPAH 16 JOHN MATHEW THOMAS & SHEELA PHILIP HERMON 17 VARUGHESE JOHN & SUSAN VARGHESE EMMAUS 17 MANI JACOB & ANU MANI OLIVET 18 VARGHESE OOMMEN & ANNAMMA THOMAS HERMON 19 AJIT MAMMEN ABRAHAM & SUSAN GEORGE GETHSEMANE 20 TINKU ABRAHAM MATHEW & JOSYMOL ZACHARIAH MAHANAIM 21 GEORGE KURUVILLA & SUSAN GEORGE OLIVET 23 ALEXANDER CHACKO & SALI ALEX CANAAN 25 ANUP THOMAS KOSHY & LISA ANN ANUP ARARAT 25 KOSHY KUNJU DANIEL & SARAMMA KOSHY KUNJU DANIEL OLIVET 25 BABUKUTTY P. & ALEYAMMA BABUKUTTY ARARAT 25 SHERLY P.Y. & LATE SABU THOMAS EDEN 25 SANTHOSH MATHEW KAITHOTTA & ANU MATHAI GETHSEMANE 26 JOHN MAMMEN & MANU ANN VARGHESE OLIVET 27 REJI IDICULLA PHILIP & SHOBA ANNIE MATHEW JERUSALEM 28 JIJI MATHEW GEORGE & SUSAN JIJI MATHEW CANAAN 29 PHILIPOSE VALIYAPARAMPIL & ALICE PHILIPOSE MIZPAH 29 BIBU KOSHY JACOB & RENU ABRAHAM KOSHY MAHANAIM 29 KUNJAPPAN ALEXANDER & KEZIA ALEXANDER MIZPAH 30 SUNIL TOM MATHEWS & PREETHI VARGHESE GIHON Thanking God Almighty for His mercy. May Lord God Bless you abundantly. Happy Wedding Anniversary 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. Oommen K.I (65) Kuchantangu House, Venmony, Father in-law of Mr. Nishad Thomas and Father of Mrs. Emy Nishad, Member #497, Hermon prayer group. Tel: Mr. George Ephram (66) Father in-law of Mr. Britto Mathew Varghese and Father of Mrs. Kiran Fabiola Ephram, Member #491, Eden prayer group. Tel: Mrs. Mercy Thomas (68) Kallimalayil, Elanthoor, Mother in law of Mr. Biju Varghese and Mother of Mrs.Smitha Biju Member# 239, Mahanaim prayer group. Tel: Mr. John Mathew P. (42) Panachakkal House, Thekkemala, Kozhencherry, Elder son of Mrs. Beella Mathew, Member# 393, Mahanaim prayer group. Mr. Frederick Wartika (85), Father in law of Mrs. Anitha Jose (Dr) and father of Harold Wartika, Member # 348, Gihon prayer group. Tel: St. Thomas family express our heartfelt condolence to the bereaved family members on the sad demise of their beloved one. May Lord strengthen and comfort them. Page 7 of 8

8 WORSHIP SCHEDULE FOR THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER 2018 DATE / DAY TIME VENUE THEME WORSHIP 1st LESSON 2nd LESSON EPISTLE GOSPEL ASSISTED BY: SUNDAY SCHOOL / JUNIOR CHOIR 2 - FRI 7:30 AM Exo. 3 John Eph. Luke World Sunday School Day HOLY QURBANA 2: :1-9 18: TUE 07:30 PM NECK-HOP GIHON 9 - FRI 7:30 AM MIZPAH Zech. Rev. 1 Cor. Matt. Church: Light on the Lampstand HOLY QURBANA 4:1-14 1: : : TUE 07:30 PM NECK-HOP CANAAN 16 - FRI 7:30 AM HOLY QURBANA ENGLISH SERVICE 9.30 AM Annunciation to Zechariah FASTING PRAYER 1 Chor. 24:1-19 Rev. 8:1-8 2 Cor. 2:12-17 Luke 1:5-23 YUVAJANA SAKHYAM JERUSALEM & ARARATH 20 - TUE 07:30 PM NECK-HOP HOLY QURBANA EDEN 23 - FRI 7:00 AM OLIVET Zech. Gal. Eph. Luke Annunciation to Virgin Mary HOLY QURBANA 2:8-13 4:1-7 1:3-10 1: TUE 07:30 PM NECK-HOP MAHANAIM 30 - FRI 7:30 AM Visitation of Virgin Mary to Elizabeth - Celebration of Good News HOLY QURBANA Gen. 18:1-6 2 Tim. 4: Cor. 1:3-11 Luke 1:39-45 GETHSAMANE Note:- Any changes in worship venue or time will be informed through . For sponsoring the St. Thomas Messenger please contact Vicar or office bearers. Christy Thomas Vice President / christythomaskuwait@gmail.com John Varghese (Reji) Secretary / rejikply@hotmail.com Office Bearers Team George K. Thomas (Prakash) Trustee - Finance / george.thomas@alshaya.com Jiji Idiculla John Trustee - Accounts / johnjiji2000@yahoo.co.in Lukose Raju Lay Ministrant / lukoseradisson@gmail.com Sunley P. Varghese Lay Ministrant / sunleypv@yahoo.com This St. Thomas Messenger Sponsored by: Geol Abraham & Family, Suby Mathew Thomas & Family, Jiji Mathew George & Family, John Mathew Thomas & Family, Reji Idiculla Philip & Family for Private Circulation only Page 8 of 8