(For Private Circulation only)

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

P.O. Box 25562 Safat 13116 KuwaitTel : 2563 5253 (Res.) Mob : 6603 0775 St. Thomas Centre Tel: 2564 7060E-mail: st.thomasmtcq8@gmail.comwww.st-thomasmtckuwait.com

Rev. Thomas Koshy PanachamoottilVicar

fatherpanachi@gmail.com

Parsonage Location Salmiya, Street 10, Bldg No. 20

1st Floor, Flat No. 14 Al-Dhahok Bin Qays StreetOpp. Bestow Super Market

Congratulations and best wishes on the occasion of National Day & Liberation Day

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

From the Desk of Vicar

MARAMon ConvenTion Maramon Convention is an annual convention of Mar Thoma Sabha held at the vast sand-bed 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 FEBrUaryDATE NAME PRAYER GROUP TELEPHONE MOBILE

1 SAMUEL KOSHY VILANILAM EMMAUS 23727907 994682391 SISSILI JOHN KADESH 25613051 997408302 PAZHOOR VARUGHESE ABRAHAM MIZPAH 25612559 662773632 JEENA MARY SABU EDEN 99735194 661742593 SHIBU OOMMEN VARGHESE ARARAT 24311746 666448033 JOSEPH MATHEW KOLLAMALA EMMAUS 25657821 996016043 SWAPNA MANOJ EMMAUS 25652861 998443643 NIKHIL JACOB KURIAN MAHANAIM 25610029 995319653 REEBA SUSAN THOMAS MIZPAH 67785016 662573833 PRATHICK THOMAS MATHEW CANAAN 25660857 993982973 FEBY MANI MATHEW MAHANAIM 66194291 944456454 SANDRA ANDEL SUNIL MIZPAH 666053584 MATHEW GEORGE ABRAHAM CANAAN 25639462 994504114 JESSY C BABY ARARAT 24335361 992896245 ABRAHAM T.C. EMMAUS 25758782 998076325 JOHN MATHEW MAHANAIM 94403845 660495925 VARGHESE K.V. EDEN 998082345 BINCY JAMES ARARAT 994508945 LOVELY CHACKO MAHANAIM 25611739 998459046 SANTHOSH MATHEW KAITHOTTA CANAAN 25619359 995785456 LITTY P.MATHEW GEEHON 659704016 PREETHA ABRAHAM (DR.) EMMAUS 25660975 665332846 SHAJI GEORGE EDEN 996917307 BEN GEORGE MIZPAH 25732895 668976297 RINI V. CHANDY ARARAT 940633498 LALIAMMA THOMAS ARARAT 24330423 993816918 ELIZABETH JOSEPH ARARAT 944530958 MARY THOMAS EDEN 25611281 995908198 AARON VARGHESE MATHEWS GEEHON 25626196 998357739 MERLEY ELIZABETH (DR) OLIVET 25617784 650784509 SERAH MOLLY SHIBU ARARAT 24311746 666448039 ZACHARIAH MATHEW KOMATTU (DR.) OLIVET 25629532 99107822

10 ALIN T. JACOB EDEN 25632914 6649038510 BIJU VARGHESE MIZPAH 5574272210 JOHIN MATHEW OLIVET 25617268 9942669113 CELIN ROY EPHRATH 99762431 9774262013 MANOJ P. KOSHY (DR.) OLIVET 25662310 6623646914 BINU VARGHESE JOHN (DR.) OLIVET 25617784 6507845015 SUSAN ABRAHAM CANAAN 25641749 6657582616 IRINE SARAH PAUL MIZPAH 25616347 6673220616 DANIEL K. GEORGE GEEHON 9449537017 JOSHIN DANIEL GEORGY EDEN 25621374 9721198117 REJI VEEMBUKATTU THOMAS MAHANAIM 25641355 6671790517 SHEJIN JOHN MATHEW MAHANAIM 94403845 6604959217 SHERIN ANN RAJU CANAAN 25640337 5504108517 AJAY PHILIP MATHEW MIZPAH 25659153 9722741317 SATISH MATHEW KAITHOTTA CANAAN 25667847 9722073417 ANWIN JAMES KOTTARAM ARARAT 9945089417 EAPPEN P. MATHEW EPHRATH 9007648418 NICK MATHEW CHERIYAN ARARAT 24341003 9755113218 MANOJ MATHEW EMMAUS 25652861 99844364

Birthdays in FEBrUaryDATE NAME PRAYER GROUP TELEPHONE MOBILE

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"

19 BIJU P. ABRAHAM OLIVET 25630169 9922316519 DEEPU MOHAN ARARAT 9958301420 MEECHAL MERCY RINU KADESH 25652342 9907649420 JAMES NATHANIEL ARARAT 24315306 9930815120 ELAINE MARY BINU MAHANAIM 25658460 6618098620 NATHAN JOHN JIBI MIZPAH 25743908 9982687520 JOHN GEORGE P. MIZPAH 25637568 9946347621 ROY JOHN KADESH 25613051 9974083021 JIMMY CHERIAN VARGHESE EPHRAIM 9996759022 TIJU NINAN DAVID MIZPAH 6675193722 JOHNS LESSLY THOMAS EDEN 25632914 6591572022 ABRAHAM ABRAHAM P. EDEN 25647805 9743414722 VEDA ELIZABETH ZACHARIAH OLIVET 25629532 9910782223 SHERLY VARUGHESE MAHANAIM 6709457824 BENEETA ANN JACOB MAHANAIM 25653582 9406095724 KITTY VARGHESE MAHANAIM 25630261 9956240525 ALISHBA TANYA JOHN KADESH 25613051 9974083027 TIMOTHY THOMAS GEORGE CANAAN 25623273 9793438128 TARUN KOSHY MATHEW MIZPAH 25611453 97810618

NEW MEMBERS

Member Number-429BIJU VARGHESE

Prayer Group: MizpahSehion, Venmony

Contact No – 55742722

Member Number - 0430 SANOJ K.MATHEW Prayer Group: Mizpah

Trinity - Kottanadu Contact No - 97176482

Member Number-0431SIJO JOHN THOPPILPrayer Group: Canaan

Salem Marthoma, VazhuthacaduContact No - 96639002

Member Number-0432Madathilparampil Varghese John

Prayer Group: MahanaimEbenezer, PunnamooduContact No - 97488017

Member Number-0433P.K. Cherian

Prayer Group: CanaanJerusalem, Kottayam

Contact No - 99425816

St. Thomas Fest 2012We 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.

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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.

WEdding annivErsariEs in FEBrUaryWe 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

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

2 JOHN ALEXANDER & SHERLY JOHN MAHANAIM 25610139 662492403 RAJU GEORGE & JIJI RAJU CANAAN 658846205 RAJU PHILIP & LEELAMMA PHILIP MIZPAH 25640337 995985705 BENNY THOMAS & JIJI BENNY KADESH 25659310 996710875 VARGHESE K.V. & LOUSEY VARGHESE EDEN 998082346 MATHEW THOMAS & LEENA MATHEW EPHRAIM 979134297 SHIBU PHILIP & JINI ANN ISSAC OLIVET 658315088 SHIROJ JOSEPH & RETTY THOMAS SHEKAM 972366948 ROY THOMAS & MERCY E. VARGHESE KADESH 25649143 995062768 MATHEW M. M. & SHEENA MATHEW MAHANAIM 25650429 998931108 SIMON ABRAHAM & SAUMINI SIMON EDEN 66890925

10 MANOJ MATHEW M. & SUNITHA MANOJ M. CANAAN 25646726 9981682610 DENNY KOSHY & SONIA MOHAN GEORGE SHEKAM 6669168010 DEEPU THOMAS PHILIP & SMITHA P. THOMAS EMMAUS 25643019 9959685816 RAJAN V. JOHN & ELCY RAJAN CANAAN 25656855 9940686016 JOY THOMAS & JENU JOY THOMAS EDEN 6601486617 ABRAHAM T.M. & SOSAMMA ABRAHAM MAHANAIM 25629174 6558164419 PHILIP MATHEW & LAILA PHILIP MIZPAH 25630152 6640019419 VINU OOMMEN JACOB & CELIN ROY EPHRATH 99762431 9774262021 HAROLD S. WARTIKA & ANITA JOSE (DR.) GEEHON 25359283 6689303122 SHAJI THOMAS & JESSY SHAJI EPHRAIM 24319387 9790421723 STEPHEN JOHN M. & ALIAMMA JOHN MIZPAH 25616795 6678223923 MATHEW ABRAHAM K. & MARIAMMA MATHEW GEEHON 25344763 6640935924 ABRAHAM T. MATHEW & LEENA ABRAHAM EPHRATH 24753854 6689328827 ZACHARIAH MATHEW KOMATTU (DR.) & RENY THOMAS ABRAHAM OLIVET 25629532 9910782227 JACOB GEORGE & SUNITHA K. BABY GEEHON 99276267

CONdOLENCEWe, 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.

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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. THo

MA

S MeSSen

GeR

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.

John Alexander

John varghese (Reji)

Christy Thom

asvijoy A

lexanderM

athew P A

lexanderA

braham Stephen

Vice President

Secretary

TrusteeTrustee A

ccountsLay M

inistrantLay M

inistrant

66249240 / 2561013999086449 / 25627036

97867814 / 2566352097100853 / 22623051

97835292 / 2565027366284427 / 25624177

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STC, SALMIYA

“JESUS THE HEALER” M

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WO

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2 CORI

12 : 7- 10ST.M

ARK 5 : 25-34

2 KING

2 : 19-22REV

22 : 1-7

WILL BE ASSIG

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7 TUE7.30 PM

HOP,

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UNION

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10 FRI7.30 AM

STC, SALMIYA

ARISE LET US GO

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6: 12-20KADESH

17 FRI7.30 AM

STC, SALMIYA

PETHURTHA: BIGINNING

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21 TUE07:30 PM

HOP, NECK, Kuwait City

HOLY

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JOHN

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2 KING

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28 TUE7.30 PM

HOP,

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