(For Private Circulation only)

Thomas said to him, “My Lord and My God”. (St. John 20:28)

Issue No. 13 Vol. VI January 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

Freedom in our Mind,

Faith in our Words,

Pride in our Heart,

Memories in our Souls.

Let’s salute our Nation on Republic Day. Jai Hind

Happy New Year

Dearly beloved in Christ,

One more year has passed and another year has dawned. Let us gratefully remember the blessings of God that we have received during the past year. God has graciously given us an opportunity to enter another new year. Henceforth, let us make use of our time and talents for the Glory of God. The design of our life lies in His hands and His imagination, not ours. But He has given us full responsibility for carrying His love to those around us. As a worshiping community we have a great responsibility to cater for the needs of people around us who are marginalized and oppressed due to social and economic injustice. With great hope and trust in our Lord we shall make use of our material and spiritual resources to God’s Mission, especially our North Indian Mission. With renewed hearts and mind we shall prepare ourselves to face the needs and challenges of our church and community.

The coming New Year should direct us to move closer to God and with Him in His unending work of creation and renewal. This celebration day is an opportunity for us to search for new ways and means to witness the transforming power of our Lord Jesus Christ, by accepting His promise of a new life. It is an occasion for all of us to praise and thank God for the miraculous way in which He has inspired and protected us and our church.

Prayer is an energy which gives life for believers. It helps us to lead meaningful personal, family and social life. Prayer protects us from all evils and dangers. Therefore on this occasion of the New Year, I encourage ALL the families of our parish to start having uninterrupted family prayers on a daily basis. One of the real challenges that we too often find in our contemporary, busy lives is finding time to be together as a family. And, if prayer, other than going to church, hasn’t been a family tradition, it is time now that we introduce it as something we might do together as family. Mother Theresa told once “For the family that prays together stays together, and if they stay together they will love one another as Jesus loves each one of them.”

May God Almighty Bless You with a Prosperous and Joyous New Year.

Yours in Christ

Panachamoottil Achen

From the Desk of Vicar

Reception meeting for Metropolitan and BishopsKuwait is going to witness another Unique Event on February 24,2012. All the 5 Marthoma Parishes in Kuwait is giving a Grand Reception to the 5 Bishops of our Church ( Metropolitan, Diocesan Bishop and the 3 new Bishops) which also mark the beginning of the 50th Year celebration of Kuwait Marthoma Parish. Various dignitaries including members of Royal Family, Ministers, Ambassadors, Bishops from other Churches will facilitate. A 125 member committee from the Marthoma Parishes already started functioning. Your prayers and presence will be a great support.

ANNUAL CONVENTIONDate : January 17th Tuesday to 20th Friday

Venue : St. Thomas Center, Salmiya

Speaker : Rev. Jacob P. Thomas, Darma Jyoti Vidya Peeth, Faridabad

Rev. Jacob P. Thomas is a well known theologian who has indepth knowledge. His Bible Studies are widely accepted. He served in various mission fields of our Church; presently is a lecturer in Darma Jyothi Vidya Peeth in Faridabad, Delhi. All are cordially invited to attend the Annual Convention.

PROGRAME DATE TIME PROGRAME VENUE

17TH TUESDAY 7.00 TO 9.00 PM CONVENTION ST.THOMAS CENTER18TH WEDNESDAY 7.00 TO 9.00 PM CONVENTION ST.THOMAS CENTER19TH THURSDAY 7.00 TO 9.00 PM CONVENTION ST.THOMAS CENTER20TH FRIDAY 7.00 TO 9.00 PM CONVENTION ST.THOMAS CENTER

Epiphany or DenhoEpiphany or Denho (Syric) meaning "vision of God" or “manifestation of God”, commemorate on January 6, is a Christian feast day to celebrate the revelation of God the Son as a human being in Jesus Christ. Western Christians commemorate principally (but not solely) the visitation of the Biblical Magi to Baby Jesus, and thus Jesus' physical manifestation to the Gentiles. Eastern Christians observe baptism of Jesus in river Jordan as His manifestation to the world as the Son of God.

Eastern Churches following the Julian calendar observe Theophany feast on January 19, because of the 13-day difference today between their calendar and the generally used Gregorian calendar. For Roman Catholics in many countries, the feast is celebrated on the Sunday which falls between January 2 and January 8.

The observance had its origins in Eastern Christian Churches and was a general celebration of the manifestation of the Incarnation of Jesus. It included commemoration of His birth; the visit of the Magi ("Wise Men", as Magi were Persian priests) to Bethlehem; all of Jesus’ childhood events, up to and including His baptism in river Jordan by John the Baptist; and even the miracle at the Wedding of Cana in Galilee. It seems fairly clear that the Baptism was the primary event being commemorated.

As with most aspects of the Christian liturgical calendar, Epiphany has theological significance as a teaching tool in the church. The Wise Men or Magi who brought gifts to the child Jesus were the first Gentiles to acknowledge Jesus as "King" and so were the first to "show" or "reveal" Jesus to a wider world as the incarnate Christ. This act of worship by the Magi, which corresponded to Simeon’s blessing that this child Jesus would be "a light for revelation to the Gentiles" (Luke 2:32), was one of the first indications that Jesus came for all people, of all nations, of all races, and that the work of God in the world would not be limited to only a few. The day is now observed as a time of focusing on the mission of the church in reaching others by "showing" Jesus as the Savior of all people. It is also a time of focusing on Christian community and fellowship, especially in healing the divisions of prejudice and bigotry that we all too often create between God’s children.

Birthdays in JanUaryDATE NAME PRAYER GROUP TELEPHONE MOBILE

1 JIA SIBU JACOB SHEKAM 24893157 660164841 JITTYMOL MARIAM MATHEW ARARAT 971339491 SAMSON JOSEPH EDEN 979407572 MERLIN ABRAHAM MIZPAH 25624177 662844273 VIJI VARGHESE CANAAN 975412883 MICAH PRINCE RINU KADESH 25652342 990764943 COLIN SHIBU SKARIAH MIZPAH 97157006 668889363 SANJU MATHEW MAHANAIM 25633985 996058994 JEHOSHEBA SARAH BOBBY EMMAUS 25622547 651346504 ALAN GEORGE KOSHY ARARAT 24335198 667358284 SANOJ.K.MATHEW MIZPAH 971764824 MATHEW PHILIP ARARAT 971339495 MARTIN DILEEP KOLLAMALA CANAAN 25639678 670574795 JINU CHACKO THOMAS GEEHON 22629608 991145626 SUJA BABY SHEKAM 24745215 993317386 BIJI ABRAHAM MIZPAH 25624177 662844277 VINAY MATHAI VERGHESE EMMAUS 256364897 BENNY THOMAS KADESH 25659310 996710878 THOMAS CHACKO EPHRAIM 973354268 MERCY SAJU EDEN 25650391 994214578 NISHA KURIAN MAHANAIM 25758782 972308029 THOMAS GEORGE EPHRATH 24330292 661910079 SELVIN JOSE ARARAT 24317585 661724259 VILAS JOSHUA GEEHON 99899379

10 VARUGHESE THOMAS M. CANAAN 25652006 9932023010 GEORGE KURUVILLA CANAAN 6633019210 JEREMIAH MATHEW MAHANAIM 66194291 9444564510 ABIN SAM ABRAHAM ARARAT 24335361 9928962410 ANNAMMA THOMAS KADESH 25621469 6642085411 JOANNE REBECCA EMMAUS 23710567 6507845011 JISHAMOL KURUVILLA CANAAN 6506245312 BINSU SAM MIZPAH 6616652312 OLIVIA ELSA JIBU OLIVET 25624570 6655748612 SHIBU T. JOHN EPHRATH 24342128 9720107013 MARY PHILIP EMMAUS 23718450 6684602115 RAJU MATHAI. M EPHRATH 24330292 9754038115 SHAWN THOMAS EDEN 66761362 9913854815 ALEXANDER THAMPACHEN P. MAHANAIM 25619231 9760437316 JESSYMOL T. EAPEN EPHRATH 24349472 9727192416 SONAL JACOB CANAAN 25624312 6657706916 ASHA GEORGY EPHRATH 6705847616 KIRAN ABRAHAM MATHEW OLIVET 25615203 9955099617 JANET SHUBY ABRAHAM ARARAT 6647496717 JEENU SUNIL EDEN 6671454317 SHIBU PHILIP MATHAI EDEN 25636526 9961572417 EVELYN MARIAM EAPEN KADESH 25668263 6654399018 JISHA JOHN GEEHON 9989937918 RINU MATHEW JOHN ARARAT 24348934 6628096719 NOEL GEORGE KOLETH EDEN 25625029 9750424319 ASHNA ANN BENNY KADESH 25659310 9967108720 SINI RENJI VARGHESE OLIVET 25629644 9958547621 SAAYOOJ DENNIS JOHN MAHANAIM 25610139 6624924021 RAJAN V. JOHN CANAAN 25656855 9940686021 TEENA TINI GEORGE ARARAT 24318091 9925068221 VARUGHESE C.V ARARAT 6647496722 AJITH JOHN MATHEW MIZPAH 25659153 97227413

DATE NAME PRAYER GROUP TELEPHONE MOBILE

Birthdays in JanUary

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"

22 CHINNU SUSAN CHERIYAN EMMAUS 23727907 9946823922 SHIBU PHILIP OLIVET 6583150823 TINKU ABRAHAM MATHEW CANAAN 6642190423 ABRAHAM VARGHESE OLIVET 25652846 9759235123 CRISTINA ELIZABETH SHIBU MIZPAH 97157006 6688893623 GEORGE T. KOLETH EDEN 25625029 9750424324 DENI DANIEL KADESH 25610934 9914200524 LEAH ELSA PHILIP OLIVET 25611291 9957469524 HANNAH GRACE ANDREWS OLIVET 25646983 6639636725 ANNAMMA REJI ARARAT 24344521 9721943325 SAJU THOMAS SHEKAM 6688423825 MATHEW PHILIP EDEN 25636526 9961572425 ARUN T. LALOO MAHANAIM 25657655 9958824426 JOHAN VARGHESE JOHN CANAAN 25627036 9908644926 GEORGY MATHEW ARARAT 6510808427 ANGELA GEORGE KURIAN KADESH 25663826 9960820627 ALEX MATHEW ALEXANDER GEEHON 22623051 9710085328 LITA STEPHEN MIZPAH 25616795 6678223929 EASOW K. I. MIZPAH 25751147 9978060929 SNEHA JOHN EDEN 9491705230 ETHAN BINOY EDEN 25611281 9988011431 ABEL SHAJI GEORGE EDEN 9969173031 LEON VARKEY ABRAHAM EDEN 67050820

A real Christmas experience and a wonderful feast to the audience catered by our Choir and its Captain Mr. Mathew C. Oommen (Joychan). The Carol was conducted at ICSK (Senior) Hall on 23rd Friday, December 2011. Almost 1000 people from various parishes and other churches thronged to see the performance of our Choir. The Christmas message was delivered by H.G. Mathews Mar Thevodosios Metropolitan of Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church - Quilon Diocese. Widely accepted as the best Choir in Kuwait, we St. Thomas Mar Thoma Parish congratulate the team and all who contributed for the success of the Carol Service.

CAROL- 2011 - THY KINGDOM COME

St.Thomas Fest coupon sale inaugurated By Dr. Prof. Varghese George

The Christmas & New Year Gift, Sandhya Yagam, a Family Prayer Book, for all Parishioners was

released by Rev. K. G. Koshy.

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

FAREWELL V.C. Job & Mary Job Mem No. 244 Mizpah Prayer group and Mathew Varghese Karinjappallil & Aleyamma Mathew Mem No.102 Shekam prayer group.The following members and family left Kuwait on retirement. We thank them for their fellowship, service and support rendered to our Parish since its inception. Parish, as a token of appreciation presented Mementos to them on 16th and 24th December respectively. Let us remember them in our prayers.

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), Rony 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 JanUaryWe 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

1 SAJU PAPPACHAN & MERCY SAJU EDEN 25650391 994214571 JOSE EAPEN & ANNAMMA JOSE ARARAT 24338529 666607643 MATHEW JOHN & CUCKOO ALEY MATHEW JOHN MIZPAH 25659153 972274135 JACOB CHERIAN & ALEYAMMA THOMAS EPHRAIM 974594305 PHILIP VARGHESE (DR.) & MARIAM JOSEPH EMMAUS 23718450 668460217 ANDREWS CHERIAN & ANU ALICE ANDREWS OLIVET 25646983 663963677 MATHEW GEORGE ABRAHAM & SALLY GEORGE ABRAHAM CANAAN 25639462 994504119 MR. P.V. ABRAHAM & ALEYAMMA ABRAHAM MIZPAH 25612559 662773639 RENJI VARGHESE & SINI RENJI VARGHESE OLIVET 25629644 9958547611 BINNEY LIJU EPHRAIM 6688318112 ABRAHAM ISSAC ABRAHAM & DAISY ISSAC ABRAHAM OLIVET 25634157 6623965612 AVINASH RAJAN DANIEL & JEENA AVINASH CANAAN 25629747 9906851412 VARGHESE THOMAS & JANCY JOSEPH SHEKAM 24808395 9952606212 GEORGE MATHEW. K & BEENA THOMAS EPHRAIM 24316340 9710072712 RENJI RAJU & VINCY RENJI EPHRAIM 6685785114 GEEVARGHESE THOMAS & SUSY VARGHESE THOMAS EMMAUS 25629186 9936007315 THOMAS P. ABRAHAM & LIZY THOMAS CANAAN 25649170 9794421415 REJI MATHEW PHILIP K. & ANNAMMA REJI ARARAT 24344521 9721943315 VARGHESE GEORGE (DR) & KITTY VARGHESE MAHANAIM 25630261 9956240516 RAJU VARGHESE & SUSAMMA ABRAHAM CANAAN 25641839 9940611516 PHILIP A.NINAN & VALSAMMA PHILIP CANAAN 5516018216 MATHEW C. OOMMEN & ALEYAMMA MATHEW EPHRATH 24314590 6676007516 JOHNSON GEORGE & SUSAN JOHNSON EMMAUS 6672539418 EAPEN VERGHESE (GIGI) & REXY GIGI OLIVET 25658549 9955625718 THOMAS K. S. & MARY THOMAS EDEN 25611281 9959081918 BINOY THOMAS & SHIYA MOL TOM EDEN 25611281 9988011418 JACOB T. ABRAHAM & ALIN T. JACOB EDEN 25632914 6649038519 PHILIP C. M. & SARAH PHILIP CANAAN 25629665 9979653619 VARGHESE MATHAI VAIDIAN & SOSAMMA MATHAI EDEN 25623126 9948896019 VINOO VARGHESE ABRAHAM & LEENA MARIAM MATHEW (DR) OLIVET 9442706019 SHIJU MAMMEN GEORGE & DENI DANIEL KADESH 25610934 9914200520 ACHANKUNJU K. M. & SHALI ACHANKUNJU KADESH 25646384 6654782020 SHIBU SKARIAH & JEE ANNIE MATHEW MIZPAH 97157006 6688893622 MATEHW PHILIP & SUSY MATHEW GEEHON 22657126 9973069922 VARGHESE K. A. & ALEYAMMA VARGHESE EDEN 25319557 6683018522 JACOB JOSEPH P. & MARIAMMA JACOB OLIVET 25635798 6648161822 JOHN P. MATHEW & BEELA MATHEW MAHANAIM 25632457 9980071323 REJI ALEX MATHEW (DR.) & SHEJI ALEX (DR.) EPHRATH 24330564 6709646523 ANIL KURIAN JACOB & NANCY KURIAN MAHANAIM 25610029 9953196523 LENI ELIZABETH MAMMEN & SUBIN SAM MATHEW ARARAT 24341694 9936289223 AJU PAUL & CIBI AJU MIZPAH 25616347 6673220624 ABRAHAM T.C. & ALEYAMMA ABRAHAM EMMAUS 25758782 9980763224 PHILIP GEORGE & SOPHY VARGHESE (LATE) EPHRATH 6667498025 JACOB M. CHANNAPETTA & SUDHA JACOB CANAAN 25624312 6657706925 MON MATHEWS C. JOHN & SEENA M. MATHEWS KADESH 25638554 9783032525 RINU ABY PRINCE & SUSAN RINU KADESH 25652342 9907649425 ALEX M. GEORGE & SHIMSY ALEX CANAAN 25625029 6606275225 SHIBU T. JOHN & JESSY KOSHY EPHRATH 24342128 9720107026 MATHEW ABRAHAM & MARY MATHEW ABRAHAM OLIVET 25615203 9955099626 JIJI IDICULLA JOHN & TRESSA MARIE JOHN KADESH 25653028 9928199526 CROSSBLE THOMAS & DANI ABRAHAM MAHANAIM 25649357 9959728227 IDICULA MATHAI & SUSAN IDICULA MATHAI MAHANAIM 25633985 9960589928 JAMES V. KOTTARAM & BINCY JAMES EPHRATH 9945089429 SAJU THOMAS & RESHMI RAJAN SHEKAM 6688423829 GEORGE ABRAHAM ARUTHUKKAL & ALEYAMMA ABRAHAM CANAAN 55720525 5572052531 GEORGE MATHEW & MINI GEORGE MATHEW EMMAUS 9761518931 JOSHAN P. ABRAHAM & DEEPA ANN MATHEW EDEN 25647805 9743414731 KURIAN OOMMEN & JINCY GEORGE EPHRAIM 66173407

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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.

DATETIM

EVENUE

THEME

PROG

RAMM

EEPISTLE

GO

SPELFIRST

LESSON

SECOND

LESSON

PRAYERGRO

UP/ O

RGANISATIO

N

6 FRI7.30 AM

STC, SALMIYA

EPIPHANY HO

LY CO

MM

UNION

ROM

ANS 6: 1-11

ST.LUCK 3:15-22

2 KING

2:19-25ACTS

8: 26-40EM

MAUS

10 TUE7.30 PM

HOP, NECK,

Kuwait CityST.STEPHENS DAY

HOLY

COM

MUNIO

NACTS 6: 1- 7

ST.MATHEW

24:45-51

DANIEL 1: 1-21

ACTS 7: 54-60

EDEN

13 FRI7.30 AM

STC, SALMIYA

GO

D OF PEACE

ENGLISH HO

LY CO

MM

UNION

EPHESIANS 2: 11-19

ST.MATHEW

5:1-9

MICAH

4: 1-7RO

MANS

5: 1-11SUNDAY SCHO

OL

9.00 AMSTC, SALM

IYAFASTING

PRAYEREDAVAKA M

ISSION

17 to 2007:00 PM

STC, SALMIYA

PARISH CONVENTIO

N

20 FRI7.30 AM

STC, SALMIYA

REPENT AND RETURNHO

LY CO

MM

UNION

EPHESIANS 4: 1-7

ST.JOHNS

17:21-26ISSA

60:1-142 PETER

1:1-11CANAAN

24 TUE07:30 PM

HOP, NECK,

Kuwait CityEPHESIANS

5: 8-14ST.LUKE

13:1-5JO

EL 2:12-17

REVELATION 2:12-17

MAHANAIM

27 FRI7:30 AM

STC, SALMIYA

ECUMENICAL SUNDAY

HOLY

COM

MUNIO

NO

LIVET

31 TUE7.30 PM

HOP, NECK,

Kuwait CityW

ORSHIP

SERVICEW

ILL BE ASSIGNED

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

ST.THO

MA

S OFFIC

E BEA

RER

S 2011-2012