(For Private Circulation only)

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

Issue No. 12 Vol. V December 2011

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

Dearly beloved in Christ,

CELEBRATION OF SUFFERINGS

We are stepping to another Christmas season. When Christmas season comes, everyone around the world feels joy of celebration and a new awakening. I think Christmas is a celebration and remembrance of persecution or suffering faced by a poor Jewish family Joseph, Mary and Jesus.

A young girl in Africa gave her teacher a Christmas gift. It was a beautiful sea shell. “Where did you get this?” asked the teacher. The girl told her that such shells are found only on a certain far away beach and that her father and she had to make a long and difficult journey to get it. The teacher was deeply touched because the girl took much trouble and walked many miles to get it.”You should not have suffered and travelled that far just find a gift for me”, the teacher told the girl. The girls smiled and replied “Suffering journey is part of the gift”. This is precisely the story of Jesus and the truth of Christmas. God’s gift of Christ to the world began with a journey of sufferings. He left the splendours of heaven to our level. The suffering journey of Jesus and his parents to Egypt as refugees, his long walk through the Palestine and the final walk carrying the heavy cross to Golgotha are all part of Gods loving gift to us. So we can say, Christmas is the celebration of sufferings.

Let us remember those who face persecution esp. in many parts of India. Let us pray to God that He may grant us the courage to face the persecution and sufferings.

Let this Christmas be a new year with the presence of Jesus Christ in us.

Yours in Christ

Panachamoottil Achen

From the Desk of Vicar

Sabha DinaM( ST ThoMaS MaRTyRDoM) DeCeMbeR 21Most Christian churches around the world are divided into Western or Eastern traditions. Eastern churches are again divided into two: the Eastern Orthodox and the Eastern Oriental. Mar Thoma Church is an Eastern Oriental Church. It adheres to the Syriac tradition and bases its teachings in accordance with Biblical teachings. It is one of the Saint Thomas Christian churches tracing its origins to the missionary activity of Thomas the Apostle.Apostle Thomas reached Cragannore at the Malabar coast in A D 52. He established 8 churches at1. Crangannore (Malankara),2. Chavakad (Palur),3. Parur near Alwaye,4. Gokamangalam,5. Niranam,6. Nilakkal (Chayal),7. Quilon and 8.Thiruvamcodu near Kanyakumami. These churches are known as “Ezharapallikal” .It is believed that St. Thomas then continued his mission and reached the east coast of India.Apostle Thomas was martyred in Mylapore near Madras. (Tradition calls this place Kalloor - the place of rock) in Tamilnadu State, India. The traditional date of martyrdom is 21st of December, 72 AD. His followers took his body and buried him in the tombs of the Chiefs. A merchant from Edessa in Syria who visited that region exhumed his body and took it to Syria where it was entombed in about AD 200. We could see these tombs in Mylapore and in Edessa. Two days are set apart to celebrate the legacy of St. Thomas in the church calendar. St. Thomas day is celebrated on July 3rd and Sabha Dinam on December 21st; the former is the feast commemorating the entombment of the remains at Edessa, and the latter is celebrated as the Day of Martyrdom.

MaR ThoMa CSi CoMMon SeRviCeTo celebrate the Unity established among C.N.I., C.S.I. and MarThoma Churches,(Known as Communion of Churches in India-CCI), Second Sunday of November is ear-marked. Common Communion, pulpit change etc are part of the celebration. Accordingly at St. Thomas Church, on 18th November a CSI Communion Service was held, led by Rev. Binji Varghese with the assistance of our Vicar. On 19th evening At NECK Church & Parish Hall (CSI) a Marthoma Communion Service was conducted by Rev. K.G. Koshy. Our Vicar Rev. Thomas Koshy played the key role in co-ordinating the events. A large crowd attended both the services which was a unique and wonderful experience to many.

ChRiSTMaS CaRoLChristmas Eve was a night of song that wrapped itself around you like a shawl. But it warmed more than your body. It warmed your heart... filled it, too, with a melody that would last forever. - Bess Streeter AldrichOur Christmas Carol for this year will be held on 23rd (Friday) December,2011, at Indian Community School ( Senior) from 6.30 pm. H.G. Mathews Mar Thevodosios Metropolitan, (Bishop, Quilon Diocese, Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church) will Grace the Occasion with his presence and deliver the Christmas Message. Our church choir, both Junior and Senior will sing harmonious Christmas Songs. Let us join together on this wonderful day of event to enjoy the magic of Christmas Carols.

SunDay SChooL ChRiSTMaS CaRoLChRiSTMaS aRounD The WoRLD

God gave his Son to the whole world and our children will be presenting to you how Christmas is celebrated around the world.The Sunday School Christmas Program will be held on Friday, 30th December 2011 at the ICSK (Senior) Auditorium from 6:00PM.All parish members are invited to attend and requested to uphold this program in your prayers.

Birthdays in decemBerDate Name Prayer GrouP telePhoNe mobile

1 PHILIP MATHEW MIZPAH 25630152 664001941 JACOB ABRAHAM CANAAN 25616438 662551731 NEETHA MARIAM ABRAHAM EDEN 25636526 996157242 DENNY KOSHY SHEKAM 666916802 STEVEN JOHN MULLASSERY MIZPAH 25616795 667822392 ANGEL MARIAM ABEY ARARAT 944530952 DENIL CHACKO MATHEW MIZPAH 25750317 990041092 AARON P. ABEY ARARAT 944530952 DEEPU GEORGE SIMON SHEKAM 24891688 650170962 SEEMA ANNIE JOHN MAHANAIM 25635729 667382374 ANU GEORGE THAKADIYIL THOMAS ARARAT 66565360 665653604 ANIL MATHEW EDEN 25625837 996824334 SONA ANN THOMAS CANAAN 25649170 979442146 ALEN TOM ANU ARARAT 66565360 665653606 SEENA ANN ABRAHAM ARARAT 24316092 651080846 TERSY THOMAS EDEN 25615982 976431767 GEORGE VERGHESE (DR.) EMMAUS 256364897 AARON MATHEW TINKU CANAAN 664219048 BINU THOMAS EDEN 25611281 995908198 BINU THOMAS KUREEKKATTIL MAHANAIM 25658460 661809868 ARON JOHN MANU C. KADESH 25643756 662242498 MANJU KOSHY (DR.) OLIVET 25640989 995753088 MATHEWS K.A. KADESH 25646384 665478209 SHERIN ELSA SAMUEL MAHANAIM 25622382 666714099 KURUVILLA MATHEWS OLIVET 25667304 994237359 PREENA SUSAN ABRAHAM ARARAT 24311746 66467024

10 MATHEWS KOSHY CANAAN 25641766 6651106510 PHILIPOSE VALIYAPARAMPIL EDEN 9921937511 MANESH KOSHY JACOB SHEKAM 24755693 6507423711 SHEBIN THOMAS MATHEW MAHANAIM 94403845 6604959212 ANITA JOSE (DR.) GEEHON 25359283 6689303112 CHACKO ATTACHERIL SKARIA SHEKAM 24745215 9933173812 SANDHRA JEMI SAM MIZPAH 6616652312 SHEJI ALEX (DR.) EPHRATH 24330564 6709646512 MATHEW ABRAHAM K. GEEHON 25344763 6640935913 JESSICA SARAH THOMAS EMMAUS 25660975 6653328413 JEREMY ABRAHAM THOMAS EMMAUS 25660975 6653328413 ALEYAMMA MATHEW EPHRATH 24314590 6676007515 CHRISTY THOMAS EDEN 25663520 9786781415 ERIN GEORGE EPHRATH 24316092 6510808415 IRINE SARAH JERRIN EPHRATH 6686243616 SUJI MATHEW SAMUEL KADESH 6627968716 SUSAN GEORGE CANAAN 25622974 9950171517 SIMI MIRIAM ASHISH CANAAN 25645275 9985896117 ASHLY MONCY EPHRATH 99718537

Date Name Prayer GrouP telePhoNe mobile

Birthdays in decemBer

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"

17 GEEVARGHESE THOMAS EMMAUS 25629186 9936007318 RENESH VARGHESE RAJU CANAAN 25641839 9940611518 SUNITHA GEORGE KADESH 25663459 9985651818 SHARON RACHEL SUNIL MAHANAIM 99514344 6619710718 SHAJI JOSEPH KADESH 25612248 9406316119 VARGHESE P. C. OLIVET 25642079 6648849021 REENA K.MATHEW MIZPAH 25611453 9781061821 EAPEN VERGHESE OLIVET 25658549 9955625721 RONNELL JACOB CANAAN 25624312 6657706922 AMIEL ALEX VARGHESE EPHRATH 24317873 9791613422 MON MATHEWS C. JOHN KADESH 25665482 9978593422 SNEHA SUZANNA GEORGE EMMAUS 25614539 9724724222 GEORGE EAPEN MAHANAIM 9725403822 MATHEW SAMUEL MIZPAH 25611453 9781061822 ANGEL SHAJI GEORGE EDEN 9969173023 RUBIN K. THOMAS EMMAUS 25730462 6629377223 LEYA SARA JACOB CANAAN 6624641323 JOBY NEBU JOHN MIZPAH 25759574 6697832123 ANU ABRAHAM K. EMMAUS 25649072 9760987624 GEORGE MATHEW CANAAN 9943298424 SHEEBA SIMON MIZPAH 6660535824 ASHWIN ISSAC MATHEW EPHRATH 24316015 9956150625 DAVID JOHN IDICULLA KADESH 25653028 9928199525 SHAJI PHILIP THENASSERIL OLIVET 6676309025 CHRISTINE ELIZABETH ABRAHAM CANAAN 25622974 9950171525 ABRAHAM VARGHESE CANAAN 25637067 9986051326 ATHUL SHIJU GEORGE KADESH 25610934 9914200526 JOEL THOMAS GEORGE K. EDEN 25625029 9750424326 ROSHAN ROY THOMAS KADESH 25649143 9950627627 SHERIN THOMAS EDEN 25662952 9982738927 SAMUEL RENJI VARGHESE OLIVET 25629644 9958547627 BINDU MATHEW EMMAUS 25657821 9960160428 SNEHA SARA THOMAS EMMAUS 25730462 6629377228 BYJU P. MATHEWS OLIVET 25661536 9783910128 VINEETH ABRAHAM PAZHOOR MIZPAH 25612559 6627736329 SHEENA KOSHY ARARAT 24348934 9721352229 BINDU ABRAHAM KADESH 6627968729 RAJI ANU KOSHY EPHRATH 9943607729 MARIAMMA MATHEW GEEHON 25344763 6640935929 NABILA ABRAHAM MATHEW MAHANAIM 25629174 6558164431 ROHAN ABRAHAM ATHYAL KADESH 25619413 6657738631 AMBILY ELIZABETH JACOB EMMAUS 23716843 66270297

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

CoNDoleNCeWe, The St. Thomas family express our deepest condolence to Mr. John Alexander & family Mem # 0369 Vice President, St.Thomas Mar Thoma church, at the sad demise of his mother-in-law Mrs. Mary John (73), Achandy house, Muringoor, Chalakudy.

St. Thomas family joins in conveying our heartfelt condolence to the bereaving members of Mr. John Sam & family Mem # 021 Olivet prayer group at the loss of his father-in-law Chacko T. Thomas (61) Thelapurathu, Maramon, who has been called to the heavenly adobe.

May The Peace that passeth all understanding abide

with the bereaved.

NEW MEMBER

Amy Marie AlanD/o Alan Aby varghese & Leya Sara Jacob

Born on 17th March 2011Canaan P.G

Richlin Ann GeorgeD/o George Eapen & Sheena Anna George

Born on 17TH September 2011Mahanaim P.G

neW boRn baby

John alexander John varghese (Reji) Christy Thomas

Vice President Secretary Trustee

66249240 / 25610139 99086449 / 25627036 97867814 / 25663520

vijoy alexander Mathew P alexander abraham Stephen

Trustee Accounts Lay Ministrant Lay Ministrant

97100853 / 22623051 97835292 / 25650273 66284427 / 25624177

Member Number-0425JOHN C.MATHEW

Prayer Group: EdenMother Parish: Immanuel -Nerul, Navi

MumbaiContact No - 94917052

ST.ThoMaS oFFiCe beaReRS 2011-2012

Wedding anniversaries in decemBerWe 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

4 EASOW K. I. & SANTHAMMA EASOW MIZPAH 25751147 99780609

4 ABRAHAM VARGHESE & JESSY A. MATHEW OLIVET 25652846 97592351

5 ABRAHAM V. JOHN & JOMOL ABRAHAM MIZPAH 66891075 99270127

6 CHACKO ALEXANDER P. & ELIZABETH ALEXANDER MIZPAH 25710468 66067546

8 JOHN GEORGE & SUNITA ANIE SAMUEL EMMAUS 25616846 99252794

8 SUNIL JOY & JEENU SUNIL EDEN 66714543

9 ABEY P. THOMAS & ELIZABETH THOMAS ARARAT 94453095

10 THOMAS GEORGE & GRACY THOMAS EPHRATH 24330292 66191007

10 SAJI BABY & ANNIE VARGHESE EPHRATH 24330292 66191007

15 ANUP RAJAN DANIEL & MALINI ANUP DANIEL CANAAN 25629747 99068514

15 MATHEW PHILIP & JITTYMOL MARIAM MATHEW ARARAT 97133949

23 DR. SUBIN THOMAS & ELWINA SUBIN MAHANAIM 25648202 97482940

25 SHEEBU OOMMEN & SMITA SHEEBU OOMMEN ARARAT 97827674

25 SAM CHERIYAN & BINU THOMAS EMMAUS 23727907 99468239

26 THOMAS GEORGE & ANNE THOMAS CANAAN 25623273 97934381

27 JOSEPH GEORGE & ELSY JOSEPH GEORGE MAHANAIM 25636722 66632157

27 IDICULLA ABRAHAM & ANITHA ABRAHAM MIZPAH 25731735 65608884

27 BINU T. KORUTHU & SHERLY BINU MIZPAH 67785016 66257383

27 SAM PHILIP & BINSU SAM MIZPAH 66166523

28 VARUGHESE MATHEW & ANNAMMA MATHEW EDEN 25615823 99758170

28 DR. REJI PHILIP ATHYAL & DR. PREETHI SIMON KADESH 25619413 66577386

28 SHAJI THOMAS & SOSAMMA THOMAS CANAAN 25651132 99204016

29 MATHEWS K. ABRAHAM & SARADA MATHEWS ABRAHAM GEEHON 25323698 99446358

29 GEORGE VARGHESE K. & LEELAMMA K. GEORGE GEEHON 25353394 66224297

29 JIBU JACOB THOMAS & BENCY ANNIE CHACKO OLIVET 66325904

29 SUNNY THOMAS CHAKKUMCHIRA & VIJI SUNNY THOMAS MAHANAIM 66357330

30 VARUGHESE THOMAS M. & SOSAMMA THOMAS CANAAN 25652006 99320230

30 SHAJI GEORGE & BINU JOB EDEN 99691730

31 JOHN YOHANNAN & ACCAMMA JOHN CANAAN 25630400 66588173

31 PHILIP BABY & DR. LIGY MATHEW OLIVET 25611291 99574695

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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

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Sponsorship for “MESSENGER” is solicited from individuals, families (share the special occasions), organizations, prayer groups. For details please contact the office bearers in advance.

DaTeTiM

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Go

SPeLFiRST

LeSSon

SeConD

LeSSon

PRayeRGRo

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RGaniSaTio

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2 FRI7.30 AM

STC, SALMIYA

VISITATION OF MARY TO ELIZABETH- “BEARERSOF GOOD

NEWS” BIBLE STUDY

HOLY

COM

MUNIO

N2 THES 3:6- 13

ST.LUKE 1:39-45

GEN

33:1-172 CO

RI 1:3-11

MAHANAIM

6 TUE7.30 PM

HOP, NECK

OLIVET

9 FRI7.30 AM

STC, SALMIYA

BIRTH OF JO

HN THE BAPTIST

HOLY COMMUNION ENGLISH

HEBREW4:1-13

ST.LUKE 1:57-66

1SSA 55:6-13

ACTS 11:19-26

SUNDAY SCHOO

L

9 FRI9.00 AM

STC, SALMIYA

FASTING PRAYER

EDAVAKA MISSIO

N

13 TUE7.30 PM

HOP, NECK

HOLY

COM

MUNIO

NEPHRAIM

16 FRI7:30 AM

STC, SALMIYA

ANNUNCIATION

TO JO

SEPHHO

LY CO

MM

UNION

ROM

ANS 1 :1-16

ST.MATHEW

1: 18-23

ISSA 11:1-10

1 JOHN

5:1-12EDEN

20 TUE7.30 PM

HOP, NECK

MAR THO

MA

CHURCH DAYHO

LY CO

MM

UNION

PHIL 3:12-21

ST.JOHN

2: 1-4ISSA

22:20-291 CO

RI 1:18-25

EPHRATH

23 FRI7:30 AM

STC, SALMIYA

YALDO BIRTH O

F O

UR SAVIOUR

(FESTOF NATIVITY)

HOLY

COM

MUNIO

N

HEBREW1:1-12

ST.LUKE 2:1-14

ISSA 9:1-18

GAL

4:1-7

KADESH

23 FRI07:00 PM

ICSK SALMIYA

CAROLL SERVICE

CHOIR

24 SAT07:00 PM

STC, SALMIYA

CHRISTMAS HOLY COMMUNION

WILL BE ASSIG

NED

27 TUE7.30 PM

HOP, NECK

HOLY

COM

MUNIO

NCANAAN

30 FRI7:30 AM

STC, SALMIYA

HOLY

COM

MUNIO

N2 TIM

O

2:1-10ST.M

AT 16:9-18

ISSA 61:1-11

ACTS 20:17-16

ARARAT

neW yeaR SeRviCe

31 SAT09:30 PM

STC, SALMIYA

WATCH NIG

HT SERVICEHO

LY CO

MM

UNION

1 PETER5:6-11

ST.LUKE 12:22-34

EXO

33:12-23HEBREW

13:7-21

WILL BE ASSIG

NED