Seven and counting - Amritsar Diocese Youth Fest

Seven and counting for the Amritsar Diocesan Youth Festival 29^th May to 1^st June 2011

Boys and girls from Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir poured into the hills of Dalhousie on the afternoon of 29^th May 2011 for the 7^th Diocesan Youth Festival themed “Youth for Church”. The organizing committee helped break the ice and divided them into six groups of historical figures who had brought change to our nation and influenced hearts and minds of people. They were Rabindranath Tagore, Sarojini Naidu, Pandita Rama Bai, Sadhu Sunder Singh, Mother Teresa and William Carey groups. Later, the group leaders would be required to discuss and present the significance of these figures.

Each day began with intense physical exercise be it a 3 and half kilometer trek on the hill or a match of volley ball and throw ball. That blended well with a dose of spiritual exercise by Shanti Niketan Children’s Home team leading in praise and worship.

Ms. Esther Ghosh and Ms. Corrie Susan, resource persons from the Synodical Board of Social Services (SBSS), Delhi, conducted bible study and session on “Identity and self-worth”. They highlighted the challenges that the youth face and enabled them to find themselves and realize their true identities as Christian youth. The groups presented a collage each of their identities as Christian youth. The motion of the debate competition that followed was “Church is not considerate for the Youth”.

“Fear and Trust” was the theme for the next day. Ms. Ghosh and Ms. Susan led this day’s bible study and session from the life of Gideon. They encouraged the groups to present skits on the problems of youth in the church and the possible solutions.

The last day began the volley ball finals at 6 . After praise and worship Ms. Ghosh led the Bible Study on 1^st Corinthians 12. Dr. Awale, Chief Coordinator, SBSS and Mr. Daniel B. Das, Coordinator Socio-Economic Development Programme, helped the youth to identify key issues and to plan for the future. “What is Church and the role of the youth in the Church” was the focus of all discussions. The participants were given a self addressed letter to write a promise which would be posted to them after six months to remind them of their commitment to themselves.

The congregation of St. John’s Church, Dalhousie, encouraged and worshiped with the youth in the dedication service. Bible studies, sessions and various activities bonded their relationship with each other and strengthened their faith in God. It helped them realize their commitment towards the church and ministry and they took an oath with stretched out hands to dedicate their identities to live according to the will of God.

The cultural night lit up with folk songs and dances from all three states within the Diocesan urisdiction. And boys and girls who had flocked into this gathering walked out as young men and women with a promise in their heart.

CMS Co-mission parter Mr. Noel Kotian from Bangalore India writes, 
 Dear Friends,

We have been working on the New Curriculum for CEEFI. It took us almost two years. These are written by our own people and is made relevant to the present situation. Do pray for us as we sell this material all over India and also for the translation in various languages. 

With regards,

Noel Kotian

Female infanticide affects sex ratio in Punjab

Female infanticide affects sex ratio in Punjab: The evil is more prevalent among the educated and the rich: survey

PATIALA: “She was thrown in the garbage dump outside the village for dogs that ate her. Her only fault — she was the fourth girl born in a poor family,” said Harshinder Kaur, paediat­ric doctor here, recalling the first time she witnessed discrimina­tion against female infants in Punjab's rural side.

The sex ratio of last births (number of females born per 1,000 males when the first child is a female) ranges from a low of 504 in Punjab, to 540 in Haryana, and 572 in Himachal Pradesh indicating a re­gional spread.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/2010/04/16/ stories/2010041654592200.htm

Steve based in China writes:

Firstly, I was in the orphan babies in Morbi, State of Gujarat, India. Most of the parents got killed by bombs. Now they are facing the swine flu in the Morbi small town, two orphan babies passed and others babies is in the hospital. Vaccine is limited there as it is far from the city (4 hours away). Please pray for the babies to heal quickly and vaccine is available for the local people. for more details see here

Secondly, the whole Yunnan never rain since 7 - 8 months and it is very dry cold place. Especially the remote area like the farm include our serving farm. I heard that one pile of water had been reused for 9 - 10 people to take a shower and drink the dirty re-use water. Moreover, most of the vegetables, crops and fruits is dying as it is lack of water. Also the ground soil is so dry and hard. Please pray for rain to come down.

Scenes from Maramon Convention Feb 2010

Below: Mar Thoma Bishops (do not marry, no retirement age)

Below: Tim Dakin and Vinod Victor

Below: Maramon at sunset

Tim on the big screen

Men sit separately and ladies are kept off the sandbed

Below: retired Metropolitan Chrysoston now in his 90's

Tim in conversation with his interpreter

Below - 3 of hundreds of stands

Tim Dakin speaks at Maramon

CMS General Secretary Tim Dakin gave four of the main talks over the final four days of the Maramon Convention in Kerala (14-21 February) including the sermon on the final sunday service. The talks were on the theme "Live the Gospel" and Tim effectively included illustrations from the best selling and popular Indian novelist Chetan Bagat as well hitting the right notes in contrasting Indian cricketing success with England mediocre performances. Tens of thousands attended what is reputedly the largest regular Christian gathering in Asia. While Christians of all denominations attend it is organised by the Mar Thoma Syrian Church of Malabar. CMS missionaries had a catalytic effect in the "reformation" that led to formation of the church out of the traditional Syrian Orthodox church in the 19th century. The Mar Thoma Evangelistic Association is also the oldest established indigensous mission movement in India and is also a CMS partner and member of Faith2Share. Pray for its General Secretary CK Matthew as he oversees their extensive mission work as well organising the annual Maramon Convention.

Urgent prayer request from Facebook

Lalita from Pune 'Need urgent prayer for a nine year old girl in the high risk area. What I saw shook me today. Please pray for special wisdom. thanks.'

Simon from Seoul has started blogging - give it a look-see and leave a comment

The reason of going to Mongolia « CMS North East

perbalo.wordpress.com

A translation of Bp. Joseph Lee’s writing on Connect Korea, The reason why a retired bishop is going to Mongolia......

snake charming

The plaintive sounds of the snake-charmer’s pipe wafted out on the still air of the morning. It was 8.00 am on a beautiful day and the snake-charmer had been called in to find any snakes lurking in the garden. The sound of chattering voices mingled with the pipe tunes as the boys from the hostel nearby came to watch him at his work. Out of a basket a cobra raised his head and began to sway to the music, closely followed by another. We were informed that their fangs had been removed, which was quite a relief as we watched the snake charmer allow the snakes to glide around his neck and shoulders!

After the show was over, the boys went off to school, and the charmer began his other task. Around the garden he went, making his music, and then suddenly with a flick of his wrist he had a cobra snake by the tail, and was making his way to his bag to put it in. This was a wild snake with his fangs and we stood watching in awe as he did this. Minutes later the charmer found the female partner to the cobra and went off very happily with his cargo as he would be selling the snakes to the government who use the venom to make antidote medicines. It was something of a shock to us to see that the bush where he caught the snake was only a few feet away from the little patio where we had been sitting to do some work! Thank you Lord, for your protection!

We had come to Nawabganj, in Uttar Pradesh to meet up with an amazing man of God, Rev Andrew McCabe, who has worked in that area for over 50 years, setting up schools and children’s homes. At 85 years of age he is still having new ideas and we were there to help him in the planning of a new English-medium school. The hostel next to the school site houses 167 boys and they attend the Hindi-medium school at present, but the big move in India is for English education as it opens the doors to greater possibilities for future jobs. It was such a privilege to lead the devotions morning and evening for the boys of the hostel, some of whom in the past have gone on to be Pastors, lawyers, and high-ranking officials in the area.

We give thanks to God for His amazing protection over us in all the travels and places we visit around India and Asia, as we’ve encountered snakes as well as rats and bears – but they are another story!

Debby and Malcolm,

Education Consultants, The Well Education Consultancy

Supporting Mission Education across India and Asia

Maramon Convention

Vinod writes:

Asia’s biggest Christian gathering Maramon Convention (The 115th) is scheduled February 14 to 21st. The pandal (flat roof thatched by woven coconut leaves) which can accommodate almost 80,000 people is expected to be completed by Wednesday February 10. The woven coconut leaves will be carried from their homes to their allotted area by each parishioner from nearby parishes. Two hundred thousand copies of Marmon Convention hymn book (in Malayalam and with transliterated) with 16 new hymns have already been completed. A choir of more than 101 members is planned to lead the hymns at every meeting.
The schedule includes morning, afternoon and evening meetings every day. The speakers planned are the Bishops of the Mar Thoma Church and Reverend Canon Tim Dakin, (General Secretary, CMS, since 2000), Bishop Dr. Robert M Solomon, (Methodist Church, Singapore), Rev. Martin Alphons (USA) and Rev. Vinod Victor, (Trivandrum, Kerala, India).

Please pray for all attending. You can follow it online

more details here

Thought of the week

"Expect great things from God, attempt great things for God.”
William Cary

Promoted to glory

Sorry we have just receved this (dated 29th December) Please pray for Rev Dr Theadore Willaim's family as well as his colleagues at IEM

a thousand young people

Vinod wrotes on Facebook

The National Ecumenical Youth Assembly of NCC India is happening from the 6th to 10th January 2010. in Kolkota India. SAEPP is facilitating the participation of 25 youngsters each from Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan and Bangladesh and 10 from Srilanka. Please pray for this event where a thousand young people are expected

No more discomfort

Lalita writes (via Facebook):

No more pain, no more discomfort my husband of 44 years 7 months is safe in the arms of the Lord he loved. we as a family have great peace, but i do need a comforting hug. Love you all dearly. Thanks for standing by us and praying. My God WILL richly bless you

.

Please pray for Lalita that the God of comfort would comfort her with the same comfort as she has comforted so many others 2 Cor 1:3-7

25 years ago today 1984 December 3rd , Indian city of Bhopal witnessed the worst industrial accident ever, which expossed over 500,000 people to toxic gases. 3,787 people died immediately, 8,000-10,000 died within 72 hours and since then 25,000 died from gas-related diseases.
Even though 25 years has passed since the accident and closure of the factory 390 tonnes of toxic chemicals abandoned at the Union Carbide plant which continue to pollute the ground water.
Please pray for the survivors, and the families of the victims
read more

CSI investigation

The GEN SEC of Church of South India (CSI) wrote in Oct

I write this to inform you that based on the complaint filed by the General Secretary of CSI the police after going through all the process, have arrested the Liaison Officer for ERD .... and the Associate Liaison Officer for ERD .....I on Friday 9th October 2009. After preliminary investigations, both are remanded to judicial custody. The police are in search of the other three against whom the complaint was lodged .... The news of the arrest has created a sensation in the media and the church circles. This is for your information. I request you to kindly uphold the officers of the Synod in your prayers in view of the fact that they face lot of challenges as they continue to probe into the affair.

Please continue to pray for the CSI leadership