July 2009 

Programmes on Musical Adoration
The month of August 2009 is set apart for Musical Adoration in our sesquicentennial calendar. Two programmes are proposed:

• Praise and Worship Service under the leadership of the Young Family
  Fellowship and Youth Fellowship on 15 August 2009 at 6.00 pm in
  our Centenary Hall.
   
• "Adoration Concert" by Church Organisations under the leadership of
  Christ Church Choir on Sunday the 23 August 2009 at 6.00 pm in our
  Centenary Hall.

The Organisations/participants are requested to take immediate action and start the rehearsals for both the events, so that our musical adoration is befitting to the traditions and heritage of Christ Church, during the sesquicentennial celebrations.

Medical Camp by Doctor’s Forum
A medical camp arranged by our Doctor’s Forum will be held from 2.00 pm to 5.00 pm on Sunday, 12 July 2009 at Lenin Nagar Colony, Bakery Junction. Participation of our doctors and youth volunteers are solicited for successful conduct of this medical camp.

  March 2009 

The forthcoming monthly Programs as decided by the Organizing Committee on 18 October 2008 are given for information of the congregation with a request to take active part in the Celebrations.

March 2009 : Cancer Awareness Program by Women’s Fellowship on 14 March 2009
April 2009 : Sunday School Program
May 2009 : The Great Family Reunion, 23-24 May 2009
June 2009 : Ecological Forum - Seminar on “Food Security”.
July 2009 : Youth Fellowship
August 2009 : Choir Festival
September 2009 : Fund Raising Concert by “Rock of Ages”, Kochi
October 2009 : Diocesan Clergy Conference
November 2009 : Valedictory Public Meeting

There could be changes and inclusion of more events as we progress. Suggestions are solicited for conduct of specific programs from the members. The details of the forthcoming programs will be intimated through TIDINGS.

Souvenir
The brochure for our souvenir is ready. Articles for the Souvenir are invited from members as per details below:

1. All write ups/articles should be limited to 2 pages; approximately 1000 words.
2. Articles may be in Tamil, Malayalam and English.
3. Not exceeding 30 to 40% of the pages may be allotted for articles.
4. Articles received will be selected and edited by a screening committee.
5. Screening committee shall, be inclusive of The Rev. Dr. Jacob Varghese, The Rev. Dr. K.K. Koshy and one laity.
6. Notice inviting articles not later than 15-04-09 will be announced at the divine services on 01-02-09, displayed on our website, notice board and published in the Newsletter.
7. The screening committee reserves the right to reject any article without assigning any reason.

Articles may be invited from our members on the following subjects:
a) Gospel & Culture
b) Mission of the Church in a pluralistic society
c) Faith and Challenge of contemporary ideologies
d) Influence of music in Christian life
e) Christian healing and medicine
f) Spirituality in the changing world
g) Short testimonies
h) Reminiscences
i) Humor / laughter
j) Short stories with moral values
k) Poems
l) Painting

To select items j), k), l), which are assigned to children and
youth, it was decided to conduct a competition in May 2009, of the
following nature:
a) Children - Juniors up to 10 years
b) Children - Seniors between 10 and 17 years
c) Youth - between 17 and 35 years excluding painting.
Scoring the highest 2 ranks will be selected from each category.


The Advertisement rates for the Souvenir will be as follows:
Cover Back 100,000 (colour)
Front inside 75,000 (colour)
Back inside 50,000 (colour)
Inside pages full 10,000 (colour) 7000 (B&W)
Half 5000 (colour) 3000 (B&W)
Quarter 3000 (colour) 2000 (B&W)
All the members are requested to canvass maximum advertisements for our Souvenir. Copies of the brochure can be had from Mr. Koshy Oommen, Convener, Souvenir sub committee.

Projects : Major maintenance to our Common Vault
The Church Committee Infrastructure sub committee supervised and completed the captioned work planned under Church and Premises Development at a cost of Rs. 1,70,344.00

Charkari Mission House
Construction of the Mission house in Charkari Mission for which we have contributed Rs. 2 Lakh has been completed and the dedication is proposed on 18 March 2009 by our Bishop Rt. Rev.Thomas Samuel. Some of our members are planning to attend the dedication service.


  February 2009 

Sesquicentennial Calendar 2009
As we have some more calendars still to be sold, all the members who have not yet possessed one for them and their children are requested to treasure this beautiful calendar of our sanctuary at the earliest.

Church Convention
Our Convention during the sesquicentennial year was held from 14 to 17 January 2009 , inaugurated by Rt.Rev. Sam Mathew and Prof. Koshy Talakal was the main speaker. Detailed report is given elsewhere in the bulletin.

The Great Family Reunion
CS I Christ Church, Trivandrum with 900 families and 5000 members, celebrating 150 years of witness in the capital city of Kerala, should have a unique occasion to have fellowship with all the family members who are away from us now. “ THE GREAT FAMILY REUNION” on 23-24 May 2009 is planned so that all our children now living in many parts of the World get an opportunity to partake as one Christ Church Family and thank God for His manifold blessings over the years. All our families are expected to invite their children to join in this event and reach home on 23 May 2009. Separate invitation from the Sesquicentennial Organizing Committee would be mailed in advance and through our website. Hospitality for those who do not have a home now would also have to be arranged by those who are willing to host our dear ones in their homes, if required. All our Bishops and achens who served the parish earlier, achens from our congregation and all our children who are married and staying elsewhere would be invited to join their Christ Church Family for a day. The functions in the Church Premises would be on 23 Saturday evening with a program of variety entertainments by the Area Prayer Groups and Church Organizations and on Sunday, the 24 May2009 with a Family Sunday Thanksgiving Worship Service followed by a Great Parish Get-together with Family Familiarization Programs, Family Performances etc.. The Area Prayer Groups are requested to play an active role in co coordinating the arrival of Guests, Planning skits, Quiz, Games etc.. For the day, besides all the 12 sub committees. . We would like to get confirmation of all those who would make to this great event in our Jubilee Celebrations, well in advance. All the heads of our families are requested to take this Event seriously, advice their children well in advance and forward the information to the General Convener for making arrangements. A special appeal has been distributed through the Area Prayer Group Conveners for intimating the e-mail id/address of those who are away from us and this information may be given at the earliest to contact all. This would be a special occasion of celebration for the Church and our Children who are placed by God in very important positions to worship in the sanctuary they grew up, and also offer their praises and gifts to the Projects of their parent Church. The details are being worked out and would be updated from time to time in the website and in TIDINGS. We request all who are away to plan their holiday trip to Christ Church Family Reunion on 23&24 May 2009

Outreach Program on Cancer Awareness
Our Women’s Fellowship, on 14 March 2009, is organizing this outreach program with the help and support of the Regional Cancer Centre, Thiruvananthapuram. Preliminary work in our outstations and elsewhere to identify those in need have been undertaken and we propose to grant “Cancer Care for Life” policies to as many genuine recipients identified along with the awareness program. We are expecting the gracious presence of H H Utradom Tirunal as the Chief Guest for this function in our Centenary Hall. We would require sponsors for the life policy at Rs. 500 per person. Please extend your generous support for this noble cause and contact the office bearers of the women’s fellowship with your sponsorship. Please make the second Saturday in March free to attend the Program without fail.

Program by the Young Family Fellowship
Details of the Program during February 2009 to be organized by the Young Family Fellowship are under finalization and would be intimated soon.

Sesquicentennial Projects
Finalization of our Main Project is in progress and the congregation is requested to pray fervently for taking a suitable proposal for appropriate decision.

  December 2008 

Projects
Completion of three of the Projects identified by the Organizing Committee and approved by the Church Committee under “ Church and Premises Development” have been taken up by the Projects sub committee and completed by December 2008.

The works pertain to
(1) Rewiring of the Church,
(2) Installation of Generator for Church, Centenary Hall and Premises
(3) Installation of Sound System for the Church.

Methodical and untiring effort put forth on technical, financial and managerial aspects of Project implementation by members of the Project and Finance Sub committees are thankfully acknowledged.

Members of the Congregation are once again requested to forward their suggestions/proposals for the “Mission Outreach Project” at the earliest to the Chairman, Projects sub committee so that we are able to finalize the Main Sesquicentennial Project, positively by January 2009.

Calendar 2009
A calendar for 2009 has been brought out to mark the jubilee celebrations. All the families are requested to treasure this beautiful calendar at Rs 25/- per copy