Author: stthomasli

Kindly refer to the flyers below for information regarding this year’s lenten retreats as well as Holy Week:

1. Holy Qurbana Sign-Up – Starting this week there is a new sign-up process for Holy Qurbana.  Instructions were sent out Monday, via voice message, on how to sign up for the upcoming Sunday service.  The link has been sent via text message.  Each household should sign up only once and under the same form.  The sign-up process will be 1st come, 1st serve.  If the link is still open and you are able to sign up, you will see a confirmation after you submit.  You will also receive an email with your submitted form.  This means you are confirmed for service.  Once we have reached capacity, the form will be closed and the link will not work.
2. Mid-Lent Service – will be held this Tuesday, March 9th at 6:30pm. No sign-up required.  Please maintain the 6-feet distance in the lobby and when seating yourselves in the available rows.  All members who wish to participate are welcome. 
3. General Body Meeting – There will be a General Body meeting to discuss the 2021 Annual Budget, held on Sunday, March 14th at 3:30pm via Zoom.  The budget and instructions were emailed to the parish members. If you have not received the 2021 Annual Budget, please email treasurer@stthomasli.org.
4. Parish Lenten Retreat Messages – Our parish Lenten Retreat will take place through Zoom.  The English retreat message will be given on Saturday, March 20th at 4:30pm and the Malayalam retreat message will be on Saturday, March 27th at 4:30pm.  The links will be sent via text message and posted on GroupMe.
5. Holy Week Donation – Just a reminder that all members are kindly requested to make a donation of $100 for Holy Week. Please give your donation to the Treasurer as soon as possible.

1. Tax Letters – The 2020 tax letters are being emailed out this week.  Members without a listed email address, will be mailed the letter.  If you do not receive it by the end of the week, please let the Treasurer know.
2. Holy Qurbana Sign-Up – To sign up for Sun, Feb 14th, the deadline is Wed, Feb 10th. Please do so as soon as possible; once capacity has been reached, exceptions can not be made. If you sign up, be sure to come for service by 8:30am; doors will be closed after that time. Also, masks must be properly worn for all services.

1. Upcoming Mid-Week Services – Similar to Denaha Service, there will not be a sign up process.  Be sure to arrive through the main entrance.  Please maintain the 6-feet distance in the lobby and when seating yourselves in the available rows.  All members who wish to participate are welcome. 
   1. Fast of Nineveh (3-Day Lent) – The Fast of Nineveh will be held from Mon, Jan 25th to the 27th.  There will be evening prayer every day during the fast and will be concluded with Holy Qurbana on Wed, Jan 27th at 6:30pm.  
   2. The Feast of Lord’s Entry into The Temple (Mayaltho) – Holy Qurbana will be conducted next Mon, Feb 1st at 6:30pm. 
2. Holy Qurbana Sign-Up – To sign up for Sun, Jan 31st, the deadline is Wed, Jan 27th. Please do so as soon as possible; once capacity has been reached, exceptions can not be made. If you sign up, be sure to come for service by 8:30am; doors will be closed after that time. Also, masks must be properly worn for all services.
3. Baby Boy – Mr. Jaison K. Geevarghese & Mrs. Shynu Merin Mathew were blessed with a baby boy, Johan Geevarghese Jaison, on Fri, Jan 22nd. Please keep the baby, mother, and family in your prayers

1. New Year’s Day Service – This is a reminder that there will be Holy Qurbana on January 1st at 7:30am.  In order to sign up for New Year’s Day service, message the secretary before Wednesday, December 30th.  No more spots will be provided after this date or once capacity has been reached.  If you sign up, be sure to come by 8:30am; doors will be closed after that time.  
2. Holy Qurbana Sign-Up – To sign up for Sunday, January 3rd, the deadline is Wednesday, December 30th. If you have attended prior services, you will be placed on a waiting list if you leave a voicemail or text to sign up.
3. Council of Indian Orthodox Churches Combined Christmas & New Year’s Celebration – will be held on January 10th at 3pm via Zoom.  All members are requested to attend.  Please refer to the flyer below for the Meeting ID and Passcode.

1. Passing of Mrs. Saramma Das – the sister of Mr. Mathew Thomas, Wednesday in Thiruvalla, India. She was 80 years old. Please keep the bereaved family in your prayers
2. General Body Meeting – There will be an in-person General Body meeting held in the sanctuary on Sunday, November 22nd after Holy Qurbana.  We will be holding elections for 2021 at this meeting.  For all eligible members, there will be a separate sign up to attend, similar to Sunday service, that will begin this week.
3. Holy Qurbana Sign-Up – The church will remain open at a limited capacity for Holy Qurbana on Sundays. Please follow the instructions, which were sent via text and posted on the parish website to sign up for Sunday, November 22nd. The deadline is Wednesday, November 18th. If you have attended prior services, you will be placed on a waiting list if you leave a voicemail or text to sign up.
4. MGOCSM Canned Food Drive – The MGOCSM is hosting a canned food drive for the Mary Brennan Inn. Please bring in any non perishable canned or boxed food items. There is a box placed in the lobby of the church. On your way in, please drop the items in the box before entering the sanctuary. The youth is kindly requesting that all donations be brought in a grocery bag, to avoid any cross contamination. The last date for collection will be Sunday, December 6th. Please reach out to Ruth Abraham or Joshua Mathew with any further questions. They wish to thank everyone in advance for your support.

1. Holy Qurbana Sign-Up – The church will remain open at a limited capacity for Holy Qurbana on Sundays only. Please follow the instructions, which were sent via text and posted on the parish website to sign up for Sunday, November 8th. The deadline is Wednesday, November 4th. If you have attended prior services, you will be placed on a waiting list if you leave a voicemail or text to sign up.
2. MGOCSM Canned Food Drive – The MGOCSM will be hosting a canned food drive for the Mary Brennan Inn. Please bring in any non-perishable canned or boxed food items. There will be a box placed in the lobby of the church next Sunday. On your way in, please drop them in the box before entering the church. We are kindly asking that all donations be brought in a grocery bag in order to avoid any cross contamination. Please reach out to Ruth Abraham or Joshua Mathew with any further questions. Thank you in advance for your support.

1. Passing of Mr. P. D. Joseph – the grandfather of Mr. Mathew John, on Monday in Cheppad, India. He was 88 years old. The funeral will take place Tuesday. Please keep the bereaved family in your prayers.
2. Holy Qurbana (August 9th) Sign-Up – The church will remain open at a limited capacity for Holy Qurbana on Sunday. Please follow the instructions, which were sent via text and posted on the parish website to sign up for Sunday, August 9th. The deadline is Wednesday, August 5th. If you have attended prior services, you will be placed on a waiting list if you leave a voicemail or text to sign up for August 9th’s service.
3. Baby Girl – Mr. Abraham K. Yohannan & Mrs. Rosemary Yohannan were blessed with a baby granddaughter, Madelyn Rose Paul, Tuesday, July 28th. Please keep the baby and family in your prayers.

1. Passing of Mrs. Annamma George – the mother of Mrs. Suja Mathew, Monday morning in Bhilai, India, after fighting a long battle with breast cancer. She was 74 years old. Please keep the bereaved family in your prayers.
2. Holy Qurbana (August 2nd) Sign-Up – The church will be open again at a limited capacity (of 50 members) for Holy Qurbana, which will continue for Sunday service only. Please follow the instructions, which were sent via text and posted on the parish website to sign up for Sunday, August 2nd.  The deadline is Wednesday, July 29th.  If you have attended prior services, you will be placed on a waiting list if you leave a voicemail or text to sign up for August 2nd’s service.
3. Sunday School – will be hosting a bi-weekly summer session for children of all ages via Zoom. Please register at your earliest convenience for the first session on Sunday, August 2nd from 4-6pm. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1SGu2aNIJq96ng1mhyxdy05CURMI_goFYLSBhlocS6-g/edit?usp=drivesdk
4. Baby Girl – Mr. Rajan K. Alakottu & Mrs. Annamma Rajan were blessed with a baby granddaughter, Olivia Ann Thampan, Thursday, July 16th. Please keep the baby and family in your prayers.

1. Feast of St. Thomas (Parish Perunal) – There will be a live streamed service for the Feast of St. Thomas (Parish Perunal) on Saturday, July 4th at 7:30AM.
2. Live Video-Streaming Services – will continue as follows: 
   1. Holy Qurbana streamed Sundays at 7:30AM via Facebook Live.
   2. Evening Prayer streamed Saturdays at 6:30PM via Facebook Live.
   3. Monthly Prayer Meetings on last Sunday of the month at 4PM via Zoom.  The next prayer meeting will be Sunday, July 26th at 4PM.
3. Public Reopening of Church – Beginning Sunday, July 5th, the church will reopen at a limited capacity (of 50 members) for Holy Qurbana. Lilio (Midnight) Prayer will begin at 7:30AM, Morning Prayer at 8AM, and Qurbana by 8:45AM.  Follow the instructions sent via text and posted on the parish website to sign up.