Category: MGOCSM

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FOCUS MGOCSM MMVS Sunday School

St. Bernard’s welcomes St. Thomas

 On Sunday afternoon, January 29th, the St. Thomas Long Island parish community visited St. Bernard’s Roman Catholic Church located in Levittown, NY. The Assistant Vicar, Reverend Father Abraham (Abey) George, along with many faithful were welcomed by the priest of St. Bernard’s, Father Ralph Sommer, along with many of the members of the parish.

The afternoon began with a welcome hymn, followed by Father Ralph addressing the guests on the history and the traditions of the Roman Catholic Church. Few of the administrators of the church introduced themselves and explained at what capacity they each served within the parish. The address was followed by a question and answer session where both priests answered questions regarding their respective ecclesiastical traditions. Father Ralph displayed and explained the use of various holy oils used in various sacraments of the Roman Catholic Church. The afternoon came to an end with a closings hymn followed by our parish chanting an intercessory hymn to St. Mary, the Mother of God, in Malayalam. After a group photo, Father Ralph invited us for coffee and refreshments where we had the opportunity to meet and interact with the members of the parish.

On behalf of the Clergy and the parishioners of St. Thomas, Long Island, we would like to express our sincere gratitude to Father Ralph Sommer and the administration of St. Bernard’s Roman Catholic Church who organized this event. We would like to offer our sincere thanks to all the parishioners for their hospitality and for everyone who welcomed us into their community. We look forward to working with St. Bernard’s family on various levels for the benefit of the Levittown community we serve.

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Please click link below for additional pictures:

https://stthomasli.org/media-gallery/photos/

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MGOCSM Sunday School

Weekly Announcements – 01/29/2017

  1. Basketball Tournament Meeting – today after Sunday school there will be a STYL basketball tournament meeting. All youth are requested to attend this meeting.
  1. We will be visiting St. Bernard’s Roman Catholic Church today at 3pm. We will gather at the Church first by 2:30pm and go together as a group.
  1. Sunday School Mid-term Exams will be held next Sunday, February 5th.
  1. The Area MGOCSM is hosting the first of the 4 series study on the Holy Qurbana led by Aju Achen. The First class will be held next Sunday, February 5th from 2-3:30pm at St. Basil’s Church, Franklin Square. We encourage all the Youth, particularly those who are teaching Sunday School to attend.
  1. Monthly Prayer meetings will be held at different houses every month beginning the month of February. It will be held on the first Sunday of every month at 5pm. The first prayer meeting will be next Sunday, February 5th, at 5pm we will gather at Valiyachen house. All are requested to attend
  1. Three Day Fast (Nineveh Lent) is next week from February 6th– 8th. On Monday evening and Tuesday evening we will have evening prayer at 6:30pm. Wednesday Evening February 8th at 6:30pm we will have Holy Qurbana.
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MGOCSM Sports

Weekly Announcements – 01/22/2017

  1. MGOCSM Faith Study Series – will be held this Friday, January 27 at 6pm at church. For this month we will be discussing on the topic of how to discern the will of God in our journey in life. All MGOCSM members are requested to attend.
  1. Basketball Tournament Meeting – The next Sunday, January 29th after Sunday school there will be a STYL basketball tournament meeting. All youth are requested to attend this meeting.
  1. Visiting St. Bernard’s Roman Catholic Church – We will be visiting St. Bernard’s RC church next Sunday the 29th at 3pm. We will gather at the Church first by 2:30pm and go together as a group.
  1. Newborn Baby Boy – Kindly join us in congratulating Mr. Bills and Nancy Varghese on their newborn baby boy David Varghese. Let us keep the newborn and his family in our prayers.
  1. Back to college – Many of you are heading back to college this week and next week. Make sure you are on top of your work right from the beginning so it won’t pile up. The greatest medicine against procrastination and Laziness is discipline. Having a set routine for yourself- setting time apart to prayer, to study, to play, to do chores.
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FOCUS MGOCSM MMVS

Weekly Announcements – 01/15/2017

  1. MMVS Meeting – There will be meeting today after refreshments. All MMVS are requested to attend.
  1. Altar Servers Meeting – Will be held today after Sunday school. We will have a special class on Hesychasm, dealing with intrusive thoughts and the practice of the Jesus Prayer. After the session we will plan to have fellowship lunch at a restaurant nearby. All Altar Servers are requested to attend.  Please find some pictures from the fellowship lunch below.
  1. FOCUS Meeting – Will be held this Friday, January 20th at 7pm at the Residence of Mr. Cheriyan Abraham. All FOCUS members are requested to attend. A friendly reminder to bring you Shehimo Books and Beginning to Pray books.
  1. General Body Meeting – will be held on Sunday, January 22nd. All eligible members are requested to attend.
  1. MGOCSM Faith Study Series – This month’s will be held on Friday, January 27 at 6pm at church. For this month we will be discussing on the topic of How to Discern the Will of God in our journey in life. All MGOCSM members are requested to attend.
  1. MGOCSM Education Series – The MGOCSM is hosting a 4-part education Series on the Holy Qurbana. It will be taught by Aju Achen on the first Sundays of February, March, April and May. The first of these series is on Sunday, February 5th from 2-3:30 at St Basil Franklin Square. The fee is $20 for all four classes and a registration link will be made available in the coming weeks. If you are interested or have questions regarding this event, please contact one of youth members.
  1. New Jersey Leadership Camp – The camp will be held this July and in the hopes of fundraising for this camp, the committee has released 2017 calendars which will be available for purchase for $10. The calendar contains important information regarding saints as well as weekly bible readings. If you would like to purchase one, please see Julia Mathew and Manoj Varghese.
  1. Family Conference 2017 – will be held from July 12-15th (Wednesday-Saturday) at Kalahari Resorts at Poconos Manor in Pennsylvania. Discounted rates will be given till end of this month. To register go online to www.fyconf.org.
  1. New Born Baby Girl – Kindly join me in congratulating Mr. Linu and Remya Panicker on their new born baby girl, Evelyn Lizbeth Panicker. Let us keep the newborn and the family in our prayers.

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FOCUS MGOCSM Sunday School

Weekly Announcements – 1/1/17

  1. Annual STYL Talent Show  – We had our Annual STYL Talent Show this past Friday. Special thanks to the coordinators and participants. Danniya Samuel and Emily George.
  1. Sunday School Anniversary – Today right before Kaimuthu, We will have our parish Sunday School Anniversary. It will be a short 10-15 min program.
  1. Feast of Baptism of Our Lord  – This Thursday Evening (the 5th), we will be celebrating the Feast of the Baptism of our Lord. Evening prayer will begin at 6:30pm. Nicholovos Thirumeni will be celebrating. Kindly make arrangements to attend.
    • Those will be preparing to receive Holy Qurbana make sure you come prepared- through bodily fast- that would include food and drink unless you have a medical condition advised by your physician (at least by 1pm).
  1. Schedule For the Year – Valiachen and I have been working on a schedule for the year with all the feast days and important days.
  1. Combined Orthodox Christmas Program – Flyer: Sunday, January, 8th, 2017 at 4pm Glen Oaks High School.
  1. FOCUS Meeting – For the month of January will be held on Friday, January 20th at 7pm at the Residence of Mr. Cheriyan Abraham. All FOCUS members are requested to attend. A friendly reminder to bring you Sheehimo Books and Beginning to Pray books.
  1. MGOCSM Faith Study Series – for the month of January will be held on Friday, January 27 at 6pm at church. All MGOCSM members are requested to attend.
  1. Altar Servers Meeting – will be held January 15th after Sunday school. We will have a special class on Hesychasm and the practice of the Jesus Prayer. After that we will have fellowship lunch and all Altar Servers are requested to attend.
  1. Bernard’s Roman Catholic Church – visited us a few months back. They have invited us over now to visit their church. We have arranged for Sunday, January 29th Sunday at 3pm. It will be important for us to pay a visit back and spent time with their community as they were so gracious to come and spend time with us.
  1. Holy Transfiguration Retreat Center –  A friendly reminder that collections are still ongoing.
  1. Confession – Those who would like to do confession kindly inform either of the Achens at your earliest convenience.
  2. 2016 Year In Review – Please see the video montage of 2016, from many of the events we’ve done over the year.

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FOCUS MGOCSM Sunday School

Weekly Announcements – 12/25/16

  1. Christmas Carolers – Special thanks to the Christmas Carolers who spent their time and energy to go around to visit the houses.
  1. Christmas Service Song Practice – Special thanks for all who attended the Christmas song practice. We had it this past Wednesday and Thursday evening. Also, special thanks to the altar servers who came early yesterday to go over the service.
  1. Christmas Service English Books – Special Thanks to the youth for making arrangements for the English Copies of the Service. Many of the youth pitched in to ensure that parts of the service were done in English. Thank you all for your generosity.
  1. Annual Talent Show – Will be held this Friday, December 30th at 6:00pm. If you have not signed up kindly reach out to either Danniya Samuel or Emily George.
  1. New Year’s Day Service –  next Sunday is New Year’s and Morning Prayer will begin at our usual time 8:15am. We will have Evening prayer as usual at 6:30pm on New Year’s Eve.
  1. Sunday School Anniversary – The Sunday School Anniversary will be held next Sunday right before Kaimuthu. All Sunday school students and teachers are requested to attend.
  1. Parish Elections 2017 – Last Sunday we had our Parish Elections for 2017. The results will be posted and officially announced next week.
  1. Feast of Baptism of Our Lord – Thursday evening, January 5th, we will be having celebrating the feast of the Baptism of our Lord. Evening prayer will begin at 6:30pm. Nicholovos Thirumeni will be leading the service. All are requested to attend.

 

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MGOCSM Sunday School

Weekly Announcements – 12/18/16

  1. Annual Talent Show – The annual talent show will be held on Friday, December 30th at 6:00pm.
  1. Faith Study Series – MGOCSM will be having its monthly faith study series on Friday, December 23rd at 6pm.  We will discussing about the role of marriage and monasticism in the Orthodox Church.  All MGOCSM members are requested to attend.
  1. Christmas Service Song Practice – will be held this Wednesday, 21st and Thursday 22nd evening at 7pm. All members are welcome to join.
  1. Christmas Schedule – Special Christmas Evening prayer will be held on December 24th at 6:30pm. Christmas Service on Christmas Day, the 25th will begin at 7am.
  1. Danaha Perunal – On Thursday evening, January 5th,   we will be celebrating the feast of the Baptism of our Lord. Nicholovos Thirumeni will be leading the service. Evening prayer will begin at 6:30pm. All are requested to attend.
  1. Sunday School Arts & Crafts – Special thanks to MGCOSM members for doing Christmas Arts & Crafts with the Sunday School Students

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MGOCSM

Weekly Announcements – 12/11/16

  1. General Body Meeting will be next Sunday the 18th to the elect the new Governing body members for the year 2017. All eligible members who are 21 and above are requested to attend.
  1. Christmas Service Song Practice will be held on Wednesday, 21st and Thursday 22nd evening at 7pm.
  1. Christmas Schedule – Special Christmas Evening prayer will be held on December 24th at 6:30pm. Christmas Service on Christmas day will begin at 7am.
  1. MGOCSM will be having their monthly faith study series on Friday, December 23rd. All MGOCSM are request to attend.
  1. Annual Talent Show – The annual talent show will be held on Friday, December 30th at 6:00pm.
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FOCUS MGOCSM Sunday School

Weekly Announcements – 12/04/16

  1. Nativity Lent – We are in the season of the Nativity lent. I hope the cooks of the house makes dishes that are conducive for lent. As we abstain from food, let us add prayer and reading of the scriptures to our lives. Let us train to keep our bodies and our minds sober during these days. It is also the appropriate time for confession.
  1. Thanksgiving Potluck Dinner – Last Sunday we had our Youth/FOCUS Potluck Thanksgiving Dinner.  Please see the post on the Potluck Dinner and the Photos page for pictures from the event.
  1. Christmas Caroling – We will being Christmas Caroling this afternoon. All those who are able to come kindly.  The schedule for areas being visted are posted in the parish hall bulletin board.
  1. Sunday School UNICEF Collection – I am pleased to announce that our Sunday school children raised $222.07 towards UNICEF. This money will be used to help provide food, clean water, and healthcare for children around the world. Special thanks to all the children parents and Sunday school children that participated.
  1. Sunday School Christmas Tree Gift Program – The area Sunday school will be participating in a Christmas tree gift program with the Salvation Army. Our Church has been assigned to buy 15 gifts for the program. If you are interested in purchasing a gift, please contact the Sunday school principal or Vice principal.
  1. Orma Qurbana for Barnabas Thirumeni – This Thursday, Dec 8th evening, our parish will be hosting the diocesan commemoration of 4th memorial of H.G Mathews Mar Barnabas. Evening prayer will begin at 6:30pm. All are requested to attend.
  1. General Body Meeting – On Sunday, December 18th we will be having the parish General Body to the elect the new Governing body members for the year 2017. All eligible members are requested to attend.
  1. FOCUS Meeting – This Friday we will be having our FOCUS Meeting at 7pm at the residence of Sinu and Giby Jacob. All FOCUS Members are requested to attend. Kindly bring your Shehimo books and Beginning to Pray books.
  1. FOCUS Nation 2017 will be held from Thursday February 9th through Sunday, February 12th, 2017 at Camp Allen in Houston Texas. The Theme of the Conference will be “Becoming Human: A Journey through Orthodox Spirituality”. The Main speaker of the Conference will be Rev. Fr. Abraham (Abey) George. He is the asst. Vicar of St. Thomas Orthodox Church in Long Island. Registration is currently open. Those interested kindly register online by using the following link, FOCUS Nation 2017.
  1. Christmas  Schedule – Special Christmas Evening prayer will be held on December 24th at 6:30pm. Christmas Service on Christmas day will begin at 7am.
  1. Annual Talent Show – The annual talent show will be held on Friday, December 30th at 6:00pm. Mark your calendars and those who are interested in performing the 30th kindly reach out to Danniya Samuel or Emily George.
  1. Holy Transfiguration Retreat Center
    • Each family should donate a minimum of $2000 (within 3 year span)
    • Loans accepted up to 3% interest. We were directed by Thirumeni to collect as a parish for the Dukrono of Valiya Thirumeni December 11th, Sunday.
    • The funds should be send in to the Aramana by Thursday, December 15th.
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FOCUS MGOCSM

The Annual FOCUS and MGOCSM Thanksgiving Dinner

On November 27th, Sunday evening the youth hosted its Annual FOCUS and MGOCSM Thanksgiving Dinner. The evening began with vespers from the Shehimo followed by a Thanksgiving message by Nevin Joseph. He spoke about the importance of giving thanks to God and that we shouldn’t just thank him when we receive a favorable result but prior to receiving that result. He also spoke about importance of thanking God for the mercy he has shown us throughout our lives.

After the message, the youth participated in dinner and fellowship in the Parish Hall. The youth also participated in a Mannequin Challenge and two charity events during dinner. In the first event, gently used jeans were cut out into different shapes to make shoes for children in Africa, through the Sole Hope organization. In the second event, fleece blankets were cut and tied together to make throw blankets for those in homeless shelters. We would like to thank both our Achen’s for their guidance and presence during this event. Thank you to all our FOCUS and MGOCSM members who made this event possible.  Click here to see Photos from the event.

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