Category: Uncategorized

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. MGOCSM Area Lenten Retreat – The MGOCSM of BQLI will be hosting the area lenten retreat on Friday, March 5th at 7pm via Zoom. The theme will be “Conquering Temptations” based on St. Matthew 6:13. Please register with the following link: tinyurl.com/bqlilentenretreat2021
2. Holy Qurbana Sign-Up – To sign up for Sunday, February 28th, the deadline is Wednesday, February 24th. 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. Great Lent Begins – Monday, February 15th
   • Wednesday Evening Prayer – During the Lenten season, there will be evening prayer on Wednesdays at 6:30pm, in addition to Saturday evening prayers.  Sign-up not required.
2. Holy Qurbana Sign-Up – To sign up for Sunday, February 21st, the deadline is Wednesday, February 17th. 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. MGOCSM Meeting – The MGOCSM will be hosting their first meeting of the year on Sunday, February 21st at 4:30pm.  It will be a debate on “Is the Church relevant in the Modern Age?”  All are welcome to join!  Please use the link: tiny.cc/mgodebate.
4. MMVS Monthly Meeting – The monthly video interactive MMVS meeting will be Sunday, February 21st at 4pm via Zoom.
5. Switched Jackets – There were two dark blue parka jackets accidentally switched after Christmas service.  One of the jackets has been returned to the rack.  If you have the other jacket, please bring it in to leave on the rack and take yours.

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. Passing of Mr. Mathai Varghese – the elder brother of our Vicar, Very Rev. Dr. Mathai Yohannan Sankarathil Cor-Episcopa, Thursday morning in Kumbazha, Kerala, India.  He was the 2nd of four brothers and was 91 years old.  The funeral took place Saturday.  Please keep the bereaved family in your prayers.
2. Passing of Mr. Joel George Varkey – the grandnephew of our Kochamma, Mrs. Elcy Yohannan, Friday in Dallas, Texas.  He was 10 years old and was an only child.  The funeral will take place Wednesday.  Please keep the bereaved family in your prayers.
3. Tax Letters – The 2020 tax letters are ready.  It will be mailed to all our members.  If you do not receive it by the end of the week, please let the Treasurer know.
4. Holy Qurbana Sign-Up – To sign up for Sun, Feb 7th, the deadline is Wed, Feb 3rd. 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

With the hope in the resurrection, we wish to inform you of the passing of Mrs. Annamma (Lilly) Mathew Arikupuram, wife of Mr. John Mathew Arikupuram, and mother of Mrs. Reena Mathew and Mr. Roshan Mathew Arikupuram.

The wake and funeral service arrangements are as follows:
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VIEWING & FUNERAL SERVICE
Thursday, January 21st, 2021
8:30am-11am
Park Funeral Chapel
2175 Jericho Turnpike
Garden City Park, NY 11040
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INTERMENT
Thursday, January 21st, 2021
11am-12pm
St. Charles Cemetery
2015 Wellwood Avenue
Farmingdale, NY 11735
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LIVESTREAM LINK: http://sojimediausa.com/events
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OFFICIATING CHURCH:
St. Thomas Malankara Orthodox Church, LI
Levittown, NY
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Let us keep her as well as her bereaving family in our prayers. May her memory be eternal!

1. Passing of Mrs. Annamma Mathew Arikupuram – wife of Mr. John Mathew Arikupuram and mother of Reena and Rosen, early Sunday morning. She was 75 years old. Mrs. Arikupuram had been a member of our parish since its inception. Please keep the bereaved family in your prayers.
2. FOCUS Meeting – The next FOCUS Meeting will take place on Fri, Jan 22nd at 7pm via Zoom.
3. Holy Qurbana Sign-Up – To sign up for Sun, Jan 24th, the deadline is Wed, Jan 20th. 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. 2020 Year End Contributions – Submit all 2020 contributions, including donations, by Sun, Jan 17th, to be reflected In your 2020 tax letter.
2. Holy Qurbana Sign-Up – To sign up for Sun, Jan 17th, the deadline is Wed, Jan 13th. Please do so as soon as possible; once capacity has been reached, exceptions cannot 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. Feast of Baptism of our Lord – will be celebrated Tuesday, Jan 5th. We will begin at 6:30pm followed by Denaha Service and Holy Qurbana. Members will be allowed to attend service. However, there will be no sign up process. If you wish to come, you are welcome to do so. We ask that you still arrive through the main entrance, but seat yourselves in the rows that are available. Please do not sit in rows that are labeled as “Do Not Sit Here”. Be sure to adhere to the 6-feet distance guideline in the lobby and sanctuary. Sunday service will continue with the current structure of signing-up.
2. Holy Qurbana Sign-Up – To sign up for Sunday, Jan 10th, the deadline is Wednesday, Jan 6th. If you have attended prior services, you will be placed on a waiting list when you leave a voicemail or text to sign up.
3. Evening Prayer – We will be opening up evening prayer for our members to attend. Similar to Denaha Service, there will not be a sign up process. Please maintain the 6-feet distance in the lobby and when seating yourselves. All who wish to participate are welcome. However, similar to Sunday service, if you have been exposed or do not feel well, we ask that you consider the welfare of your fellow members and stay home. Also, masks must be worn for all services and evening prayers.
4. 2021 Calendars – For those who were not able to attend Christmas service, the remaining 2021 church calendars have been mailed out. If you do not receive it in the next two weeks, let the Secretary or Treasurer know. Thank you again for your cooperation and support this past year.
5. Council of Indian Orthodox Churches Combined Christmas & New Year’s Celebration – will be held on Sunday, Jan 10th at 4pm via Zoom. All members are requested to attend. Meeting ID: 9175333566; Passcode: 817789; Dial-In Number: (646) 558-8656