ST. THOMAS MALANKARA ORTHODOX CHURCH

1. Passing of Mrs. Aleyamma Cherian – the mother of Mrs. Binta Cherian, on Tuesday morning in Franklin Square, NY.  She was 70 years old.  The funeral took place Friday morning.  Please keep the bereaved family in your prayers. 
2. Passing of Mrs. Marykutty Cherian – the elder sister-in-law of Mr. TP Mathew, Friday morning in Mezhuveli, Kerala.  She was 92 years old.  The funeral took place on Monday.  Please keep the bereaved family in your prayers. 
3. Holy Week Sign-Up – Sign-up for Holy Week services began this week.  As with the previous two sign-ups, a link was sent out via text message on Monday.  Once we have reached capacity, the form will be closed and the link will not work.  If you have any questions, please contact the Secretary.
   1. Please note that the sign-up will be allowed for only members during Holy Week services.  This is due to the limited capacity and to ensure that our members have a fair opportunity to sign up.  If there is space available after this week, it will be opened to guests.  For now, please sign up for your household members only.
4. Mid-Week Services – There will be changes to the scheduled mid-week services, for this week.  Updates will be provided in the coming days.
5. Parish Lenten Retreat Messages – Our 2nd Parish Lenten Retreat (Malayalam) scheduled for this Saturday, March 27th at 4:30pm via Zoom, has been cancelled.  
6. Combined Lenten Retreat – The Council of Indian Orthodox Churches of Brooklyn, Queens, Long Island’s one-day lenten retreat on Saturday, March 27th at 10am through Zoom, has been cancelled.
7. Holy Week Donation – Just a friendly 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. Holy Qurbana Sign-Up – Reminder that there is a new sign-up process for Holy Qurbana.  Instructions were provided last week on how to sign up, which will be 1st come, 1st serve.  The form for Sunday’s service was sent out Monday via text message.  Each household should sign up only once and under the same form.  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; please check your spam folder, as well.  This means you are confirmed for service.  Once we have reached capacity, the form will be closed and the link will not work.  If you have any questions, please contact the Secretary.
2. Parish Lenten Retreat Messages – Our parish Lenten Retreat will take place on Zoom.  The English retreat message will be given this Saturday, March 20th at 4:30pm and the Malayalam retreat message will be next Saturday, March 27th at 4:30pm.  Everyone is welcome to both. The links will be sent via text message and posted on GroupMe.
3. 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.
4. Combined Lenten Retreat – The Council of Indian Orthodox Churches of Brooklyn, Queens, Long Island will be conducting a one-day retreat on Saturday, March 27th at 10am through Zoom.  Rev. Fr. Varghese Kunjukunju (from the Trivandrum Diocese) will be the main speaker.  All parishioners are kindly requested to attend the event.

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. 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