Episcopal visit to Mar Thoma Church, Nagpur

The Mar Thoma Church, Nagpur scheduled the Episcopal visit to coincide with the World Sunday School Day on the first week of November.  The Diocesan Bishop arrived Nagpur on the evening of Saturday November 5, 2016. He stayed with the parish Secretary Mr. Roy Cherian and met Rev. Roy Thomas to discuss about the programme on Sunday.

The Holy Communion Service on Sunday was at 8am. Bishop Mar Theodosius came to the Church by 7.30 am for the preparations. He was accompanied by the General Secretary of the Mar Thoma Evangelistic Association Rev. George Varghese, ASISCA Secretary Rev. Sangama, and 3 more Achens from North India. There was the Thooyaba Service with all in the Madbaha prior to the worship service. The choir sang melodious songs during the service.

 

Mar Theodosius spoke on the importance of having a Christian atmosphere at home and parents living harmoniously for the spiritual growth of the children. Home is the first Sunday school and parents are the first Sunday School Teachers. Children should give priority to study the Bible in their childhood and should not become engraved to modern electronic gadgets. Children are open and inclusive and these are characteristics that the home and Church should be learning and adopting.

 

21 First Communicants are blessed during the dedication service, following the sermon. Achens shared the prayers and helped in serving the Holy Communion.  There was a General meeting of the parish following it.  Rev. George Varghese brought Greetings from the Suvisesha Sanghom. Rev. Dr. Vinayaraj spoke on the ministry of Dharma Jyoti, Delhi. Rev. Sangama spoke on behalf of ASISCA. Diocesan Episcopa briefed the parish on the Mission and Ministry of the diocese and encouraged the participation of the parish in all the programmes.

 

There was fellowship meal for all present, which gave an occasion to strengthen the bond among the members and friends present. First Communicants took photographs to keep the memory of the day and to mark the significance it has in their lives.  The parish arranged a visit to the Ashraya Hostel at Sindhu Viheri where the NIMTEF Conference (North India Mar Thoma Evangelistic Fellowship) was held for the150 evangelists who attended it from different places of North India. Mar Theodosius gave the concluding message and blessed the participants. He took time to see the Sindhu Viheri area and also to discuss the activities going on. He met the local R C C clergy and visited the place. The hostel children are studying in their CBSE School.

 

There was a meeting of the members of the parish committee at 7.30 pm including the ministry of the parish among the poor children in the neighbourhood, funded by the Compassion International. Mar Theodosius had discussion with the members and had dinner with them. The following two days, November 7 and 8 were set apart for visiting the mission – fields of the Diocese in Vidharbha region. Mar Theodosius returned to Bombay on 9th morning. The Episcopal visit was a blessing.

Mar Theodosius+