StephanianSt. Stephens Indian Orthodox Congregation

ParishBulletin

Kuwait

Vol. 1, Issue : 8 September 2014

St. Stephens Indian Orthodox Congregation, KuwaitVicar : Fr.Saju Philip, Mob. - 60696128 / 24347327Email : info@ststephensq8.org - www.ststephensq8.org

Hanock StanleyJoella Thom

as

Eva Elizabeth Shibu

Johan P JohnSeba Mary Sam

Aksa Anna Binu

Aslin Anna Mathew

Irene Elizabeth ShibuMerleah Mary Issac

For private circulation among parishoners only

Prayer Groups Common Meet : The common meeting of prayer groups of St. Stephen’s IOC will be held on 19th Sept. at 5:00pm, Alphonsa Hall, Abbasiya.Kuwait Episcopal Church Fellowship Meet : A common meeting of KECF will be held on 26th Sept. 2014, 11 am at Mangaf being hosted by St. Thomas Orthodox Church, Ahmadi.

Sunday School : The Sunday school will reopen on 4th Sept. at 5:15 pm

All parents are requested to send their children to Sunday school on time.

Schedule of Worship : Every Friday Holy Qurbana at ACE’s Hall (Near SubwayRest., Abbasiya) at 6 : 30 am & on Second Saturday (13-09-14) at NECK South Tent at 7:00am.

Feast of the Nativity of St. Mary : The Holy Qurbana & Perunnal Service will be on 7th September,Sunday, 6:30 pm at ACE’s Hall, Abbasiya, Nercha will also be served.Feast of the Holy Cross : The Holy Qurbana & Perunnal Service will be on 14th September, Sunday, 6:30 pm at ACE’s Hall, Abbasiya. Ponnona Sangamam : The St. Stephen’s IOC is organizing its 1st Onam Celebration viz. “Ponnona Sangamam - 2014” on 19th September, 6 : 00pm at Alphonsa Hall, Abbasiya.

Free Transportation Facility : To & fro free transporation facility is available to all who attendthe Holy Qurbana of SSIOC at ACE Hall, Abbasiya. Contact : Mr. Abraham P.K. - 60473158Parish Trustee : Mr. Laji Joseph : 99916457, Parish Secretary : Mr. Shaju John : 66776676

Private circulation only

Birthday & Wedding Anniversary : The Vicar & parishoners extend blissful happy B’day & W

edding Anniversarywishes to all whose same marks on the month of September. (Special prayer is offered in Holy Qurbana for them.)

Flr.Flat

St. George Prayer (A

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asiya) Secretary : Mr. Shib

u Rajan - 65634870

05-0912-0926-09

Mr. Kenny John

Mr. A

lexkutty KochukunjuM

r. BinuKunjukunju

Lulu Exchange BuildingOpp. Uniq store , Behind Chachoos BuildingOpp. Fruit shop, Uniq store No. 3

040206

141141

607706562431069999743898

5:005:005:00

12-0926-09

Mr. Sam

George Philip

Mr. M

amm

en George

Bldg 49, Opp. M

onarch Flowers, New

ReggaiBldg 33, Near Al Della Store, N

ew Reggai

05061318

9442054555358861

7:307:30

05-0912-0926-09

Mr. A

nu VargheseM

r. Rinchu VargheseM

r. John Varghese

Opp. M

oon Health Club 2 N

d BuildingH

i-Tech BuildingO

pposite To Euro Asia Travels

010705

365619

667061746686528399209636

5:005:005:00

05-0926-09

Mr. Shibu A

brahamM

r. Joseph Mathew

Near A

l Noor Bakkala,

Holy Fresh Building

05023405

9662986199285523

5:305:30

St. Gregorios Prayer (A

bb

asiya) Secretary : Mr. B

inu Varghese - 66764194 / 65837243

St. Dionysius Prayer (A

bb

asiya) Secretary : Mr. Thom

as Varghese - 99274419

12-09M

r. Kurian PunnooseN

ear Behbahni Bldg., Sharq09

6.30

05-0912-0926-09

Mr. Litty M

Toms

Mr. Jacob John

Mr.Robin A

braham

Opp.H

oly Sweets Bakery

N/R India Sari house

N/R D

iana Restaurant

040205

170723

665646699090968666903770

5:305:305:30

6636962593

26-09M

r. V.Y Thomas

Bldg. 6903, Opp. Indian Comm

unity School, Khaitan01

6.30

9792473906

St. Basil Prayer (A

bb

asiya) Secretary : Mr. A

lex P. George - 97435242

St. Thomas Prayer (Farw

aniya & K

haitan) Secretary : Mr. Jacob

Zachariah - 99720086

St. John’s Prayer (Haw

ally, Salmiya &

Ab

uhalifa) Secretary : Mr. Shib

u Ab

raham - 51077900

St. Mary’s Prayer (R

iggai) Secretary : Mr. B

abukutty K

. Mathew

- 50322192

(Time -pm)

Sunday Evening Service : As per the demand & need of parishoners, on 4th Sunday ( 28-09-2014) Holy Qurbana will be celebrated at ACE’s Hall, 6:30 pm.

PRAYER MEETING SCHEDULE FOR SEPT.-2014PRAYER MEETING SCHEDULE FOR SEPT.-2014PRAYER MEETING SCHEDULE FOR SEPT.-2014

HEARTFUL WISHES HEARTFUL WISHES

ALCOHOLISMFr. P.A. Philip

Fr. Dr. Johns Abraham Konattu Fr. Dr. T.J. JoshuaFAMILY - THE BIBILICAL PERSPECTIVE

For a Christian, the Bible is his guide in all areas of life. He makes it the foundation of his faith and his moral inspiration. Therefore when we set to study about the Christian family, Bible is the first source we are to search for. The Bible begins and ends with weddings (Gen. 2:22-25; Rev. 19:7-9).

I. The teaching in the book of Genesis:In the first two chapters of the book of Genesis we get two descriptions about the creation of man. On a careful reading we find that there are slight differences in the details of the two accounts. Form – critical study of the text has led the scholars to conclude that the two accounts area derived from two traditions and the editor of the book of Genesis has put them as they were received. The description of the second chapter is from a more primitive document than that of the first chapter. The scholars identify the two documents as “J” (Jehovah document) and “P” (Priestly document) signifying their content and give a date as 10th century B.C. for “J” and sixth century “P”. So chronologically the second account is earlier than the first. But we shall first take up the first chapter for our consideration. Read carefully the relevant verses: Gen. 1:26-31. “And God said, let us make man in our image after our likeness”. God thus created man in his image and likeness. He created them male and female. Also we note that man was created as the crown of creation. On analyzing the passage we may arrive at the following insights:

1. The statement that God created them as male and female suggests that He intended them to live in mutuality as husband and wife. He created them in his own image so that they would dedicate themselves in mutual love. There is no suggestion in this account that the woman was created in an after – thought. 2. In the statement that God created the human in his own image suggests that in God consists masculine and feminine character. Both man and woman have the claim to “God’s image”. 3. The principle of monogamy is implied in the statement. Any other form of marriage is an aberration from God’s original intention.

Read Gen. 2:7-24. This description is long and more ancient than the first one. In analyzing the account the following points emerge.

1.The description suggests that there was something lacking after the creation of the male. As if God has realized that, “it is not good that man should be alone”, He gave him a “help-meet”. This world “Yeser” (Hebrew) has been used in relation to God. “He is our “Yeser” (help) and our shield. Ps. 33:20. Woman is man’s associate, the one who shares his duties. Without woman man is helpless and imperfect.2.“Woman from the rib of man. “The Lord God took a rib from the man made the woman out of it and presented her to him. The description points to the integral and inseparable relation between man and woman. Their unity and oneness are emphasized here. Mathew Henry who is an outstanding Bible interpreter has made a suggestive comment on this. He says that woman was not created with a bone from man’s legs, for, he should not be trampled under his feet; not out of a bone from his head, for, she should not “mount on his head” and rule him. She was made from a rib means that she was to be very close to his heart and to be on his side all the time. Except that of gender, there is no difference between man and woman. They are called for mutual dependence and cooperation.3.“They shall be one flesh”: (Gen. 2:24). The relationship between man and woman is very intense. It is greater and stronger than that with one’s parents. They are not two separate bodies, but one flesh.Our Lord (Mtt. 19:6) and St. Paul (Eph. 5:31) quote this verse and prove the importance of union between man and woman. It is not the physical union alone that is suggested here. It suggests a total identification of their mind and spirit. The physical union is the culmination of the mental and spiritual union between the couple. Such a union is possi-ble between husband and wife alone. 4.The statement that woman was made from man must have led to the development of male domination. In the later history of the Jewish people the view of the second account has prevailed with male dominance. The two descriptions in the book of Genesis, which we have looked into, make it clear that marriage was established by God and that husband and wife must live as mutual complements. Of all human relationships the strongest and the most intimate is that between husband and wife. It is inseparable and God has so ordained that man should not separate what God has united. Marriage should be looked upon with all serious-ness and sanctity. In the letter to the Hebrews we read “Marriage is honourable among all, and the bed undefiled” (Heb. 13:4).

Cont...