Rev. Fr. Jacob Athirumpuzha former vicar of St. Mary's Krariyely was called to
eternal rest today morning 2.00 AM. Funeral will be held at Krariyely St. Mary's
JSOC at 5.00 PM. He was 80 year old.

With heartfelt sorrow and grief, we join with all our members for praying to God
Almighty to keep Achen's soul in the bosom of Abraham, Issac & Jacob.

We extent our deepest sympathy to the family of Jacob  Achen in their difficult
time.

SOCM Moderators

"Reverence with all the powers of your soul all the sacraments, and say to
yourself in respect to every sacrament before the celebration or the communion
of it: 'This is God's mystery. I myself am only the unworthy witness or partaker
of it.' Otherwise, our proud intellect even wishes to search out God's mystery,
and, if unable to penetrate it, rejects it as not coming under the small measure
of our intellect."

St. John of Kronstadt.

--------------------------------------------------------------

"For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your
spirit, which are God's."  1 Corinthians 6:20

July 05, 2009 Wednesday

Message: "You are to worship the Lord your God and serve only him"


Matthew 4:10-11

4:10 Then Jesus said to him, “Go away,Satan! For it is written: ‘You are to
worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’”
4:11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and began ministering to his
needs.

(Always remember to do this. Kneel and bow down you head with your hands
extended to the front and submit your prayer to our father through Jesus;
Millions are praying for you and your request is answered)

(The word of God is the Sword; please help us to pass the Sword.)

Daily reading

Jesus - Full Man and Full God
By Joseph Y. Lee

This short and simple message is an agreement among Christians and a defense
against the false teachings from Islam and the Jehovah's Witnesses. This simple
analogy can be explained in terms of physics known as quantum mechanics.

Question: Is it possible for God to be a man at the same time? Is  it a
contradiction for God to be a man?

Answer: Jesus is full God and full man. Physicists always describe an  electron
as particle and wave at the same time, according to quantum  mechanics, and yet
they say that physics is not a contradiction. Same  applies to the duality of
Jesus as man and God.
As a result, Jesus is not a  contradiction.

Joseph Y. Lee
0944

Dear brothers,

Extremely happy to hear the beginning of a new church. We must try to begin new
churches all over the world wherever our faithful have. Our Lord and God
Almighty is again bringing up our church. Lets pray for all those who are
working behind it.
 
Anoop
#4037

--- In SOCM-FORUM@yahoogroups.com, SOCM News Bureau wrote:
>
> This chapel will be converted to a church within a couple of years.
>
> For photos: http://socmnet.org/News_StGeorgeChapel_TVPM.htm
>

Dear Georgy,
 
I wouold like to have a copy of it.
 
I am from Dubai St. Ignatius Church
 
Joy Thomas
========================
From the desk of the Moderator:

Please sign your messages with member ID. If not having a member ID, please send
your details including contact number to moderators
(SOCM-FORUM-owner@yahoogroups.com)and obtain a member ID BEFORE POSTING ANY MORE
MESSAGES in SOCM. Thank you for your cooperation.

Dear moderators
 
I have a few querries about  the  the Pronounced pilgrim center of our church,
the Manjanikkara Dayara. I feel that The Glorified Pilgrim Center is not yet
developed to the standards;

1. The approaching roads to the dayara church are in very pathetic
condition even for walking. Why the church officials are not interested in
developing the infrastructure?
 
2. It was seen that on Sundays Holy Qurabana is being offered at the dayara
church and the  chapel adjacent to the church at somewhat the same time.
The layman get confused as to attend the Holy Qurbana in which church. We get an
impression as if the priests and clergy in the two churches are in a competition
to attract people towards them by uttering the prayers through Loudspeakers. It
was a horrible situation indeed. Why such a senseless  act is permitted?
 
with
Love& prayers
 
Jinesh John
ID 4003

Dear all

I am Baiju from Dubai

Our all church has been constructed on the highest place of the
surrounding areas. Is there any history behind this?

And all part of the church is connecting by steps in upward direction
So Is there any relation between the profile of church and the surrounding areas
of church.

I would like to knows the real history behind this.

Regards,
Baiju
========================
From the desk of the Moderator:

Please sign your messages with member ID. If not having a member ID, please send
your details including contact number to moderators
(SOCM-FORUM-owner@yahoogroups.com)and obtain a member ID BEFORE POSTING ANY MORE
MESSAGES in SOCM. Thank you for your cooperation.

Dear all,

The pictures from VBS-2009, St.Mary's JSO Church ,Los Angeles, Performance by
the kids are updated in the link below.

http://picasaweb.google.com/stmaryschurchla/VBS2009

Fr.Sabu Thomas

Belfast St. Ignatius JSOC celebrating "Vaangippu Perunnal" on August 15th. Rev.
Fr. Jacob Mannum parambil will lead the services.

9.30 Morning Prayer
10.00 AM Holy Mass and followed by feast.
Venue: Belfast Musgrave Park Hospital chapel

For more details please contact:
Fr. Thomas Puthiyamadathil : 00353877850692
Mr. Alias : 00447828803178
Mr. Geevarghese : 00442892601738

Doctors are acquainted with the medicines which prevent suffering. They
skillfully rout and approaching injury and by concocting various remedies,
conquer the severity of the suffering. … God takes the same precaution with
our souls. He warns us of the danger of temptations so that we may learn if the
injury before it befalls us and safely avoid the danger. For God knows
beforehand everything that happens, not by conjecture, like those who calculate
future profit, but by a foreknowledge, which befits God alone, and thereby, He
knows the future. - Cyril of Alexandria

Against Those Unwilling to Confess that the Holy Virgin Is Theotokos - Cyril of
Alexandria
http://orthodoxbookstore.ecrater.com/product.php?pid=2364049

This is an excellent book this fasting period, as we prepare to commemorate the
Dormition of the Theotokos.

This book will be on sale through Friday, August 14th, 2009, or while supplies
last.
Retail Price: $14
Sale Price: $10

Holy Relics of Prophet Samuel, Mor Kuriakose Sahada and Mor Geevargheese Sahada
have been found out from Vadakara St Johns church.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkcqTbnwpqo

Relics were brought to Malankara by Yuyaakkim mar Koorilose thirumeni.

Can anybody give a detailed news regarding this.

Regards
Nebu Jacob.
Neelimangalam Church
Kottayam.
4133

Dear all members

Barakmore / Shlomo

As per the information we received, H.E. Kuriakose Mor Dioscorus, president of
MJSSA, has taken the necessary arrangements to translate and update the Sunday
School books into English. Thirumeni has been reading the SOCM messages, and
based on the discussions appeared in SOCM forum, thirumeni has appointed a
committee based in Bangalore for this project. This project is expected to be
finished in six months and will be available for public from the MJSSA website
(http://mjssa.org/Default.aspx).

As every one knows, thirumeni took charge of MJSSA only a few months ago.
Thirumeni has a lot of experience with the members living outside Kerala and
thus understands their need.

We thank thirumeni for taking into consideration of the on going discussion in
SOCM forum regarding Sunday School Books in English.

In Our Lord's Love
SOCM Moderators

I am also interested in helping in preparing Sunday school and VBS books. We can
use technology to co-ordinate our work. For example, we can use 'google docs' to
share our work online.

Best,
Eldo Daniel
St. Mary's, DC
4135


--- In SOCM-FORUM@yahoogroups.com, Rev. Fr. Mani Rajan Corepiscopa wrote:
>
> Dear All,
>
> I am prepared to help in translating the Suday School books. Vinod from
Singapore in an earlier posting mentioned that somebody has soft copy of these
books. If so, why do it again. I am not interested in wasting time by repeating
the same work.
>

There was a lot of discussion here recently about MJSSA Sunday School Text books
in English. I know MJSSA did publish Englsh Text books all the way from Class 1
to Class 12 in 2003. I have copies of all these text books with me.

Also there was a comment about how dry these text books are, because they dont
have any pictures illustrating the text for the children. These MJSSA text books
have a lot of pictures in them.

Click on the link below to see the cover page, preface, contents and some of the
lessons with pictures from the MJSSA Class One text book that was published in
2003.

http://picasaweb.google.com/malankarasyriacorthodox/MJSSA#

In Christ,
Mathew G M
# 0929

If You Change One Thing, You Change
Everything
Author: Michael
Josephson

Looking back on your life, what
would you change if you could?

In the classic 1939 film It’s a Wonderful Life, the main character, a
small-town bank officer played by Jimmy Stewart, is about to commit suicide when
an angel shows him how different the lives of people in Bedford Falls would have
been if he hadn’t been born. The movie is a favorite because it affirms how
each of us touches the lives and shapes the future in unexpected and often
marvelous ways.

More modern films like Back to the Future, Sliding Door, and Frequency are built
on a similar premise: If you change the past, you change the future – often in
dramatic and unpredictable ways. If you change one thing, you change everything.

Given the potential impact of every decision we make, it’s wise to think
ahead. Although few things turn out exactly as we plan, the better we understand
how our choices can start a chain reaction of events, the more likely we’ll
get what we want.

The enormous complexity of cause and effect leads to another conclusion: It’s
futile to look back at our lives with “what if” scenarios. What’s done is
done.

Although changing our past would change our present, it would do so in ways that
are so unpredictable that we could never know whether it would be for better or
worse.

Accept and celebrate the fact that what you are today is a direct result of
everything that’s happened to you. It’s pointless to wish things were
different. Remember, if you change one thing, you change everything.

Greetings!

Daily prayer is not restricted to only asking for personal favours and daily
needs, though even this is legitimate and good. One important reason for
everyday prayer is to honour and thank God, even for the little things of life.
We are His servants not only in lofty cathedrals where His mysteries appear to
us in overawing splendour and enrapturing beauty. We are His servants also in
the field or the workshop, at the desk or in the washtub

The power of everyday prayer is boundless: It is a documented fact that
community prayer services have worked miracles, especially in  healing the sick.

In today's rushed world, not many people find the time to pray. Even those who
do pray are in a terrible hurry. Naturally then, the heart and mind are often
disconnected from the words of prayer which are uttered as a matter of routine.
Instead of having a heart-to-heart talk with God, we end up merely reciting. So
prayer tends to become a superficial and mechanical task that's not particularly
pleasing.

Saju C.Varghese
# 895
New Delhi

Dear Jacobkutty,

I extend my most sincere condolence.

With prayers,
Puthoorkudilil Geevarghese Core Episcopa.

Dear moderators and members

Thanks for everyone who clarified the doubt on leather products in the Holy
Altar.

Let me table one more doubt. This is regarding "Evangelion Table". In Malankara
I saw it is placed in different places. Some church it's kept in the right side
of the Altar and some churches its kept in the left side of the Altar. But in
both case it is far away from the Altar. In some churches we only see this when
the Evangelion is read and rest of the time it is used as ordinery table to keep
some books, bell or arm rest of the Altar Boys.

I am sure this Table has some meaning, else why our forefathers would have used
it.

What I understand and seen in our Syriac Churches of the other part of the
world, its kept always in front of the Altar – the same place when the
Evangelion is read - or at the left side of the Altar, but very close to the
Altar.

If I am wrong, please correct me, else why our Churches are placing it in
different ways?

Hope some one will like Divanaisios Thirumeni or respected deacons or Chevalier
Thomas Daniel Reji will come with some explanation.

In HIS Love
Aji Thomas David
4088

Dear Mr. Georgey,

With reference to your following mail, I would be very much grateful to you, if
you could please forward me a copy of the Qurbana Kramam as an attachment to the
following E-Mail address:

mathewthomaskannathumuriyil@....

Thanks & Regards,

Mathew Thomas Kannathumuriyil
ID NO: 3673
Muscat
Sultanate of Oman
=====================================================================
--- In SOCM-FORUM@yahoogroups.com, Georgey Thomas wrote
> Dear Mr. Eldo,
>  
> This is Georgey from Kuwait.
>  
> I have typed the Qurbana Kramam in Malyalam by myself.
> Basically, just copied the Qurbana Kramam we use in the church.
> Since it is done in Microsoft Word format, you will be able to add in any
additional songs or prayers which are to be used in the church.
> Because yours is a newly established church it might come very helpful.
>  
> If interested I can forward you that as an attachment.
>  
> Regards and prayers
> Georgey.
> ID 3084
>

As per the Encyclical letter from H.E Dr. Geevarghese Mor Coorilose (Patriarchal
Vicar for UK Diocese) the census conducted in the northern ireland is
progressing well.

Any of the Jacobites residing in Northern ireland, if they missed to add their
names are requested to contact the below numbers before August 31st.

Rev. Fr. Thomas Puthiyamadathil : 00353877850692
frthomasaluva@...
Mr. Gibi Andrews : (UK Council, treasurer)
Mr. Alias : 00447828803178
Mr. Geevarghese : 00442892601738
Mr. Basil : 00447886132389
Mr. Sibin : 00447846418740

A new congregation has started at Moodabadri, in the name of St. Mary on August
2nd, Sunday, under Paurasthya Suvishesha Samajam, Mangalore Region. The first
Holy Mass was conducted by Rev Fr P K Abraham. The Holy Qurbono was attended by
Fr Varghese Padingarakara, Fr Jijan Abraham and hundreds of faithfull. The Holy
Mass will be there on first sundays of every  month at 3. 00 pm. Congregation is
5 kms from Alvas college, Moodabadri, Mangalore.

Contact Persons:-
Fr P K Abraham- +91 9448545010
Dr. Reebu K Joseph- +91 9620647367.

http://malankarasyriacvoice.com/
Promoted by Mor Behnan Study Circle

Dear Robin

In response to your question.Wether it is right for womens to speak in church.

I request you to read 1Corinthians 14:33-36

From Joby Joy
4156

Hi Nibu,

Its happened almost 3 years back and we can believe the authenticity of this
news.

Thanks,
Alu Alex
#2321

--- In SOCM-FORUM@yahoogroups.com, Nebu Jacob. wrote:
>
> Holy Relics of Prophet Samuel, Mor Kuriakose Sahada and Mor Geevargheese
Sahada have been found out from Vadakara St Johns church.
>
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkcqTbnwpqo
>

"The greatest sickness of the soul, its ruin and perdition, is not to know God,
who created all things for man and gave him the gift of intellect and
intelligence. Winged through these gifts, man is linked to God, knowing Him and
praising Him."

St. Antony the Great.

--------------------------------------------------------------

"For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not
receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not
received it? "  1 Corinthians 4:7

Humility is Not Criminal Thinking

On International Forgiveness Day, which is the first Sunday in August
annually since 1996, Fr John Brian entered into a discussion of how some
Christians can develop a serious problem in their spiritual life. He used the
modern therapeutic term, "criminal thinking" to explain the spiritual teachings
in this Sunday's scripture lessons.

"Whoever exalts himself will be humbled..." Luke 14:11
"The soul of the diligent shall be enriched" Proverbs 13:4

This homiletic sermon with scripture commentary walks through Proverb
13:1-7; Isaiah 24:1-5; I Corinthians 6:1-11; Luke 14:7-11 and the beginning of
Psalm 22. The sermon uses the readings from the Malankara lectionary.

This sermon given on Sunday, August 2, 2009 by Fr John Brian Paprock at Holy
Transfiguration Orthodox Mission Chapel, Madison, Wisconsin.

PODCAST OR DOWNLOAD: http://feeds.feedburner.com/frjohnbrian or
http://frjohnbrian.hipcast.com/rss/spiritual_reflections_or_fr_john_brian.xml
LISTEN ONLINE HERE:
http://frjohbrian.blogspot.com/2009/08/humility-is-not-criminal-thinking.html

My name is Soman and I am from Dubai Church. I was a silent reader of
discussions for many years in this Forum but now I feel like to give some
contributions (rather my views) on certain issues. Please do correct me if I am
wrong. I am referring to women's voting power in church.

Well Women's Right in Church, is indeed an issue at certain parishes. Here there
are few things, which I came to know from the books and church fathers.

Well the bible verses which I can refer in this particular case are:

1 Thimothy 2: 11-15  "A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I
do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be
silent. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not the one deceived;
it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. But women will be saved
through childbearing—if they continue in faith, love and holiness with
propriety".

1 Corinth 14: 34  " As in all the congregations of the saints, women should
remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in
submission, as the Law says. If they want to inquire about something, they
should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to
speak in the church"

Based on the above Bible verses women's participation in clergical duties or
church affairs are considered a taboo in our church. It may not go well with
today's democratic set up, where right of speech, right of expressing views,
religious rights etc.. If we suppress them it can go against feminism and human
rights. So all of our church members (men and women), should understand and
analyse this subject a bit more deep.

First of all what is the basic concept of our church? Unlike many protestant
churches the basic principles and practices of our church is NOT solely based on
Bible words. The uniqueness of our church (comparing to any other Apostolic or
Protestant) churches is that, the church practices are based on Bible Laws,
Traditions and Teaching of church fathers. If you look at the history, social
laws were always derived from religion. This was the case of Hindu social laws,
Jewish laws, Christian Laws or Islamic laws. Early days there was no difference
between social laws and religious laws. They were same. Social justice was done
on the basis of what the religion says or how the religious laws were
interpreted. But when time passed, with the increase of transportation, people
started migrate and every nation/country started to have multi-religious
society. This compelled them to have 2 different laws: Religious laws for
religious practice and social law for Social life.

Today we live in a democratic, and probably a more civilized society, in
comparison with 1st or 2nd century society. The bible verses we can refer today
for Women's Right in Church are St. Paul's teaching. St. Paul was a well studied
scholar of mosaic laws and most of his teachings were for gentiles. His entire
work was done among gentiles (Mediterranean coastal cities) and his teachings
were aimed to them. So as Jesus taught us, when we interpret laws, it should not
be based on the words, rather it should be based on its intentions. So I request
each of you to read and understand the reasons for each laws in Bible, and the
intentions behind it. It may be more interesting if you note the period of such
law, or social circumstances when it created, or to whom such laws/teachings
were addresses too. For example according to 5000 year old Mosaic law,
adulterous person must be stoned to death. But 2000 years back, Jesus, said to
the woman caught in adultery "Go now and leave your life of sin." Can we say,
Jesus' acted against Mosaic Law which He was practicing through out his life?

Let us go back a little more.. We all know that Adam had one wife – Eve. But
Abraham had a wife (Sarah) while he slept with his servant Hagar to produce
Ismail. When Jacob's time come, he had 2 wives and 4 concubines (all together
produced 12 children – tribes of israel). When it come to the time of King
David, he had 6 wives (Beersheba was his 6th wife – mother of Solomon). Solomon
had many wives and concubines.. However later when the time of Jesus come, He
said that one should have only one wife and today we all follow the same. So
which is the correct law?? 1 wife, 2 wives, 2 wives + 2 concubines or endless
wives???

What we must understand is, early religious laws had 2 parts – (a) Religious
part (b) Social Part. If you look at 10 commandments, first 4 laws are Religious
– related to God and the rest 6 laws are Social (related to Man). Religious laws
wont change and they remain the hard core of the religion. But social laws can
change according to the social reasons. It happened in the history and it will
happen in the present day as well as in future too. That is why Jesus pardoned
the woman caught in adultery.

Coming to the current scenario. Our women are active in the church through
various bodies like Vanitha Samajam, Sunday School (there are women teachers in
many Sunday School outside Kerala). Today they are involved in almost all church
activities, let it be a Nercha, a Charity works, Social events or even a big
perunnaal. We must appreciate that many of their contributions (especially in
charity works) are really commendable and they are doing with utmost sincerity.
We know that every good works are counted in heaven – so their too.

Keeping the Male chauvinism aside, hand on heart, can we men say, women's
presence can be harmful in Church Administration? I doubt it. If we are an
ardent follower of St. Paul's gospel, you should then first remove Vanitha
Samajam from the Church because their activities are within the church. But I
doubt you have right to do so.. Let us not forget that, Jesus didn't stop any
woman coming to him. Let us not forget, in His public ministry, he had many
women followers.. till his Cross...

In Malankara, some time back Malabar Diocese has sent a Kalpana to allow women
in Managing committee.
Today St. thomas Thrukkepetta. Kozhikode Church, Vvelangode Palli all have women
in Managing committee
Our church in Bahrain had women committee members, since 80s. (This was approved
by H.H. The Moran many times as this comes under H H)
There are few churches (I forgot the names), in Bahya Kerala, which has women in
Managing Committee.

I am sorry for this lengthy write-up however, I saw a lot of talks on this
outside. I just thought of bringing this to this forum for a healthy discussion.
I would appreciate if any of our Church Fathers who read may correct me if I am
wrong somewhere.. let us all study the matters well and act wisely.

Soman
ID 4185

Dear Moolel Achen,

Thanks for your message, which shows your interest in the subject discussed. 
However, I think you missed the 'important point' which was under discussion:

1- The main subject was MJSSA is not doing anything for printing the Sunday
School books and VBS Materials in English.

2- The beneficiaries are mainly from outside kerala churches and their
requirement is always not considered by MJSSA.

3- If any individual or group of churches in outside kerala translated the
sunday school books, MJSSA is not interested to print and provide it to the
needy on a time-bound manner.

4- Many scholars like you, helped to translate the English books and provided
monetory support to MJSSA for printing it first time.

5- The Syllabus was changed later and the obsolete books printing was not done
later by MJSSA, but not initiated to translate the new revised syllabus books
and print it. (May be as usual waiting for somebody to donate the cost).

6- MJSSA never tried to reply to any of the messages appeared here, inorder to
clarify their stand.

7- If they can't provide English translations to our Children in outside kerala,
why there is an organisation like MJSSA existing in our Church?

These were the common questions asked by many people.  Your message gives an
impression that the 'OLD SYLLABUS BOOKS' are still available in US and how you
expect them to be distributed to other parts of the world?? US is not the only
area, where children need English books, it is now a need for many in Kerala as
well.  If there is new revised syllabus already existing in Malankara, then
there is no need for distributing the old syllabus books, anywhere in the world,
including US.  All our children should study the new revised syllabus.  This is
the thing to be got done now.

As per the moderators message appeared today in the forum, there is a ray of
hope from our beloved Dioscoros Thirumeni. His Grace is taking ACTION, which was
NOT DONE SO FAR BY MJSSA Officials!!!  Let us pray to God Almighty to provide
enough support for the 'team' who are doing this work.  We hope that this will
be available in PRINT for the needy at least by next academic year.

Again, why MJSSA is reluctant in producing the VBS Materials also in English?? 
Individual church(es) doing in their own way, is NOT the solution!!!  There is a
centralized organisation for Sunday School and they are the people to produce
and distribute it to all.  I hope by next VBS season, this will also become a
reality, and pray God Almighty to strengthen the arms of Dioscoros Thirumeni to
'clean' the MJSSA, AS JESUS DID AT JERUSALEM CHURCH.

Regards

Sunny Chacko
Id # 2999

--- In SOCM-FORUM@yahoogroups.com, Very. Rev. Kuriakose Corepiscopa Moolayil
wrote:
>
> I read many postings in the Forum regarding Sunday School books in English. I
remember the Sunday Schools in USA prepared Sunday School books in English and
was printed by the MJSSA and the books were available in USA for a long time. I
too was part of the team which did the translation works. It may need revisions
and reprints. This can be done by the volunteers.

Dear brothers,

Really I was wondering why His Grace was keeping silence even after reading all
these discussions. In my experience His Grace always have the habit of acting
immediately. Thank you very much. A lot of thanks to SOCM forum also because our
church also is having the need of english text books. 
 
Anoop
#4037

Dear moderators

I endorse the message from Moolelachen. Malankara Syrian Orthodox Sunday School
Association (MSOSSA) of North America (affiliated to MJSSA) was able to prepare
Sunday School books in English under the leadership of Chev. James John,
Carteret NJ. He served as the Director of MSOSSA, till 2005. Text books up to
Class 1 thru 3 were done with thorough proof reading. The books for the rest of
the classes (4 - 10) needed more detailed review. I had the opportunity to part
take in many of these painstaking efforts. We had many obstacles to pass and
challenges to over come. However we did as much as we can with in our means and
time with the support and blessings of our Archbishop. Archdiocese met the cost
for printing and transporting. All the Sunday schools in this Archdiocese are
now using these text books. We have centralized tenth grade exam since 2005.

Even though these books need revisions, it paved way to establish unified
syllabus and timetable. Now we need more reprints for lower grades as well as
design/develop text books for class 11 and 12. Mr. Mathew G.M mentioned in a
previous posting that he has copies of Class 11 and Class 12 books. I'm
interested to get a copy. Since I took over as Director of MSOSSA we are working
on a curriculum for senior classes. We have a book review committee who is
eagerly looking at options and materials towards that regard. Currently our
students in these classes are having bible study (led by an elder member of the
local church or vicar) during the Sunday school class sessions. Children in this
age group are very much interested to delve and learn more about Orthodoxy and
Bible. We have many talented teachers. A solid curriculum is a need of the time.

It was with great joy myself and my fellow teachers received the news - "H.E.
Kuriakose Mor Dioscorus, president of MJSSA, has taken the necessary
arrangements to translate and update the Sunday School books into English."

Hats off to SOCM!

We are willing to join in these efforts.

In Christ,
Mrs. Betcy Thotakat
Director MSOSSA in North America
(Bthota90@...)