Pastorate Committee:

Objects and purpose of the Pastorate.

The Pastorate shall fulfill the objects and purpose of the Church of North India - to proclaim by word and deed the Gospel of Jesus Christ and service which may include educational, medical, social, agricultural and other services and also through worship and other activities of the Church which promote spiritual growth, self reliance, social justice and moral regeneration irrespective of caste, creed or colour.


PC Members:

Rev. John Shatananda (Chairman) - 9821130554
Mr. Vijaykar Mani (Secretary) - 9819600025
Ms. Vinaya Chacko (Asso. Secretary)
Mr. Chandrasekar (Treasurer) - 9892248880
Mr. Robin Thombre (Asso. Treasurer) ? 9869562247
Mr. Abraham Thomas - 9819600025
Dr. Sonal Ohol
Mr. Prakash Kakade
Ms. Tejaswini Banage
Ms. Ranjana Brownson (Sunday School Rep)
Mrs. Tripti Shah (Y.F. Rep.)




Associate Presbyter

Rev. George Daniel - 9820545539



Women's Fellowship

Objects and purpose of the Women Fellowship

The Women Fellowship, as a united body, together proclaims the Gospel of Jesus Christ and His service through educational, medical, and social services. The purpose is to unite the women of our church in the fellowship of worship and service and to support the programmes of the church. The Women Fellowship supports various church activities throughout the year. The Women meet on every Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. for Bible Study at the parsonage, a time for fellowship, praise and worship. The Women also meet on every 3rd Sunday of the month to plan the month's activities.


The Women's Fellowship Office Bearer's are :

Mrs. Mary Shatananda - President
Mrs. Mini Abraham - Vice President
Mrs. Indra Chandrasekhar - Treasurer
Ms. Tejaswini Banage - Secretary



Youth

"REMEMBER GOD IN THE DAYS OF YOUR YOUTH"
                                                                      Ecclesiastes 11:9-12:1

The beginnings of youth ministry took place in the mid -1800s, where Churches took note of all the young men working in factories. Laypersons who noticed that these young adults working six days a week and gallivanting about town on Sundays aspired to educate them. And so, early youth ministry began with bringing older children into classrooms to teach them how to read the Bible.

Youth have become an integral part of nearly every church’s ministry programming, and youth ministries continue to have a profound impact on the societies in which they exist.

The Youth at St. Mary’s needs a little gathering as some of our active youth have gone out of the city and the others have shifted their residences. The youth group consists of nearly 15 youngsters, some students and some working. The youngsters come together for Harvest Festival and Christmas, putting up game stalls or selling creative hand made items, the collection which is given to the Church and to decorate and make the Church look beautiful. Some of the youth members are a part of our church choir, which gives a special number for every special occasion and has also won trophies at various inter-church competitions through the years.

The youngsters bring out some editions of the 'Harmony', a newsletter during the year.

The Youth Group needs more enthusiastic and active youngsters in our group who in their own way add on to spreading our Lord’s love, sacrifice and redemption. You can join us and be a part of us any time. You are most welcome.

We thank God for His help in whatever small things we have do for His glory.



Choir

Worship is derived from old English words meaning "worth-ship". Giving worth to something. At Church, there are various activities of worship – one of which involves song and music. It is this part of worship that the Choir is involved in. Psalm 100 beautifully states :

“Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the LORD is God. It is he, who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.”

The Choir at St. Mary’s is still a work in progress. The group consists of around 15 people of all ages, the youngest being all of 12 years. The group has sung in three part and four part harmony, singing special songs for Christmas, Easter and Passion Week. The St. Mary’s Choir has also won accolades at various inter-church competitions through the years.

The Choir is still looking for enthusiastic believers who love music, love to sing and love to worship! Please sign up at any time. You are most welcome.




Sunday School

The term, ‘Sunday school' is used to refer to the system wherein religious education is rendered on Sundays by the church through lay volunteers as teachers. Throughout the years the Sunday school has always used the Bible as the text book. The heart of Sunday school has always been evangelism. This would probably surprise and may even shock some church members, but Sunday school was meant from the beginning to evangelize the lost and to train new believers as well as mature old ones. Gene Mims has drawn from Matthew 28:19-20 to create what is called the 1•5•4 principle which fits perfectly within the purpose of Sunday school. According to Mims the 1 driving force of church growth is the great commission. The great commission should lead the church to these 5 essential functions, evangelism, discipleship, fellowship, ministry, and worship. When the church is doing these five functions then the 4 results will be numerical growth, spiritual transformation, ministry expansion, and kingdom advance.

At St Marys Parel, the Sunday School meets during the morning service. At present there are 12 children and two classes in the Sunday School. The main purpose of the Sunday School is to make children 'Bible Literate'. Reading and learning the Biblical facts and applying them in daily life are expected to result in transformed lives which conform to the image of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Children take part in the church service regularly by singing songs, reciting Bible verses and reading the Bible. During the year 2009, children took part in the special services like Mother's day, Father's day, Teacher's day, Family Sunday and Harvest Festival. November 15, 2009 was celebrated as Children's Sunday and children led the congregation in worship.



Vacation Bible School

The origins of Vacation Bible School (VBS) can be traced back to Hopedale, Illinois in 1894. Sunday school teacher D. T. Miles, who also was a public school teacher, felt she was limited by time constraints in teaching the Bible to children. So, she started a daily Bible school to teach children during the summer. The first Bible school enrolled forty students and lasted four weeks. A local school was used for classes, while an adjoining park was used for recess. In 1898 Eliza Hawes, director of the children's department at Epiphany Baptist Church in New York City, started an "Everyday Bible School" for slum children at a rented beer parlor in New York's East Side. Hawes continued her efforts for seven years. Dr. Robert Boville of the Baptist Mission Society, became aware of the Hawes' summer program and recommended it to other Baptist churches. Boville established a handful of summer schools which were taught by students at the Union Theological Seminary. During one summer, one thousand students were enrolled in five different schools. In 1922, he founded the World Association of Daily Vacation Bible School.

In India, in the year 1952, the seminary students of the South India Biblical Seminary conducted their first summer VBS and outreach ministry. That first program was held in one language and had an attendance of 75 children. Today, VBS materials are published in 13 languages and reach an amazing 1.5 to 2 million children and young people in India each year.

The first VBS of St Marys Parel was held between October 19 to October 25, 2009 and 34 children from six churches attended the same. There were three classes - Beginner, Primary and Seniors. Mr Mark Ebenezer and Mr Selin were deputed from VBS Ministries, Bangalore to conduct the VBS. A number of volunteers coordinated the work relating to finances, purchase of books, eats and lunch. The Theme of the VBS was 'Come to the Feast' A typical day began with singing and a short devotion on the theme for the day. There were two periods -one on a Bible Passage and the other an incident in the life of a missionary. VBS day ended with singing and skit by the volunteers followed by lunch. There were special days like Day of Beauty and Cleanliness, Day of labour, Love Feast Day and Day of Inspection. The classes were awarded marks for all their activities. The final day celebration was held along with the church service on October 25, 2009 which was attended by the children and their parents.