FAMILY & YOUTH CONFERENCE 2013 DAILY NEWSLETTER

JULY 12, 2013Honor's Haven Resort and Spa,1195 Arrowhead Road, Ellenville, NY 12428

THE NORTHEAST AMERICAN DIOCESE OFTHE NORTHEAST AMERICAN DIOCESE OFTHE NORTHEAST AMERICAN DIOCESE OFTHE NORTHEAST AMERICAN DIOCESE OFTHE NORTHEAST AMERICAN DIOCESE OFTHE MALANKARA ORTHODOX SYRIAN CHURCHTHE MALANKARA ORTHODOX SYRIAN CHURCHTHE MALANKARA ORTHODOX SYRIAN CHURCHTHE MALANKARA ORTHODOX SYRIAN CHURCHTHE MALANKARA ORTHODOX SYRIAN CHURCH

Ãm v ]Xn-\n[n\yqtbm¿°v: F-e≥-hn-√n-ep-≈ Hm-tW-gv-kv tl-h≥ dn-tkm¿-´n-¬ HØp-Iq-Snb a-e-¶-c Hm¿-Ø-tUm-Iv-kv k-` t\m¿-ØvCu-kv-‰v A-ta-cn-°≥ `-Zm-k-\ P\߃°v Bfl-hn-ip-≤n-bpsS ]q¿W-X-bn-te-°p≈ c≠mw Zn\w ]m¿∞-\m\n¿`c-am-bn-cp-∂p. ico-cß-sf Po-h-\pw hn-ip-≤nbpw ssZ-h-Øn-\p ]-km-Z-hp-ap-≈ bm-K-hp-am-bn k-a¿-∏n-°p-∂-Xn¬ ]m¿-∞-\ h-ln-°p-∂ A-\n-X-c-km-[m-c-W ]-¶n-s\-∏-‰n-bp-≈ hn-i-Zam-b ]-kw-K-ßfpw[ym-\-tbm-K-ß-fpw N¿-®m-¢m- p-IfpwsIm-≠v k-º-∂w. tIm¨-^-d≥-kn¬ Nn-¥m-hnj-bw A-h-X-cn-∏n-®p sIm-≠v dh.^m. tUm. t_-_n h-dp-Kokpw dh. ^m.tdm-_¿-´v an-¢o\pw Bflob Nn-¥m-[m-c-bp-sS A-aq¿-Øam-b hm-Xm-b-\-ß-fm-WvXp-d-∂n-´-Xv.

c≠mw Zn\w A-Xn-cm-hnse 6.15˛\vcmXn \-a-kv-°m-c-tØm-sS-bm-Wv A-\p-K-l-am-cn sNm-cn-™ Znh-kw B-cw-`n-®Xv. Xp-S¿-∂v ]`m-X \-a-kv-°mcw. d-h.^m. tUm cm-Pp h-dp-Ko-kv [ym-\-]-kw-

PRIVATE CIRCULATION ONLYISSUE: 3

]m¿∞-\m-\n¿`camb c≠mw Zn\w

FR PAULOSE T. PETER

Opening the Keynote address on the Conference Theme, “Offer ourselves as a living Sacrifice” (Rom 12:1), Rev Fr Dr Baby Varghese

stated that the very choice of the theme verse wasa fitting tribute to the Late Lamented BarnabasThirumeni because it was the pet topic of His Gracewhose earthly life bore witness to the theme inmany ways. Fr. Varghese, Professor at the KottayamTheological Seminary and the Keynote speaker foradults and FOCUS, has a pretty impressive resume.His presentation was methodical, academic, schol-arly and well-researched. The audience in generalfelt it more like a study class and a serious presen-tation.

Labeling the theme as St. Paul’s exhortation tothe Romans, Baby Varghese Achen ‘provoked deep-ening thoughts’ on the theme with stories and an-ecdotes inculcated in between. Defining the themeverse to mean ‘a life well-pleasing to God’, Achenexhorted the listeners to shape their lives after thepattern of Christ becoming partakers of His cross.Sincere prayers and thanksgiving from the heartand a sharing attitude to others constitute the pleas-ing sacrifice to God, he said.

Dissecting the Old Testament meaning of Sac-rifice in which offering of animals and things Godhas blessed us with and sharing what was sacri-ficed, he reminded to be grateful to God for all Hisblessings and to enjoy the Fellowship by sharingthem with others.

Abraham was elevated to the envious positionof being the ‘Father of the Faithful’ not only becausehe obeyed God without question but also because ofhis generosity and large heartedness in ironing theproblems between him and Lot and also the hospi-tality he extended to strangers without expectinganything in return. Abraham’s exemplary behaviorshould be an eye opener to all of us whose unyield-ing behavior fans the flames of perennial familydisputes among relatives.

Even a radiant smile that costs nothing canbecome an offer of prayer and spiritual sacrifice,Achen added, because it brings out the best in us.

Quoting the poet Charles Peguy who wrote, “weshould not pray like geese waiting for food’, hepointed out that prayers packed and cluttered witha litany of personal needs would be no prayer at all.Charity is also a form of prayer and sacrifice be-cause it contains the invisible presence of Christ.Achen enforced this point further by quoting fromearly church Fathers such as St. Gregory and St.Chrisostom. He criticized those who make a mock-ery of charity by fake fund-raising and issuance ofmake-believe receipts for projects which have nobearing on charity. An offering in itself is not a guar-antee for forgiveness, he said, but a sincere offer-ing that emanates from the heart alone is accept-able and pleasing to God. Achen raised the bar evenhigher when he said that honest work is worship.In a world where success is reserved for those wholive masked lives with cheating, bribing and buyingfavors with influence, our challenge is to maintainhonesty and integrity. Humility, hospitality, Visitingthe sick, feeding the hungry, detaching ourselvesfrom consumerism and addictiveness and simplic-ity – all these and more encapsulate the real mean-ing of prayer and well pleasing sacrifice to God.

Baby Varghese Achen concluded his hour and ahalf long presentation saying that in the presentworld where ideal life is defined as being single, richand famous, our challenge is to lead a simple lifebeing a good family member, a good friend and agood neighbor, thereby offering ourselves as a liv-ing sacrifice to God.

A TRIBUTE TO BARNABAS THIRUMENI: REV FR DR BABY VARGHESE

REV FR DR BABY VARGHESE

The MGOCSM sessions were led by Fr. RobertMiclean (pronounced as Micleyaan inRomanian) and was attended by a packed

crowd of youngsters. In the first key note addresson Thursday morning, Fr. Miclean introduced thetheme for the conference “Offer yourself as a livingsacrifice” which is based on Romans 12: 1 bytouching on the adjacent verse (v2) which dealswith “transforming” and not “conforming” to theways of the world, especially when the world isleading us away from the way of the Lord. A fewhighlights brought up in the keynote were - Truthis a person, and not an idea. When we hear in theworld that this is your truth, that is my truth, etc,remember, that truth is not a product of our brains,absolute truth is a person, and it is God, as Christhimself claims that He is the Truth, the way andthe life. - God loves a struggling sinner, becausea sinner who is struggling is not conforming to theways of the world, not justifying his sin, notlegitimizing his sin, but trying to transform Himself.

- God is Love and it is through God and in Godthat we begin to understand and experience love.

In the discussions, 4 groups were givendifferent topics to explore the topic. That dealtwith sacrifice, Church’s role, relation between oursecular and spiritual life etc. Presentations weremade by the groups at the end.

The super-session “Mission in the OrthodoxChurch – North American Perspective” led by Fr.Miclean was attended by a good number of adultsas well. Fr Miclean stressed on the (often ignored)mission of the Church to be evangelists andambassadors of Christ. His words instilled in thelisteners an urge to come out of the ethnic mindsetoften seen in the Indian Orthodox.

Fr Miclean, himself a convert fromProtestantism, connected well with the audienceand presented his ideas with clarity and passion;the sessions were interspersed with interestinganecdotes from his own experiences.

MATHEW SAMUEL

MGOCSM DWELLSINTO THE MYSTERIESOF THE DIVINE

]pXnb Xe-ap-d-bv°mbn \ap°p ]m¿∞n°mw

]pXn-b X-e-apd-sb H-∏w \n¿-Øp-I-sb-∂-Xm-Wv F√m Hm¿-Ø-tUm-Iv-kv k-`-I-fpwt\-cn-Sp-∂ k-a-Imen-I sh√p-hnfn. Cu kp-hnti-j ]-h¿-Ø-\-߃ hn-P-b-I-c-am-°p-hm≥ k-a-bhpw H-cp L-S-I-am-Wv. ssI-kv-X-h ]-Nc-Ww G-s‰-Sp-Øv A-t∏mkv-tXm-e-∑m¿ tem-I-sa-ºmSpw k-©-cn-®n-cp∂p. sk‚ v tXma-kv C-¥y-bn-te-°p h-∂Xpw sk‚ v B≥-Uq-kv sdm-am-\n-b-bn-te-°p t]m-bXpw Hs° Hm¿-°-Ww. ]m-c-º-cy-am-bn ]n-¥p-S-cp-∂ ]-e ]-Jym]n-X \-b-ß-sfbpw X√n-]p-d-Øm-°m≥ io-en-°p-∂ ]pXn-b X-e-ap-d-bp-sS h-‡m-°-fm-bn F-Øp-∂ bp-h-P-\-߃°v Hm¿-Ø-tUm-Iv-kv k-` H-cp Nn√p-Iq-SmWv. km-aqln-I cwK-Øv hym-]-I-am-bn sIm-≠n-cn-°p-∂ kzh¿-K hn-hm-l-ß-sfbpw a-‰pw C-°q-´¿ A-\p-Iq-en-°p-tºmƒ, A-h-cp-sS a\- p am-dnBflo-b hn-ip-≤n-bn-te-°v Xn-cn-®p h-∂v k-t¥m-jhpw k-am-[m-\hpw \n-d-™ Po-hn-Xw t\-Sn-sb-Sp-°m≥ A-h¿-°v I-gn-b-W-ta-sb-∂p \-ap-°p ]m¿-∞n-°mw.

(kq-∏¿ sk-j-\n¬ d-h.^m.tUm. tdm-_¿-´v an-¢o≥)

APnØv amØ≥

Kw \-S-Øn. t_m-¶v-kv sh-kv-‰v sN-b¿Hm¿-Ø-tUm-Iv-kv N¿®-kv Km-b-I-kw-Lw \-bn-® Km-\m-em-]-\-Øn-\p ti-jwIo-t\m-´v kv-]o-°¿ d-h. ^m. tUm. t_-_n h-dp-Kokpw ^m. tdm-_¿-´v an-¢o\pwNn-¥m-hnj-bw A-h-X-cn-∏n-®p.

ap-Xn¿-∂h¿, bp-h-P-\߃, Ip- n-IƒF-∂nß-s\ Im-‰K-dn Xn-cn-®m-bn-cp-∂ptbm-K-߃ I-ao-I-cn-®n-cp-∂Xv. Kq-∏v Un-kv-°-j-\pIƒ, d-h. ^m. tUm. tPm¿-PvtImin, sh-cn. d-h. ]u-eq-kv BZmbtIm¿ F-∏nkv-tIm-∏, d-h. ^m. hn.Fw.jn_p, d-h. ^m. tUm. h-dp-Ko-kv Um-\nb¬, ^m. _n‰n am-Xyp, ^m.t_m-_nh-dp-Kokv, ^m. Sn. F tXm-akv, kn-kv-‰¿ F-en-k_-Øv F-∂n-h¿ \-bn®p.

Fw.Pn.H.kn.Fw, t^m°-kv skj-\pIfpw D≠m-bn-cp-∂p. D-®-`-£-W-Øn-\p ti-jw kq-∏¿ sk-j-\p-I-ƒ I-ao-I-cn-®n-cp∂p. Iq-\≥ Ip-cn-iv k-Xyw a-e-¶-c k-`m N-cn-X-Øn-se \m-gn-I-°√m-bnamdn-b kw-`-h K-Xn-hn-K-Xn-I-sf-°p-dn-®v^m. Fw.sI. Ip-cym-t°mkpw ssI-kv-X-h amXr-I Ip-Spw-_w sI-´n-∏-Sp-°p-∂-

Xn-s\-°p-dn-®v tUm. km-°v k-J-dn-bbpwt\m¿-Øv A-ta-cn°≥ Hm¿-Ø-tUm-Iv-kvk-`m ho-£W-sØ ]-Xn-]m-Zn-®p sIm-≠v m. tdm-_¿-´v an-¢o\pw kw-km-cn®p.

]n-∂o-Sv \-S-∂ Imbn-I a-’-c-ß-fn¬ssh-Zn-Icpw Ip- n-I-fp-apƒ-s∏-sS-bp-≈ A-Ω-amcpw B-th-i-]q¿-∆w ]-s¶-SpØp.thmfn-t_mƒ, _m-kv-°‰v-t_mƒ hSwh-en Xp-S-ßn-bhpw D-≠m-bn-cp∂p. ssh-Zn-Icpw A¬-am-b-cpw X-Ωn-ep-≈ h-Swh-en a-’-c-Øn¬ A¬am-b Kq-∏v hn-P-bn®p. ssh-Ip-t∂c-sØ [ym-\-tbm-K-߃ ^m.sI.sI tPm-Wpw, ^m. tdm-_¿-´v an-¢o\pw \-bn-®p. Xp-S¿-∂v I-em-]-I-S-\-ß-fp-sS k-a-b-am-bn-cp∂p. Km-\-ßfpw \r-Ø-ßfpw Nn-Xo-I-c-W-ß-fp-am-bn -Zm-k-\-Øn-se C-S-h-I-I-fn¬ \n-∂p-≈ I-em-kw-L-߃ Ac-ßp X-I¿Øp.tIm Hm¿-Un-t\-‰¿ jm-Pn h-dp-Ko-kv Bap-J ]-kw-Kw \-SØn. So-\m tXm-a-kv, A-\p tPmk-^v F-∂n-h¿ Fw-kn˛am-cm-bn-cp∂p. sj-dn≥ tPm-bn A-ta-cn-°≥ tZio-b Km-\hpw sdPn ^nen∏pw Sow C-¥y≥tZio-b Km-\hpw ]mSn.

aq-∂mw Z-n-h-k-a-m-b C∂v ]-`m-j-W-ß-fpw N¿-®m-¢m- p-I-fpw \-S-°pw.Fw.Pn.Hm.kn.F-kv.Fw, t^m-°-kvF-∂o ]-ÿm-\-߃ t\-Xr-Xzw \-¬-Ip-∂ Ã-Un-¢m- p-Iƒ, kv-t]m¿-Sv-kv B≥-Uv K-bnw-kv, a-‰v kq-∏¿ sk-j-\p-Iƒ F-∂n-h-bpw \-S-°pw. ssh-Ip-t∂-cw ]v-fo-\-dn sk-j≥. [ym-\-]-kw-K-hpw Ip-º-km-c-hpw cm-Xn h-sc \o-fpw. \m-emw Zn-h-k-am-b \msfi-\n-bm-gv-N hn-ip-≤ Ip¿-_m-\-b-°vti-jw kv-t\-l-hn-cp-t∂m-Sp Iq-Sn^manen bqØv tIm¨-^-d≥-kn-\pXn-c-io-e ho-gpw.

tIm¨^-d≥kn¬C∂v:

\ΩpsS ]m¿∞-\-Iƒ ]e-t∏mgpw`£-W-Øn\pth≠n _lfwhbv°p∂ hmØXmdm-hp-Isft]mse-bm-Wv.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

˛^-©v I-hn Nmƒ-kv s]-§n-bp-sSh-cn-Iƒ D-≤-cn-®v

d-h. m.tUm. t_-_n h-dp-Ko-kv

Printed and published By H G Zachariah Mar Nicholovos Metropolitan On behalf of Family and Youth Conference Committee. Chief Editor Fr Sujit Thomas, Managing Editor: Dr Philip George,Contributing Editors: Rev Fr Paulose T Peter, Rev Fr Shibu Daniel, Mathew Samuel, Technical Assistance: Sunoj Thampi. Photographs: Abraham Joshua/Gina Joshua. Editor: George Thumpayil (973) 943-6164.thumpayil@aol.com

July 12, 2013-FRIDAY ATMEEYAM NEWSLETTER ISSUE: 3

SHOTS FROM DAY 2Xe-hc

F¥mRßfpw tamtU¨

At√?v

kvt]m¿Svkv B≥Uv sKbnw-kn-s\-Ønb sshZn-I¿

t^mt´mbv°v t]mkvsNbvX-t∏mƒ.

SCENE OF THE DAY

Photo: Gina Joshua

kt¥m-jn-°m≥

\mw F¥p sNøWw?

F√m-h-scbpw kv-t\-ln-°p-I-bpw,_-lp-am-\n-°p-Ibpw sN-øp-∂-h¿-

°v F-t∏mgpw k-t¥m-jn-°m≥km-[n-°pw.

(Im-ew sNbv-X A-`nh-µyam-Xyq-kv am¿ _¿-W-_m-kv sa-Xm-

t∏m-eo-Ø-bp-sS ssZ-h-Øn-s‚ Ir-]F-∂ B-fl-I-Y-bn¬ \n∂pw)

6:15 AM Midnight Prayers [Lilio] (optional) (Atlantic Hall)7:00 AM Morning Prayer - Malayalam (Atlantic Hall). Morn-

ing Prayer - English (Pacific Ballroom) 7:45 AM DevotionalAddress - Malayalam Rev. Fr. Sunny Joseph(Atlantic Hall)Devotional Address - English(Pacific Ballroom) 8:00 AMBreakfast Optional (Gaia Hall). Prayer (Atlantic Hall) 8:45AM Group Photo 9:00 AM Adults Choir (15 min) KeynoteAddress [Rev. Fr. Dr. Baby Varghese] (Atlantic Hall) FOCUSExperiencing SGF MGOCSM MGOCSM Keynote #2 [Rev. Fr.Robert Miclean] (Conference Room 4) Children MiddleSchoolers (Summit 4) Elementary ( Summit 2) Toddlers (Sum-mit 3) 10:45 AM Coffee Break (Lower Lobby) 11:00 AMAdults Group Discussion #1 (Atlantic Hall, Pacific Ball Room)FOCUS Experiencing SGF (Summit 1) MGOCSM Group Dis-cussion #1 (Conference Room 4-7) Children Middle Schoolers(Summit 4) Elementary ( Summit 2) Toddlers (Summit 3) 12:00Noon. Noon Prayer ( Atlantic Hall) 12:30 PM Lunch (GaiaHall) 2:00 PM Adults.Free Time.FOCUS - SGF NextSteps(Summit 1) MGOCSM Debate (Conference Room 4)Children Free Time (Under Parental Supervision) 3:00 PMSuper Sessions IIì1) Symbols in H. Qurbana Led by Rev. Fr.Dr. Baby Varghese 2. Panel Discussion ñ ìWomenís Experi-ence as faced by women in diverse life situationsî-MMVSand Rev Fr. T.A. Thomas. 3. Estate Planning for OrthodoxChristiansì-Jamie Joshua ChildrenìMiddle Schoolers (Summit4)ìElementary ( Summit 2)ìToddlers (Summit 3) 4:00 PM Cof-fee Break (Lower Lobby) 4:30 PM Plenary Session (Atlan-tic Hall) 5:30 PM Souvenir Release, Vote of Thanks (AtlanticHall) 6:00 PM Dinner (Gaia Hall) 6:45 PM Choir & EveningPrayerì(Atlantic Hall) 7:45 PM Adults Retreat (AtlanticHall)ìRev. Fr. Dr. Varghese M. Daniel FOCUS Retreat (PacificBallroom) MGOCSM Children Retreat (Conference Room 4)Rev. Fr. Vijay Thomas 8:30 PM Adults Confession FOCUS MGOCSM Children Liturgical Song Session (ConferenceRoom 4) 11:00 PM Lights Out

Today’s Schedule (Friday, July 12, 2013)

hSw-hen a’-cØnse hnP-bn-Ifmb ]pcp-j- kvXo Soap-Iƒ

tIm¨ -d≥kns\ kwKo-X-km-µ-am°nb Kmb-I-kwLw

thmfn-t_mƒ a’-c-Øn¬ hnP-bn-bmb Sow

-km-cn-bp-SpØv ]mS-ms\-Ønb sIm®p Kmbn-I.