Post Box No. 4613, 63, Miller's Road, Benson Town, Bangalore- 560046, Karnataka, India. Telephone:91-80-23330015(Principal), 23333438, 23330502 (General). Fax: 91-80-23330015 Email:utcprincipal@rediffmail.com, unitedtcprincipal@gmail.com
Thursday, 18 December 2014
Saturday, 6 December 2014
Live streaming of the UTC Christmas Carol Service
The UTC Christmas carol service with the theme "Called to be Immanuels
in the midst of death" will be live streamed over the internet on Sunday, December 7th, 2014 from the
Charles Ranson hall, UTC from 6:00 P.M onwards. The advent festival of harmony will
have the UTC choir and various language fellowship choirs performing
during the service. The live streaming can be viewed on http://www.ustream.tv/channel/newsport
All those who will be online are welcome to view and be part of the service.
All those who will be online are welcome to view and be part of the service.
JK
Wednesday, 3 December 2014
We all live in Bhopal: Remembrance worship in UTC
People are screaming, oh yes, they are screaming
People are running, oh yes, they are running
People are crying, oh yes, they are crying
People are dying, oh yes, they are dying
People are you and me, oh yes, they are you and me
What would you do if you did not know what was
happening to you and you were struggling to breathe? What would you do if you
felt your eyes would pop out and you would die? You would run till there is no
end wouldn’t you? That is what happened in UTC for the Sunday evening worship on November 30, 2014,
in remembrance of what happened in Bhopal 30 years ago. Chairs were strewn
around and the entire cast of the Renegade Arts and Theatre Society (RATS) ran
into the stage in the Zigenbalg chapel from different corners. People could not
make out for a minute as to what was happening. There was a lot of crying and
desperation. It was the cry from Bhopal reminding everyone that “We all live in
Bhopal.”
The Renegade Arts and Theatre Society in
association with Visthar, Bangalore and the Chingari Trust, Bhopal presented
their latest play “We all live in Bhopal” and intergrated it into the UTC
evening worship on Sunday. The play reminded everyone of the worst industrial incident
in modern India. It brought back memories and educated people on the scale of
corporate greed and ill governance and the fragility of human life. Some in the
congregation were youngsters in college when Bhopal happened while others were
not even born. Today even some youngsters in Bhopal are not aware of what
happened 30 years ago!
Rev. Dr. David Selvaraj, the Executive Director of
Visthar and the director of the play introduced the play and the cast. Mr. Sudhir
Selvaraj, the play wright talked of the research that went into the play and what it intended to
do. The play had real characters, played by people from all walks of life in
Bangalore. Champadevi Shukla and Rashida Bee, two survivors, Warren Anderson,
former Union Carbide chief and two activists, Sathyu and Rachna, among others, all
came alive in front of the congregation. It was not just a tribute or
remembrance but rather an awakening into the continued suffering of ordinary
people in Bhopal for the past three decades. We all live in Bhopal was an
effort for people in the play to talk to people in the audience and relive the
horror that happened and could happen again to anyone in any part of the
country.
Intercessory prayers and confessions were offered
to bring the congregation into the mood of prayerful interrogation. Rev. Ernest
Deenadayalan, distinguished alumnus of the college, renowned social activist
and director of "Other Media" gave a fitting reflection on the Bhopal
gas tragedy. There was suffocation in the Ziegenbalg chapel brought about by
the remembrance of thousands of people who died and lakhs of people who
suffered and continue to suffer. Pictures of the horror were displayed at the
entrance to the chapel.
At the end of the service the cast were allowed to
interact with the congregation. Moving reflections from students and teachers
followed. “I lost my voice for a minute. I wonder how people in Bhopal can have
a voice when they have been shouting for decades”, “Thanks for reminding us
that Bhopal happened. The media has been successful in wiping out Bhopal from
our collective consciousness”, “I remember that I was in Bangalore when the
Bhopal tragedy happened”, “Aren’t there similar disasters happening closer by
and even in Bangalore?”, “How have the actors in the play internalized Bhopal?.”
So on went the reflections and questions. The cast which included young and old
replied about their own experiences and how Bhopal and the ordinary people there had
inspired them to take up the fight against the corporates and the government
and how the fight has to be continued.
Three decades on, survivors still drink contaminated water and breathe poisonous air because no one accepts liability
for cleaning up the mess. Bhopal continues to endure high rates of cancer and other
illnesses. The play and worship ended in a high octane series of voices, which
all spoke as voices from and for Bhopal. After all, “We all live in Bhopal!”
JK
Friday, 28 November 2014
Dedication of the Family Blocks of the Centenary Complex
The dedication of the Family Blocks of the Centenary Complex in the United Theological College, bangalore will be held on Saturday, December 13th, 2014, at 9:30 A.M at the site of the complex and will be followed by a public meeting and lunch in the Charles Ranson Hall.
Shri K.J. George, the honourable Home Minister of Karnataka will be the chief guest, Shri R. Roshan Baig, the honourable minister for Infrastructure Development, Information and Haj, will release the special souvenir and Shri M. K. Gunashekar, the Councillor and Opposition leader, BBMP, will honour the gathering with his presence.
Distinguished and honourable bishops and pastors from various denominations will bless the occasion. All are welcome.
The President, Members of the Executive Committee, Principal, Faculty, Staff and Students UTC
Thursday, 27 November 2014
Christmas Carol service 2014
The UTC Christmas carol service with the theme "Called to be Immanuels in the midst of death" will be held on Sunday, December 7th, 2014 at the Charles Ranson hall at 6:00 P.M. The advent festival of harmony will have the UTC choir and various language fellowship choirs performing during the service. All are welcome.
Wednesday, 26 November 2014
An evening to remember Bhopal: Worship in UTC
A special service to remember Bhopal will be held in UTC on Sunday, November 30, 2014 at the Ziegenbalg chapel at the UTC. The Renegade Arts and Theatre Society will be leading the service with the play "We all Live in Bhopal."
JK
Wednesday, 19 November 2014
Mr. John Christopher passes away
Mr. John Christopher, father of Rev. Dr. John Joshva Raja, former faculty member of the UTC, passed away yesterday. The funeral will be held tomorrow at the CSI Cathedral Church, Palayamkottai at 3:00 P.M. "Christopher sir", as he was popularly known was a teacher, missionary and street preacher in the words of his son.
The principal, faculty, staff, students and community members of UTC offer their condolences and prayers and prays that the peace of God which passes all understanding be with the bereaved family.
Tuesday, 18 November 2014
Consecration of the Family Blocks of the Centenary Complex
The
President, Executive members, principal, faculty, staff and students of the UTC
Invite
you to the consecration of the
Family blocks of the Centenary
Complex
On December 13, 2014
At the United Theological College,
Bangalore at 9:30 A.M.
The Honourable Home Minister of
Karnataka,
Mr. K.J. George will be the chief guest
and
the
Honourable
Minister for Infrastructure Development, Information and Haj,
Mr. R. Roshan Baig
will release the souvenir
The Corporator Mr. M.K.
Gunashekaran along with bishops and pastors from several churches will be
blessing the event with their presence
Lunch will be served at 1:00 P.M.
Do come and bless us with your
presence
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