Carols unheard: A call for an inclusive Christmas

The Christmas season brings in memories of the commemoration of the birth of Jesus, celebration, carol songs, church services, community activities and sharing of food. Each church denomination celebrates the birth of Jesus with pre-prepared services and prayers. Carol songs in English and the vernacular are sung in houses and churches and people of all communities, castes and groups get together in their own celebrative ways.

The Carol songs we sing and listen to are traditional and well known to many. But there are limitations with language, context and lyrics. Many a time this is brushed aside and we get together in the spirit of the Christmas season forgetting everything else. But Carol songs are much beyond of what we know. Several communities have expressed their feelings and emotions about Jesus, his birth narrative and how Jesus gives hope and life in the midst of oppression and discrimination.

Such songs have been unheard, unseen and unsung by the mixed communities in churches, theological colleges and seminaries. Various dalit communities in different states of India have always sung from deep within their consciousness of being oppressed for centuries together. Such a deep consciousness finds support from the babe who was born in the midst of nothingness. Despite having everything, Jesus chose to be born in this nothingness, thereby associating himself with those who have been deprived their rights and their humanity. Carol songs gain deep meaning when sung from the consciousness of various dalit communities.

The United Theological College and the NationalCouncil of Churches in India (NCCI) have always stood for helping to build a church which should try hard in getting rid of caste, gender, and all sorts of discriminations within and outside the church. As part of this commitment the NCCI with support from the Evangelisches Missionswerk in Germany (EMW) and in partnership with the Department of Communication, UTC decided to bring out a CD on “Carols unheard: Christmas Carols from Dalit perspectives.”

The talks about how this could be done were done in the early part of 2012 with liaison work happening between Rev. Sunil Raj Philip, the secretary of the Dalit Desk of the NCCI, and an alumna of the college, and the Communication Department in the UTC. The actualization of the project happened on November 2,3,4 and 5 with recording done in the UTC recording studio. The release of the CD was held on November 6, 2012 with the first copy being released by the principal of the UTC, Rev. Dr. John Samuel Raj and the first CD being given to Rev. Dr. Vincent Rajkumar, Director of CISRS and Executive member of the NCCI. The students, faculty and staff of the college graced the occasion.

The songs have been written, set to tune and sung by students from various theological colleges and the UTC. The songs include Oriya, Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, English and Malayalam songs. Students from various states starting from the North East till down South were the backbone of this venture. The songs reflect the self-determination of the dalit communities and will be an inspiration to all the churches in India. We hope that this Christmas season will be more meaningful with the dissemination of these songs.

The songs are available for free download from http://soundcloud.com/commission-on-dalits-ncci This we hope will ensure the easy and concerted distribution, listening, appreciation and internalizing of the songs by the UTC alumni, various church denominations and Christians at large in India and all over the world. May we listen to these songs and be able to hear the unheard during the birth of our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ.

(Photo credit: Rev. Sunil Raj Philip). JK

UTC Inter-Sunday school competition

The winning church with the Inter-Sun faculty advisor Rev. Dr. Evangeline Anderson Rajkumar

  The Junior Bible Fellowship of Carey society had its Inter Sunday school talent hunt on the 3^rd of November 2012. The event was based on the theme “germination in a busy network”. The concept means to say that the children these days live in a ‘busy network’ of life, with school in the morning, then the tuition, music classes, sports activities and many more, on the other hand ‘germination’, the process in which a seed becomes a plant, is compared with the seed sown by the Sunday school teachers in their respective Sunday schools. This is the meaning of the theme “germination in a busy network”.

Vegetable carving competition was an interesting addition this year

Explaining the concept to the judges

There were about 28 churches Sunday school that participated in the event. The program started off with the children bursting balloons and inaugurating the event followed by praise and worship lead by ‘Affirmation’. There were various events like group singing, group instrumental, bible quiz, choreography which were poised as the main events along with new events like grain art, and treasure hunt that were introduced and event like vegetable carving, rangoli and flower arrangement in which one Sunday school teacher was allowed to participate.

The competition was well attended by children, parents and teachers from various churches in Bangalore

`St. Mary’s Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church enthralled the audience with their amazing performance and enthusiastic participation and also won the over-all trophy yet another time, followed by St. Peters and St. Paul’s Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church who won the runners-up trophy. Since the theme is closely related to plants the trophies this time were also floral saplings, First prize- Chrysanthemum, Second Prize- Oleander and the Third prize- Rose. All who attended the program were enthusiastic and brought more colour to the event with their performances and their presence in the campus.
                                   Vinod Shemron, UTC Inter-Sun Co-ordinator.

The student co-ordinator of the UTC Inter-Sun competition, Mr. Vinod Shemron

(Photo credit to Mr. Joe Jacob)

Alumni- Refresher Course 2012

UNITED THEOLOGICAL COLLEGE, BANGALORE

ALUMNI REFRESHER COURSE (23 – 25 October 2012)

Theme: “Lord, Renew the Church: Begin from Me”

The UTC Alumni Refresher Course 2012 took place on 23 – 25 October 2012 at the JRC Hall, UTC. This year 44 of our alumni registered and attended the same. The programme commenced with the alumni participating in the community worship at the Ziegenbalg chapel on 23 October at 08.30 AM, followed by registration at 09.00 AM in the JRC Hall. 

Dr. Dexter, Dr. Mani Chacko and Dr. Sahayadhas

The Alumni Refresher Course was officially inaugurated by the Rev. Dr. Daniel Jones Muthunayagom, Acting Principal, as the Principal, the Rev. Dr. J. R. John Samuel Raj was away in Korea on an official trip. The theme for the alumni refresher course 2012 was “Lord Renew the Church: Begin from Me”. Under this theme there were ten presentations: three Bible Studies, five lectures, one presentation on indigenous mission by (a group from) the Gypsy community and a group discussion with the aim of evolving a vision statement from the participants for the renewal of the Church for her mission and public witness in India in the 21^st century. The details of the sessions are as below:

Bible Study – Rev. Dr. Mani Chacko (Gen Sec. Bible Society of India)

Built on the Foundation of Christ and Nurtured by His Word: Scriptural Resources for the Renewal and Regeneration of the Church for Her Public Witness in India Today 

Rev. J. Jeyakumar (Asst Prof, Biblical Studies – NT, UTC)

Nurtured by the Word of Regeneration: The Continuing Influence of the Word of God in the Renewal of the Church 

Rev. Fr. Jerry Kurian (Lecturer, Communication, UTC)

Empowered by the Spirit of Renewal: People of God as the True Agents of Change

Dr. Lalrinawmi Ralte (Prof, Women’s Studies, UTC)

Metanoia: A Call for Gender Equality for the Renewal and Public Witness of the Church in the 21^st Century    

Bible Study II – Rev. Dr. Gnanavaram (Principal, TTS, Arasaradi)

Built on the Foundation of Christ and Nurtured by His Word: Scriptural Resources for the Renewal and Regeneration of the Church for Her Public Witness in India Today 

Rev. Dr. Dexter Maben (Associate Prof, Biblical Studies – OT, UTC)

Towards a Vision Statement for the Renewal and the Reform of the Church (Group Discussion)

Pastor Mordecai

Indigenous Mission among the Indigenous Communities (Gypsies)

Bible Study III – Rev. Dr. R. Sahayadhas (Associate Prof, Theology, UTC)

Self-Understanding of a Christian for the Renewal and Regeneration of the Church for Her Public Witness in India Today

Rev. Dr. Jones Muthunayagom (Prof. Biblical Studies – OT)

Metanoia: A Call for the Renewal of the Minds and the Reform of the Structures of Ecclesia for the Common Good

Mr. George Varghese (Director, YMCA Training School)

Bureaucracy: Has It Become too Burdensome for the Church Today?

Rev. Jacob Frank (PRO, UTC)

Promotional Interaction with the Alumni

In addition to the above sessions, the alumni led the Worship Service in the Chapel on Wednesday, the 24^th October in which Rev. Daniel offered the homily. The Cultural wing of the Carey Society organized a brief cultural programme and screened a meaningful movie on 23^rd evening. There was a Plenary Session in which the Alumni expressed their constructive proposals for the reconstrual of the Alumni Refresher Course in the years ahead. The Refresher course came to a close at 12.00 noon on the 25^th of October 2012 with the prayer by Rev. Dr. Joseph Prabhakar Dayam (Associate Prof of Theology, UTC). It was a joy indeed to have our alumni back in the campus and to interact with them, especially their experiences on field.

Dr. Rini Ralte

Rev. Dr. Gnanavaram

The Annual Refresher Course was followed by the Executive meeting of the Alumni Association and the General Body of the UTC Alumni Association met post lunch on the same day. 

Rev. Jacob Frank, PRO

Herewith, I place on record my sincere thanks and appreciation to all the participants and those who contributed towards the success of the UTC Alumni Refresher Course 2012.

Rev. Dr. R. Sahayadhas

Convener, Alumni Refresher Course 2012 

Rev. Dr. R. Sahayadhas, Convener, Alumni Refresher Course 2012

 (Photo credit: Calvin Sushit Ambler)

Masihi Sevak

The MASIHI SEVAK (In Christ’s Service) is a journal of Christian Ministry published thrice a year by the United Theological College, Bangalore India on behalf of the Alumni Association of the college. Masihi Sevak attempts to promote an awareness of vital issues that affect Christian witness and provide pastoral resources to people who are involved in Christian ministry. Masihi Sevak accepts articles, sermons, bible studies, ecumenical reports, and field experiences for publication. Masihi Sevak also has a page on facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/groups/utcmasihisevak/

Please send in your contributions to Editor, utcmasihisevak@gmail.com

The present annual subscription rates are:
India (General) … Rs. 150/-
UTC Alumni (in India) … Rs. 100/-
UTC Students … Rs. 75/-
Overseas by Airmail … US $35/-

You can subscribe for the journal by sending a cheque/DD drawn in favour of the United Theological College to the Business Manager (Public Relations Officer)
United Theological College
PO Box 4613
63, Millers Road
Benson Town
Bangalore-560046
India

Telephone : 0091-80-23332844/23330502
Fax: 0091-80-23330015
Email: proutc@rediffmail.com

Editor: Rev. Dr. Dexter S. Maben
utcmasihisevak@gmail.com

 

 

 

Advisory Committee:
Rev. Dr. Evangeline Anderson-Rajkumar
Rev. Dr. Peniel Jesudason Rufus

Turning the sod ceremony of the Mahatma Gandhi Centenary hostel and quarters

Most Rev. G. Devakadasham, President of the UTC Society, unveiling the foundation stone

 The turning of the sod ceremeony of the UTC Centenary Mahatma Gandhi Hostel and Quarters was held on Wednesday, September 26, 2012. The president of the UTC society Most Rev. G. Devakadasham, Moderator of the Church of South India presided over the ceremony.

The function started with chapel service at 7:30 A.M. in which the president preached about the need for the building project and the importance for the strong future of the UTC. The chapel service was followed by the turning of the sod ceremony in which the bishop president, executive members of the UTC council, faculty, students, staff, well wishers of the college and guests were present.

Student representatives

The worship and turning of the sod ceremony was followed by a community breakfast. The building project is expected to be completed within one and a half years.

Foundation stone

Community breakfast

Refresher course and alumni meeting 2012

The refresher course and alumni meeting of the UTC will be held on October 23, 24 and 25, 2012 in the United Theological College. The annual general body meeting of the UTC alumni will be held on October 24th at 5:00 P.M. 

The faculty convenor for this year is Rev. Dr. R. Sahayadhas (sahayadhasutc@rediffmail.com). The PRO Rev. M. Jacob Frank (jacobfranknkd@gmail.com) can also be contacted for details. The theme for this year is “Lord, renew the Church—begin from Me”.

Last year's refresher course and meeting was well received and had participants from all over the country.  Rev. Dr. Peniel Rufus was the convenor.

Paper being presented for the refresher course

Worship being conducted by the alumni

Worship preacher Rev. Viji Varghese Eapen

Few of the alumni with Dr. Eric Lott

 

Inter-Seminary inauguration

 

The Inter-Seminary programmes for the year 2012-13 was inaugurated on Saturday, August 11 in the Tagore Hall, UTC at 4:00 P.M. The talk for the inauguration was given by Rev. Dr. Peniel J. Rufus, Associate Professor in the Department of Theology and Ethics. Mr. Rohan Pushparajan, the Inter-Sem secretary, Brother Sanu Thomas and Fr. Jerry Kurian, the General Advisor were also present.

Rev. Dr. Peniel J. Rufus

Rohan Pushparajan

The meeting was attended by students from various Catholic seminaries and several students from the UTC. Brother Sanu welcomed the gathering and Fr. Jerry Kurian gave the introductory talk on the theme for the year. He talked about the need for theological students to be aware of the problems brought about by poverty and corruption and caste and gender discrimination in India. Dr. Peniel elaborated the theme for the year, "Go, grow and glow." He talked about the theme drawing insights from the disciples of Jesus and called upon the gathering to understand the real call of discipleship by Jesus.

The inaugural function included a song by the UTC students and an action song by the Junior Bible Fellowship of the UTC. Mr. Rohan Pushparajan proposed the vote of thanks. The Inter-Sem arranges several cultural and sports competitions all year round and is a time for Catholic and protestant seminaries to come together. 

Opening prayer

Sanu Thomas

Closing prayer