World Environment Day

Archana Dey: Climate change from Global warming and the depletion of the Ozone are changing the conditions for life over the whole planet. Therefore, as Christians our responsibility is to protect the environment and be stewards of God’s Creation. The Companion diocese committee’ decided to uphold this message to all the Pastorates of the Diocese of Durgapur and issued a call to celebrate life by caring for God’s Creation and responding to the ecological crisis that is manifesting itself all around us in so many ways.

Thus, on 5th’ June 2009, all the Pastorates respond to the call united to celebrate the wonders of God’s creation and reflect on our connection with the natural world. An ‘Awareness programme’ was organized in which the youths and children were encouraged to take part in Drawing Competition/Poetry Writing/slogan Writing, making banners, Cleaning –up campaigns Planting trees.

The committee also decided to hold a special Service on 7th’ June 2009 in all the pastorates. A special Order of service’ was prepared to offer our thanks and praise to the who creates and sustains life in all its diverse forms and to highlight the dangers posed by climate change to the whole of creation, and duty as Christians to act in hope.

The book of genesis contains a clear and repeated message that creation, sun and stars, land and seas, animals and plants, is good in God’s eyes. All creation is called to give praise to God and Humans, very much part of God’s creation, are created male and female in the image and likeness of God and have a special role and responsibility within creation. Humans are called to exercise dominion over the earth, a dominion over the earth , a dominion of service, wisdom and love.

Therefore, let us be active witness to the gospel message of Justice, compassion and respect for the earth and become faithful stewards of God’s wondrous creation.

New Power Tiller for Durgapur Child Study and Development Centre, Diocese of Durgapur

TRAINING ON GOD’S FINANCIAL PRINCIPLES:

Rev. Swagata Das : Why talk about money? Is it necessary to talk about money in the ministry? The Diocese of Durgapur organized two days training for all the presbyters to discuss about the “God’s Financial Principles”. The training started on 29Th’ may 2009 with the morning Eucharist Service where our former Bishop the Rt. Rev. O. K. Tirkey was the celebrant. The Bishop and speaker Mr. Sherif Danial were given us the teachings on faithfulness, honesty and giving to God. When we are faithful we will be benefited in three ways: we will grow closer to Jesus Christ, we will begin to have financial stability and we will develop good characters. The speaker’s main focus was that we must be like a God’s spokesperson and our lives should be Christ centered. They were also talking about that God is a controller, provider and sustained and we are the manager. We had a group discussion on the topic giving the tithe because God is the owner & giver of all. The whole training gave us the teaching on, what is God’s responsibilities and our responsibilities, what is work ethic because God created work for our benefit, how to give, save and spend the money, why we need honesty. In the time of sharing we made a covenant that we will not only be a listener but also share these programme to our family & congregation. At the end of these programme all the presbyters have received the certificate from the Crown Financial Ministry and in the last we can say that God has give us all the things what we need but we must know how to handle it and how to save it faithfully.