THE HIDDEN TRUTH

Sandipan Sinha : The first rays of sun touches the earth, the first ray of moon sparkles in the sky, just like we the Diocese of Durgapur is going to touch the hearts of the million Indians each and every time. Just like that the Community Study Center in Purulia is creating the hikes of the future India. The Community Study Center Purulia is situated near Leprosy Mission behind St. Barnabas Church, Uffampur, Purulia by Rt. Rev. Probal Kanto Dutta with collaboration Durapur Women Fellowship for Christain Studies (D.W.F.C.S) on 1st March 2007. Till date many interfaith children have joined the process and are blooming in the mean time. Ms. Bleesy Saniel is one of them. She is just 6 Yr old and studying in Holy Child Primary School in class-I. she has completed 2 yr in the center besides her schooling. She is a sweet little girl with a charming smile which notifies us to think that her smile and affection for the center and her life should remain constant throughout her life. Economic condition of her family is not so sound but still her parents have high hope and dreams for their only daughter.

While talking to her mother I realized the Hidden Truth of Life. Her mother is a housewife and her father Mr. Sukhoranjan Saniel is mechanic by profession. Their family income is too marginal in this high expenditure period, Still they are sending their only daughter to good school for better education and to the center for value education. On the other hand their daughter had shown the faithfulness to them by ranking 1st in the class in the merit list in the Holy Child School. she is also coming to center in regular basis and taking part in the all the extra curricular activities. She has ranked 1st in the drawing competition organized by the community study center, Purulia. When I asked her mother about their ambition for their child, she just surprised me saying that they want to commit her daughter for the service of the Lord. This is the real fact as the center had created a new platform which not only give emphasis on the overall development of the society but create a grass root level base of the believers in Christ. All these days of my study in the various project has given me enough proof of the principle of individuality and principle of self determination. Regarding the intellectual suggestion from the society of Purulia,’ They said blessing of the Lord is always on us , the only thing is we have to utilize it in perfect period in proper place i.e Purulia Child Development Center.”

Contribution of a Missionary

A.K. Roba: The Diocese have started the Slum Hostel in the month of February 2009 with 24 slum children under the Durgapur Child Study Centre organized by Diocese Women Fellowship headed by Mrs. Rita Dutta, President of DWFCS. The very beginning of the Hostel Mrs. Lynn Coulthard, Missionary from Western North Carolina Diocese, U.S.A. had resided in the Missionary Flat of our Diocese in the same Hostel Building and looked after the children. She loves the children too much individually. She knows every child by their name. She also knows each necessity of all-102 children of the Centre. She visited the houses of the children and as per need of the family she fulfilled their requirements and helped. When the new admission started in the govt. school of the locality she was very much worried for admission some of the children. There is no birth certificate of these children. Day by day she went to the school and talked with the School Authority for their admission. As per the instruction of the School authority she prepared affidavit from the Civil Court. But the School authority again turned down the admission. I shall never forget when she expressed her wariness and about the admission of the children in front of us. We realized that day about her love, affection, kindness, worry for the Children and her Motherly attitude had over whelming to us. It is an example and lesson for us about her exam-plenary attitude and services as a human being. At last after long fight with the School Authority she got admitted the left-out children in the local govt. school two days before leaving India and was very much satisfied before leaving this countryShe started a Kitchen Garden to produce vegetables for the hostel children. The quantity of production was in low scale. But one-day before leaving India she donated a POWER TILLER (HAND TRACTOR) to cultivate the vegetables for the use of the hostel children. In this rainy season, now Diocese has started cultivation in large scale so that the children of the hostel will be benefited. We shall never forget her help through to the Diocese and her love and affection shown the good of the children..

Strength of Smile (Editorial- 'deep- thelight' vol 45)

Abhik Viktor Kashyap: Workers at Keihin Electric Express Railway in Japan are facing enforce “smile scans” every morning in a bid to boost their customer services, says a report. The “smile scan” software produces a sweeping analysis of a smile based on facial characteristics. After scanning a face, the device produces a rating of 0 to 100 depending on the estimated value of the fulfilled potential of a person’s biggest smile. For those with below-par grin, one of an array of smile-boosting message will pop up on the computer screen. Workers receive a print out of their daily smiles, which they are expected to keep with them throughout the day to inspire them to smile at all times, resulting better work better morale.In a Group Discussion, I took part during my graduation, in which topics based on, our daily lives were discussed. We conversant on, how we pass on smiles to one another, but the questions were “Can we really inspire or uplift someone’s morale?” Someone said “The question is to be asked to oneself, because the answer lies with in.” A science student was asked, what is smile? He said “the expression that you have on your face when you are happy, amused, etc. in which the corners of your mouth turns upwards.” & a commerce guy said “looking very happy, especially soon after you have been looking worried or sad”. Literature and its associates said there are different kinds of smiles, elaborated their thoughts but the debatable point still was “Does smile has strength, to change someone’s life?”I found the answer to this question very recently when I visited MOTHER HOUSE in Kolkata. A sister narrated the story, how Mother Teresa started her work, she said “when Mother saw small children suffering on streets of Kolkata she thought to do something for them so she stopped a man passing by and asked him for monetary help.” With chocking voice and wet eyes the sister continued “the man didn’t look interested and started walking, Mother stretched out her right hand and asked for some money again, the man spat on her palm and said this is what he can offer. Mother smiled and closed her right palm hiding it behind her back. With smile on her face Mother said “I accept what ever you can give me, thank you.” Then putting her left palm right in front of the man Mother asked “what can you offer for these children?”” Sister continued with more excitement “the man moved with compassion and handed his wallet to Mother.” The sister joined her hands and pressed them on her lips as she completed her narration, the joy was evident in her eyes. While I was walking out of Mother House I saw a quotation on the wall “PEACE BEGINS WITH A SMILE.” Our identity changes with how we perceive reality!

Women’s Meeting in Raghunathpur

Rev. Balius Hembrom: The Women Fellowship of Mostapur Pastorate organized a day’s meeting on 10 th’ June 2009 at CNI Central Church Raghunathpur, Balurghat. In that meeting there were 150 participents besides their children form Mostapur, Balurghat and Mokhrampur Pastotate. The Presbyter –in- Charge Rev. Balias Hembrom inaugurated the meeting with the verse from Proverb 31:27 “She watches over the affairs of her house hold.” With these words he reminded their responsibility towards the members of their families & that their behavior may be as true as a Christians, the followers of Christ. The associate Presbyter Rev.Suresh Hembrom gave a very inspiring teaching on the giving of the Tithe and it’s blessings from Malach :8-10. Rev. Santosh Mardi from Kaliganj gave a good teaching from Esther 2 : 15-16 and Genesis 2 : 18 about the role of women in family, congregation and pasotorates. Then the Presbyter –in – Charge handed over the entire meeting to Smt. Shefali Murmu and Smt. Sushoma Chowria, the conductors s of the meeting. The women of every pastorate took active part in singing , prayer , Bible reading and giving testimonies. The women from Mastapur Congregation enacted the life of Samaritan women through singing. The former teacher Mrs. Maloti bala encouraged the women to keep the commandments of God from Deuteromim 6: 1-4. the whole day programme was a very enthusiastic and the meeting ended with a word of prayer & Fellowship Meal.

Reported by - Rev. Balius Hembrom

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.