2017 Miracle of Christmas Program - Sat., December 23

Our 2017 Miracle of Christmas Program will be held on Saturday, December 23rd at 4pm, in Bellflower. Please make sure to let your family and friends know and invite them to attend.  More details to follow soon.

If you have any questions or would like to volunteer to help out, please contact Mr. Winson Varghese, Program Coordinator.

Location:
William Bristol Civic Auditorium
16600 Civic Center Drive
Bellflower, CA  90706

Christmas Caroling Schedule

We will be having our Christmas Caroling on the first three weekends in December. Please see below for the days we will be covering your home.  If you have any questions, please contact Mathew John (Sajan) or Mathew Varughese (Viji) if you have any have any questions.

DATE	CITIES
Sat., Dec. 2nd	Chatsworth (1), Northridge (1), Sherman Oaks (1), Lake Balboa (1), Simi Valley (2), Porter Ranch (1), Valencia (1), Camarillo (3), Glendale (4), Arcadia (1), Culver City (7), Los Angeles (4) and nearby areas
Sun., Dec. 3rd	Carson (1), Harbor City (1), Lomita (2), Torrance (5), Rancho Palos Verdes (3), Huntington Beach (2) and nearby areas
Sat., Dec. 9th	San Diego Area (1), Carlsbad, Foothill Ranch (1), Rancho Santa Margarita (1), Irvine (2), Laguna Hills (1), Fountain Valley (1), Anaheim (1), Anaheim Hills (2), Yorba Linda (4) and nearby Areas
Sun., Dec. 10th	Santa Fe Springs (1), Fullerton (2), Placentia (4), Brea (1), Chino Hills (1), Corona (2), Upland (1), Fontana (4), Loma Linda (2), Rialto (1), Ontario (1) and nearby areas
Sat., Dec. 16th (MGOCSM)	Norwalk (13), Bellflower (2), Lakewood (1), Cerritos (15), Cypress (3), Buena Park (3), La Palma (1), Stanton (2), Long Beach (2), Los Alamitos (1) and nearby areas

Parish General Body Meeting - Nov 12th

A Parish General Body Meeting has been scheduled on Sunday, November 12th after the Holy Qurbana. All eligible members will be posted on the church bulletin board. The main agenda for the meeting will be electing office bearers for 2018. Please make every effort to attend.

Centralized Written Competitions - October 21st

The Sunday School Centralized Written Competitions will be held Sunday, October 21st.  The competition topics and guidelines are below for your reference.  The drawing competition will be from 9am - 9:45am so please arrive early.  All the other categories will be held after the Holy Qurbana.

Topics and Guidelines

Deadline for Registration:  Sun., October 8th

Registration Form

ONAM FEAST - Sunday, September 3rd

An Onam feast is being coordinated after the Holy Qurbana on Sunday, September 3rd. If you have our traditional Kerala style outfits, please wear to church.

 Women/Girls – Kerala sari, churidhar or white/light colored dress
 Men/Boys – Mundu/Jubba

Mr. Lalu Kurian and Mrs. Saramma John are coordinating the food for the feast, so if you would like to help in any way, please contact them so we can make it a success.  We request all members to attend and participate.

Prayer Meeting - K.C. Varughese (Camarillo), Friday, July 21 @ 6pm

A prayer meeting has been scheduled at Mr. K.C. Varughese's home in Camarillo.  We request all families that can attend to join with the family in prayer.

Date:  Friday, July 21st
Time:  6PM

Address:
330 Calle Converse
Camarillo, CA 93010

Funeral Details for Aleyamma Varghese (Camarillo)

MOTHER OF SUSAN VARUGHESE (MOLLY – CAMARILLO) PASSES AWAY 

We are very saddened to inform you that Mrs. Aleyamma Varghese, mother of Mrs. Susan Varughese (Camarillo), entered into eternal rest.  Please see the viewing and funeral service details below.

On behalf of the parish, we express our deepest condolences and prayers to the family. We pray that God Almighty grant eternal rest to the departed soul. Please keep the family in your prayers as they pass through this difficult time.

Viewing/Funeral Services:
Saturday, July 22nd, 1pm
Griffin Family Funeral Chapel
1075 E Daily Dr,
Camarillo, CA 93010




Burial Service/Final Resting Place 
Saturday, July 22nd at 2:30pm 
Conejo Mountain Memorial Park
2052 Howard Rd.
Camarillo CA 93012

The family requests all to join in refreshments at the home after the  burial service.
330 Calle Converse
Camarillo, CA 93010

Family Conference Registration

8th Annual Diocesan Day Celebration - June 11

As we celebrate our 8th Annual Diocesan Day, a brochure has been prepared by the Diocese for all our families.  Please click the link below to view the brochure. 

CLICK HERE TO VIEW DIOCESAN BROCHURE

2017 Western Regional Family Conference

Go to conference website to register

Happy Easter!

Christ is Risen! Indeed He has Risen! On behalf of the St. Thomas Orthodox Church of Los Angeles, we wish you and your family a blessed and Happy Easter!

Holy Week Schedule

DATE/TIME	SERVICE/EVENT
Saturday, April 8 6:00 PM	Evening Prayer & Devotional Address Fr. Dr. John Thomas, Karingattil  Theological Seminary, Kottayam
Palm Sunday, April 9 8:30 AM	Holy Qurbana (Palm Sunday/Hosanna) (Lunch will be served) No Sunday School
Monday, April 10 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM	Confession Evening Prayer/Devotional Talk
Tuesday, April 11 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM	Confession Evening Prayer/Devotional Talk
Wednesday, April 12 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM 6:30 PM	Confession Holy Qurbana & Passover Service
Friday, April 14 9:00 AM	Good Friday Service (Traditional Kanji will be served)
Saturday, April 15 9:00 AM	Holy Saturday Service (Remember all departed)
Sunday, April 16 8:00 AM	Holy Qurbana & Easter Service Easter Egg Hunting for children (Lunch will be served) No Sunday School

South Region Prayer Meeting at Home of K.M. Mathew, Placentia - March 18

A Lenten Prayer Meeting has been scheduled for the South Region at the home of Mr. K.M. Mathew and family in Placentia on Saturday, March 18th at 6:30pm.  The family invite all members in the region to attend the prayer meeting.

Address:
1202 N. Ventana Ln.
Placentia, CA 92870
Phone No. (714) 646-9590

If you would like to host a prayer meeting at your home or at church, please contact Mrs. Annie Mathew, Prayer Coordinator.

Sunday School & MGOCSM Volunteer Event - Sat., March 25th

There will be a volunteering event during our Great Lent for the Sunday School and MGOCSM on Saturday, March 25th from 8:30am to 10:30am.  Please be on time since this is our time slot for our group.  This is an opportunity for us to give back to the community so don't miss out.  We request all students 5th grade and above to participate.  Adults are always welcome so please join with your children.  We request everyone to register online so we can provide a count to the coordinators.

REGISTER FOR EVENT

Lenten Prayer Meeting at Church - Sat., March 11th @ 6:30pm

A Prayer Meeting will be held at church on Saturday, March 11th. The prayer meeting is hosted by Dious Mathew and family.  Please make every effort to attend and participate in the Lenten Prayer Meeting.  The family invites all members to attend.

If you would like to schedule a prayer meeting either at your home or at church, please contact Mrs. Annie Mathew.

Bala Balika Samajam Meeting - Mar. 5th after Holy Qurbana

There will be a Bala Balika Samajam monthly meeting after the Holy Qurbana on Sunday, March 5th.  We request all young children to be present and participate in all the activities.

First Sunday of 50 days Lent (Kothine Sunday) - Feb 26th

Pethratha of the Great Lent

The Great Lent starts by commemorating the first miracle performed by Jesus i.e. turning water into wine at the wedding feast at Cana of Galilee. The Gospel reading for each Sunday of the Great Lent is about a miracle performed by Jesus.

Evening
St. John 3: 1- 6

Morning
St. Luke 16: 1-18

Before Holy Qurbana
Exodus 20: 1-21
Joel 2: 12-20
Isaiah 58: 5-14

Holy Qurbana
Acts 11: 19-26
OR
Revelations 2: 1 -7
Colossians 3: 1- 17
St. John 2: 1-11

Great Lent Prayer Book

Please download the Great Lent Prayer Book using the URL below. You can print copies for your family and use for the daily family prayers.

Great Lent Prayer Book

The Stream - Diocesan Newsletter for 2017

Please click on the link below to view the Diocesan Stream.

The Stream

Holy Qurbana - Wed., Feb 8th @ 6:30pm (Ending 3-Day Nineveh Fast)

There will be a Holy Qurbana on Wednesday, February 8th at 6:30pm for the ending of the Nineveh (3 Day) Fast.  Please make every effort to attend and inform any members in your area.

The fast of Nineveh is a three-day lent recognized by the Orthodox Church. During this fast, we remember the three days Prophet Jonah spent in the belly of a large fish as penance for his disobedience to God and the atonement of the sinful city of Nineveh.

During these three days, we should look at our lives and show remorse for our disobedient natures and follow in the footsteps of Prophet Jonah and the people of Nineveh.  As with all other fasts/lents of the Holy church, the fast of Nineveh is observed by refraining from the intake of all dairy and meat products.

May the Lord God accept your prayers, repentance and fasting. May He reward you and shower His blessing upon you.

Happy New Year