Secretary's Message 2011

Dr. Anthony Isaac
Secretary, Wesley English Church
(Biennium 2007-09, 2009-11)

Our Wesley English Church on No. 11, Promenade Road, Bangalore – 560 005 has completed 122 years and continues to stand tall, beckoning its members to strengthen their spiritual growth and fellowship. In the last 122 years the church groomed and nurtured the spiritual growth of the Christian community in and around this area. Many prominent leaders worshiped in this church and contributed towards the progress of this church and the community around it. At this juncture we look back and adore and appreciate the selfless, dedicated services of the Pastors, the Pastorate committee members and leaders who actively participated in shaping this church and its programmes.

Today the Wesley English Church with a membership of over 200 families, cosmopolitan in nature with a strong fellowship and concern for one another, continue to praise and worship God. In the last biennium the Pastorate committee felt the importance of up-keeping the church building and sharpening its programmes. It took up important decisions to renovate the church. Rev. Prem Mitra, presbyter of this church in 2006-07 and the Pastorate Committee members then decided to renovate the church and started collecting money towards the work. When Mrs. Rev. Florence Deenadayalan became presbyter in 2008, she along with the Pastorate Committee members took up this project and moved forward tirelessly and renovated the church to what we see today.

THE MAIN WORKS WERE:

1. Retention wall (to safe guard the church foundation).

2. Unpolished stone out side the church (inside the church compound).

3. Compound wall.

4. Repair of the church roof

5. Interior of the church

6. Stained glasses at the Altar

7. Painting and wood paneling etc.

The entire renovation work initially appeared to be a huge task and the estimated cost was Rupees seventy lakhs. With God’s providence and Guidance, dynamic pastor Rev. Mrs. Florence Deenadayalan, Pastorate Committee members and the generous contribution of the members of our church, the work was completed. Now the renovated church has greater challenges to design programmes for the future.

As we had major renovation work taken up in the last two bienniums, top priority were given to strengthen regular programmes and included few new programmes.

1) Sunday School:The Sunday school children achieved greater height as a stronger pillar of the church with Mr. Herbert Paul and Mrs. Bindu Paul’s leadership. Children won many awards in the inter church activities and actively participated in Church programmes.

2) The Women’s Fellowship:The women of our church continue to work together for many programmes, supported the activities of the church, specially the Wesley Old Age Home. They participated in the inter-church women fellowship and made their presence felt in all the activities. Rev. Mrs. Florence Deenadaylan, Ms. Samson, Mrs. Ruth Manoj (2007-09) and other office bearers contributed greatly.

3) The Festivals:The Christmas, New Year, Good Friday, Easter and Harvest Festival were celebrated and observed in time which provided opportunity to the members to strengthen their spiritual nourishment and fellowship. Along with this the Church’s Annual day came into the calendar of celebration of the church (i.e. 31st July from 2009 onwards). The church enacted a Christmas play written by Mr. Kenneth Elisha and music and direction by Herbert Paul, where our Sunday school children participated and Rev. Prem Mitra took all care to stage this play at the church premises (2007).

4) Environment Camp:The Sunday school children went out for an Environment camp under the leadership of Mr. Santiago Eshwaraprasad and Mrs. Shobana Mathew.

5) All-night prayer:Rev. Mrs. Florence Deenadayalan introduced All-night prayer to pray for church and church members. Many families participated in this spiritual activities.

6) Special blessing to children:On Sunday church services the children were invited to come forward for blessings at the Altar, which encouraged many children to receive the blessing which increased their attendance in the Church.

7) Recreation facilities:To encourage children and young people of the church to spend their Leisure time, a basket ball pole and shuttle courts were provided at the church premises to keep them away from unwanted activities and other attractions outside Church.

We thank Rev. Mrs. Florence Deenadayalan – Presbyter, Pastorate Committee members of 2007-09 and 2009-11, Property committee convenor – Ms. Samson (2007-09), Mr. Albert Silas – Treasurer (2009-11), Property committee convenor (2009-11) and Mr. Manoj Jacob – Treasurer (2009-11), Church Engineers: Mr. Stanley John (2007-09) and Mr Sudheer Gurumurthy (2009-11) and Mr. Prem the contractor who did outside Church and compound work, Mr. Varghese for roof work, Mr. George for Carpentry work, Mr. Naveen and Mr. Basudev for flooring work, Mr. Noel for Painting work, Mr. Asad for stained glass, Mr. Abraham Mannaseh for sound, Mr. Devraj our sexton and his family, Mrs Esther Daniel, Mr Philip, Scholarship Convenor, Mr Joseph Jaya Kumar, Youth Convenor, Our Bishop and Mr J. M. Richard, All the standing committees members, donors from our church and outside and all other workers for their tireless and undisputed support in realizing this dream.

To raise money for the renovation work, a Souvenir was planned and now it is in the print form before you. We thank Mrs.Hemalatha John for writing the History of the church. Dr. Mrs. Iris Devadasan and Mr. Kenneth Elisha for compiling and presenting all the articles in a good, readable form, Mr. Herbert Paul for bringing it in the print form and all the Souvenir committee members who gave their might and talents in bringing the Souvenir in time. We thank the advertisers, donors and friends who contributed to the Renovation of the church.

All glory to God Almighty who makes everything possible. Through Him we draw, all our inspiration and strength.

GOD BLESS.