Maramon Convention 2010

Hey folks!

The Maramon Convention, a great gathering unique to the Mar Thoma Church is being held 14-21 February 2010) at Maramon, near Kozhencherry, Kerala, India. The week long gathering held in a tent situated on a riverbed is in it's 115th year. Attending at least once in a life time will give you something worth remembering, besides the working of the Holy Spirit in you, if you prepare yourself and hear the messages!

There are stalls run by different insitutions of the Mar Thoma Church which present it's activities to those who stop by. Also there are mission stalls, book stalls, food stalls, you name it all!

Maramon convention songs, a new collection of Malayalam hymns each year, is also very popular across Christian denominations. The songs are selected and sung by the Mar Thoma Church's Department of Sacred Music and Communication (DSMC) and it's choir, respectively.

The North America, UK and Europe Diocese has introduced webcasts and video downloads of each session at www.mtconvention.com

Also available are DVDs and audio CDs of each day's messages.

The most important aspect is the sharing of the word. Usually guest speakers from all around the world are invited to speak to God's people. This year 's main speakers are Bishops of the Mar Thoma Church and Reverend Canon Tim Dakin, (General Secretary, CMS, since 2000), Bishop Dr. Robert M Solomon, (Methodist Church, Singapore), Rev. Martin Alphons (USA) and Rev. Vinod Victor, (Trivandrum, Kerala, India).

The morning session (10-12:30 am) begins with half an hour of singing, followed by announcements. Then a Bishop leads the intercessory prayer. Anyone can give their prayer requests, (be it any thing) for intercession at the Mar Thoma Evangelistic Association Stall. It is this very organisation that organises the Maramon Convention. The convention prays together after the requests are presented, led by the bishop.This, then, is followed by the sharing of the word.

The afternoon session follows a similar format, beginning at 2pm and ending at 4 pm (no intercessory prayer this session). The night's session starts with singing at 6:30 and ends at 8 pm. as the tradition goes, women are not allowed to stay or be around the riverbed after 6.30pm!

The convention is also a place where people meet year after year, get together, catch up and socialise. But mainly, it is the heritage of every Mar Thomite and it could be called one of the spiritual pillars which holds the church together. It also gives the church direction and renews its faith and dedication to share the love of our Lord.

This year's theme is LIVING THE GOSPEL.

Have you attended the Maramon Convention? The Bangalore Centre is popping in with a delegation of 25 on Saturday (says a birdie!). It would be great if any of you can share your experience at the convention, below as a comment. It's your space! Let's hear!

Keep this year's Maramon convention in prayer. Let's take this week as a time for renewing and re-examining our lives:

Jesus died and rose again for you. Are you living the gospel?