Remembering Holy Innocents: Worship in UTC

A special worship "Remembering Holy Innocents: A service of remembrance" will be held at the Ziegenbalg chapel in UTC tomorrow (Dec 19, 2014) at 8:30 A.M.

Live streaming of the UTC Christmas Carol Service

The UTC Christmas carol service with the theme "Called to be Immanuels in the midst of death" will be live streamed over the internet on Sunday, December 7th, 2014 from the Charles Ranson hall, UTC from 6:00 P.M onwards. The advent festival of harmony will have the UTC choir and various language fellowship choirs performing during the service. The live streaming can be viewed on http://www.ustream.tv/channel/newsport 

All those who will be online are welcome to view and be part of the service.

JK

We all live in Bhopal: Remembrance worship in UTC

People are screaming, oh yes, they are screaming

People are running, oh yes, they are running

People are crying, oh yes, they are crying

People are dying, oh yes, they are dying

People are you and me, oh yes, they are you and me

What would you do if you did not know what was happening to you and you were struggling to breathe? What would you do if you felt your eyes would pop out and you would die? You would run till there is no end wouldn’t you? That is what happened in UTC for the Sunday evening worship on November 30, 2014, in remembrance of what happened in Bhopal 30 years ago. Chairs were strewn around and the entire cast of the Renegade Arts and Theatre Society (RATS) ran into the stage in the Zigenbalg chapel from different corners. People could not make out for a minute as to what was happening. There was a lot of crying and desperation. It was the cry from Bhopal reminding everyone that “We all live in Bhopal.”

The Renegade Arts and Theatre Society in association with Visthar, Bangalore and the Chingari Trust, Bhopal presented their latest play “We all live in Bhopal” and intergrated it into the UTC evening worship on Sunday. The play reminded everyone of the worst industrial incident in modern India. It brought back memories and educated people on the scale of corporate greed and ill governance and the fragility of human life. Some in the congregation were youngsters in college when Bhopal happened while others were not even born. Today even some youngsters in Bhopal are not aware of what happened 30 years ago!

Rev. Dr. David Selvaraj, the Executive Director of Visthar and the director of the play introduced the play and the cast. Mr. Sudhir Selvaraj, the play wright talked of the research that went into the play and what it intended to do. The play had real characters, played by people from all walks of life in Bangalore. Champadevi Shukla and Rashida Bee, two survivors, Warren Anderson, former Union Carbide chief and two activists, Sathyu and Rachna, among others, all came alive in front of the congregation. It was not just a tribute or remembrance but rather an awakening into the continued suffering of ordinary people in Bhopal for the past three decades. We all live in Bhopal was an effort for people in the play to talk to people in the audience and relive the horror that happened and could happen again to anyone in any part of the country.

Intercessory prayers and confessions were offered to bring the congregation into the mood of prayerful interrogation. Rev. Ernest Deenadayalan, distinguished alumnus of the college, renowned social activist and director of "Other Media" gave a fitting reflection on the Bhopal gas tragedy. There was suffocation in the Ziegenbalg chapel brought about by the remembrance of thousands of people who died and lakhs of people who suffered and continue to suffer. Pictures of the horror were displayed at the entrance to the chapel.

At the end of the service the cast were allowed to interact with the congregation. Moving reflections from students and teachers followed. “I lost my voice for a minute. I wonder how people in Bhopal can have a voice when they have been shouting for decades”, “Thanks for reminding us that Bhopal happened. The media has been successful in wiping out Bhopal from our collective consciousness”, “I remember that I was in Bangalore when the Bhopal tragedy happened”, “Aren’t there similar disasters happening closer by and even in Bangalore?”, “How have the actors in the play internalized Bhopal?.” So on went the reflections and questions. The cast which included young and old replied about their own experiences and how Bhopal and the ordinary people there had inspired them to take up the fight against the corporates and the government and how the fight has to be continued.   

Three decades on, survivors still drink contaminated water and breathe poisonous air because no one accepts liability for cleaning up the mess. Bhopal continues to endure high rates of cancer and other illnesses. The play and worship ended in a high octane series of voices, which all spoke as voices from and for Bhopal. After all, “We all live in Bhopal!”

JK

Dedication of the Family Blocks of the Centenary Complex

The dedication of the Family Blocks of the Centenary Complex in the United Theological College, bangalore will be held on Saturday, December 13th, 2014, at 9:30 A.M at the site of the complex and will be followed by a public meeting and lunch in the Charles Ranson Hall.

Shri K.J. George, the honourable Home Minister of Karnataka will be the chief guest, Shri R. Roshan Baig, the honourable minister for Infrastructure Development, Information and Haj, will release the special souvenir and Shri M. K. Gunashekar, the Councillor and Opposition leader, BBMP, will honour the gathering with his presence.

Distinguished and honourable bishops and pastors from various denominations will bless the occasion. All are welcome.

The President, Members of the Executive Committee, Principal, Faculty, Staff and Students UTC

Christmas Carol service 2014

The UTC Christmas carol service with the theme "Called to be Immanuels in the midst of death" will be held on Sunday, December 7th, 2014 at the Charles Ranson hall at 6:00 P.M. The advent festival of harmony will have the UTC choir and various language fellowship choirs performing during the service. All are welcome.

An evening to remember Bhopal: Worship in UTC

A special service to remember Bhopal will be held in UTC on Sunday, November 30, 2014 at the Ziegenbalg chapel at the UTC. The Renegade Arts and Theatre Society will be leading the service with the play "We all Live in Bhopal."

JK

Mr. John Christopher passes away

Mr. John Christopher, father of Rev. Dr. John Joshva Raja, former faculty member of the UTC, passed away yesterday. The funeral will be held tomorrow at the CSI Cathedral Church, Palayamkottai at 3:00 P.M. "Christopher sir", as he was popularly known was a teacher, missionary and street preacher in the words of his son.

The principal, faculty, staff, students and community members of UTC offer their condolences and prayers and prays that the peace of God which passes all understanding be with the bereaved family.

Consecration of the Family Blocks of the Centenary Complex

Psalm 118:23- “This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes

The President, Executive members, principal, faculty, staff and students of the UTC

Invite you to the consecration of the 

Family blocks of the Centenary Complex

On December 13, 2014

At the United Theological College, Bangalore at 9:30 A.M.

The Honourable Home Minister of Karnataka,

 Mr. K.J. George will be the chief guest

and the

 Honourable Minister for Infrastructure Development, Information and Haj,

 Mr. R. Roshan Baig

 will release the souvenir

The Corporator Mr. M.K. Gunashekaran along with bishops and pastors from several churches will be blessing the event with their presence

Lunch will be served at 1:00 P.M.

Do come and bless us with your presence