Indian Council of Unitarian Churches

Indian Council of Unitarian Churches

Unitarian Church, Jowai Campus

Opposite Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council

Iawmusiang, Jowai – 793150

Meghalaya, India

Letter No. ICUC/Conf/01-06                                                                                      Date Aug. 31, 2012

To,

1.       Rev. D.P. Pariat

President UUNEI.

                Meghalaya

2.       Rev. Harison Kingsley

President Unitarian Christian Church

Chennai.

3.       Ms Evelyn Smith

Unitarian Karimganj, Assam

4.       Mr. Mahesh Upadhyaya

Unitarian Ahmadabad.

5.       Rev. Dr. Francis Manuraj

Unitarian Erode, Tamil Nadu

6.       All Concern.

Subject:               Postponement of the proposed I.C.U.C Conference.

Brothers  & Sisters in faith,

                                I write to inform you that I was instructed by Rev. C. Lyngdoh Executive Secretary of the Indian Council of Unitarian Churches that the Council which was scheduled to be held on the 26 and 27 of October is now being postponed due to unavoidable circumstances. Rev. Lyngdoh was not well as he has to be hospitalized many times recently, he is therefore not expected to be able to attend his duties if the Council is held as scheduled.

                                We regret to inform you that the conference is now stand postponed till further notice from the office of the ICUC. We also regret for the inconveniences that the postponement of the Council might cause to one and all. We also appologise to the members of the Unitarian Church, Jowai and the Church Committee in particular for the church has already made necessary arrangement for the event.

                                We will inform all when we are able to arrange a new date for the same.

                                Thank you and God Bless.

                                                                                                                       Rev. H.H.Mohrmen

                                                                                                                      Minister Unitarian Union

                                                                                                                      For Rev. C. Lyngdoh

                                                                                                                      Executive Secretary ICUC

One day Seminar on Drugs Abuse and HIV/AIDS

 The Unitarian Church, Jowai Health & Outreach Sub-Committee which ias part o f the Quasquicentennial Celebration Committee of the Church organized a one day Seminar on Drugs Abuse and HIV/AIDS on July 20^th, 2012 at the H.K. Singh Secondary School, Jowai. 

The Seminar was organized in collaboration with the Mabha Foundation an NGO which has done a commendable job in the area of drugs abuse and HIV/AIDS.

The programe was chaired by Mr. Biangpor Shylla, Chairman, H&SO Sub-Committee, followed by prayer by Rangbah Niwen Shylla. Rupaia Lamar Chairman, HK Singh School Managingn Committee proposed an introductory speech.

The speakers include Kong Bani, Counselor of Manbha Foundation who spoke on the subject “Basic of Drug Abuse.” The program was followed by a Presentation on the theme the Effects of Drugs and Treatment by Kong Daka, Counselor, Valuntary Health Association Meghalaya (VHAM). Then a Presentation on HIV/AIDS by Dr Rica Lamar, Director, Manbha Foundation and the last presentation was on the subject Role of Community in prevention of Drug Abuse by Neiniwanda Pakma, Member H&SO Sub-Committee. Dr Ellery Mylliemngap, Secretary, H&SO Sub-Committee proposed a vote of thanks and the seminar was concluded by Chairman.

The program was also part of the yearlong 125 Anniversary Celebration of the Church which was launched on June 15^th 2012 and will culminate on the 9^th and 10^th of February 2012. 

Leaders of the Unitarian Church Jowai visited the District Jail on Independence Day

Members of the Unitarian Church, Jowa Church Committee including some youths of the Church visited the Jaintia District Jail on the August 15, 2012 the day India celebrate its independence. The Church organized the visit to the prison as part of its prison ministry and the visit was made possible by the permission duly granted by the District Administration, the Jailor and Assistant Jailor of the District Jail.

The leaders of the Church under the leadership of its Chairman Shri R. Pariat, Minister Rev. H.H. Mohrmen, Rev. S. Laloo and others including representatives from the Government which include the Superintendent of Excise, and the Assistant Director Supply Jaintia Hills District visited the jail complex after the main Independence day celebration was held at Jrisalein Play ground, Jowai.

The visit to the prison was started with a meeting chaired by L. Nampui Superintendent of Excise government of Meghalaya Jaintia hills district and then followed by a speech by R. Pariat Chairman of the Unitarian Church, Jowai Church Committee. Speaking in the meeting Pariat informed the inmates that the church organize this meeting as part of the Church celebration of the 125 Anniversary of the founding of the Church in the Khasi Jaintia and Karbi Anlong District which falls on September 18. Pariat also said that the church wants the prisoners to know that we respect them and pray that they are blessed with good health.

The Church also distributed gifts to the 127 inmates in the district Jail Jaintia hills district and 3 female inmates in the lady’s home.

 The members of the church also had the opportunity to talk to inmates who are willing to talk to them. Over all it is a good experience for the Church to make this visit to the neglected section of the society, it is also a gesture from the church to the inmates to show them that there are people who care for them.

 The team which visited the prison also includes, R. Lamarr Vice Chairman of the Church Committee, N. Shylla, T. Passah Secretary Church Committee, D. Kjam Assistant Secretary, D. Syngkon, H. Lamar, Marki Passah member church committee, H.T. Mohrmen youth and others. The visiting team also include media persons from Jowai. 

Strong wind and heavy rain rendered people homeless

People said that they only read in the newspaper about the flood in Assam and Bangladesh, but what we seems to forget that the flood in the plain areas adjacent to Meghalaya and other hilly state of Northeast India flow down to the plain to flood the entire region. The flood in Bangladesh and Assam is due to the heavy rainfall in the hills.

On June 26, 2012 torrential rain and strong wind hit certain area on the India-Bangladesh border and the village that was badly affected was the New Nonglamin village near Nongtalang. 14 houses were destroyed which include the houses of Ms Long Lyngdoh, Ms Doh Kasar, Ms Lawdoh Pohti, Ms Liliy Bareh, Ms Hat Lyngdoh, Ms Sansi Lyngdoh, Ms India Lyngdoh, Ms Siang Bareh, Ms Phir Bareh, Ms Teki Lyngdoh, Ms Highness Myrchiang, Ms Norita Lyngdoh, Mr Jako Sautan, and Mr Ram Myrchiang.

 Of the 14 affected families, 5 were Unitarian families who live in the village and they include Ms Siang Bareh, Ms Highness Myrchiang, Mr Jako Sautan, Ms Hat Lyngdoh and Ms Long Lyngdoh. Of the 5 families; 2 were rendered homeless till today and they have to take shelter in their relative’s houses. Highness Myrchiang told me that the unfortunate incident occurred at around 2 Am in the morning and most of them they have to take shelter in their relatives and neighbours houses. Siang Bareh who also has a son who is bedridden said that when the strong carry the roof of the entire house, she was in the state of shock and couldn’t not thing of anything but to take her kids to a safer place. She said she just place her immovable son in a safe place and cover him with a cardboard to protect him from rain and then she kept her other kids to a safe place till the day dawn.

On Sunday July 2, Rev. H.H.Mohrmen accompanied by Rev. S.Laloo and Leiki Suchiang the Assistant Minister in the presence of Enial Lyngdoh another Assistance Minister provided immediate relief to the affected Unitarian families. Each family received rupees 5000/- from the fund of the Social Service Committee and another 1200/ from the Sengkynphamlang Jowai Circle. In total each family received rupees 6200/- each. The two families Ms Siang Bareh and Ms Long Lyngdoh still need much help to get their house repair and the family till now took shelter in their relative’s house.

Our gratitude to the Rev. Derrick P. Pariat president of the Unitarian Union Northeast India, Rev. Nangroi Suting general secretary, Rev. D. Khriam treasurer, kong Karunakaroi Lamarr, kong Elgiva Shullai and the entire Social Service committee for their prompt action to provide the much needed help from the committee. Our gratitude is also extended to Mr. N. Shullai, Mr. T.Passah, Mr. Marki Passah and the entire Sengkynphamlang Jowai circle for rendering immediate help to the affected families.