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CENTINARY CELEBRATION OF THE CSI IMMANUEL Church, ERNAKULAM 2007	Click here to see snaps of inaugural function
With the 100 th year of the CSI Immanuel Church fast approaching, the Church is at the threshold of this great occasion - one where there will be both celebration and re-dedication. The General Body of the Church has drawn up plans to ensure that the Immanuel Church is ready to face and meet the needs of the present members, their children and grandchildren so that the generations to come can worship the Lord God Almighty in this blessed place.
History of the Church
As we move forward, we need to hark back to the past, too. For that we need to have a detailed history of the CSI Immanuel Church. The first project of the Centenary Celebrations is therefore, to constitute a History Committee, comprising members who are genuinely interested in compiling the history of our Church. Those who wish to join this committee may kindly inform the Vicar or the Secretary.
Missions
The second project in this regard is in the mission field. The CSI Immanuel Church has already started tribal development projects at Anakkulam and at Irunoor Acre in Adimaly. At Anakkulam the Church has started a Day Care Centre, where about 20 children get basic education and receive mid-day meals and other basic amenities. The Irunoor Acre Immanuel Home is functioning well. There are 17 children there and these are studying in the nearby schools. The Church hopes to provide the children with a normal life and to enable the them to come up in life.
Mulavukad Church
The 3 rd project is the construction of the Mulavukad Church, which is now going on in full swing. Some of you may not be aware that a member of the CSI Immanuel congregation has taken on the responsibility of financing the entire cost of the Mulavukad Church. The Church expresses its grateful thanks to this generous offer
Mulavukad Parsonage
The Mulavukad parsonage, which had been in such a dilapidated condition that the Upadeshi had to send his family back to his ancestral village has been pulled down. A new one is being built at an estimated cost of Rs.5.5 lakhs, of which Rs. 3 lakhs has been raised. It is imperative that the remaining amount of Rs.2.5 lakhs be raised as soon as possible so that this needy project can be completed as soon as possible.
Vault
Another project which we will have to take up is the construction of vaults in the cemetery. At present the CSI Immanuel Church and the Christ Church, Elamkulam are sharing the cemetery, but the space there cemetery is very limited. Construction of a vault is the only option to cater to the needs of the congregation and therefore assumes high priority. Plans have been drawn up for constructing the vault on the south-western corner of the cemetery. It will have 96 cells built on 4 tiers, with a pathway on all four sides. Of this the Immanuel Church will have a 60% share while Christ Church, Elamkulam will have 40%. The two Churches will share the cost of construction in the above proportion. 50% cells in the vault for general use, while the rest will be for families, who want to reserve it as family cells. The cost of a reserved family cell in the vault is Rs. 20000/-. It is proposed to raise the cost of construction by allowing members of the Church to reserve the existing vacant burial plots in the cemetery for use as a family tombs at Rs. 60000/- each.
Re-construction of the Immanuel Church
This is the main project in the Centenary Celebrations. The present building, which has over the past, undergone several modifications and extensions, is structurally weak. Some parts of it are 98 years old, but it can accommodate only 300 persons - and therefore already insufficient to meet even the needs of the present congregation. The experts, after an in depth study, have advised that further strengthening or extension is not feasible. Any renovation would mean taking out the pillars and the arch in front of the altar as well as the roof, which are the highlights of the Church. Renovation would also cost a great deal of money without much tangible benefits to the congregation. The General Body has, therefore, decided to reconstruct the Immanuel Church to a design that will cater to the steady increase in the number of families that come to Church. A new Church with ample space for worship and parking of vehicles, in such a prime location will attract a large number of families to worship the Lord. The plans envisage a Church of 7000 sq. feet, which can accommodate at least 750 worshippers and with a front elevation very similar to that of the Church as it was before the extension made in 1970 and therefore there will not be much difference in styles between the present Church and the new one proposed to be built. The Church itself will be set at a height of 14 ft above the ground floor, which can be used for car parking or as a hall as deemed appropriate at a later stage. There will be steps in the front and ramps at the sides so that the elderly will have easier access. It is also proposed to install a hydraulic lift so that those who cannot climb even one step will be able to enter the Church. Two plans had been submitted to the Diocese and the Diocese has approved the plan detailed above, which is estimated to cost Rs. 80 lakhs. The need of the hour now is to raise this amount, which will not be an easy task. All our resources of the Church and its members have to be mobilized. Our thinking and actions - just about everything, have to be channeled for this and till this project is completed the Church will not take up any other project. The General Body has proposed the following means to raise funds. Donations from members All earning members of our Church shall contribute 2 months income over a period of 2 years. Bricks to commemorate members or their families. A separate area will be set apart where a brief history of our Church till about the date of dedication of the new building will be written. There will be space available below that where those who wish to have their names or their family names inscribed thereon, can reserve the space required. The cost of each slot - of the size of one brick - will be Rs. 1 lakh. Marble tablets and plaques At present there are some marble slabs or plaques kept in our Church. These were at the behest of those who made significant contributions at the time of the construction or renovation. While the new Church will retain all these tablets and plaques, it is proposed that 2 or 3 new tablets will be installed if there are persons willing to contribute a minimum of Rs. 10 lakhs each. The slabs can be in the in the names of members or in memory of a loved one or in the family name. Contributions from others Members are requiested to provide the e-mail and or postal addresses of their near and dear ones, both within and without the country, to the Vicar or to the Secretary so that these persons can be contacted and advised of the plans the Church has. Other plans There are also other plans such as selling Christmas cards, by conducting programmes, souvenir and other means. Three widows have given their thalis Widow's Offering and as their full submission to the Lord Almighty. These thalis will be kept in the foundation stone at the time of laying the foundation of our Church, which is proposed to be conducted on the first Sunday of November 2005 at the time of the Harvest Festival, subject to the Church having received at least Rs. 50 lakhs in cash or by way of a promise. The CSI Immanuel Church has many members who are effective and efficient. Members are requested to come forward with suggestions and advice so that the re-construction of the Church can proceed smoothly. It will not be an easy task to raise Rs. 80 lakhs and there are likely to be several hurdles. But, for the reasons outlined earlier, the Church has to be re-built. With Cochin, having become the largest city in Kerala and Ernakulam, its most important part, a large number of people come here to worship the Lord Almighty. It is therefore up to each and every member to do their best for this great endeavour.