CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVES

St. Peter's Church, Koralawella celebrates 125th anniversary

Annesley Sumith Fernando

St. Peter's Church, St. Peter's Road, Koralawella which celebrates the 125th anniversary of its dedication on "All Saint's Day", November is the foremost Anglican Church in Southern Moratuwa. It was built mostly through the generosity of Lakshapathi Maha Vidanalage Francisco de Mel, a well known Philanthropist of Moratuwa.

Elaborate arrangements have beeb made by the Wardens, Parishioners, and the Parish Rev. Lenin. John Marshall to celebrate, the festival. The celebrations will end on Saturday, November 1st, when the Rt. Rev. Duleep De Chickera, Bishop of Colombo will celebrate and preached at the Main Festival Service.

The history of Anglicanism in Moratuwa dates back to early Nineteenth Century, the first Anglican Church in Koralawella, having been built by the afore-mentioned V. Francisco de Mel's father V. Pedro de Mel in January 23, 1816. After this first Anglican Church, two other mounted in 1821 and in 1837. Then fourty six years gone; In 1883 the present fourth Anglican edifice - St. Peter's Church was born.

St. Peter's Church was consecrated and dedicated on November 1, 1883, by Rt. Rev. R.S. Copleston, 4th Bishop of Colombo. It may be mentioned that protestant christianity in these areas is of a much older vintage going back to the 17th century when the first of three Dutch eformed churches was built in the vicinity of the pursuit church.

The first incumbent of St. Peter's, our church was the Rev. Ernest Arthur Copleston, who many years later succeeded his brother as Bishop of Colombo. The second parish priest Rev. Johannes de Silva was also the first Ceylonese incumbent and the one that served the longest period of 22 years. Surprised.....? If you believe it or not my dear comrade parishioners, that is the truth.

He was succeeded by one of the sons of Moratuwa Rev (Canon) Jacob Mendis. In 1920 St. Peter's Church became the Mother Church of the newly instituted Southern Moratuwa Parish including St. James Church Egoda Uyana. Many years ago these churches were under the main Holy Emmanuel Church. The Parish Priest of the Holy Emmanuel Church officiated in the other churches of Moratuwa too.

Charles de Mel and his wife Carolina de Mel in memory of their parents Johanned de Mel and Balapuwaduge Simona Mendis, built the vicarage on their own land near the church and donated same, on January 6, 1926.

Similarly Coranelias de Mel, who purchased the house and property behind the said house renovated and donated it to the church. It was known as "St. Peter's Cottage."

Rev. Edwin Boteju then priest realised the necessity of a chapel and discussed this with some of the parishioners. The result was that the heirs of V. Joseph and Elezabeth de Mel, Vincent A. Walwin J. de Mel came forward to fulfil this charitable need in memory of their parents and brothers respectively. On February 25, 1928 the chapel was consecrated by the Rt. Rev. Mark Rudolph. Carpenter Garnier Bishop of Colombo and named in, "The Glory of God in Honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary."

1920-1978 Revds. J.A. Kalpage, A.B. Karunaratne, W.E. Boteju, D. George A. Wijayasekare, Raylin, H.J. Andradie, Neville W. Fernando, Patrick Abeywardane, Harry Perera, Henry A Fernando, N. Douglas Amaratunge, G.C.J. Jirasinghe, Kenneth M.J. Fernando, Russell Rebert, Chrisantha S.C. De Mel, served as the parish priests.

Revds. Boteju, Wijayasekare, Andradie, Amaratunge, Jirasinghe later became Canons, Rev. Kenneth Fernando was later appointed as a Bishop of Colombo.

After 1978 todate Revds. Russell Rebert, Chrisantha Mendis, Susantha Ranasinghe, Jason Roy de Silva, Devapriya de Silva, Sonny Silva, Nilanga Gunasekera and Lenin John Marshall have been our priests. Revds. Chrisantha Mendis (Archdeacon of Colombo) and Devapriya de Silva (Archdeacon of Galle) were appointed by our Bishop of Colombo, Rt. Rev. Duleep de Chickera.

In the past 125 years St. Peter's has produced 14 Anglican priests. Revds. Cornelius de Mel, W.P. Fernando, S.W. de Mel, James F. de Mel, (Canon) T.C.J. Peiris, (Canon) D. George A. Wijayasekera, (Canon) Harold de Mel, Chrishantha de Mel, Desmond Goonasekare, Denlie D.J. Peiris, Sirimal de Silva, Amal Fernando, Asiri F. Jayasuriya Chitral de Mel and Suranga de Mel. They have served the Anglican church faithfully in Sri Lanka and abroad.

In 1883 the board of wardens were, V. Francisco de Mel (Deed's Warden), W. Andiris Fernando (Bishop's Warden), V. Abraham de Mel and M. Daniel Peiris (People's Wardens).

The 2008 board of Wardens are B. Tilak N. Mendis (Bishop's Warden), Shiran V.M. de Mel and B. Asiri Yohan Mendis (People's Wardens).

Between 1883/2008, five souveniors have been issued from time to time in connection with the great festival of St. Peter's Church, Koralawella, Moratuwa, 1933 - 50th anniversary - A. Reginald Fernando; 75th anniversary - Capt. Rupert V.B. Peiris; 1983, W. Wimalasiri A. Fernando, 110th Anniversary in 1993 wardens P. Sunil B. Fernando, M. Justin F. M. Fernando with warden Annesley. Sumith Fernando's Editorship. 115th Anniversary in 1997 by M. Dayan Viraja Cooray and Annesley Sumith Fernando as Co-Editors.

For 125th grand anniversary The Jubilee Souvenior" will be issued in due course by W. Annesley Sumith Fernando and M. Dayan Viraj Cooray as Co-Editors.

"It is our earnest wish that St. Peter's Church will continue to stand magnificent and glorious forever."

'Teach me your ways, so I may know you...'

God is a God of relationship. He longed to commune and walk with man. In this connection we should have look at the life of Moses and his boldness in his relationship with God, where he asks Him to show him His glory! Wonderful, is it not, that as we learn to walk with God in sweet communion,

He becomes closer than a friend and we can talk to Him freely? According to Exodus 33 God had really come to the conclusion that He will only deal with Moses as He considered the Israelites a stiff necked people who were difficult and were disobedient to His voice. However, Moses found favour with the Lord.

During this whole episode, Moses realises that God's ways are different to man's ways and that he must learn more about it in order to continue walking in a manner that is pleasing to God. He was aware that there might be times he could slip up, if he was not careful, and give vent to his own feelings and went about doing things in his own way.

In Exodus 33:13 Moses specifically asks His Creator 'If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways, so I may know you and continue to find favour with you.' The Lord's reply was 'my presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.'

There are a couple of things that one can infer from this reply: 1) If the Lord is pleased with the way we act, He will bless us with His presence, 2) We will also rest in Him or find a total peace no matter what happens around us as we have His presence when we are pleasing Him.

As you read Exodus 33 you realise the good rapport Moses enjoyed with God.

God also commends Moses and treats him as a friend and a confidante - in verse 17 God tells Moses: 'I will do the very thing you have asked because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.' How would you like to have such friendship with God? Is this possible you may ask? Of course it is possible as we have an unchanging God. What's more we are at a better footing to have a closer relationship with God than Moses as Jesus has completed everything that a man requires to have this wonderful relationship by making the perfect sacrifice on the cross for man to be at peace with God.

Today's people have the Word of God in its completion to find Him and also the presence of the Holy Spirit who is with us to guide us if we truly seek Him. We are in the right period of time to have a real close walk with our Lord.

So why is it not happening?

The freedom of choice is totally yours - God is a gentleman (in our way of thinking) He will not force Himself upon us. 1) The first step is to seek Him. How many of us truly look for Him? We are too busy with the things of this world to really search for Him. 2) When we do find Him we must spend enough time with God.

Again, we are too distracted with the world and its system to really be at His feet to get to know Him and His ways as Moses did.

We find Moses getting quite bold as he becomes intimate with God 'Show me your glory,' he says - When we think of the time that God just showed him a glimpse of it how he shirked away initially (the incident with the burning bush). In a way as he walked and talked with God, Moses' friendship too grew and he is able to ask God directly his desire concerning Him, without fear.

The reply:- 'You cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.

There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back, but my face must not be seen.'

Is it not wonderful - our Creator giving into Moses' desire of his heart, even though it meant adjusting Himself so much to meet it? I hope my article has touched your hearts and it has put your fingers on something that is important and significant in our lives too, which is, Moses' prayer to our Lord will touch all hearts to realise how important and significant it in our lines:- 'Teach me your ways, so I may know you and continue to find favour with you'.

Sunitha Sahayam

90th Anniversary Celebrations of Denipitiya Medical Mission

Denipitiya is a village comprising hamlets, Bodagala and Welihinda, situated in the deep South eight miles from Matara and four miles from Weligama town.

The Medical Mission is an offshoot of the Anglican Catholic Union of Ceylon and also the brainchild of the Rt. Revd. E.A. Copleston, D.D. Fifth Bishop of Colombo. During those Episcopacy the Anglican Catholic Union and Denipitiya Medical Mission were both founded, just before the Armistice of the 1st world war was signed on 11th November 1918. Since then this Mission stood the harrowing vicissitudes of time and whatever burden the ravages of war ensued.

The Medical Mission brought much solace to the suffering people. It was the worst of times for the people who were cringing in poverty in this remote Southern village. Various incurable diseases such as, Malaria, Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Yellow Fever were found endemic and spreading fast. Many infested people were dying without any Medical attention. This was the most depressing scenario prevailing there in the aftermath of the war.

Born in Weligama, knowing the dire privations of all kinds, suffered by the poverty and disease stricken villagers in Denipitiya and in its adjacent hamlets, the late Revd. Canon Dr. G.B. Ekanayake promptly moved there to alleviate their suffering. He was Professor and Principal of the Divinity School of the Diocese.

The Mission laboured, in 1918 in a typical Ceylon village whose people were stricken with incurable diseases. The work commenced with a visit to the village by one of the Rev. Sisters of the Community of St. Margret and a Christian midwife, under the guidance of Rev. Canon Ekanayake. Necessity demanded that they live in there altogether, to attend to the sick. But they had no comfortable accommodation to live in. Then the Mission Station and the Dispensary were built with the unstinted support of the "Friends of the Mission" dispersed all over Ceylon, from North to South and also abroad. It was blessed and declared open by the late Rt. Revd. Mark Carpenter Garnier. The Chapel gifted by MS Charles Peiris was also consecrated and dedicated to St. Colomba by his Lordship.

The late Agnes Marshall, Chairperson of the Mission, in memory of her daughter, built a bungalow for the Medical Staff and named it "Marshall Bungalow". The main Mission bungalow was also a gift of the "Friends of the Mission". The intention had been to install a fully equipped hospital in the premises.

From its inception the Mission has been managed by a Board, elected annually. They voluntarily use their time, talents and abilities in various ways and collect funds to purchase Medicine and to pay the Medical Staff. The mission is fortunate to have the Bishop of Colombo as its ex-officio President. We are thankful to the Bishop for his help and blessings for the work of the Mission Centre. A clergyman or a layman could be annually elected by the Board to be its Chairman.

The Lord's twofold commands - "Preach the Gospel and heal the sick" and also, His teaching, "Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as you have done it unto one of the least of these brotheren, you have done it unto me" - will be kept in focus in the work of this mission. Therefore, personal involvement and practical assistance of both Dioceses - Colombo and Kurunegala is earnestly called for. This is the only Anglican Christian Medical Mission which stayed its course in the Island for 90 years to date. Therefore, your unstinted support either in cash or in kind or in any other resource is kindly anticipated from those who wish to see this Medical Mission continuing to posterity as a true witness to God the Creator of all good things.

Member of the Board of Management, Christie Wanigasooriya

Christians should demonstrate repentance and faithfulness in Christ

Rt. Revd Duleep de Chickera, Bishop of Colombo:

Excerpts from the Pastoral Address of the Bishop to the Diocesan Council on October 25 held at the Cathedral of Christ the Living Saviour, Colombo 7.

Ecumenism

"In November this year our diocese will join a Confederation of Churches along with several churches affiliated with the National Christian Council. On the two previous occasions that we met at Council we voted almost unanimously to do so. This is now a decision that we are committed to. I once again remind all our clergy and congregations to study the changes this will bring and to enter this new relationship with humility and hope".

Confederation will require us to deliberate and act together with our sister churches in our common witness for Christ in Sri Lanka today. Our choice for Confederation will from now on deprive us of the right to refrain from joint action in certain agreed areas.

If we give this step and the process that follows our best effort in Christ there is every possibility that we will grow together into a United Church under Christ for Sri Lanka. I call the diocese to study, prayer and commitment and urge as many as possible to attend the services on November 30 in Colombo and elsewhere.

We should however bear in mind that Christians are just as much to blame for what our nation has become. So we are called to demonstrate both repentance and faithfulness in Christ. We must be converted and take on the role of servants, pastors and prophets. It is only then that we will become useful instruments of peace, justice and reconciliation in the nation.

Inter-faith solidarity

Importance as Confederation is I would like to place this step in the context of a much wider calling. Denominational ecumenism should always be a step in the direction of wider ecumenism and National Integration. Our coming together in Christian Confederation must foster greater understanding among the faiths and communities of our beloved Sri Lanka.

This is necessary for several good reasons; but let me mention two. We are a nation of world religions and we are a nation in turmoil. We are therefore compelled to live with mutual respect for each other and to harness our collective spiritualities and resources to bring stability and dignity for all our people.

I am immensely grateful for all initiatives taken by our clergy and congregations in building inter-faith solidarity leading to social trust in various parts of the country. My pastoral visit in early September to Vavuniya ended with a dana given by the Chief Incumbent of Vavuniya. The local Christian leaders who participated were all Tamils. Our conversation around the table centred on our role as religious leaders in the current national crises. Here then, is just one example of how inter-faith solidarity contributes to social trust in a very tense part of the country.

Lambeth conference 2008

There were three prominent thrusts that echoed through the Lambeth Conference (of Anglican Bishops that I was privileged to attend this year). These were first, the recognition that God was at work in and through the Anglican Communion. Stories and experiences that were shared, demonstrated the humble faithfulness of Anglicans in varied challenging contexts. This very positive feature must never ever be forgotten or hidden by the undue publicity that the current controversy receives.

Second, there was the assertion that our common heritage, traditions, spirituality and practices were far more stronger than our differences. While recognising that differences must be addressed, an overwhelming majority of Bishops present, wanted to stay together. We did not see separation or schism as a way forward in Christ.

Finally, there was unanimous acceptance that the crises of the world required our energy and attention over and above our internal disputes. We realised that it was here that faithfulness in our witness and mission would be tested. In fact the call to respond to God's torn and divided world as a reconciled body was seen as perhaps the strongest reason for the communion to heal our divisions and learn to live with our differences.
 

Annual Feast St. Jude’s Shrine, Indigolla

The Annual Feast of the St. Jude’s Shrine, Indigolla, Gampaha held last Sunday. Here most Rev.Dr. Oswald Gomis, Archbishop of Colombo accompanied by Rev. Fr. Ruban Lesley Peris and Gampaha Municipal Council Chairman Ajith Mannapperuma.