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| Beldih Baptist Church, Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, India, Alamy.com |
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| Emmanuel Baptist Church, Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, telegraphindia.com |
Above image: Among more than 25 churches in Jamshedpur city alone, where Jamshedji Tata first established the first Steel plant with great struggle and hardship during the colonial period, the Beldih Baptist church is a popular one and comes alive and active during the Christmas season. Founded in 1923, this church along with other places of worship like Emmanuel Baptist Church, Jamshedpur, St Joseph Cathedral in Golmuri, St Mary’s Church in Bistupur, Jamshedpur, Beldih Baptist Church has been upholding the spirit and vision of industrialist and founder of Tata group Jamsetji. Many of them conduct midnight mass and the morning mass during Christmas. St. Mary's church also conducts services for the eldely and senior citizens.
The church is not a big one and has an attractive tower in the facade. Unlike countless churches, it is not a well-embellished church with stunning European architecture, rather this and other churches here are involved in selfless social activities among poor communities, highlighting the spiritual message of Christ and also of Jamsetji Tata, who established this famous city. Located near the Beldth triangle, Jamshedpur the church runs a famous English medium Beldth Church school that has been in the forefront in the last several years.
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| St Mary’s Church in Bistupur, Jamshedpu telegraphindia.com |
The common motto of the churches here is the birth of Christ - Christmas is more than feasting and engage in singing Christmas carols. It is an occasion to enjoy festive spirit and Christ's gospel of love by reaching out to the the poor and underprivileged in the society so that they won't feel left out in the living space. Besides, positively, this will bring in a ray of hope in their grief-stricken lives that is aspiring to see the glow of light at the end of the tunnel.
The social structure of the United Kingdom has historically been highly influenced by the concept of social class, which continues to affect British society today. In 1941, George Orwell wrote that Britain was "the most class-ridden society under the sun'' and it is true of many countries including caste that is deep rooted and exploited during election times by the political leaders.
There are many ways to care for the poor in a society driven by classes, caste and races.
01. The churches here in a collective manner, accept donations, woolen clothes, etc., to be donated to them during the festive season.
02. The Emmanuel Baptist Church in Jamshedpur collects woolen blankets, etc and donate them to a leprosy ashram being run by a mission. They will be distributed among the inmates of the Ashram.
03. In a spirit of love and care, St Joseph Cathedral in Golmuri, one of the oldest churches in the city, made a special request to their members to engage in philanthropy by way of printing special cards carrying the mercy message. Apparently they printed more than 5000 mercy card for distribution.
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| Prayer theblazingcenter.com |
04. Nothing is more effective than prayer - the types of prayers are adoration, contrition, thanksgiving, and supplication. Prayer with trust in God, can also bring in peace and blessings. You try your best in your undertaking and leave it to god to answer it. The Roman churches here have abiding faith in prayer and will be conducting special prayers for the people in the bottom of the strata during Christmas,
05. Apart, the churches encourage interested members to engage in social activities ''for the betterment of poor in society," What is interesting is they engage in prayer in unison with other churches during the worldwide Year of Mercy instituted by Pope Francis, according to Fr.David Vincent of Catholic Diocese of Jamshedpur.
So in this steel city churches and places of worship help the needy upholding Jamsetji vision for the society.
https://www.telegraphindia.com/jharkhand/here-comes-season-of-giving/cid/1381089
