THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: There’s nothing like a lilting Christmas carol for spreading the spirit of the season. But at least for some, they’re a pretext for making a quick buck. This year, the 150-year-old CSI Christ Church, Palayam, has a few lessons for revellers who (mis)use carols. Christmas carols at the city’s oldest church and the only church of the CSI Madhya Kerala Diocese here have transformed into an organised affair this year. Since the first week of December, prayer groups appointed by the church have been calling at member households. The aim - spreading the joy of Christmas to each of the 1,000-member households of the church. ‘’Our carols have a difference, though,’’ said church secretary M J Kuruvila. ‘’The troupes have been instructed not to collect or receive money from the households. The prayer groups started on the good work in the first week of December, but after rigorous training and careful selection of the songs.Twelve prayer groups were formed for covering the 1,000 homes. They were trained at the church and at centenary hall on the church compound. Fifteen songs were selected and compiled into a book,’’ Kuruvila said. ‘’This is the first time we are covering all 1,000 homes. Earlier, small groups used to visit homes of old people or the ailing members of the community,’’ said Mathew Abraham, one of the community elders. According to the church, the carol project has been a grand success. ‘’It has also helped build intimacy between the members. What surprised us was the reception that we got at each home,’’ Kuruvila said. Thrilled at the success, the Church is planning to make the Christmas carols an annual affair.
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