Subject: Programmes for different age groups

            The Golden Jubilee Celebrations of the consecration of the Temple of Sri Ramakrishna at this centre were a grand success due to boundless grace of Sri Sri Thakur, Ma and Swamiji.  Of course, a number of you contributed in a substantial way towards the success of the celebrations.  I am now taking this opportunity to seek your involvement in the following three new initiatives which we wish to take up soon.  We sincerely wish and hope that these programmes would lead to a qualitative improvement in the lives of the age group concerned.  These programmes will succeed only through your full cooperation and support.  Are you ready ?  If so, please intimate how you wish to contribute and also participate in these initiatives.  

1.      You must have seen a notice in the Mission premises inviting devotees to start study circles in their locality to study the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna.  These study circles formed in different localities of Delhi, Gurgaon, Noida, etc. will be registered under the Mission and would meet for an hour once a week in a convenient place for studying together the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna.  There would be two spells of reading for 15 minutes each and each reading would be followed by discussion among the devotees present for 15 minutes.  We are also planning, in the long run, retreats of various durations for the members of the study circles apart from the regular interactions with us.  A Swami from the centre would also participate in the Annual Celebrations of each study circle.  Can you take the initiative for forming a study circle in your locality ?  Are you ready to join such a study circle ?  Do you have any suggestions regarding this activity ?

2.      A Sunday Class for children in the age group of 7 to 12 years, in the Mission premises, say between 9.00 to 10.00 a.m.  The children will be exposed to our rich heritage and culture as well as to various innovative, creative and thought-provoking ideas.  The first Sunday Class will be held on 16^th December, 2007 at 9.00 a.m.  Please send the children in your family and also try to convince other families in your locality to send their children.  We do not propose to enroll more than 50 children under this programme.

3.      A weekly Vivekananda Study Circle for youth in the age group of 16 to 30 years every Sunday afternoon between 3.00 to 4.00 p.m.  This Study Circle is in response to the request from numerous youths who participated in our recently held Youth Convention.  The youth would be given proper orientation to face challenges of life.  They would study and discuss the man-making and character-building ideas of Swami Vivekananda.  They would learn to cope with stress and select a career without compromising character.  This Study Circle would start from the 16^th of December, 2007.  To ensure proper and close attention, we propose to restrict the number to 50.

            We seek your ideas, guidance and help to make these programmes interesting and useful to the beneficiaries concerned.  Please inspire your family and friends and the children in the target age group within these families to make it a habit to spend some part of every Sunday with us.

            In what ways can you contribute ?  Can you join us as a resource person for story telling, music, painting, street-plays, debates, chanting, management games, etc. or can you suggest some competent devotees ?

            We welcome you and look forward to your active participation.