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May 2003
Dearly beloved in Christ, Greetings in the precious name of our Lord Dearly beloved in Christ, Greetings in the precious name of our Lord On May 29 the Church celebrates the Ascension of our Lord and on June 8 the Pentecost. Both these events are deeply interwoven. Jesus as a historical human being functioned within the limitations of time and space. He had linguistic, cultural and geographical limitations. How can this historical human being become the Lord and redeemer of all? The answer is found in the ascension of Jesus. Through his glorious ascension on the 40th day after the resurrection, he transcends all the limitations so that he can be with us always. In other words, ascension means the eternal availability of God in Jesus Christ. The event of Pentecost and the Pentecost life style of the early church are mentioned in Acts.2.We have here the nucleus of the church- the new community in the power of the Spirit .The miracle of Pentecost is the miracle of communication. Though the Holy Spirit has been present in the world ever since the creation of the world, the church receives the Spirit in a special way on the day of Pentecost to inculcate the values of the Kingdom of God as taught and lived by Jesus Christ. The Spirit gives us conviction about sin, righteousness and judgment (Jn.16:8). Metaphors such as 'water', 'fire', 'wind', 'dove' and 'oil ' are used in the Bible to describe the Spirit. These refer to the different operative dimensions of the Holy Spirit .The gifts of the spirit are given to the believers for the edification of the community of faith (I Cor. 12:7) .It is our task to rekindle the work of the Spirit within us through incessant prayer, meditation and participation in the saving deeds of God in the world. Let us constantly remind ourselves that the Holy Spirit gives us the divine energy for an authentic life in the world. Rather than making exclusive truth claims about the power and gifts of the Spirit, the challenge before us is to live a Spirit-filled life a life of witness wherever we are. With prayerful regards Yours in His ministry, Abraham Achen |
Rev. Dr. K. A. Abraham Achen
email
Achen
at |
Vicars
of
the
Past
Quarter
Century
|
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Mar Thoma Congregation of Greater New York |
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Rev. Oommen Koruthu | (Student
Achen
later
elevated
as Bishop Zacharias Mar Theophilus) |
May 1975 — Aug. 1975 |
Rev. K. S. Mathew | (Student Achen) | Sept. 1975 – Sept. 1977 |
Rev. Thomas P. George | (Student Achen) | Sept. 1977 – Aug. 1979 |
(Late) Rev. M. V. Benjamin | Sept. 1979 – May 1981 | |
St. Thomas Mar Thoma Church, New York |
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(Late)
Rev.
M.
V.
Benjamin |
Co-Chairman Ad-hoc Committee Church in formation | Oct. 1980 - Jan. 1981 |
Vicar | Jan. 1981 - May 1981 | |
(Late) Rev. K. J. Philip | Co-Chairman Ad-hoc Committee Church in formation | Oct. 1980 - Jan. 1981 |
Associate Vicar | Jan. 1981 - Aug. 1981 | |
Rev. N. M. Cherian | Vicar of all Mar Thoma Congregations in New York | May 1981 - June 1983 |
Rev. Dr. T. Jacob Thomas | (Student Achen) | |
Assistant Vicar | July 1981 - May 1983 | |
Vicar | June 1983 - Mar. 1985 | |
Rev. George Varghese | Mar. 1985 - April 1989 | |
Rev. Johnson Varghese | June 1989 - May 1992 | |
Rev. Dr. T. P. Abraham | June 1992 - May 1995 | |
Rev. P. M. Thomas | May 1995 - April 1999 | |
Rev. K. Y. Jacob | May 1999 - June 1999 | |
Rev. Thomas P. Chandy | June 1999 – May 2002 | |
Rev. Dr. K. A. Abraham | May 2002 - Present |