July 2007

Let us thank God for helping us to enter into a new month. “The heaven declares the Glory of God, the skies proclaims the work of his hands” Psalms 19. We can also proclaim the Glory and the mighty works he has done in our lives.

In 1 Cor. 13:14, Paul speaks about three very significant graces. They are Faith, Hope, and Love. Heb. 11:1 says, “now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”

Faith is our trust in God, just as a child trusts in his father. In other words it is a complete dependence. Faith in God is linked to hope. Hope is our desire accompanied by expectation. Psalmist says put your hope in God because he is our Savior. In Isaiah we read the reward of those who place their hope in God.

They will soar on wings like eagles.

They will run and not grow weary.

They will walk and not be faint.

This hope is to be understood in its relation to Love. Jesus says love of God and our neighbors is the greatest command, all the rest hang on this. So love is the most valuable in God’s sight.

May Lord help us to posses Faith, Hope, and Love in our lives and always be in the grace of God. Let us have Faith, Hope, and Love for Him.

May the Lord Almighty be with us in the days to come.

Yours in His Service.

Rev. P. E. Mathew

Rev. P. E. Mathew (Vicar)

We are blessed to be under the pastoral guidance and leadership of Rev. P. E. Mathew as Vicar of St. Thomas Mar Thoma Church NY. Achen's native place is Kallooppara and Laly Kochmma is from Varikkadu, Tiruvalla. They have one son, Eby, who is finishing his BSc in Mangalore.

Achen and family had been in the Karnataka Missions Field (Hoskote, Mundugod, Sirsi Sankeshwar, Kunta) for several years and then served in Kerala. The last parish they ministered at was in the Sultan Bathery and Nilambur area.

email Rev. P. E. Mathew at
babuachen@yahoo.com 

Vicars of the Past Quarter Century
(including Vicars of the Mar Thoma Congregation of Greater New York)

Mar Thoma Congregation of Greater New York

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

(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 - August 2004

Rev. Jojan Mathews John

May 2004 - April 2007