September 2008

Dearly Beloved in Christ,

As on September one there is only 121 days more to complete this year. But we have to go a long way to complete our responsibilities.

We have to repair our church roof. For that we need every family's co- operation. As it was announced the Vicar with committee members visiting our families to receive the contributions. ($.1000/per family) Last two weeks the committee could visit houses and the response was encouraging. Heartfelt thanks to all of you have already contributed and gave promises. We read in the Book of Exodus chapter 36 regarding the construction of the Sacred Tent. V:4-7 "The skilled men….went and told Moses, "The people are bringing more than is needed for the work which the Lord commanded to be done". So Moses sent a command that no one was to make any further contribution for the sacred tent. What had already been brought was more than enough to finish all the work." May the Almighty give such an experience to us that we could also say that it is more than enough because everybody have contributed..

By the time this letter reaches you, our Parish Convention will be over. Let this Convention may be a beginning of a spiritual upheaval in our Parish. May God stir our hearts so that a revival start among us. Pray that God may keep on speaking to us during these days by hearing the Word of God. Let us be closer and closer to the Kingdom of God. He is coming soon. (Rev: 22.12) Be ready to meet Him on that Great Day.

If we come closer to Him and obey His commandments He is going to bless us. "Today I am giving you a choice between good and evil, between life and death. If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God,…… and keep all his laws, then you will prosper………The Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are about to occupy. ( or already occupied) Deut.30:15-16) May the Almighty give us a blessed month and continually bless us.

Yours in His service,

Babu Achen

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