December 2008

Dearly beloved in Christ,

Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests (Luke.2:14).

The centuries have rolled by, and still the world longs for and looks for the peace the angels sang about on that Christmas morning. It abides in the hearts of all who have trusted His Grace.

Christmas is God's reminder that we are not alone. God revealed in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus a reconciling love that rescues us from separation and loneliness. We are not alone; God has come down from Heaven to tell us He loves us. He is Immanuel.  To celebrate it we decorate everything during Christmas. This year let us decorate not only outward things, but our inner  lives also with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control

During Christmas we exchange gifts. Jesus is the gift that God has given to us. Love of God is expressed there.  In John 3:16 we read, "For God so loved the world that He gave His son and only son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life". 

God has given His son as a gift to the world.  Jesus is Immanuel which means God with us. In the midst of our sorrows sickness and all disasters one hope is that Jesus is with us.

As we know our Coorilos Thirumeni is moving from our Diocese to Kottayam - Kochi diocese, the Diocesan sent off meeting will be held in our Parish on Sunday January 4, 2009. On that day Thirumeni will be conducting the Holy Communion service in our parish.  It is informed that Theodosius Thirumeni is taking charge of our diocese in January.  Please uphold both Thirumenies in our prayers.

We are coming to an end of a financial year also. Let us be faithful stewards before God with our financial dealings. How much we have received from God, how much we have given to the expansion of the Kingdom of God.

May I stop here. Wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year.

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