January 2009

Dearly beloved in Christ,

We have entered into a new year. The celebration of the savior’s birth, Christmas of 2008 is over.  Hope that the Christmas celebrations and the holiday spirit have not took out the spiritual content of these grace filled days. It is sad to see that several of our religious events are so completely secularized that people celebrate it without even knowing the reason why it is being celebrated. The need is for deeper trust in God’s love not only during the celebration but in the days to come.

As we enter into the year 2009, let us commit ourselves into the mighty hands of God.  Last year also several awe inspiring incidents have happened. The memories of terrorist act at Bombay and the shooting at NJ church are some of the incidents that threaten us from living a peaceful life.

In the midst of a world filled with danger, hatred and war, the words of the risen Lord is relevant “Do not be afraid” Matt: 28:10. He comes to you in the hospital room, or in the family tragedy or in the midst of unexpected business reversal or physical crisis and He says don’t be afraid.

There was once a little boy who was traveling alone in a train. A woman sitting beside him asked  “are you afraid of the long ride?” The boy smiled and said, “I am little tired but not afraid because my father is going to meet me when I get there.”

In this New Year there are chances to be get tired of the burdens of life, but we know that Jesus will meet us at the end of our life’s journey and that makes all the difference. Let us commit ourselves into the hands of God as the clay in the hands of a potter.  Don’t try to correct the potter, but let the potter correct us and reshape us in this new year for His own glory,  not for our merit.

King George V wrote on the flyleaf of the Bible of a friend:”the secret of happiness is not to do what you like to do, but to learn to like what you have to do.”

Wish you all a happy and prosperous 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