July 2009

Dearly beloved in Christ,

Praise God that He has added one more month, and the summer started. As we enter into the summer season we have a lot of programs like family conference, National conference, regional conference, conventions, retreats, picnics and so on. Let us pray that these programs my give fruits in sixty fold and hundred fold.

Prayer is not just asking God for something we want. Prayer should also include confession of sin, and praise to God for who He is and what He has done for us. But prayer should have an additional element, and that is thanksgiving. Repeatedly the Bible commands us to give thanks. The Psalmist said, “Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. For His mercy endures forever”. (Ps.107:1) Jesus distributed bread only after “He had given thanks” (Matt.15:36). At the Last Supper with His disciples, before facing the horror of cross, Jesus “gave thanks” Luke 22:17, 19) It is easy to be thankful when God bless us with something good. But the Bible says we should “give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for us in Christ Jesus”. (I Thess. 5:18)

All the blessings of our lives are gifts from God. We do not own them, but are only stewards. Mar Thoma Church has set apart July 5th as the Tithe Sunday. We should keep alive the noble tradition of setting apart our tithe and using it for evangelistic activities. All the earning members of our Church should set apart a tenth of their income for evangelistic work. Time money ability intellect – all these are gifts from God. We must accept them with gratitude and use them for the good of others as God desires. We should give a part of our tithe for the growth of the parish and thereby for the growth of the Kingdom of God.

May the Almighty bless each one of 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