December 2009

Dearly beloved in Christ,

We have come to the last month of 2009. In this month we have to look back and if see anything pending to be done  we have to do that. Please also check whether  you have  remitted all dues to the parish. “Time and tide will never wait”.  Don’t look to man for a model, lift up your eyes to Him who can be a model and guide to us. We are coming to another Christmas. As Parish we will be busy this month with Christmas. Each Prayer group areas we will be meeting in different places to celebrate the Christmas. By the celebration of Christmas  may we challenged  to make a decision. Let Jesus be our model. Jesus relinquished his status of being the Son of God in order to become the Son of Man. He identified himself with the lowly estate of human beings. The Mission for which He came became more important than his status or personal gain. It was a choice between his heavenly throne and his humble dwelling with human beings. After resurrection Jesus came to  His disciples, He said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren” ( Matt. 28.10). In the midst of world filled with danger, hatred, and war, the words of our Lord Jesus Christ are just as relevant as when He spoke them.  He still says to all who love Him, “Do not be afraid”. He comes to you in the hospital room or in the midst of a family tragedy.  He comes to you in the midst of an unexpected business reversal or physical crisis.  And he says, “Don’t be afraid. I am alive, and I am here to help you”.  The star shows His humility, the cross shows the depth of His love, and the Resurrection shows the depth of His power. May this Christmas help us to see not the Christ of manger, but the Christ knocking at the door. (Rev.3:20) 

WISH YOU ALL A MERRY CHRISTMAS

Yours in His Mission,

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