September 2009

Dearly beloved in Christ,

Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We are celebrating the Savika Sanghom Day in September. Savika Sanghom members are leading the worship that Sunday. It is true that there were no women in the list of the Twelve Apostles chosen by Christ. But we have to admit that the women had important role in the divine Redemption of Christ: Rehab, Ruth etc. played an important role and we see their names listed in the genealogy of Christ (Matt.1:5). The first appearance of Jesus after Resurrection was given to Mary Magdalene for her loyalty (MK.16:9, Jn.20:lff). We have references to Deaconess like Phoebe and Priscilla. So the difference in sex should not be a hindrance for the Christian ministry. We the church should be the pioneer in favoring the women in the Christian Ministry.

The Senior citizen day celebration also falls in September. In Psalm 92:4 we read “They shall bear fruit in old age; they shall be fresh and flourishing.” The righteous are those who take their faith seriously and make their lives in the ways of God. We may lose heart as we become aged — our physical strength abates, our health deteriorates and our memory gets cloudy. But we can have a new beginning towards a good old age. Growing old can mean maturing, growing in grace and fruitfulness, getting sweeter as days go by — less critical of others and less impatient with them. May the Lord strengthen our elders with His grace.

We are coming closer to the year end. As on September we have only 121 days for this year. Let us stand firm in our faith, be a witness to Christ our Savior. May God bless us all.

Rev. P. E. Mathew

Vicar

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