LONG ISLAND MAR THOMA CHURCH

Transcription

1 LONG ISLAND MAR THOMA CHURCH Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. Colossians 3: 1-2 NEWSLETTER APRIL Merrick Avenue, Merrick, NY Phone:

2 2015 BOARD OF TRUSTEES OFFICE BEARERS Rev. Shinoi Joseph Vicar/President (H) (C) Dr. Joseph Mattackal Vice President (H) (C) Koruthu Mathew Secretary (C) George P. Babu Treasurer (H) (C) Joseph V. Thomas Accountant (H) (C) Mammen Samuel Lay Leader (H) (Malayalam) (C) George V. Abraham Lay Leader (C) (English) MANDALAM/DIOCESE Kalathil Varughese Mandalam (H) (C) Dr. Ron Jacob Diocesan Council (H) Member (C) Thomas Rajan Assembly (H) Member Lagi Thomas Assembly (H) Member (C) 2

3 FROM THE VICAR S DESK P: Weak and sinful as we are let us confess and together say: Holy is the Holy Father, Holy is the Holy Son, Holy is the living and Holy Spirit (Taken from the Order of Worship for Holy Qurbana) Dearly beloved in Christ, Usually we think that the Nicene Creed is the only faith proclamation in our worship liturgy. But we should also understand that every liturgical prayer is the affirmation and the proclamation of our Christian faith, and the Nicene Creed is only one such affirmation. The liturgical prayers were once oral proclamation (Kerygma) of the early Christians, and later these prayers were written down so that the coming generations may know the faith and belief of the Christian community from the very inception of this path. So liturgical prayers are all truth affirmations of the Christian community. The passage that we meditate this month is one such important faith proclamation. Here the celebrant says Weak and sinful as we are let us confess and together say Holy is the Holy Father, Holy is the Holy Son and Holy is the living and Holy Spirit. For each prayer, the community affirms the proclamation by saying Amen, meaning yes or we agree. Based on this portion let us meditate on the theme, Realization of God s holiness leads to true realization of one s self Standing in the holy presence of God enables us to realize our unholy nature. Only when we realize the true self of God, we would be able to realize who we are. God is a mirror in which we see or realize our true self. The affirmation of Church as God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit as holy, point to the fact that only the Triune God is pure and holy, in which there is no darkness and sin. The Triune God is perfect in every aspect. Before the holy and all perfect God, one realizes his/her own sinful nature (Exo.3: 3-6; Lev.11.44, 45; 20.7,26 Isa 6:3-5; Lk. 5:8; Rev.1: 17). We have nothing to boast upon other than to seek God s mercy and grace as we are sinners and fall short before His divine glorious presence (Lk. 18:9-14). The truer sight of God s holiness leads us to the truer sight of our corruption. Psalmist says, Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth! (Psalms 96:9). Worship leads you and me to the holiness of God. St. Peter says, But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, You shall be holy, for I am holy. (1 Peter 1:15-16). We confess that We are weak and sinful. Repentance is the true spirit of worship. Repentance is not only a heart broken for sin, but as we truly repent, God asks us to abandon what God has forgiven. Turning away from sin is not enough but one should also turn to God for salvation, which is only through the grace of God. This year we enter into Holy Week (Hasha azcha) from March 29. This week is also called Passion Week. The Holy Week starts with Jesus s 3

4 triumphal entry to Jerusalem and culminates on Easter Sunday (Day of Resurrection). Here we remember the last week of Jesus Christ s life where he reveals His Passion for the whole world by willingly taking up the cross for the redemption of our sins. On Palm Sunday we sing/say Hosanna meaning save us, O Lord. God saved the world through His son Jesus Christ who died for our sins. The believing community symbolically follows Jesus on His way to the cross during this week. Passion Week is therefore a call to suffer for the cause of Jesus Christ, as Jesus suffered for us. It is in only following Jesus way, His passion and crucifixion, does Easter, or day of resurrection, becomes meaningful. It also signifies that resurrection of all believers in Christ at the second coming of Christ Jesus where He makes us join the heavenly feast. May God keep us in His Warm and comforting Embrace. Rev. Shinoi Joseph Wishing you all a meaningful and a Blessed Easter the Feast of feasts. (Achen and Family) A Note of Thanks and Appreciation Rev. V. M. Mathew served in this diocese as the youth chaplain particularly in the North East Region. I, on behalf of Long Island Mar Thoma Church, thank Rev. V. M. Mathew and his family for the wonderful ministry in this region particularly among youths. We pray that God continually use Achen for the extension of His Kingdom. We also cherish the sweet memories of his ministering along with Kochamma and kids in this part of the world. We wish all our prayers and blessings to Rev. V. M. Mathew and family on their new posting to Dharma Jyoti Vidya Peeth in Faridabad, India. Rev. Shiby M. Abraham along with his family will join this region as the Youth Chaplain from May 1, We look forward towards his meaningful and useful ministry among us. Rev. Shinoi Joseph 4

5 YOUTH CHAPLAIN S CORNER Praise the Lord Praise the LORD, my soul;all my inmost being, praise his holy name.praise the LORD, my soul,and forget not all his benefits (Ps ) I write this message to the newsletters reciting the above-mentioned verse in my heart. When I look back to the last three years of our ministry among the Youth, I praise God and thank God for all the manifold blessings that we experienced in these years. One of our families gave me a thank you card, and it reads like this: David defeated Goliath as a youth, Mary followed God s plan as a young woman, Billy Graham met Christ as a teenager. Thanks for the future Davids, Marys and Billys that you are influencing today. That really touched our hearts, and if we were able to influence and impact the lives of our youth here, that is only because of God s grace and guidance. I believe one of the important ministries that our church is doing in this generation is to invest in the lives of our youth. Our investment in this ministry today, by influencing the lives of our youngsters, is a great asset that we are making. I praise God for our youngsters, our children, and their talents, and I have a great hope to see them leading our church in this generation. During the last there years, God Almighty has used us to initiate few new ministries among our youths and young families: The regional youth fellowship retreat, the mission activity in the city, Do something, youth chaplain s blog, Chaplains Corner, Regional young family fellowship, Regional young family fellowship s retreats, the campus ministry, area meetings like Rockland youth prayer, and other initiatives in the parish levels. We thank God for His guidance and presence for these new initiatives and hope to see them growing and benefitting numerous people in the days to come. I express my sincere thanks for our diocesan Bishop Theodosius Thirumeni for his encouragement and guidance, the diocesan secretaries, the parish vicars and their families for their love and support, the office bearers in each parish, the Sunday school office bearers at regional and parish levels, our beloved youngsters, children, and young families, and all the families who loved us and took care of us. We request all to continue to remember us in your prayers as we move to India to start a new phase in our ministry as a teacher of Old Testament at the Dharma Jyothi Vidya Peeth infaridabad, near New Delhi. We are going back to India with a lot of good memories about our ministry among the Sunday schools, youth fellowships, and young families in this region. We are really going to miss all of them, and they have a huge place in our hearts and pray that they will be a witnessing community through our church in this generation. Love you all!! With love and prayers V. M. Mathew Achen, Smitha, Krupa and Christy 5

6 BIRTHDAYS OFFER PRAYER AND THANKSGING ON APRIL 5 th 4/2 Yohannan Jacob 89 4th Street Garden City Park 4/3 Susan Varghese 1557 Adams Street Elmont 4/3 Alvin Thomas th Street Floral Park 4/3 Robin M. Abraham 183 Bedford Avenue Garden City Park 4/3 Stefan Thomas 1671 Stewart Ave New Hyde Park 4/4 K. O. Chacko 2 Robbins Lane Westbury 4/4 Chacko Mathew 451 Horton Highway Williston Park 4/5 P. M. Joseph Street New Hyde Park 4/5 Sosamma Abraham 5 Tudor Road Hicksville 4/5 Annamma L. 20 McKinley Ave Albertson Mathew 4/5 Eugene Vins 2 Evers Street Hicksville Thomas 4/5 Susan Thomas 1 Tinkers Place Hicksville 4/5 Mathewkutty Easow 152 Bismark Avenue Valley Stream OFFER PRAYER AND THANKSGING ON APRIL 12 th 4/6 Dane John Benzy 2219 Elderbury Westbury Drive 4/7 Mathew Titus st Street Bellerose 4/7 Rev. Binoy J Merrick Ave Merrick Thomas 4/8 Preetha George 719 Carmans Road Massapequa Park 4/8 George V. Abraham 1978 Marion Drive East Meadow 4/8 Vipin Abraham Thomas 4/8 Emma Susan Varghese 7 Golden Avenue Deer Park [Apt. J1] 10 Bretton Road Garden City Park 6

7 4/8 Evan Chacko 35 Pilgrim St New Hyde Park Oommen 4/9 Sneha Saji 1319 Herald Avenue Elmont 4/10 Sam Samuel rd Street Floral Park 4/10 Aleyamma Thomas Hillside Queens Village Avenue 4/11 Shaji Joseph Street New Hyde Park 4/11 Thampi Samuel th Avenue New Hyde Park 4/11 Samuel Chacko 11 Burns Avenue Hicksville 4/11 Nikhil Thomas 66 Merry Lane Jericho 4/11 Deepa A. Thomas th Avenue Glen Oaks 4/12 Jubie C. Thomas 24 Brycewood Drive Dix Hills 4/12 Dr. Gina Oommen 35 Pilgrim Street New Hyde Park 4/12 Achamma Mathew 18 Park Drive East Syosset OFFER PRAYER AND THANKSGING ON APRIL 19 th 4/13 Mathew Thomas 61 Merry Lane Jericho 4/14 Kallumannil O. 80 Crosby Avenue Albertson Mathew 4/14 Saramma Mathews 25 Libby Avenue Hicksville 4/14 Kevin Abraham Langdale New Hyde Park Street 4/15 Joseph Abraham 65 Capri Drive Roslyn 4/15 Anil Mathew 20 High Land Blvd. Dix Hills 4/15 Ansa Varghese 49 Conklin Street Deer Park 4/15 Dr. Leno Thomas 125 Sherman Ave Williston Park 4/15 Jeena Shajan 46 Maxwell Drive Westbury 4/17 Jacob Thomas 3 Prose Street Hicksville 7

8 4/17 Leena Mathew 30 Cantiague Lane Westbury 4/17 Kevin B. Sam 5 Berwyn Drive Lake Ronkonkoma 4/18 Dr. Sunita Thomas 78 Thorens Avenue Garden City Park 4/18 Roshan Abraham 121 Oakwood Drive Syosset 4/18 Dr. James P. 38 Hargrove Drive Stony Brook Mammen 4/19 Jubil Philip 38 Lords Way Manhasset Hills 4/19 Joshua C. Mathew 23 Ridge Court Hauppauge 4/19 Susamma T. Daniel 92 6th Street Garden City Park 4/19 Liju Varghese A 76th Ave Bellerose OFFER PRAYER AND THANKSGING ON APRIL 26 th 4/21 Kurien Thomas 55 Woodbury Road Hauppauge 4/21 Kurian Varghese 49 Conklin Street Deer Park 4/21 Tiby Philip 725 The Plain Road Westbury 4/21 Katherine S st Street Bellerose Varghese 4/21 Geetha E. Abraham 386 South 1st Street Lindenhurst 4/21 Maria Benjamin 12 Franklin St Hicksville 4/22 Anish Mammen 90 Birchwood Drive Herricks 4/22 Christopher G st Street Bellerose Varghese 4/23 Mariamma Mathew 80 Crosby Avenue Albertson 4/23 Neethu Ann Chacko 11 Ridge Court Hauppauge 4/23 Zachariah Thomas 61 Merry Lane Jericho 4/24 Rajan Abraham 12 Franklin Street Hicksville 4/24 Eden Elizabeth Koshy 7 Wedgewood Drive Westbury 8

9 4/25 Sushil Mammen 90 Birchwood Drive Herricks 4/25 Marykutty George 57 Belmont Avenue Plainview 4/26 Sunil Joseph th Street Floral Park 4/26 John Daniel th Street Bellerose OFFER PRAYER AND THANKSGIVING ON MAY3 rd 4/27 Mariamma Abraham th Street Bellerose 4/27 Rahel Susan 190 Bregman Ave New Hyde Park Zachariah 4/27 Selena K. Sabu 15 Kingston Street New Hyde Park 4/27 Stacey Jacob 154 New Bridge East Meadow Road 4/28 Julitha Cherian 56 Allen Street Herricks 4/28 Carter Mason 23 Corona Drive Bethpage Varghese 4/29 Saji Mathew 3 Chaffee Avenue Albertson 4/29 Rev. Shinoi Joseph 2350 Merrick Ave Merrick 4/30 Sabu Koruthu 15 Kingston Street New Hyde Park 4/30 Vismyn Vins 2 Evers Street Hicksville April May June PULPIT ASSISTANCE, REFRESHMENTS Month Hosting Prayer Group (Area Representative) Prayer Group E (Mr. Thomas Kurien) Prayer Group F Prayer Group G The Vicar and members of the parish express their sincere thanks to Area RepresentativeMr. Philip K. Mathew and members of Prayer Group D (Bethpage, Hicksville, Plainview) for their assistance at the pulpit, arranging flowers, and providing refreshments during the month of March During April 2015, the above responsibilities are assigned to Mr. Thomas Kurien and members of Prayer Group E (Eastern Long Island) 9

10 WEDDING ANNNIVERSARIES OFFER PRAYER AND THANKSGING ON APRIL 5 th 4/2 Mr. & Mrs. Shibu Varghese 10 Bretton Road Garden City Park OFFER PRAYER AND THANKSGING ON APRIL 12 th 4/9 Mr. & Mrs. Reji Alex nd Road Floral Park 4/10 Mr. & Mrs. Joseph K. Mathew 1557 Rosser Avenue Elmont OFFER PRAYER AND THANKSGING ON APRIL 19 th 4/15 Mr. & Mrs. Agie George 1642 Gilford Avenue New Hyde Park OFFER PRAYER AND THANKSGIVING ON MAY3 rd 4/27 Mr. & Mrs. Lalu Mathew 20 McKinley Ave Albertson 4/29 Mr. & Mrs. Kurien Thomas 55 Woodbury Road Hauppauge ON A LIGHTER NOTE About my five loaves of bread and two fishes could I get a receipt for tax purposes? 10

11 EVENTS AND ORGANIZATION CALENDAR SUNDAY SCHOOL 1. Sunday school starts every Sunday at 9:00AM. 2. Little Children s Ministry (Ages: 3 6) will be held on all Malayalam Holy Communion Service Sundays from 9 AM 9:45 AM. 3. Spring Fest will be held on Saturday, April 11 from 9:30 AM to 1 PM at the church. Registration is free, and is open to all students from Pre-K to Grade 12. The theme is Renewal of Minds based on Ephesians 4: Sunday School Final Exam will be held on Sunday, April 26, YOUTH FELLOWSHIP ELEMENT April 4 NERYF one-day conference from 8 AM - 4 PM at LIMC. 2. April 10 Praise Night from 7:15 PM 9:30 PM at LIMC. 3. April 17 Men s and Women s Fellowship from 7:15 PM - 10 PM. 4. April 25 Youth Fellowship Outreach Event venue and timing TBD. YOUNG FAMILY FELLOWSHIP (YFF) 1. Monthly YFF meeting will be held on Sunday, April 26 th from 3:30 PM 5:30 PM. Venue for the meeting will be announced later. 2. On Saturday, April 11, from 2 PM 3 PM, YFF will host a basketball free-throw competition for kids (boys and girls ages 9+) and for adults at the LIMC gym. Registration fee is $10. Prizes will be awarded. YUVAJANA SAKHYAM Cottage Prayer Meeting will be held on Sunday, April 19 at 2 PM at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph C. Mathew [23 Ridge Court, Hauppauge, NY 11788; Tel: ]. CHOIR Malayalam and English Choir practices will be held on Sundays immediately afterthe worship service at the Church. EDAVAKA MISSION After Easter, Edavaka Mission meetings will resumeevery Thursday at 7:30 PM. The venue of the meetings will be announced later in the church. SEVIKA SANGHAM Monthly Sevika Sangham meeting will be held on Saturday, April 11 at 10:00 AM at the church. SENIOR CITIZENS FELLOWSHIP Monthly Senior Citizens Fellowship meeting will be held on Friday, April 24 at 7:00 PM at the church. 11

12 BIRTHS The Vicar and parish-members congratulate the following members on the newest addition to their families: 1. Mathew Mammen, born on March 11, 2015 Son of Mr. Jijo Mammen and Mrs. Jincy Mammen[1844 Midland Drive, East Meadow, NY 11554]; Grandson of Mr. & Mrs. Mammen Easo, and Mr. & Mrs. Joy Varghese. 2. Sophia Ann Mathews, born on March 14, 2015 Daughter of Mr. Bobby Mathews and Mrs. Roshin Mathews[11 Greentree Road, Mineola, NY 11501]. 3. Ryan Daniel Issac, born on March 20, 2015 Son of Mr. Binoy Issac and Mrs. Neenu Issac[121 South 9 th Street, New Hyde Park, NY 11040];Grandson of Mr. & Mrs. Issac Daniel. CONDOLENCES The Vicar and members of the parish express their heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the following persons who have been called to eternity: 1. Mr. John Abraham (73 years old) passed away on March 12 th 2015 in New York. Mr. Abraham was the brother of our church member Mr. Abraham Thomas [67-A Chestnut Street, Hicksville, NY]. 2. Mrs. Kunjamma Chacko (84 years old) passed away on March 20 th 2015 in Kerala. Mrs. Chacko was the mother of our church member Mr. Shaji P. Jacob [154 New Bridge Road, East Meadow, NY 11554]. PASSION WEEK WORSHIP SCHEDULE Date Time Service Mon, Mar 30 7:30 PM Holy Week Service - Malayalam Tue, Mar 31 7:30 PM Holy Week Service - Malayalam Wed, Apr 1 7:30 PM Holy Week Service - Malayalam Thu, Apr 2 7:00 PM Maundy Thursday Holy Communion Service - Malayalam Fri, Apr 3 9:00 AM Good Friday Part 1, Part 2 - Malayalam Part 3 - English Sun, Apr 5 9:00 AM Easter Holy Communion Service - English 12

13 Date PASSION WEEK LECTIONARY 1 st and 2 nd Epistle Lessons Gospel Mon, Mar 30 Isaiah 63 Matt. 22: Hebrews 2 Tue, Mar 31 Num. 21: 1-16 Matt. 24: 1-28 Ephesians 2 Wed, Apr 01 Lev. 16: 1-28 Matt. 25: Peter 4 Thu, Apr 02 Genesis 22: Cor. 11: Matt. 26: Heb. 11:23-34 Fri, Apr 03 Isaiah 53: 1-12 Matt. 26: Part 1 1 Peter 1:1-25 Fri, Apr 03 Zech. 13: 1-9 Matt. 27: 1-44 Part 2 Gal. 3: 1-22 Fri, Apr 03 Num. 21: 1-9 Matt. 27: Part 3 Heb. 3: 1-19 Sun, Apr 05 Exodus 14: Thes. 4: Matt. 28: 1-10 Col. 3: 1-11 AREA PRAYER MEETINGS Day Area Prayer Hosting Family Date / Time Group Address and Phone Sunday Prayer Group D Mr. & Mrs. Baby George 5-Apr Plainview 57 Belmont Avenue, Plainview 6:00 PM Hicksville Saturday Prayer Group B Mr. & Mrs. Joseph K. Mathew 11-Apr Elmont 1557 Rosser Avenue, Elmont 6:30 PM Valley Stream Sunday Prayer Group E Mr. & Mrs. Isaac Oonnoonny 12-Apr Eastern Long Island 3403 Great Neck Road, Amityville 6:00 PM Saturday Prayer Group C Mr. & Mrs. P.M. Joseph 18-Apr New Hyde Park Street, New Hyde Park 6:30 PM Herricks Sunday Prayer Group D Mr. & Mrs. Samuel Chacko 19-Apr Hicksville 11 Burns Avenue, Hicksville 6:00 PM Plainview Saturday Prayer Group G Mr. & Mrs. Chacko Mathew 25-Apr Williston Park 451 Horton Hwy, Williston Park 6:30 PM Manhasset Hills Sunday Prayer Group F Mr. & Mrs. John Koshy 26-Apr Westbury 7 Wedgewood Drive, Westbury 6:00 PM East Meadow

14 WORSHIP SCHEDULE Date Time Schedule and Weekly Theme Sunday 9:00 AM Holy Communion Service English 4/5/15 Resurrection: Celebrating Joy of Salvation Easter Sunday Sunday 9:00 AM English Divine Service 4/12/15 10:00 AM Holy Communion Service Malayalam New Sunday - Encounter With The Risen Lord Sunday 10:00 AM Holy Communion Service English 4/19/15 Identifying Risen Lord In The Work Place Sunday 9:00 AM English Divine Service 4/26/15 10:00 AM Holy Communion Service Malayalam Community Formation Around Resurrection Date LECTIONARY 1 st and 2 nd Epistle Lessons Gospel Sunday Exodus 14: Thes. 4: Mat. 28: /5/15 Col. 3: 1-11 Sunday Gen: 32: Thes. 1: 3-12 John 20: /12/15 Acts 9: 1-18 Sunday Ruth 2: 1-18 Acts 16: 6-15 John 21: /19/15 Acts 19: Sunday Isaiah 25: 1-9 Acts 2: Luke 24: /26/15 Acts 4: NEW (organic) MEMBERSHIPS 1. Mr. Benny Thomas & Mrs. Roshin Thomas th Avenue Unit G1-1 Glen Oaks, NY Tel:

15 AREA REPRESENTATIVES Mathew P. Mathew Prayer Group - A (H) centurymaritime@msn.com (C) Roy Mathews Prayer Group - B (H) roygreengardens@hotmail.com (C) Thampi Samuel Prayer Group - C (H) sthampi82@yahoo.com (C) Philip K. Mathew Prayer Group D (H) pkunnel@yahoo.com (C) Thomas Kurien Prayer Group - E (H) thomask421@gmail.com (C) Thadathil Mathai Prayer Group - F (H) joypangat@gmail.com (C) Chacko Mathew Prayer Group - G (H) cmathew516@hotmail.com (C) SUNDAY SCHOOL Joseph C. Mathew (Saji) Headmaster (H) jcmatpt@gmail.com (C) YOUTH FELLOWSHIP Alexander Thomas Vice President (H) atx7248@gmail.com (C) YUVAJANA SAKHYAM Jibi P. Mathew Vice President (H) jibimathew@aol.com (C) YOUNG FAMILY FELLOWSHIP Leena Mathew Vice President (H) jijiandleena@yahoo.com (C) CHOIR Stanly Thomas Choir Leader (H) stanlythomas1@gmail.com (C) EDAVAKA MISSION Abraham George Secretary (H) vettuparampil.ag@gmail.com (C) SEVIKA SANGHOM Achamma Jacob Secretary (H) achammajacob@gmail.com (C) 15

16 Scenes From Recent Events Young Family Fellowship Bowling Fundraiser (March 8) Lent Prayer Meeting (March 13) Yuvajana Sakhyam Moses Show Trip (March 21) 16