St. John s Mar Thoma Church 90-37 213th Street Queens Village, NY 11428 If undeliverable, please return to: St. John S Mar thoma ChurCh 90-37 213 Street, Queens Village, NY Cologne Cathedral, Germany Photo submitted by Boney Joseph Worship-Sunday 9:00 am Sunday School-After Worship www.stjohnsmtcny.org Vicar: Rev. Issac P. Kurien Vicar4stjohns@gmail.com 12 1
OFFICE BEARERS / BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR 2017 Vicar / President Rev. Issac P. Kurien 718-465-2358 (Parsonage) 516-445-8552 (Mobile) 718-468-4141 (Church) Vice President Mr. Mathew P. George 516-742-3686 Secretary Mr. Zachariah Mathai (Aji) 917-208-1714 secretary4stjohns@gmail.com Treasurer Mr. Abraham Thomas 516-877-5925 Accountant Mr. Cherian M. George 516-502-6334 Lay Ministrants Mr. Zachariah Mathai (Soman) Mr. Saju David 2 516-328-8791 516-581-4365 Sabha Mandalam Mr. Biju Chacko 516-996-4611 Dio. Assembly Organizations: Mr. Sam George Mr. Allen Abraham 516-581-6128 516-739-1848 Choir Mr. Samuel Thomas 516-216-5051 Edavaka Mission Mr. Abraham C. Thomas 516-437-1888 Senior Citizens Mr. C. V. Simonkutty 516-742-3520 Sevika Sangham Mrs. Mercy Thomas 718-347-0346 Sunday School Mr. Johnson P. Philip 516-739-3744 Young Families Mr. Melvin John 718-343-0002 Youth Fellowship Mr. Shawn Zachariah 516-328-8791 Yuvajana Sakhyam Mr. Jinu Zacharia 516-974-9980 Prayer Group Representatives: Bellerose Mr. Munna V. Sam 718-343-5036 Eastern Long Island Mr. Varghese Chacko 516-433-3870 Elmont / West Hemp. Mr. K. Idichandy 516-437-8562 Floral Park / Glen Oaks Mr. Mathew Thomas 917-539-1652 Garden City Park Mrs. Annamma Mathews 516-747-5473 New Hyde Park East Mr. John Thomas 516-352-3054 New Hyde Park West Mr. Anil Baby Philipose 516-352-4746 Palli Bhagom Mrs. Sosamma Thomas 718-217-1740 Auditors: Mr. Varughese P. Abraham 917-482-0799 Mr. Sanu Mathew 516-222-0826 Youth Chaplain: Rev. Shibi Abraham 516-437-0425 SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS SUPERINTENDENT: Johnson Philip H-516-739-3744; C-516-343-4036 Nursery Juniors, Grade 6 Christine Thomas 516-216-5051 Laila George 631-462-1648 Cifi Sajan 516-708-1657 Sherry John 718-614-3731 Kindergarten Junior High, Grade 7 Sharon Varughese 516-974-4823 Teena Mathew 516-488-2629 Denson George 516-474-9716 Bently Joseph 516-643-4212 Aji Thomas 516-741-0465 Junior High, Grade 8 Primary Juniors, GR. 1 Sherly Ninan 516-488-2574 Ginsey George 631-619-6869 Sunitha Chacko 917-699-4451 Joash Mathew 516-450-7301 Seniors, Grade 9 Primary Juniors, GR. 2 Mercy Babu 516-538-2833 Austin Sanu 646-670-1190 Anchi Mathews 718-347-3488 Ashley Jacob 631-704-6800 Seniors, Grade 10 Primary Juniors, GR. 3 Santhosh George 516-298-0901 Rachel Philip 516-326-2629 Koruthu George 516-354-7552 Jerrel Abraham 516-492-5117 Senior High, Grade 11 Primary Juniors, GR. 4 Mathew P. George 516-742-3686 Rena Titus 516-433-4540 Charles Abraham 718-551-1779 Stacy Daniel 516-851-0317 Senior High, Grade 12 Primary Juniors, GR. 5 Philip Varghese 718-347-2709 Joann Johnson 516-739-3744 Binu Chacko 347-262-8211 Stacey Mathew 516-616-9446 Teacher Assistants Krupa Jacob 516-209-1050 Meekha Mathew 516-582-9855 Silvy Thomas 917-868-7842 CHURCH FACILITIES MAINTENANCE TEAM CONVENER: MR. MATHEW THOMAS 917-539-1652 Mr. Bob Abraham 516-603-3898 AUDIO/ VIDEO SYSTEMS TEAM Mr. Thomas M. George 917-502-8852 Mr. Bob Abraham (516) 603-3898 Mr. K. Idichandy 516-437-8562 Mr. Sam George (516) 581-6128 Mr. Saji Thomas 646-591-8465 Mr. Munna V. Sam (718)343-5036 Mr. Thomas C. Mathew 516-996-6065 Mr. Shawn Zachariah (516)305-7287 PARSONAGE RENOVATION COMMITTEE Convener: Mr. Sabu Lukose 516-902-4300 Mr. Thomas M. George 631-462-1648 Mr. John Mathews 516-747-5473 Mr. K. Idichandy 516-437-8562 Mr. Chacko Thomas 718-776-8103 Mr. Roy C. Thomas 718-347-0346 Mr. John T. Varkey 516-233-1128 11
HAPPY DECEMBER ANNIVERSARIES TO 1. Lizzykutty & Abraham C. Abraham 8 2. Sosamma & Rajan A. Thuthiel 9 3. Soosamma & Varughese P. Abraham 10 on December 10 4. Anna & Anil Thomas 11 5. Jessy & Manoj Mathai 14 6. Rosamma & Abraham C. Thomas 17 on December 17 7. Meena & John Oommen 26 8. Princy & Tinu K. Thampy 26 9. Annamma & Mathai M. Mathew 28 10. Mary & Thayil George M. 28 11. Nisa & Cherish P. James 31 12. Sheena & Shinoth T. Mathew 31 13. Aparna & Santhosh K. Philip 31 on December 31 MESSAGE FROM THE VICAR Dearly beloved in Christ, Greetings to you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I praise God almighty for enabling me to address you through this newsletter. By the grace of God, we are reaching at the end of a financial Year. Let us remember the ways that the Lord Almighty have guided us in the last one year. God has blessed us in several ways. He has strengthened us when were weak in body & spirit. As a parish, we could walk step by step with our Lord all throughout the year. Let us praise God for strengthening us as a parish. The angels are singing and bells are ringing because the Christ is born. The advent season reminds the grace of God that he loves the world, and the manifestation of that love revealed through the birth of the Son of God. Jesus is the reason for the season. May the reason be a reality in our Christmas celebrations. Let us spread the Good News that our Savior has born in our hearts. Wish you a Merry Christmas As we are approaching the dusk of this year, let us thank almighty for adding one more year in our life. It is not because of our merit but only the grace of God that we have reached so far. Let us submit our lives before God and enter a New Year by holding the hands of God. I pray that the New Year may be a blessed year for all of us especially to the parish. Enter the year with a new resolution. May the God bless each one of us. 10 With prayers Rev. Issac P Kurien 3
WORSHIP SCHEDULE FOR DECEMBER Dec. 3; Holy Communion - Malayalam; 9 AM Praise & Worship - Sunday School Sermon Melbie Mathew; Prayer - Sujith David 1st Lesson Gen. 18:1-16 M. Thomas 2nd Lesson 1 Pet. 1:8-12 Sosamma Thomas Epistle 2 Cor. 1:3-11 Thomas M. Thomas Gospel St. Luke 1:39-45 Altar Boys Abilene T. Anil, Chrisen Elias Bijoy Covenant Girls Reena Mathew, Stefie Thomas Dec. 10; Holy Communion English; 9 AM Praise & Worship - Sunday School Sermon Abilene T. Anil; Prayer - Calvin Sam 1st Lesson Isa. 55:6-13 Abraham Philip 2nd Lesson Heb. 4:1-13 Jaimie A. Abraham Epistle Gal. 1:11-17 Shajan Mathew Gospel St. Luke 1:57-66 Altar Boys Calvin Sam, Chrisen Elias Bijoy Covenant Girls Safia Thomas, Samantha Thomas Nov. 17; Holy Communion - Malayalam; 9 AM Praise & Worship - Sunday School Sermon Juhi Thomas; Prayer - Christa Mathew 1st Lesson Zeph. 3:14-20 Mathew Thomas 2nd Lesson Heb. 1:5-16 Marykutty Kurien Epistle Phil. 4:4-10 Eapen K. George Gospel St. Mat. 1:18-23 Altar Boys - Calvin Sam; Chrisen Elias Bijoy Covenant Girls - Reena Mathew; Safia Thomas 4 H APPY DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS TO 1. Shantamma Jacob 1 2. Mathew T. Philip 1 3. Aleyamma Koshy 1 4. Sosamma Mathew 1 5. Jerry Thomas 3 on December 3 6. Deepak Daniel David 4 7. Varughese P. Abraham 5 8. Kunjumol Thampy 5 9. Jacob T. Joseph 5 10. Issac (Rev) P Kurien 7 11. Remi Saji 7 12. Christine Cherian 7 13. Mercy Thomas 8 14. Roshini Cherian 8 15. Manuel M. Varughese 8 16. M. O. Thomas 8 17. Mariamma Abraham 9 18. Binu M. Kurien 10 on December 10 19. Bently T. Joseph 11 20. Pappachan Mathai 11 21. Koshy John 11 22. Omana Mathai 12 23. Christopher Thomas 12 24. Adam Kachanathu Philip 12 25. Justin Joy 12 26. Melini Abraham 12 27. Kaitlin George 14 28. Shawn M. Zachariah 14 29. Dhilan Robin Abraham 15 30. Aleyamma Cherian 16 31. Binitha K. Varughese 16 32. Vinu Abraham 17 33. Sam George 17 on December 17 34. Sherin Robin 18 35. Eric Gill 18 36. Stacy John 18 37. Jaime Jose 19 38. Reni Thomas 19 39. Joel P. Mathew 19 40. Selin Mathew 19 9 41. Jerrin V. Chacko 19 42. Katherine Philip 20 43. Johnson P. Philip 21 44. Renju Varghese 22 45. Chrisen Aleyas Bijoy 22 46. Stella Susan Mathew 23 47. Cyril K. Thomas 24 48. M. E. Alexander 24 49. Jocelyn Lisa Johnson 24 on December 24 50. Chrismal B. Abraham 25 51. Samuel Thomas 25 52. Mariamma Thomas 25 53. Marilyn J. Thomas 25 54. Mariamma Thankachan 26 55. Aleyamma Mathai 27 56. Shanu George 27 57. Seena M. Mathunny 28 58. Arlin Susan Thomas 28 59. Anchamma Mathews 29 60. Jaisy Mathew 29 61. Marvin Gill 29 62. Alvin Frances 30 63. Mini John Jacob 31 on December 31
SENIOR CITIZENS FELLOWSHIP Health & Recreational Program Every Wednesday at the church at 4:00 PM YOUNG FAMILIES FELLOWSHIP No Meetings in December YOUTH FELLOWSHIP No Meetings in December YUVAJANA SAKHYAM No Meetings in December PROGRAM FOR THE YEAR. Christmas Caroling; Bellerose** December 1 Christmas Caroling; Palli Bhagom** December 2 Christmas Caroling; Garden City Park** December 3 St. John s Parish Day December 3 Christmas Caroling; Long Island North** December 8 Christmas Caroling; Elmont /West Hemp.** December 9 Christmas Caroling; New Hyde Park West** December 10 Christmas Caroling; Long Island South** December 15 Christmas Caroling; New Hyde Park East** December 16 Christmas Caroling; Floral Pk & Glen Oaks** December 17 Christmas Eve Carol Service December 23 Christmas Day Service December 25 Regional Yuvajana Sakhyam Christmas December 30 Watch Night Service December 31 ** Please refer to list on bulletin board for exact dates and time. 8 WORSHIP SCHEDULE FOR DECEMBER Dec. 24; Holy Communion - English; 9 AM Praise & Worship - Youth Fellowship Sermon Roshen Varughese; Prayer - Justin Babu 1st Lesson Micah 4:1-7 Suseel Thomas 2nd Lesson 1 John 4:7-21 Minti Ann Thomas Epistle Rom. 1:8-17 Abee P. Joseph Gospel St. John 1:1-14 Altar Boys Alvin Lukose, Chrisen Elias Bijoy Covenant Girls Stefie Thomas, Samantha Thomas Dec. 25; Holy Communion - English; 8:30 AM Christmas Day Service Dec. 31; Worship Service - Malayalam; 9 AM Praise & Worship - Young Families Fellowship Sermon Melvin John; Prayer - Rena John 1st Lesson 1 Sam. 7:5-17 C. K. Mathai 2nd Lesson 1 Pet. 5:6-11 Susan Abraham Lay Leader Gospel St. Luke 12:22-34 Altar Boys Young Families Covenant Girls Young Families 5 M. Thomas Dec. 31; Holy Communion - Malayalam; 9:30 PM Watch Night Service
YOUTH CHAPLAIN S MESSAGE Dearly Beloved Brothers & Sisters in Christ, Glory to God in the highest, and on Earth peace to men whom his favor rests. Luke 2:14 Christmas is a time of transformation. The shepherds as they were watching their sheep thought that things tomorrow would be the same as they were today. But the angels of the Lord, brought them the message that things would never be the same again. God has entered the world in a wonderful and powerful way. This action has two results: 1) Glory (or praise to God) and 2) peace to the people of Earth who do His will. These two things can not be separated. We can not worship God without concerned about our relationship to those around us. Jesus told his disciples that if they were on their way to make an offering at the altar and they remember that someone has something against them, they are to leave their offering where it is and to go and reconcile with their brother or sister first. Only after they reconcile should they make their offering (Matthew 5:23-24.) Jacob had a great deal of material blessings, but it was only when he reconciled with his brother that he could say, "for truely seeing your face is like seeing the face of God (Genesis 33:10.)" When we truly worship and glorify God, we will be peacemakers. Our actions here on Earth will glorify God in heaven. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus sid, 'Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God (Matthew 5:9.)" Jesus came into this world that we should be the children of God. This Christmas season, and everyday of 6 PRAYER GROUPS & ORGANIZATIONS AREA PRAYER MEETINGS No Area Prayer Meetings in December due to Christmas House Caroling EDAVAKA MISSION PRAYER MEETINGS No Edavaka Mission Prayer Meetings in December due to Christmas House Caroling SEVIKA SANGHOM PRAYER MEETINGS Dec. 7; 10 AM; Dec. 14, 10 AM Dec. 21, 10 AM Dec. 28, 10 AM CHOIR PRACTICES Fasting Prayer at Church Mariamma Zachariah 519 N. First Street, New Hyde Park Lilly Simon 76 Fourth Avenue Garden City Park Marykutty Kurien 76-35 264 Street Floral Park Malayalam: Every Sunday after service unless announced otherwise English: At 4:30 PM on Saturdays preceding the English Holy Communion Service THANK YOU 7 516-328-8791 516-742-3521 718-347-3822 Elmont & West Hempstead area prayer group for assisting with the church services and for preparing coffee for the social time during the month of November. Floral Park & Glen Oaks area prayer group will assist in the church services and social hour during the month of December