Private Circulation Only If undelivered, please return to: Rev. Mathew Varughese 64 Creekside Circle Spring Valley NY 10977 2011 ST JAMES MAR THOMA CHURCH OF ROCKLAND Please Pick Up Your Copy For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given. 42 Fourth Street Hillburn, NY 10931 Phone: 845-357-5670 Office & Vicarage 64 Creekside Circle Spring Valley NY 10977 Phone/Fax: 845-362-8158 Web Site http://www.sjmarthoma.org 16
Executive Committee - 2011 Office Bearers Area Code (845) Vicar & President Rev. Mathew Varughese 362-8158 Vice-President Kuruvilla Cherian 365-1336 Secretary Rajan Mathew 624-2114 Treasurer John Mathew 365-8289 Accountant Alex Mathew 359-0359 Lay Ministrant Chacko P. George 268-4435 Shaimi Jacob 553-4370 Committee Members Clarkstown Area Elizabeth Mathew 268-6553 Clarkstown Area Moncy Kurian 268-0250 Ramapo Area George Alexander 567-6925 Ramapo Area Beena John 425-3788 Orangetown Area Mathew Samuel 613-7673 Assembly Member Subin Alexander 398-5179 Mandalam Member Valsamma Jose 352-1631 Edavaka Mission Thomas Varghese 627-2535 Choir Sevika Sangham Valsamma Jose 352-1631 Sunday School Mariamma Ninan 639-1128 Youth Fellowship Sherlin Philip (914)263-5940 Yuvajana Sakhyam George T. Karakal 624-1108 Auditors Auditor Sony Mathews 269-2471 Auditor Ajay Pappan 504-0599 Maintenance Committee 1 year term Thomas Ninan 639-1128 2 year term Sanjayan Joseph 215-9357 3 year term Jose P. Mathunny 352-1631 Other Contributors Worship Service Every Sunday 10:15 am Sunday School (9/1 6/30) Regular Parish Activities Every Sunday 09:00 am Choir Practice Every Sunday 01:15 pm Area Prayer Meetings Orangetown Area First Saturday 07:00 pm Ramapo Area Second Saturday 07:00 pm Clarkstown Area Third Saturday 07:00 pm Youth Fellowship First Sunday Third Saturday After Service 10:30 am Yuvajana Sakhyam Third Friday 07:00 pm Sevika Sangham Edavaka Mission First Monday/Tuesday Third Monday/Tuesday First Friday Fourth Saturday 07:00 pm 07:00 pm 07:30 pm 07:30 pm Website Administrator Thomas V. Cheriyan 627-0227 2 15
Parish Updates Vicar s Message Volume XX I Issue 12 D E CEM BE R 2 0 1 1 Upcoming Events Dec. 04 -- Parish Day Dec. 24 -- Christmas Carol Service at 6:30 PM Dec. 25 -- Christmas Service at 9:30 AM Dec. 31 -- Watch Night Service at 9:00 PM Messiah: The hopes and fears of all years After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him (Matthew 2:1, 2) The story of the Magi and King Herod is seen in the gospel of St. Matthew. Magi is a transliteration of a Greek word, which can also be translated as wise men, astrologers or as in the other New Testament occurrence (Acts 13:6,8) magician or sorcerer the word has nothing to do with the King (NIB.Vol. VIII.P 140) The magi come to worship and enquire of the new king in Jerusalem. Their first word, which is also the first word of any human character in the gospel of Matthew, asks, Where? - Which is also King Herod s first question, where the Messiah was to be born? (Matt. 2:4). The enquiry of Magi is to worship the Messiah, whereas the enquiry of the King Herod is to kill the Messiah, who can be a prospective threat to his throne. This enquiry, which started at the beginning of the life of Jesus, continued until his death of the cross and the same question is being asked even today? There will be only two goals in searching the messiah either to worship or to kill him. The messiah himself had the same temptation. Again the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor, and he said to him, All these, these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me. Jesus said to him, Away with you, Satan! For it is written, Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him. If Jesus worshiped the Satan, then he would have killed the messiah in him (Jesus). Judas Iscariot was in this struggle, either to worship Jesus as his Lord or to kill him for thirty silver coins, finally he decided to kill his master and hold on to the money. When Jesus was crucified on the cross, few women remained at the cross to worship him whereas his disciples left him. Magi and Herod had two different intentions in seeing Jesus. In our daily walk with Christ, these two forces are prominent in our thinking too. Christmas is a hope and fears of all years. Messiah can be the savior and the threat. It all decides our decision. Let this Christmas help us to begin a new search of our intention to follow Jesus. I wish you the most Joyous Christmas. Rev. Mathew Varughese. 14 3
Worship Services Date Time Service Dec. 04 10:15 AM Holy Communion (English) Dec. 11 10:15 AM Holy Communion (Malayalam) Dec. 18 10:15 AM Holy Communion (Malayalam) Dec. 25 Dec. 31 Date Dec. 04 Dec. 11 Dec. 18 Dec. 25 09:30AM Holy Communion (English) 09.00PM Watch Night service and Holy communion (Malayalam) Intercessory Prayer: At the church every Sunday If anyone has prayer requests, kindly inform the Lay Ministrants Theme Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth - Bearers of Good News Birth of John the Baptist (2nd Sunday before Christmas) Annunciation to Joseph (Sunday before Christmas) Yaldo - Birth of Our Saviour (Feast of Nativity) 1 M. S. Eapen & Aleykutty Eapen Palisades 8 Linu Abraham & Bindu Abraham Nanuet 23 Thomas V. Cheriyan & Elizabeth Thomas Nanuet 31 Rajan Mathew & Alice Mathew Nanuet Parish Day. St. James Mar Thoma Church Of Rockland. 21 st Parish Day Celebration and Holy Communion. December 4, 2011, 10:15 am. Holy Communion Service in English. Chief guest: Rev. Joseph Johnny (Vicar, St. Thomas Mar Thoma Church, Yonkers.) Dec. 31 God who is always with us. Service Assignments Note: One day income offertory will be collected during the service. Date Service Assistant Usher Usher Dec. 04 Joel G. Thomas Steven Tom Stacey Sara Jacob Dec. 11 N. M. Mathews Sophia Philips Jisha Jacob Dec. 18 John Job Remani Joseph Mary Mathew Dec. 25 Nitin John Pallathu Alex Mathew Tinu G. Varghese Dec. 31 Kuruvilla Cheriyan John Mathew Subin Alexander 4 13
With Love and Prayers from the St James Family Scripture Reading Assignments Date Lesson 1 Lesson 2 Dec. 04 M. S. Eapen Aleykutty Eapen 1 Remani Joseph Edison 1 Steven Tom Congers 6 Tinu George Varghese Rock Tavern 7 Zahra Lisa Abraham Newburgh 16 Bindu Abraham Nanuet 17 Joel George Thomas Spring Valley 18 Alex Mathew Sparkill 20 Zachariah N. Abraham Spring Valley 21 Stacey Sara Jacob Nanuet 23 Diya Varghese Garnerville 27 Thomas V. Cheriyan Nanuet 27 Teddy G. Alexander Newburgh 29 Sophia Philips New City 30 Jisha Jacob Tappan Dec. 11 Linu Abraham Bindu Abraham Dec. 18 Thomas Cheriyan Elizabeth Thomas Dec. 25 Rajan Mathew Alice Mathew Dec. 31 Elizabeth Jacob Valsamma Jose Lectionary Date Lesson 1 Lesson 2 Epistle Gospel Dec. 04 Gen. 33:1-17 2Cori.1:3-11 1Thess.3:6-13 Luke 1:39-45 Dec. 11 Isa. 55:6-13 Acts.11:19-26 Heb. 4:1-13 Luke 1:57-66 Dec. 18 Isa. 11:1-10 1John 5:1-12 Rom.1:1-16 Matthew 1:18-23 Dec. 25 Isa. 9:1-8 Gal.4:1-7 Heb. 1:1-12 Luke 2:1-14 Dec. 31 Exo. 33:12-23 Heb.13:7-21 1Peter. 5:6-11 Luke 12:22-34 Christmas Carol Date Area Place Dec. 03 Dec. 10 Dec. 17 Dec. 24 Orangetown Clarkstown Ramapo Church John Varghese, 5 Scandia Road, Congers at 7:00PM. Jacob Chacko, 17 Headden Drive, Spring Valley at 7:00PM. St. James Mar Thoma Church,Hillburn at 6:30PM 12 5
Choir Practice Choir Every Sunday after Church Service except First Sunday Christmas Choir Practice Every week. For details contact Choir Leader / Choir Secretary Note: If you play a musical instrument and would like to be a part of the Choir, please contact Achen. Youth Fellowship Meeting: Youth Fellowship When: December 18, 2011. Where: At the church after church service. North East Region Christmas carol. December 31, 2011 at St. Andrews Mar Thoma Church at 3:00PM. Regular Prayer Meeting/Bible Study: Sevika Sangham Youth Chaplain s Corner Greetings in the name of One Triune God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. I am happy to greet you through this newsletter. Another Christmas is coming to our door steps; we are joyful to receive our savior Lord Jesus Christ. I am also sharing in that joy with you. It would be beneficial for all of us to remember this great event of the Christian faith with proper preparation and readiness. The 25-Day Fast or Nombu (Malayalam) is observed in the Mar Thoma Church in connection with Christmas (yaldo = Birth) or Nativity. 25 Days of Fast / Nombu falls within the larger liturgical season of the church known as the Annunciation period or Mangala vartha Kalam or Ariyppu kalam in Malayalam. In the Western church this period is known as Advent Season. During this time the Church give thanks to God the Father remembering his selfless love of giving His only Son for the salvation of the world. In the Gospel of John 1:14 we read, The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. This 25-day Nombu / fasting will help us to get closer to God and rejuvenate our spiritual journey in this world. Fasting is a great tool against evil one, through fasting Jesus Christ defeated forces of evil and has given us the armor to overcome Satan. Fasting must be undertaken voluntarily. Fasting becomes highly acceptable when it is joined with humility of hearts, charity towards all humanity, and continuous prayers. In the book of Isaiah we read as to what kind of Fast is acceptable to God, Is such the fast that I choose, a day for a man to humble himself? Is it to bow down his head like a rush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Will you call this a fast and a day acceptable to the LORD? Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? (Isaiah 58:5-7). Moses, Daniel, Elijah and many other people of faith practiced this discipline in their lives. May God almighty help us to practice this liturgical discipline and be filled with the joy of Christmas. Rev. Biju P. Simon (Youth Chaplain) 6 11
KIDS PAGE Sunday School Sunday School Classes - will be held every Sunday at 9:00 AM Except Sunday December 25 th. Regular Prayer Meeting/Bible Study: Yuvajana Sakhyam North East Region Christmas Carol When: December 17, 2011, 10:30 AM Where: Epiphany, Mar Thoma Church. Color your Christmas 10 7
St. James Mar Thoma Church - December.2011 SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world,from everlasting to everlasting you are God. Psalm 90:1-2. 1 2 3 4 Holy Communion (Eng) - 10:15AM. Parish Day 5 6 7 8 9 10 Clarkstown Area Christmas gathering at 7:00PM 11 Holy Communion (Mal.) - 10:15AM Choir practice after service. 12 13 14 15 16 17 Ramapo Area Christmas gathering at 7:00PM 18 Holy Communion (Mal.) - 10:15AM Youth Fellowship after service. 19 20 21 22 23 24 Christmas Carol at the Church. 6.30.pm 25 MERRY CHRISTMAS Holy Communion (Eng.) - 9.30 AM 26 27 28 29 30 31 & January 01,2012 Watch Night Service & Holy Communion (Mal.) - 09.00 PM 8 9