st. thomas mar thoma church of chicago lombard, il 60148...jolly & prakash varghese 2 ann &...

St. Thomas Mar Thoma Church

of Chicago

Lombard, IL 60148

January 2020

Parish Voice

Dearly beloved in Christ,

First of all, I would like to wish you a Happy New Year.

In Roman mythology, January is named after the Greek

God Janus. Janus is the God of beginnings, gates,

transitions, time, duality, doorways, passages, and endings. He is usually

depicted as having two faces, since he looks to the future and to the past.

Philippians 3:14 quotes” I press on toward the goal for the prize of the

heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.” Paul asks us to forget the past and run

towards the goal. But can we really let go of the past? Aren’t those

experiences of the past that strengthen and motivate us to move forward? We

had both positive and negative experiences in the past. Let us learn to let go of

the things that cripple us and use the negative experiences to be building

blocks. The New Year is another chance to enrich our life with past

experiences. Let us use this year to enrich our spiritual life through the

activities of our church. Our spiritual life grows with a constant give and take

process. Let us move forward receiving God’s richest blessings and giving our

brethren a portion from those blessings. We will be able to attain life’s victory

only through faith. Last one year we meditated on the theme Victory through

Faith (1 John 5:4). This year our theme is Hope: Obtained through: The

Word (Ps.119:81-82). Let us prepare ourselves for the eschatological hope

through His Word.

I urge you to actively take part in all the church programs of 2020. Let

us gratefully remember the services of the previous committee and wish

blessings upon the newly elected members of the church Executive committee.

May the Lord bless us all.

Yours loving, Suneeth Achen

WORSHIP SERVICE SCHEDULE

Jan 05 08:00 AM Contemporary English Service

10.15 AM Malayalam Holy Communion

Jan 12 10.15 AM English Holy Communion

Jan 19 10.15 AM Malayalam Holy Communion

Jan 26 10.15 AM English Holy Communion

Parish Events

Jan 12 Sunday School Exam

Edavaka General Body

Edavaka Mission General Body.

Jan 19 Choir General Body

Jan 25 Annual Committee Retreat - Edavaka Committee

members and office bearers of all Organization.

Jan 26 Youth Fellowship General Body

JANUARY LECTIONARY

Date Lessons Epistle-Gospels Evening

05 Sunday Divine Revelation for all people

Isaiah 60: 1-7 Hebrews 1: 1-12

Acts 8: 26-38 Matthew 2: 1-12

12 Sunday Honoring the body as Temple of God

Ecclesiastes 6: 1-12 1 Corinthians 3: 16-23

1 Peter 1: 13-25 Matthew 5: 21-30

19 Sunday Called to Unity (Ecumenical Sunday)

Ezekiel 37: 15-23 Ephesians 4: 1-6

1 Corinthians 1: 10-17 John 15: 1-12

26 Sunday Christian Participation in Nation Building

Nehemiah 21: 11-18 1 Peter 2: 13-17

Revelation 21:1-8 Luke 3: 7-14

ORGANIZATION ANNOUNCEMENTS

CHOIR:

See group emails for details

Secretary, Roy George

EDAVAKA MISSION:

Please attend Bible Study every Sunday before service

Secretary, Zacharia Kurian

SEVIKA SANGHOM:

Bible Study every second Sunday 9.00 AM in the baby room.

Secretary, Lizy Valliyil

SUNDAY SCHOOL

➢ Sunday School Exams will be held on Sunday Jan 12th from 9:00 am in

the respective classes.

Superintendent, Mathew Varghese

YUVAJANA SAKHYAM

Cottage Prayer on February 1st at 6:30pm at Residence of Binu and

Leena Jose

Secretary, Shebin Mathew

YOUTH GROUP

Please see group emails.

Secretary, Janeen George

January Birthdays

Maia Susan Ninan 1

Nathaniah Ann Johnson 3

Joshna John 3

Sanjana Sara Mathews 3

Kunjunjamma Mathew 4

Ivan George Thankachen 4

Caleb T. Abraham 4

Alex Cherian 5

Ryan R. Tharakan 5

Renji T. George 6

Alex Thomas Koshy 7

Binu T. Jose 8

Valsamma John 9

Giya George 10

George A. Philip 11

Roy Mathews 11

Sajith Jacob 11

Deborah Miriam George 11

Lena James Madathinkal 12

Ivey Jacobson 13

Simi Ann Thomas 13

Chris P. Mathew 15

Annie Thomas 16

Amly V. Mathew 17

Ajie Jibu Mammarapallil 17

Valsa George 18

Bobby Cherian 19

Ajai Thomas 21

Varghese Mathew 22

Nicole Varghese 23

Sony Mathew 24

K. S. Samuel 25

Asha Muthalaly 25

Josiah Simon Chacko 25

Thomas John 26

Sonia Itticheria 26

Mohan C. Abraham 26

Susan Ignatius 27

Tina Koshy 27

Neethu Daniel George 27

Abraham K. Thondemvelil 28

Thomas Varughese 29

Jacob Kurien 29

Jeslette Sam 31

January Wedding Anniversaries

Susan & Bijo Thomas Mathew 1

Jolly & Prakash Varghese 2

Ann & Ajai Thomas 3

Nimmy & Madhu Mathew 3

Saramma & Johnikutty Philipose 3

Aleyamma & Jacob K. George 4

Giya & Shebin Mathew Philip 4

Leena & Jose Varghese 4

Asha & Shibu Jacob 5

Annamma & Stephen Chacko 7

Elsy & George A Philip 7

Liny & Charly Jacob 9

Sonie & Sanju Abraham 9

Amly & Varghese Mathew 11

Lizzy & Johnson Mathew 11

Riya & Ronish Jacob 11

Anis & Sanjeev Maddila 12

Lijina & Nidhish T. Mathew 12

Stephy & Aby John Thomas 14

Elizabeth & T. A. Georgekutty 16

Marina & Gladson Varghese 16

Libina & Mathew P. Alexander 17

Lincy & Jibu John 18

Reena & Jacob Mathew 19

Asha & Saju Abraham 20

Omana & John Thomas 20

Kunjunjamma & V. C. Mathew 23

Mini & Mathew Varghese 24

Gracy & Biji K. Abraham 26

Susan & Rajeev Kalsi 26

Valsa & George Varghese 27

Susan & Vijoy Mathew 29

From our Youth Chaplain

Be Renewed in the New Year

“So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed

away;

see, everything has become new!”

2nd Corinthians 5:17

The Almighty God has graciously led us through another year in our lives. Let us

be thankful for God’s goodness and providence we experienced throughout the

year 2019, and let us also look forward to the amazing things God has in store

for us in 2020.

For the past few months, we have all been in a celebratory mood. And as we

enter into the New Year, our celebrations will continue, but may they continue

with a sense of self-examination and personal reflection. The best way for us to

celebrate a New Year is to resolve to live more like the new creation that the

apostle Paul says we are. Once we accept the sacrifice that Christ made on our

behalf, God begins a new work of creation in us. He gives us a new heart, a new

self, and a new song. We are called to have new attitudes and a new lifestyle.

And as we grow, God brings new opportunities for service and teaches us new

truths.

Keeping this in mind, we should take upon this very challenge in the New Year.

Let’s commit ourselves to becoming the “new creations” that God desires us to

be. Let us aim to tithe our time for the Lord, spending adequate time in studying

His word and drawing closer to Him in prayer so that the Holy Spirit may come

upon us and renew us. May God enable us all to experience spiritual renewal

not only in our individual lives but also in our families and in our life together as

a church.

May God strengthen us all to be renewed in 2020 for His glory! Wishing you all

a Blessed and Joyful New Year!

With love and prayers,

Chris Achen and Neethi

Contact Info: 732–754–8131 | 516–428–0722 | cpdachen@gmail.com

Parsonage Address: 150 W. Saint Charles Road, Apt. 424, Lombard, IL 60148

Youth Chaplain’s Schedule for January 2020

January 2-5 Diocesan Leadership Conference (Atlanta,

GA)

January 10-11 Minneapolis Congregation (Minnesota)

January 12 (morning) St. Thomas MTC (Lombard, IL)

January 12 (afternoon) Bethel MTC (Frankfort, IL)

January 17-19 Kansas MTC

January 25 Diocesan Council Meeting (New York)

January 25-26 St. John’s MTC (Troy, MI)

PARISH VOICE ISPUBLISHEDBYSTA THOMASMAR THOMACHURCHOF CHICAGO

2019 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS

TITLE NAME PHONE EMAIL

PRESIDENTANDVICAR REV. SUNEETH MATHEW 630-268-1441 SUNEETHACHEN @GMAIL.COM 630-802-2766

YOUTHCHAPLAIN* REV. CHRISTOPHERDANIEL 732-754-8131 CPDACHEN@GMAIL.COM 516-428-0722

VICEPRESIDENT MR. GEORGEKARAVATTUVEETIL 630-850-8769 GEORGE@PSYCHEDLLC.COM

SECRETARY MR. THOMASLATHARA 847-452-9122 TLATHARA@GMAIL.COM

TREASURER MR. REJI THARAKAN 312-296-8416 REJITHARAKAN@GMAIL.COM

ACCOUNTANT MR. MATHEW ABRAHAM 312 404-6983 ABRAHAM12STER@GMAIL.COM

LAY LEADER (MAL) MR. THOMAS MATHEW 630-628-8748 MATHEW2838@YAHOO.COM

LAY LDR (MAL)* MR. P.K. BOBBY 630-863-0530 PKBOBBY1120@GMAI;.COM

LAY LEADER (ENG) MR. JACOB NINAN 847-695-8981 MALAYALEETHUG@YAHOO.COM

LAY LDR (ENG)* MR. CYRIL GEORGE 708-620-4218 GEORGEM.CYRIL@GMAIL.COM

MANDALAMMEMBER MR. VARGHESEPHILIP 630-250-0619 PHILIP1481@HOTMAIL.COM

DIOCESANASSEMBLY MR. JOHNSONVALLIYIL 847-830-7276 JVALLIYIL@HOTMAIL.COM

DIOCESANASSEMBLY MR. CYRILGEORGE 708-620-4218 GEORGEM.CYRIL@GMAIL.COM

CHOIR MR. JACOB K. GEORGE 630-858-7853 J.K.GEORGE@SBCGLOBAL.NET

EDAVAKAMISSION MR. PKBOBBY 630-863-0530 PKBOBBY1120@GMAIL.COM

SEVIKASANGHOM MRS. LIZYVALLIYIL 224-402-8628 LVALLIYIL@HOTMAIL.COM

SUNDAY SCHOOL MR. MATHEW VARGHESE 630-400-3565 MVARGESE@GMAIL.COM

YOUTH GROUP DR. SHEENA THOMAS 847-691-2412 SEETTICKAL@GMAIL.COM

YUVAJANASAKHYAM MR. SHEBINMATHEW 224-420-1500 SHEBINMATHEWPHILIP@GMAIL.COM

AUDITORS* MR. A.P JOHNIKUTTY 630-238- 8206 APJOHNI@GMAIL.COM MR. BINUDJOHNSON 708-614-9035 BINUDJOHNSON@YAHOO.COM

AREA 1 MR. T.A GEORGEKUTTY 630-868-9201 TAU_KUTTY@YAHOO.COM

AREA 2 MR. MATHEWVMATHEW 630-852-7994 MMATHEW028@YAHOO.COM

AREA 3 MR. GEORGE M. JACOB 708-415-8542 JASAJ96@HOTMAIL.COM

AREA 4 MRS. SARAMMA MATHEW 630-834-3830 MATHEW549@COMCAST.NET

AREA 5 MR. JACOBCHACKO 630-561-5497 JCHACKO2000@YAHOO.COM

AREA 6 MR. AJIT V. JOHN 630-497-1808 AJIT.JOHN@COMCAST.NET

PARISHVOICEEDITOR* MR. JOHNSONVALLIYIL 847-830-7276 JVALLIYIL@HOTMAIL.COM

(“* NONCOMMITTEEPOSITION)

Please contact or Email the Vicar and cc: to Parish Secretary/PV editor for suggestions, change of notifications etc. all.