St. Peter’s Mar Thoma Church Issue No.32

East Area London, UK

NEWS LETTER

Place of Worship Vicar: Rev. Vinoj Varghese St. Luke’s Church 58 Cobham Road, Seven Kings Baxter Road Ilford IG3 9JP

Ilford Phone: 020 8491 4049- 07825 988 500 Essex IG1 2HN Email: vinojachen@gmail.com

A Parish of The Mar Thoma Syrian Church in the Diocese of North America and Europe

Member of the Churches Together in England Member of the Churches Together in Britain and Ireland

Registered Charity No. 1123807

(For private circulation among members only)

http://www.marthomachurchlondon.com

MERRY CHRISTMAS

& HAPPY NEW YEAR

Regular Programmes

Sunday school - All Sundays after Worship Service.

Youth League - meetings are held after Church Service on Sundays.

Choir - practices are from 2.00 pm on all Sundays.

Sevika Sangham - meetings on First Sundays after Worship.

Fasting Prayer - 1st Saturday of every month. Review of Activities

Joint Prayer Fellowship: Organised by Edavaka Mission was held 0n 3rd September 2013 at Reji Thankachen’s house. We were blessed with the prescence of Rev. George Varghese, Vicar of Dublin Marthoma Church. Sevikasangam Day was celebrated on 08th September 2013 and the message was given by Pushpa kochamma from St. Johns Marthoma Church. On the same day a special dedication services was held for Student education. One day fasting prayer: Organised by Sevikasangham was held on 02nd November 2913 at St Lukes Church. The main speaker was Evang. Sajeev Daniel from Birmingham Marthoma Church. World Sunday School Day: A Special dedication service was held during the services and Sunday school children sang beautiful songs. Family Sunday was celebrated on 17th November 2013. Joseph Daniel Achen from Switzerland led the service and delivered an excellent spiritual message about the values of family.

FROM THE VICAR’S DESK

Dearly Beloved in Christ,

We are all eagerly looking forward to celebrate the birth of our

Saviour Jesus Christ. Christ is God’s gift to the world. As John 3.16 says” For God so

loved the world that He gave His only Son so that whoever believes in Him shall not

perish but shall have eternal life.” Christmas season reminds us of the unceasing love of

God for His world. Amidst all the brokenness, frustrations, fragmentation of life,

conflicts, tensions and turmoil’s in the world, Christ brings hope through His birth in the

form of a human baby. He points to the fact that the Sovereign God is still in control of

the world. The very birth of Christ in the form of a human baby restores dignity to every

human born in the world, irrespective of colour, race, or economic backgrounds. So as we

are all excited to celebrate this great historic event, we are challenged by the baby in the

manger to open our hearts to receive him even when there is no place in the inn.

Christmas becomes meaningful when we are filled with the Spirit of Christ. Amidst all

the celebrations, let us not forget Christ who is the reason for this season. I invite you all

to experience the blessedness of knowing this Christ as your Saviour and moving out with

him in the world to touch and to serve others.

The year 2013 is also drawing to a close. As we look back we can only be grateful to God

for the marvellous ways in which he has led us. Every moment of our life is God’s gift to

us. So as we are getting ready to say goodbye to 2013 and usher in 2014 let us submit

ourselves into God’s hands. God has a plan and purpose for our lives. It is in realizing

and doing God’s will that we become channels of God’s grace in the world. It is my

humble prayer that in the New Year you may all join hands with God and continue your

onward journey in this world, filled with optimism and hope.

May the Spirit of Christ fill your hearts and minds with joy and peace.

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Yours in His service Vinoj Achen

Highlights of Harvest Festival - 2013

Well done Convenors: Rinosh Oomen, Anil Cherian & John K. John

INAGURATING CULTURAL PROGRAMME

Memories of cultural activities:

Kids performing Lunki Dance Welcome Dance

Special Thanks to Convenors: Jimmy Jacob & Samson Abraham

15TH DECEMBER 2013 X’ MAS CAROL

SERVICE @ 3 pm

MESSAGE: The Ven. Dr. John Perumbalath

31st DECEMBER 2013 WATCH NIGH SERVICE

AND

HOLY COMMUNION SERVICE

AT 10.00 PM

CONVENTION

SPEAKER: REV ABRAHAM MATHEW

DATE: 31st JAN 2014 TO 1ST FEB TIME: 6PM TO 8PM

FIRST COMMUNION

AND

DEDICATION OF ALTAR BOYS AND COVENANT GIRLS

Rt. Rev. Dr. Gee Varghese Mar Theodosius Episcopa

On 2nd February - 2014

CHURCH SERVICE SCHEDULE

DATE DAY SERVICE/PRAYER IMPORTANCE MESSAGE BY:-

DECEMBER

JANUARY

FEBRUARY

01/12/2013 Sunday Holy Communion -Malayalam

08/12/2013 Sunday Divine Service – English

15/12/2013 Sunday Christmas Carol Service

22/12/2013 Sunday Divine Service - Malayalam

29/12/2013 Sunday Divine Service-Malayalam

31/12/2013 Tuesday

Watch Night Service & Holy

Communion -Malayalam

04/01/2014 Saturday Holy Communion - Malayalam Chelmsford

05/01/2014 Sunday Holy Communion -Malayalam

12/01/2014 Sunday Divine Service – English

19/01/2014 Sunday Holy Communion - English

26/01/2014 Sunday Divine Service - Malayalam

02/02/2014 Sunday

Holy Communion – Malayalam Rt. Rev. Gee Varghese Mar Theodosius Episcopa.

1st Communion & Dedication of Altar Boys and Covenant Girls

09/02/2014 Sunday Divine Service – English

16/02/2014 Sunday Holy Communion -English

23/02/2014 Sunday Divine Service - Malayalam

Epistle reading portions for Sunday worship

DECEMBER

JANUARY

FEBRUARY

DATE DAY ASSISTING EPISTLE FIRST SECOND

READING READING

01/12/2013 Sunday Skaria George 2 Cor. 1:3-11 Gen.18: 1-16 2Tim. 4:9-18 Reji Thankachan Shiju Thomas Mary J. Julie

08/12/2013 Sunday Sajin George 1 Gal. 1:11-17 Isa. 55:6-13 1 John. 5:13-20 Suraj Alex Angel Reji Cyril Alexander

15/12/2013 Sunday Anish John Phil. 4:4-9 Isa. 40:1-11 Acts. 20: 17-25 Neil A. Varghese Mathew Mathai Mary Mathai Sunday Benoy Peter Rom.1:8-16 Isa.11:1-10 1 John. 5:1-12 22/12/2013 Eaby K. Baby Shekhar Ambekhar Susan Shekhar

29/12/2013 Sunday Alex Lukose 1 Thes.4:13-18 Zech.14:1-5 Acts. 1:6-11 John K. John Jimmy Jacob Koshy Abraham

Sunday Binu George Heb. 1: 1-12 Isa. 60: 1-7 Acts.8: 26-38 05/01/2014 Jimmy Jacob Siby George Sini George

Sunday

Rijo Koshy Mathew Chacko 1 Cor. 3: 16-23

Eccl. 6: 1-12 Shibu Abraham

1 Peter. 1:13-25 Mini Varghese

12/01/2014

19/01/2014 Sunday Eph. 4:1-6 Ezek. 37: 15-23 1 Cor. 1:10-17 Mathew Mathai Santosh George Jyothi Santosh

Roshan George Sunday 1 Peter. 2:13-17 Neh. 2:11-18 Rev. 21:1-8

26/01/2014 Bruce I Prasad Shinu Varghese Elizabeth Varghese

Reji Thankachan

02/02/2014 Sunday Rom. 11:33-12:2 1 Sam. 1:19-28 Heb. 10: 1-14 Binu George John K. John Omna John Thomas Mathew

09/02/2014 Sunday Jam. 5:13-18 Isa. 42: 1-9 Acts. 3:1-10- Gladvin Mathews Sheelo Varghese Bincy Sheelo

Suraj Alex 16/02/2014 Sunday Col. 1:15-24 Gen. 1:31 -2:3 Heb. 4: 2-13

Mathew Mathai Blessan Abraham Molly Thampi

Rohit George 23/02/2014 Sunday Rinosh Oommen Rom. 7: 14-25 Gen. 6: 1-13 Rom. 5: 12-21

Kurian John Manoj Philip Anju Rajan

Area programmes

Romford, Dagenham and Chadwell Heath

Prayer Meetings Every Tuesday at 7.30 pm

Chelmsford

Family Retreat

7th

December 10 am to 4.00pm. at Broomfield Methodist Church

Leaders: Rev P. Mathew, Vicar, St. James M. T. C.

Mr. Stanly Hounslow

4th

January 2014 – Holy Communion Service at 4.00 pm

Ilford

Prayer Meetings Every 3rd

Fridays at 8.00 pm

Eastham

Prayer Meeting:

North London

Prayer Meeting:

DECEMBER Date Name Area 2 Anu Thomas East Ham

7 Koshy Abraham

Hainault

12 Alice Lukose Chelmsford

15 Ashly John Edmonton

16 Ryan Leenas

South End

17 Jimmy Jacob

Romford

23 Nidia Jaison Chelmsford

24 Cyril Alexander

Ilford

24 John Philip Dagenham East

28 Joshua Cherian

Ilford

29 Anju Rajan Goodmayes

FEBRUARY Date Name Area

4 Anil Cherian Walthamstow

4 Reny Mathew Enfield

6 Shinu Varghese East Ham

7 Asha Kurian Chelmsford

10 Mariamma George

Slough

11 Sherin M. Sam Newbury Park

12 Leah Sunder Liverpool

12 Susan Alexander

Ilford

13 Sujeet Mathew Chadwell Heath

14 Omna Daniel East Ham

20 Samson Abraham

Chelmsford

22 Pretty George Walthamstow

22 Alan Alex Chelmsford

24 Mary Mathai Barking Side

24 Varghese Mathew

Chelmsford

25 Skaria George East Ham

26 Mary George Ilford

27 Jacob Abraham Sydenham,Croydon

28 28

Sajin George Newbury Park Kevin Kurian, Chelmsford

JANUARY Date Name Area

4 Holy Mariam Pretty

Walthamstow

5 Saramma Jimmy Romford

8 Sthuthin m. Varghese

Chelmsford

9 Sibin Daniel East Ham

10 Binu George East Ham

12 Mini Eaby Chigwell

16 Jonathan George Ilford

18 Daniel Samuel East Ham

20 Caroline Benoy Dagenham

21 Roshen G.Varghese

Slough

23 Saramma Thomas

East Ham

23 Simmy Daniel East Haml

26 Kurian John Chelmsford

27 Mathew Chacko Chelmsford

31 Suraj Alexander T Ilford

Congratulations to Biju P.

Mathew and Shency Mathew

(Dagenham) who are blessed

with a baby boy (Aadhan T.

Mathew on 27th Sep. 2013

December

Date Name Area

2

Thomas Shiju &

Mary Julie

Dagenham

9 Shekhar Ambekhar

& Susan K. Joy

Chadwell

Heath

12 Gibi Philip & Mitu

Varghese

Barking

30 Jensen Mathews &

Deepthi Mathews

Barking

31 Mathew Mathai &

Mary Mathai

Barkingside

January

Date Name Area

1 Sibi George &

Siny Benny

3

Santosh

George &

Jyothi

Santhosh

Eastham

4 John M. John

& Saro John

East

Barnet

5 Shinu K.

Varghese &

Elizabeth

Varghese

Eastham

12 Jaison Mathew

& Neetha

Jaison

Chelmsford

22 Daniel Samuel

& Omana

Daniel

Eastham

Hearty Greetings to all those who are celebrating their

Wedding Anniversaries. May God bless you in the New

Year.

February

Date Name Area

3 Shibu Abraham & Mini Varghese Eastham

4 John K. John & Omana Mathai Edmonton

8 Sheelo Varghese & Bincy Sheelo Dagenham

12 Blessan Abraham & Molly Thampi Enfield

19 Bibin Christopher & Roji Davidson Epson

26 Maoj Philip & Anju Rajan Goodmayes