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St. Thomas Mar Thoma Church
of Chicago
Lombard, IL 60148
March 2020
Parish Voice
Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ,
By now we have started 50 days of Lent. Our
Lent prayers at various residences will start
from March 16, I encourage all of you to
attend prayerfully.
I hope you have understood the importance of Lent from
our previous newsletter. At the End of Lent, we prepare to
celebrate Easter. It is the great miracle of Easter that gives
us the true meaning of crucifixion. He rose from the dead,
after His third day of Crucifixion, and He appeared in
different places like – locked rooms, along the road, in the
midst of fear and doubt, injustice, despair, in the midst of
people who longed for meaning, purpose, wholeness and
faith. He revealed Himself as an omnipresent God and
transformed every darkest moment, which we have seen
in the time of Crucifixion.
We feel the presence of the risen Lord in different areas of
our life- In loneliness, in sickness, in separation, in failure,
in distress etc. We have many members in our parish both
known and unknown, going through sickness and distress.
Jesus can resurrect you from whatever situation or
circumstance you might find yourself. In a world that is
filled with chaos, hardship and evil, we should all share the
message of resurrection.
May you all feel the peace and comfort of our Risen Lord
this Lent season. Love and prayers,
Suneeth Achen
WORSHIP SERVICE SCHEDULE
Mar 01 10.15 AM Malayalam Holy Communion (Area 1)
Mar 08 10.15 AM English Holy Communion (Area 2)
Mar 15 10.15 AM Malayalam Holy Communion (Area 3)
Mar 22 10.15 AM English Holy Communion (Area 4)
Mar 29 08:00AM Contemporary English Service
10.15 AM Malayalam Holy Communion (Area 5)
March LECTIONARY
Dates Lessons Epistle Gospels Evening
01 Sunday The Cleansing Christ
Zech 13:1-9 Eph 2:1-10 Exod 12:21-
28
1John 1:5-10 Mark 1:40-45 Ps 130:1-8
08 Sunday The Forgiving Christ
Gen 4:8-16 Rom 5:6-11 Jonah 4:6-11
Acts 16:11-18 Mark 2:1-12 Ps 25:1-22
15 Sunday The Accepting
Christ
Hos 2:14-23 Gal 6:1-5 Ruth 4:1-10
Phlm 1:1-21 Matt 15:21-28 Ps 87:1-7
22 Sunday The Redeeming Christ
Exod 3:1-10 Gal 5:1-12 Isa 12:1-6
Rom 8:31-39 Luke 13:10-17 Ps 82:1-8
29 Sunday The Restoring Christ
Job 42:10-17 Eph 2:1-10 Jer 30:1-10
Phil 2:5-11 Mark 10:46-52 Ps 126:1-6
TENTATIVE CHURCH CALENDAR
March and April 2020
Mar16 – Apr 4 Daily Evening Lenten Prayers
Apr 5th 10:15 AM PALM SUNDAY Malayalam Holy
Communion Service
Apr 6th – 8TH 7:00 PM – Sandhya Namaskaram at Church
Apr 9th 7:00 PM Maundy Thursday – Sandhya Namaskaram
followed by Holy Communion in Malayalam
Apr 10th 6:00 PM Good Friday Service – Part 1 in English,
Part 2 and 3 in Malayalam
Apr 11th 6:00 PM Easter Cantata at Church
Apr 12th 8:00 AM Easter Service Holy Communion in English
Apr 19th 10:15 AM Holy Communion in Malayalam celebrated
by Rev. George Varghese, public meeting
follows for Achen’s send off.
Apr 26th 10:15 AM English Holy Communion Service celebrated
by Rev. Christopher Daniel, public meeting
follows for Achen’s send off.
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:
1. World Day of Prayer on March 7th Saturday at Chicago
2. Regional Sevika Sangam conference on April 4th Saturday at
STMTC.
3. Sevika Sangam Bible study with Edavaka Mission on every 2nd
Sunday at 9am in the sanctuary.
SUNDAY SCHOOL
1. Sunday School begins each week at 8:45am with singing followed
by class.
2. Important Dates:
Diocesan Exam (grades 5 to 10): May 17th
VBS - July 8th through 11th
Superintendent, Shinu Ninan
YUVAJANA SAKHYAM
March 7, Sat, 6:30pm - YJS Cottage Prayer at residence of Binu and
Jessy, 8819 Flamingo Dr, Tinley Park, IL
Secretary, Shebin Mathew
YOUTH GROUP
1. Contemporary Service: March 29th at 8:00 am
2. Tentative YF social event for March so please keep an eye out for
youth fellowship emails for date and time.
Secretary, Janeen George
AREA PRAYER MEETING
Area 2: March 14, 2020, Saturday at 6:30pm
Georgie & Biju Varghese (630) 904-6258
2528 Wild Timothy, Naperville, IL 60564
March Birthdays
Susan Jacob 1
Anjali Sofia Abraham 1
Ava Olivia Kalsi 1
Jason C. Jacob 3
Jacob K. George 6
Aleyamma Mathew 8
Thomas T. Lathara 8
Nimmy Mariam 8
Anjali Mary Jacob 8
Neha Mariam Samuel 9
Abey John Thomas 10
Irene Mary Iype 11
Grace David 12
John Varghese 12
Wilson Chacko 12
Philip Ninan 12
Lijo Kunjumon 13
Rony Mathew 13
Lucas P. George 13
Rueben Chacko 13
Sneha Susan Joshy 13
Thomas Mammen 14
Koshy Jexie 14
Allen Biju Samuel 14
Christian Ninan 16
Ziona Maria Tharakan 16
Josh M. Thomas 17
Ethan Isaac Kalsi 17
Elijah George 17
George Philip 18
Angela John 18
Ethan Alexander
Tharakan
18
Anton George Tharakan 18
Gracy Biji Abraham 19
Bindhu Joshy Mathew 19
Joshua Mathew
Varghese
19
Madelyn Susy Stephen 19
Wincy Thomas 20
Vinod George 21
T. A. Georgekutty 22
Susan R. George 22
Benji Babukutty 22
Eby P. George 23
Sunil Thankachen 23
Mary Christa Varghese 24
Susan G. Philip 25
Jeremiah
Punnamadathu
25
Saji J. Mathew 26
Betsy R. Philipose 26
Gigi George 27
Liza Tharakan 27
Sherine Varghese 27
Leena E. Jose 28
Marina Sini 28
Binu Skariah 28
Reji Thomas John 28
Bobby Mathew Skariya 29
Naina Lilly Zachariah 29
Hannah Rachel Johnson 29
Santhamma Abraham 31
Elizabeth Georgekutty 31
March Wedding Anniversaries
Sosamma & George Thomas Kandankara 2
Shiela & Eapen Kuruvilla 13
Annamma & Bency Samuel 13
From our Youth Chaplain
Great Lent: A Time to Rend Our Hearts to the Lord Yet even now, says the Lord, return to me with all your heart, with fasting,
with weeping, and with mourning; rend your hearts and not your clothing. Return to the Lord, your God, for he is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and relents from punishing.
Joel 2:12-13 By God’s grace, we have now entered into the season of Great Lent. But what is Lent? The word “Lent” comes from the Old English word “lengten,” which simply means “spring” – when the days lengthen and new life springs forth. It is a time in which we anticipate the victory of the light and life of Jesus Christ over the darkness of sin and death. The Lenten season is a journey – a time of preparation and repentance in which we prepare our hearts to remember Jesus’ passion and celebrate Jesus’ resurrection. It can be a deeply meaningful journey so long as we get past mere externalities. We may all be familiar with the outward aspects or expressions of Lent such as prayer, meditation, self-denial, fasting, etc... But Lent, like spiritual life in general, is not merely external. There are internal realities that give depth and meaning to our actions, things like humility, sacrifice, repentance, and faith. The Lenten practice of denying usual comforts is a means of deepening our sense of union with Jesus and reorienting our lives around the things of God. We are to give up that which distracts and entangles because we want to experience the real joy and freedom we receive in Christ. As we continue with our journey during this season of Lent, we must start with rending our hearts – tearing them away from self-absorption and binding them to Jesus. Regardless of our current state or our tendency to wander, we must return to the Lord, our God. The purpose of our journey during Lent is to immerse ourselves in the history of salvation so that it might increase our appreciation of Jesus’ love for us. It is our prayer that as we journey toward the Resurrection Day, that we would not only be reminded of the reality of our broken humanity, but that
also we would experience, with greater abundance, the reality of God’s redeeming grace. And so, Lent invites us to make our hearts ready for remembering Jesus’ death and resurrection in the most meaningful way. During this Lenten season, may we rend our hearts to the Lord and rejoice in the light of God who came into the world to save us! With love and prayers, Chris Achen and Neethi Contact Info: 732–754–8131 | 516–428–0722 | [email protected] Parsonage Address: 150 W. Saint Charles Road, Apt. 424, Lombard, IL 60148
Youth Chaplain’s Schedule for March 2020
February 28th – March 1st
St. John’s MTC (Michigan) – Episcopal Visit
March 7th Midwest Regional Leadership Retreat – Chicago MTC
March 8th St. Thomas MTC (Lombard, IL) March 13th–14th Minneapolis Congregation (Minnesota) March 15th Bethel MTC (Frankfort, IL) March 20th–22nd St. John’s MTC (Michigan) / Detroit MTC March 27th-29th Kansas MTC
PARISH VOICEIS PUBLISHED BY STA THOMAS MAR THOMA CHURCHOF CHICAGO
2020 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 [email protected]
516-428-0722
VICEPRESIDENT MR. JACOB CHACKO 630-561-5497 [email protected]
SECRETARY MR. MATHEW VARGHESE 630-942-1053 [email protected]
TREASURER MR. REJI THARAKAN 312-296-8416 [email protected]
ACCOUNTANT MR. MATHEW ABRAHAM 312 404-6983 [email protected]
LAY LEADER (MAL) MR. MATHEW THOMAS 630-790-2534 [email protected]
LAY LDR (MAL)* MR. P.K. BOBBY 630-863-0530 [email protected]
LAY LEADER (ENG) MR. ALBY KENETH 630-258-6679 [email protected]
LAY LDR (ENG)* MR. ROJIN THOMAS 630-229-1470 [email protected]
MANDALAMMEMBER MR. MATHEW GEORGE 708-614-1755 [email protected]
DIOCESANASSEMBLY MR. SAJI MATHEW 630-215-5147 [email protected]
DIOCESANASSEMBLY MR. JOEL VARGESE 630-890-9996 [email protected]
CHOIR MR. JACOB K. GEORGE 630-858-7853 [email protected]
EDAVAKAMISSION MR. P. K. BOBBY 630-863-0530 [email protected]
SEVIKASANGHOM MRS. SHINY CHACKO 708-362-3358 [email protected]
SUNDAY SCHOOL MRS. SHINU S. NINAN 630-886-8066 [email protected]
YOUTH GROUP DR. BOBBY PAUL 630-402-9392 [email protected]
YUVAJANASAKHYAM MR. SHEBINMATHEW 224-420-1500 [email protected]
AUDITORS* MR. A.P JOHNIKUTTY 630-238-8206 [email protected]
MR. ISAAC CHACKO 708-614-9035 [email protected]
AREA 1 MR. ROY GEORGE 630-877-3091 [email protected]
AREA 2 MR. MATHEWVMATHEW 630-852-7994 [email protected]
AREA 3 MR. CHACKO P. THOMAS 708-415-8542 [email protected]
AREA 4 MRS. SARAMMA MATHEW 630-834-3830 [email protected]
AREA 5 MR. VARGHESE PHILIP 630-250-0619 [email protected]
AREA 6 MR. DEEPU V. THOMAS 224-715-7443 [email protected]
P V EDITOR* MS. ROSIN THOMAS 630-824-7176 [email protected]
(“* NONCOMMITTEEPOSITION)
Please contact or Email the Vicar and cc: to Parish Secretary/PV editor for suggestions, change of notifications etc. all.
