Mar Thoma Messenger OCT 2010
Mar Thoma Messenger We are publishing this October issue of the Mar Thoma Messenger after a series of conferences in our Diocese including the family conferences that took place in USA and UK since the first week of July 2010. There will be a few more conferences in the month of October. The Family Conference 2011 will be at Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. What are these conferences for? These are not simply celebrations, but occasions where members of the Church come together to sit at the feet of Jesus, to be spiritually nourished and renewed in life. I am happy that a good number of people took interest in participating in the various conferences; increasing the fellowship with fellow members, and learning from the Word of God. It is my earnest desire that every member takes interest and finds the time to participate in at least one of the conferences each year. It is important to be spiritually fed and periodically renewed for a healthy and dynamic Spiritual life while we live in a fast changing world.
This Mar Thoma Messenger also comes to you after the meeting of our Sabha Mandalam. By the Grace of God, all the meetings went smoothly and the Sabha Mandalam transacted all the items listed on the agenda. By now, you might have received the official information of the Sabha Mandalam decisions through a circular Kalpana from our Metropolitan. A number of our Mandalam representatives belonging to this Diocese attended the Mandalam meetings. I am hoping that they also have given individual reports in their respective parishes.
Our Metropolitan emphasized the 175th anniversary of reformation that took place in the Malankara Church. I urge all our members in the Diocese to read our Metropolitan’s presidential address when it appears in our Sabha Tharaka, which is the official publication of the Church. Every member of our Church should subscribe to get the Sabha Tharaka and read it regularly.
The study theme of the Sabha Mandalam was ‘Reformation in the Malankara Church: Living the Gospel’. This theme is also chosen for a yearlong study in our parishes and church organizations. All our Achens and lay leaders are requested to make use of this theme in our various study sessions. Such a study is relevant in the context of the 175th anniversary celebrations of the reformation within our Church. May the year 2010 -2011 be a year of reformation for our Diocese as well. Let us remember that the substance of the reformation is ‘Back to the Word of God’. We, as the present generation of the reformed Church, have to study diligently upon the Word of God and Live the Gospel.
Some of you might have also read the notification from the Sabha Secretary, in the August issue of the Sabha Tharaka, regarding the revision of the Sabha Constitution. If you wish to propose some suggestions or amendments to the Sabha Constitution, you should send the same to the Convener of Constitutional Revision at the Sabha office.
This issue of the Mar Thoma Messenger will also be published prior to the Institute on Liturgy, which is planned by the Diocese at four centers: Chicago, Dallas, Philadelphia and New York. Rev. Dr. George Mathew, a scholar in the field of Liturgy, will be leading all Study sessions. Details and reading materials are available at the website of our Diocese. Liturgy is the work of the people of God articulating the worship of God as a gathered community. However, the liturgy is not the last word. That means that there is a great need to study and to understand how the liturgy can be renewed and restructured without losing its core values. As far as the Mar Thoma Church is concerned, it is through the liturgy that the faith of the Church is experienced. Thereby, our religious practices also carry meaning. I urge all the members to find time to attend the institute and to study, clarify doubts and find ways and means of making our liturgy relevant and meaningful. The Mar Thoma Messenger contains very good articles. These are not simply to be read, but to be studied. It will also be good to discuss some of these articles in our seminars or meetings of the church organizations. Community learning is always good for community living. I am happy that more and more people are subscribing to the Messenger. I appreciate the interest shown by parishes to motivate the members to subscribe for the Messenger. I also appreciate the work of the coordinators in distributing the Messenger in their local area.
Recently, our Metropolitan and Suffragan Metropolitan visited our Diocese. We were blessed by their presence at the Sinai Mar Thoma Centre and at some of our parishes. Both of our Thirumenis took the time to be part of the life of our diocese and to look into our concerns. The visit of our Metropolitan Thirumeni to U.K., Canada and USA in 2010 will continue to have a lasting effect as we plan the future of our diocese in the midst of the changes taking place around us, particularly the immigration laws and economic recession. We had the opportunity to join our Church in celebrating the 80th birthday of our Metropolitan at the Sinai Mar Thoma Centre and several other cities. Let us remember our Church in our prayers as we look forward to having three more Bishops in the Church.
The structure of our diocese is now reorganized with the formation of centers and regions. Accordingly, we have revised the existing by-laws. We will inform all the parishes about the revisions after we receive the approval of the same from our Metropolitan. For the smooth administration of Diocesan activities, we request everyone to note the revised by-laws. These by-laws are to be followed while conducting elections for the next term and for pertinent administrative matters beginning January 1, 2011. All the organizations and their committees are asked to close their accounts as of December 31, 2010 and report to the Diocesan office.
I had informed all the parishes and congregations about the April 2010 Diocesan Assembly decision to publish a Souvenir of the Diocese to raise up to 1.5 million dollars for developmental activities. Using the generated funds, we intend to pay-off some of our existing debts/mortgages and expand our office facilities. Thereby, we will be able to meet the increased demand for services in our 85 parishes and congregations, and initiate new projects for the future and welfare of our members. Ten percent (10%) of the funds raised will also be set apart for the mission work of the Diocese. Rev. M. P. Yohannan (Detroit) and Mr. Varghese P. Varghese (Staten Island MTC) have been appointed as the General Convener, Co- Convener, respectively, to lead the committee in fulfilling this responsibility. I request the wholehearted support and co- operation of all our Achans, the members of the church, the business community, and well- wishers to reach our target through your generous contributions and advertisements.
May the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of us as we move on with the activities of the Diocese. God bless us all. Yours in Christ’s Ministry, Mar Theodosius
