Tampa MTC

The Episcopal Visit to St. Mark’s Mar Thoma Church, Tampa coincided with the National Leadership Conference of the Diocese for 2012. 85 delegates from different parishes of the Diocese assembled together with the Parish members for the inauguration of the Conference on the evening of January 5, 2012. The praise and worship team of the Parish Youth Fellowship prepared the gathered assembly for an opening worship led by the Parish.

The Diocesan Bishop Mar Theodosius gave the key note address based on Joshua 24: 15 reminding the challenge gave by Joshua to the settled community in the Promised Land. Bishop Theodosius highlighted the challenges faced by the Mar Thoma Community in North America. He exhorted the members to recognize the modern challenges of the Nation and to respond to it in Christian love by making a choice to serve the Lord. After the inaugural session the parishioners took the delegates to stay in their homes. The weekend was a revival for the entire parish which is now served and led by the Vicar Rev. John Kuruvilla.

The Holy Qurbana for the parishioners and delegates was conducted at the Church on January 8 where 12 teenagers participated in the Qurbana for the first time. The Qurbana was celebrated by the Diocesan Bishop along with 6 clergy who were present. Speaking from Acts 6, Mar Theodosius reminded the delegates of the Conference and parishioners how St. Stephen chose to serve the Lord and the people and faced martyrdom.

There was a concluding session of the Conference after the worship service where the delegates thanked the parish for accommodating all of them in the homes and supporting all the programmes of the Conference. The parish was invited to register for the National Family Conference at Virginia in July 2012. There was fellowship lunch for all the participants. The Diocesan Bishop took time to interact with parishioners and delegates of the Conference.
Rev. John Kuruvilla
Vicar