NEWS LETTER FEBRUARY 2020 News Letter FEBRUARY 2020
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IMMANUEL MAR THOMA CHURCH HOUSTON 125TH MARAMON CONVENTION FEBRUARY 9-16 NEWS LETTER FEBRUARY 2020 News Letter FEBRUARY 2020 WORSHIP SCHEDULE (FEBRUARY 2020) (Medical Mission Sunday) 1st Lesson: 1Sam 1:19-28 8.00 am Holy Communion in English Assisted by SHARON 2nd Lesson: Heb 10:1-14 Area Prayer Group Epistle: Rom 11:33-36, 12:1-2 FEB 02 Gospel: Luke 2:22-39 2020 9.30 am Sunday School Holy Communion in Malayalam Assisted by SINAI 10.30 am Area Prayer Group (Beginning of the 125th Maramon Convention) 1st Lesson: Isa 65:17-25 8.00 am 2nd Lesson: Heb 4:1-13 G3 Service & Eng. Holy Communion Assisted by Epistle: Col 1:15-24 FEB 09, TABOR Area Prayer Group Gospel: Mark 2:23-28 2020 9.30 am Sunday School Holy Communion in Malayalam Assisted by 10.30 am BETHEL Area Prayer Group 9.00 am Edvaka Mission Regular Meeting & Bible Study 1st Lesson: Gen 6:1-13 2nd Lesson: Rom 5:12-21 FEB 16, 9.30 am Sunday School Epistle: Rom 7:14-25 2020 Gospel: Matt 7:15-23 Holy Communion in English Assisted by 10.30 am BETHLEHEM Area Prayer Group (END OF MARAMON CONVENTION) GREAT LENT BEGINS 8.00 am G3 SERVICE 1st Lesson: Isa 44:21-28 2nd Lesson: 1Tim 1:12-17 FEB 23, Epistle: Rom 11:13-24 2020 9.30 am Sunday School Gospel: John 2:1-11 Holy Communion in Malayalam Assisted by 10.30 am CARMEL Area Prayer Group. HEALING PRAYER (The Cleansing Christ Holy) Communion in English 8.00 am Assisted by EBENEZER Area Prayer Group MAR 1, 9.30 am Sunday School 1st Lesson: Zech 13:1-9 2020 2nd Lesson: 1John 1:5-10 Holy Communion in Malayalam Assisted by Epistle: Eph 2:1-10 10.30 am HEBRON Area Prayer Group Gospel: Mark 1:40-45 (The Forgiving Christ) 8.00 am G3 Service & Eng. Holy Communion Assisted 1st Lesson: Gen 4:8-16 by HOREB Area Prayer Group 2nd Lesson: Acts 16:11-18 MAR 8, Epistle: Rom 5:6-11 2020 9.30 am Sunday School Gospel: Mark 2:1-12 Holy Communion in Malayalam Assisted by 10.30 am JERUSALEM Area Prayer Group 2 IMMANUEL MAR THOMA CHURCH, HOUSTON News Letter FEBRUARY 2020 From the Vicar’s Desk Dearly beloved in Christ, Greetings to you all in the matchless name of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. The months of January, February and March are the seasons of conventions at different levels. Strict adherence to the word of God which we inherited from the reformation tradition is the idea and the driving force of what we are now. The Word of God is the collected experiences of people and communities with God in this world in different historical contexts. So, we have to ensure due importance to personal devotion and study of the word of God in our day to day lives. This year’s Maramon convention will be held from February 9 to 16 and will also be celebrate as 125th year. We are bound to pray for the listeners, speakers and organizations of the convention so that God can transform the life of believers for a better harvest. Great Lent will begin on Feb 23rd. Lent is a time to open the doors of our hearts a little wider and understand our Lord a little deeper. It is an opportunity to receive the overflowing grace of God to human kind. Likewise, it is an opportunity to contemplate what our Lord really did for us on the Cross. During the Great Lent, we are intentionally and intensely meditate upon the word of God, which becomes the bread of our daily sustenance. Lent offers all of us a time to seriously examine our lives and consider where and what we choose to place our faith. Lenters observa- tions always lead us to a life of gratitude. It is a time of thankfulness for breaking the barriers of hatred, self centerdness, enemity, bitterness and so on. It is a proclamation of love. As Christian we must always spread our fragrance of good works where we are. It does not mat- ter how small or insignificant we are. We should be as Christians always make things better for others and for the world. Our parish and its organizations are planning to hold their Annual General Body Meeting in this month. It is the time to look back and look forward with a renewed hope. Our office bearers de- serve our appreciation for completing their duties with in a limited time period. We as a faith community need to be transformed by the word of God to live a meaningful and authentic Christian life. May the Triune God be with us all. Yours in Christ, Anu Achen and Saji Achen. IMMANUEL MAR THOMA CHURCH, HOUSTON 3 News Letter FEBRUARY 2020 LENT PRAYER Please sign up on the schedule sheet placed in the notice board or contact Vicar. Rev. Abraham Varghese. DAYS TO REMEMBER FEBRUARY 15 ELECTION OF SABHA PRATHINITHI MANDALAM MARCH 6, 7 SOUTHWEST REGIONAL CONFERENCE PERSONAL MEDITATION & PRAYER Our Church Sanctuary will be open every Tuesday from 9:00am to 1:00 pm for personal meditation and prayer. 4 IMMANUEL MAR THOMA CHURCH, HOUSTON News Letter FEBRUARY 2020 EDAVAKA MISSION A general body of the Immanuel Mar Thoma Church Edavaka Mission will be held at the church on Thursday, February 6th, 2020 after the regular prayer meeting to transact the following agenda. Annual report for the Year 2019, Audited financial statement for the Year 2019, Budget for the Year 2020, A. O. B with the permission of the chair. Edavaka Mission Regular Prayer meeting will be on February 6th, Thursday 7.00 pm at church. Cottage prayer meeting will be at the residence of Mr & Mrs. Saji John (ID#551), Jerusalem Area, on February 14th Friday at 7:00 pm. Address: 10702 Battenrock Ct, Richmond, TX 77407. Tel#281-907-8283 Bible Study on February 16th, 2020 Sunday @ 9 am at Church Regular Prayer meeting on February 22nd, 2020 Saturday @ 10 am at church. Edavaka Mission General Body Meeting. The Edavaka mission will have a general body meeting on February 6th, 2020 Thursday @8 pm to transact the following agenda. A). Annual report for the year 2019 B). Audited financial statement of accounts 2019 C). Budget for the year 2020 D). Elect the remaining committee members for the year 2020. E). A. O. B. with the permission of the chair. Southwest Regional Conference Edavaka Mission, Senior Fellowship and Sevika Sangom South West Regional Confer- ence will be at our church on March 6th & 7th, 2020. Conference theme is “SHARE THE WORD: SAVE THE WORLD” (1 Cor. 9:23). Speakers are Dr. Vino J. Daniel (Philadelphia) & Rev. Thomas Mathew P (Vicar, MTC of Dallas, Carrollton). Conference fee will be $30.00 per person. Please keep the conference in your prayers and register as earliest. THE MAR THOMA CHURCH Diocese of North America & Europe MTVEA I SEVIKA SANGHOM I SENIOR FELLOWSHIP 9th Southwest Regional Conference Theme: “Share the WORD: Save the WORLD” (1 Cor. 9:23) Date: March 6 & 7, 2020 Conference Leaders Hosted by: Dr. Vino J. Daniel Rev. Thomas Mathew P. IMMANUEL MTC, Philadelphia MTC of Dallas, Carrollton Houston IMMANUEL MAR THOMA CHURCH, HOUSTON 5 News Letter FEBRUARY 2020 SENIOR FELLOWSHIP Senior Fellowship meeting is schedule to be on February 1, 2020. Annual report and audited accounts for the year 2019 will be presented. All Senior Citizen members are encouraged to attend. ELECTION OF SABHA PRATHINITHI MANDALAM 1. Last day to submit the nomination: Feb. 2, 2020 Sunday (4.00 pm) 2. Scrutinizing Nomination: Feb 2, 2020 Sunday (5.00 pm) 3. Last day to withdraw nomination: Feb 3, 2020, Monday (5.00 pm) 4. Final List announcement in the Church: Feb 9 ,2020 Sunday 5. Election Day: Feb 15, 2020 Saturday (8.am to 5.00pm) Lunch break will be from 12.30 pm to 1.30 pm. Counting of the votes will start on Election Day, February 15, 2020 at 5.15 pm. After the vote counting the presiding officer will declare the results. NEW ADDITION TO IMMANUEL FAMILY Evan Sajan born to Mr. Sajan John & Merlin (I.D. # 536) of Sehion Area Prayer Group. Congratulations to proud parents and grandparents Mr. & Mrs. V. J. Thankachan. Condolence Mrs. Annamma Varghese (81-year-Old). Mother of Mr. Mathew P. Varghese, (Wilson) I.D # 212 of Carmel Prayer Group was taken to heavenly abode on Jan. 16, 2020 at Mananthavady, Kerala. Funeral services were held at Mar Thoma Con- gregation Mananthavady. Mrs. Ponnamma Jacob (91-year-Old). Mother of Mrs. Latha wife of Mr. Jose P George of Salem Prayer Group, Pasadena was taken to heavenly abode Jan 21, 2020 at Pandalam, Kerala. Funeral service was held at Kerala. Mr. V.T Thomas (78 years old) Father of Mr. Manosh Thomas (I.D 523) of Bethle- hem area prayer group was taken to heavenly abode at Kumbanad, Kerala. Vicars and Immanuel Family extend our heartfelt condolences to bereaving family. Please uphold them in your thoughts and prayers. 6 IMMANUEL MAR THOMA CHURCH, HOUSTON News Letter FEBRUARY 2020 THE MARAMON CONVENTION The Maramon Convention, one of the largest Christian convention in Asia, is held at Maramon, Pathanamthitta, Kerala, India annually in February on the vast sand-bed of the Pampa River next to the Kozhencherry Bridge. It is organised by Mar Thoma Evan- gelistic Association, the missionary wing of the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church. The origin and growth of this annual get-together for one week at a stretch can be traced to the great revival movement which gathered momentum during the refor- mation period in the Syrian Churches of Kerala under the pioneering leadership of Abraham Malpan in the latter part of the 19th century.