Carmel Mar Thoma Church

Dearly beloved in Christ,

The Great Lent starts on 3rd of this month and ends on 23rd March. The church observes fasts and feasts in relation to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The church is meditating the salvific ministry of her Lord in these days. It is an occasion for us to prepare ourselves to live in the salvation experience by keeping ourselves more close to our Lord. This should not be seen as an outward expression of renouncing food or abstaining ourselves from worldly passions. Rather this should be treated as a time for us to prepare ourselves to live in or identifying ourselves with the salvation experience of the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus.

God's purpose for fasting is explained in Isaiah 58. God says, He has chosen fasts that loosen the bonds of wickedness, undo heavy burdens, let the oppressed go free, break every yoke, give bread to the hungry, clothe the naked, provide poor with housing and reconcile with the fellow being (6 & 7). Therefore true fast is to change the believer in their way of life by being empowered by God to change the world. May this season be a rediscovery of our self, a celebration of reconciliation in all spheres of our relationships within our family, parish and society at large for a life worthy for our Lord. I urge you to find time to sit with our Lord for a few minutes reading and contemplating His Word for a life’s retrospection and revitalization despite our busy schedules.

The untimely death of Rev. C. P. Wilson, vicar of Mar Thoma Church, Philadelphia was indeed a shock to all families in our diocese and church. Let us uphold Kochamma and children in our prayers and continue to pray for the bereaving family members and the parishioners. I once again express our heartfelt condolences at the sudden demise of Wilson Achen.

The 113rd Maramon Convention is scheduled to be held from February 10th – 17th 2008. Let us pray for the blessing of the convention. This year, the Navathy Celebration of Mar Thoma Suvisesha Sevika Sanghom will be inaugurated at the Maramon on 15th. We can praise God for the ministry of our women in the extension of the Kingdom of God through this organization.

Yours in Christ’s Service,

Jacob Mathew Achen
February 1, 2008.