Dearly beloved in Christ,
I greet you all in the precious name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. It gives me immense joy to address you through this News Letter. We are into another financial year with new executive committee ready to lead the affairs of the Parish. The role and responsibilities of the parish executive committee is diverse. It is their life and participation in the worship and the spiritual realm make the Parish active and effective. Feeling of sense of responsibilities and the vocation of service mind – set/attitude makes the Parish fruitful.
When you receive this News Letter, we as a faith community will be getting ready for a very important time of our faith, ‘The Passion Week’. It is a time to reinvent the meaning of Christ Sacrifice, Crucifixion and the Resurrection in our time. From the very beginning of the Biblical narration the idea of practice of sacrifice was prominent. We find various kinds of sacrifices were to be offered at various times and for various specific purposes. However coming to the New Testament the practice of sacrifice is much less prominent, but the language of sacrifice dominates with reference to the sacrificial death of Christ. The significance of the Old Testament sacrifice was that of securing forgiveness, expiation of sin, through the offering of a substance. The sacrifice is designed to influence God, to appease him and satisfy his demand of judgement, and it is only with this satisfaction secured that the worshipper finds forgiveness. To conclude, the ideas in the Old Testament sacrifice are sin, guilt, and judgement on the one hand and satisfaction, expiation, forgiveness, and reconciliation on the other. Our Lord’s death was that of a sacrifice. On the cross He offered Himself to God on our place, bearing our sin and its deserved judgement and thus reconciles us to God. The Christ’s sacrifice is the focal point of our salvation. The forgiveness of sin requires the supreme sacrifice – the death of Jesus Christ. The movement we understand and accept Christ’s sacrifice in repentance and faith, we can be assured that our sins are blotted out.
Having been with Immanuel Family for the last four wonderful years, the time has come for us to move to another place as per the decision of the Episcopal Synod. Going with lots bubbling and heart touching experiences. The joy of being felt part of your family and thereby the warmth we received was great and amazing. The fruitful four years of togetherness …..
I would like to thank everyone for your love and affection shown to us. The executive committee members of the last four years were excellent and took decisions unanimously and wisely for the smooth functioning and good of the Parish. The functioning of the General Body was also commendable. Mutual respect and love among the members during any discussion on vital issues in the GB is to honour each other and definitely bring Glory to God and you all did your part well.
The Parish organizations and the support of the committee members were awesome. Thanks to Sunday school, Yuvajanasakyam, Young Families, Choir, Sevika Sanghom, Edavaka Mission and Senior Citizen Fellowship. You all gave us opportunities to serve you from our limited capacity.
The Parish Mission field – ‘Kunghada Mission’ is a golden opportunity for the Parish to engage in the Mission work. I thank you all for the offertory you prayerfully bring on every first Sunday towards the Mission activities. Let us continue to pray and support the needs of the Mission.
The GB’s concern for the smooth functioning of the Immanuel Mar Thoma School is amazing. Our collective prayer for the on-going programme of the school must go on. The space limitation for expansion of the school is a concern for all of us. I spend days/ months to find an appropriate place for our school but was not fulfilled. It is an unfulfilled task and I still believe God has a plan for our school. We will have to go with Governments implementation of the New Education policy as and when the order is issued. But the question is how far we are prepared to take up the new responsibilities.
I appreciate the school governing body and especially Mr. K. C. Kuruvilla and Mr. Mathew Varghese for their selfless service to our school.
Beloved members, in some way or other we are obliged to the Immanuel Family for the love and fellowship extended to us. Your continuous prayers were the strong pillars for us to minister in this Parish. The diverse ministry God has entrusted with us were amazing and enthusiastic. The little charity that we all together carried out was the need of the hour. Never stop and limit the good that we can do. We have a beautiful verse in the bible, ‘As for you brothers, do not grow weary in doing good’ (2 Thess.3:13). I humbly request you to do whatever possible as a Parish to elevate bit of pain and hunger from the society.
Our new Vicar is Rev. Anil Abraham, he will be joining our Parish on 2nd of May. Achen, Kochamma and two children will be looking forward to minister in this Parish. Kindly extend all the support and prayers for the effective ministry. I wish Achen and family fruitful ministry ahead.
We will definitely miss your love and affection, however let us uphold each other in prayer to be faithful in His vineyard. May the Almighty keep you all with good health, happiness and illustrious.
With lots of Love and Thanks
Johnson Achen, Selvi Kochamma & Tabitha.