MELBOURNE MAR THOMA CHURCH
OCTOBER 2024 NEWSLETTER
BE A WITNESS TO THE KINGDOM OF GOD
I N T H I S I S S U E
- Vicar message
- Lectionary
- October Services and Events
- Sunday School
- Youth
- Young Family Fellowship
- Sevika Sangham
- Words of Wisdom
- Birthdays and Anniversary
- Circulars and Invitation
Vicar Message
"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in
Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth".
Acts 1:8
May the name of Almighty God be exalted.
In September, we celebrated Sevika Sangham Day and Senior Citizens Day, with the service led by
these organizations. Mr. A.P. Samuel, Mr. Thomas Vadil, Mr. P.M. John, and Mrs. Saramma John, who
have crossed 90 years, were honored for their leadership and dedication. A stress management
session led by Dr. Kuruvilla George, organized by the Sevika Sangham, was highly informative. The
Onam celebration was a vibrant, self-funded event, showcasing colourful performances and the hard
work of many parishioners. The presence of Bishop Genieve Blackwell and Mayor Carli Lange further
strengthened our ties with the local community. The Senior Citizens Fellowship, though the newest
organization in our church, has been active in many parishes. This reminds us of the sacrificial efforts
of our forebears in the formation and growth of our parishes.
The first executive committee of our parish, held in September, organized the annual calendar for
2024-25. The next notable event is our Parish Convention and Parish Day celebration, scheduled for
the 25th, 26th, and 27th of October. Rev. Fr. Jacob Joseph will be our convention speaker, and Rev. Dr.
Drew Mellor will be our chief guest for Parish Day. As we complete 27 years as a parish in Melbourne,
we gratefully acknowledge the guidance of Late Lamented Bishop Thomas Mar Athanasius, other
Metropolitans, bishops, priests, lay leaders, and committed believers. I urge everyone to dedicate
these days for prayer, as prayer has the power to make everything possible.
As a result of our general body discussion, a new satellite service has been organized in the northern
suburb on the second Sundays of every month, following the direction of the executive committee. I
request your prayerful participation in this initiative. Let us take inspiration from the southeastern
satellite service, which has gracefully completed one year in Blackburn. We must encourage new
migrant families to participate and see this as part of our missionary work, remembering that every
Marthomite is a witness to the kingdom of God—every Marthomite is an evangelist.
October third Sunday will be our Karunya Sunday. Your participation in the Karunya offertory will
strengthen our mission to support those in need both within and outside our parish. On the same day,
Sevika Sangham is organizing a fundraising food sale with delicious dishes, continuing their
compassionate work towards our mission and those who are suffering. I also request your prayers for
the success and blessings of our senior Sunday school camp from the 4th to 6th of October.
A warm welcome to our new members: Meby Susan John, Harriet Mathew, Prinson & Sinju and Toline
& Ligy. May their journey with us be abundantly blessed as they become part of our community.
We offer our heartfelt prayers for the bereaved families of Abhilash & Savitha, and Biju & Saly, as they
mourn the loss of their loved ones. Our thoughts and support are with them during this difficult time. We
also stand in prayer with families facing difficult challenges, especially those dealing with serious
illnesses. We ask that the healing hand of our Lord Jesus Christ surround them with comfort,strength,
and peace, guiding them through their trials with hope and faith. Additionally, we join in the joy and
celebration of families blessed with the arrival of newborns. May the Lord's blessings be upon these
little ones, granting them health, happiness, and a life filled with His grace.
As we reflect on our mission and responsibilities, we are reminded of Acts 1:8: "But you will receive
power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea
and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth". This verse calls each of us to be a witness to God's
kingdom, not only in our words but in our daily actions.
As we move forward in October, let us dedicate ourselves to this calling. Whether through our support
of Karunya Sunday, or the senior Sunday school camp, or the new satellite services, let us be vessels
of God’s love and compassion. Every opportunity we have, every event we engage in, is a chance to
live out our faith. Let us carry this responsibility with prayer, humility, and unwavering commitment,
being true evangelists of the kingdom of God in every corner of our lives.
Shalom
Shojiachen
Vicar
Melbourne Mar Thoma Church
0401311688
'A Pastor'
No one knows
What a Pastor hears,
What he sees,
The secrets he must keep,
The temptations he encounters,
The tears he sheds,
The sorrow he endures,
The loneliness he manages,
The bitterness he experiences,
The Lies levelled against him
by some of the people he serves!
How he accommodates those
who pretend they love him
but behind, they try to destroy him.
How he tries to live more than a human,
The lack he suffers,
The discrimination he must not react to,
The accusations he has to mute at,
The expectations he strives to cope with,
Even a fellow Pastor does not know
what the other goes through.
A Pastor & the Pastorhood is what no one
can fully understand or comprehend!
The Pastorhood is "A Mystery"!
The Pastor is a mystery too!
A mystery is an incomprehensible intelligibility!
SO ALL YOU CAN DO FOR HIM IS DO PRAY FOR HIM
(Poem-Source:*Roger Campbell Ministries.
October is named annually "Pastor Appreciation Month")
Lectionary
October Services and Events
* Changes to any of the above schedule will be intimated closer to the date of each service.
Prayer Meetings
Sunday School
“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”
Proverbs 22:6
Sunday School schedule
6th October 2024:
HC service at Senior Camp (Upper Plenty Conference Centre)
No classes at Parkville
Regular Classes at South Eastern Satellite Service - 3pm
13th October 2024:
Regular classes after youth service in Parkville (VCE dedication and Year 12 graduation during
service)
20th October 2024:
Annual Exam
27th October 2024:
No classes
South Eastern Satellite Service - Sunday School - Expression of Interest
Sunday School classes are held in Blackburn at 3pm prior to satellite service.
We are continuing to invite expressions of interest in attending the Sunday School at South Eastern
Suburbs Satellite service of the Melbourne Mar Thoma Church. Kindly use the link below to register and
it helps us plan.
Register interest - Click here to register
Senior Camp
This year’s Sunday School Senior Camp for grade 7-12 was held at Upper Plenty
Conference Centre on 4th-6th October.