Calender 2017- The Bible in One Year January Mon Tue Wed Thu

Sun Morning

Mt.1 1

Night

Mt.2 2

Mt.3

Mt.4

3

Mt:5:1-26 5

4

Gen.1-3 Mt.6:1924

Gen.4-6

Gen.7-9

Gen.10-12

Mt.7

Mt.8:1-17

Mt.8.18-34

Gen.13-15 Mat.10:120

8

9

10

11

12

Gen.23-24

Gen.25-26

Gen.27-28

Morning

Ge.20-22 MT.14:22 -36

Mt.15:1-20

Mt.12:1-23

Mt.13:1-30

Gen.29-30 Mt.13:3158

16

17

18

19

Night

15 Gen..3638

Gen.39-40

Gen.41-42

Gen.43-45

Gen.45-48

Mt.19

Mt.20:1-16

Mt.15:21-39

Mt.16

22

23

24

25

Night

Ex.4-6

Ex'7-8

Ex:9-11

Ex;12-13

Morning

Mt.19

Mt.20:1-16

Mt.20:17-24

29

30

31

Ex:21-23

Ex;23-24

Ex.25-26

Sun

Mon

Tue

Morning

Night

Morning

Night

February Wed

Morning

Night Morning

Night Morning

Night Morning Night Morning

Night

Fri

Sat

Mt.5:22748

Mt.6:1-18

6 Gen.1617 Mt10.2142 13 Gen.3132 Mt.14:121

7 Ge.18-19 Mt.11 14 Gen.33-35 Mat14;2236

Mt.17

20 Gen.4950 Mt.18:120

Ex.1-3 Mt.18:2135

26

27

28

Ex;13-15

Ex:16-18

Ex;19-20

21

Thu

Fri

Sat

Mt.21:1-22

Mt.21:2346

Mt:22-122

Mt:231-30

1

2

3

4

Ex:29-31 Mat:25:130

Ex;32-33 Mat:25:3 1-46

Ex;33-38 Mt.26:1-25

Mt:23:122

Mt.23:2339

Mt.24:1-28

Ex;27-28 Mt.24:2951

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

Ex;36-38 Mt:26:125

Ex;39-40 Mt;26:5175

Lev:1-3

Lev:6-7

Mt.27:1-25

Lev:4-5 Mt:27:5166

Lev:8-10 MK:1:122

Lev:11-12 Mk:1-2345

12

13

14

15

16

18

Lev.13 Mk:1:2345 19

Lev.14 Mk:6:3058 20

Lev:15-16

Lev:17-18

Mk:3 21

Mk:4:1-20 22

Lev.19-20 Mk:4-2141 23

17 Lev.2122 Mk:5:120 24

Mk5:21-43 25

Lev.25

Nu.1-13

Nu:4-6

Nu:7-8

Nu;9-11

Nu:12-14

Mk:6:1-29

Lev.26-27 Mk:6:3056

Mk:7:1-13

26

27

28

Nu:15-16

Nu:17-18

Nu:20-22

Mt 28

Bethel Mar Thoma Church Philadelphia, PA

Lev.23-24

"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world."

John 16: 33

Bethel Mar Thoma Church, 532 Levick Street, Philadelphia, PA 19111 www.bethelmtcphila.org Diocesan Bishop

Rt. Rev. Dr. Issac Mar Pheloxenos Episcopa Sinai Mar Thoma Center 2320 S. Merrick Avenue Merrick, NY 11566 Tel: (516) 377-3311

Vicar

Rev. Giju John 6329 Palmetto Street Philadelphia, PA 19111 Tel: (215) 725-9774 , (215) 480-3752 Email: [email protected]

Youth Chaplain

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Varuhese Philip

Superintendent

Tina Mathew

215-464-1434

Secretary

April Joseph

215-853-9204

Joint Secretary

Jincy Varghese

267-516-7276

Treasurer

Richu Raju

215-275-0325

Vice President Secretary

Joby Susan Joseph Varghese Abraham (Viji)

215-909-1155 267-443-0222

Treasurer

Reni Thomas

215-694-7998

SEVIKA SANGHOM

215-934-7212

Secretary

Abraham M. Varghese

215-934-7852

Treasurer

Varkey Koshy

267-387-6350

Accountant

Varghese Kunjachen

215-856-9241

Lay Leaders

Jinu Jacob Varghese (Mal.) Libu Mathew (Eng.) Cherian Chacko

215-909-1155

Assembly Member

SUNDAY SCHOOL

YUVAJANA SAKHYAM

Rev. Dennis Abraham 9712 Laramie Road Philadelphia, PA 19115 Tel: (215) 698-1023 Email: [email protected]

Vice President

ORGANIZATION OFFICE BEARERS FOR 2017

Vice President

Amminiamma Varghese

215-698-7382

Secretary

Sheela Rajan

215-677-2810

Treasurer

Usha Shaji

215-856-9204

EDAVAKA MISSION Vice President

M.K. Samuel

215-464-5213

Secretary

Thomas Mathai

215-856-7052

Treasurer

Paulose Philipose

215-673-9489

267-968-2229 215-671-3789

Vice President

CHURCH CHOIR Thomas Chacko

215-722-8372

Malayalam Director

Varughese Abraham

215-969-2256

Secretary

Deepa Thomas

215-722-8372

Treasurer

Deenamma Thomas

215-342-0237

English Director

George Jacob

717-561-2260

Yuvajana Sakhyam Church Choir

Varghese Abraham (Viji) Varughese Abraham

267-443-0222 215-969-2256

Sunday School

April Joseph

215-853-9204

Edavaka Mission

Thomas Mathai

215-856-7052

Sevika Sanghom

Sheela Rajan

215-677-2810

Youth Fellowship

Celena George

215-847-2937

YOUTH FELLOWSHIP Vice President

Debby Abraham

215-470-2223

Secretary

Celena George

215- 847-2937

Treasurer

Janice James

215-475-2391

Church Building Convener

AUDITORS

PRAYER GROUP REPRESENTATIVES Bethany Ebenezer Emmanuel Salem

Philip Daniel Joseph Kuruvilla P.J. Varghese Saji John Jiju Abraham Roy Jacob Koshy P. John Varughese N. Mathew

215-535-3747 215-743-9359 215-698-7382 215-953-9904 215-969-2097 215-677-0178 215-969-5097 215-464-4118

Auditor 1

Thomas Mathew

215-342-0237

Auditor 2

M.K. Samuel

215-464-5213

Rep. 1 Rep. 2

ECUMENICAL REPRESENTATIVES Tinu Mathew 215-342-0237 Deepa Thomas 215-722-8372

WORSHIP SERVICE AND LECTIONARY January 01/01/17 01/08/17 01/15/17 01/22/17 01/29/17

Service Times

02/05/17 02/12/17 02/19/17 02/26/17

Lessons

English Service

at 10:00 AM

English Service

at 10:00 AM

Malayalam Service

at 10:30 AM

English Service

at 10:30 AM

Malayalam Service

at 10:30 AM

February

FROM THE DESK OF THE VICAR Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

Gen. 9: 8-17 Heb. 9: 11-18 Eccl. 6: 1-12 I Pet. 1: 13-25 Mich. 6: 1-8 Jam. 1: 19-27 Ezek. 37: 15-23 1 Cor. 1: 10-17

January 1sth,2017

Exo. 15: 1-21 Acts. 3: 1-10

Greetings. God in His grace blessed us to see another year in our life .It is a time of thanksgiving and praise. Enter the new year by accepting our shortcomings and renewing our commitment with Christ Jesus.

Service Times Malayalam Service

at 10:30 AM

Isa. 42: 1-9 Acts. 8: 1-13

English Service

at 10:30 AM

Isa. 65: 17-25 Heb. 4: 1-13

Malayalam Service

at 10:30 AM

Gen. 6: 1-13 Rom. 5: 12-21

English Service

at 10:30 AM

Isa. 44: 21-28 1 Tim. 1: 12-17

What do we need in the new year to witness our faith ? TO have the mind of Christ “For who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him ? But we have the mind of Christ” (1 Cor 2:16)

Praise & Worship Service every Sundays at 10 am , except 1/1/17 & 1/8/17.

REGULAR ACTIVITIES Organization/Event

Day and Time

Venue

Combined Prayer Meeting

1st Friday of every month - 10am

Church

Edavaka Mission

3rd, 4th, & 5th Wed. - 10am

Church

Fasting Prayer

2nd,3rd,4th &5th Fridays- 10am

Church

Youth Fellowship Meeting

2nd Sunday (after service), 4th Friday 7:30pm

Church

Senior Citizens Meeting

2nd Wed -10am

Church

Young Women's Fellowship

3rd Saturday - 8:30pm

Church

Young Family Fellowship Sevika Sanghom Meeting

2nd Sunday after service.

Church

2nd & 4th Saturday, 9:30 AM 3rd Wednesday, 9:00 PM

Church Phone

Malayalam Choir Practice

1st, 3rd & 5th Sundays after service.

Church

English Choir Practice

2nd & 4th Sundays after service.

Church

SS Prayer Line (605-562-0020 / 439200643#)

9

Literarily ‘mind’ means the source of one’s thought and feeling. There are lots of reference regarding the mind in the Bible. But there is no explanation regarding the same. In the Bible ,feeling or thinking are part of human identity. According to the Greeks, the mind is the place of human thinking. The Greek word ’neus’(vous)is commonly used for mind. But in the Gospel ‘dianoya’ is more used. To have the mind of Jesus demands us to be like Jesus. The Bible does not segregate the body and mind, as western thinkers do. Whatever the mind demands the human to do, the body does. According to Jesus’ teaching sin starts not only by the activities of the body but also by the very thought in the mind. The body and the mind are very much inter-related. The mind will help us to know the path of abundant life and death. Human as Social animal ,consciousness leads to better understanding about the other. When the mind is filled with great understanding about him/herself and the other, then one reaches the highest sense of becoming the mind of Jesus. In our worship ,when our body and mind together worship God there will be perfection and meaning to the worshiper and the community. Nowadays the

FROM THE DESK OF THE VICAR

Happy Anniversary to....

church has become a place of self- satisfaction through our defensive mechanism in worship. The worshipping community which closes its eyes to the poor, needy and marginalized ,will create a self -centered room of ideal worship. The feeling of oneness is the other way of perfection.

1/2

January 2017 Thomas Geevarghese & Marykutty Thomas

1/3

Jossey Joseph & Annamma Jossey

1/3 1/4

Libu Mathew & Elizabeth Mathew Ginu V Joseph & Divya Mariam Joseph

St. Paul says we should have the mind of Christ .Let us have greater understanding about our life and identity and have a compassionate mind and perfection in our lives in relation with God in the New year.

1/9

James George & Marykutty James

1/13

Shaji Joseph & Usha S Joseph

1/16

Suraj M. Thomas & Asha Rajan

Wishing you all a blessed and happy New Year.

1/18

K.T. George & Mariamma George

1/22

K. K. Kuruvilla & Mariamma Kuruvilla

1/23 1/25

John C. Mathew & Aleyamma John George Cheriyan & Saly George

1/28

Mathew V. Lukose & Saramma Mathew

1/31

Chacko V. Koshy & Sheena Chacko

Gijuachen

February 2017 2/2 2/7 2/10 2/11 2/15 2/17 2/22 2/26

Edicheria Skariah & Marykutty Skariah K. E. Chacko & Sosamma Chacko Raju Varghese & Annamma Raju Johnson Mathew & Sisily Johnson Philip John & Aleyamma John Varughese K Varughese & Ajitha Varughese George Thomas & Aleyamma George Abraham Varghese & Elizabeth Abraham

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Happy Birthday to ...

1/1 1/1 1/2 1/4 1/4 1/4 1/4 1/8 1/8 1/8 1/9 1/9 1/9 1/10 1/10 1/10 1/10 1/10 1/12 1/12 1/12 1/12 1/15 1/15 1/18 1/19 1/19 1/19 1/20 1/22 1/23 1/26 1/26 1/27 1/28 1/29 1/31 1/31

Aby Mathew Thomas M. Thomas Susan Mary Abraham Anisha Premji Oommen Daniel Mathew Jincy Ann Thomas Stanley George Susan George Jusin Thomas Thomas Mathew Leelamma Kuryan Shana Miriam Mathews David Philip Mathews Aiden David Koshy Annamma Varghese Riji P Rajan Jithin George Aiden David Koshy Ciara Maria Thomas Betsy Annie Roy Christin George Micky Thomas Kunjamma Kunjachen Smilo Karumalil Appachan Susan George Jonah V. Joseph Jessica Anne Joseph Jincy Mariam Varghese Rohan Roney John Cathy Wentowski T.C. Koshy Ashley Philip Annamma John Jacob Koshy John Merin Jacob Sophy Rajan Saji John Stanley K Skaria

2/1 2/2 2/4 2/5 2/5 2/5 2/6 2/7 2/8 2/9 2/9 2/9 2/11 2/14 2/15 2/15 2/15 2/17 2/18 2/18 2/19 2/19 2/20 2/20 2/22 2/22 2/23 2/24 2/25 2/26 2/26 2/28

Siby Varkey Koshy Aleyamma John Mary Thomas Annamma Philip Nancy John Mathew Alex Varghese Jonathan Shelby Philip Deenamma Abraham Linsa Abraham Sunny Tincy Varghese Ginu V Joseph Thomas K Mathew Annamma Joseph Joshua Mathews George Kuryan Kunchandy M. A. Ninan Valsamma George Ajay Premji Oommen Jessy A George Mary George Shaji Joseph Mathew George Sonia Daniel Libu Mathew Shawn Varghese Rayna Liz Mathew Suresh Thomas K. E. Chacko Thomas Chacko Elizabeth Mathew George Cheriyan Maya Nicole Philip

FROM THE DESK OF YOUTH CHAPLAIN

Greetings to the Families of the Bethel Mar Thoma Church, Philadelphia: YOUTH CHAPLAIN’S MESSAGE – JANUARY 2017 Dear Families of the Bethel Mar Thoma Church, Philadelphia, Welcome to 2017. By the grace of God, we have entered a new year. When considering the experiences and events during the past year, things have been eventful. Our lives and our surrounding have progressed, but have also transformed in ways unexpected. The Apostle Paul says, “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth…” (Col. 3:2). We have been created in the image and likeness of God, to reflect His glory. But as we have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory, we have diverted from His plan and purpose for us in our lives. As we are in 2017, I propose the following 3 R’s for our spiritual growth. 1. Reflection: “O LORD, you have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from far away…Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts. See if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139: 1-2, 23-24). Eastern Christian Spirituality gives importance to silence, meditation, and reflection. As Christians, we are bombarded with many “noises” (distractions), many of which take us away from the divine mystery. We lose our sense of purpose and hope. Considering the past year: where were our gains and losses? What shouldn’t we have done? What should we have done? Were we near or far away from the Holy Trinity?

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2. Repentance: “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9) As Christians, we are weak and sinful; we have made mistakes, and are in dire need of God’s grace and mercy on our lives. As human beings, we apologize when we make a mistake. But when we repeat the same mistake, apologizing loses its meaning and integrity. Apologizing to God is not simply a matter of the lips; it involves a FROM THE DESK OF YOUTH CHAPLAIN

total creative and positive transformation of the self in Christ Jesus, and striving for perfection amidst imperfection. The Holy Spirit convicts us. “Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you.” (Rev. 3:3) Every new day of life we receive should be a constant reminder that as we are one step away from our birth, we are one step closer to our death. Our life is a privilege and days are numbered. Let us take advantage of the time and space afforded to us. Let our continuous prayer be: “Lord have mercy on me, a sinner.” 3. Renewal: “So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!” (2 Cor. 5:17) Following reflection and repentance results in renewal; the three entities are interconnected and dependent on each other. The gospel demands a response. The response results in transformation. In 1967, the former prime minister of the U.K., the Late Harold Wilson in his speech to the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe, said: “He who rejects change is the architect of decay. The only human institution which rejects progress is the cemetery.” When we are in Christ, we change. That occurs when we accept Him and walk with Him in our daily life. It involves commitment, to the extent of kenosis (selfemptying). Being a living being means that we change. Spiritually speaking, if we are not changing or growing, it means there is decay and death. Which path are we taking? Are we engaging in the creative process of transformation?

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FROM THE DESK OF YOUTH CHAPLAIN

Wishing you all a blessed new year 2017. All glory, honor, and praise belongs to the Holy Trinity. Mar Thoma Sabha Dinam, 12/21/2016 Philadelphia

Yours in Christ’s Service, Dennis Achen

Parish Youth Fellowship: The parish YF meets 2nd/4th Fridays at 7:30pm at church. Center/Regional Youth Fellowship: Combined YF scheduled for Philadelphia area parishes is tentatively scheduled for Friday, February 17, 2017. The next Spring One Day Conference will be held on Saturday, April 15, 2017. Further details to be announced soon. Diocesan Youth Fellowship: The 38th Session of the Diocesan Youth Fellowship Conference will be held from July 27-30, 2017 at the Houston Immanuel MTC. More details to be announced soon. Campus Visits: Visits are scheduled to campuses in NJ & PA. Kindly contact me for more details. Young Families Fellowship: Meetings are scheduled for 2017; more details to follow.

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