- Contact
details
- Achen
- Rev. Shibi
Abraham
- Tel: 0161 223 2199
- shibiabraham_2000@yahoo.com
-
- Secretary
- Mr. Suresh
George
- Tel: 01512607804
- Mob: 07753469661
- E-mail suregeorge@gmail.com
-
- Trustee
- Mr. Raji
Matthew
- Tel: 01512597822
- Mob: 0788 9217641
- Email: rajimathew@gmail.com
If
you want to have your own e-mail ID with
yourname@carmelmarthomachurch.org.uk or if you have queries
on this web site please contact
george@carmelmarthomachurch.org.uk
|
- From
Achens Desk - July 2008
-
- Thomas said to him,
"My
Lord and my God." John 20:28
-
- Mar Thoma Christians are very
proud of our ancient roots and rich traditions, and we
commemorate July 3rd as St. Thomas Day. But we sometimes
forget the faith proclamation and missionary zeal of the
disciple Thomas. St. Thomas Day reminds us of the need to
be faithful to our Lord and his mission. "My Lord and My
God" should be the faith proclamation of Christians all
over the world. Thomas first proclaimed it through his
words and then though his life.
-
- It is easy to say that we are
Christians, but can Christianity be seen in our words,
and actions, (God also knows if your thoughts are
Christian.) Our Lord, Jesus Christ, came seeking the lost
and the least. He chose to associate with the
marginalized and was a companion to the downtrodden. He
loved and cared for the rejected and the despised people
in society.
-
- We are supposed to represent Jesus
on earth. The church is supposed to work for the welfare
of its non-members. Sharing and caring for the weak and
the poor is supposed to be part of our mission. We need
to extend our friendship beyond our own little circle in
order to win others for Christ. Our friendship should be
extended to those who require it the most. We are to work
to reconcile the people in the world with each other and
with God.
-
- The following is from the 2004
Annual Report of the Mar Thoma Syrian Church of Malabar.
The "Church is the community called to work for the
transformation of the world together with God, the Lord
of history, the one who is ever active in the world. It
is through continuing in the present times the ministry
of reconciliation that has been made possible through
Jesus Christ, that the church, the body of Jesus Christ,
reveals God to the world.
-
- ....The church is sent to be where
Christ is. Jesus Christ's leaning towards the tax
collectors, shepherds, sinners, prostitutes, the lame,
the blind, the poor, the weak etc., ... The church has
the responsibility to believe, experience and make others
understand the fact that the power of the gospel is
greater than that of any human institution or thought. It
is the church's responsibility to declare aloud that it
is not evil, but good, righteousness, peace and the cross
that would gain victory. The church's mission is to
discern the work of God going on in this world and make
it known to the world." (http://www.marthomasyrianchurch.org/images/Ann
ual_Report_2004.pdf )
-
- Despite all of Thomas' weaknesses
and doubts, Jesus was able to transform him into a
valuable instrument in the construction of the Kingdom of
God. One who lacked faith was able to give faith to many.
Today there are millions of people throughout the world
who are eternally grateful for the missionary zeal that
Thomas had.
-
- We need to continue the mission of
reconciliation and transform the world. In our churches
and in our families there are divisions that need to be
reconciled. We need to demonstrate our faith by reaching
out to those who need our help. But before we can
reconcile the world to God, we need to reconcile
ourselves to God, and we need to reconcile with each
other. It is the Jesus' prayer and desire that we be one,
that we be reconciled to each other, so that the world
would believe that God sent Jesus (John
17:20-24.) If there is no
reconciliation between us then how can others believe in
Jesus? How can others believe in our message of peace and
love? How can we call ourselves Christians?
-
- As St. Thomas was faithful until
death, we also should be faithful to our Lord in carrying
out his mission. May the Holy Spirit enable all of us to
proclaim "My Lord and My God", and may the Holy Spirit
enable all of us to live a life that shows that
proclamation.
-
- Yours in Christ's
Service,
-
- Rev. Shibi Abraham
-
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