ST. STEPHEN’S MAR THOMA

CHURCH 423 DUNHAMS CORNER ROAD

EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ 08816

2019

Volum e XX | No. 10 www.ststephensm tc.org A copy of this bulletin is available online.

Executive Com m ittee 2019 President Rev. Thom as K. Thom as

jojiachen@ gm ail.com 732.353.9470

732.790.2271

Vice President Dr. Sam uel Thom as 973.722.0154

Secretary M r. Shibu Varghese gracyshibu@ hotm ail.com 201.675.9280

Treasurer M r. M anoj Joseph 585.747.1839

Accountant M r. Saji M . M athew 732.310.6737

Lay leader M r. Dhinker Philip 954.579.6367

Lay leader M r. Sunil Thom as 732.397.7218

Choir M r. Earlin George 732.207.1330

Sunday School M r. Sony Cherukara 732.966.4246

Youth fellowship M r. Sunil Kurien 732.546.1468

Sevika Sangham M rs. Sheeba Johnson 732.319.3319

Edavaka M ission M r. Thom as George 732.491.3422

Young Fam ily Fellowship M r. Sibi Abraham 434.284.2376

Yuvajana Sakhyam M rs. Rani S. Thom as 732.397.7216

Senior Fellowship M r. John Thom as (Som an) 908.295.7606

Prayer Group 1 M r. Sajan P. Chacko 908.265.5796

Prayer Group 2 M r. Thom as Oom m en 908.930.5548

Prayer Group 3 M r. John Joseph 732.887.6398

Prayer Group 4 M r. Roy Varghese 848.213.6309

M andalam M r. John Thom as 732.422.7128

Assem bly M r. Shibu Varghese 201.675.9280

Assem bly M r. Abraham Kurien (Blessen) 281.224.6764

O ther Contacts

Sunday School M rs. Susan Thom as 732.512.7945

Youth Fellowship M s. Angelica Varughese 848.248.5862

Choir M rs. Ginu Thom pson 848.248.3066

Yuvajana Sakhyam M rs. M ini Cheriyan 732.593.8032

Young Fam ily Fellowship M rs. Ann Koshy 201.463.4995

Auditor M r. Sam uel John 917.553.9678

Auditor M rs. Binu Reji 732.789.6277

Achen's M essage!

Dearly beloved in Christ Greetings to you all in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Church is the body of Christ and each Parish must think and act as Jesus lived in this world. The Parish must become a foretaste of the Kingdom of God. Practicing divine virtues and a crystal clear vision about our mission is expected from a called out community.

Let us thank and praise God for the blessed life of Robert Raikes who started the very movement ‘Sunday School’. As we all observe World Sunday School Day on November first Sunday , we acknowledge that every child is a gift to us from God. Sunday school aims at the development of Christ centered and Bible oriented life style in each child. At the very occasion of World Sunday School day, let me congratulate our Sunday school teachers and students for their relentless effort for the learning and imbibing the word of God. May our generation and generation next become a blessing to the world by living through the word of God.The Church almanac focuses on the sanctification and renewal of the church (Kudosh Eetho) on this month. The credibility and holiness of the Church is questioned in all the level in the contemporary world. The ‘One, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic Church’ should turn back to her actual purpose of existences. Unpleasant precedence takes upper hand at several situations. Seeking the Kingdom values and living for the justice and peace take secondary concern when individualism and self-boasting inculcate into our fabric as our motto. This will lead our fellowship to the standard of a social club rather than upholding the requirements of the Kingdom of God inaugurated through the very life and ministry of Jesus of Nazereth. Let us repent, introspect and live for the One who has shed His precious blood for us to have life in abundance. We also observe the unity Sunday this month. Ecumenism is not only the good relationship of two denominations, but the vision of ‘all inhabited earth’ which is the harmony of the God’s creation also. We observe the annunciation to Zachariah and Mary for the advent of savior Jesus Christ during last two weeks of November. Within their limitations, they fulfilled their mission for the birth of the much-awaited Messiah. They experienced the overflowing grace in the midst of all pain, pathos and discomfort. They stand as powerful human metaphors whose heritage makes the faith community live and dynamic. United State of America celebrates the Day of Thanksgiving with a grateful heart in this month. On fourth Sunday , we are observing as Thanks Giving And Auction Sunday(Nov 24). Let us thank God for the providence and the fellowship that we experience in this land. On First Sunday we would like to elect our office bearers for 2020. Let us pray to God Almighty to pour the power of the Holy Spirit that the faith community could elect humble, genuine and dynamic children of God who seek the Kingdom of God first. God bless you all. In Christ, Jojiachen

ANNOUNCEM ENTS!

Sevika Sanghom Prayerline. Every Wednesday, from 9:00 PM to 10:00 PM. Building Project – Township Hearing Township of South Brunswick, The land development review committee has reviewed our application for preliminary and final site plan with conditional use and bulk variances to construct a church and a single-family residence. A public hearing has been scheduled on November 7th, 2019, 7.30 PM at main meeting room of the Municipal Building, Mon-mouth Junction, NJ. Please continue to pray for our need and if available, please plan on attending the hearing. Area #2 Prayer Meeting. There will be an Area #2 Prayer Meeting on Saturday, November 9th, 5.30 PM at the resi-dence of Mrs. & Mr. Joseph V. Joseph. All area #2 members are requested to attend. Address 137 Kingsberry Drive Sommerset, NJ 08873. Sunday Lunch We don't have enough funds to continue Sunday Lunch and there won’t be Sunday Lunch from Sunday, November 10th onwards. We will keep you updated if we receive enough funds to resume. Thanks giving Sunday We set apart Sunday, November 24th as Thanksgiving Sunday. Bring and Buy Auction will be held after service and Thanksgiving traditional lunch also will be arranged. All of you are requested to mark your calendar and attend the Thanksgiving service, Auction and lunch wholeheartedly. General Body We will have our General Body meeting on this Sunday, November 3rd after Holy Com-munion service at Church Sanctuary. All Edavaka Sanghom members are requested to at-tend prayerfully.

Date

Time Celebrant 1st

Lesson 2nd

Lesson Epistle Gospel

3

Nov

Kudosh Eetho (Sunday School Day)

10:15 AM

Rev. Thomas K. Thomas

Judges 13:1-14

Heb

11:17-27

1 John 3:1-10

Luke

18:15-17 English

10

Nov

Hudos Eetho (Unity Sunday)

10:15 AM

Rev. Thomas K. Thomas Ezek

37:15-23 1Cor

12:12-27 Eph 4:1-13

John 17:21-26

Malayalam

17

Nov

Annunciation to Zechariah

10:15 AM

Rev. Thomas K. Thomas 1 Chr

24:1-19 Rev 8:1-5

Heb 5:1-10

Luke 1:5-23

English

24

Nov

Annunciation to Virgin Mary (Thanks Giving Sunday)

10:15 AM

Rev. Thomas K. Thomas

Exod 3:1-15

Acts 9:1-15

Heb

2:5-10

Luke

1:26-38 Malayalam

How to Discern Direction From God

Have you been seeking the Lord’s guidance on a particular issue yet still can’t discern what

He would have you do? We don’t always know why God doesn’t make everything clear

when we ask for His help. But doing certain things can prepare us to hear His directions.

Seek Cleansing. We need to ask the Lord if there is anything in our life that is hindering our

prayers. Then, if He brings something to mind, we can receive His cleansing through

confession (1 John 1:9).

Surrender. If we have not fully yielded ourselves to the Lord, our heart will remain set on

our own desires. When that’s the case, we’ll have difficulty perceiving His will (James 4:3).

Ask Wisely. God is committed to answering our prayers if we ask according to His will (1

John 5:14-15). Therefore, we must carefully consider if our requests align with His desires

as revealed in Scripture.

Meditate. Since God’s Word is a light to our path, the more we think about the truths of

Scripture, the clearer the way will become (Psalm 119:105).

Wait. God promises to act on the behalf of those who wait (Isa. 64:4). Therefore, we must

resist the urge to run ahead of Him by trying to fix the situation ourselves or manipulate

circumstances to get our desired outcome.

Instead of letting uncertainty cause you to become anxious or fearful, consider these five

practices. Then begin to look at your situation as an opportunity to trust your sovereign,

omnipotent God who always works everything for your good (Rom. 8:28).

Birthdays 2 Sally Reji w/o Reji Mathew (732) 401-0598

2 Deepa Thomas w/o Thomas George (732) 658-0944

2 Robin Reji s/o Reji Mathew (732) 401-0598

4 Santhosh C. Varghese (732) 873-0811

5 Santhosh V. George (732) 297-8412

6 Julie Koshy w/o Koshy Philip (732) 286-0924

7 Neha Thomas w/o Jibi Thomas (908) 925-9476

7 Thomson M. Chacko (908) 546-7458

7 Priyanka Esther Dilip d/o Dilip Abraham (732) 647-5215

8 Bobby Thomas (732) 873-7580

9 Akila De Alwis w/o Nithin Chacko (908) 964-0735

9 Caeshia M. Jacob d/o Jacob Koshy (732) 203-0503

10 Joshua Prasad s/o Dr. Joseph Prasad (732) 845-0703

11 Abel Thomas s/o Thomas Abraham (718) 967-7178

11 Justin Thomas s/o Dr. Samuel Thomas (973) 538-1192

12 Aaron Thomas s/o Saju Thomas (609) 466-1474

12 Simmy Pappachen d/o Andrew Pappachen (973) 808-2077

13 Jancy Jacob w/o Jacob Koshy (732) 203-0503

13 Shawn S. Thomas s/o Soji Thomas (908) 241-0638

14 Alan John Thomas s/o Benoy Thomas (732) 993-1120

15 Abraham Kurien (732) 677-2507

16 Susan Thomas w/o Abraham T. Mattappallil (908) 241-0638

17 Binny Thomas K. (201) 706-0173

17 Melvin John Prasad S/o Prasad mathukutty 302 438 7647

19 Byju Abraham (908) 647-5362

19 Charles Mathews s/o Simon Mathews (908) 889-8179

21 Abraham George (973) 992-5425

21 George Edukala (732) 389-8482

21 Roshini Panicker d/o Jacob Panicker (908) 994-0428

21 Shreya Susan Renjith D/o Renjith Abraham Mat-tappallil

(908) 241-0638

22 Dr. Usha Thomas w/o Thomas Abraham (718) 967-7178

22 Rachel Thomas w/o John Thomas (908) 470-1343

22 Alena C. Shibu d/o Shibu Varghese (732) 348-8165

24 Makayo Mathew s/o Roni Mathew (732) 218-5266

24 Mathew M. Thomas (732) 549-1437

24 Jerome Sibi Abraham s/o Sibi Abraham (732) 200-1737

25 Rekha Dan w/o Sumod Thomas (973) 271-9495

26 Miriam Anne Thomas d/o Sunil Thomas (848) 205-2566

26 Thomas P. Abraham s/o Abraham Pulimoottil (732) 283-4855

26 Tiffany Prasad d/o Philip Prasad (732) 967-9272

27 Mariamma Varghese m/o Philip C. Varghese (732) 873-0811

28 Kevin Pappachen s/o Andrew Pappachen (973) 808-2077

28 Rachel Sophia Johnson D/o Nidhin Johnson (732) 432-6444

29 Ian Mathew s/o Thomas Mathew (609) 799-5661

30 Joseph V. Joseph (610) 438-1688

30 Kevin Matthews s/o John Matthews (732) 332-0067

30 Samuel Oommen (908) 320-0412

30 Sosamma Alexander w/o Ravi Alexander (732) 738-0721

30 Mareena Jose Varghese w/o Mathew Varghese (732) 395-0857

Wedding Anniversaries

5 Mr. Pradeep R. Mathew & Mrs. Ritu Mathew (848) 391‐4915

7 Mr. Anil Vijayan & Mrs. Christy Abraham (732) 418-8840

9 Mr. Jacob Koshy & Mrs. Jancy Jacob (732) 203‐0503

10 Dr. Mathai Cherian & Mrs. Valsamma Mathai (732) 561‐2181

12 Mr. George Edukala & Mrs. Leelamony George (732) 389‐8482

12 Mr. Shaju George & Mrs. Sini George (732) 572‐2671

14 Mr. John Ma hews & Mrs. Susan Ma hews (732) 332‐0067

18 Mr. Jos Thomas & Mrs. Ponnamma Jos (732) 356‐8975

22 Mr. Joseph V. Abraham & Mrs. Suja Abraham (732) 418‐8840

22 Mr. Mathew Palat & Mrs. Cecelia George (732) 952‐2331

23 Mr. Suresh Mathew & Mrs. Sunita Mathew (732) 626‐3342

24 Mr. Jacob George & Mrs. Sisily Jacob (973) 759‐8037

27 Mr. John Joseph & Mrs. Deepthi Issac (732) 253-7020

29 Mr. Philip Mathews & Mrs. Susan Mathews (732) 297‐8303

29 Mr. Reji Mathew & Mrs. Sally Reji (732) 401‐0598

30 Mr. John Thomas & Mrs. Shirly Thomas (732) 651‐8867

Events 2019

Date  Event 

Nov 3rd World Sunday School Day

Nov 24th Thanksgiving Day/Auc on

Dec 1st House to House Carol

Dec 7th House to House Carol

Dec 8th House to House Carol

Dec 14th House to House Carol

Dec 15th House to House Carol

Dec 21st Christmas Carol Service

Dec 25th Christmas

Dec 31st Watch Night Service