MTCSF APRIL 2024 Newsletter
From the Vicar’s Desk
Dearly beloved in Christ,
Even though the resurrection is a significant event, there are moments when it strikes me that we don’t know more details about the days, weeks, and months that immediately followed it.
The fact that we know so little about the days right after Jesus’ resurrection is astonishing. Oh, yes, we do have some great narratives that have stood the test of time: Jesus’ reinstating Peter; Thomas’s doubting; Jesus’ appearance in a locked upper room; Jesus’ cooking fish for His followers after a miraculous catch; the ascension; the day of the Pentecost; etc.
But we lack certain details. I’ve since learned to approach the subject from a different perspective. Assuming that the lack of details in the gospels is a deliberate design element that forces us to make some personal decisions.
I believe it is quite likely that the lack of details regarding life after the resurrection is an invitation to us, particularly to respond to and live out the answer to the question, “He is risen, now what?”
We are all living in the days after the Resurrection. We all live as people who believe that the Lord died, was buried, and was then raised from the dead.
“Now what?” is a valid and challenging question to respond to. And the response will be lived out, embodied, and communicated in public rather than just being spoken, thought, or recorded.
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to suggest that we spend our entire lives trying to find the answer to the question “Now what?” However, we are called in our daily lives to testify to the resurrected Lord.
Additionally, you are welcome to use your entire life to find new ways and means to witness our risen Lord. Eventually, we are all “After Easter People.” It’s who we are because of whose we are. May God continue to bless you all.
In His service
Sajiachen
Meet the 2024 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
- President: Rev. Saji Thomas
- Vice President: Tom Tharakan
- Secretary: Maya Mathews
- Trustee (Cash): Melvin Thomas
- Trustee (Accounts): Riju Myladumkunnel
- Lay Leader (Malayalam): Cherian Philip
- Lay Leader (English): Mathew (Robin) John
- Mandalam Member: Shaiju Varghese
- Diocesan Member: Sincie Chacko
- Diocesan Member: Kurien Idiculla
Organization Secretaries
- Senior Fellowship: Nell Thomas
- Choir: Rachel Anish
- Sevika Sangham: Sapna Cherian
- Sunday School: Shanu Thomas
- Edavaka Mission: Pothen Joseph
- Yuvajana Sakhyam: Roshan Mathews
- Youth Fellowship: Isabel Roy
Area Prayer Group Representative
- Central Valley – Anu Philip
- Tri-Valley – Feby Raju
- Fremont – Deepak Cherian
- San Francisco – Santamma George
- South Bay – Philip Mathew
Sub Committee Conveners
- Mission Board : Kurien Idiculla
- Building: NO CHANGE
- ASR: Feby Raju
- Parish Picnic: Roshan Mathews
- Maintenance: Anu Philip
- Retreat ( Budget allocated): Shanu Thomas
- Audio/Video: Deepak Cherian
- Web, Communication and Publicity: Rachel Thambi
- Medical Team : Santamma George
- Welcome & Hospitality: Tom Tharakan
Worship Schedule
| Come join us every Sunday for Sunday School at 9am and Edavaka Mission Bible Study at 9:15am | ||||
| DATE | SERVICE ASSIST | WORSHIP ORDER | LANGUAGE | LAY LEADER |
| Sunday, April 7, 2024 | Fremont | HOLY QURBANA 10 AM | Malayalam | Cherian Philip |
| Sunday, April 14, 2024 | San Francisco & South Bay | HOLY QURBANA 10 AM | Malayalam | Cherian Philip |
| Sunday, April 21, 2024 | Tri-Valley | HOLY QURBANA 10 AM | English | Mathew (Robin) John |
| Sunday, April 28, 2024 | Central Valley | HOLY QURBANA 10 AM | English | Mathew (Robin) John |
Lectionary
Events this month
| Edavaka Mission Bible Study (Every Sunday) | Weekly on Sunday 9:15 am |
| Youth Fellowship Prayer Call (Every Tuesday – via zoom) | Weekly on Tuesday 9pm |
| Western Region Edavaka Mission Meeting (Every Wednesday – via zoom) | Weekly on Wednesday 8pm |
| Western Region Sevika Sanghom Meeting (1st Thursday – via zoom | April 4, 2024 8pm |
| Edavaka Mission Fasting Prayer at MTCSF | Saturday, April 6, 2024 10am |
| Sunday School Easter Outreach (see details below) | Saturday, April 6, 2024 |
| Tri-Valley, San Francisco, South Bay combined prayer meeting via zoom | Saturday, April 6, 2024 at 6pm |
| Yuvajana Sakhyam – AI Shaping a Future We can all Thrive In a | Saturday, April 13, 2024 |
| Fremont Area Prayer Meeting at Susha & Kurian Varghese’s residence | Saturday, April 13, 2024 at 6pm |
| Prarthana Koottayma | Saturday, April 20, 2024 6-8pm |
| Sevika Sanghom Sandwich making for Homeless after ASR (3rd Sunday) | Sunday, April 21, 2024 |
| Sevika Sanghom Cottage Prayer (via zoom) | Saturday, April 27, 2024 – 11am |
| Central valley Area Prayer at Tom and Juli Tharakan home in Manteca | Saturday, April 27, 2024 6pm |
| Sevika Sanghom Intercessory Prayer after ASR (4th Saturday) | Sunday, April 28, 2024 |
Recap from March 2024
March was a busy month at our parish. We hosted the Western Region Sevika Sanghom conference here after thirteen years. It was a blessing to all who attended to learn about the theme ‘Anchored in Hope’ based on Hebrews 6:19 through Susan Saji Kochamma’s messages and discussions facilitated by Subin Achen. Jinu Achen gave a thoughtful devotion exhorting us to know where our hope is anchored; only in Jesus.
We had our General Body meeting on March 10th for (1) to approve the annual report for 2024, (2) approve the accounts for 2024, and (3) pass the budget for 2024. The minutes of the meeting were submitted and approved by the Dicocesan Bishop.
Passion Week services were a blessing to all those who attended both virtually and in person. Sevika Sanghom treated us with ASR (after service refreshments) – appams on Maundy Thursday, Kanji and Payar on Good Friday. Easter service was attended by around 200 people. The ASR of appam and curry facilitated loving fellowship. May the Lord enable us to put the messages we heard this week through Susan Kochamma, Tom Tharakan, Roshney Pratheep, Josie Varghese, Rev. M. P. Yohannan, and Rev. Saji Thomas to practice in our lives and strengthen us to do his mission in the world. We would like to thank all those who made the passion week services a source of comfort and fellowship for our parishioners. Special thanks to Rev. M.P. Yohannan who presided over the Good Friday and Easter worship services.
Pictures
 WRSSS Conference Photo Gallery |  2023 Crossword Puzzle winners with Susan John – puzzle creator |
March – April 2024 Publications
- Link to the Yuvadhara for March 2024
- Link to the Diaspora Publication FOCUS for April 2024 – Theme: Solidarity Among Generations
Mission Activities this Summer
This summer there are a number of mission trips and VBS camps that can be supported by high school to young working adults who are interested in joining the church on their mission activities in various areas. Here is the list of VBS camps in North America:
- * Love in Action Ministry – Camp Israel Folsom (Broken Bow, Oklahoma): April 12 – 14
- * Oklahoma (Choctaw) VBS Camp: June 2 – 5
- * Louisiana (Houma) VBS Camp: June 6 – June 10
- * Alabama (Choctaw) VBS Camp: June 12 – 15
- * Utah (Navajo) VBS Camp: July 14 – 17
- * New Mexico (Navajo) VBS Camp: July 18 – 21
- More details in flier
- In addition to the above, the diocese is organizing a South India mission trip for college, university students (ages 18 and above), and working young adults from June 24th to July 4th, 2024. Participants will be responsible for their air travel. Find more information here.
  |  Join the Sunday School Easter Outreach at the facility of Kids Against Hunger ( 1258 Quarry Lane #H, Pleasanton. CA) to pack food items.Date: Saturday, April 6th, 10-11:30amCost: $25/person (includes lunch). Sunday School kids, age 10 years and above sign up along with a parent/guardian. Visit the Kids Against Hunger website for more information. MTVEA Souvenir – contact Mrs. Mary George |
April Wedding Anniversaries
| 04/09 | Soby, Anju & Soby Oommen |
| 04/09 | Varghese, Ancy & Jijo John |
| 04/15 | Shiju, Nisha & Shiju Thomas |
| 04/16 | Mathew, Rinu & Santosh |
| 04/16 | Mathews, Kenny & Susan |
| 04/18 | Viji, Christine & Viji Thomas |
| 04/21 | Philip, sally & Babu |
| 04/22 | Kurien, Kristal & Albi Mathew |
| 04/23 | Philip, Renu & Mohan Konapozhil |
| 04/25 | Samuel, Anu & Achen Kunju |
| 04/26 | Tharakan, Juli & Santhosh |
| 04/27 | Varghese, Jacob & Shelbi Jacob |
| 04/28 | Kurien, Sally & Kochumon Idiculla |
April Birthdays
| 04/01 | Ashwathy | Issac | 04/14 | Anu | George |
| 04/01 | Sindhu | Mathew | 04/14 | Manish | George |
| 04/02 | Sheryl | Cherian | 04/14 | Valsa | Isaac |
| 04/02 | Naina | Geno | 04/14 | Julia | John |
| 04/02 | Jerril | Jacob | 04/16 | Evan | Alex |
| 04/03 | Sapna | Cherian | 04/17 | Diana | Sam |
| 04/03 | Hanah | Edwin | 04/18 | Philip | Mathew |
| 04/03 | Anil | Jacob | 04/19 | Nyla | Mathew |
| 04/03 | Neil | Johnson | 04/19 | Bejoy | Oomman |
| 04/03 | Jose | Mathai | 04/20 | Rachel | Varghese |
| 04/04 | Dinil | Joy | 04/21 | Marykutty | John |
| 04/05 | Lisha | Paul | 04/21 | Siju | Oonnunny |
| 04/06 | Anjali | Abraham | 04/21 | Nisha | Roy |
| 04/06 | Nathan | George | 04/21 | Raymond | Roy |
| 04/06 | Jessica | Samuel | 04/21 | Jacob | Varghis |
| 04/07 | Boby | Alex | 04/22 | Rachel | Eapen |
| 04/08 | Regan | Abraham | 04/22 | Bindu | Edwin |
| 04/08 | Mathew | Jacob | 04/23 | Rachel | Jacob |
| 04/08 | Chacko | Kuruvilla | 04/23 | Annie | Johny |
| 04/08 | Roji | Roy | 04/24 | David | Cherian |
| 04/09 | Hannah | Abraham | 04/24 | Joshua | Cherian |
| 04/09 | Justis | George | 04/24 | Joel | George |
| 04/09 | Ann | Philip | 04/24 | Zachariah | Jacob |
| 04/09 | Matthew | Tharakan | 04/24 | Leny | Mathew |
| 04/10 | Pothen | Joseph | 04/24 | Devin | Thomas |
| 04/11 | Andrew | Kurian | 04/25 | Jijoe | Vurghese |
| 04/11 | Yohan | Saji | 04/26 | Ryan | Abraham |
| 04/11 | Chacko | Samuel | 04/27 | Lesly | John |
| 04/11 | Philip | Thomas | 04/27 | James | Thomas |
| 04/12 | Mathews | George | 04/28 | Rebecca | Abraham |
| 04/12 | Meena | George | 04/28 | Naveen | George |
| 04/12 | Mathai | Mathews | 04/28 | Roy | Philip |
| 04/13 | Sujit | Isaac | 04/28 | Jaison | Thomas |
| 04/13 | Rency | Joseph | 04/30 | Rency | Roy |
| 04/14 | Rebecca | Abraham |
Crossword
Bible portion: Mt. 4:12-17, Mk. 1:14-15, Lk.4:14-15, Jn. 3-4 NIV
Contact: Maya Mathews secretary @ marhomasf.org MTC SF Parish Secretary MTCSF