NEWSLETTER VOL. XLVI NO. 9

Vicar: Rev. Jubin Varghese [[email protected]]

Secretary: Mr. John Abraham [[email protected]]

Trustees: [[email protected]]

stthomasmtcny.org

Sept 2026

Lectionary

Important Days

Date Lesson 1 Lesson 2 Epistle Gospel

Sun, 6th, 2026 Proverbs 2: 1-12 1 Cor 1: 18-25 2 Peter 1: 3-11 St. Luke 5: 1-11

Mon, 7th, 2026 Exodus 36: 1-13 Acts 9: 36-43 James 5: 1-6 St. John 4: 34-38

Sun, 13th, 2026 Judges 4:1-10 Romans 16: 1-15 Acts 1: 12-14 St. John 12: 1-8

Sun, 20th, 2026 Joshua 14: 6-15 Phili 3: 12-16 Eph 6: 10-17 St. John 21: 18-23

Mon, 21st, 2026 Isaiah 4: 1-6 Rev 4: 4-11 I Thess 1:2-6 St. Matt 13: 44-52

Sun, 27th, 2026 Exodus 14: 10-25 Acts 27: 9-25 1 Peter 5: 6-11 St. Mark 4: 35-41

Sun, Sept 6th, 2026

Education Sunday

Education for Transformation of Life

Fifteenth Sunday after Feast of Pentecost

Mon, Sept 7th, 2026 Labor Day (USA & Canada)

Sun, Sept 13th, 2026

Sevika Sangham Day

Women who Trust God: Fearless and Faithful

Sixteenth Sunday after the Feast of Pentecost

Sun, Sept 20th, 2026

Senior Citizen Sunday

Productive Living: The Best is Yet to Come

Seventeenth Sunday after the Feast of Pentecost

Mon, Sept 21st, 2026 St. Matthew’s Day

Sun, Sept 27th, 2026

God’s Unfailing Presence in Crises

Eighteenth Sunday after the Feast of Pentecost

Formation Day of the Church of South India (CSI)

United in Service

Building Fund

The Building permit from the City is approved!!!

Work needs to start soon!!

Families who have not donated yet are requested to immediately

contribute $1,100 towards Capital Improvement.

Please submit your contributions to the Trustees

via Check

Zelle

to:

[email protected]

Parish RETREAT!

Dates: Oct 29

, 30

& 31

VENUE: Blue Mountain

Christian Retreat & Conf. Center, PA

Cost: $275 per Adult,

$210 for Children 13 to 17,

$145 for 12 and below.

Date Time Worship

Sun,

Sept 6

930 AM English Holy Communion Service

Sun,

Sept 13

9:00 AM

English Holy Communion Service

Sevika Sangham Sunday

Sun,

Sept 20

9:00 AM

Malayalam Holy Communion Service

Senior Citizens Sunday

Sun,

Sept 27

9:30 AM Malayalam Holy Communion Service

Worship Service Schedule

Area Prayer

Area

Date &

Time

Locaon

Upper

Westchester/CT

Saturday

Sept 12th,

06:30 PM

Via Zoom

Zoom Meeting ID: 810 727 9153

Passcode: 494439

Yonkers East

(Central Ave)

Saturday

Sept, 19th

06:30 PM

Mr. Varghese Jacob

28 Montclair Road, Yonkers, NY

(914) 968-3569

Rockland

Sunday

Sept, 20th

06:30 PM

Mr. Aju Daniel

72 Old Middletown Rd, Yonkers, NY

(914) 255-8478

Parish Convention

Dates: Oct 23

, 24

& 25

Main Speaker: Dr. Sam Samuel

Venue: St. Thomas MTC, NY

My Dear St. Thomas Family,

Greetings to you all in the precious name of our Lord

and Savior Jesus Christ.

As we enter the month of September, I thank God for His

abundant blessings and unfailing mercy throughout the

past month. His faithfulness has been evident in every step

of our parish life, and we give Him all the glory.

I am truly grateful that our Parish Picnic was a wonderful success. It was a

joyful day of fellowship, laughter, and togetherness. My sincere thanks to eve-

ryone who attended and to all those who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to

make the day memorable. Your dedication and spirit of service are a blessing

to our church family.

Our trip to Lancaster to watch the “Joshua” show was another unforgettable

experience. It was spiritually enriching and gave us a wonderful opportunity to

travel, worship, and grow together in Christian fellowship.

I also thank God for the Senior Citizens’ Picnic, where our senior members

enjoyed a beautiful day of friendship, encouragement, and joyful fellowship.

Their faith and commitment continue to inspire our entire parish family.

September is an important month for many families as schools and colleges

reopen. Our Sunday School classes will also begin again. Let us remember all

our children, youth, teachers, and parents in our daily prayers, asking God to

grant them wisdom, protection, and spiritual growth. We will ob-

serve Education Sunday on September 6, praying especially for all those

involved in education.

On September 7, our parish will organize a Labor Day Community Barbe-

cue. This is a wonderful opportunity to welcome our neighbors, build friend-

ships, and share Christ’s love with our community. I encourage everyone to

participate and support this outreach ministry.

Our Onam Celebration will be held on Sunday, September 13, organized by

the Yuvajana Sakhyam. Let us come together as one family to celebrate our

rich heritage with gratitude and joy.

We will also celebrate Sevika Sangham Day on September 13 and Senior

Citizens’ Sunday on September 20. We thank God for the faithful ministry of

our women and senior members, whose prayers, service, and witness continue

to strengthen our church.

Finally, I thank God for each one of you. Your prayers, love, commitment, and

faithful participation make our parish a vibrant family in Christ. Let us contin-

ue to walk together in faith, serve one another with humility, and shine as the

light of Christ in our community.

May our gracious Lord bless you and your families with good health, wisdom,

peace, and abundant joy. May His love guide you throughout this month.

With gratitude and prayers,

Jubin Achen

Vicar’s Message

Youth Chaplain’s Corner

In the name of the Father, Son and Holy

Spirit — One True God!

Dearly beloved in Christ,

I recently returned from a short trip to Portugal,

where I had the honor of officiating a wedding, and

one moment that has especially stayed with me hap-

pened around a table.

On my last night in Portugal, I was standing alone in

line for a quick dinner before heading back to the

hotel when a group I had met earlier noticed me

again and invited me to join them for tapas. And to be honest, there is some-

thing about tapas that naturally draws people in. Small plates arrive one after

another, hands reach across the table, food is passed around, and without even

trying, stories begin to start. One after another. Somewhere between the food,

laughter, and conversation, people from different parts of the world who had

only just met began to feel like friends rather than strangers.

That experience reminded me of something very simple: sharing a meal brings

people together.

That may be why meals have always carried a meaning that goes beyond the

food itself. Around a table we make room for one another. We listen, we

share, we laugh, and relationships begin to form. Perhaps that is also one rea-

son meals have such an important place in our faith and in the life of our com-

munity.

GATHERED AROUND A TABLE

When we think about it that way, one of the most important things that hap-

pens in our Church Sunday after Sunday takes on an even deeper meaning: the

celebration of Holy Communion. We know the Holy Qurbana as a sacrament

and a holy mystery. Yet within this mystery is something wonderfully simple:

Christ gathers us around His Table.

We see this from the earliest days of the Church. In Acts 2, the faith of the

early believers was not lived in isolation. They prayed together, shared what

they had, broke bread, and became a community centered in Christ. Their fel-

lowship was not simply about occupying the same space. Their life together

was part of what it meant to belong to Christ.

But as beautiful as that picture is, Acts also makes clear that living in fellow-

ship was not always easy. In Acts 10-11, Peter and the early Church are chal-

lenged to move beyond boundaries that had once seemed immovable. God was

teaching His Church that following Christ would also mean changing how

they saw and received one another, as the fellowship Christ was creating re-

quired them to make room for people they had not expected.

And if we are honest, we are still learning that lesson...

It is one thing to gather around a table when friendship comes easily. It is an-

other thing altogether when there has been hurt, disagreement, or division.

What happens to fellowship then? Can a table still bring people together when

something has already pulled them apart?

WHEN A MEAL BECOMES RECONCILIATION

There is a traditional practice among the Maasai

Continued on page 6 …

people that offers a beautiful picture of this.

When two families have been divided by a serious offence, both prepare food

and, accompanied by community members, bring it to the village center. There

the food is exchanged and eaten together as part of their reconciliation. The

shared meal marks the possibility of a new beginning in their relationship.

And that brings me back to what happened in Portugal, but now from another

direction. Around one table, strangers became friends. Among the Maasai, a

shared meal can help those who have been divided begin again. And every

Sunday, we too are invited to a Table.

But this Table belongs to Christ.

We do not approach it as isolated individuals. We come carrying our joys and

burdens, our relationships and disagreements, and sometimes wounds that

have been with us for years. Beside us are many whose lives may be very dif-

ferent from our own, yet Christ brings us together as His people. That means

our communion with Christ must say something about how we live with one

another.

There may be someone I need to forgive. There may be someone from whom I

need to ask forgiveness. There may even be someone I have kept at a distance

for so long that I have become comfortable with the distance. And perhaps that

is where the Lord’s Table begins to challenge us. It does not allow us to be-

come too comfortable with the things that keep us apart.

FROM THE ALTAR INTO OUR LIVES

Because what happens at the altar is never meant to remain only at the altar.

The peace we receive is meant to leave the Church with us. The same is true of

the mercy and grace God has shown us. Little by little, these gifts should begin

to shape the way we speak, forgive, welcome, and live with one another.

This is where Holy Communion becomes more than something we receive on

Sunday. It begins to shape the people we are becoming throughout the rest of

the week.

So, as we approach the Holy Qurbana, Sunday after Sunday, the question is

simple: If Christ has brought us together around His Table, what should that

change about how I live with the people around me?

St. Paul puts it beautifully, “Because there is one bread, we who are many are

one body, for we all partake of the one bread.”-1 Corinthians 10:17 21There is

one Bread, one Body, and a place at Christ’s Table where we are reminded that

we belong not only to Him, but also to one another.

May God help us to approach Holy Communion more meaningfully each Sun-

day, with gratitude, humility, reconciliation, and love. And may the commun-

ion we receive at His Table become the communion we learn to live with one

another beyond it.

God bless us,

J. Varghese Achen

(516) 532-6115

….Continued from Page 5

Youth Fellowship - Labor Day BBQ on sept 7

Young Families Fellowship - TBA

Yuvajana Sakhyam Fellowship - TBA

Sevika Sangham & Edavaka Mission

Senior Citizens Fellowship

Yuvajana Sakhyam

Sunday School - Important Dates

Date Location

Thursday

Sept, 3rd, 06:30 PM

Via Zoom

Zoom Meeting ID: 810 727 9153

Passcode: 494439

Thursday

Sept 17th, 10:00 AM

Mr. John K. Abraham

32 Eckerson Lane, Spring Valley, NY

(845) 426-2327

 Sept 6th : Students & Teachers Dedication & Offertory.

 Sept 6th: Sunday School Anniversary

 North East Sunday School Talent Fest on Sept 26th at St. Thomas

MTC, starting at 9:00 AM

Sunday School Starts at 11:30 in Sanctuary after English Services

Sunday School starts at 11:30 in Basement during Malayalam Services

Date & Time Locaon

Friday

Sept 4th, 10:00 AM

Church

Friday

Sept 18th, 10:00 AM

Church

Friday

Sept, 25th, 10:00 AM

Church

TBD Meeng TBD

Sevika Sangham

Sevika Sangham Retreat

Friday Sept 11th

10:00 AM

At Church

Farmers Market

Sunday Sept 6th

After service

At Church

Sept Birthday

Bronx/Yonkers South/West

Jazlynn Mary 755 Delano Rd 3

Mrs. Milita Alice Sumitra 655 East 228 St, Apt #4F 13

Mr. Raju Varghese 133 Van Cortland Pk. Ave. 17

Mr. Joby K. Chacko 68 Linn Avenue 18

Mrs. Santhamma George 396 Beleuve Ave 18

Mr. Thomas P. John 46 Leroy Avenue 19

Mr. Anson Joseph 30 Post Street. Apt 5G 19

Mr. Mathew David 14 Sunset Dr 22

Mr. Idiculla Daniel 245 Rumsey Road, Apt #6G 30

Manhattan/New Jersey

Mr. Alexander Philip Thomas 40 Haggerty Drive 5

Ms. Sara Mary Koshy 33 Third Avenue 15

Mr. Simon Ninan 829 Derius Drive 20

Mr. Ryan Patrick Curran 39 Hickory Hill Ct 29

Mrs. Sara Mathews 10 Freeman St 29

Queens/Long Island

Mr. Alen Abraham 1421 Alpha Street 9

Mrs. Silgi Varghese 17 Wendell St 15

Rockland

Ms. Sheryl Merrin Johnson 5 Sandhauge Drive 1

Mrs. Aleyamma Thomas 248 Betsy Ross Dr 4

Ms. Angela Cherian 3 Stern Place 10

Mr. Nevin Binu 22 Old Brick Road 11

Mrs. Annamma Thomas 26 N De Baun Ave Unit 308 12

Mr. Victor Isaiah Chacko 51 Alexander Drive 13

Mr. Vinay Chacko Joseph 9 Spray Court 14

Mrs. Annie Varughese 3 Blithe Ct. 15

Mr. Domy Philip 29 North Park Terrace 20

Mr. Joel J. Oommen 892 Route 9W 25

Ms. Rebecca Abigail Kurian 29 Rosewood Drive 29

Mr. P. T. Thomas 10 Carbery Court 29

Upper Westchester/CT

Mrs. Leelamma Kuruvilla 5 Overhill Road 3

Mr. Johnson S. Parayil 232 Carol Avenue 3

Mrs. Jimmy Parie 5 Overhill Road 4

Mrs. Susy A. Mathew 6 Glen Avenue 5

Mr. Christin K Mathews 18 Bradhurst Ave 7

Mrs. Annamma Kochumman 288 Fisher Ave 11

Annie Binoy 288 Fisher Ave 15

Mr. Babu Kurian 1822 Morris Lane 18

Mr. Nathaniel Thomas 1 Walnut Ave 21

Mrs. Chachy J. Parayil 232 Carol Avenue 22

Mrs. Juhi George 111 Centre Ave Apt 725 24

Mrs. Aleyamma E. Chacko 16 Vincent St 28

Mrs. Timble M. Mathew 135 Linn Ave 28

Yonkers East

Mrs. Jane Josen 189 Round Hill Drive 7

Ms. Keria Rosalie Varghese 108 Cook Ave 9

Mrs. Laura Beth Fitzsimmons 108 Cook Ave 17

Mrs. Sofi George 55 Patton Drive 18

Mr. Ashin Eapen Shaji 70 Juana Street 19

Mr. Thomas V. Varghese 1055 Dobbs Ferry Rd. 23

Mr. Alan George Daniel 29 Woodrow Dr. 24

Mr. Jayden Jacob George 55 Patton Drive 27

Ms. Ashley Madathil 23 Linda Lane 30

Yonkers North

Mr. Samuel K. Samuel 63 Price Street 2

Mrs. Mariamma C Thomas 385 Prescott Street 8

Mr. Thomas Mathew 65 Curtis Lane 12

Mr. Varghese M. Yohannan 10 Hudson view Drive 13

Mr. Chacko Arun Andrews 17 Argyle Terrace 14

Mrs. Sarah Mathew 194 Osmun Place 14

Mr. Jonathan V. Mathew 2 Nassau Rd Apt 1 16

Mr. Johann V. Mathew 2 Nassau Rd Apt 1 16

Mr. Robin George 36 Lawrence Dr, Apt B 17

Ms. Hannah Easow 55 Old Mill Rd 22

Sept Birthday

Sept Wedding Anniversary

Bronx/Yonkers South/West

Mr. Saji Jacob & Mrs. Susan Jacob 7

245 Rumsey Road apt 2L

Mr. Samuel George & Mrs. Sosamma Samuel 8

26 Post Street Apt. 4A

Mr. Mathew David & Mrs. Mariamma Mathew 11

14 Sunset Dr

Mr. Thomas Chacko & Mrs. Marykutty Chacko 26

181 Devoe Avenue

Sept Wedding Anniversary

Manhattan/New Jersey

Mr. Johnson Varghese & Mrs. Jasmine Varghese 6

1758 W 5th St

Queens/Long Island

Mr. Benjie Varghese & Mrs. Silgi Varghese 1

17 Wendell St

Rockland

Mr. Richard James Kalita & Mrs. Sophia Varghese 2

6 Walnut Ct

Mr. Sanjo Shyam & Mrs. Sherin Elza Raju 11

21 Tamar Dr

Mr. Jacob Oommen & Mrs. Lali Jacob Oommen 17

892 Route 9W

Mr. Sony Mathew Jacob & Ms. Lincy Marie Jacob 19

306 Quidor Court

Mr. Joseph Koshy & Mrs. Susamma Koshy 20

86 Susan Drive

Mr. Monzy Daniel & Mrs. Annie Monzy 22

10 Edison Court, Apt G, BLDG 1

Mr. Sujin Samuel & Mrs. Liya S. Samuel 29

5 Spruce Drive

Upper Westchester/CT

Mr. Saji Kochumman & Mrs. Reni Saji 3

288 Fisher Ave

Mr. Bejoy Chacko & Mrs. Elizabeth Chacko 4

52 High Street

Mr. John C. Thomas & Mrs. Shuba Thomas 23

90 Mayfair Road

Yonkers East

Mr. Varghese Jacob & Mrs. Mini Jacob 19

28 Montclair Road

Mr. Abey Varughese & Mrs. Mini Aby Varughese 30

2210 Central Park Ave. #2

Yonkers North

Mr. Samuel K. Samuel & Mrs. Mary Samuel 8

63 Price Street

Mr. Mathew V. Zacharia & Mrs. Elizabeth R. Zacharia 13

11 Lake View Ave,

Condolences:

Mr. Saji George, father of our member, Mr. Sandeep Abraham, was called to

eternal rest on Aug 5th in Vadasserikkara, Kerala at the age of 68. Funeral

services were held in Vadasserikkara on the 8th.

Mrs. Podiyamma George, sister of our member Mrs. Annamma Thannickal,

was called to eternal rest on Aug 8th in Kerala, at the age of 92.

Our member Mr. Monylal Georgekutty, was called to eternal rest on Aug

24th in Karimpinpuzha, Kerala at the age of 72. Funeral services were held

on Aug 28th in Kerala.

On Behalf of the parish, I express our sincere condolences. May the ever-

lasng Grace and Peace of our Lord Jesus Christ bring comfort to the bereav-

ing families during this dicult me.

PARISH PICNIC

VBS

EBS

September Coloring Activity for Kids (ages below 13)

You can print out this page and color the picture and you can

submit it to the Vicar in person.

Age: _______ Name: __________________________________

Address: ____________________________________________

Executive Committee 2026

Position Name Home Phone

Vicar / President Rev. Jubin Varghese (914) 450-3162

Vice President Mr. Thomas Oommen (914) 552-6566

Secretary Mr. John Abraham (914) 772-8824

Treasurer Mr. Ullas P. Thannickal (845) 300-5810

Accountant Mr. Sunil M. Varughese (845) 598-3994

Lay Leader - Malayalam Mr. Josen Joseph (914) 907-1190

Lay Leader - English Mr. Saju V. Mathew (845) 671-1820

AREA PRAYER GROUP REPRESENTATIVES

Manhattan/NJ not elected

Queens/LI Mr. T.P. Jacob (516) 554-1809

Rockland Mr. Varghese Oommen (845) 300-8153

Rockland Mr. Sabu Joseph (914) 364-6241

Upper Westchester/CT Dr. Geevarghese Kochumman (914) 629-7341

Upper Westchester/CT Mr. Thankachen Geevarghese (914) 417-1273

Yonkers East Mr. Jacob Vaidian (917) 757-4077

Yonkers North Mr. Cherian Varughese (914) 316-2439

Yonkers West/South/Bronx Mr. Thomas John (914) 662-7535

MANDALAM & DIOCESAN REPRESENTATIVES

Sabha Mandalam Mr. Biju P. Varughese (845) 596-0537

Diocesan Representatives Mr. P.T. Thomas (845) 596-3030

Mrs. Leena Daniel (914) 441-8233

ORGANIZATIONAL REPRESENTATIVES

Choir Mr. Danny Eapen (914) 338-6708

Edavaka Mission Mr. Thankachen Geevarghese (914) 417-1273

Senior Citizen Fellowship Mr. George M. Varkey (845) 641-4754

Sevika Sangham Mrs. Rachel Varghese (914) 525-1178

Sunday School Mr. Sajan Abraham (917) 304-2121

Youth Fellowship Mr. Shyju Varughese (845) 461-4421

Young Family Fellowship Mr. John Abraham (914) 772-8824

Yuvajana Sakhyam Mr. Manoj T. Mathew (914) 229-1433

AUDITORS

Mr. M.C. Chacko (845) 300-1762

Mr. Sunil M. Thomas (973) 985-2812

STAMP!

THANK S FOR

PICKING UP

NEWSLETTERS.

YOU ARE

HELPING THE

CHURCH SAVE.

EVERY PENNY

COUNTS.

St Thomas Mar Thoma Church, NY

34 Morris Street

Yonkers, NY 10705