From Vicar's Desk
From Vicar's Desk
Message:
Dearly Beloved in Christ,
Greetings in the precious name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
As we approach the concluding months of this year, our hearts are naturally drawn toward two Thanksgiving and Christmas. These are not merely festive observances marked by gratitude and joy, but sacred reminders of how divine providence and human response meet in the rhythm of faith.
The occasion of Thanksgiving invites us to pause and reflect on God's countless mercies. The Psalmist's words still echo through the centuries: "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits" (Psalm 103: 2). True thanksgiving arises not from abundance, but from awareness that every blessing, opportunity, and even every trial carries within it the fingerprints of God. The Pilgrims who first celebrated Thanksgiving in 1621 did so not out of plenty, but out of perseverance. Their gratitude came from faith in God's sustaining grace. Similarly, as Epiphany parish, we are called to give thanks not only for what we have received but for how God continues to mold and guide us through each season of change. In that spirit, we shall gather as one family on Thursday, November 28, for a Special Holy Communion Service, offering our collective thanksgiving to God who has led us thus far. We prefer to have our people who can't make it to regular Sunday worship services be helped to come and join in the worship. The Holy Eucharist reminds us that gratitude lies at the heart of Christian worship. The Greek word for Holy Communion Eucharist itself means "thanksgiving." Each time we partake in the Lord's Table, we proclaim that all life, with its joys and sorrows, is redeemed through Christ's love.
As we step into Advent and Christmas, we move from gratitude to grace, from thanksgiving to incarnation. The Carol Rounds, beginning by the last Saturday of November, will bring the joy of the angels; "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward all" (Luke 2: 14) into the homes of our members. These visits are not merely musical traditions but acts of witness and fellowship, as we carry the message of Christ's birth from house to house, heart to heart.
Our Christmas Carol Service on December 20 will be a culmination of that joy. It should be a moment to gather as one community to sing of the Word who "became flesh and dwelt among us" (John 1: 14). The early Church Fathers called the Incarnation mirabile commercium, "the wonderful exchange" through which divinity touched humanity so that humanity might share in the divine. Christmas, then, is not simply a celebration of a birth long ago; it is a call to live incarnationally, to embody God's love, humility, and compassion in the world around us.
As we close the year, we look forward to the Watch Night Service on December 31, led by our Yuvajana Sakhyam, beginning with praise and worship at 8: 00 p.m., followed by moments of witnessing, reflection, and Holy Communion. Watch Night is not merely a transition between two dates, rather it is a spiritual threshold between what has been and what is yet to come. John Wesley described such covenant services as opportunities for believers to renew their commitment to God's mission with sincerity and resolve. In the quiet of that sacred night, as we look back on God's faithfulness and forward to new beginnings, we will reaffirm together: "The best of all is, God is with us."
This year marks a pivotal chapter in the life of Epiphany Mar Thoma Church. Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and with the prayerful decision of our General Body, we are relocating from Ozone Park to Levittown, New York. Such a transition is never merely logistical; it is deeply theological. From the time of Abraham, who was called to leave his familiar homeland to go "to the land that I will show you" (Genesis 12: 1), God's people have always been a pilgrim community, a people on the move.
Our relocation, therefore, symbolizes a step of faith and renewal. It is both a continuation of our legacy and an expansion of our mission. The move to Levittown invites us to envision a broader outreach, to engage with new neighborhoods, and to strengthen our identity as a worshiping, witnessing, and serving community. As St. Augustine once wrote, "The Church is not a place, but a people united by the love of God." Yet, to gather as that people, we need a space where our faith can take visible form. We need a sanctuary where our prayers rise, our children grow, and our mission flourishes.
I urge all parish members to pray fervently, donate generously, and participate wholeheartedly in this journey. Every prayer offered, every contribution made, and every hour of voluntary service rendered is an act of worship will be an investment in the Kingdom of God. As Nehemiah reminded his people when they rebuilt Jerusalem's walls, "The God of heaven will give us success. We His servants will arise and build" (Nehemiah 2: 20). Let that same spirit of unity and purpose inspire us.
In moving forward, we must remember that the Church's vitality does not come from its structures but from its Spirit. The early Church flourished not because it had buildings, but because it had believers who were aflame with the Gospel. The Apostle Paul reminds us, "You are God's building… built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone" (Ephesians 2: 20). Our relocation, therefore, is not about transferring stones and bricks. It is about renewing our foundation of faith and rededicating ourselves to the mission of Christ in a changing world.
Let us hold fast to a vision that looks beyond ourselves. The new location in Levittown must not only serve our members but become a beacon of hope and hospitality to all. In a world fragmented by fear, loneliness, and division, the Church must stand as a living testimony to reconciliation and love. Dietrich Bonhoeffer once said, "The Church is only the Church when it exists for others." May this be the guiding principle of our new beginning.
As we move through Thanksgiving, Advent, and into the New Year, may our hearts echo the words of the prophet Isaiah: "Enlarge the place of your tent… do not hold back; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes" (Isaiah 54: 2). God is calling us to expand our vision, strengthen our faith, and deepen our commitment to His mission. In every transition; whether personal, spiritual, or communal, God walks before us. The same God who guided the Israelites through the wilderness and the shepherds to Bethlehem continues to guide His people today. Change may feel uncertain, but the promise of Christ remains constant: "I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28: 20). As we journey together into a new chapter of faith, may gratitude shape our worship, generosity shape our action, and grace shape our witness. Let us be a church that remembers its past with thanksgiving, lives its present with purpose, and embraces its future with faith.
Wishing you and your families a blessed season of gratitude, joy, and renewal in Christ Jesus.
In Christ's Service,
Rev. Dr. Pramod Zachariah
Vicar
Epiphany Mar Thoma Church, New York
Our Parish History
The first approved congregation in North America started as the Mar Thoma-Church of South India prayer group. The congregation, the Mar Thoma Church of Greater New York, met for worship service at the All Saints Lutheran church in Jamaica in the borough of Queens in New York City. After conducting worship services briefly at a worship place in Manhattan, the congregation moved in 1974 to a Presbyterian Church near 174th Street in Fort Washington, at the north end of the Manhattan borough of NYC, and it was its abode until the congregation was divided into four parishes.
