“There are different abilities to perform service, but the same God gives ability to everyone for their particular service.” 1 Corinthians 12:6
Achen, and Sevika Sangham ladies,
While giving thanks to a gracious God, I feel honoured to take on this role as the newly installed Secretary of the Carmel MarThoma Church Sevika Sangham, for this year, starting now.
Thank you, to the many, who placed their confidence in me, if I disappoint at any time, you’re welcome to call it.
Having served as the Vice President of this organization for two years (under KC Varughese Achen and then Sam achen), and subsequently as the Prayer-coordinator for four (from Sam Achen’s tenure to Manoj Achen’s), I’m committed to the role Sevika Sangham plays in the church lives of our female folk, women getting together in Christian sisterhood, and studying God’s Word in depth.
So this, in that context, was an acceptable transition.
This calls on me to pay due acknowledgement to those who went before me in this secretary role, and paved the way.
First, and without equivocation, i want to thank Thankam George for her tireless and passionate efforts to keep this organization fully engaged and energized, and for a bit more than the past decade. The Sangham has grown significantly under her leadership, and I offer our deep-felt thanks for her dedication, on behalf of all of us.
I also want to recognize Annama (Kunjumol) Mathew, Saji Varghese, Molly Kurien, Susan Lukose, and Sumam George who held the secretary mantle for the decade prior,
and the many unsung heroes from a decade and half before that, whose names I may be unintentionally missing. Apologies offered.
There are also many other tasks and titles and roles within this organization, that several have performed with sincere commitment.
We are where we are because of the cumulative efforts of every single one of them. You may know who you are. Thank you, and God Bless.
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In this regard, my personal testimony starts: (The past informs the present)
with KU Abraham Achen, (now Abraham mar Paulose Thirumeni), who walked us through (in Gracy Varghese’s house in Cambridge MA), 1 Corinthians Chapter 12, and the Gifts Of The Holy Spirit, in a way i had never deliberated before,
Ike Achen, who at Walker Center, intellectually carried us through the role Ruth played in Judaic history, and the prophetic lineage of The Messiah, when she aligned herself with God’s plan to a T,
KC Achen, and his striking lesson (among many) on Mary and Elizabeth, two women in times of extreme distress, greeted each other with all the cheer they could muster, lifting each other up,
Sam Achen, who forever imprinted on my mind that, God’s Chosen, no matter what befalls them, will never be destroyed: ‘The Bush Was Burning But Not Consumed‘,
Seena Kochama, who admonished us that, making vows to God that cannot be kept, may have ill consequences, as in the case of Jephthah and his daughter,
Denny Achen, who opened our eyes wide, (as he did so many occasions): to the first two and the most poignant questions God ever asked man, ‘Where Are You?’ and ‘Where Is Your Brother?‘ Everything rests on these: our relationship with God and our relationship with our fellow man. Does it get any better?
And dear Manoj Achen, posited from the pulpit, it’s not sufficient to just have Faith, we have to Trust. Both different if we really think about it, and i actually do, now.
And Theodosius Thirumeni, who helped us re-imagine, that the first ‘church-hood’ was founded at the Foot Of The Cross, when our Lord entrusted disciple John and mother Mary, two who were not blood-related, to each other’s care.
Euyakim mar Coorilose Thirumeni, who posed to us the question, ‘who do we consider the ‘most blessed’ among us’, and led us to the stunning supposition, it’s not the most worldly acclaimed or endowed, rather a woman who saw her son crucified.
I thank so much Thomas John Achen, our Vicar, for his support, spiritual guidance, and continued heart-felt prayers.
‘The Royal Priesthood’.
However imperfect a journey it has been for me, a set of parents, sitting flanked by Gabriel and Mikha-el, are nodding in approval. This is for them.
p.s. A serious effort was made to make our e-ID list a bit more complete. If a name is missing, please alert.
I promise the future emails won’t be this long.
With prayers, and asking for the same back…
Mercy Mariam Koshy
Secretary 2020, Carmel MarThoma Church Sevika Sangham
mercy's musings 