A Message of Hope and Gratitude

Dearly Beloved in Christ,
Greetings to you in the name of our Risen Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!

As we journey through this blessed Easter season, our hearts are filled with the assurance of resurrection hope. Easter is not merely the commemoration of an event in history, but the celebration of a living truth: “He is not here; He has risen!” (Luke 24:6). The resurrection of Christ proclaims that death is defeated, fear is conquered, and every ending marks the beginning of something new.

This message of Easter holds special meaning for us as we prepare to bid farewell to this parish. In every transition, the promise of Christ remains: “Because I live, you also will live” (John 14:19). As we step into a new phase of ministry at Ranny Nazareth Mar Thoma Church, we do so with the assurance that the Risen Lord, who leads and provides, goes before us and remains with you.

As Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” With this hope, we entrust this parish, its organizations, and each of you into the hands of our faithful Lord who promises, “Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).

The past three years have been a season of immense grace and deep joy for us as we ministered among you. We are profoundly grateful to God for the opportunity to serve this vibrant and spiritually nurturing congregation. Each moment spent here has been a chapter of learning, fellowship, and growth – for which we give thanks.

We extend our heartfelt appreciation to all the organizations of our parish – Sunday School, Yuvajana Sakhyam, Sevika Sangham, Edavaka Mission, Senior Citizens’ Fellowship, and the Choir. Your dedication and active participation have not only enriched the life of this parish but have also been a great support to our ministry.

We are especially thankful to the office bearers of the past three years, whose leadership, cooperation, and sincere efforts have played a crucial role in the smooth functioning of the parish. We also take this opportunity to acknowledge with gratitude those who assisted faithfully in the worship and the office – Mr. Roy Philipose, Revathy, Naresh, and Anand. Your quiet and consistent service behind the scenes has been a true blessing to us and to the parish.

A special word of thanks to the prayer group leaders who consistently and prayerfully arranged cottage prayers in as many homes as possible, fostering fellowship and spiritual unity within our parish. Your commitment is deeply appreciated.

We also wish to express our sincere thanks to each of you – those who encouraged us, those who constructively criticized us, and those who stood beside us in prayer and support. You have helped shape our journey in ways we will always carry forward.

Over these years, we had the privilege of working alongside three assistant vicars and their families, whose companionship and service have been invaluable: Rev. Renju Thomas Raju and family, who moved to Erode; Rev. Sanju Varughese and family, who continue their commendable work as Director of Asha Bhavan and School in Sriperumbudur; and Rev. Noble Abraham and family who will now begin a new chapter at Bristol Mar Thoma Church in the UK. We are deeply thankful to each of them and their families for the warmth and strength they brought into the life of this parish.

As we prepare to take up our new responsibilities, we gladly welcome Rev. Shaimon Elias, who will be stepping in as your new vicar; and Rev. Jince P.K., who will join in place of Rev. Noble Abraham. We pray that God’s wisdom and grace will abound in their ministry among you.

Dear members, saying goodbye is never easy. But in the resurrection hope of Christ, we know that all goodbyes are but the beginning of a new journey under God’s guidance. We carry with us memories filled with affection, laughter, tears, and testimonies of God’s faithfulness. You will always have a special place in our hearts.

May the Lord bless you and keep you. May His peace guard your hearts. Let us continue to serve the Risen Christ, wherever we are, until we meet again.

With love and gratitude,
Rev. Vinoy Daniel and family
Vicar, Madras Mar Thoma Syrian Church