Kansas Mar Thoma Started as a congregation in 1997 at the St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Shawnee.
Rev. Sajan P Mathew worked as our first Vicar. Our services were on fifth Sunday in the beginning. We had a priest sharing arrangement with Des Moines Mar Thoma Congregation. After the conclusion of our Holy Communion service, one of our parishioner will drop Achen in Bethany and a parishioner from Des Moines will pick up and drop them back.
Late Rt. Rev Dr. Zacharias Mar Theophilos Episcopa Thirumeni had an Episcopal visit to our church in 1998. The Holy communion was celebrated in St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Shawnee, and was attended by members from different denominations/churches.
As Mar Thoma Congregation was the only Kerala congregation at that time, members from other denominations also attended our services.
Rev. Philip Mathew from Dallas Farmers branch became our vicar for 2000 to 2003. During this time the worship service was moved to St. Aidan’s Episcopal church, Olathe as this Church was closer to the members from Olathe.
Rt. Rev. Dr. Euyakim Mar Coorilos Episcopa visited the Kansas Congregation in 2003 for few days. After the visit, Thirumeni travelled to Des Moines, Iowa and spend couple of days with the members of the DesMoines Congregation.
From 2003 to 2006, Rev. T.K. John from Oklahoma City Mar Thoma Church worked as our Vicar. We also added picnic and other activities to our congregation activities. We also started using electronic notifications instead of snail mail. (Mar Thoma Congregation e-mail notification)
Rev. V.T. John became our vicar from 2006 to 2010 and we also started once a month service, as Achen was serving four Churches during this time.
During this time we registered our church with IRS as a non profit organization after creating the bylaws with the help of Attorney, Lal Varghese. We also registered our congregation with the Kansas State as a non profit organization.
Rev. Dr. Philip Varghese became our vicar from 2010 to 2012, while serving as the vicar of North Carolina Mar Thoma Church. Achen served a second week every month for a few months. (2 Holy Communion services per month)
Rt. Rev. Dr. Geevarghese Mar Theodosius Episcaopa visited us on Oct 10, 11- 2009 and celebrated the Holy Communion Service in St. Luke’s Episcopal Church. Thirumeni also visited us on Novemebr 12 and 13- 2010 and Mar 16 and 17-2012 and Sunday Sept 13th 2015.
We expanded our activities not to mention, VBS, Sunday School, Retreat, first fruit auction, Picnic, Convention, Christmas Carol etc.
Rev. Renu John served us from from 2012-2014, while he served as the vicar of 3 churches, North Carolina, St. Louis and Kansas. During this time also we had 2 communion services per month.
We also started divine service in the Church during the other Sundays.
Rev. Jaison Thomas served us our vicar from 2014-2015.
Rev. George Cherian became our vicar in 2015-2016 while working as the Midwest youth chaplain.
Rev. Christopher Phil Daniel became our vicar from 2016 to 2021, while serving as the Midwest youth chaplain.
Rt. Rev. Dr. Isac Mar Philexinose Episcopa visited us on Nov 3rd 2018 and April 16, 2023.
For several years, we had guest Achens on the alternate Sundays.
During this time, we had a discussion about increasing our Holy Communion Service to two weeks and after discussing with St. Louis Church and Diocesan Episcopa, our Church was partnered with St. Louis Church and Rev. Thomas Mathew became our vicar for 2021-2024.
From 2024, Rev. Varghese John is working as our vicar.
Our Activities in a nut shell.
Every week, we have programs-Prayer fellowship, Lent and Passion week services, Sunday School, Youth meetings, Sevika Sangam, Edavaka Mission, Senior citizen Fellowship, VBS, English and Malayalam Choir, Church retreat, Picnic, Mar Thoma – CSI joint services, KAKC Christmas program participation, Ecumenical Carol, Church Christmas carol and other activities.
We also actively participate in Charity events.
Kansas Mar Thoma Congregation Timeline
| Year | Milestone/Event |
|---|---|
| 1997 | Congregation started at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Shawnee. Fifth Sunday services began. |
| 1998 | Episcopal visit by Late Rt. Rev Dr. Zacharias Mar Theophilos. Holy Communion held with members from multiple denominations. |
| 2000-2003 | Rev. Philip Mathew became vicar. Worship moved to St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church, Olathe. |
| 2003 | Rt. Rev. Dr. Euyakim Mar Coorilos visited; traveled to Des Moines congregation. |
| 2003-2006 | Rev. T.K. John became vicar. Congregation introduced picnics and email notifications. |
| 2006-2010 | Rev. V.T. John became vicar. Services expanded to once a month. Church registered as a nonprofit with IRS and Kansas. |
| 2010-2012 | Rev. Dr. Philip Varghese became vicar. Two Holy Communion services per month began. |
| 2009, 2010, 2012, 2015 | Episcopal visits by Rt. Rev. Dr. Geevarghese Mar Theodosius. |
| 2012-2014 | Rev. Renu John became vicar. Divine services introduced on non-Communion Sundays. |
| 2014-2015 | Rev. Jaison Thomas became vicar. |
| 2015-2016 | Rev. George Cherian became vicar while serving as Midwest youth chaplain. |
| 2016-2021 | Rev. Christopher Phil Daniel became vicar. |
| 2018, 2023 | Episcopal visits by Rt. Rev. Dr. Isac Mar Philexinose. |
| 2021-2024 | Church partnered with St. Louis congregation. Rev. Thomas Mathew became vicar. Holy Communion increased to twice a month. |
| 2024-Present | Rev. Varghese John is vicar. Weekly activities include prayer fellowship, choir, retreats, charity participation. |