Text Box: 70 Cedar Lane, Teaneck, NJ 07666 Phone: 201-837-2200 Volume. XX No:03 March 2008 St. Peter's Mar Thoma ChurchText Box: ~Vicar’s Message~ Dearly beloved in Christ,   Greetings! World Day of Prayer is a worldwide ecumenical movement of women of many faith and traditions who come together to observe a common day of prayer each year on the first Friday of March. This year it is observed on  Friday March 7th, and the theme is “God’s Wisdom  Provides  New  Understanding”.  We are in the second half of the Great Lent. March 14 is 40th Friday. The victory of Jesus over temptations through fasting and prayer is celebrated .  The Holy Week( Passion Week ) begins with ( Hosanna ) Palm Sunday. On that day the Church remembers the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem . On Maundy Thursday, Church commemorates the “Last Supper” and the institution of the Holy Communion. The service on Good Friday invites the believer to share the glory of the Cross. There is no glorification without crucifixion. There is no Easter without Good Friday. Easter is a celebration of the resurrection. The celebration of  the victory of ‘ life’ over ‘death’ and a declaration of hope and freedom  for all creation. “The Gospels do not  explain the resurrection; the resurrection explains the Gospels. Belief in the resurrection is not an appendage of the Christian  faith; it is the Christian faith”. Let the observation of Lent and Holy Week be meaningful in our lives. Let us renew our commitment to the Lord Jesus and live hopefully looking forward to the Lord’s coming, when all the faithful are gathered for His kingdom.      WISH YOU ALL A BLESSED & MEANINGFUL EASTER.     God Bless, Your loving K.V.Thomas Achen.