Dear Friends,

The season of Lent is intended to be a period in which we try to make time in our lives for spiritual enrichment. We know that Lent is a penitential season preceding Easter. We have learned, and have been reminded, that Lent is forty days in length, excluding Sundays. It has its biblical origin in the accounts of Jesus being in the wilderness for forty days being tempted by the devil, or being tempted not to trust in God's Word. One such account was the New Testament Lesson last Sunday and is recorded in Matthew 4:1-11. Jesus took that time to pray, to contemplate and to reflect upon what it would take to live his life in accord with God's intention for his life. He painfully considered what powers there were which might keep him from doing God's will and from fulfilling his destiny. The powers of temptation represent the tendencies which, if we concede to them, keep us from a relationship with God. Therefore, Lent is a period set aside in which we seek to allow our faith to grow, and to seek the power of God's Word to have sway in our lives.

We have become people who are busier now, it seems, than were our predecessors. We find it difficult to set aside blocks of time to contemplate spiritual matters, even though we long to do so. Yet, we do need "slack-time" in order to sort out our priorities and contemplate what is truly important in our lives. Though it runs counter to our assumption that all things which make us busy are somehow good, the life of the spirit requires some concentrated time in which spiritual instruction is the priority.

A martial arts student went to his teacher and said earnestly "I am devoted to studying your martial system. How long will it take me to master it?" The teacher's reply was casual, "Ten years." Impatiently, the student answered, "But I want to master it faster than that. I will work very hard. I will practice every day, ten or more hours a day if I have to. How long will it take then?" The teacher thought a moment, then replied, "Twenty years." (A Zen Story).

The point is that some things simply cannot be done in a hurry. We have become a people who want rewards for our efforts instantly and, somehow, we think that just being busy is the way to happiness, no matter whether much of our busyness has any meaning in itself.

So, take some time to think about your spiritual lives during Lent. Pray, study the Bible, seek help from others in Bible study, find time for worship, consider your priorities. It takes a little time, but it helps us to realize that life on earth is time and it should have a connection to God, our source and destiny.

Personally I think I'll answer the next person who asks if I am busy in the following manner, "I am seeking in all things to make progress in my spiritual life."

Love,

Gary

 (c)The Church of the Pilgrimage in Plymouth, MA Inc., all rights reserved.

The Rev. Gary L. Marks will be preaching at 10:00 AM worship service.

The Pulpit Flowers are in loving memory Miriam L. Barnes given by Tom Barnes.

Greeters: Kelly, Sara, Megan & Nicholas Balboni

The Children will attend Church School following their dismissal from the worship service

Introductory Bible Study -11:30 A.M.-12:30 P.M. in the Church House. Childcare will be available.

CHURCH RECORD

Hospitalized -Doug Armstrong, Dorothy Strassel, Cliff Sampson, James Nicol, all at the Jordan Hospital.

Recuperating at Beverly Manor - Harry Luscombe.

Baptisms: On February 17, 2002, Rev. Marks conducted private baptism services for Justin Kenneth Lyon, Craig Douglas Lyon, Jr., and Victoria Marielle Lyon children of Craig Douglas and Sheryle Ann (Souze) Lyon in the church sanctuary.

Wedding: On February 16, 2002, Rev. Marks, assisted by Rev. Dan Croce, conducted a wedding service for Lisa M. Morse and Fred D. Svenson in the church sanctuary.

In Memoriam:
We were saddened to hear of the death of long time church member, Ellen Sutherland. Services for Ellen were held on the Cape.
We also have received word that Marilou Maulsby passed away last week. Our sympathies are extended to her daughter Lindy Keay and her family.

THIS WEEK

Sunday, Feb 24

Rev. Gary L. Marks will be preaching; Introductory Bible Study will meet from 11:30 A.M..-12:30 P.M. in Church House. Childcare in the Crib Room.

Monday, Feb 25

Aerobics-9:00 A.M.-10:00 P.M.-Allerton Hall; Girl Scouts Tr. No. 1128 6:00-7:30 P.M.

Tuesday, Feb 26

Rev. Marks Office Hours-9:30-11:30 A.M.; Habitat for Humanity Lunch in Allerton Hall, Noon; Girl Scouts Tr. No. 1234 6:30-8:00 P.M.- Church House; Aerobics-6:45 P.M.-7:45 P.M.-Allerton Hall; Advisory Board will meet at 7:30 P.M. in the Mayflower Room; The Stewardship Committee will meet at 7:30 P.M. in The Pastor's Study.

Wednesday, Feb 27

Aerobics - 9:00 A.M. - 10:00 A.M. Allerton Hall; Staff Meeting, 10:00 A.M.; Rev. Robin's Office Hours-11:30 A.M.-1:30 P.M., Den #47 Pack Meeting-7:00-8:00P.M, Church House; Music Committee Meeting-6:00 P.M;, Mayflower Room;.Choir Rehearsal - 7:30 P.M. - Sanctuary.

Thursday, Feb 28

Aerobics-6:45 P.M.-7:45 P.M.; The Nominating Committee will meet at 7:30 P.M. in the Mayflower Room.

Friday, Mar 1

Aerobics-9:00 A.M.-10:00 A.M; Rev. Gary L. Marks' Office Hours-9:30-11:30 A.M.

Saturday, Mar 2

Former Men's Bible Study Class-will meet in the Mayflower Room at the Church h from 8:00 A.M. to 9:30 A.M. Overeaters Anonymous- 9:30-11:30 A.M.-Church House.

PLEASE NOTE

The Music Committee and The Advisory Board are presenting a Steward ship moment during the welcome announcement at Church this Sunday.

There will be a "Sign-Up" for a luncheon to say our farewells to Rev. Robin Bickel on March 17th. The sign-up sheet will be in Allerton Hall during Coffee Hour for the next few Sundays. A reservation may also be made by calling the church office.

Church Membership-If you are interested in church membership, please let Rev. Marks know or call the church office.

Introductory Bible Study led by Rev. Marks will continue this coming Sunday. If you were unable to attend the first class, please feel free to attend this coming Sunday.

Copies of Rev. Marks book, Pilgrims: Then and Now, are available during coffee hours or in the church office.
If you are aware of someone hospitalized, especially in an out of town hospital, please inform the church office of ministers.

Memorial Easter Lilies- On Sunday, March 3, the Flower Committee will begin taking orders for Memorial Easter Lilies, to grace our sanctuary on March 31, Easter Sunday. We have always charged slightly more than the flowers cost us, in order to fund various sanctuary projects. Currently, the Sunday candles come out of our fund. We purchased the wreaths used in Allerton Hall this Christmas season. We have replaced worn out sanctuary decorations, and added new as needed. With increased flower costs, we found ourselves breaking even on the orders, with nothing left over for the fund. Therefore, the price, which had not increased in many years, will be $15.00. Please speak to any of us on the Committee about this. We welcome your feedback. Judy Mitchell, Chair, Flower Committee.

Our sympathies and prayers are extended to Ray Quinn on the recent death of his mother, Carol Quinn.
Herald Subscription-dues for the Pilgrimage Herald is due. You will find your envelope in your pledge boxes. If you do not have an envelope, the subscription price is $23.00 per year and can be mailed to the office.

UCC Dues is also due and is $9.00 per person. This can also be mailed to the office or be put in the collection box.
Active Parenting 1, 2, 3, 4 Class will be held on Thursday Evenings, March 7, 14 and 21 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in the Mayflower room. There will be a small fee for the workbook. If interested please sign up in the crib room.

Pilgrimage Women's Fellowship-will meet Monday evening, March 4 at 7:00 P.M. guest speaker Pastor Marks on "The History of St. Patrick."

Women's Guild- Friday, March 8, 1:00 P.M., guest speaker: Mellicent Drake-"Tracing Your Roots, Family Histories/Saints, Sinners and a Mail Order Bride."

Reminder-the deadline for submitting notices in the weekly Herald is Monday at 3:00 p.m.

Coming Events

Mar. 3-Third Sunday in Lent/Communion.

Mar.5-The Church Council will meet at 7:30 P.M. in the Mayflower Room.

Mar. 10-Stewardship Sunday; Chest of Joash Service; Stewardship Lunch in Allerton Hall following morning worship.

Clerk - Lois Post; Moderator - Steven Triffletti; Treasurer - Cliff Sampson; Collector - Thomas Mudgett; Asst. Collectors - Jerry and Debbie Chaskes; Music Director - William B Richter; Secretary - Pam McNicholas; Sexton - Tony Nightingale; World Mission Emphasis - Heifer Project International; Church Building Telephone - (508) 747-1341.