Dear Friends,

Last Sunday, on the First Sunday In Lent, my sermon was focused on the story of Noah and the rainbow recorded in Genesis 9:8-17. The reason that the Noah story is placed at the head of the Lenten season is that it has to do with the Covenant which God makes with the human race and, indeed, the creation itself. In Lent we follow Jesus through his pilgrimage toward the central events of our faith. Those events are Good Friday and Easter in which Christians affirm that God renewed God's Covenant with God's people and the creation. That is why we repeat in every Service of Communion that in Jesus Christ there is a New Covenant "in his blood." We believe that God was, and through faith is, present in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus in a defining way for the redemption of the race and the creation.

It is important for us to understand the meaning of the Covenant in order to grasp fully the meaning and personal character of our faith. In fact, our branch of Christianity emerged from centering itself on the Covenant. We came to be known as Congregational Churches which, through a merger with similar demonstrations, became The United Church of Christ in 1957. The foundation of our churches has not changed; it is based upon making a covenant with God, and with one another.

In the Bible God desires to make a Covenant with God's people and, indeed, the whole creation. One commentator referred to last Sunday's text in Genesis 9 as being "about God." In that text God takes the initiative in making and remembering the Covenant. It is an act of God's unconditional love for us and our world that the Covenant is made and, from God's side, remembered and honored.

During Lent we seek to concentrate upon Jesus as God's "new" Covenant. The goal of Lent is to come to know God as our covenant partner and to express through the church and our personal lives the joys and costs of living the Covenant in the world. We seek to be the voice of God and of God's undying love in a world which seems ever to act as though God's Covenant of unconditional love doesn't exist. It does exist for us and that's what faith is. Faith is a growing awareness of our partnership with God in keeping the voice of God available to a world which has exchanged the biblical notion that Covenant is "about God" for various expressions of another phrase, "it is about me."

Last Wednesday night a group of about twenty-five people gathered in the sanctuary for a simple service of liturgy, ashes, and Communion in a recognition of the onset of the Lenten season. For me it was a remarkable service, deeply spiritual, moving and full of grace. I remember every face of each person who was present at that holy little service. Those faces reflected an earnest desire to follow Jesus, to be God's people, to learn anew, or for the first time, that there is at the basis of all life and the creation a God of grace and love who wants us as partners in Covenant. We all knew that faith is "about God" and because of that is "about us" when we are God's Covenant partners. Let us follow Jesus.

Love,

© The Church of the Pilgrimage in Plymouth, MA Inc., all rights reserved.

Morning Worship-10:00 A.M. Rev. Gary Marks preaching. The University of Connecticut Choir will be singing during the service.

The Pulpit Flowers are in memory of our loved ones. Given by the Flower Committee.

Greeters: Bill and Diane Harting

The Children will attend Church School following the Time for Teaching.

All are invited to join us for Coffee Hour downstairs in Allerton Hall following the worship service.

Confirmands and sponsors will meet at the Church House immediately following worship to depart for Islamic Center of New England.

University of Connecticut Choir Concert in the sanctuary at 4:00 P.M.

Youth Fellowship will be going to a special presentation at The Ghost Theater. Meet at Church House at 6:45 P.M. The show goes from 7-8:30 P.M. All are welcome-cost is $10.00 per person. Please RSVP by leaving a voice mail message at the office for Dan at Ext. 12. (The Theater wants to have an accurate count beforehand).

CHURCH RECORD

Hospitalized: Mahlon Walker, Betty Clough, Jordan Hospital..

THIS WEEK

Sunday, Mar 16—Rev. Marks will be preaching. The University of Connecticut Concert Choir will sing during the morning service of worship and there will be a concert in the sanctuary at 4:00 P.M. Confirmands & Sponsors will meet at church house immediately after worship to depart for the Islamic Center of New England. Youth Group-The Ghost Theater, meet at the church house at 6:45 the show starts at 7:00, $10.00 per person.

Monday, Mar 17— Rev. Dan's office hours 10:00 A.M.-Noon; Aerobics 9:00 A.M. - 10:00 A.M; Girl Scouts-6:00-7:30 P.M. Church House; Budget Committee Meeting at 7:30 P.M. in the Mayflower Room. All committees are welcome to send a representative.

Tuesday, Mar 18-- Rev. Marks office hours 9:30 A.M.-11:30 A.M.; Rev. Dan office hours 10:00 A.M.- Noon; Lunch Bunch-Noon in the Mayflower Room (see notes). Aerobics-6:45-7:45 P.M.; Board of Trustee's Meeting-7:00 P.M. in the Mayflower Room.

Wednesday, Mar 19— Rev. Dan office hours 1:00 P.M.-3:00 P.M.; Aerobics - 9:00 A.M. - 10:00 A.M. Allerton Hall; Staff Meeting-10:00 A.M; Troop 47 - 7:00-9:00 P.M. in the Church House; Cub Scout Pack 47 - 7:00-8:00 P.M. in the Church House; Music Committee Meeting6:00 P.M. in the Mayflower Room; Choir Rehearsal - 7:30 P.M.

Thursday, Mar 20— Rev. Dan office hours 10:00 A.M.-Noon; Girl Scout Troop 1227-6:00-7:15 Church House; Aerobics-6:45 P.M.-7:45 P.M.

Friday, Mar 21—SPRING BEGINS! Rev. Mark's Office Hours, 9:30 A.M.-11:30 A.M.; Aerobics-9:00 A.M.-10:00 A.M.

Saturday, Mar 22-- Overeaters Anonymous- 9:45-11:30 A.M.-Church House.

PLEASE NOTE

On March 4th Rev. Marks attended a Prayer Breakfast at the State House in Boston. He'll be sharing that experience as opportunities arise.

Congratulations to Heather Al Chokhachy and Phillip Cronin, II on the birth of their daughter, Ainsley Hill Cronin born on February 14, 2003. Ainsley is the 5th granddaughter and 9th grandchild of Midge Cronin.

Please call the church office or let the ministers know if you or someone you know is presently or soon to be hospitalized or in need of pastoral care. It is especially important to inform the ministers of those hospitalized in out-of-town hospitals. Please call, too, if you are aware of any situations for which pastoral attention would be helpful.

If you are interested in church membership, please speak to Rev. Marks or call the church office.

SAVE THE DATES: The Board of Trustees is planning several fundraiser dinners this winter with lots of fun for everyone:

THE DATE FOR THE CHURCH OF THE PILGRIMAGE ANNUAL TALENT SHOW and DINNER has been changed to APRIL 12, 2003!! Sign-up in Allerton Hall during coffee hour on Sundays in March to be in the talent show. Larry Foster is in charge of the dinner. This has always been a fun event with a delicious dinner. We can't have a Talent Show without talent-if you can sing, recite poetry, dance, play an instrument, etc., let us know. Acts will include single and/or group performances. Dave Cowie will be directing this year's Show. There will be minimal rehearsal time involved; there are no age restrictions. If you have any questions, please see Dave Cowie or call him at (508) 759-4499. WE NEED YOU!!!

May 17, 2003-The Church of the Pilgrimage ANNUAL TIME AND TALENT AUCTION AND DINNER! Sign-ups will being the first Sunday in April. Please be thinking about a donation of your time or/and talent and be ready to join in the fun. Don't be afraid to suggest the unusual. If you have any questions, particularly if you are new to the congregation please feel free to call me at (508) 746-4514. Diana Budge.

Harvest Fair-The organizational meeting for the Harvest Fair 2003 will be on Monday evening, March 24 at 7:00 p.m. at 15 Oak. St.. Individual letters will be mailed to past table leaders, but I would like to extend an invitation to anyone else that would like to be involved, especially new members of the congregation to join in the fun of planning this major fundraiser for the year. If you have been a table leader or helped in the past, but cannot participate this year please let me know so I can try and fill the positions. Please bring any ideas for new activities or table selections. Call Diana Budge at (508) 746-4514.

One Great Hour of Sharing-The OGHS offering will be taken on March 30th. It is the special mission offering of the UCC that channels resources for the self-empowerment of communities and individuals. The offering supports programs internationally for sustainable development, emergency relief, social services, and refugee advocacy and resettlement. It also supports ministries both domestically and internationally for disaster preparedness and response. Please give generously! The Missions & Outreach Committee.

Olan Mills will be at The Church of the Pilgrimage on March 31, April 1 and April 24th to photograph our congregation for a new pictorial directory. Everyone who is photographed will receive a free directory and a free 8" by 10" photograph. You will be able to review the pictures with a representative from Olan Mills and if you are happy with the results and find it within your budget, you will have the opportunity to purchase pictures at that time. You are under no obligation to purchase anything from Olan Mills and the church receives no benefits from the packages Olan Mills sells. Sign ups will begin on March 9th during coffee hour. Please keep in mind that the primary purpose of the directory is to help build the relationships among those in our church family by providing some information that will help connect us, so we ask everyone to participate and help make the directory as complete and successful as possible. Thank you. The Membership and Evangelism Committee.

If anyone has taken a Pilgrim Hymnal home with them, please return to the sanctuary. Thank you.

Kathy Murphy is selling tickets to The Temptations Review on behalf of the Jordan Hospital Club Cancer Center Fund. The concert is on Friday, April 11, 2003 at 7:30 P.M. at Memorial Hall and are $38.00 per ticket. $18.00 of this amount goes to the Jordan Hospital Club Cancer Center. If you are interested in purchasing tickets please call Kathy Murphy at (508) 830-1247. Tickets are available through Kathy until March 26. Thank you.

Greeters for Sunday Morning Services are needed! Please call Pam in the church office to learn of an upcoming Sunday which needs greeters. Currently, greeters are needed for April 6, Easter Sunday 11:00 service, and the 27th.

Coffee Hour -we still need volunteers to prepare for Sunday morning Coffee Hours. There is a sign-up sheet in Allerton Hall.

Coming Events

Mar. 23: The Third Sunday in Lent. The Nominating Committee will meet in the Pastor's Study at 11:30 A.M. Ecclesiastical Council, Norwell, 4:00 P.M.
Mar. 29: Memorial Service for Irene Anthony at the Bethany U.C.C. Church in Quincy, MA at 11:00 A.M. Wedding in the sanctuary, 3:30 P.M.
Apr. 3: The Church Council will meet at 7:00 P.M. in the Mayflower Room.
Apr. 5: Pilgrim Festival Chorus Concert in the sanctuary, 4:00 P.M.
Apr. 8: Safe Church Meeting in the Mayflower room, 7:00 P.M.
Apr. 12: Talent Show/Dinner.
Apr. 13: Palm Sunday.
Apr. 17: Maundy Thursday Service in the sanctuary, 7:30 P.M.
Apr. 20: Easter Sunday. Sunrise Service on Cole's Hill, 6:00 A.M. Two services at The Church of the Pilgrimage, 9:00 and 11:00 A.M.

Clerk - Lois Post; Moderator - Steven Triffletti; Treasurer - David Kegel; Collector - Thomas Mudgett; Asst. Collector - 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.