Dear Friends,

Though my pastoral prayers offered during worship on Sunday mornings are nearly always extemporaneous, I do recall employing the images of wheels within wheels to describe our lives in the general life of the world last Sunday. Perhaps I was put in the mind of that image because of a reading I encountered in my devotions for March 20th. The wheels and the whirlwind are popular images in the Bible and comparing life to them was effectively employed in the Book of Job. In Job 40:6 we read, "Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind." On March 20th in Celtics Daily Prayer I came across the following reflection written by Paul Brunston.

The world gives itself
up to incessant activity
merely because
it knows of nothing better.
The inspired person
works among
its whirring wheels
also; but he/she knows
wither the wheels
are going
for she/he has found
the center
where all is
stillness...

In Lent it is an intended goal for all of us to deepen our spiritual lives so that we find a place at the center of our lives which is steady and still amid the "whir of wheels" which seems so apt a description of our daily experience. We seem intuitively to know of that "center where all is stillness" and yet we often seem so painfully far away from it.

In the complexities of life, in its losses, challenges, its misunderstandings, hurts, betrayals and anxieties we desperately need again to be "centered" on the stillness of God at the heart of the whirlwind. In a world torn asunder by war and destruction we need to focus anew upon the grace and love of God who, despite our whirl and whir, speaks from the center a Word which keeps us from becoming mere disconnected winds of discontent blowing us chaotically hither and yon.

In Lent we focus upon Christ as God's Word from the center. In our tradition Jesus is our devotional center, though he is that in many ways for different people. It is as Frederick Boechner says of Christians: "A Christian is one who points to Christ and says, I can't prove a thing, but there's something about His eyes and His voice. There's something about the way He carries His head, His hands, the way he carried His Cross-the way he carries me." Christ is God's Word from the whirlwind for us. He is our still center from which he sends us out into the whirlwind to work amid winds of confusion and hurt with a Word of peace which holds the story of life together.

Love and Peace,

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

Morning Worship-10:00 A.M. Rev. Dan Spacek preaching.

The Pulpit Daffodil Flowers: in the front of the Sanctuary offer a sign of hope and are a living symbol of the progress that is being made in the fight against cancer.

Greeters: Judy Mitchell and Kathleen Walters

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.

Confirmation Class 5:30-7:00 P.M. in the church house. Bring a small brown bag with 5 objects from your home. And don't forget your banner projects and reflection papers.

Youth Fellowship Sunday Evening 7-8:30 P.M. Meet in Allerton Hall for games, snacks and planning for upcoming events!

CHURCH RECORD

Recuperating at her home following hospitalization, Joanne Birnstein.

THIS WEEK

Sunday, Mar 30—Rev. Dan Spacek will be preaching. Our annual One Great Hours of Sharing Offering will be received.

Monday, Mar 31— Rev. Dan's office hours 10:00 A.M.-Noon; Aerobics 9:00 A.M. - 10:00 A.M; Olan Mills Pictorial Photo Session from 3:00-9:20 upstairs in the Church House Building; Girl Scouts-6:00-7:30 P.M. Church House; Budget Meeting, 7:30 P.M. in the Mayflower Room; Pilgrim Festival Chorus rehearsal-sanctuary 7:00 P.M.-10:00 P.M.

Tuesday, Apr 1-- Rev. Marks office hours 9:30 A.M.-11:30 A.M.; Rev. Dan office hours 10:00 A.M.- Noon; Olan Mills Pictorial Photo Session from 3:00-9:20 upstairs in the Church House Building; Aerobics-6:45-7:45 P.M.;

Wednesday, Apr 2— 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; Christian Ed Meeting-7:00 P.M. in Mayflower Room; Family Craft Night, 6:30 P.M. in Allerton Hall (See Notes); 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; Choir Rehearsal - 7:30 P.M.

Thursday, Apr 3— 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.; Church Council Meeting-7:30 P.M. in the Mayflower Room. Representatives of boards and committees are to send a representative to this meeting. Pilgrim Association Annual Spring Meeting to be held at the Union Congregational Church in East Bridgewater from 7:00 P.M. - 9:00 P.M. (see notes).

Friday, Apr 4—Rev. Mark's Office Hours, 9:30 A.M.-11:30 A.M.; Aerobics-9:00 A.M.-10:00 A.M.; Wedding Rehearsal in the Sanctuary-5:30 P.M. and 6:30 P.M., Pilgrim Festival Chorus rehearsal, in the Sanctuary, 7:30 P.M.-10:00 P.M.

Saturday, Apr 5-- Overeaters Anonymous- 9:45-11:30 A.M.-Church House; Weddings in the sanctuary, 10:30 A.M. and 1:00 P.M.; Pilgrim Festival Chorus Concert in the sanctuary, 7:30 P.M.

PLEASE NOTE

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.
Reservations for the Palm Sunday Communion Breakfast will be taken during Coffee Hour. We hope to have a large number of people attending this popular annual event. Families are welcome to attend and we hope that many will want to attend.

The ministers are holding an Evening Prayer Service on Wednesday evenings at 7:00 P.M. in the sanctuary. A Celtic Office of Evening Prayer will be followed. The services are less than a half hour in length. Please feel welcome to attend these services.

THE ANNUAL TALENT SHOW and DINNER has been temporarily postponed and will be rescheduled in the near future.

May 17, 2003-The Church of the Pilgrimage ANNUAL TIME AND TALENT AUCTION AND DINNER! Sign-ups will begin 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.

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. Please give generously! The Missions & Outreach Committee.

Fish Coin Boxes-We appreciate those of you who are filling the Fish Coin Boxes for OGHS. Please remember to bring them to church on March 30, 2003.

Family Craft Night April 2, 2003 at 6:30 P.M. Enjoy a family evening with a story, snack and Spring craft project. Projects are $5.00 per child, designed for children ages 2 and up. Please specify age of child when registering. You may register by contacting Stephanie Gray at (508) 830-0840 or by email at msgray@adelphia.net.

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. Photo Sessions will take place upstairs in the Church House Building. Everyone who is photographed will receive a free directory and a free 8" by 10" photograph. IF YOU HAVE NOT SIGNED UP YET please sign up on Sunday, March 30th during coffee hour. ALSO we are looking for photos taken at the many events at the church to be included in the directory. If you live out of state please forward us your photo so we can include it in the directory. Finally, we would like photos of our shut-ins. If anyone has a camera and would be willing to go to the different nursing homes and private homes to take pictures of the shut-ins please let the Membership and Evangelism Committee know during Sunday morning sign-ups. Thank you. The Membership and Evangelism Committee.

Budget Committee - the next meetings for the Budget Committee are scheduled for Monday, March 31st , 7:30 P.M. in the Mayflower Room and Monday, April 14th, 7:30 P.M. in the Mayflower Room. All Board and Committees are to have their proposed budgets turned in by Monday, April 14th.

Memorial Lilies-The joyous Easter season is fast approaching. By your loving donation of Easter lilies, we can enhance the beauty of our church on Easter morning. Sign up in the lower vestibule following the service on the next three Sundays, or call the church office. There will be an insert listing the donors and those memorialized in the Easter week Herald. The suggested price for a multi-flowered, replantable lily is $15.00. The flowers may be donated to shut-ins or picked up after the 11:00 A.M. Easter Sunday Service on Sunday, April 20. Volunteers will be welcomed to take flowers to shut-ins following that service.

The Pilgrim Association Mass. Conference UCC Annual Spring Meeting will be held on Thursday, April 3, 2003 at the Union Congregational Church in East Bridgewater. The program begins at 7:00 P.M. and ends at 9:00 P.M. If you are interested in attending and would like more information and directions please all the church office.

Summer Sale Reminder - Please keep the Summer Sale in mind when doing your spring cleaning! Watch for more information concerning the Summer Sale in up-coming Heralds.
Lunch Bunch meet Tuesday, April 15 at Noon in the Mayflower Room. Please read Numbers 21:4-9 and Jeremiah 31:31-34. Newcomers Welcome!

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 20, Easter Sunday the 11:00 service.

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

Coming Events

Apr. 6: Fifth Sunday in Lent; Nominating Committee Meeting, 11:30 A.M. in the Pastor's Study.
Apr. 8: Safe Church Meeting in the Mayflower room, 7:00 P.M.
Apr. 13: Palm Sunday Breakfast in Allerton Hall, 8:00 A.M..
Apr. 17: Maundy Thursday-Office of Tenebrae- in the sanctuary, 7:30 P.M.
Apr. 18: Good Friday.
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.