Dear Friends,

Each year as we enter into the penitential season of Lent I try to add what the seasons means and why it is so important. Lent is, as most of you know, the forty days prior to Easter, excluding Sundays, beginning with Ash Wednesday. Through the season we are called upon to focus on Jesus and the many trials and temptations he faced as he was moving inexorably toward Jerusalem and his crucifixion there on Good Friday.

In the readings for Lent the organizing image is that of pilgrimage. Indeed, the image of pilgrimage, or journey, is one of the most important in the Bible. The basic biblical theme is that the world is not our true home. The pilgrimage image carries with it that life here is a journey through this passing world on the way to the heavenly home. This theme was a powerful impetus to those first to come into America and led them to understand themselves as pilgrims on a journey to a promised land and ultimately to their heavenly home. It is also why those who covenanted together with God and one another to become a congregation of God's people here in Plymouth chose our name to be the Church of the Pilgrimage.

In the history of the whole Christian Church a pilgrimage is a journey to a holy place made with a devotional intention, as New Proclamation puts it. The Lenten season, itself, is a journey to a specific holy place, Jesus' cross and tomb. This is, of course, not a physical pilgrimage, or an actual journey, but one of the heart and mind. We are called upon to leave those places in our lives where we may not be living out our Christian identity, leave those places of spirit where, when we are honest, we do not feel truly at home or at peace. So, as with the classical image of pilgrimage, Lent is a journey with a clear purpose in mind. It is a journey toward our spiritual home.

During the season of Lent our worship, lessons from the Bible, special services and study opportunities are intended to lead us all to the road which, for us, is walked with Jesus as he made his way to Jerusalem. The journey is one with many twists and terms, it is not an easy journey, but it is the one which Christian spirituality has found to be the way to God's holy city.

We hope that you will join us during the Lenten season and go along with Jesus each step so that we learn anew, or for the first time, that the pilgrimage alone leads to spiritual realization, leads home. The meaning of the image of pilgrimage conveys the truth that the spiritual homeland cannot be reached unless we ourselves make the journey.

I'll see you as we join and help one another along the Lenten journey toward the heavenly city, our spirits true home.

Love,

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

Morning Worship-10:00 A.M. Rev. Gary Marks preaching.

The Pulpit Flowers are in loving memory of Mr. & Mrs. Newman A. Sampson and May Collingsworth given by Laura and Clifford Sampson.

Greeters: The Girl Scouts

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.

Board of Trustee meeting following the service in the Mayflower Room.

CHURCH RECORD

Hospitalized: No one as of March 4, 2003..

In Memoriam:
On March 8, 2003, Rev. Marks conducted a memorial service for Barbara Bates in the church sanctuary.

THIS WEEK

Sunday, Mar 9—Rev. Marks will be preaching. Nominating Committee meeting in the Pastor's Study following the service.

Monday, Mar 10— 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; Bible Study, 7:00 P.M. in the Mayflower Room read Gen. 17:1-7, 15-16; Ex. 20:1-17.

Tuesday, Mar 11-- Rev. Marks office hours 9:30 A.M.-11:30 A.M.; Rev. Dan out of the office; Aerobics-6:45-7:45 P.M.

Wednesday, Mar 12— Rev. Dan out of the office; 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; Choir Rehearsal - 7:30 P.M.

Thursday, Mar 13— Rev. Dan out of the office; Girl Scout Troop 1227-6:00-7:15 Church House; Aerobics-6:45 P.M.-7:45 P.M.; Membership and Evangalism Committee Meeting, 7:00 P.M. in the Mayflower Room.

Friday, Mar 14—Rev. Mark's Office Hours, 9:30 A.M.-11:30 A.M.; Aerobics-9:00 A.M.-10:00 A.M.; The Women's Guild 1:00 P.M. in Allerton Hall.

Saturday, Mar 15-- Overeaters Anonymous- 9:45-11:30 A.M.-Church House; Women's Fellowship field trip to the Manomet Bird Observatory, meet at the church at 9:30 a.m.; Pot Luck Dinner for the Connecticut Concert Choir.

PLEASE NOTE

We were saddened to learn of the death of Irene Anthony. Irene was the wife of our former pastor, the Rev. Edwin T. Anthony. She was very active in local church affairs and in the community. Irene was also active in the wider church and was at one time the Moderator of the Mass. Conference U.C.C. She was a trained Christian Educator and had a life long interest in rights and education of children.

We are also saddened to report the death of Dot Post. Dot was an associate member of The Church of the Pilgrimage and made significant contributions to the church, especially its music program and to the installation of our beautiful pipe organ. Our sympathies are extended to Doug and Lois Post and their daughters Kim and Heather at Dot's passing.

Congratulations to Jennifer and Thomas Bingham-Maas on the birth of their son, Garrett Lloyd, on February 15, 2003.

Rev. Marks attended a meeting at the Jordan Hospital on February 28th regarding pastoral calling and patient confidentiality. You will hear more about this as time goes by, but for now it is important for anyone desiring pastoral visitation at the Jordan to inform the church office or the ministers.

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.

From Jean Patenaude, Chairperson of the Memorial Fund. An additional plaque has been placed at the Anniversary Quilt in Allerton Hall. It explains the quilt and acknowledges the contributors. Please look at it during coffee hour. Our thanks to Liisa Budge for donating the plaque and to Pat Patenaude for mounting and hanging the plaque.

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-empowered 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.

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 the month of April.

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. 16: The Second Sunday in Lent. 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. Youth Group-The Ghost Theater, meet at the church house at 6:45 the show starts at 7:00, $10.00 per person.
Mar. 17: Budget Committee Meeting at 7:30 P.M. in the Mayflower Room. All committees are welcome to send a representative.
Mar. 18: Lunch Bunch Bible Study at Noon in the Mayflower Room.
Mar. 29: Wedding in the sanctuary, 3:30 P.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.