Dear Friends,

Alleluia! That is the operative word for Easter. We shout our Alleluias because we affirm that He is risen. He is risen, indeed!

It was a glorious Easter Sunday at the Church of the Pilgrimage. The Sunrise Service on Cole's Hill was almost perfect, if a bit chilly! The sun arose over Long Beach and out of sea at 5:56 A.M. just as we were about to sing our first Alleluias. It was splendid, moving, a triumphant testimony to our spiritual affirmations of Jesus' Resurrection! A large congregation gathered on Cole's Hill to greet both the Lord and the sun. It was all so grand, so holy, so appropriate. Alleluia!

We had two well attended services at The Church of the Pilgrimage, despite it being school vacation week and, therefore, many of our congregation were away. The music was sublime and the presence of the risen Christ was among us. Alleluia!

As you have noticed, I'm sure, I've been quoting the many services and prayers from Celtic Daily Prayer during Lent and into the season of Easter. That book is the basis of our Offices of Evening Prayer service which we have been conducting for several weeks. It was also the foundation of our first Way of the Cross Service which was conducted on Good Friday Evening. The few who attended that experiential service have reported to me that it was a deeply moving experience which gave new meaning to Easter Alleluias. I am going to conclude this letter with the opening reading from that book for the Sunday after Easter which, by the way, is a season and not one day.

The disciples were assembled behind closed doors. When suddenly you entered,
O Jesus our almighty God. You stood in their midst, and gave them Your peace;
You breathed the Holy Spirit on them. You commanded them to wait in Jerusalem
Until they would be clothed with power from on high.

Response:
And so we cry to you: Glory to You, our resurrection, our light, and our peace!

May the peace of Christ possess you and may we all as a congregation become a community of the Resurrection. We do believe that the risen Christ is our resurrection, our light,our peace. May we grow into what we affirm and gain confidence as we stay on our Easter pilgrimage!

The operative word remains, Alleluia!Love,

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

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

Greeters: Pedro, Megan and Graciela Verdugo.

The Pulpit Flowers are in loving memory of Henry, Mary & Keith Dunlap from Marylyn Dunlap Colburn.

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.

Nominating Committee Meeting in the Pastor's Study following service.

CHURCH RECORD

Recuperating at Home, Marian Whiting, after a stay at the Cape Cod Rehabilitation Center in Sandwich.

Baptism:
On April 20, 2003, Matthew Scott Cavicchi, son of Jarrod and Nicole (Snyder) Cavhicci was baptized during the 11:00 A.M. Easter Service.

THIS WEEK

Sunday, Apr. 27--Rev. Dan Spacek will be preaching. Nominating Committee Meeting in the Pastor's Study following service.

Monday, Apr. 28-- 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; Evening Bible Study - 7:00 P.M. in the Pastor's Study; Budget Meeting - 7:30 P.M. in the Mayflower Room; Holocaust Service, Temple Beth Jacob Community Center at 7:30 P.M.

Tuesday, Apr. 29-- Rev. Marks' office hours 9:30 A.M.-11:30 A.M.; Rev. Dan's office hours 10:00 A.M.- Noon; Lunch Bunch - Noon in the Mayflower Room; The Advisory Board will meet in the Mayflower Room at 7:00 P.M.

Wednesday, Apr. 30-Rev. Dan's 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; Evening Prayer Service - 7:00 P.M. in the Sanctuary; Music Committee Meeting-6:00 P.M. in the Mayflower Room; Choir Rehearsal - 7:30 P.M.

Thursday, May 1-- Rev. Dan's office hours Noon-2:00P.M.; Memorial Day of Prayer Service at Plymouth Rock-Noon; Girl Scout Troop 1227-6:00-7:15 Church House; Aerobics-6:45 P.M.-7:45 P.M.; The Church Council will meet in the Mayflower Room at 7:00 P.M.

Friday, May 2--Rev. Marks' Office Hours, 9:30 A.M.-11:30 A.M.; Aerobics-9:00 A.M.-10:00 A.M.

Saturday, May 3-- Overeaters Anonymous- 9:45-11:30 A.M.-Church House; Creative Memories Scrapbooking will meet in Allerton Hall from 10:00 A.M.-3:00 P.M.; "Meet Me at the Comma" Event, Hanover U.C.C., 8:00 A.M.-5:30 P.M.; Eagle Scout Ceremony for Anthony Vannozzi at 6:00 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.

Membership Classes-Rev. Marks is now compiling a list of those who have indicated an interest in becoming members of the church. If you are among those who would like to become church members, please let Rev. Marks know and/or call the church office as soon as possible. Rev. Marks is contacting perspective members to arrange a convenient time for a series of three classes. They will likely be held on Sundays immediately following worship. If you have previously spoken to Rev. Marks about membership, please remind him, or phone the office at (508) 746-3026.

Once again we offer a special "Thank You" to our Flower committee for organizing, arranging and delivering the Easter Memorial Lilies for Easter Sunday. They were magnificent and a poignant part of our Easter celebration. Lily monies above the cost of purchasing the lilies goes toward decorations for the church on special occasions.

Additional Lilies: in Memory of Forrest Sears given by Marjorie Sears; in Memory of Nando Bussolari given by The Bussolari Family; in Memory of Weston E. Whiting given by The Family.

We thank the Advisory Board for its participation in the solemn Maundy Thursday Service on April 17th. It was a remarkably moving service and proper prelude to Easter.
The Annual Time & Talent Auction & Dinner is Friday evening, May 30, 2003. 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.

Evening Bible Study and Lunch Bunch-The next Evening Bible Study with Rev. Dan will be April 28th in the Pastor's Study at 7:00 P.M. and Lunch Bunch will be on April 29 at Noon in the Mayflower Room. The scripture passages we will discuss include John 20:19-31 and Luke 24:36-48. Hope to see you there!

Our new hymnal. We've received many suggestions for hymns to be included in our new hymnal, but there will never be too many; please offer your ideas. Happily, many of the hymns you would like included are already a part of Hymns of Truth and Light. The hymnal itself will be in the Music mailbox in Allerton Hall on Sunday, and an index of first lines is posted on the bulleting board in the hall. Please look and offer your ideas. The deadline for suggestions is April 30. Thank you, Bill Harting.

The By-law Review Committee will be holding an informational meeting for interested members of the Church on Sunday May 4, 2003 in the Sanctuary at 11:30 A.M. The Committee will present proposals for changes to the current bylaws and our rationale for the changes. Those who attend the meeting will be invited to ask questions of the committee and/or comment on such proposals. The changes proposed will be voted on at the Annual Meeting. Paul Scheid, Chair of the By-law Review Committee.

Annual Meeting--the date for the Annual Meeting has been set for May 18, 2003 following service. All Boards and Committees must have their Annual Report to the church office by Friday, May 2, 2003. Thank you! Pam

Coming Events: Plant Sale June 7 2003 (Rain Or Shine). This is a church wide fund raising project, but it is also a pleasant social event (if it doesn't rain). If you have not already done so please look around your yard for plants (ground covers, seedlings from perennials, and other plants you do not need or want). Please pot them up for sale. Mark your calendars to come to Courtyard Place, 124 Long Pond Road on the morning of June 7, from 9:00 A.M.-1:00 P.M. even if you only want to see what goes on. You might just find the plant you really want. Call Pat Mudgett if you have any questions or want to help. (508) 224-7206.

Thanks to Plymouth Town Meeting, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Plymouth has acquired land in Plymouth for building an affordable home for a low-income family. If you would like to support us, we have two fundraisers coming up: A Hike for Habitat in the Blue Hills on Saturday, May 17, and a golf tournament at Lakeville Country Club on May 19. For further information on these and other events, or if you would like to be a volunteer, please call Nancy Morse, 508-746-5213, or visit our website at www.hfhplymouth.org. Thank you.

The final Olan Mills photo session was April 24th . If you have any photos of church activities, college students or family members who have moved out of the area please submit to Judy Besegai or any other member of the The Membership and Evangelism Committee by Sunday, May 10th (or sooner) to be included in the directory. Thank you.

The Church of the Pilgrimage Annual Golf Tournament will be held on June 14th. Please watch upcoming Heralds for more details!

The Vannozzi Family invites any members of the congregation to join them in celebrating Anthony's Eagle Scout Award on May 3rd at 6:00 P.M. Dinner to follow. If you wish to attend please call them at (508)224-8021.

Greeters for Sunday Morning Services are needed. Currently, greeters are needed for May 25th and the month of June. Please call the Church Office.

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

Coming Events

May 5: Mother-Daughter Dinner. (See notes).

May 9: Wedding rehearsal, in the sanctuary, 5:30 P.M.

May 10: Rev. Marks plans to attend the Pilgrim Fellows Meeting at
Pilgrim Hall at Noon.
Wedding in the sanctuary, 4:30 P.M.

May 18: The Annual Meeting of the Church of the Pilgrimage will be held following morning worship.

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.