Dear Friends,

The season of Lent is long. It is forty days, excluding Sundays, preceding Easter. It is a time of prayer and reflection upon our spiritual life as the spirit moves ever so slowly toward the Crucifixion and the Resurrection. In that process we concentrate upon the intense drama of Jesus who was painfully, but resolutely, facing the consequences of being the Messiah of God or God's New Covenant with all who follow him by faith. In Lent we try, even amid the turbulence of the world swirling about us, personal problems, illness, grief, worry over loved ones or jobs, etc., we try to focus upon Jesus whose dramatic life is to be a model for our own living. The deepest spiritual insights of our faith are realized when we survive our deepest hurts and failures and emerge stronger than we were before and are sustained by a faith in a loving God. Jesus is the perfect model of what spiritual resilience means.

I was led to this way of reflecting upon Lent and faith when I came across a quotation from, of all places, the Harvard Business Review. Evidently there are many so-called "resilience theories" abroad in the business world. The questions seems to be, "What are the marks of a person who is able to survive, and even thrive, in the harsh realities of corporate life?" I may giving a completely distorted idea of "resilience theories," but I'll look further into the matter. In any case, here is what I do know about them from the Harvard Business Review.

"Most of the resilience theories I encountered in my research make good common sense. But I also observed that almost all the theories overlap in three ways. Resilient people...possess three characteristics: a staunch acceptance of reality; a deep belief, often buttressed by strongly held values, that life is meaningful; and an uncanny ability to improvise. You can bounce back from hardship with just one or two of these qualities, but you will only be truly resilient with all three."

Jesus was the ultimately resilient person! He never gave up on what he took to be his role as the bearer of God's New Covenant. His faith in God's love and purpose guided him all through his earthly pilgrimage, though there were times when even he faced temptation and doubt. He was able to survive the powers of evil which powerfully tried to deter him from his mission, but the meaning of his life was realized by placing himself confidently in the hands of God whose covenant was being honored in him through the tests of time.

Lent, in a way, is a summary, in Jesus, of God's Covenant of a love that will not let us go. Jesus didn't just "bounce back from hardships," he turned Crucifixion into Easter. We follow him by faith and become not only resilient, but holy and blessed forever.

Love,

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

Morning Worship 10:00 A.M. Rev. Gary L. Marks will be preaching.

The Children will attend church school following the Time for Teaching.

Ushers: Judy and Larry Foster and Pat and Peter McLeod.

The Pulpit Flowers in loving memory of Mr. & Mrs. Newman A. Sampson and Mary Collingsworth given by Laura and Clifford Sampson.
All are invited to join us for Coffee Hour downstairs in Allerton Hall following the worship service. Volunteers are needed for coffee hour. Please look for the sign-up sheet on the coffee hour counter.

Greeters are needed for all of April. Please call the church office to volunteer to greet or look for the sign-up sheet, which will now be located on the Membership and Evangelism Bulletin Board. We encourage all new members to sign up to greet. This is a great way to be recognized and meet other members of your church family!

Drivers needed! The Membership and Evangelism Committee is trying to set up a system for people to offer rides to those members who find it difficult to get to church. Those of you who can offer rides, please contact Judi Besegai at (508) 746-3747. Also, if you are in need of a ride to and from Sunday service please call the Church Office and we will assist in making arrangements for you to receive a ride.

Youth Fellowship: March 21st, 1:00-3:30 P.M. Spring clean-up at the Parsonage. Bring you work clothes and your appetites. (We'll have pizza afterwards). Meet at the Church House at 12:45 p.m.

Office Hours: M-F 8:45 A.M.-3:45 P.M. Thursday's 8:30 A.M.-3:00 P.M.

CHURCH RECORD

Hospitalized: Janella Coutts, Brigham & Woman Hospital, Bob Olsson, South Shore Hospital; Jack Brenner, in a Boston Hospital.

Recuperating at home: Roland Stuart is recuperating at home after a brief stay at Jordan Hospital.

Wedding:
On March 6, 2004, Emily Fosdick Weston and Richard Joseph Slavin were united in holy matrimony by Rev. Marks who was assisted by the Rev. Robert Merritt in the church sanctuary.

In Memoriam:
On March 10, 2004, Rev. Marks conducted a graveside service for Barbara Buchanan, a long time friend of The Church of the Pilgrimage.

THIS WEEK

Sunday, March 14: Morning Worship 10:00 A.M., Rev. Gary L. Marks will be preaching.

Monday, March 15: Rev. Dan's office hours 10:30 A.M.-12:30 P.M.; Aerobics, 9:00 A.M. in Allerton Hall; Girl Scout Tr. 1128, 4:00 P.M. in Church House; PFC Rehearsal in the Sanctuary.

Tuesday, March 16: Rev. Marks will be in the church office following a service at the Newfield House; Rev. Dan's office hours 10:00 A.M.-Noon; Aerobics, 6:30 P.M. in Allerton Hall; Lenten Spirituality Group, 7:00 P.M. in the Pastor's Study, in the church; Board of Trustees Meeting, 7:00 P.M. in the CH.; Lenten Study Spirituality Group, 7:00 P.M. in the Pastor's Study.

Wednesday, March 17: Aerobics, 9:00 A.M. in AH; Staff Meeting, 10:00 A.M.; Rev. Dan's office hours 10:00 A.M.-Noon; Music Committee Meeting in Allerton Hall, 6:30 P.M.; Choir Rehearsal, 7:30 P.M. in the Sanctuary; Troop 47, 7:00 P.M. in the Church House.

Thursday, March 18: Girl Scout Troop 1227, 6:00 P.M. in the CH; Aerobics, 6:30 P.M. in AH; PFC Rehearsal 6:00 P.M. in the Sanctuary; Harvest Fair Meeting, 7:00 P.M. at Diana Budge's House, 15 Oak Street, Plymouth.

Friday, March 19: Rev. Marks office hours, 9:30 A.M.-11:30 A.M.; Aerobics, 9:00 A.M. in AH; Wedding Rehearsal, 6:30 P.M. in the Sanctuary.

Saturday, March 20: Wedding, 4:00 P.M. in the Sanctuary; PFC Concert, 7:30 P.M. in the Sanctuary.

PLEASE NOTE

Please call the church office if you are aware of persons hospitalized or in need of pastoral care. It is especially important to let the ministers know about out-of-town hospitals. Hospital listings prepared for clergy at the Jordan Hospital, too, have been irregular in availability. It is, therefore, important that the ministers and church office be informed of any hospitalizations. Thank you for your help.

Lenten Study/Spirituality Group. The group will meet for on Tuesday, March 16, 2004 at 7:00 P.M. in the Pastor's Study. The group will use a small book by Henri J. M. Nouwen entitled, Life of the Beloved: Spiritual Living In a Secular World. Nouwen is a well-known writer on Christian spirituality, but he speaks to people who have little or no knowledge of the faith. We hope that many who have expressed an interest in adult study opportunities as well as those seeking spiritual guidance will join the ministers as they share their own journeys during the course.

Palm Sunday Breakfast: There will be someone from the Advisory Board in Allerton Hall on March 21st and March 28th taking reservations for the Palm Sunday Breakfast. The cost has yet to be determined, but will be published in next week's Herald. The breakfast is April 4, at 8:00 A.M.

A note from the Board of Trustees: An informational Budget Meeting will be scheduled soon. Please watch upcoming Heralds for the date and time. It is strongly suggested that you send a representative from your committee or board to take place in discussions concerning the upcoming budget.

Also, all committee and board chairs should have their Annual Report to the office by hard copy, disk, or you can e-mail it in Microsoft Word (this is the preferred method if you have it) by March 31, 2004. If you have any questions about e-mailing please give Pam a call.

The Board of Trustees has begun to look into renewing the Capital Campaign to renovate our Church House. In the near future there will be plans and drawings for us to examine during coffee hours. If you have any ideas or suggestions for the space needs committee, please contact Neil Bottomley, Larry Foster, Al Hoyt, Fred Northrop or Bob Colburn. Thank you.

Stewardship Committee: Stewardship is planning a second mailing asking, if possible, for pledges to be in by the end of March. This will allow your pledge to be reflected in our report for The Annual Meeting. Also we will have a table set up at coffee hour during the month of March for you to pick up and drop off a pledge card. If you have any questions see us during coffee hour or please call me at home (508) 747-7168. Thank you, Tom Healy.

Our New Hymnal: The Hymnal Committee and the Music Committee thank the many who have made gifts of hymnal bookplates. Your generosity has gone a considerable way to paying for the printing and preparations costs. We are planning to finish preparing the bookplates and begin placing them in the hymnals this coming week. The following week, the hymnals will take their place in our pew racks, and we will sing from them Sunday, March 28. Hymnal dedications will continue to be gratefully accepted in the future as long as there are hymnals in which to place the bookplates. For those who would like to purchase one of the new books for personal use, please see the undersigned. An in answer to many requests, copies of the Pilgrim Hymnal will be available also for a $5 gift, starting Sunday, March 28. Thank you, Bill Harting & Louise Brown.

March 28th will be a focus on music at The Church of the Pilgrimage. The choir/organist will present a Bach Cantata on that Fifth Sunday in Lent.

If you would like to receive Communion privately during the Lenten season, please call the church office.

If you know that you will have an announcement on any given Sunday, it would be helpful to let the church office know (or the ministers) on the prior Friday.

Also if you have a notice for the Herald, please either call Pam at the church office or put it in her mailbox on Sundays.

One Great Hour of Sharing offering will be taken on March 21, 2004. Please see the insert for more information.

If you are interested in becoming a member of The Church of the Pilgrimage, please call the church office or speak to Rev. Marks. If enough interest is shown, Rev. Marks will offer a class during the spring.

The Church and its ministers extend to Harold and Mary Clark our heartfelt congratulations as they celebrated their 65th Wedding Anniversary on March 11, 2004! What a wonderful milestone that is.

Also, Rev. Paul and Rosalee Sinn celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on March 6, 2004. There was a large gathering of family and friends in Plymouth for the celebration and a number of them were in worship with them on March 7th.

Congratulations to the Clarks' and Sinns' and may God continue to bless your lives together!
Thank you to all who ushered for the month of February: Richard and Sarah Vannozzi and the Boy Scouts; Michelle, Michael, Emily and Maria Harrington; Donald and Augusta Moore; Diane and Jeffrey Lindquist, Barbara and Sheldon Peavey and Pat and Tom Mudgett. Also thank you to the acolytes. Barbara Quinn.

ATTENTION: The Time and Talent Auction will be held this year on Saturday, April 24th. Sign up sheets for the auction will be available very soon and should be returned by April 11th. This is a major fund-raiser and we are expecting 100 percent involvement of the congregation. Please begin thinking of what you might offer as an item for sale. We all have talents that would be appreciated by others. Services are very welcome. Suggestions: yard work, handyman help, baby-sitting, sponsor a birthday party in Allerton Hall for a child under the age of 7 or so, etc. We hope to offer a dinner on that evening and the details will be forthcoming. Sign up sheets will be available after church service on the next few Sundays right up until the 11th. If you wish to beat the rush you can call me at home at (508) 746-4514. Let's make it a success again this year. Thank you, Diana.

COMING EVENTS

March 21 The Fourth Sunday in Lent.

March 23 Lenten Spirituality Group, 7:00 P.M., Pastor's Study in the church building.

March 27: Wedding in the sanctuary, 3:30 P.M.

March 28: the Fifth Sunday in Lent

Bach Cantata during the worship service.
Daffodil Sunday
Or new hymnals will be dedicated during the Sunday service.

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.