Dear Friends,

Each morning I turn on the television to the news to see what's happened in the world while I was sleeping. It is not always an inspiring way to get started in the morning as I have my first cup of coffee! Today was surely an uninspiring news day. In just five minutes I heard of the bombings in Baghdad during one of the holiest Islamic celebrations, reports on the candidates in the Super Tuesday primary election, celebrity trials, the status of the same-sex marriage debate, the chaos in Haiti. That was just five minutes of the so-called "news in brief!" I'm sure I've forgotten to take into account other events about which I heard but have forgotten on March 2, 2004.

You now know what I do "first thing" on most mornings, but I want you to know also that sometime before my "official" day begins I pray. In fact, I pray often during every day. Prayer is my last activity of every day before I go to sleep. Increasingly I have come to integrate prayer into, and among, my activities as I live each day. The prayers, not always profound or long, have given a remarkable sustenance to my life. They allow me to consider all things within a spiritual context.

I have, of course, always prayed and I have always tried to be sincere in prayer. I've always tried to allow prayer to be more than perfunctory or by rote. Most of my prayers are extemporaneous, even pastoral prayers offered during Sunday worship services. I also make extensive use of prayers in liturgical resources, ancient and contemporary. Thus prayer helps me to focus upon my spiritual journey and help me to focus during times when I find prayer difficult or when I am overwhelmed with either spiritually deadening routine or faced with tragic situations which just "don't fit" into any seemingly rational context. I often pray to grow in wisdom as I live in an often perplexing world; even as Jesus prayed for and grew in wisdom during his perplexity as he faced Jerusalem. (Luke 2:40, 52).

The last few years of my study of spirituality, especially my Celtic studies and practices, have taught me to focus upon my own life and weaknesses, and the documentation of sin and brokenness amply supplied in the daily news and the daily round from the vantage of the patient grace and love of God. I find strength, even when I am weak or chagrined, when I see The Passion of the Christ superimposed upon every contemporary situation of sin, brokenness and perplexity. The Passion of the Christ, however, always leads me toward Easter, toward Resurrection, even when darkness of soul seems to preclude any possibility of the dawn of hope.

On Sunday, February 29th, my prayer life sustained me in a variety of ways within the affirming context of a spiritually covenanted community named The Church of the Pilgrimage. It began with worship (it always does for me), continued during our Open Forum in which we listened to each other as covenanted pilgrims, and surely was there during a service for Kellyanne Sears later that afternoon.

I guess this personal sharing leads me to say, that in the context of worship and faith our own lives and the life of the world has a prayer. That cheers and sustains me!

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 Children's Worship Service in the church house.

The Pulpit Flowers are in given by the Flower Committee.

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 March 14 and 21. Please call the church office to volunteer to greet or look for the sign-up sheet on the coffee hour counter.

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.

The Pinewood Derby, Noon in the CH.

Office Hours: M-F 8:45 A.M.-3:45 P.M. Thursday's 8:30 A.M.-3:00 P.M. Pam will be out of the office on March 10 for Jury Duty.

CHURCH RECORD

In Memoriam:
A private memorial service was held on February 29, 2004 in the sanctuary for Kellyanne Dorothy Sears.

THIS WEEK

Sunday, March 7: Morning Worship 10:00 A.M., Rev. Gary L. Marks will be preaching. Communion will be a part of the morning service. The Pinewood Derby, Noon in the Church House.

Monday, March 8: Rev. Marks will attend a board meeting of the American Congregational Association at the Congregational Library in Boston; 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; Adult Bible Study, 7:00 P.M. in Allerton Hall.

Tuesday, March 9: Rev. Marks' will conduct a worship service at the Newfield House at 10:30 A.M. He will be in the church office following the service; Rev. Dan's office hours 10:00 A.M.-Noon; Lunch Bunch Bible Study, Noon, Allerton Hall; Aerobics, 6:30 P.M. in Allerton Hall; Lenten Spirituality Group, 7:00 P.M. in the Pastor's Study, in the church building (see "Notes").

Wednesday, March 10: Pam will be out of the office for Jury Duty. Aerobics, 9:00 A.M. in AH; Staff Meeting, 10:00 A.M.; Rev. Dan's office hours 10:00 A.M.-Noon; Choir Rehearsal, 7:30 P.M. in the Sanctuary; Troop 47, 7:00 P.M. in the Church House; Missions Meeting, 7:00 P.M. in AH.

Thursday, March 11: Girl Scout Troop 1227, 6:00 P.M. in the CH; Aerobics, 6:30 P.M. in AH; Membership & Evangelism Meeting, 7:00 P.M. in the CH.

Friday, March 12: Rev. Marks office hours, 9:30 A.M.-11:30 A.M.; Aerobics, 9:00 A.M. in AH; The Women's Guild will meet for a luncheon and meeting at Noon in Allerton Hall and then carpool to the Plymouth Public Library.

Saturday, March 13:

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. This study opportunity will be conducted by the ministers. The group will meet for four Tuesdays, beginning March 9, 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. Yet, in the book which we will use he also speaks with clarity to those who have been in the church for many years. He wrote this book to a secular friend who had spiritual longings, but who was in a quandary as to what to do about those longings. 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.

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: If you were unable to put your pledge card in the Chest of Joash you may bring it to Church this coming Sunday and place it in the collection plate, or mail it to the office Attn: Collector. If you need a pledge card you may contact the Church office or there will be some available in the church upper vestibule this Sunday.

Our New Hymnal: Our Hymnal is in, but it is not too late to make a dedication and a gift. Over the next two weeks we will be organizing and printing out the dedicatory bookplates, and then affixing them into the hymnals. You can still mail your gift to the church office or call Bill Harting, (508) 746-4097. The new hymnals will be dedicated on March 28th. Meanwhile, in answer to many queries, the Trustees have agreed to exchange copy of our beloved Pilgrim Hymnal after it is retired for a gift of $5.00 each. There will also be a limited number of the new hymnals available for personal use, please see Bill Harting or 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.

A large number of people attended the Open Forum on February 29th regarding issues raised in our society concerning Same Sex or Civil Unions.

We thank Heather and Bethany Sinn, Kayla McNicholas and any others who helped out with childcare in the Crib Room.

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.

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.

Brown Bag Auction: Many thanks to all who participated in the Brown Bag Auction this past Saturday evening. It was a really fun time and realized a profit of $860.00 to be added to the general fund. Special thanks to our wonderful auctioneer, Ed Pawlowski, without who's expertise we could not have done as well, financially and also to those who volunteered to help clean up in the kitchen. Some very interesting "brown bags" were for sale, some with treasures and some with the unexpected. For a first time event, there was a lot of enthusiasm and a good deal of laughter throughout the auction. If you could not make it this year, plan on it in years to come. Thanks again. Diana and Liisa Budge.

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.

Knitters Evening is scheduled for March 9, 2004 at 15 Oak Street, Plymouth. All are welcome for an evening of instruction and/or fellowship. Novices and experts are all welcome. Join us. Diana Budge.

One more thing, the first organizational meeting for the Harvest Fair 2004 will be held at 15 Oak Street at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 18, 2004. We encourage all former table leaders to attend and bring a friend. If you are interested in getting involved with the largest fund-raiser of the church year, please join us. We can use help in a number of areas and hope that some of our new members will get involved. If you would like further information, please call Diana Budge at (508) 746-4514.

COMING EVENTS

March 14: The Third Sunday in Lent.

March 16: Lenten Spirituality Group, 7:00 P.M. in Pastor's Study.

March 20: Wedding in the sanctuary, 4:00 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.