Dear Friends,

The arrival of Easter always startles me. Each year I begin to plan and make preparations for the Lenten/Easter season soon after Christmas. When the season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday (February 25) it seems such a long time until Easter. Lent is a very long season, forty days not including Sundays, but sooner that I ever expect it was Palm Sunday and the onset of Holy Week. The arrival of Resurrection Day always startles me!

When I thought about how quickly Easter arrives even in a long season I also begin to ponder the reality of Easter itself which is always startling to me on a much more profound level than the mere passage of time. Spiritually there is also something stunning about Easter. Over the years, and having been influenced by early Celtic Christian spirituality, I have tried to discipline myself to pay attention to each unfolding phase in the life of Jesus. From the simple celebration of Lenten season at our little Ash Wednesday Service with Communion onward I try to align myself with the redemptive events of our faith. My readings, study and prayer life are centered on the biblical stories and accounts, my preparations for preaching and preaching itself all are a part of a concentrated effort to recover the depths of our faith anew in the context of the world as it is in 2004. And even though I know what happens, as it were, I continue to be startled by the coming of Easter.

Last Sunday at both our wonderful Palm Sunday Communion Breakfast and at our Palm/Passion Sunday Service of worship I was struck anew by the approach of Holy Week and Easter. There was, of course, the fact of time's passage since Ash Wednesday, but a deeper sense of "living Lent" during that quite literal passage of time. My "real time", as people seem to refer to actual time today, has a spiritual quality about it that makes my actual living different than it otherwise would be. I've tried to allow the Holy One to enter the days of my life. That makes my "real time" qualitatively different than merely being aware of numbers printed at the top of the pages of my calendar. Real time has its labors and perplexities, as we all know, but spiritual acts and practices give to the otherwise mere passing of days a depth and significance which can make life real.

As I write this letter I am and I hope you are, living not merely "real time," but "Holy Week Time". I am, and I hope you are, trying to enter the ancient events in Jerusalem along with Jesus and the other players in the drama of redemption. I do that, and I hope you are doing it, amid the labors and perplexities of life in the year 2004 ever seeking to allow the Holy One to make spiritual sense of my days. During any given day, sometimes unexpectedly, the Holy One is found to be a sustaining companion who makes sense of the drudgery of "real time."

In a few days it will be Easter day. We can't of course, prepare for surprises, but we can prepare ourselves for hearing a Word of depth to be spoken in what can be the shallowness of our days. We can begin to live in "Easter time." Hearing, "He is risen!", may startle us all and provide our days with the grace of the Holy One.

Love,

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

Ecumenical Sunrise Service on Cole's Hill, 6:00 A.M. (Across from Plymouth Rock)

Morning Worship 9:00 AM and 11:00 A.M. Rev. Gary L. Marks preaching.

Deaconess of the Month: Joanne Cole

Usher: 9:00 A.M. Service: Warren & Judi Besegai and
Jerry & Debbie Chaskes
11:00 A.M. Service: Bill & Diane Harting
Nancy Scheid & Bob Cole

Greeters: 9:00 A.M. Service: Rollin and Carol Johnson
11:00 A.M. Service: Billie Courtney

The Easter Lilies are given in memory of loved ones and are listed on a separate sheet, extras can be found on the table in the upper vestibule.

Time for teaching. Following Time for Teaching, Children Grades 3 and under will attend craft and story time in Allerton Hall..

There will be no coffee hour following either service.

Greeters are needed for the month of May. 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!

Pew Pads: Did you know you can learn the names of visitors so that you can introduce yourself by reading the pew pads? Visitors follow our lead. Please make sure the pew pads are filled out and passed along. If you include your address, visitors may do the same! As always, try to welcome newcomers at coffee hour. Thank you, the Membership and Evangelism Committee.

Office Hours: M-F 8:45 A.M.-3:45 P.M. Thursday's 8:30 A.M.-3:00 P.M. The office will be closed Monday, April 12, 2004 in lieu of Good Friday.

CHURCH RECORD

Recuperating at home: Tim Mee

In Memoriam:
On April 6, 2004 Rev. Marks conducted a graveside service for Bulah McCarthy.

THIS WEEK

Sunday, Apr. 11-- Easter Sunday, Ecumenical Sunrise Service-6:00 A.M. on Cole's Hill; Rev. Gary L Marks will be preaching at the 9:00 A.M. and 11:00 A.M. Services. There will be no coffee hour following either service.

Monday, April 12: Office Closed in lieu of Good Friday. Aerobics, 9:00 A.M. in Allerton Hall; Girl Scout Tr. 1128, 6:00 P.M. in Church House.

Tuesday, April 13: Rev. Marks will be in the office 9:30 A.M.-11:30 A.M.; Rev. Dan's office hours 10:00 A.M.-Noon; Aerobics, 6:30 P.M. in Allerton Hall; Membership & Evangelism Committee will meet at 7:00 P.M. in the Church House; Knitting at Diana Budge's House, 7:00 P.M.

Wednesday, April 14: 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 & Outreach Committee Meeting, 7:00 P.M. in AH.

Thursday, April 15: Rev. Dan's office hours 10:00 A.M.-Noon; Girl Scout Troop 1227, 4:00 P.M. in the CH; Aerobics, 6:30 P.M. in AH.

Friday, April 16: Rev. Marks will be in the sanctuary, 9:30 A.M.-11:30 A.M.; Aerobics, 9:00 A.M. in AH.

Saturday, April 17:

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. Thank you for your help.

Attention: The Annual Meeting of the congregation will be held on Sunday, May 16th (the official notice will be found in the Herald two weeks prior to the meeting) after the service and the Board of Trustees encourages as many members as possible to make plans to attend. Because this meeting establishes the budget for the coming year, it affects everyone with regard to their pledges and the vote taken should be representative of the wishes of the majority of the congregation. In years past, the faithful few have been left with the responsibility of making these decisions which, rightly, should be a burden shared by all. We hope to see you there. The Board of Trustees.

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.

We thank the Advisory Board for organizing a wonderful Palm Sunday Communion Breakfast. Allerton Hall was filled for the breakfast celebration and the event carried a deep sense of Christian Community. We thank the kitchen crew which provided us with a delicious breakfast and to the Confirmation Class for distributing the elements. A special "Thank you" goes to Hildegard Schimpf for her early preparation of the Communion elements. Thanks goes also to Jenny Healy for providing both the Communion bread and the "out-of-this-world" hot-cross buns for the breakfast.

We also thank the Flower Committee for taking orders for and organizing the purchase and display of our memorial lilies for our Easter Services. The work of the Committee is often taken for granted, but it is a hard-working group of people, who week after week adds beauty to our services of worship. Thank you, one and all!

While thanking people, we should also thank Kathy Marks for her help in decorating Allerton Hall for the Palm Sunday Communion Breakfast and for her work with the Flower Committee.

ATTENTION: Time and Talent Auction. Saturday, May 8. A roast pork dinner with all the fixins' will be served before the Time and Talent Auction on Saturday evening, May 8 in Allerton Hall. Dinner will be served at 6:30 and the auction will follow. Reservations may be made after service on most Sundays (excluding Easter Sunday) and forms for contributions to the Auction are available at that time as well. You may also call Diana Budge at (508) 746-4514 if you wish to make your reservation or contribution by phone. We hope for a good turnout for a fun evening. Cost for the dinner is $8 for adults, $4 for children and $20 maximum for a family. There will be chicken fingers and fries available for children if they prefer.
Pastor's Pasta Sunday: The Women's Fellowship is sponsoring a Pasta Sunday offering of a take-home meal consisting of home-made pasta sauce, spaghetti, home made bread and cookies for the price of $15.00. These will be available for sale on Sunday, May 16th after service and before the annual meeting. You can reserve your Take-Home meal by calling Diana Budge at (508) 746-4514 or signing up on any Sunday after service. This is the second year that we have done this and it was very well received last year. Extra sauce will be available and some marinara sauce will be available as well for those who prefer a meatless sauce. Proceeds will be shared with the Women's Fellowship and the pastor's discretionary fund. We are planning to make 50 quarts of spaghetti sauce, so reserve early.

John McNicholas would like to thank Barbara Quinn, Peter MacLeod, Pat MacLeod, Tom Healy, Jen Healy, Kathy Marks, the Confirmation Class, Hildegard Schimpf and the House Committee, and all members of the Advisory Board in helping to make this year's Palm Sunday Breakfast such a success.

The Healy Family would like to thank Kathy Marks and Trace, Julie and Gabi Sears for all their help making the hot cross buns for the Palm Sunday Breakfast. We felt very blessed for the time we were able to spend together and for being able to share that blessing with all of you.

Pilgrimage Women's Fellowship: Mother Daughter Evening, Monday, May 3rd, hosted by the Pilgrimage Women's Fellowship. The program for the evening: "Weddings to Remember". Please mark your calendars and plan to join us for this special evening of fellowship together.

Camp Scholarships: Please contact the church office if you are interested in attending a church camp. Camp opportunities are available for young people, but adult camps are also available. Please speak to Dan, Gary or call the church office for information. Camper-ships are available.

Knitters Evening is scheduled for April 13, 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.

We have started Penny Sunday collection again on the first Sunday of the month. Please remember to save you pennies and bring them to church on the First Sunday of the month (in case I forget to put it in the Herald!)

The Pilgrim Association has three upcoming events: 1) The Ordination into Christian Ministry of Raymond Anthony Medeiros on Sunday, April 18, 2004 at 4:00 P.M. at the First Congregational Church, 519 Washington St. in Whitman; 2) The Annual Spring Meeting will be held on Thursday, April 22, 2004 at the First Trinitarian Congregational Church, 381 Country Way, Scituate MA. The program begins at 7:00 P.M. and ends at 9:00 P.M. The main topic is "Questions Surrounding same Sex Marriage". A panel will present their views and have discussions; 3) On Sunday April 25, 2004 the Ecclesiastical Council will meet at 3:00 p.m. at the First Church West Bridgewater, 18 Howard St., West Bridgewater, MA to meet, review the credentials of The Reverend Carol Ashton and then will proceed at 4:00 P.M. to Install Reverend Ashton as Pastor.

Plant Sale June 5, 2004 (Rain Or Shine). Watch for more details in upcoming Heralds.
Additional Memorial Lilies: From Clarence & Catherine Delano in memory of our parents.

COMING EVENTS

April 18: Holocaust Remembrance Service, 7:00 P.M., Temple Beth Jacob Community Center (Corner of Court and Brewster Streets).

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.