Dear Friends,

He is risen! I love saying those words and I love hearing the response, He is risen, indeed!

Easter has come and gone for another year, that is, Easter Day has come and gone for another year. We continue to celebrate Easter for several Sundays and, in truth, we celebrate it every Sunday, indeed everyday. Sunday is our Sabbath in the Christian churches because it is the Resurrection Day. And churches are at their best when they understand themselves to be communities of the Resurrection.

The Lenten season which precedes Easter is long, six weeks, excluding Sunday. Though that season is a penitential season to a lesser degree in most churches than it once was, it is still a long one, a time of preparation for our grandest day. We have had a very meaningful Lenten season at The Church of the Pilgrimage. The Bible lessons in church and church school have intended to lead us through the spiritual paths of Jesus and have been occupied with themes which prepare us spiritually for what happened to Jesus in Jerusalem During Holy Week. Easter means so much more to us when we've made the often painful trek with Jesus than otherwise it does when Easter Day alone is the focus of our spiritual energies.

We had a moving Holy Week. The Palm Sunday Communion Breakfast with its large attendance, the service which followed with the children's Procession of the Palms, and the services that followed during the week were deeply moving for me and I hope for all of you who participated in them.

The Maundy Thursday Service was, as it always is, beautiful in a somber way. It causes me to feel that I was with Jesus and the Disciples at the Last Supper and in Gethsemene.

The Good Friday Service, only the second time we've done it , is an unusual one for us, perhaps unique in the way we conduct it. It is based upon readings and prayers which have grown out of a contemporary Celtic community from Lindisfarne (Holy Island) which I visited three summers ago. Kathy, Dan and I made it into a "moving " service in which we follow Jesus along the Way of the Cross. At each point along the way there are symbols to be touched and felt, when appropriate, as we end up in the starkness of the Cross and sealed tomb. It is heart wrenching, but spiritually edifying.

On Easter Day I was one of four local clergy to lead the Sunrise Service on Cole's Hill. In contrast to my last formal worship service experience on Good Friday at our church, I learned all over again what "Alleluia!" means. The sun, rose colored then yellow, emerged from the sea in concert with our telling the Easter story. Alleluia! The two services at our church were sublime. Congregation, choir, organ, lilies and ministers all together knew the risen Christ and we said and sang so. We are the Resurrection people! Alleluia!

Love,

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

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

Deaconess of the Month: Joanne Cole

Ushers: Bob & Marylyn Colburn and John & Pam McNicholas.

Greeters: Marge Sears, Jane Cole & Alice Dunham.

The Pulpit Flowers are in loving memory of Henry, Mary & Keith Dunlap given by Robert and 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. Volunteers are needed for coffee hour. Please look for the sign-up sheet on the coffee hour counter.

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!

Membership & Evangelism is looking for some suggestions to help enhance our website. Megan and Pedro Verdugo have volunteered to take over maintaining the website from Doug Post (whose time and efforts have been valued, especially by Pam!). If you have some ideas of what you would like to see on the website, ideas to make it easy to read and follow (especially for those of us who are somewhat computer illiterate) please put your suggestions in the Membership & Evangelism mailbox in Allerton Hall. We would like to receive all suggestions by Sunday, May 9th. Thank you for your valued input.

Also, if you know of someone who has been missing from Church for an extended period of time, please let one of the ministers know or put a note in their mailbox or in the Membership and Evangelism mailbox, so that they can make contact with them. Thank you.
The Membership & Evangelism Committee.

Office Hours: The office will be closed Monday, April 19, 2004, Patriot's Day. Also, it is school vacation week and the Church Office will be open Tuesday-Friday until 8:30 A.M.-1:00 P.M.

CHURCH RECORD

In Memoriam:
On April 13, 2004, Rev. Marks conducted a graveside service for Betsy Shurtleff.

THIS WEEK

Sunday, Apr. 18-Morning Worship 10:00 A.M., Rev. Daniel Spacek, preaching. Holocaust Remembrance Service, 7:00 P.M., Temple Beth Jacob Community Center (Corner of Court and Brewster Streets).

Monday, April 19: Patriot's Day-Office Closed; Aerobics, 9:00 A.M. in Allerton Hall; Girl Scout Tr. 1128, 6:00 P.M. in Church House.

Tuesday, April 20: 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; Board of Trustees will meet in the Church House, 7:00 P.M.

Wednesday, April 21: 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; Music Committee Meeting, 6:30 P.M. in AH.

Thursday, April 22: 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 23: Rev. Marks will be in the sanctuary, 9:30 A.M.-11:30 A.M.; Aerobics, 9:00 A.M. in AH; Wedding Rehearsal in the sanctuary, 6:30 P.M.

Saturday, April 24: Wedding in the sanctuary, 1:30 P.M.

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.

Gary and Kathy Marks will be away on May 16th to attend their son's graduation from Hieldlberg College in Ohio. Halleluia!

If you are interested in becoming a member of The Church of the Pilgrimage please speak to Rev. Marks or phone the church office.

Please note the Certificate of Recognition the church received from the Mass. Conference U.C.C. for its giving to our church's wider mission. It is on the bulletin board in Allerton Hall.

The Board of Trustees will prepare a finalized budget on April 20, 2004 at their regular monthly meeting. All committees are invited to send a representative from their committee to this meeting. This meeting will focus exclusively on the new budget and the Board needs to hear from all of you. Please call Debby Porter or Diana Budge if you have any questions regarding this very important meeting.

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, should be a burden shared by all. We hope to see you there. The Board of Trustees.

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.

Pilgrimage Women's Fellowship: Mother Daughter Reception, will be held Monday evening, May 3rd, beginning at 6:30 P.M. hosted by the Pilgrimage Women's Fellowship. The program for the evening: "Weddings to Remember". Please bring your wedding albums to display. Anyone interested in modeling or displaying their wedding gown, bridesmaid dress, or mother of the bride or groom dress, or having someone model their gowns, please call Pam Pawlowski (508) 746-2819. If there are younger daughters who have a "special dress" they would like to mode, please call Pam as well. Finger sandwiches, salads, and dessert will be served. Sign up during coffee hours on April 18th and April 25th or call Pam Pawlowski. Mark the date to join us for a special evening of fellowship together!

The Fourth Annual Church of the Pilgrimage Golf Tournament will be held on Saturday, June 12 at Squirrel Run Country Club. 8:00 A.M. start time with lunch on the Pavilion to follow. See Ed Pawlowski during coffee hour for sign up information. More information to follow in the coming weeks.

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.

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 District Women Spring Meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 27, 2004 at the First Congregational Church, UCC, 515 Hanover Street (Route 139), Hanover, MA. Gathering at 9:30 A.M., Meeting 10:00 A.M.-1:00 P.M. luncheon following-$5.00 per person. The speakers is The Rev. Mary Donnellen, Message: Spirituality. For reservations call Harriet Olmstead at (781) 829-2042 by April 23.

Coming Events: Plant Sale June 5, 2004 (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 5, 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.

COMING EVENTS

May 1: Eagle Scout Award Ceremony in the Sanctuary.
May 2: The Church Council will meet after worship.
May 3: Pilgrimage Women's Fellowship Mother/Daughter Reception.
May 8: Time and Talent Auction.

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.