Dear Friends,

Last Sunday was remarkable for many reasons. The service at The Church of the Pilgrimage was a very moving one. In addition to Heather's fine sermon and the usual excellent music; Dawn Durmis gave us all a moving testimony concerning her faith and its nourishment in The Church of the Pilgrimage. The authenticity of her remarks touched us all very deeply.

In the late afternoon on March 12th many people from our church and The First Church of Christ, U.C.C. in Sandwich journeyed to Nashua, New Hampshire to attend the ordination service of Daniel Spacek, our former associate minister. First Church, U.C.C. in Nashua was Dan's home church.

The service itself was wonderful! The church building there, much different in architecture from our own, is beautiful. The music was splendid as choirs from the three churches involved combined magnificently to make a profoundly "joyful noise" to god. A large number of our choir members made the trip and added greatly to the musical quality of the joyous occasion. Jen Healy and Trace Sears read from the Scriptures and Hildegard Schimpf represented our congregation in the ever moving "Laying on of Hands" ceremony. That action (laying on of hands) represents individuals, local churches, and The United Church of Christ as affirming the candidate to be "set apart" for the ministry of Pastor and Teacher within our common covenantal ministry. The awesome responsibility of being a minister of the gospel is caught in that moment when others physically place the hands of the Covenant upon the one being ordained. I was put in the mind of my own ordination as I place my hands upon Dan's head.

Now, for a while, I turn my attention to writing a lecture on the Covenant of 1606 in Scrooby of which we are in The Church of the Pilgrimage, direct heirs four hundred years later. I've been mildly amazed that people have so very little understanding of the meaning of covenant. It was for the sake of that Covenant that many were imprisoned and even executed. It was, to bring it home, for the sake of the Covenant that those who have been given the name Pilgrims arrived in Plymouth on the Mayflower. I've even spoken to scholars who don't know where to begin to research and study the Covenant. That is even a bit more shocking than the mild amazement I mentioned above! Yet, the covenant-idea is, to be fair, so simple that it was to be like the air people breathed, so common, so basic, that it didn't need to be recognized constantly. Unfortunately, people forget basic simple truths at the peril of everything else in life.

I believe beyond anything else that life is best understood and lived by our efforts to walk in God's ways made known or to be made known in the church. That is the basis of the Covenant form, which everything else precedes.

Deacon In Charge: Janice Lee

Flowers: In memory of Wadsworth and Gerda Savery. With much love, Maggie Tavares.

Daffodil Sunday: Daffodil Sunday will be on March 26th. Those who ordered bunches of daffodils may pick them up (on the honor system) after the church service. Thank you for supporting the American Cancer Society!

Gather 'round the table: Are you hungry for good food and delightful fellowship? Are you looking for a way to sustain your journey of faith this season of Lent? Then come to our Wednesday evening Soup Supper and Vespers series. The soup will be served at 6:00p.m. followed by worship at 6:45p.m. Childcare will be provided. We hope to see you there!

Mark the date: Rev. Heather Moody's Service of Installation will be Sunday afternoon, May 21st, at 3:00p.m.at The Church of the Pilgrimage. Prior to the Installation Service, the Pilgrim Association of the Massachusetts Conference, United Church of Christ, will hold Ecclesiastical Council for Rev. Heather at 2:00p.m.

Stewardship Moment: "Giving praise is what faithful and effective giving is all about. Gratitude is a mood. It is appreciation of something or somebody who makes us feel good, to whom, then, we want to give something back. Praise is not a mood but a mission. It expresses commitment to something we have and cherish, no matter what mood we are in." From Inspiring Generosity, p. 11.

Lent: Lenten devotional booklets are available in the upper vestibule of the church building. A donation of $1.00 will help defray the cost of the booklets. Lenten daily readings from the Bible are also available for your Lenten preparation.

Pastoral Care: If you are aware of anyone in need of pastoral care, please phone the church office or speak to one of the minister.

Church Office Hours
Mon & Tue: Noon-5pm
Wed-Fri: 8am-1pm

Stewardship Campaign: Please remember to give prayerful consideration to your pledge to The Church of the Pilgrimage for 2006-2007. The church needs your generous support. One of the predominant themes of our campaign this year is that stewardship is very much an expression of our faith. The Stewardship Committee has not only been hard at work, it has itself been on a spiritual journey and has shown a growing faith experience and confidence in the mission of The Church of the Pilgrimage and the wider church.

Thank You, Dawn: The church thanks Dawn Durmis who gave us all a wonderful testimony of her devotion to The Church of the Pilgrimage last Sunday. She spoke as part of the Stewardship Committee's "Witnessing Stewards" program.

Calling All Golfers! And anyone else who loves a good time! The Golf Tournament is up and running, but we need your help! Please contact Jon Porter, 746-4109, if you are interested in working on the Golf Tournament Committee. All ages are welcome! (see insert)

Notice from the Board of Trustees: The Board of Trustees will hold their regularly scheduled meeting in the Conference Room next Tuesday, march 21, 2006. All individuals, officers and all chairs of all committees are urged to attend this important meeting regarding the Budget. The Annual Meeting will be in May, and it is important that all committees are represented in the development of the budget.

Church Membership: If you are interested in church membership, please let Rev. Marks know. You may also phone the church office for information regarding membership.

Time & Talent Auction - Sat. March 25, 6pm
LAST CHANCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Please turn in your donation forms this Sunday so your time and talents can be included in the auction. And don't forget to sign up for the delicious beef stew dinner that will start at 6pm. The auction is always a roaring good time-be there or be square! You can call in your reservation, or donation, to Judy Mitchell at 508-746-3959.

Volunteers Needed!
*We need volunteers to provide for Sunday coffee Hours. It is a simple set-up for this important social activity of our church. Sign-up sheet in Allerton Hall or call the church office for information.
*We also need volunteers to provide childcare during our Sunday worship services. There is a sign-up sheet in the cribroom. You may also call the church office for information.

MISSIONS AND OUTREACH NEWS-
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Plymouth will be hosting the seventh annual Warm Hearts, Warm Homes Gala at 7pm on Saturday, March 25, 2006 at The Loring Center, 386 Court Street, Plymouth. Tickets are $60 per person and available at the door or online at http://hfhplymouth.org/GalaTickets.html.
The Food Warehouse: For our weekly collection of non-perishables, we need: canned ham, tuna or chicken, cereal, pasta, canned fruit, peanut butter, jelly, jam, mayonnaise and ketchup. THANK YOU!
The Plymouth Taskforce for the Homeless, an interfaith non-profit organization sheltering the homeless in church homes and at the Next Step House on Court Street seeks a new representative from The Church of the Pilgrimage. Volunteers to the Overnights of Hospitality Program serving as chaperones and meal providers have been the lifeblood of this successful outreach. If you would like to be the link between our church and this vital program, please see a member of the Missions Committee.
March 26th: One Great Hour of Sharing special offering.

Mothers in love + Fathers in love! Your whole family deserves the love Mom and Dad will bring home from a Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekend! Marriage Encounter is 44 hours where husbands and wives can get away from jobs, kids, chores, and phones-and focus only on each other. If you'd like greater depth, growth, and enrichment in your relationship, you'll like the difference a Worldwide Marriage Encounter can make!

The next UCC Marriage Encounter weekend is April 28-30, 2006 at Christian Conference Center in Alton Bay, NH. For more information or to register, contact Bruce & Lynne Hildreth, 15 Ironwood Street, Billerica, MA 01821-1303 or email at HILDRETH4@comcast.net. Endorsed by the Commission For Leadership Development of the Massachusetts Conference, United Church of Christ. Nurturing local church vitality and the covenant among our churches. This resource is made possible by your contributions to Our Church's Wider Mission and Fellowship Dues.