70 Attend First Event, Join Us Next Tuesday!

70 attended the first Lenten Series Event on Sacred Space, Holy Travel at Pilgrim Church. The next in our series, focusing on the Holy Land, is at St. Mark's Church in Southborough.

Worship at 6, then dinner, and a talk and discussion from 7 to 8. Child care is provided!

Lenten Series

Don't miss our Lenten Series even tomorrow, Tuesday the 3rd, from 6 to 8 at Pilgrim. Our theme is Sacred Spaces, Holy Travel, and we'll worship at 6, eat at 6:15, then hear a talk and have a discussion from 7-8. Topics this year will include the Holy Land and Tibet.

Hope to see you!

Ash Wednesday

Join us for our Ash Wednesday service on February 25th at 7:00. This service of reflection lasts about a half hour. We burn the trouble in our lives and start Lent clean. God loves us no matter what, and this service is a chance to unclench our bodies so our spirits can deeply feel that love. For those who love the tradition, ashes will be available.

A Year of Teaching

In a world where we can't control what's happening around us, we can influence what goes on in our minds and in the lives of our kids. This year: Teach.

One of the simplest truths about learning is that when you teach, you learn. You have to master knowledge to impart it to others. When teaching kids, the creativity needed to make the learning fun challenges us to a new level, and hence, our learning deepens.

This year, focus on learning. Teach a Sunday School Class, volunteer at the Goddard Summer School Program, pray with a child, walk in the woods and wonder about creation with them, and as you do: Learn.

Hundreds of Pilgrims Support 30,000 Troops

I am truly grateful to all of you who participated in our Care Package
Drive to support our Troops. The items you purchased, the hours you
worked at the Drive, and your generous checks for postage and product
made shipping almost 400 boxes possible. In spite of these tough times
together we touched about 30,000 troops, making their holidays away from
home a bit brighter. Your generosity is absolutely overwhelming and
means so much to me! The stories from our Drive that I share with
Courtney amaze and humble her.

For those of you who coordinated your children, their friends and your
students to make cards and bring items, please pass this on to them with
my thanks. They truly made a difference.

Malcolm Muggeridge once said, "Every happening, great or small, is a
parable whereby God speaks to us, and the art of life is to get the
message." You all got the message! Thank you for touching the lives of
our troops.

Proud Army Mom!
Deb Wilson

Men's Club Mission Trip Pictures

There are four houses in the Portland culdesac where
we had the chance to build. The windows, strapping, and
even a sliding door were put into the lower house by our group.



We're responsible for the tybex wrap and the yellow
wrap which keeps an air barrier between the siding
and the interior walls on the other two houses.



You think Charlie is high, you should have seen
other guys who won't be named so their spouses
don't get nervous!



Katherine and Anne, do Mike and Brent clean up like this at home?
We put up a wall and strapping in this house.




Dan in the blue shirt is the construction manager and
Ken in the white shirt is buying this house. Habitat is now
selling two houses they build to pay for parts of the other
two houses in the subdivision. A brilliant model because
Portland's housing stock really starts at $300,000. This way
they offer homes at $200,000--raise funds and fill in a need in
the market--and offer homes to families that can't afford one
for $300 a month for 35 years.

By the way, did Paul just swallow a canary?


One happy deacon!



They put in a sliding glass door--the first in Habitat
Portland's history (into one of the houses being sold)!
Ask them how many times they stopped to admire it
for the rest of the day? Answer: When you've built heaven,
you stop and appreciate it a lot!



The Team!


The celebration! Lobster is on the way! Next year,
same weekend? Same work? More men?

Burgler Still Welcome On Sunday

If the burgler wants to come on Sunday, we have plenty of coffee!

Check out the article in the Metrowest Daily News.

Thanks to Dick Dinjian from buildings and grounds, the Healthy Living group, and all the concerned folks who helped clean up and offer support.