Eloise was born in Indonesia where her parents were missionaries. She spent her childhood in Indonesia and Singapore, and her teen years in Richmond, VA. Eloise is a graduate of Hardin Simmons University in Abilene, TX and Southwestern Seminary in Ft. Worth, TX, where she received a Master of Divinity in Pastoral Care and Counseling. She started a Pastoral Care Program in Parkland Hospital in Dallas, and was also the HIV/AIDS chaplain. She was also the director of spirituality of a project organized to help battered and abused women.

Always involved in the local church, Eloise has held various church positions, both paid and volunteer. She has been a youth minister, Sunday school teacher, vacation Bible school director, and retreat leader, as well as a trustee and elder and helped start two new churches. She believes strongly in the importance of the local church and the worldwide church. Although she is an ordained minister of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, she will be devoting her primary energies to the many Christian Education programs and activities of our church. In her spare time, Eloise also enjoys reading, making jewelry, sewing, walking on the beach, and spending time with her toy poodle, Manis ("sweet" in Indonesian).

You will be pleased to know that the CE Search Committee (chaired by Joan Barrington, with Ed Cheal, Dottie Collins, Debby Jewell, and myself) worked diligently for over three months, received resumes from over a dozen applicants, and interviewed five very fine candidates, finally narrowing the field down to the three best ones. Our children and youth (and adults) are getting, we feel, the best of the best.

Because of the high caliber of our candidates, we needed to offer a higher compensation package than originally planned. This along with the new position of part-time Volunteer Coordinator (to be announced soon) means that the "Vision" monies we have been holding will not go as far, and thus, all of us will need to be even more responsible stewards with our pledging in the coming years.

This is an exciting time in the life of our church family and we all look forward to Eloise being among us in April. May God bless all of us as we begin this new phase of ministry with one another.

Shalom,

Ken

There will be a new format for the new members class coming up on April 12^th, which is on the Saturday of the Palm Sunday weekend, with new members joining on Palm Sunday. The class will begin with a luncheon at 12:00 noon, followed by the more formal program. We will be finished by 3:00 PM, and childcare will be provided for those who request it. Please call the church office if you are interested in attending. Letters of invitation are being mailed to all we know of who have expressed interest, but we welcome all.

All are welcome! Please join us @ 9:15 AM on Thursday, April 3^rd for coffee, goodies and fellowship. Board members, if you can’t attend, please call Deb Bowen.

Bookworms will meet Tuesday, April 22^nd @ 1:30 PM in the Pilgrim Church Parlor. The book for this month is Emerald by Elisabeth Luard. All are welcome.

The PWF Annual Meeting and Luncheon will be held on Thursday, May 1^{st at} the Village at Duxbury. There will be a brief meeting followed by a program presented by Maridel Johnson. A luncheon will follow. Look for more details and sign up times in the church bulletin.

Join us for the largest church picnic ever at the UCC Faithworks Festival Saturday, May 3^rd at Hanover High School. This will be a daylong event, with 26 different workshops for adults, mission and fun activities for young people, a youth rally, and culminating with a worship service under a Big Top with combined choirs from 4-5:30. Some of the diverse workshops being offered include:

God is Still Speaking through The Word – The Bible has relevance for each of us individually as well as communally. Come and explore the practice of devotional Bible reading.

Pray all Ways – In this workshop we will experience a variety of prayer forms. We will begin our dialogue with a simple chant, then we will explore non-verbal expressions using movement and art. In our closing prayers, words will help us integrate what we have discovered.

Youth Ministry in the Community – We will share thoughts about attracting youth from the community and using these youth to minister to the community! A practical youth ministry workshop.

New Ways to Deepen Our Faith and Service – This workshop will explore ways to deepen our understanding of giftedness. Spiritual Gift inventories will be shared as well as leadership development techniques that will help leaders implement programs in the area of "our gifts".

The Schedule for the day will include registration from 8–9, "Town Meeting" from 9-10, workshops from 10:15-11:30, Lunch from 11:30-12:30, Workshops from 12:45-2, Bible Study from 2:15-3:15, and concluding with worship from 4-5:30. Rev. Landall and Peggy Files are organizing a group carpool for the 4:00 service for people who are interested in attending only the worship portion of the event. If you would like to carpool to the service, call the office (934-6591) to let us know.

This event is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy fellowship, faith and fun with other members of our UCC community close to home. There are workshops, activities, and events for all people of faith who wish to participate. Don’t miss this chance to meet other people from the larger church who share our faith and enthusiasm for our God.

Dress is casual, but space is limited, so you must register in advance to enjoy a picnic lunch and attend one or two of the workshops being offered. Cost: $20 adults - $5 children, youth and chaperones. For further information and registration forms you may check out the Pilgrim Church bulletin boards, visit the web page www.macucc.org/comma.htm, or ask Rev. Landall or Peggy O’Neil Files.

Flower arrangers for April are

Cheryl Tufankjian and Jeanette McKenzie.

LOOKING AHEAD: Please note, because of Dancing to the Decades and other unforeseen conflicts. The end of the year Cookout at the Files House has been moved from May 4^th to May 18^th (Kids Klub 4-5:30, JYF 6-7:30). Look for the details in the May newsletter and a postcard in your mailbox.

Confirmation Retreat is Friday, May 9^th & Saturday, May 10^th. We depart from Pilgrim Church at 6:45 PM to go to the 1620 Retreat House in Framingham. We return approximately 4 PM on Saturday. More info will be coming to you by email, snail mail and the like… Do not try the excuse that you didn’t know about this one kids!

Inreach/Outreach Hours:

Two opportunities - both on April 12^th -

1. The Investment Seminar Breakfast- Help is needed to set up, serve and clean up in the morning only. If you are interested call Mr. Maddock at 781-834-5275.
2. Crossroads Clean-Up – Again this year we have offered to help clean up

Animal Faire - Friday, March 28th from 10-2

It’s not too late to join the fun! This is a professional development day for Duxbury, in other words NO SCHOOL! Tickets are $7. There will be all kinds of entertainment including puppets, balloon animals, magic face painting, clowns and stilt walkers. Your admission includes lunch and 4 tickets for games or crafts. (Additional game or craft tickets may be purchased.) This event is perfect for young families and their friends. All children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Tickets are available in the church office or at Westwinds bookstore. Bring along a photo of your four-legged friend for the Animal Faire photo contest! All proceeds will benefit our children’s donation to the new Duxbury Animal Shelter.