1. Easter is Early This Year!
2. Date for Church and Ministry Training Changed to May 10
3. PL Counselor in Training Event March 14-15 at Rockcraft
4. PL Brochure On Line Now
5. Link to Pew’s New Study on Religion
6. Woodfords Church to Host NO MORE VICTIMS Program on March 9th
7. Register Now for Spirituality and Stewardship Event in Worcester on April 4 and 5!
8. Online Workshop on Confirmation to be offered Sunday, April 13th
9. Exotic Winter Escape For Couples in Saco
10. FIRST PARISH “Special Blend” COFFEE HOUSE
11. Christian Education Director Needed
12. Andover Newton On-line Seminars
13. Bulletin Bloopers

DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME BEGINS – SUNDAY, MARCH 9
DON’T FORGET TO SET YOUR CLOCKS AHEAD ONE HOUR

1. EASTER ...
It IS early this year.
Easter is always the first Sunday after the first full moon following the Spring Equinox (which is March 20). This dating of Easter is based on the lunar calendar that the Hebrews used to identify Passover, which is why it moves around on our Roman calendar.
Easter can actually be one day earlier (March 22) but that is pretty rare.
This year is the earliest Easter any of us will ever see the rest of our lives and only the very elderly of our population have ever seen it this early before. The next time Easter will be this early (March 23) will be the year 2228 (220 years from now). The last time it was this early was 1913 (so if you're 95 or older, you are the only ones that were around for that!).
The next time it will be earlier, March 22, will be in the year 2285 (277 years from now). The last time it was on March 22 was 1818. So, no one alive today has nor will ever see it any earlier than this year!

2. CHURCH AND MINISTRY TRAINING
The date for the spring training for Church and Ministry Committee members, originally scheduled for April 12, has been moved to May 10. Rev. Lynn Bujnak will be the workshop leader, and will take us through the steps for implementing the Ministry Issues Pronouncement. The training will be held at the Waterville Church from 10:00 - 3:00. Lunch will be provided. If you plan to attend, please register with Alyssa Lodewick at placement@maineucc.org. Questions can be directed to Rev. Anne Roundy at revaroundy@verizon.net

2. Pilgrim Lodge Counselor-In-Training Event at Rockcraft March 14-15
To be eligible to serve as a counselor in training (CIT) at Pilgrim Lodge this summer, 16 & 17 year olds must attend at least one CIT training event. The first is an overnight at Rockcraft in Sebago on March 14-15. The cost is $38 which includes supper on Friday and Breakfast and Lunch on Saturday. Detailed information can be found www.pilgrimlodge.org/pages/cit.html Call the conference office at 207-846-5118 to register for this event.

3, Pilgrim Lodge announcements posted on-line:
The PL brochure will be mailed next week but is posted on-line now. Also on-line you can access a detailed database of all summer events. Just click on an event name to find out more information. New this year: on-line registration to begin March 15. New Outdoor Ministry Committee Policies on Late arrival/early pick up and counselorships are posted as well. All this can be accessed from www.pilgrimlodge.org/recentnews.html

4. The following link will take you to the Pew Foundation's recent major study on religion in America. It's an interesting read:
http://religions.pewforum.org/pdf/report-religious-landscape-study-full.pdf

5. On Sunday, March 9th, at 5:00 p.m. Woodfords Congregational Church will host a talk by Cole Miller, founder of the humanitarian organization No More Victims. All interested churches and persons are invited to attend. In April 2008 NMV will be bringing Noora, a six year old Iraqi girl, to Portland for extensive reconstructive surgery to her skull in order to repair an injury that occurred when she has hit by U.S. fire while riding in her family's car. The talk will include information on how churches and individuals can help financially and in other ways during Noora's three to six month stay in Maine. A question and answer period will follow the talk and coffee and dessert will be served. For more information about this humanitarian organization, visit its web site at www.nomorevictims.org .

6. The hour cometh and now is....when all good men and women....need to step up, sit down, make some phone calls, and REGISTER your stewardship leaders (clergy included) to attend this year's Spirituality and Stewardship Event on April 4-5, 2006 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Worcester, MA. As in years past, this promises to be THE VERY BEST event of its kind in New England. It is sponsored by the Northeast Ecumenical Stewardship Council, a consortium of mainline Protestant denominations, including our United Church of Christ. It features keynoters and workshops and worship that focus on the spiritual disciplines we have oft ignored or misunderstood. You may recognize leadership names like Steve Gray, Don Hill, Maren Tirabassi, Steven Silver, Ed Hoyt, Donna Schaper and Jennifer Davis from your travels in UCC circles, and there are others as skilled from among the Baptists, Episcopalians, Presbyterians, Lutherans, and Methodists as well! The costs for the events are most reasonable, including rooms at the Crown Plaza for just $99 each. Registration has to happen by March 8th! Please don't miss out. All you need to know about the event, and registration information is on the website of the United Methodist Foundation at www.unfne.org and you can even register on-line!

7. The Maine Conference Christian Education Team is sponsoring an online “Confirmation Summit” Sunday evening, April 13th, from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. This online workshop will present a variety of models, resources, and ideas for confirmation and include a time for online participants to share as well. It doesn’t matter where you live in Maine, you can participate in this sharing among colleagues! Register to participate by contacting the Resource Center (1-800-244-0937, resourcecenter@maineucc.org). You will be sent instructions on how to participate near the date of the workshop. You will need a computer and telephone to participate (if you have a dial up computer connection, you will need a separate phone line or cell phone).

8. First Parish Congregational Church Saco UCC is hosting a special “date night” Saturday, March 8 to strengthen couple’s relationship. Dr. Ron Baard, Associate Professor of Mentored Practice from Bangor Theological Seminary will be facilitating this relationship seminar to which all varieties of couples are very warmly welcomed to attend. Each evening will include a time of enjoying delicious appetizers, delightful company, live music, and a one hour relationship growth seminar. Couples are then encouraged to dine-out at one of Saco/Biddeford’s many fine dinning establishments. So that couples may differently enjoy the evening, participants are encouraged to register their children for the “pajama party” hosted by the youth group in the lower level of the church from 5:30- 8:30. Cost of the event is $10 per a couple and includes appetizers and childcare. Please see our website www.firstparishsaco.org for more details.

9. On Friday, March 7th, First Parish Congregational Church of Saco (www.firstparishsaco.org), corner of Beach and Main Streets, will host an exciting evening of coffee house entertainment at which local performers will provide great music, and maybe a little humor…
Our special guests will be The Friends of Darfur bringing dancing, drumming and food to share from the Sudanese community. The Friends of Darfur is an organization which educates the public about the music, food, culture and current genocide of the Darfur people in the region of western Sudan. Coffee House starts at 7:00pm. General admission $6.00, Seniors and Children 6-12 -$4.00. 5 and under are free. Proceeds from this event will be offered to lend our efforts to relief and reconciliation in Darfur. Contact Abby or Kris at 283-3771 with questions. We hope to see you there!

10. Christian Education Director
The Dover-Foxcroft Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, is seeking a part-time (30 hour week) Christian Education Director to expand our current program. Applicants should be enthusiastic in working with children, teens, and adults in a Christian community. Send a letter of interest and resume to Reverend Heather Kurtz at P.O Box 328, Dover-Foxcroft, ME 04426 by March 26th.

11. Andover Newton offers an exciting array of on-line seminars for both laity and clergy. These seminars are for you if you are interested in
- enhancing your own spiritual growth
- learning more about the Bible
- developing your leadership skills
- deepening your faith
- expanding your church’s ministry.
Empowerment Seminars are in-depth seminars primarily intended as continuing education for clergy, but open to everyone. This spring we are offering two seminars in cooperation with the Alban Institute, led by Alban authors:
- Never Call Them Jerks with Arthur Paul Boers - April 21 – May 16
- Disciple-Forming Congregations with Jeff Jones - April 28 – May 23

Enrichment Seminars are less intense seminars for both laity and clergy offered at different levels. This spring’s seminars are:
- Brushing Up on the New Testament – April 28 - May23
- Teaching Peace and Justice with Children – April 7 - May 2
- Islam: A Basic Introduction – April 7 - May 2

For full seminar descriptions go to our website at www.ants.edu/learn and click on Seminar Listings in the menu on the left. To register click on Register for LEARN Seminars.
For further information contact Jeff Jones, Director of Distance Learning, at jjones@ants.edu.

12. “The ladies of the church have cast off clothing of every kind and they can be seen in the church basement on Friday afternoon.”