Dear Friends,

This past Sunday, I walked into the Sanctuary and there, a few pews from the front, sat Barbara and Rich from my former church in Pennsylvania. It was one of those, "What are YOU doing here" moments which make us smile – broadly.

Sometimes the past drops in for a visit unannounced. That’s what it felt like. It was only the two of them here, but they carried with them all the connections of a decade of ministry with its complex of joys, struggles, and relationships all woven together. No wonder I beamed when I saw them.

On my drive from Hingham this morning, the thought occurred to me that "a surprise visit from the past" is an excellent metaphor for Palm-Sunday-Holy-Week-Easter. This story isn’t about someone else; it isn’t about the Jews, or Judas, or the Romans; it is about us. About our humanity. Our blindness. We were there, and suddenly, it is here again, paying us a visit, renewing our acquaintance.

And so I invite you to join the rest of us on Thursday Evening and again on Sunday Morning to greet the ancient visitor and, in the process, to get reacquainted with our own lives.

Peace,
Mike

IN THE SANCTUARY

Easter Day – April 16, 2006

7:30 A.M. Almost Sunrise Service – Front Lawn

10:00 A.M. Easter Festival of the Resurrection – Sanctuary

Mark 16:1-8

Sermon by the Rev. Michael A. Dunfee

"After Astonishment"

Children may worship with their families for the entire service.

Service broadcast on Lynnfield/Peabody Cable Channel 10 at 7 p.m. on Thursday.

Easter Fun Day

Come join in the fun – crafts, games, a puppet show and Easter Egg Hunt for children of the church and the community at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 15. This event is for children 10 and under and their parents. Please bring a basket for collecting eggs.

Easter Breakfast

Join us for a Continental Breakfast on Easter morning from 8:15 a.m.-9:45 a.m. in Richards Hall. We will have coffee, juice, fruit and assorted muffins and pastry.

Easter Offering

The Missions’ portion of the Easter Offering this year will be divided between two recipients. *Overlook Farm* the New England home of Heifer International was recently devastated by a barn fire. Plans are underway to rebuild, and we wish to help in this effort.

The other portion of the Easter Offering designated for Missions will go toward *Disaster Relief* through the Massachusetts Conference of the UCC.

Please give generously. Your donations are much needed and appreciated. You will find special envelopes in your envelope packet or in the pew racks on Sunday.

News From Around the Parish

We extend our love and sympathy to Margaret Heglund and her family upon her husband, Floyd’s death on April 8. A memorial service will be held at a later date.

New Members

We welcome the following people who joined Centre Church on Sunday, April 9:

• Barbara Barke – 44 Cannon Rock Road, Lynn, 01904 - by Letter of Transfer from Grace United Methodist Church in Lynn.
• Melinda Johnson –- by Affirmation of Faith. Melinda lives at 9 Huckleberry Road, Lynnfield with her husband Don and son, Corey.
• Jack and Donna Marino – 64 Holly Avenue, Lynn, MA 01904 – by Letter of Transfer from Grace United Methodist Church in Lynn.
• Mark Meehl – 232 Swan Pond Road, North Reading, MA 01864 – by Affirmation of Faith.
• Kim Morrissey – by Reaffirmation of Faith. Kim lives at 10 Russet Lane, Lynnfield with her husband, Bob and children Kaitlyn, Sean and Kerry.
• Bob and Myrna Shorey – 18 Ravenwood Road, Peabody, 01960 – by Letter of Transfer from Grace Methodist Church in Lynn.

Youth Notes

Reminder to 5^th-7^th grade youth – if you have signed up to help at Easter Fun Day, please be at the church at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday.

8^th grade youth – Please be at the church at 9:00 a.m. to prepare for the Easter Puppet Show.

High School Youth – you are needed to help at Easter Fun Day. Please meet Mrs. Langill at 10 a.m. on Saturday to hide Easter Eggs. Also, we need helpers to clean up after the Easter Breakfast – please meet in the kitchen at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday.

Engraved Bricks

Now is a great time to place an order for a memorial brick for our engraved brick patio which is adjacent to the parking lot. The patio is really filling up and it’s fun to stop by once in a while and read the lasting memories that have been placed there. This is a great way to support your church, but also a way to memorialize family members, friends, a special quote or event and a way to record your support for Centre Church for years and years to come.

Please fill out an order form (available in the church office or on the table in the narthex) and forward it with your check to the church office. If you have any questions, please call me at

781-598-5678 or email me at pcjohnson@meei.harvard.edu and I’d be glad to help you. Phil Johnson

Prayer Concerns

Our thoughts and prayers are with Carl Davis at Woodbriar of Wilmington, 90 West St., Wilmington, MA 01887; Irene Townsend in hospice care at home (974 Mariaville Rd., Ellsworth, ME 04605); Ethel Leonard at Renaissance Gardens, Brooksby Village; Alice Savage, Rosewood Nursing and Rehab. Center, 22 Johnson St., W. Peabody, 01960; Emily Jordan, (c/o her son, Hal Jordan, 11 Wheeler Rd., Bow, NH 03304); Hal Holappa at the Veterans’ Hospital, 200 Springs Rd., Bedford, 01730; Mildred Lisi at SunBridge, 134 North St., N. Reading, 01864; Catherine Newman at Oosterman’s, 93 Laurel St., Melrose, 02176; Jack Turner, at Arnold House, 490 William St., Stoneham, 02180; Marge Cole recuperating at home. We also remember in our prayers, Dana Robinson in Kuwait Michael Propeck in Iraq.

OUR OPPORTUNITIES