Welcome Maranatha Church!!!

Palm Sunday 2012

After weeks of planning and prayer, the time has come for Pilgrim UCC to officially welcome the people of Iglesia Pentecostes Maranatha (Maranatha Penetecostal Church). This bold step on the part of Pilgrim Church is the culmination of heartfelt negotiations on the part of many people to invite Maranatha Church to use the facilities at 4418 Bridgetown Road as their Church home. Their first day among us will be Palm Sunday, April 1st.

Pastor Pablo Cesar Lopez’ congregation of about thirty people will first assemble at 9:30 am on April 1st for their song service in the Memorial Chapel. At 10:00 a.m. they will join us in the Sanctuary for the Procession of the Palms as we parade around in first century fashion waving palm branches re-enacting Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem. This custom is common to us, but will be brand new to Maranatha Church.

Next we will hear greetings for Rev. Ruth Brandon of SONKA and words from each pastor to commemorate this joint venture. Following some introductions of congregational leaders, Maranatha Church will retire to the Chapel to continue their worship as we will continue ours. Following worship, we will eat together in the Fellowship Hall as a sign of what Christians often do – they eat.

The meal will be our traditional Sunday Brunch of Pancakes, French Toast, Scrambled Eggs, Home fries and Fruit. The servers will be our Board of Governors. There will then be plenty of time for fellowship and conversation with our new friends. Palm Sunday is always a festive time in the Christian Church. This year there is all the more reason to rejoice as sisters and brothers of different cultures join hands in praise of the Lord Jesus Christ.

In the coming weeks and months there will be opportunities for each congregation to be enhanced by the other as we share plans to learn form each other in so many ways. Please pray for this momentous time in the life of each congregation. Together we will live out the motto of the United Church of Christ: “…that they may be one, as we are one.” Truly Jesus’ words, as captured by John in chapter 17, will be lived out just as he had prayed to the Father for his followers.

May what we do here be blessed by Almighty God.