Dear Friends,

In recent weeks the Lectionary Readings for Sunday have focused upon those passages of Scriptures having to do with ways the Christian is to act out her/his faith. This focus is typified by the October 6th reading written in Philippians 3:4b-14. One of the themes prominent in that passage is that once one has faith it is necessary to demonstrate evidences of that faith in the manner in which the Christian lives. Every Christian is expected to move toward maturity and "to press on" in the causes to which Christ calls us. We are called to live out the gift of God's grace in faith.

In many churches October 13th is still a date upon which the great figures and themes of the Protestant Reformation of the Church are recalled and celebrated. In recent times, however, there has been a gradual de-emphasis on the Reformation during worship in the interest Christian unity. In most ways I agree with the quest for unity in the church and have never used a celebration of the great insights of the Reform of the Church as a means of boasting superiority over any other Christian expressions of faith.

Having said that, I nonetheless hold steadfastly to the attempts of the great reformers to concentrate the focus of the church upon its essential foundations in the Word of God. The Reformers recalled the church to the gift of faith as central to Christian confession and action. These insights must never be lost from our focus again and, indeed, they must be recovered anew whenever they are in danger of being neglected or lost altogether.

One of the themes of the Reformation was that during the living of life amid its turbulence the power of faith is a "bulwark" from God which gives us strength to persevere against all the evils of life with which we are inevitably confronted during its living. As Martin Luther's hymn proclaims, our God is a "bulwark, never failing." We are never alone as we "press on" toward the upward call of Christ, and in seeking to live in accordance with faith we move toward a maturity before God which is the very meaning of life itself.

I sometimes think that we in The Church of the Pilgrimage are not fully aware of the role our congregation has played in the perpetuation of the insights of the Reformation. The settlement of Plimoth Plantation was a practical attempt by faithful people to live and order their lives upon the Word of God. Plimoth (Plymouth) was settled only one hundred years after the recognized start of the Reformation by Luther in Wittenberg and about the same amount of time after Calvin ordered Geneva on Reformation principles. Our first pastor, John Robinson, added to the rediscovery of the Word of God as the basis of the Christian life and faith.

All this is to say, we must never lose the insights of the Reformation for they are essential to all Christians. They help us "to press on" toward the upward call of Christ.

Love,

© The Church of the Pilgrimage in Plymouth, MA Inc., all rights reserved.

CHURCH RECORD

Weddings:

On October 6, 2002, Rev. Marks conducted a wedding service for Angela Ann Latimer and Michael Medeiros at Independence Harbor, Assonet, MA.

In Memoriam:

On October 5, 2002, Rev. Marks conducted a memorial service for the remains of both Harold and Miriam McGuire at their daughter's home on Long Pond Road.

THIS WEEK

Sunday, Oct. 13— Morning Worship 10:00 A.M., Rev. Marks Preaching.

Monday, Oct. 14— OFFICE CLOSED-COLUMBUS DAY. Aerobics - 9:00 A.M. - 10:00 A.M.; Girl Scouts 6:00-7:30 P.M. Church House.

Tuesday, Oct. 15--Rev. Marks' office hours 9:30-11:30 A.M.; Dan's office hours 1:00-3:00P.M; Aerobics-6:45 P.M.-7:45 P.M.-Allerton Hall; Board of Trustees meeting, 7:30 P.M. in the Mayflower Room.

Wednesday, Oct. 16— Aerobics - 9:00 A.M. - 10:00 A.M. Allerton Hall; Staff Meeting, 10:00 A.M.; Dan's office hours 1:00-3:00 P.M.; Troop 47 - 7:00-9:00 P.M. in the Church House; Cub Scout Pack 47 - 7:00-8:00 P.M. in the Church House; Music Committee meeting, 6:00 A.M. in the Mayflower Room; Choir Rehearsal - 7:30 P.M. Rev. Marks will perform a service at the Evanswood Center at 7:00 P.M.

Thursday, Oct. 17—Dan's office hours 10:00 A.M.-Noon; Aerobics-6:45 P.M.-7:45 P.M.-Allerton Hall; Membership and Evangelism meeting, 7:00 P.M. in the Mayflower Room.

Friday, Oct. 18—Rev. Marks office hours 9:30 A.M.-11:30 A.M.; Wedding Rehearsals, 6:30 & 7:30 P.M. in the Sanctuary.

Saturday, Oct. 19-- Overeaters Anonymous- 9:30-11:30 A.M.-Church House; The Paul E. Sinn Peace and Spirituality Event, The Christ Church, UCC, 1350 Pleasant St., Brockton, MA 8:30 A.M.-2:30 P.M.; Weddings in the Sanctuary, 11:00 A.M. & 5:00 P.M.

PLEASE NOTE

Copies of Rev. Marks' book, Pilgrims: Then and Now are available in the church office or from Rev. Marks on Sundays. The cost is $7.00.

If you are interested in church membership, please call the church office or speak to Rev. Marks. There will be a series of three classes. Dates and time will be announced when interest has been determined

The Paul E. Sinn Peace Event will be held on October 19th at The Christ Church, U.C.C. in Brockton at 2:20 P.M. This event is made possible because a fund was established in Paul's name as a retirement gift to him. Paul has had a life long passion for issues of peace which are implicit in the Scriptures and in the life and teachings of Jesus. In his own life and ministry Paul has sought to give invisible presence to the power of peace to transform lives and to impact upon the horrors of a war-torn world. Paul is, of course, a member of The Church of the Pilgrimage and is active in its witness and ministry. We hope that many of you will be able to attend the Paul E. Sinn Peace Event on the 19th in Brockton from 8:30 A.M. to 2:30 P.M.

Halloween Dinner Dance Friday, October 25. Reservations will be taken on Sunday, October 13th and October 20th during coffee hour. Peter McLeod and Tom Healey are in charge of this event with Ed Pawlowski in charge of entertainment. Call Peter at (508) 747-5667 or Tom at (508) 747-7168 to volunteer.Harvest Fair-October 26

The weeks are flying by and we are very close to fair day. I would like to remind everyone to continue working on any projects that you have begun. Linda Saunders asks me to remind everyone that we are still collecting books for the Book Table and they can be placed in the basket in the vestibule or your can call Linda to have them picked up. We will have some lovely things donated by Party Light candle company this year at the Linens and Things Table and Gerry Allen has been busily collecting items for Attic Treasures. If you have any items that you want to donate, please call me at (508) 746-4514 and I can direct you to the appropriate table leader. I hope that as many as can will participate in some way this year. .

2 Patriot's Tickets, Weekend For Two At The William's Inn, Handmade Quilt, & Chimney Cleaning - just a few great prizes that you could win by purchasing a chance for our Harvest Fair Drawing. You may pick up tickets to sell and/or drop off money and ticket stubs already collected, during coffee hour Please contact Marna Blomberg with any questions at 781-826-2543. Thank you.

Congratulations to Rev. Scott and Dr. Polly Leonard-Axford on the birth of a daughter, Ruth, born September 30, 2002. Baby Ruth is the granddaughter of Arlene Axford.
Please remember any information you wish to be included in The Pilgrimage Herald must be submitted to the church office on the Monday prior to any given Sunday.
Please call the church office if you or someone you know is presently or soon to be hospitalized.
The Missions & Outreach Committee is asking all parents of our young adults who are away from home in the service or attending a college, etc., to please contact the church office with their address of place their address and photograph in the marked box for the M & O Committee in Allerton Hall. Thank You!

Thanksgiving Open House-Once again our church will be open to visitors on Thanksgiving morning. We will be offering coffee, hot chocolate and treats to the many people who spend the holiday in Plymouth. Donations of cookies, cupcakes, breads, etc. are needed to help provide for this annual event. If you would like to make something and are unable to bring it to the church on Thanksgiving morning, contact Liisa Budge to arrange for a more convenience delivery. In addition, we are looking for volunteers to help on Thanksgiving morning with the serving as well as church members to give informative tours of our wonderful church. Interested members can contact Liisa at (508) 830-1723 evenings or (508) 746-0593 days.

Greeters are needed for November 3, 10 and 17. Please call the church office to sign up!

Coming Events

Oct. 22- The Advisory Board will meet at 7:30 P.M. in the Mayflower Room; Stewardship Committee Meeting, 7:00, location to be announced.

Oct. 23- Rev. Marks will speak to a national gathering of Vision Forum at 9:30 A.M. in the sanctuary.

Oct. 24- ByLaw Review Committee meeting is scheduled for Oct. 24 at the home of Doug Post, 23 Thatcher Rd., Plymouth.

Oct. 30-Fall Mission Rally, sponsored by the Pilgrim Association on Mission and Outreach, 7:30 P.M., First Church in Pembroke, call (781) 293-2584 for more information.

Clerk - Lois Post; Moderator - Steven Triffletti; Treasurer - David Kegel; Collector - Thomas Mudgett; Asst. Collector - Debbie Chaskes; Music Director - William B Richter; Secretary - Pam McNicholas; Sexton - Tony Nightingale; World Mission Emphasis - Heifer Project International; Church Building Telephone - (508) 747-1341.