Dear Friends,

Among other points drawn from I Thessalonians 1:1-10 in my sermon last Sunday was one which called for Christians to act out their faith as "role models." In recent years I have been dismayed by the malaise of rudeness and the absence of courtesy which has come to characterize our society in general. There is a growing disregard for behavior which includes acting decently and respectfully toward other people.

In a magazine I read the following account which seems to justify my observations.

There was a brand new car in a restaurant parking lot. When another patron pulled into the space next to the new car the owner of that new toy panicked, quickly ran out, gave the driver a dirty look and moved his car to another area of the lot and parked it at such an angle as to block three spaces.
The owner of the busy restaurant saw the parking offense and asked the owner to move his car and park it correctly. The man arrogantly replied; "I don't want some jerk hitting my brand new car. Besides your food is awful." (I have edited his "colorful" language). The manager, in a gesture beyond what most would have made, smiled and offered to refund the man's money for the meal. The man continued his cursing, grabbed the refund from the manager's hand, and left the restaurant in a huff of anger and obscenity.

The truly unfortunate feature in this story is that the rude man was accompanied by three teenagers who watched this scene play out and giggled uproariously. When asked to leave, the teenagers stuffed the "awful" food in their mouths while laughing about the "neat" way their father had tough-talked to the manager and had gotten a free meal for them all.

Later the manager commented: "I don't get upset when people are rude to me. It's my job to deal with all kinds of customers. As a grandfather, however, I cringe to think what lesson those children received from their father's intimidation tactics. They will likely learn to behave like their father."
The frightful thing about the above story is that it doesn't seem all that exaggerated to me! Such rudeness and arrogance pervades our society and it is sickening to me.

In I Thessalonians 1:1-10 the Apostle Paul called upon a church in a struggling time in which Christian values were being challenged by a society which did not share them that the people of the church were to be examples of their call to be disciples, God's beloved chosen. The people of the church were called upon to be what we might call "role models" in spite of, and for the sake of, the society in which they were living.

We in the church today are called upon in our society to act in ways which express a basic respect for one another. We are asked to act toward one another in ways by which others can plainly see a divine alternative to the discourteous and rudely arrogant society in which we live. God expects God's church and its members to be role models of the faith we share in Jesus Christ.

Love,

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

CHURCH RECORD

Hospitalized: No one as of October 24, 2002.

Baptisms:

On October 20, 2002, Eric Wayne Tosca, born on August 28, 2002, son of Jennifer (Alukonis) and Matthew Tosca was baptized during the worship service.

On October 20, 2002, Talia Yvonne Raymond, born on October 19, 2001, daughter of Rosemary Raymond and Stephen Comeau was baptized during the worship service.

On October 20, 2002, Van William Harting, born on July 7, 1997, son of Heidi (Bertz) and Christopher Harting was baptized during the worship service.

On October 20, 2002, Nella Grace Harting, born on June 24, 1999, daughter of Heidi (Bertz) and Christopher Harting was baptized during the worship service.

Weddings:

On October 19, 2002 Rev. Marks conducted a wedding service for Kevin Paul Millette and Kristin Allan in the sanctuary.

On October 19, 2002 Rev. Marks conducted a wedding service for John Patrick Bren and Lauren Meredith Baler in the sanctuary. Father Ed. Daughty participated in the ceremony.

In Memoriam

On October16, 2002 Rev. Marks conducted a Committal Service at the Blue Hill Cemetery in Braintree for Thelma Bishop. On October 19, 2002 a memorial service was held for Thelma in the sanctuary.

On October 24, 2002 Rev. Marks conducted a memorial service for Donald Simpson. Our sympathies are with his wife Amy and with all Donald's family and friends.

THIS WEEK

Don't forget to change your clocks!

Sunday, Oct. 27— Morning Worship 10:00 A.M., Rev. Marks Preaching. The Capital Campaign Committee will meet following the worship service in the Pastor's Study.

Monday, Oct. 28— Rev. Dan's office hours 10:00 A.M.-Noon; Aerobics - 9:00 A.M. - 10:00 A.M.; Girl Scouts 6:00-7:30 P.M. Church House.

Tuesday, Oct. 29--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, Stewardship Committee Meeting-7:00 P.M.-Mayflower Room.

Wednesday, Oct. 30— 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; Choir Rehearsal - 7:30 P.M.; 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.

Thursday, Oct. 31— HAPPY HALLOWEEN -Dan's office hours 10:00 A.M.-Noon; Aerobics-6:45 P.M.-7:45 P.M.

Friday, Nov. 1—Rev. Marks office hours 9:30 A.M.-11:30 A.M.

Saturday, Nov. 2-- Overeaters Anonymous- 9:30-11:30 A.M.-Church House; Bible Study, 8:00 A.M. in the Mayflower Room; Jason Bregoli, Eagle Scout Ceremony, sanctuary, 5:00 P.M.

PLEASE NOTE

Rev. Marks gave a lecture to a national gathering of The Vision Forum in our sanctuary on October 23rd.

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

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 or let the ministers know if you or someone you know is presently or soon to be hospitalized. This information is especially important to receive in the case of out-of-town hospitalizations.

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 convenient 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.

Pilgrimage Women's Fellowship-Come join us on November 4, 2002 at 7:00 p.m. in Allerton Hall. We will be painting crafts for the church shut-ins to go along with the gift baskets they receive at Thanksgiving. So bring your brushes if you have any and join us for an evening of fun and creativity.

There will be a brief meeting right after church on November 10, 2002 for anyone interested in learning more about the "safe church" seminar that was held last spring at the Andover Newton Seminary. The purpose of this meeting is strictly informational. A committee will be formed to establish a policy for our own church in the near future and volunteers are still needed to help with this important undertaking.

Judy and John Mitchell are the proud grandparents of Robert Thomas Hanophy born on October 10, 2002 to Laura (Mitchell) and Bob Hanophy.
Belated Happy Birthday to Kathy Marks!

2002-2003 Church Directory of Officers, Staff, Board and Committee Members is now available and can be found beside the mailboxes in Allerton Hall.

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

Coming Events

Nov. 7 -- Church Council Meeting, 7:30 P.M. in the Mayflower Room.

Nov. 24 - Annual SERRV Sale sponsored by the Missions & Outreach Committee. Watch for more details in upcoming Heralds.

BULLETIN BLOOPERS

This is for the fun of it. These are actual Bulletin Bloopers published in the Church Secretary Today.

* Ushers may eat the late arrivals.
* Special Music: God can do anything.
* Sermon: Three things God cannot do.

Look for more cute bloopers in future Heralds!

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.