Dear Friends,

We at The Church of the Pilgrimage are especially blessed with a cross section of ages which are all active in our congregation. The church and its ministers try very hard to relate the Christian faith to all ages and it was heartening, for instance, to see people of all ages having a wholesomely good time at the Halloween Dinner Party last Friday evening. It was a fun intergenerational event.

The Church of the Pilgrimage is keenly aware, too, of the needs of children in a day and time in which the years of innocent childhood seem to be shrinking drastically. Children today are being rushed into an adult world at a speed far greater than when I was a child.

At our church we take very seriously the needs to equip children and young people with the spiritual tools needed in an ever changing and challenging world. We have a fine Christian Education Committee and church school teachers who work with a curriculum designed to help young people face the world with the sustaining values of faith. The ministers of the church are firmly committed to offering the best educational and support system to our young people possible with our means. We are blessed to have one of our ministers to have as his primary responsibility to education and nurture of our young people.

It is my view that we educate and support our children not just because they are the future of the church, but also because children need the power of faith to live meaningful lives in a challenging and perplexing world.

I read a prayer from the Children's Defense Fund which, I think, is the sort of prayer which guides our ministry to children at The Church of the Pilgrimage. (National Observance of Children's Sabbath, 2000).

God of great and small, we confess that we succumb to desires for success on the world's terms. We begin to think that biggest, strongest, most popular and richest is best. In our race to get ahead, we trample on people and principles and leave our children behind. Help us to remember your concern for the smallest and weakest, the outsiders and those who are poor. Help us to slow down and listen to our children, listen to our hearts, listen for your word. Remind us that being first and fastest isn't most important. Guide us to serve others, especially the children who are being left behind. Amen

We have the most important work to do as the church universal that can be done. We must strive to offer the best to all our people of which we are capable, and this is everyway. We must equip all ages with the hope of God's grace, and we as adults have a special obligation to see to it that our children are not "left behind."

I honestly, and with my whole heart, believe that there is nothing more important in this troubled world than doing the works of God's will. Be as generous with your money and your support of the church as you can be. There is no more important work than being covenant partners in God's work!

Love,

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

CHURCH RECORD

Hospitalized: No one as of October 29, 2002.

Baptism:

On October 27, 2002, Hannah Jane McBride, born on March 10, 2002, daughter of Laura (Cole) and Michael Steven McBride was baptized during the worship service.

THIS WEEK

Sunday, Nov. 3— Morning Worship 10:00 A.M., Rev. Marks Preaching. Communion will be a part of the service. The Capital Campaign Committee will meet following the service in the Pastor's Study in the church building.

Monday, Nov. 4— 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. Women's Fellowship-7:00 P.M. in Allerton Hall. Rev. Marks will attend a meeting planning the 400th anniversary of the Scrooby Covenant, 7:00 P.M. at the Unitarian Church.

Tuesday, Nov. 5--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.

Wednesday, Nov. 6— 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. Missions Committee Meeting - 7:00 P.M. at Bonnie Peck's house.

Thursday, Nov. 7— Dan's office hours 10:00 A.M.-Noon; Interfaith Clergy Meeting-12:00-2:00 P.M., at the First Parish Church; Aerobics-6:45 -7:45 P.M.; Council Meeting-7:30 P.M. in the Mayflower Room.

Friday, Nov. 8—Rev. Marks office hours 9:30 A.M.-11:30 A.M.; The Guild-1:00 P.M. in Allerton Hall. Wedding Rehearsal-6:30 P.M. in the sanctuary.

Saturday, Nov. 9-- Overeaters Anonymous- 9:30-11:30 A.M.-Church House; Wedding in the sanctuary 11:30 A.M.

PLEASE NOTE

On October 28, 2002, Rev. Marks gave the opening prayer at the Plymouth Town Meeting.

The Church Treasurer, Dave Kegel, gave a brief report on the Church's finances during the service on October 27th. Such reports will be given periodically in the future and in The Pilgrimage Herald.

We thank all who planned the Halloween Party held in Allerton Hall on October 25th. There was a large attendance, great costumes, terrific food, and it was a delightful fellowship evening for people of all ages.

If anyone knows the whereabouts of the church's hearing aids which are coordinated with our sound system, please call the church office.

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.

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.

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.

The Women's Fellowship will meet Monday, November 4th in Allerton Hall at 7:00 p.m. Please remember to bring a donation (suggested amount $5) for our Adopt-a-Family program. We will be collecting the money at the November meeting so that we can purchase items to wrap at our December meeting. Thank you. Marna Blomberg

The Women's Guild will meet on Friday, November 8 at 1:00. The topic will be missions in our church. Refreshments will follow.

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

I would like to thank everyone for their efforts over this past weekend of wonderful fellowship and successful fundraising. We had a great time on Friday evening at the Halloween Dinner Dance. The costumes were wonderful, the food was delicious and a great time was had by all. If you have not come to this event before, make a note to join us next year. It is not to be missed. Special thanks to our two chefs, Peter MacLeod and Tom Healy and to our master of ceremonies Ed Pawlowski. Without them, the evening would not have been possible.

On Saturday we weathered the stormy day for a successful Harvest Fair. Despite the rain, or perhaps because of it, we had a great crowd of shoppers. Because of everyone's cooperation in working the fair, donating items and making purchases, we have been able to realize a profit of over $7,000 for the third year in a row. I cannot thank my table leaders enough. They make my job easy. Special thanks to Marna Blomberg who did yeoman duty in chairing the drawing. That event alone, netted over $1700. Most importantly, it was a day of great fellowship and unbounded enthusiasm. A special acknowledgement to Deb Porter and her crew who put on the usual great luncheon. Everyone enjoyed it including the "help". Now let us begin working on next year's fair. If anyone has any suggestions on how to improve upon our efforts or new ideas for tables, feel free to let me know. We need everyone's input. Diana Budge.

We have been gifted with a large collection of cup plates which we would like to sell to the advantage of the church. If someone would be willing to take on the responsibility of researching the value and, perhaps finding a buyer, it would be appreciated. A suggestion was made that E-Bay may be an avenue that could be pursued. Contact Rev. Marks if you are knowledgeable about cup plates or are willing to become so.

I would like to thank the Boy Scouts of Troup 47 for all of their hard work on Fair Day, breaking down after we closed. They were a blessing indeed and trudged through the rain loading cars and carrying boxes back to the Church. We were very fortunate to have their help.

Finally, if there is interest in a monthly knitting group, I would be glad to invite those who would like to learn to knit, need help with knitting problems or just would like to have an evening of knitting fellowship to meet at my home. Call if this sounds like fun to you. I have an ulterior motive because after all I will need knitters for the Fair next year. Diana Budge (508) 746-4514.

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

Coming Events

Nov. 10-"Safe Church" Seminar report following the worship service at 11:30 A.M. in the sanctuary. (See notes).

Nov. 19-Board of Trustees Meeting, 7:00 P.M., Mayflower Room.

Nov. 22-Pilgrim Service in the sanctuary, 1:00 P.M.

Nov. 24 - Stewardship Sunday/Thanksgiving Sunday. SERRV Sale in Allerton Hall following worship.

Nov. 28-Thanksgiving Day Open House at The Church of the Pilgrimage.
Interfaith Thanksgiving Service at the First Parish Unitarian Church, 10:00 A.M. Rev. Marks will be the preacher.

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.