Dear Friends,

Christmas seems to be arriving early this year. I'm sure I always think that in some ways, but I honestly think I feel it more keenly this year than during other years. It is true that the First Sunday in Advent was celebrated on the Sunday next after Thanksgiving, but even that doesn't explain how early Christmas seems to have thrust itself from being a day in the future to one very close to days I have remaining to prepare for it.

This thought prompted me to consider again that there are many ways in which I allow all sorts of things to get in the way of preparations which are both proper and beneficial to me spiritually. Especially during Advent it unnerves me to think that I can ever be too "busy" to prepare for the baby in the manger.

Great spiritual thinkers throughout the centuries have known that all those things about which we busy ourselves can more easily lead us to frenzy than to anything like nourishment of the soul. My studies of Celtic spirituality have taught me the values of contemplation and prayer, but I have been so pressured by time and duty to learn the lesson that even the pursuits of spiritual enrichment have become little more than cursory intellectual "busy work."

There is today a worldwide movement called "Simplifiers". "Simplifiers" is a loose assortment of people from all age groups and walks of life who are united only by a non-binding credo: "Outwardly simple, inwardly rich." While I could never abide by many who put this credo into practice in austere ways, the spiritual intent of the credo resonates profoundly when I recall how little room in my life as a "spiritual" leader there is for cultivating my own spiritual life.

My Christmas wish for all of us is that in the final days before the holiday we remember that it is Christmas. It is about Christ; it is not first a holiday but it is to be a "holy day". I pray this not merely for the Advent/Christmas seasons, but within our hectic schedules generally. I pray that we will not become so overwhelmed by escalating demands that we are prevented from taking time to focus on the reason for the Christmas birth.

We have all heard the song which prayerfully pleas, "Let there be peace on earth and lit it begin with me. This is the season during which we rehearse anew the angelic choirs' message of "Peace on earth, goodwill to all people." Peace, indeed, may actually begin in each of us, spread from us to the church, the town, the nation, the world. It would enrich us gloriously if we all take to heart God's eternal desire for us to be inwardly rich in the things of the spirit.

There is what I call a "manger-blank" in all of us. Christmas is a time for us all to allow God to fill that blank with God's child in the crib. Christmas is an outwardly simple gift which can make all people inwardly rich.

Peace,

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

Morning Worship 10:00 A.M.

The Lighting of the Fourth Advent Candle by Dawn and James Durmis.

The Christmas Poinsettias are in loving memory of relatives, friends and loved ones.

Greeters are Nancy, Jessie and Samantha Pickett.

There will be no church school today. A story and craft hour will be conducted in Allerton Hall.

All are invited to join us for Coffee Hour downstairs in Allerton Hall following the worship service.

Christmas Pageant Rehearsal- December 22nd following worship in the sanctuary.

CHURCH RECORD

Hospitalized: Dorothy Shaw, Jordan Hospital

Recuperating at home Bob Olsson.

THIS WEEK

Sunday, Dec. 22— Morning Worship 10:00 A.M., Rev. Gary Marks, preaching; The Advent Candle Service will be led by Dawn and James Durmis.

Monday, Dec. 23— Dan's Office Hours 9:30-11:30 A.M.; Aerobics - 9:00 A.M. - 10:00 A.M.; Girl Scouts 6:00-7:30 P.M. Church House.

Tuesday, Dec. 24-- Rev. Marks' office hours 9:30-11:30 A.M.; Dan's office hours 1:00-3:00P.M.; Christmas Eve Service with Living Creche-7:00 p.m., Candlelight Communion Service- 11:30 P.M.

Wednesday, Dec. 25— CHRISTMAS DAY- office closed

Thursday, Dec. 26— The Church Office will be closed

Friday, Dec. 27—Rev. Marks' office hours 9:30-11:30 A.M.; Aerobics-9:00 A.M.-10:00 A. M.

Saturday, Dec. 28-- Overeaters Anonymous- 9:30-11:30 A.M.-Church House.

NEXT WEEK

Sunday, Dec. 29 -Rev. Marks will be preaching. A memorial service for Holly Simoes will be held in the sanctuary at 12:15 P.M.

Monday, Dec. 30 - Dan's Office Hours 9:30-11:30 A.M.; Aerobics - 9:00 A.M. - 10:00 A.M.; Girl Scouts 6:00-7:30 P.M. Church House

Tuesday, Dec. 31st -New Years Eve

Wednesday, Jan. 1 -NEW YEARS DAY
" HAPPY NEW YEAR" - Office Closed

Thursday, Jan. 2 - Dan's Office Hours 1:00-3:00 P.M.; Aerobics-6:45 P.M.-7:45 P.M.; Council Meeting-Mayflower Room, 7:00 P.M.

Friday, Jan. 3 - Rev. Mark's Office Hours, 9:30 A.M.-11:30 A.M.; Aerobics-9:00 A.M.-10:00 A.M.

Saturday, Jan. 4 - Bible Study-8:00 A.M. in the Mayflower Room. Overeaters Anonymous- 9:30-11:30 A.M.-Church House.

PLEASE NOTE

Rev. Marks will begin a series of three church membership classes beginning on January 5, 2003. The classes will be held on Sundays following worship from 11:30 A.M.-12:30 P.M. Childcare will be available during the classes. If you are interested in church membership or would like to learn about our ministry and work, please speak with Rev. Marks or call the church office.

We thank the Blomberg family for leading us in the Advent Candle Service on December 8th.

It was wonderful to see Bob Olsson in worship on December 15th, just twelve days following open heart surgery!

On December 17th Rev. Marks conducted a Christmas Service of worship at the Newfield House.

Rev. Marks has been able to aid people during this season through gifts made by individuals to his Discretionary account. The church is also able to extend limited aid to church members through the Relief Fund. We thank all of you who have made donations to these accounts.

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.

All those who attended the Christmas Dinner on December 15th had a wonderful time. It was a delightful gathering of about 100 people of all ages. The activities, the food and the fellowship all helped to set us in the Christmas spirit. We especially thank the "Talking Tree" and Sheldon Peevy for providing it and the enchanted decorations on the stage in Allerton Hall. Most of all we thank all who brought lovely new gifts for children who will receive them.

Please take time to thank the hard-working and dedicated members of your Mission/ Outreach Committee for providing all with a memorable evening together was a church family.

The Great News is, our Church School is Growing!
But now we need more teachers and substitutes. If you can donate any of your Sundays or have an interest in learning more about ways in which you might help, contact Rev. Dan in the church office.

The Christmas Fund Offering formally known as Veterans of the Cross will be taken on Christmas Sunday, December 22, 2002. The Christmas Fund, administered by the Pension Boards, provides Gift checks to low-income retired clergy and their spouses; emergency assistance to clergy in financial need; and funding for Pension and Health supplementation plans for low-income retired clergy and lay workers. Offering envelopes are enclosed. Your support is appreciated!

On December 15, 2002 we dedicated the quilt which hangs in Allerton Hall in memory of Elizabeth Robertson Beane and in honor of Marylyn Dunlap Colburn. The Service of Dedication was a part of our Sunday worship. It was very nice to have members of Elizabeth's family in attendance for the dedication.

Help! The Visitation Committee needs your help, to visit, make phone calls or write cards to our shut-ins in the Nursing Homes and at home. At the present time we only have four volunteers. Maybe you would wish to adopt a shut-in. Trace Sears (in our choir) and his family want to adopt a shut-in. Thank you for any help you can give us. My phone number is (508) 747-2603 or see me after church. Billie Courtney, Chairperson.

We thank the Mission and Outreach Committee for a delightful church family Christmas dinner and program on December16th. About 120 people attended and a great number of new toys were collected for needy children. It was wonderful to have people of all age groups present and the joy and exuberance of the many children put all us in a thankful Christmas spirit. Thank you, Mission and Outreach Committee!

Memorial Poinsettias- We thank everyone who donated or loaned Memorial Poinsettias to the church to enhance our Christmas celebrations and as a fitting memorial to those "saints" who have passed this life in the faith of the risen Redeemer. It your name is not on this week's insert it will be included in the next Herald.

We are so very pleased to inform The Church of The Pilgrimage that the Rev. Robin Bickel has received and accepted a call from The Storrs, Connecticut U.C.C. to serve as its associate minister. Her call becomes effective January, 2003. We are all happy about Robin's call and wish her God's speed!

Congratulations to Kelli and Todd Lavigne on the birth of Megan Read Lavigne on December 6. 2002.

Sympathies are extended to Marion Eldridge Whiting and Harriet Bussolari on the recent death of their sister, Alice Eldridge Norris.

Greeters are needed for the month of January. Please call the church office to sign up!

Coffee Hour -volunteers are needed for coffee hour. Please sign-up during coffee hour.

In addition to the list of Memorial Poinsettias enclosed with this Herald, the following donations have been made:

The Northrop Family in memory of Heinrich Maass
Florence P. Van Leuvan in memory of loves ones.

THE PILGRIMAGE HERALD WILL NOT BE PUBLISHED THE WEEK OF DECEMBER 29, 2001.

Coming Events

Jan 5: Youth worship in the Church House at 10:00 A.M.
Jan. 5: Church Membership Class, 11:30 A.M.-12:30 P.M.
Jan. 5: Confirmation Class 5:30-7:00 P.M. meet in the Church House.
Jan. 5: Youth Fellowship-Second try at ice skating at Armstrong Rink on Long Pond Road. Meet at rink at 2:00 p.m.
Jan. 9: Membership and Evangelism Committee Meeting at 7:00 in the Mayflower Room.
Jan. 20: Martin Luther King, Jr. Prayer Breakfast, 7:30-9:30 A.M. at Plymouth South High School, Tickets $10.00 in advance, $5.00 for students; please call Dan in the church office for tickets.

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.