Dear Friends,

Much in our faith is based upon the belief that there are realities and truths which are beyond the life which we experience everyday. These truths and realities give us the bases of hope, guide behavior and inform values in the lives of people who believe them.

I have preached a sermon recently on I Peter 2:19-25 and have often tried to show the New Testament distinction between that which is perishable and that which endures. The New Testament, in general, holds that those who set their hearts on the perishable will perish; those who set their hearts on what endures will endure. I had not read the short reflection I use here to amplify and make that New Testament idea of contemporary relevance when I wrote the I Peter 2:19-25 sermon. It appears in The New Interpreter's Bible.

In his book on people in the Bronx, Jonathan Kozol contrasts two citizens of New York. One is a newspaper columnist who has given up on invisible realities and divinely driven hopes. She writes:

All right...out there someone is sleeping on a grate...and the emergency rooms are full of people...[still] cruelty is as natural to the city as fresh air is to the country.... I used to feel this cruelty was wrong, immoral...Now I don't know. Maybe it's the fuel that powers the Palace.

While this woman rejoices in the cruelty-fueled palace, a boy named Anthony grows up with not a fraction of her security and worldly wealth. Anthony has his heart set on another vision; aspiring to be a writer, he writes his hope for God's kingdom:

God's Kingdom...God will be there. He'll be happy that we have arrived. People shall
come hand in hand...God will be fond of you.

Which of the two people above do you think makes the better contribution to society and to life in our often cruel world? Which of the two people would you like to know? Which of the two sets of values would you want from those who influence the lives of our children? Which of the two belief systems do you think has the best chance of making positive changes in society? Which of the attitudes do you think have the best possibility for liberating those who are captive to injustice or to the debilitating power of bigotry and the abuse of power by those who cling to the status quo?

Our faith, our church, proclaims the values which informs the hope of a kid like Anthony. We believe that the hope of God's kingdom affirmed in the risen Word in Christ is what makes us truly human.

So, consider again: those who set their hearts on the perishable will perish; those who set their hearts on what endures will endure.

Love,

Gary

 (c)The Church of the Pilgrimage in Plymouth, MA Inc., all rights reserved.

Morning Worship 10:00 A.M. Rev. Gary L. Marks preaching.

Scripture Reading by: Kay Budd

Children's Sermon by: Kim Saunders

The Pulpit Flowers: are in loving memory of Miss. Jeanette Holmes and Curtis & Aurissa Holmes, given by the family.

The Greeters are: Jerry and Debbie Chaskes

The Children will attend Church School following their dismissal from the worship service

Membership Class, 11:30 A.M.-12:30 P.M. in the Mayflower Room. Childcare provided.

CHURCH RECORD

Hospitalized: Jane Cole, Jordan Hospital

In Memoriam:

On April 26, 2002, Rev. Marks conducted a memorial service for Louise Clapp in the church sanctuary. Our sympathies are extended to Jim, her husband and Louise's family.

Congratulations to Megan and Pedro Verdugo on the birth of their daughter, Graciela Adriana. They are at New England Medical Center. Megan is the daughter of Bill and Diane Harting.

THIS WEEK

Sunday, Apr 28

Sunday Morning Worship 10:00 A.M., Rev. Gary L Marks preaching; New Members Class-11:30 A.M. -12:30 P.M.. Childcare provided; Bridal Shower in Allerton Hall-2:00 P.M.

Monday, Apr 29

Aerobics-9:00 A.M.-10:00 A.M.-Allerton Hall; Girl Scouts Tr. No. 1128 6:00-7:30 P.M.; By-law Review Committee will meet at 7:00 P.M. at the home of Rich Lancaster, 70 West Pond Rd., Plymouth.

Tuesday, Apr 30

Rev. Marks office hours 9:30 A.M.-11:30 A.M.; Girl Scouts Tr. No. 1234 6:30-8:00 P.M.- Church House; Aerobics-6:45 P.M.-7:45 P.M.-Allerton Hall.

Wednesday, May 1

Aerobics - 9:00 A.M. - 10:00 A.M. Allerton Hall; Staff Meeting, 10:00 A.M., Rev. Marks will be in the office; Den 2 of Pack 47- meet from 6:30-7:00 in the Church House; Troop #47 meet from-7:00-9:00P.M., Church House; Choir Rehearsal - 7:30 P.M. - sanctuary; Christian Ed Committee Meeting-7:00 P.M. in the Mayflower Room.

Thursday, May 2

Troop 207, 4:00 P.M.-5:30 P.M.; Aerobics-6:45-7:45 P.M.

Friday, May 3

Rev. Marks office hours 9:30 A.M.-11:30 A.M.; Aerobics - 9:00 A.M. - 10:00 A.M.

Saturday, May 4

Overeaters Anonymous- 9:30-11:30 A.M.-Church House; The New England Conference on Safe Church Policies and Procedures-A group from our church will attend a day long meeting at Andover Newton Theological School, - 8:30 A.M.-4:00P.M.; Wedding in the Sanctuary 11:00 A.M.

PLEASE NOTE

Family Fun Night -May 4 has been postponed.

Notice from the Board of Trustees-all Committee Annual Reports were due by April 15, 2002. If you have not turned in your Annual Report please do so as soon as possible. The date for the Annual Meeting has been set for May 19th, 2002.

The C.E. Committee is looking for volunteers for the children's sermons. We have resources available to guide you and give you ideas. If you would like to volunteer please see Jenny Healy or call her at (508) 747-7168 or e-mail her at poetick@adelphia.net.

We thank Jenny Healy for a fine Children's sermon on April 21st.

We thank Heather Sinn for reading Scripture on April 21st.

We are pleased to have received a commendation from the United Church of Christ for our support to the church's wider mission. It will be posted in the church in a prominent place.

Reminder-if you have not yet completed and turned in your pledge card, please do so as soon as possible! Thank you, the Stewardship Committee.

Plant Sale-The Board of Trustees has approved plans to hold a plant sale on June 1. Once again, Steve Triffletti has offered the parking lot at 124 Long Pond Rd. for the location of the sale. Pat Mudgett will chair the event

The Pastor's Pasta Sunday- On Sunday, May 5, 2002, the Women's Fellowship is sponsoring a pasta sale to benefit the Pastor's Discretionary Fund and the Fellowship Treasury. On that day, a packet for a complete dinner will be available for sale, consisting of homemade pasta sauce, spaghetti, bread and cookies for $10.00. You can leave church service and dinner will be practically made for you. You may call me at (508) 746-4514, if you would like to reserve a packet or there will be packets available that Sunday until we are sold out. REMINDER: All those who signed up to make sauce on Saturday morning, May 4 at 9:00A.M., please make a note on your calendar and bring any one pint containers that you may have. All those agreeing to make cookies, we will need them brought to Allerton Hall on Saturday morning, May 4 in order for us to have time to make up the packets. Extra sauce will be available! Thank you, Diana Budge

Harvest Fair 2002-As you do your spring cleaning, please keep us in mind. We are looking for any extra linens and candleholders that have been gathering dust for years. We plan a table just for children's toys as well. Do you have things that your child has outgrown? This summer, we are planning several craft mornings to be announced and hope that they will be well attended. Diana Budge.

Special thanks from Patti Olsson - ushers for March
Pam & Ed Pawlowski, John Peterson, Dave Kegel, Peter Macleod, Bob Brown, Rich & Lynnette Lancaster, Diane & Bill Harting, Arlene Axford, Janie Chapman, Shirley Axon, Katherine Lafayette, Judy &Warren Besegai, Debbie & Tim Sinn, Debbie & Jerry Chaskes and Bob Olsson. And to members of the Advisory Board for special help with the Palm Sunday Breakfast and Maundy Thursday service.

May is Heifer Month!
M is for mother!
M is for Mission & Outreach!
M is for May-Heifer Project Month.

"Give the gift that keeps on living." Give to Heifer Project in honor of your mother. Certificates and cards will be yours to present to her on Mother's day. Sold at coffee hours May 5th and 12th. Remember M is for Mother's Day-May12th. Mission and Much More!

The Oak Street School will hold its 100th birthday on April 27 from 2-4 P.M. (rain date, April 28). There will be cake, tours of the school and a short rededication program.

Coffee Hour Sign-up- Volunteers are needed for coffee hour, please sign-up on the sign-up sheet in Allerton Hall!
The Summer Sale is coming! In July and August. Please keep us in mind when cleaning your attics, cellars, closets, etc. Please call Hildegard Schimpf if you have any questions (508) 746-6698.

FREE electric full-size hospital bed available. If you know of anyone who needs it, please contact the Church Office.

A special note from the office: Office Hours are on the front of the Herald. As I am the mother of three children I am sometimes called away from the office for various reasons, i.e. to pick up a sick child, attend a school event, doctors appointments, etc. I often have to leave by 3:30 to get my younger two off the bus when my oldest stays late at PCIS (which he likes to do). If you call and I don't answer, I could also be over at the Church checking my mailbox, getting lunch (I don't always brown bag it!), or even using the ladies room. Please leave a message on the answering machine! I cannot return your call and assist you, if I do not know you called. In addition, if you are dropping off a notice or report, etc. and I am not here, please put it though the mail slot on the side of the building near the Town parking lot. Thank you, Pam McNicholas!

Clerk - Lois Post; Moderator - Steven Triffletti; Treasurer - Cliff Sampson; Collector - Thomas Mudgett; Asst. Collectors - Jerry and 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.