Dear Friends,

I have been thinking about the remarkable day Pentecost Sunday was. Pentecost is, of course, the birthday of the Christian church, fifty days after Easter. Its most popular account is recorded in Acts 2 which was the text for my sermon last Sunday.

Last Sunday we met for worship at The Church of the Pilgrimage which included two infant Baptisms and the Rite of Confirmation. It was a very moving service and I am happy that it included both Baptism and Confirmation. In the Rite of Confirmation the vows made by parents, sponsors and the church at Baptism are affirmed, or "owned," by the confirmands for themselves. It was very special, I think, to hear the vows made in both services in the context of one Sunday's worship.

Following the morning service we conducted our own church's Annual Meeting. That meeting, too, had a meaning for me. I had not experienced any other annual meeting on Pentecost. It happened this year only because of the change we made at our last annual meeting in the church's fiscal year. I recall to you my May 12th Pastor's Letter in which I cited two sources of our tradition regarding the theological and religious reasons for conducting the church's business on the Sabbath (Sunday). The Annual Meeting is also a part of the church's mission and, therefore, an extension of worship. It was a remarkable day at The Church of the Pilgrimage.

I don't think there is any more important activity in which we can engage in these truly precarious times than being involved in the worship, ministry and mission of the church of Jesus Christ. I also think that it is time for us to speak openly and boldly about our faith in God in a time of deep confusion and perplexity about the hope, purpose and meaning of life.

Someone has said the church is somewhat like a football huddle: you know that something important is being said there, but you can't understand a word of it, and all you can see is their rear-ends.
In our "huddles" in worship and in conducting the business of the church we discuss and affirm our faith in God and affirm the ministry of Jesus Christ. We pray for the leading of the Holy Spirit so that we may own our call to be the presence of Christ in the world. It is time for us to put into action and word what we discuss in our "huddles". The world needs, and I think, really wants to hear what we know to be so important about all our talking about God. The world really needs for us to speak and act upon our belief and confidence in the hope which intelligent faith alone can bring to a fractured and increasingly confused world.

We have all reaffirmed our faith on Pentecost, we have re-owned our Covenant; now we must put into action what we have solemnly discussed in our "holy huddles." Excuse the extension of my metaphor: it is time for us to show the world in action more than our "rear ends."Love,

Gary

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

CHURCH RECORD

Hospitalized

Recuperating at home after a stay at the Jordan Hospital, Harold Clark.

Service of Baptisms

On May 19, 2002, Sarah Jean Lavigne, daughter of George and Jodi (Lowery) Lavigne, was baptized during the morning service of worship.

On May 19, 2002, Kyle Patrick Alukonis, son of Andrew and Heidi (DeCourcey) Alukonis, was baptized during the morning service of worship.

Received into the church by the Rite of Confirmation on May 19, 2002
Jaymeson Paul Kumm
Katheryn Brayton Runnels
Adam Crane Richter
Nicole Sampson

THIS WEEK

Sunday, May 26

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

Monday, May 27

MEMORIAL DAY-OFFICE CLOSED. Aerobics-9:00 A.M.-10:00 A.M.-Allerton Hall; Girl Scouts Tr. No. 1128 6:00-7:30 P.M.

Tuesday, May 28

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; Board of Trustees will meet 7:30 P.M. upstairs in the Church House; Advisory Board will meet 7:30 p.m. in the Mayflower Room..

Wednesday, May 29

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

Thursday, May 30

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

Friday, May 31

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

Saturday, June 1

OOvereaters Anonymous- 9:30-11:30 A.M.-Church House. -Plant Sale, 124 Long Pond Rd., Plymouth from 10:00 A.M.-1:00 P.M.

PLEASE NOTE

We welcome the Rev. Ronald Werner to Plymouth as the Pastor of the First Baptist Church. Rev. Werner was installed to his office on May 19, 2002. Rev. Marks participated in the service.

We thank all who made our Annual Meeting a success. We especially thank Steve Triffletti, Moderator, for his expert conduct of the meeting.

We are deeply appreciative to Cliff Sampson for his years of faithful service to the church as its treasurer. Cliff has kept diligent and capable oversight of the church's finances and invested funds. Thank you, Cliff!

We thank Kathy Marks and Rachel Quinn for providing childcare during the Annual Meeting.

We thank the Missions Committee for the Children's Sermon and Julie Sears for reading Scripture during the service on May 19th.

On May 19, 2002 The Church of the Pilgrimage received its Confirmation Class during the worship service. It was an impressive and solemn service and it expressed our commitment and pride in our young people. The church owes a debt of gratitude to adult members who acted as Mentors to our Confirmands. Along with our Confirmation candidates, these dedicated people gave many hours of service to making our Confirmation program one of high quality and significance. The names of the Confirmands appear under the Church Record. The Mentors are Allen Hoyt, Scott Sampson, Julie Sears and Paul Scheid. Thank you all for a job well done!

We are happy to report that a moveable platform for our organ console has been put into place. The specially made platform's purchase was made possible by a generous gift from Dorothy Post. This gift to the church will make it possible to move the console easily for the many services and concerts held in the church. We are grateful to Dot Post for her generosity.

Please inform the church office if you know of hospitalization or other pastoral needs.
If you are interested in church membership, please let Rev. Marks know or phone the church office.

Please take note of the beautifully framed and displayed quilt made by the church members in Allerton Hall. The frame was purchased from the Memorial Fund monies.

Harvest Fair 2002. Do you have toys that your children have outgrown? We would like to have a Children's toy table at the fair and are asking the members of the congregation to bring us those older toys for us to sell. We are looking for small items please. No bicycles, tricycles, and large trucks as they are a problem to store. A basket will be provided for collection in the vestibule and we invite everyone to participate. Please remember us this summer when you are canning. We are looking forward to offering pickles, relishes and other preserves on the Country Store Table. KEEP KNITTING!!!!!!! Diana Budge

Our May Mission Project for Heifer Continues. Your donations to H.P.I. help by giving "the gift that keeps on living". Win the "M is for" poster contest and a Heifer will be donated in your Name! Please visit the Missions table set up in Allerton Hall during the month of May for information and make a contribution to Heifer Project International. Thank You-Missions and Outreach Committee!

Third annual Church of the Pilgrimage Golf Tournament will be held on Saturday, June 29 at Squirrel Run Country Club. Shot gun start at noon with a social hour and dinner to follow at 5:30 P.M. Cost is $75.00 for golf and dinner and $16.00 for dinner only. Corporate sponsorships are $50.00. Sponsorship for one hole will be dedicated to the members and friends of the church for a cost of $10 per person. More info and sign up sheets available during coffee hour in Allerton Hall or call Ed Pawlowski @ (508) 746-2819.
Women's Fellowship Annual Banquet will be held Monday, June 3rd at 6:30 p.m. at Bert's Cove. The cost per person is $16.00. If you plan to attend, please call Marna Blomberg as soon as possible at (781) 826-2543 for inquiries and reservations. All reservations must be made prior to Monday, May 27th. Thank you.

Plant Sale. Everyone please divide your plants now for the June 1 Plant Sale!

Pledge Envelopes for the new fiscal year will be available on Sunday, June 2, 2002!

Music Lovers. Tuesday Evenings in Town Square, July 9-August 27 will need help with setup, ushering and cleanup on any Tuesday Evening.

Coming Events
June 2nd-Terry Runnels' concert in the sanctuary, 3:00 P.M.-5:00 P.M.
June 3rd--- The Plymouth Interfaith Clergy will meet at the Church of the Pilgrimage in Allerton Hall at Noon.
June 7-8th-The Annual Meeting of the Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ will meet at Mt. Holyoke College in South Hadley, MA.
June 9th-Church School Sunday.
June 14th-Guild Luncheon and Annual Meeting at Noon in Duxbury.

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.