Dear Friends,

In the church's year the celebration of Pentecost, then of the Trinity, is followed by a period in which emphasis is placed upon discipleship and making disciples. In fact, last Sunday's lesson in Matthew 28:16-20 contains Jesus' call to make disciples of the nations and peoples of the world.

Discipleship is a matter of responding to the faith we have in Jesus Christ. It means that we not only believe, but act out our beliefs. This means that the church and we as individual believers are to make visible our faith with both seriousness and joy.

Chris Adsit, the Director of Disciplemakers International, observes that the church today is like a "mighty river" - a mile wide and an inch deep. We need to "deepen the river," regain the passion the early church had for proclaiming our redeeming faith. Our's is an evangelistic faith, it needs, and is defined by, our living its power.

The former chaplain of the United States Senate, Richard Halverson, has made an intriguing observation concerning Matthew 28:19. He says that the Greek means, "As you go, make learners everywhere." (In Homiletics, Vol. 14, p. 33). It is the task of the church, and of Christian living, to give visible expression to the power of our faith to remake lives and positively influence the world around us. By living we are expected to allow others to want to learn the ways of Christ.

Rev. Halverson insists; don't make disciples, make learners. Don't drag people into the sanctuary. Don't lure them into Church at all. Instead, try to show them something of the power of Christ in your own life. Monday through Friday, show them something of the power of Christ, help them to learn about Christ through the joy and the hope and the love you are feeling. (Ibid. p. 33).

As people see us living our faith they will fend their way into a community of believers somewhere. Let's hope it will be that they seek to learn the Christian faith at the Church of the Pilgrimage. The work of the church is to equip ourselves for the daily battle through worship and praise. The work of the church is in our learning what others want us so desperately to teach.

These observations are, in the language of the church, both evangelical and missional. We make disciples, in other words, by acting like disciples. We do this through our mission giving to the United Church of Christ, Heifer Project and in local outreach programs. We also do evangelism and mission by deeds of kindness and acts of mercy as we live our daily lives. We should always seek to live what we are learning about God's ways made known in Jesus Christ. In this way we know and act what St. Frances said; "Preach the gospel always-use words if necessary." I do firmly believe that is just what Jesus meant in Matthew 28:19-20: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and, so, I am with you always, to the close of the age."

We have our blessed call.

Love,

Gary

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

CHURCH RECORD

Service of Baptism

On May 26, 2002, Jason Robert Cadorette, son of Janelle (Keane) and John Cadorette, was baptized during the morning service of worship.

In Memoriam:

On May 25, 2002, Rev. Marks conducted a memorial service for Ruth Walker. Our prayers are with Jeanne, her daughter, and Ruth's many friends. We are grateful for Ruth's loyalty to the church, especially for her dedication to our church school.

THIS WEEK

Sunday, June 2

Sunday Morning Worship 10:00 A.M., Rev. Gary L Marks preaching.; The Search Committee will meet following the service; Terry Runnels' Concert in the sanctuary, 3:00 P.M.

Monday, June 3

Aerobics-9:00 A.M.-10:00 A.M.-Allerton Hall; The Plymouth Interfaith Council will meet at noon in Allerton Hall; Girl Scouts Tr. No. 1128 6:00-7:30 P.M.; Women's Fellowship Annual Banquet -- 6:30 P.M. at Bert's Cove. The cost per person is $16.00.

Tuesday, June 4

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; The Church Council will meet at 7:30 P.M. in the Mayflower Room.

Wednesday, June 5

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; Choir Rehearsal - 7:30 P.M. - sanctuary.

Thursday, June 6

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

Friday, June 7

Massachusetts Conference Annual Meeting at Mt. Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA; Aerobics - 9:00 A.M. - 10:00 A.M.

Saturday, June 8

Overeaters Anonymous- 9:30-11:30 A.M.-Church House. M.C.U.C.C. Annual Meeting continues.

PLEASE NOTE

We hope you have noticed the beautiful frame in which the church quilt has been placed. It is hanging in Allerton Hall. The frame was purchased from Memorial Fund monies.

We thank the Missions Committee for the Children's Sermon.

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.

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

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.

Pledge Envelopes for the coming pledge year are now available! They may be found on the window ledge on the east side of Allerton Hall. If you would like pledge envelopes, or if you have questions regarding them, please contact Collector, Tom Mudgett.

Please Remember that The Pilgrimage Herald is published monthly during July and August. Please organize any news items your organization has, or other information, and submit it to the office by June 24, 2002!

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

The Second Plymouth Chamber Music Festival will bring artists and students to the church building from July 27 through August 3. The reward is to see talented musicians and master classes up close. Volunteers will be needed to help during any session hours, any day or parts of days will be welcome. Please call Bill Harting at (508) 746-4097 for more information about volunteering to help with both the Tuesday Evening concerts and the Plymouth Chamber Music Festival.

Our sympathies are extended to Peter McLeod whose mother Ruth McLeod passed this life last week.

In this season of Commencements, we extend congratulations and blessings to all of our graduates. If you would like us to acknowledge a graduate, please submit their names, along with the schools and degrees received. For high school graduates, you may submit the graduate's future plans.

Graduations:
Congratulations to Tim Pawlowski who graduated from Merrimack College on May 19th. Tim is going on to the Mass. College of Pharmacy in Worcester! Way to go Tim!
Congratulations to John David who graduated from High School. John is attending Westfield State College for Criminal Justice in the fall. Good Luck John!

Sunday Greeters! After many years of volunteering to arrange for and organize the Sunday Greeters, Janet Holmes is retiring. Thank you Janet for all the years you have volunteered to take charge of Sunday Greeters, along with other Committees on which you have served. Janet volunteers on many committees not only in our church, but in our community!

We are in need of Sunday Greeters! Please see Pam McNicholas after church on Sunday to volunteer to greet for one Sunday during the summer. If you sign up for a Sunday, and cannot make it, just call Pam at the church office or at home (508) 746-5821 and she will find someone to cover for the Sunday you cannot make. Greeting is a great way to meet church members you may not know. Thank You!

Coming Events
June 9th-Church School Sunday.
June 9-11th-Annual Church Secretaries Conference. Pam will be attending this conference and the office will be closed Monday, June 10 and will reopen Tuesday, June 11 at approximately Noon.
June 14th--- Guild Lunch/Annual Meeting; Wedding rehearsal in the sanctuary, 6:30 P.M.
June 15th-Wedding in the Sanctuary, 4:30 P.M.
June 16th-Father's Day.

Clerk - Lois Post; Moderator - Steven Triffletti; Treasurer - Cliff Sampson; 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.