Dear Friends,

The great theologian of the Protestant Reformation, John Calvin, said that the human mind is a permanent factory of idols. I would add that the human mind is also a factory of endless excuses. We manufacture all sorts of reasons for why we do or don't do certain things, for why we behave or not behave in certain ways.

I saw a cartoon in a magazine which pictures a small man in a business office in the act of hiring a very large man for an unusual job. The caption under this scene is: "It takes a big man to admit he's wrong. That's why I want to hire you as the company scapegoat." We are as human beings very good at making excuses and at transferring blame to others.

The idea of finding a scapegoat for our failures, weaknesses, lapses is not a new one. The idea of a scapegoat may, in fact, be traced to an ancient Hebrew practice which is to be found in Leviticus 16:8-22. It is no longer a practice which is carried out, but it is an ancient rite which gave rise to the term for getting rid of blame and excuses. The word "scapegoat" is the combination of two words: escape plus goat. The priest, on the Day of Atonement, confessed the sins of the people, placed them on the goat, after which the goat was allowed to escape into the wilderness. Today, of course, most people use the word "scapegoat" without knowing that it had a biblical and ritual origin. It has come to mean that we seek a person, group or thing to bear the blame for the mistakes or crimes of others, or ourselves. An ancient practice of confession and forgiveness of sin has now become only a means of evading responsibility, a means of "getting by" with shady or immoral actions or activities. It has become a way of shifting blame due to ourselves to others. Sin and the need for forgiveness has not gone away; we just change its name and act self-righteously when we "get by" with something.

I really don't know why I started this letter. That is, I don't know exactly what point I wished to make when I had just read the cartoon I've mentioned. Maybe, though the cartoon and the act of scapegoating appealed to me because I'd just been watching the news on the day before the California recall election. Maybe it was a reaction to listening to politicians argue over who leaked what to whom. Perhaps the writing of the letter was prompted by hearing political parties each blaming the other for everything that is wrong in the world. Maybe it was caused by reading and hearing why we in local areas say that children are the future and yet seek to blame others for shortfalls in the financing of educating them. Maybe I'd been to a board or committee meeting at the church. Maybe, I confess, I'd just blamed someone for something for which I myself should have taken responsibility. I'm not sure why I am writing this letter.

I shall end this letter, however with something about which I am sure and about which I invite your spiritual reflections and thoughts. The Bible used the idea of the "scapegoat" as applying to Jesus in whom our own sins are forgiven by God's grace.

Love,

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

Morning Worship 10:00 A.M. Rev. Dan Spacek preaching.

Greeters: Mike, Michelle, Emily and Maria Harrington.

The Pulpit Flowers are in loving memory of Curtis E. Lafayette and Mr. and Mrs. Samuel H. Christie given by Katherine & Christine.

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

Greeters are needed for all of November. Please call the church office to volunteer to greet or look for the sign-up sheet on the coffee hour counter.

Rev. Dan's Bible Study, "Discover the Psalms," begins soon! The Monday 7:00 P.M. class begins Oct. 20. The Tuesday Noon class begins Oct. 21. Be sure to pick up your Resource Book if you haven't done so already. Contact Rev. Dan with questions.

Youth Fellowship starts in two weeks! The first event is October 19, when we will help Helen and Ruth Belcher with fall clean-up! Meet at the church house at 2:00 P.M. Bring your work gloves!

Office Hours: MONDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2003--COLUMBUS DAY--THE OFFICE WILL BE CLOSED.T-F 8:45 A.M.-3:45 P.M. Thursday's 8:30 A.M.-3:00 P.M.

CHURCH RECORD

Recuperating at Home: Dave Lunetta after a stay at the South Shore Hospital.

Wedding
On October 4, 2003, Rev. Marks conducted a wedding ceremony for Louis Blaine and Renee Kumiega in the church sanctuary.

Renewal of Vows
On October 4, 2003 a service of vows renewal for Kenneth Stewart Trox and Barbara Lee Wright at the Plymouth Elks Club by Rev. Marks.

In Memoriam
On October 3, 2003, Rev. Marks conducted a memorial service for both Edward and Mary Huntley.

THIS WEEK

Sunday, Oct. 12: Morning Worship 10:00 A.M., Rev. Dan Spacek will be preaching.

Monday, Oct. 13: OFFICE CLOSED-COLUMBUS DAY
Aerobics, 9:00 A.M. in Allerton Hall; Girl Scout Tr. 1128, 6:00 P.M. in Church House.

Tuesday, Oct. 14: Rev. Marks' will conduct a worship service at the Newfield House at 10:30 A.M. He will be in the church office following the service; Rev. Dan's office hours 10:00 A.M. - Noon; Aerobics, 6:30 P.M. in Allerton Hall; Knitting Evening at Diana Budge's, 15 Oak St., Plymouth at 7:00 P.M.

Wednesday, Oct. 15: Aerobics, 9:00 A.M. in Allerton Hall; Rev. Dan's office hours 9:30 A.M.-11:30 A.M.; Staff Meeting-10:00 A.M; Music Committee Meeting, 6:30 P.M. in Allerton Hall; Choir Rehearsal - 7:30 P.M; Tr. 47, 7:00 P.M. in the Church House; Pack 47, 7:00 P.M. in the Church House.

Thursday, Oct. 16: Rev. Dan's office hours Noon-2:00P.M.; G.S. Tr. 1227, 4:00 P.M-5:30 P.M. in the Church House; Aerobics, 6:30 P.M. in Allerton Hall; Rev. Marks has a wedding rehearsal in Cohasset at 6:00 P.M.; South Shore Women's Center Candlelight Vigil at the First Parish Unitarian Church, 7:00 P.M. The service recognizes and affirms victims of domestic violence.

Friday, Oct. 17: Rev. Marks' office hours, 9:30 A.M.-11:30 A.M. Rev. Marks will conduct a wedding at The Second Church, U.C.C. in Cohassett, 6:30 P.M.

Saturday, Oct. 18: Rev. Marks will attend a meeting of the Pilgrim Fellows, a scholarly group of which he is a member, at Noon. The meeting is at Pilgrim Hall.

PLEASE NOTE

Please call the church office if you are aware of persons hospitalized or in need of pastoral care. It is especially important to let the ministers know about out-of-town hospitals. Hospital listings prepared for clergy at the Jordan Hospital, too, have been irregular in availability. It is, therefore, important that the ministers and church office be informed of any hospitalizations. Thank you for your help.

Membership Classes-The current class of new members will be received into full membership of The Church of the Pilgrimage on October 19, 2003. Rev. Marks plans to begin a second service of membership classes soon after the new class is received into membership. Please call the church office or speak with Rev. Marks if you are interested in uniting with our church.

We congratulate Ruth Belcher on her recent celebration of her seventieth birthday! Ruth was presented with a certificate of recognition of her service to the church and best wishes were extended to Ruth during the October 5th Coffee Hour.

Gary will be back in the church office on October 14th. He and Kathy went to a parent's weekend at Transylvania University in Lexington, Kentucky where their son, Robbie, is in his first year of college.

We are currently keeping the Mayflower Room available as a Crib Room. That means that church meetings will need to be held in Allerton Hall or in rooms in the Church House. Please contact Pam to schedule a meeting room and contact Lillian Knowles to obtain a key for the Church House Building.

The Church of the Pilgrimage Services will be aired on P.A.C.T.V. on Sundays at noon and at 10:00 P.M. We are grateful to Bruce Allen for taping the services and for arranging for them to be aired on a delayed basis of one week.

The Crop Walk is November 2nd. Join us for this fun and worthwhile event. Call Rev. Dan if you would like to walk or volunteer on walk day.

Your four delegates to the Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ - Marna and John Blomberg and Trace and Julie Sears will be giving a brief 30-minute presentation during coffee hour on Sunday, November 9th in Allerton Hall. They will be updating you on the 204th Annual Meeting. This will be an exciting opportunity to learn about what is going on in our conference and to hear about small groups that could be formed in our church using resources from the Annual Meeting workshops. Please mark your calendars and plan to attend! Childcare will be provided.

Steve Triffletti, Moderator has made the following appointments to serve out unexpired terms due to resignations. Ed Pawlowski, Board of Trustees and Patricia Harper, Music Committee.

Harvest Fair Drawing. The selling of tickets is underway! If you have not already done so, please plan to visit the Drawing Coordination Table downstairs in Allerton Hall during coffee hour. Committee members will be available every Sunday through October 19th to distribute tickets for you to sell, collect ticket stubs and money from those tickets sold, as well as to distribute more tickets as needed. We want to remind you that this year, the tickets come in books of six. Tickets are either $1 each or 6 for $5.00! Thank you for your continued support, Marna Blomberg and Tom Mudgett (Co-Chairs, Drawing).

Harvest Fair News:

Fair day offers another opportunity for getting involved. If you can spare a few hours to help out at a table, let me know. Above all, come and support this effort with your purchases. We guarantee good buys.

This year the children's corner will feature face painting, cookie decorating and an opportunity to have your picture taken in "dress up" clothes. Call Liisa Budge if you can volunteer your time to help with the children and be sure to visit the jewelry table at the foot of the stairs for some lovely handmade bead necklaces and earrings.

Are you crafty? If you are and enjoy making decorations for the holidays, Betty and Kristen Sander would welcome your additions to their Holiday Table. Xmas, Thanksgiving and Halloween items would be most appreciated.

This year a new table will provide you with a piece of cake and a recipe for it for a minimal charge. Judi Besegai is responsible for this table, so if you are interested in submitting your favorite cake and are willing to include the recipe, both would be welcome.

Again this year we will have a MYSTERY BOX of at least $100 value for a special drawing. For a donation of $2.00, you may be a winner. Take a chance and help the church as well.

For telephone numbers of individual table leaders please call me at (508) 746-4514. Diana Budge

Harvest Fair Luncheon: Deb Porter asked me to appeal to the members of the congregation that can spare the time for help setting up the afternoon of October 24 and help in serving, etc. on Fair Day. If you can spare a few hours but are unable to be there the whole day, it is no problem. We will schedule help in smaller time increments as we have volunteers. At this point, manpower is a real need in several areas. If you can help, please contact Deb Porter at (508) 746-4109.

The Plymouth Fragment Society Annual Meeting will be held October 25, 2003 at 2:00 P.M. at the First Baptist Church in Plymouth.

COMING EVENTS

Oct. 19: Reception for New Members during the worship service.
Oct. 21: The Board of Trustees will meet at 7:00 P.M. in Church House.
Oct. 24: Halloween Dinner Dance.
Oct. 25: Harvest Fair
Oct. 26: Daylight Savings Time Ends. "Fall back one hour."
Nov. 2: CROP Walk

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.