Dear Friends,

As most of you know, I am fascinated by the Pilgrim Story. I am a student of that story and I find in the Rev. John Robinson a contemporary mentor though he is a figure of the ancient past. Robinson was the first pastor of the Pilgrims in Leyden, Holland and I am only the thirtieth pastor in the line of ministers which began with him in 1609. I am awed by that legacy. (The legacy of which I am a part, and of which the church is a part, is the Congregational side of our beginnings).

Robinson was the spiritual and intellectual minister of the Pilgrims. Without the strength of his spiritual guidance behind the Scrooby/Leyden Congregation there may not have been a Mayflower voyage. Robinson was a deeply spiritual person, a scholar and a sensitive pastor. He was tireless in his pursuit of truth based in God's Word and in his insistence upon learning. He was equally tireless in encouraging his people "to walk in the ways of the Lord," and to be open to new opportunities and challenges which would mean being open to God's further leading. He knew, as our church Covenant states, that much has been made known to us, but that not all has been made known to us. The Word of God is our guide, but it is open to fresh understandings as every future makes new demands upon it. Robinson was, by his day and time, a tolerant person, but he also was aware of finding and holding to a firm foundation which sustains us through all change and into any given future.

At Thanksgiving I recall to you our first minister who gave those who arrived in Plymouth in 1620 the power of faith which sustained them. The Pilgrims were not merely thankful for a harvest and survival. They were a people convinced that God had a holy purpose to fulfill through them and that their survival was a means by which God's ways were to be given as light to the world. They were thankful to be God's people and that God found them worthy of carrying the Word on a holy "errand into the wilderness." They were thankful to be agents in God's dispensation of grace, truth and freedom.

Many have romanticized the Pilgrim Story and have seen in it heroes of survival against horrible circumstances. Today, many have debunked the story by a shallow revisionism which demeans its legacy. Neither of these attitudes toward the Pilgrims interprets them for who they were. They were persuaded that God was their stay and guide, and that God had a holy purpose to fulfill through them. They were quite ordinary people, but faith made them extraordinary. They were thankful, not just for survival, but because they were messengers of God's hope and promise.

May we continue that holy legacy as we celebrate Thanksgiving, for God still "hath more truth and light to break forth out of God's Holy Word." And so, through us, the pilgrimage toward light and truth continues.

May you have a happy and holy Thanksgiving.

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

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

Special Business Meeting of the Congregation following the worship service.

Greeters: Bob and Joanne Cole

The Pulpit Flowers HARVEST TABLE

The Flowers on the right side are in loving memory of Deacon and Mrs. Edgar Broadbent given by Janet.

All are invited to join us for Coffee Hour downstairs in Allerton Hall following the worship service. Also, Volunteers are needed to sign up for Coffee Hour. Please look for the sign-up sheet on the coffee hour counter.

Greeters are needed for December 7 and the month of January. Please call the church office to volunteer to greet or look for the sign-up sheet on the coffee hour counter.

Church School Thanksgiving Craft Time in the Church House after Time for Teaching.
Any 7th and 8th graders interested in participating in the Christmas Dinner puppet show be sure to be in Sunday School. Sheldon Peavey will be teaching the basics this Sunday after craft time.

Youth Fellowship and Confirmands will be distributing crafts made during craft hour to several local senior care facilities. We will meet at the church house at 1:00 and should be finished by 3:00. Extra drivers welcome.

Office Hours this week are Monday & Tuesday, 8:30a.m. to 3:45 p.m., Wednesday, 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The office is closed Thursday and Friday for the Thanksgiving Holiday.

CHURCH RECORD

Hospitalized: Florence Bradley, Elaine Sampson at the Jordan Hospital.

Recuperating after recent hospitalizations: Judy Mitchell, Warren Besegai

THIS WEEK

Sunday, Nov. 23: Thanksgiving Sunday - Morning Worship 10:00 A.M., Rev. Gary Marks will be preaching; Special Business Meeting of the Congregation following the worship service.

Monday, Nov. 24: Rev. Dan's office hours 10:00 A.M.-Noon; Aerobics, 9:00 A.M. in Allerton Hall; Girl Scout Tr. 1128, 4:00 P.M. in Church House; Budget Committee Meeting, 7:30 P.M. in the Church House.

Tuesday, Nov. 25: Rev. Marks will be in the church office, 9:30-11:00 A.M. Rev. Marks will speak to a group, Vision Forum, in the sanctuary at 11:30 A.M.; Rev. Dan's office hours 10:00 A.M.-Noon; Aerobics, 6:30 P.M. in Allerton Hall; Advisory Board, 7:00 P.M. in the Church House.

Wednesday, Nov. 26: 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.; The office will close at 1:00 P.M. as it is a half/day for the Town of Plymouth Schools; 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, Nov. 27, 2003

THANKSGIVING DAY
The Pilgrim's Progress" 10:00 A.M.
Open House at the Church of the Pilgrimage 10:00 A.M.-1:00 P.M.
Ecumenical Service at the First Parish Unitarian Church, at 10:30 A.M.

Friday, Nov. 28: OFFICE CLOSED

Saturday, Nov. 29:

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- Rev. Marks is planning another series of classes for those desiring to become members of The Church of the Pilgrimage. If you are interested in becoming a part of our church family and its ministry, please speak to Rev. Marks or call the church office.

We thank the Missions Committee for sponsoring the S.E.R.VV. Sale on November 16th. It was a terrific sale with hundreds of beautiful and interesting items from many countries. We thank John and Betsy Minot once again for their monumental efforts on behalf of S.E.R.R.V., a mission agency of Church World Service.

Rev. Marks gave a lecture on John Robinson to the Mass. Society of Mayflower Descendents on November 15th in Taunton.

Rev. Marks plans to offer a prayer and reflection service on Wednesdays in Advent at 7:00 P.M. in the sanctuary. The gatherings will focus spiritually on Advent themes. Each service will be brief, 7:00-7:30 P.M. and will be similar to the Celtic Prayer and Reflection times held last year. If there is enough interest, the group may continue beyond Advent. Please join us and together we shall prayerfully prepare ourselves for the birth of Christ.

Thanksgiving: Once again The Church of the Pilgrimage will be hosting an open house on Thanksgiving morning from 10:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. Anyone wishing to help out that morning or bake for our visitors, please contact Liisa Budge at (508) 746-0593 (days). Thank you.

We thank Liisa Budge for organizing our Thanksgiving Open House. It is a lot of work, and is greatly appreciated.

The Harvest Fair Special Fund-Raising Offer is still available. Order the 2004 Expanded Edition of "Dine N Save" and receive the 2003 Edition Free. Over $2,000 in potential savings, Two (2) books for only $20.00. The new books are in so please see Dave Cowie during coffee hour if you have purchased a new book. If you have any questions please see Dave Cowie.

The Annual Missions Family Christmas Dinner will be held on December 14, 2003 at 5:00 P.M. Sign-up in Allerton Hall after worship on November 30th and December 7th or call the church office. The deadline for signing up is Wednesday, December 10, 2003. The menu is Lasagna, Salad, Hot Dogs, Ice Cream. Meal will be served at 5:30 P.M. The program is called "The True Meaning of Christmas" by Sheldon Peavey. Please bring an "unwrapped" gift to be laid under the tree. Thank you the Missions Committee.

Treasurer's Monthly Report

	Last Year's	This Year's	Long/Short
1st. Qrt. Income:	$74,154	$63,102	-$11,052
Expenses:	$57,620	$66,542	$8,922
Operating Balance:	$16,534	-$3,440	-$19,974

As you can see we are getting off to a rough start for the year. Pledge receipts were up, but some of the other areas of income were down.

Pledge Receipts Summary

Date Lst. Yr.	Act. Pldge Recpts.	This Yr. Budgtd.
1st Qrt.	$32,333	$39,367
October	$13,797	$16,798
Next Sunday 11/23	$ 1,727	$ 2,103

As you can see we started out gangbusters. But last month was not so great. The bottom line is we still need your help! Thank you for giving so generously. Please continue to give and if you are not caught up with your pledge, now would be a great time to give to our church. Thank you, David Kegel, Treasurer

Budget Committee Meeting, November 24, 2003 at 7:30 P.M. in the Church House.

The Women's Fellowship and The Board of Trustee's are working together to assist in delivering donations to the Food Pantry at the Christ Episcopal Church. You will see two baskets on either side of the lower vestibule with signs directing you to put your donations of dry goods and personal items in these baskets. The items will be delivered on a weekly to the Christ Episcopal Church. This is an ongoing weekly event. Please donate weekly by depositing your donation in one of the two baskets. Thank You!

The Women's A Cappella Chorus Persephone's Daughters presents "Yonder Come Day" on Saturday, November 22, 2003 at 7:30 P.M. at the First Parish Church in Plymouth. Tickets are $10.00 Adults/$5.00 Seniors, Students, Children. Tickets can be purchased at the door. For more information call 508-747-0212. Proceeds are going to Habitat for Humanity.

Living Nativity at Overlook Farm, 216 Wachusset St., Rutland, MA, December 13th and 14th from 1:00 to 5:30 P.M. A live nativity complete with animals will be presented at the beginning of each hour. There will be an offering at the conclusion of each presentation. Sleigh or hayrides will be available, and the gift shop will be open. There is no charge, but please bring a plate of cookies to share. For more information call 508-886-2221.

Lending Library: There is now a bookcase in Allerton Hall filled with books for anyone to take and read. We hope that you will take advantage of the opportunity to both borrow and lend books as they become available. There is no charge and no obligation to return books if you would like to give them a permanent home. We do have a small collection of books for religious study in this bookcase and there are also many more in the cabinets of the Mayflower Room for anyone interested in serious study to borrow. We hope that many of you will take the opportunity to make use of our lending library and to add to it with books that you have enjoyed. The Board of Trustees.

The Last Knitting Evening scheduled in November was canceled due to illness and the fact that it fell on a Holiday. I would like to let everyone interested know that we will resume meeting the second Tuesday in December at my home at 15 Oak St. All who are interested are welcome. My apologies for the last minute cancellation. I missed seeing everyone. See you in December.

We extend our sympathies to Barbara Northrop whose grandmother died last week in Germany.

Thank you to everyone who honored Pat's 90th Birthday on this past Sunday. A special thank you to Kathy Marks and Pat and Tom Mudgett for putting this together. Hector Patenaude.

COMING EVENTS

Nov. 30: The First Sunday in Advent.

Dec. 3: The Missions Committee will meet in Allerton Hall at 7:00 P.M.
The Greater Plymouth Interfaith Clergy Association will meet at 8:30 A.M. at The Church of the Pilgrimage.
Advent Prayer and Reflection in the sanctuary at 7:00 P.M. (See "Notes").

Dec. 14: Mission Committee Christmas Dinner, 5:00 P.M. in Allerton Hall.

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.