Dear Friends,

A first grade teacher seated her students in a circle. She asked each student what they wanted to be when they grew up. There were typical answers: a fireman, a policeman, a nurse, a doctor, etc. (I wonder why noone said she/he wanted to be a preacher)?!
The last child to speak, of course, was the most shy and timid student in the class. His answer to the question was greeted by the others with incredulity. He said, "When I grow up, I'm going to be a lion tamer in the circus. I'm going to face those animals with my whip and chair and make them leap through hoops of fire and obey all my commands."
The shy little boy read the disbelieving looks on the faces of his classmates. The classmates knew he could never act so bravely and boldly. So, he added after a pause, "Well, of course, I'll have my mother with me."

I am not quite sure why this story appealed to me as much as it did when I sat down to compose a Christmas letter to you. As I think about it, however, I think of the shy little boy as being like most of us, especially when we entertain dreams which may seem fantastical even to ourselves. We should never give up on our dreams simply because they seem beyond our grasp nor because others doubt that we can fulfill them. It is just that dreams and great accomplishments need the security of someone we know and trust to encourage us toward realizing our potential, even though we may be fearful and, at times be filled with self-doubt.

The carol, "O' Holy Night" contains a line which always encourages me toward dreaming whenever I sing or hear them sung. "Long lay the world in sin and error pining, til he appeared and the soul felt its worth." I hear in these words a kind of divine word that we are not alone in the pursuit of great dreams, especially those associated with the baby born on straw who was also given the name "The Prince of Peace." No matter how torn apart the world is, no how bereft of dreams we may personally feel, the perennial power of Christ's birth should assure us that we are not alone and that we are most fulfilled when our dreams correspond with God's weeping desire for peace, globally and personally.

People of faith are dreamers. Come, let us dream together! Let us be informed by hope, by the future, and never give in to a deadening preoccupation with "what might have been," but be empowered by the hope that the companionable God, the "mothering" God, eternally extends to us. God is with us to encourage us whenever faith is the power behind and within our dreams.

The word "Emmanuel" means "God with us." We accept it to be the truth of faith that Jesus of Bethlehem's barn is the embodiment of divine hope. That hope is the stuff and power of our peaceable and constructive dreams.

Jesus had great dreams, but of course, his mother was with him. He didn't ever give up, nor should we. Peace dreamers are never alone; Emmanuel is with us.
Merry Christmas!

 

Love,

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

Morning Worship 10:00 A.M. Rev. Gary Marks will be preaching. The Lighting of the Fourth Advent Candle.

Greeters: The Curtin Family

The Pulpit Flowers are Christmas poinsettias given in memory of relatives, friends, and loved ones. Names are printed on a separate sheet enclosed herewith.

Christmas Pageant Participants. On December 21st there will be a formal rehearsal immediately after church.

Attention all Angels: Please have the little angels wear a white shirt as part of their Christmas Eve outfits. Call Jenny Healy with any questions at (508) 747-7168.

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 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

Office Hours: M-F 8:45 A.M.-3:45 P.M. Thursday's 8:30 A.M.-3:00 P.M.

CHURCH RECORD

Hospitalized: Allen Hoyt, Marion Whiting at the Jordan Hospital.

Baptism:
On December 14, 2003, Christian Willis Trott Rocha, son of Rildo Willis Rocha and Jennifer Lee Trott, was baptized during the worship service.
On December 14, 2003, Andrew James Trott Kielawa, son of James Gerald Kielawa and Jennifer Lee Trott, was baptized during the worship service.
On December 14, 2003, in a private service, Rev. marks baptized Daniel Louis Bruffee.

In Memoriam:
On December 13, 2003 Rev. Marks represented Plymouth clergy and took part in a memorial service for the Rev. Richard Maxwell at the Chiltonville Congregational Church.
On December 13, 2003 Rev. Marks conducted a funeral service for Agnus McCall in the church sanctuary. Agnus was a long time member of The Church of the Pilgrimage and passed this life at age 101 years.

THIS WEEK

Sunday, Dec. 21: Morning Worship 10:00 A.M., Rev. Gary L. Marks will be preaching. The Lighting of the Fourth Advent Candle by the Anderson Family; The Christmas Fund Special Offering will be received. Today is also Forefather's Day. Bake Sale in Allerton Hall during coffee hour. Also, attention Youth Group: there will be an informational meeting following worship service today for those going to Sunday River (12/28-12/31). Meet Rev. Dan in Allerton Hall immediately after worship. Also, there will be no confirmation class today, the next class is scheduled for January 4, 2004.

Monday, Dec. 22: 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. Rev. Marks will be the speaker at The Old Colony's Club Forefather's Dinner at The Old Colony Club.

Tuesday, Dec. 23: Rev. Marks will be in the church office, 9:30-11:03 A.M. Rev. Dan's office hours 10:00 A.M.-Noon; Aerobics, 6:30 P.M. in Allerton Hall; Advisory Board Meeting, 7:00 P.M. in the Church House.

Wednesday, Dec. 24: Christmas Eve-Rev. Dan's office hours Noon-2:00 P.M.; Staff Meeting, 7:00 P.M.; Christmas Eve Service with Living Nativity, 7:00 p.m. in the sanctuary, Candlelight Communion Service- 11:30 P.M.

THURSDAY, DEC. 25 - CHRISTMAS DAY- OFFICE CLOSED
" Have a Blessed Christmas!"

Friday, Dec. 26th- The Church Office will be closed
-11:30 A.M.

Saturday, Dec. 27:

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.

The Mission Family Dinner was a wonderful Christmas event as we await the birth of Christ! There were more than 100 people in attendance, even though its timing coincided with a snow storm! The program put together and directed by Sheldon Peavy was simply delightful. He had a great deal of help from some very talented Pilgrimage young people. The dinner was delicious and we collected a large number of new Christmas presents for needy kids. We thank our Missions/Outreach Committee for providing us with a warm and meaningful church family event.

As we have been planning our Family Christmas Eve Services we began to wonder again about all those who have portrayed the Holy Family over the many years we've conducted the service. Gary and Kathy Marks started the service in the 1970's. If you know who played Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus and the birth year of the baby, please place the information in a basket to be placed on the table in the upper vestibule. You may also call the church office with the information. Let us know, too, what "the baby Jesus" is doing now. We'd like to compile a list to share with all.

The Harvest Fair Special Fund-Raising Offer is still available. Order the 2004 Expanded Edition of "Dine N Save". The new books are in so please see Dave Cowie or Diana Budge during coffee hour if you have purchased a new book. If you have any questions please see Diana Budge or Dave Cowie.

Habitat for Humanity house and Christmas pins will be available for sale during coffee hour on December 21st. Prices range from $14-$18. Also sweatshirts with the rendering of the Plymouth house on the back will be for sale for $25.00. Please stop by and support Habitat for Humanity.

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 lends 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.

Cingular update! The contract with Cingular has been signed! Steeple work will be starting shortly and The Board of Trustees will keep the congregation updated on when work will begin.

The Board of Trustees is keeping up the new tradition started last Christmas of presenting our ministers with a Christmas gift. Anyone wishing to contribute please see Deb Porter or Diana Budge. And, yes this is a secret!

Attention Church School Teachers: The new winter curriculum is in each of your respective classrooms, so be sure to pick it up at your earliest convenience.

Ad In of Plymouth will meet on January 9, 2004 at 7:15 at PCIS in Plymouth, MA. The snow date is January 17, 2004. For more information please call (508) 759-7586.

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.