Dear Friends,

On May 18th we will be holding our Annual Meeting at The Church of the Pilgrimage. Our forebears considered the business affairs of the church to be a part of its spiritual calling to be "a light to the nations" during the earthly pilgrimage. Another prominent image from the Bible employed to describe the earthly church among Pilgrims and Puritans was that the church is to be a "city set upon a hill." The Church, therefore, was to be God's agency for the proclamation of the eternal Word and as a community of Christians who was to be a model for a divinely ordered earthly society. All the church's earthly affairs, including its treasury, were to be a means to the end of serving God and in being guided democratically by a "heavenly vision."

This ecclesiastical self-understanding was one of the central influences upon the civil and political organization of the American nation. The nation, like the church, was founded upon ideals of justice, fair play, covenant, equal representation, etc., and was in its purest idealism a means to a divine end and more than an end in itself. Both church and the civil order were, ideally, to serve the causes of God's divine Covenant and, in fact, were to be shadows of the "heavenly kingdom" administered democratically during the earthly pilgrimage.

We have a high calling! Our earthly means, including our money, is to serve the cause of the "heavenly vision." Secular affairs, in other words, are to be made sacred, to have a holy purpose. The church at its best, or the church when it understands its calling, is the church which keeps its reason for being constantly before its every duty and activity.

Often, at budget time, we get far away from our foundational calling. That is sad and we must shun every tendency which separates use from our divine purposes.

It is difficult for most all churches to make ends meet financially. I wish that we could pay for all our earthly obligations from pledged income, but our pledges seem ever to lag behind the economic realities. In fact, we give a very low percentage of our incomes to the church and in New England we give less than any other part of the nation! There is no honor in this fact and repentance and correction are in order.

We do depend upon income from endowments for the church's day to day operation. I wish, as I've said, that it could be otherwise, but it isn't. Our church has a relatively modest endowment and, since we are so dependent upon it, I take this opportunity to encourage you to remember the church in you wills. Better, yet, if you are able, add to the treasury of God's earthly work while you can see the divine good that money can do.

We are a spiritually alive congregation. We are a part of the "heavenly vision" pressing on toward God's purposes. May we have the grace to find the pilgrimage cheerfully and respectfully!

Love,

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

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

Greeters: Helen Belcher and Mahlon Walker.

The Pulpit Flowers are in loving memory of Genevieve Pierce from her family.

The Flowers on the right side are in loving memory of my son, Gary, given by Billie Courtney.

The Cherub Choir will be singing-please meet in Allerton Hall at 9:45 A.M.

The Children will attend Church School following the Time for Teaching.

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

The Fax Machine is not working. The part has been ordered and should be received shortly. If you need to fax something to the office, please call first to see if it is working.

CHURCH RECORD

Hospitalized: No one as of May 6, 2003.

Recuperating after a brief hospital stay, The Rev. Ken Heckman. Ken is at home.

In Memoriam:
On May 2, 2003 Rev. Marks conducted a funeral service for Donald Herrick. Burial was at The National Cemetery in Bourne. Our sympathies are extended to his family.

THIS WEEK

Sunday, May 11: Rev. Gary Marks will be preaching.

Monday, May 12: Rev. Dan's office hours 10:00 A.M.-Noon; Aerobics 9:00 A.M. - 10:00 A.M; Girl Scouts-6:00-7:30 P.M. Church House; Evening Bible Study - 7:00 P.M. in the Mayflower Room.

Tuesday, May 13: Rev. Marks' office hours 9:30 A.M.-11:30 A.M.; Rev. Dan's office hours 10:00 A.M.- Noon; Lunch Bunch - Noon in the Mayflower Room; Safe Church Meeting - 7:00 P.M. in the Mayflower Room.

Wednesday, May 14: Rev. Dan's office hours 9:30 A.M.-11:30 A.M.; Aerobics - 9:00 A.M. - 10:00 A.M. Allerton Hall; Staff Meeting-10:00 A.M; Troop 47 - 7:00-9:00 P.M. in the Church House; Cub Scout Pack 47 - 7:00-8:00 P.M. in the Church House; Evening Prayer Service - 7:00 P.M. in the Sanctuary; Choir Rehearsal - 7:30 P.M.

Thursday, May 15: Rev. Dan's office hours Noon-2:00P.M.; Girl Scout Troop 1227-6:00-7:15 Church House; Aerobics-6:45 P.M.-7:45 P.M.

Friday, May 16: Rev. Marks' office ours, 9:30 A.M.-11:30 A.M.; Aerobics-9:00 A.M.-10:00 A.M.

Saturday, May 17: Overeaters Anonymous- 9:45-11:30 A.M.-Church House.

PLEASE NOTE

Please call the church office or let the ministers know if you or someone you know is presently or soon to be hospitalized or in need of pastoral care. It is especially important to inform the ministers of those hospitalized in out-of-town hospitals.

Membership Classes-Rev. Marks is now compiling a list of those who have indicated an interest in becoming members of the church. If you are among those who would like to become church members, please let Rev. Marks know and/or call the church office as soon as possible. Rev. Marks is contacting perspective members to arrange a convenient time for a series of three classes. They will likely be held on Sundays immediately following worship. If you have previously spoken to Rev. Marks about membership, please remind him, or phone the office at (508) 746-3026.

Congratulations to Tony Vannozzi who received his Eagle Scout Award on May 3rd in a ceremony in the church sanctuary. Tony grew up in the church and his family has been very active in the church for many years. We are proud of Tony's achievement!

Rev. Marks and Rev. Spacek attended the "Meet Me At The Comma" event in Hanover on May 3rd. The event was sponsored by the South East Area of the Mass. Conference, U.C.C. The Minister and President of the national church, The Rev. John Thomas, was a featured speaker. Rev. Nancy Taylor was featured, too and there were seminars and worship. Several hundred attended the day long event.

Rev. Dan's next Evening Bible Study is May 12 at 7:00 P.M. in the Mayflower Room. Lunch Bunch is May 13th at noon in the Mayflower Room. Passages to be covered include Acts 8:26-40 and John 15:9-17. All are welcome!

The "Hike for Habitat" is Saturday, May 17th at the Blue Hills. Registration forms are available through Nancy Morse at 508-746-5213. Please contact her or call Rev. Dan in the church office if you would like to participate.

The Annual Time & Talent Auction & Dinner is Friday evening, May 30, 2003. Sign-up in Allerton Hall on Sunday. If you have any questions, particularly if you are new to the congregation, please feel free to call me at (508) 746-4514. Diana Budge.

Plant Sale June 7 2003, Courtyard Place, 124 Long Pond Road from 9:00 A.M.-1:00 P.M. (Rain Or Shine). Please pot all plants from your garden now as they go into shock and need to recuperate before the sale, to look nice. Mark what they are as we don't always know the name of every plant. Anyone wishing to help out selling, marking and helping carry plants are most welcome and be at Steve Triffletti's parking lot on Long Pond Road by 8:00 A.M. Also, anyone who has plants but cannot dig them up call me at (508) 224-7296 and Tom and I will be happy to dig them up and pot them. Anyone who has plastic plant pots of any size can bring them to church, Sunday and put them on the ocean side in Allerton Hall and I will pick them up. We appreciate all of the things you do to help out. It is all of you who truly make this a success. Thank you. Pat Mudgett.

The Church of the Pilgrimage Annual Golf Tournament will be held on June 14th. Please sign-up in Allerton Hall during Coffee Hour.

Spring clean-up day at the Parsonage is coming. Put June 22nd on your calendar. Show up at the Parsonage at 1:00 P.M. and bring your garden tools. More information to follow. Thank you, Debby Porter.

HEIFER PROJECT INTERNATIONAL
We want to thank all the members of the Church of the Pilgrimage for their enthusiastic support of the work of Heifer International. For almost 60 years Heifer has been helped the poor through gifts of livestock and training. 4.5 million people have been helped. Half the world -- nearly three billion people -- live on less than two dollars a day. A billion people entered the 21st century unable to read a book or sign their names. Through the gifts of farm animals families now can feed their children, send their children to school and have a future that holds promise for self-reliance and sustainability.
Each person who receives an animal "passes on the gift" to another in need. Thank you for passing on the gift to others.
CHILDREN are being asked to bring a stuffed animal to church on May 18th, especially a stuffed rabbit, if possible. They will be helpful during a special Children's Sermon. Thank you! The Missions and Outreach Committee.

Starting in September our church will be sponsoring an ongoing dried food and personal supplies drive for the Christ Episcopal Church food bank. Donations will be collected and delivered weekly. Look for lists to be posted as well as collection boxes placed in the lower vestibule.

Summer Sale Reminder - Please keep the Summer Sale in mind when doing your spring cleaning! Watch for more information concerning the Summer Sale in up-coming Heralds.

Greeters for Sunday Morning Services are needed. Currently, greeters are needed for May 25th and the month of June. Please call the Church Office.

Coffee Hour -we still need volunteers to prepare for Sunday morning Coffee Hours. There is a sign-up sheet in Allerton Hall. Coffee Hour -we still need volunteers to prepare for Sunday morning Coffee Hours. There is a sign-up sheet in Allerton Hall.

Coming Events

May 18: The Annual Meeting of the Church of the Pilgrimage will be held following morning worship.

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.