Dear Friends,

It doesn't seem long ago that I was reminding all of us in this space that Easter is a season of the church year, not merely one day. With the arrival of Pentecost Sunday we also recognize the departure of the Easter season, 2003. Pentecost is fifty days after Easter deriving its name from the Greek word for fifty. In the evolution of the church's traditions a day and season was set aside to celebrate the birth of the Christian Church. That day, and the ensuing season, is Pentecost. An account of Pentecost may be found in Acts 2.

The early disciples of Jesus were left to carry on the work and ministry of Jesus following the Ascension to which I made reference in last Sunday's sermon. They were promised that they would not be left alone in their work, that they may expect the power of the Holy Spirit as the living presence of the risen Christ among them. The Spirit descended upon them and hundreds of others on the Day of Pentecost. On that day they all understood each other as though the differences in nationality, race, gender, did not exist. In Part, it was upon this powerful and unifying experience that the church in the absence of the bodily presence of Jesus had its birth. Indeed, the early church would eventually come to refer to itself as "the body of Christ." Christ was from then on referred to as the head of the body, the church. The body is, therefore always to seek to act in accordance with the "mind of Christ" seeking always to implore the leading of the Holy Spirit.

On the first Pentecost people felt as though the power of the Spirit was so intense and reforming as to be compared to a fire. That's the main reason that the color of this day and season is red.

Red will be the color of the day when we meet on Pentecost Sunday, June 8th. It is the church's birthday and we may, and should, pray that the Spirit will again be upon us in the contemporary church. In that prayer we will affirm anew our confidence in the power of the Spirit to guide us, to lead us, when we prayerfully seek to discern the mind of Christ in addressing the challenges of today and tomorrow. We should learn anew that we are not alone in trying to be the church. In fact, we get into all kinds of difficulty when we do try to go it alone!

On this Pentecost Sunday we will be receiving a wonderful Confirmation Class into the church. These young people have been instructed and led through a lengthy study of Christian doctrine and its implications for responsible Christian action and behavior. We can thank Dan and a dedicated group of sponsors for the instruction and loving care of these young people. It is appropriate, and a part of our long range planning, that the Confirmation Class be received on Pentecost Sunday. In our Confirmands we reaffirm our own faith and confidence that God is still working through the Holy Spirit to empower the church to be a redemptive force in a world greatly in need of redemption!

Come Holy Spirit, Come!

Love,

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

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

Greeters: Darryl, Debbie, Holly and Kevin Richters

The Pulpit Flowers are in loving memory of Arthur (Archie) and Rose Doten, given by their children.

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

7th & 8th Graders will be attending church worship this Sunday, June 8th.

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

Greeters are needed for June 22nd and for all of July and August. Please call the church office to volunteer to greet.

CHURCH RECORD

Hospitalized: No one as of June 2, 2003.

Baptisms:
On June 1, 2003, Rev. Marks conducted a private services of baptism for the following people:
Olivia Ann Gauley, daughter of Robert W. Gauley and Kathy May Kelly.
Adult Baptisms:
Kathy May Kelly Robert W. Gauley
Thomas J. Kelly Steven S. Kelly
Holly J. Kelly

Wedding:
On May 31, 2003, Rev. Marks conducted a wedding service for Richard Michael Tomasello, Jr. and Julie Ann Caveney, in the church sanctuary.

In Memoriam:
On May 31, 2003 Rev. Marks conducted a memorial service for Dorothy Post in the church sanctuary.

THIS WEEK

Sunday, June 8: Rev. Gary Marks will be preaching.

Monday, June 9: The Church office will be closed June 9 and 10 in order to allow our secretary to attend a church secretaries conference in Craigville. Rev. Dan's office hours 10:00 A.M.-Noon; Aerobics 9:00 A.M. - 10:00 A.M.; Evening Bible Study in the Mayflower Room at 7:00 P.M.

Tuesday, June 10: Church office closed. Rev. Marks' office hours 9:30 A.M.-11:30 A.M.; Rev. Dan's office hours 10:00 A.M.- Noon; Lunch Bunch in the Mayflower Room at noon; Knitting Evening at 7:00 P.M. at Diana Budge's house, 15 Oak St., Plymouth.

Wednesday, June 11: 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. This will be the last prayer service to be held weekly until the fall; Choir Rehearsal - 7:30 P.M.

Thursday, June 12 : 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.; Membership & Evangalism Committee Meeting, 7:00 P.M. in the Mayflower Room.

Friday, June 13: Rev. Marks' office hours, 9:30 A.M.-11:30 A.M.; Aerobics-9:00 A.M.-10:00 A.M.; Guild Luncheon at Jamies' in Manomet at Noon; Wedding Rehearsal in the sanctuary, 6:30 P.M.

Saturday, June 14: Pilgrimage Golf Tournament and Dinner at Squirrel Run Country Club; Wedding in the sanctuary, 5:00 P.M.

PLEASE NOTE

Sunday, June 8th is Pentecost Sunday. The color associated with Pentecost is red which symbolizes the fire of the Holy Spirit. If you can, please wear something red to celebrate Pentecost Sunday.

Gary went to Columbus, Ohio to conduct a funeral for his uncle, Richard McCutcheon, on June 4, 2003.

Please call the church office if you are aware of someone who is to be hospitalized. This is especially important with the new rules now in place in hospitals regarding patient confidentiality. Please let Rev. Marks know, too, if you are aware of anyone in need of pastoral care of any kind.

Membership Classes-Rev. Marks will soon be contacting those who have expressed an interest in church membership. In the meantime, if you would like to become a church member, please let Rev. Marks know or call the church office.

Attention Potential Sunday School Teachers! Sunday, June 15th in Allerton Hall there will be an information and sign-up table for those who would like to teach next year (or even think they would like to). Come find out about this important and vibrant ministry. Our Church School Needs You!

The Last Adult Bible Study and Lunch Bunch meetings will be Monday evening June 9th at 7:00 P.M. and Tuesday, June 10th at noon respectively. Scripture to be discussed is Mark 2:23-3:35.

Though May has passed, Heifer Project continues to receive your donations. Checks may be made out to H.P.I. and sent to the church office. Also, on June 28 from 11:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. and June 29, from Noon-5:00 P.M., Heifer International's Overlook Farm in Rutland, MA will host its annual International Fair held rain or shine. There is a $2.00 per person admission charge. Overlook is located at 216 Wachusett St., Rutland, MA. For more information call (508) 888-2221.

End of the year Youth Fellowship Outing to SIX FLAGS will be June 23rd. Chaperones Needed. If interested call Rev. Dan in the church office or e-mail him at Danspacek@yahoo.com.

The Church of the Pilgrimage Annual Golf Tournament June 14 @ Squirrel Run Country Club- 1 P.M. shot gun start--cost of $75--includes golf and dinner, choice of chicken/rib combo or fillet of sole. Even if you don't golf, come to dinner at 5 pm and join in the fun. Dinner only is $16. Last Sunday for sign-ups is June 8. If you have signed up but not paid, please pay on Sunday. Please consider supporting this major fundraiser any way you can. call Ed Pawlowski @ 508-746-2819.

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. Thank you, Debby Porter.

The Summer Sale will open on Tuesday, July 1, 2003. Donated items will be received beginning Monday, June 16 in the morning between 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. in the Church House. There will be two sorting rooms, one for household goods and toys and one for clothing and linens. Remember that all donations should be in good and clean condition, or new. A team of volunteers will host this indoor sale Monday-Friday morning in July and through the better part of August.

Our new hymnal: Your committee has been busy researching the hymns we voted to include in our supplement to Hymns of Truth and Light. We have talked to the publisher and to the printer and begun to write for copyright permission on the seven hymns under protection. We have the words and music of 16 of the 29 hymns we will include and will shortly send the remaining 13 to the printer. Please ask Louise Brown or Bill Harting for the latest news.

I would like to publicly thank the members of the Bylaw Review Committee for their very productive deliberations during the past year. Discussions of issues were thorough and final proposals were made after all sides of the issues were discussed. I am pleased that the membership endorsed our work without objection and credit goes to the following committee members for very well thought out proposals: Debbie Porter, Richard Lancaster, Jerry Chaskes and Doug Post. It was my pleasure to work with you.
Paul A. Scheid, Chair of the Bylaw Review Committee

Thank you to Annalene Strachan and Thelma Strassel for filling in as greeters on June 1.

Time/Talent/Dinner Report: Many thanks to all who participated in a great evening of fun and fellowship last Friday at the Time and Talent dinner. Special appreciation to those who worked so hard on the dinner, which was homemade from baked beans to apple pie through the efforts of Debbie Porter, Pat Mudgett and Alice Heckman with master chef Tom Healy in charge of the kitchen. It was really great. We had a wonderful attendance and our illustrious auctioneer Ed Pawlowski managed to convince the bidders to part with a record sum of $3700.00. Our expenses were under $100.00 as much of the food was donated. We are really grateful to all who contributed in any way, those who donated items, those who purchased them and those who helped in other ways. If you were unable to attend, please consider coming next year in the spring. It was great fun. Diana Budge. (P.S. If you would still like to bid on an item and were not able to attend, we have several dinners and a day at a private beach on West Pond for 10 people still available. Call me at 508-746-4514 for details).

Harvest Fair: A basket will be placed inside the door to Allerton Hall to receive any "dress up" clothes that you may like to contribute to our Photo Studio for the fair. Hats, gloves, costume jewelry, high heels, costumes and fancy dresses in relatively small sizes will be helpful. We hope to provide the children an opportunity to dress up and have their pictures taken on Fair Day.

Attic Treasure Table for the Fair: Reminder-this year, because of space constraints, we will be confining our items on this table to glassware and decorative items. We need to make room for some different tables and are trying to limit those things that take up more room. Please keep Gerry Allen in mind as you clean your cupboards.

Coming Events

June 15: Youth Sunday

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.