Dear Friends,

One of my favorite scenes from the movie "Good Will Hunting" occurs near the end, after Will has left to "see about a girl" in California. His friends, as they do every morning, stop by Will's house to pick him up to go to work. But this time Will isn't there. And as the friends realize what has happened (most notably Ben Affleck), you see one of them (Casey Affleck) jump from the back seat of the car to the front. And in this simple act we witness a new empowerment, a sense of stepping up, of saying, "Alright, now it's my turn." Will is gone, so it is appropriate that someone moves into his spot.

Though all of us look forward to Gary's return in a way that Will's friends didn't anticipate his, in many ways this scene captures how this past month has felt to me. In Gary's absence, I have been afforded the opportunity to step up and more fully taste what it's like to be in the front seat; this has included leading worship, more fully attending to the immediate spiritual needs of the church, conducting a wedding, preparing multiple sermons, writing a pastoral letter, etc. It has been an intensive and wonderful time of learning - nerve-racking and difficult in spots, surprisingly graced and joyful in others.

Clearly, it can be painful when we are stretched to be more than we have been before. No matter how exciting growth may appear, there is always some element of risk, of pain, of letting go. Standing before my family for the first time as a minister reminded me of this reality. For the most part, I was happy to have them visit, but there were also times during the week prior that I dreaded them coming. In the end I found comfort in the words of Jeremiah when he voices his apprehension about being called as a prophet of God. He says, "Good God, I cannot do this! For I am only a boy and I don't know how to speak."
To which God responds, "Do not say, 'I am only a boy;' for you shall go to all to whom I send you, and you shall speak whatever I command you. Do not be afraid, for I am with you to deliver you."

Many of us know the fear with which Jeremiah speaks. We know how hard it is to step up and accept a call - regardless of whether that call is as grand as being God's prophet, or as simple as moving up to the front seat. Even in the midst of our fear, we would do well to remember that God is with us, and will deliver us. When we hear God and we speak, the words we say are not our own, but God's. In heeding the call we do not act of our own accord, but as inspired by God. Therefore, God will empower us to do what is required of us, despite our fears and perceived limitations.

Although the movie never explicitly mentions God, there is something transcendent about Will Hunting's decision to break free from his past pain in order to grow into a new and uncertain future. There is also something bold and inspiring about his friend's move to the front seat. Each broke a mold, and moved into a new way of being. May each of us, in our own way, dare to break the mold, so to speak. And as we grow into the people whom God calls us to be may we always know God's loving, sustaining, delivering presence.

Love,

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

SUNDAY WORSHIP

All Sunday Worship Services will be held at 10:00 AM. The Order of Worship will be listed in the Bulletin, which will be distributed by the ushers. Crib Room care is available for infants and toddlers downstairs in the Mayflower Room during the Worship Hour.

There will be no regular Church School classes until fall. Younger children, 3rd grade and under, are invited to attend a Bible Story/Craft Hour downstairs in Allerton Hall following their dismissal from the worship service. Older children are to remain in worship.

Sunday, August 3, 2003
The Rev. Dan Spacek will be preaching today.
Holy Communion will be a part of this morning's service.
Deacon: Trace Sears
Special Music: Lois Post, organist, Gloria Johnson, vocalist
The pulpit flowers are in loving memory of Barbara Burgess given by her church family.
Ushers: Marna and John Blomberg and Chuck and Patricia Harper
Greeters: Jon and Deb Porter

Sunday, August 10, 2003
The Rev. Gary Marks will be preaching today.
Deacon: Trace Sears
Special Music: Maureen Hague, pianist/organist, vocalist to be announced.
The pulpit flowers are in loving memory of Sara, daughter and sister and Floyd Marks, father and grandfather given by the Marks family.
Ushers: Arlene Axford, Shirley Axon, Janie Chapman and Katherine Lafayette
Greeters: Jean and Hector Patenaude

Sunday, August 17, 2003
The Rev. Gary Marks will be preaching today.
Deacon: Trace Sears
Special Music: Chandler Gregg, organist, vocalist to be announced
The pulpit flowers are in loving memory of the McLeans and Frank and Margaret Bent given by Marsha Reed.
Ushers: Paul Scheid, Hildegard Schimpf, Alice and Ken Heckman
Greeters: Diane and Dave Cowie

Sunday, August 24, 2003
The Rev. Peter Gomes will be preaching today.
Deaconness: Linn Peterson
Special Music: Chandler Gregg, organist, Maureen Hague, soloist
The pulpit flowers are
Ushers: John Peterson
Greeters: Jen, Tom, Nora and William Healy

Sunday, August 31, 2003
The Rev. Gary Marks will be preaching today.
Deaconess Linn Peterson
Special Music: Chandler Gregg, organist, soloist to be announced
The pulpit flowers are in loving memory of Winnifred and Karl Chaskes given by Mr. and Mrs. Jerome Chaskes.
Ushers: Al and Verna Hoyt
Greeters: Linda and David Kegel

PLEASE NOTE

The Ministers' Summer Vacation Schedule:
Rev. Marks will be returning to the pulpit on August 10 and Rev. Dan Spacek will be on vacation from August 4 through August 31.

The Summer Sale continues in the Church House and will run daily from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM through August 22nd. Be sure to stop in and browse. There is something for everyone!

From the Collector: Offering Envelopes for the new fiscal year are available to all who made a pledge. The envelopes are on the window ledge on the east side of Allerton Hall. If you have not picked up your envelopes, please do so! Also, Pledge Statements have been mailed out. If you have any questions about your statements please contact Tom Mudgett at (508) 224-7296. Thank you.

Please inform the church office of recent graduations, weddings, etc. We like to honor and keep track of our young people as they attain significant events in their lives. Let us know!

A Note from the Memorial Fund Committee: An additional directory has been posted by the Anniversary Quilt in Allerton Hall which explains the meanings of the symbols on the Quilt and identifies the contributors. Thanks to Marylyn Colburn, and Gary Marks for the information and to Pat Patenaude for the beautiful frame.

The Flower Committee has an opening for pulpit flowers on August 24. Please call Kathy Marks at (508) 224-6231 (Bloody Pond) or the church office.

Special thanks to Greeters for the month of July!

Thank you to all who ushered for the month of July!

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION COMMITTEE will hold its first meeting on Wednesday, August 27, 2003 at 7:00 P.M. in the Mayflower Room.

ORIENTATION FOR CHURCH SCHOOL TEACHERS will take place on Wednesday, September 3rd in Allerton Hall.

HARVEST FAIR: We are moving closer to the date for the Harvest Fair, which is scheduled, this year, for the last Sunday in October as usual. Please keep this event in mind as we prepare for our largest fundraiser of the year. We can use help on the day of the fair and would appreciate any volunteers especially for the luncheon and help with the children's activities.
Calico Corner: Do you sew? This table would welcome any fabric items such as aprons, pillows, children's dresses, table linens, etc. Do not confine yourself to the above suggestions but feel free to be creative. See or call Julie Macuch at (508) 747-5435 if you can help or if you have an idea that she can use.
Holiday Table: Betty Sander could use some help with creative projects for this table. Are you crafty? We can use Xmas decorations, centerpieces for Thanksgiving, etc. Anything related to holidays throughout the year is welcome. Call Betty at (508) 746-1145.
American Girl Doll Table: Do you like to make doll clothes? We plan a table exclusively for this purpose this year. Call Marylyn Colburn at (508) 746-8690 or Laura Sampson at (508) 746-2700 if you are interested in helping.
Harvest Fair Drawing: The Harvest Fair is rapidly approaching as is our Drawing. Please plan to visit the Drawing Coordination Table downstairs in Allerton Hall during coffee hour starting Sunday, September 7th. The Committee will be distributing tickets to those willing to sell them, along with brochures. If you cannot attend on the 7th, we will be available during coffee hour each Sunday leading up to the fair. Thank you, Marna Blomberg and Tom Mudgett (Co-Chairs, Drawing).

ANNOUNCEMENT: THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES announces an opportunity for members of the congregation to participate in the life of the church in a meaningful way. We would like to establish several teams of workers to care for various aspects of the church property. To that end, there will be sigh-up sheets during the month of September after church service on Sundays in Allerton Hall. We will need volunteers to care for the Memorial Garden (area next to the church), the parsonage grounds and the grounds around the church house. Three different groups of 6-7 individuals would not put the burden on too few people. We need to find ways to help defray the costs of hiring out these services. As we all know, finances are tight and every project that can be done by volunteers is a savings for us all. The sexton, Tony Nightingale has tried to keep up with some of this in the past but does not have enough time beyond his regular duties to take on a major responsibility like this and we cannot "hire out" on a regular basis to keep these properties in reasonable shape. This is our church property and we all need to pitch in. Please consider how you can help.

The Tuesday Night Knitting Group will not meet formally during July and August but anyone is free to call me if you have particular problems that I can help with over the summer. We will resume our meetings on the second Tuesday of September. Diana Budge (508) 746-4514.

Our New Hymnal: We are well along in preparing our supplement to the Hymns of Truth and Light. We have completed applying for copyright permissions and have completed proofreading the music and words of all the hymns in our planned supplement. The printer will have the final versions early in August, and we expect by the end of the month to have signed our purchase contract with the publisher.
There remains an important job. The church owns about 300 copies of the old and beloved Pilgrim Hymnal: how can we best recycle them when the new hymnal arrives some time next spring? Please offer suggestions (you may put them in the Music Committee mailbox in Allerton Hall).
In September we plan to begin a campaign to encourage members of the congregation to buy bookplates to have affixed inside new hymnals to honor or dedicate to loved ones, and to gift those hymnals to the church.
-- Bill Harting and Louise Brown, hymnal committee.

The first meeting of the Guild is September 12, 2003. It will be a potluck luncheon.
The Women's Fellowship will kick off the year with a potluck dinner on Monday, September 8 at 6:00 P.M. Please bring a dish according to the first letter of your last name: appetizers or salads A-H, main dishes I-R, desserts S-Z. A theme for the dinner will be announced in the next Herald. Women's Fellowship would like to extend an invitation to new and reticent members to join our group for a monthly meeting of spirituality, service and socializing. We meet on the first Monday of every month. If you would like to know more about what we do or who we are, feel free to call Marna (781-826-2543) or Jenny (508-747-7168) or find us at coffee hour. Thank you.

Missions and Outreach Committee: The final total of $2,550.00 has been contributed to Heifer Project International. Thank you for your generous support!

The Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra will present a concert by OperaFest on Sunday evening, September 7, 7:00 P.M. at The Church of the Pilgrimage. OperaFest, directed by Donna Roll, is a summer touring program for students preparing for careers in opera. Ms. Roll brings several "stars" from her program to present this concert of art songs, opera selections and music from the Broadway stage. Tickets are $20.00-call (508) 746-8008. All proceeds benefit the Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra's 2003-2004 concert season.

The Plymouth Council on Aging is in need of drivers for Meals on Wheels deliveries both on a permanent as well as on an add-needed basis. If you could spare a couple of A.M. hours, the Plymouth seniors would really appreciate your help. Please contact Gail at the Council on Aging at (508) 830-4230 any weekday morning to learn more about the program. Thank you.

A note from the Stewardship Committee: We know many of us go on vacation during the summer months. Please remember to mail you pledge to the church office if you are not going to be in church. You could mail it in weekly or send a check once a month. The Church counts on your pledges to meet the budget. Thank you!

Summer Hours: M-F from 9:00 A.M.-1:00 P.M. I will be out of the office the second week in August from 8/9-8/16 for our annual family vacation to Point Sebago. If you have an emergency please leave a message for Rev. Marks at Ext. 11. If not, please leave me a voice mail and I will contact you upon my return.

Summer Hours: M-F from 9:00 A.M.-1:00 P.M. The church secretary will be taking some vacation days during the month of July. I will put a notice in the Sunday Bulletins as to when I am taking a day off and the Chair of The Board of Trustees will be notified in advance. Please call the office to make sure I am here before coming in. There will be a message on my voice mail. In addition, I will be out of the office the second week in August from 8/9-8/16 for our annual family vacation to Point Sebago.

VOLUNTEERS

We are in need of Sunday Greeters! Greeters are needed for the month of September. Please call the church office at (746-3026) to volunteer to greet or look for a sign-up sheet at the Coffee Hour Table. Thank you, Pam.

Coffee hour volunteers are needed for the coming month of September. Coffee hour after Sunday worship is an important part of the life of our fellowship. We need your help. You will find a sign-up sheet in Allerton Hall. Please sign-up.

Craft and Story Hour During the Summer: Volunteers are needed for craft and story hour during August. Please contact Rev. Dan Spacek for details.

REMINDER: Please turn in information for the September 7th Newsletter by August 25, 2003.

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.