Dear Friends,

Sometimes I worry about how little people know about the Christian faith and the ethic which is implied in that faith. It becomes increasingly difficult in our secular world to educate people about our faith and, at times, we are even condemned for trying to relate the clear historic precedents of the Judeo/Christian faith in the formation of the American experiment. At times it seems that historical revisions and contemporary prejudices are uncritically accepted as though they are the truth of our history. While I have my own opinions about the much discussed case of Judge Roy Moore's display of The Ten Commandments in his Alabama court house, that case does raise interesting issues regarding our origins and the complex interpretations given to the doctrine of "separation of church and state."

My concerns, however, are that we as struggling faithful Christians do not become faint-hearted in our faith as we live in a religiously confused secular society. People are religious by nature, I believe. The trouble is that our religiosity has lost any kind of unifying focus. Religion and religions are everywhere and have many configurations, some, in my opinion, quite bizarre. I cite a case in point from England.

In England there seems to be a campaign to canonize Yoda. Yes, Yoda! Through a massive Internet lobbying campaign, enthusiasts from the movie Star Wars were able to convince Britain's census department to include "Jedi" as an official religion on census forms. It is amazing to me that 390,000 of the 52 million respondents to the 2001 census chose "Jedi" as their religion! (Source, The Washington Monthly, April 2003, 54).

I hope you begin to see the point I have too little space here to discuss. It is a time not of "no religion," but of severe religious confusion.

We have a grand and glorious tradition in The Church of the Pilgrimage and a part of that pilgrim tradition is that we never become afraid to address the Word of God to an ever changing world and culture no matter how secular they become. We have always accepted in our tradition that the world never stands still and, yet, that the Word of God has a way of bringing clarity and hope to any given time in history, no matter how confused any era becomes.

Therefore, we need to worship the God of the Bible, the God whom we believe to have been redeemingly present in the person Jesus of Nazareth 2000 years ago. We accept it to be the role of the contemporary church to bear witness to our faith by bold and unafraid witness to its truth which will bring to naught all forms of idolatry and pretentious, or silly, claims upon our well attested need for religion as a race. Our witness will, of course, need to be relevant to our time, and to future times, but living so does not mean that we separate ourselves from a merciful and graceful Creator and Redeemer who shall ever be God.

Love,

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

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

Greeters: Janet Holmes and Betsey Randall.

The Pulpit Flowers are in loving memory of Hermann Schimpf given by Hildegarde, Monica and family.

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

Greeters are needed for October 26 and all of November. Please call the church office to volunteer to greet or look for the sign-up sheet on the coffee hour counter.

There will be no Cherub Choir rehearsal this Sunday. There will be a rehearsal on October 5th.

Confirmation Class and parents meet in the Church House immediately after church on Sunday, September 28th.

Rev. Dan's Adult Bible Study and Lunch Bunch will be starting up again in October. In the fall a course on the Psalms will be offered, and during the month of December there will be an intensive Advent Course. More details to follow. Please let Rev. Dan know if you intend to join either class as resource books are required.

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

CHURCH RECORD

Recuperating: At home after a brief period of rehabilitation at the Beverly Manor Nursing Home, Billie Fry.

Weddings:
On September 19, 2003 Rev. Marks conducted a wedding service for Vito Joseph Capraro and Lindsay Jean Allan at the Indian Pond Country Club in Kingston.
On September 20, 2003 Rev. Marks conducted a wedding service for Vincent George Carey and Tracy Ann MacMillan in the church sanctuary.
On September 20, 2003 Rev. Marks conducted a wedding service for Stephen Daniel Curtis and Amy J. Bender in the church sanctuary.

THIS WEEK

Sunday, Sept. 28: Morning Worship 10:00 A.M., Rev. Marks preaching. There will be a special Habitat for Humanity Offering during the service. The second Church Membership Classes will be held from, 11:30 A.M.-12:30 P.M. (See "Notes"). Installation in Wollaston, Eccelesiastical Council, 3:00 P.M., Service of Installation, 4:00 P.M.

Monday, Sept. 29: Rev. Marks will meet with the Library Committee of the American Congregational Society at 14 Beacon Street; Aerobics, 9:00 A.M. in Allerton Hall; Rev. Dan's office hours 10:00 A.M. - Noon; Girl Scout Tr. 1128, 6:00 P.M. in Church House.

Tuesday, Sept. 30: Rev. Marks' office hours 9:30-11:30 A.M.; Rev. Dan's office hours 10:00 A.M. - Noon; Aerobics, 6:30 P.M. in Allerton Hall.

Wednesday, Oct. 1: The Plymouth Area Interfaith Council will meet at Christ Episcopal Church, 8:30 A.M; 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; 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, Oct. 2: Rev. Dan's office hours Noon-2:00P.M.; G.S. Tr. 1227, 4:00 P.M-5:30 P.M. in the Church House; Aerobics, 6:30 P.M. in Allerton Hall.

Friday, Oct. 3: Rev. Marks' office hours, 9:30 A.M.-11:30 A.M.; Wedding Rehearsal at 6:30 P.M. in the Sanctuary.

Saturday, Oct. 4: Creative Memories in Allerton Hall, 11:00 A.M.-3:00 P.M.; Wedding in the Sanctuary, 3:00 P.M.

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-The second membership classes will be held following morning worship and will be one hour in length, 11:30 A.M.-12:30 P.M. in the Pastor's Study. If you are interested in membership but were unable to attend the first class, please feel free to attend the second class.

Gary and Kathy Marks will be away on the weekend of October 12th to visit their son, Robbie, who is in his first year of college at Transylvania University in Lexington, Kentucky.

The Board of Trustees has voted that no meetings will take place in the Mayflower Room. That room is for the crib room only. All meetings are to take place in either the Church House Bldg. or Allerton Hall. Please call the office to schedule a meeting room and please call Lillian Knowles to obtain a key to the Church House building.

Come Visit the Amistad Freedom Schooner on October 25, 2003. If you are interested in learning more about this ship or signing up to go as a group please sign-up at Coffee Hour during the month of September!

The Crop Walk is November 2nd. Join us for this fun and worthwhile event. Call Rev. Dan if you would like to walk or volunteer on walk day. See insert to learn about Crop Walk!

The Crib Room roster is growing. In order to provide a safe place for our little ones we are looking for just a few more volunteers. Volunteers are part of a four-person team that staffs the crib room on a six week rotation. If you can help please call Jenny Healy at (508) 747-7168.

Habitat for Humanity: Help build some hope today! September 28, 2003 there will be a special collection for Habitat for Humanity along with a special coffee hour presentation. This will be an opportunity to financially support the building of a Habitat home in Plymouth on Brayley Lane. The family selected for the home has 4 children, one of which has cystic fibrosis and the father is handicapped. Groundbreaking for the home is set for October 4! Please help out in any way you can. The Missions Committee.

The church extends its congratulations to Thelma Strassel who celebrated her 90th birthday last week. Thelma was our church's secretary for more than thirty years and, in fact, was our church's first secretary. Thelma was honored during a special Coffee Hour on September 21st.

A note of thanks from Thelma Strassel. I wish to thank all who worked at planning and those who attended the special coffee hour honoring me on my 90th birthday. It was wonderful to receive hugs and kisses from everyone. Everything was just great the cake, flowers, balloons, and being serenaded by all of you. I feel so fortunate to belong to such a caring and loving church family. Thank you, Thelma!

Harvest Fair Drawing. The selling of tickets is underway! If you have not already done so, please plan to visit the Drawing Coordination Table downstairs in Allerton Hall during coffee hour. Committee members will be available every Sunday through October 19th to distribute tickets for you to sell, collect ticket stubs and money from those tickets sold, as well as to distribute more tickets as needed. We want to remind you that this year, the tickets come in books of six. Tickets are either $1 each or 6 for $5.00! Thank you for your continued support, Marna Blomberg and Tom Mudgett (Co-Chairs, Drawing).

Harvest Fair News: As we prepare for our biggest fund-raiser of the year, please keep in mind the many ways that you can help make it a success. You need not be particularly crafty. It is more important that you be willing helpers. There are many areas that can use your help. Are you available on the afternoon of Friday, October 24th? If you are, help will be appreciated setting up for the dinner dance that night. Can you volunteer to help serve the dinner? We are blessed with two experienced chefs for the occasion but they cannot be expected to do it all. Peter McLeod and Tom Healey will be preparing dinner but two or three more people would be welcome to help serve and clean up after dinner. Everyone usually pitches in on cleanup, so you will not be alone.

Fair day offers another opportunity for getting involved. If you can spare a few hours to help out at a table, let me know. Above all, come and support this effort with your purchases. We guarantee good buys.

This year the children's corner will feature face painting, cookie decorating and an opportunity to have your picture taken in "dress up" clothes. Call Liisa Budge if you can volunteer your time to help with the children and be sure to visit the jewelry table at the foot of the stairs for some lovely handmade bead necklaces and earrings.

Are you crafty? If you are and enjoy making decorations for the holidays, Betty and Kristen Sander would welcome your additions to their Holiday Table. Xmas, Thanksgiving and Halloween items would be most appreciated.

This year a new table will provide you with a piece of cake and a recipe for it for a minimal charge. Judi Besegai is responsible for this table, so if you are interested in submitting your favorite cake and are willing to include the recipe, both would be welcome.

Again this year we will have a MYSTERY BOX of at least $100 value for a special drawing. For a donation of $2.00, you may be a winner. Take a chance and help the church as well.

For telephone numbers of individual table leaders please call me at (508) 746-4514. Diana Budge

There will be a Candlelight Interfaith Vigil on October 16, 2003 at 7:00 P.M. at the First Parish Church of Plymouth honoring victims of domestic violence.

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.