Dear Friends,

Labor Day, 2003 has come and gone and school is back in session. Unofficially summer is past and as I write this letter it is rainy and cool for this date suggesting that summer is, indeed over. This day upon which school opens for the 2003-2004 season is odd in the Marks household, too. It is the first opening day of school in nearly a quarter of a century that one of the Marks brothers is not enrolled in a Plymouth school. That feels very odd and is a time of transition for us!

I am always of two minds about the ending of summer. I love summer and I've had a very good one in many ways, including my trip to Ireland with my son Jonathan.

On the other side of nostalgic feelings about the end of summer, I am exhilarated about the renewed and intensified activity at The Church of the Pilgrimage. After a very good August of services, pastoral duties, weddings, baptisms, office work, planning, etc. I actually look forward (in most ways) to an even more active schedule that the very active August one has been!

The Church of the Pilgrimage, spiritual parent for so many of us, is not only an active congregation, but one which is poised to accept the challenges and possibilities of the unchartered future. There is a good feeling, a vitality, about us that can be felt and people not intimately familiar with our congregation can see and appreciate. We are in a "good place" right now, a church characterized by basically positive feelings about itself. We must build upon what we finally have, keep our focus upon the gospel and its mission and we shall know the rich promises of our biblical faith. I honestly believe that when we positively accept our challenges with faithful goals and aspirations in mind that the Lord will provide us with what we need for the pilgrimage into the future.

I mentioned in my sermon last Sunday that I have had what I have been calling a "focusing experience", in fact, a deeply "holy" experience which has revived my focus in life and ministry. That "focusing experience" occurred for me during my visit to a remote sixth century monastic enclosure on a 714' rock off the Kerry coast in Ireland. The insight I felt there could have happened anywhere, but it has given me a sense and need to keep my gaze upon the faith and to try to dismiss issues and attitudes which are negative, banal and of little significance. It does no good for God's kingdom to be selfish in our personal needs for influence or power. What counts, what edifies, what is good and acceptable to God is that we keep our focus fixed upon the gifts of the Spirit which want joyfully to play among the events of our individual and congregational lives.

It is a very good thing to rejoice in the work God gives us to do, even when the summer turns toward fall!

Love,

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

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

Greeters: The McNicholas Family.

The Pulpit Flowers are in loving memory of our parents, given by the Armstrongs.

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

Bible Story/Craft Hour downstairs in Allerton Hall for grades 3 and under following their dismissal from the worship service. Older children are to remain in worship.

Greeters are needed for September 21 and 28 and all of October. Please call the church office to volunteer to greet or look for the sign-up sheet on the coffee hour counter. Coffee Hour: Please sign up for coffee hour for the month of September. In order to maintain this tradition, volunteers are needed!

Rev. Dan has a new cell phone # (781) 413-6794.

Church School Registration Sunday, September 14, 2003 at 9:30 A.M. in the Church House. Includes pre-school - confirmation. Children will remain in the Church House during worship.

Office Hours: M-F 8:45 A.M.-3:45 P.M.

CHURCH RECORD

Hospitalized:
Recuperating: Joanne Birnstein is recuperating after a stay at The Jordan Hospital.

Baptism:
On August 31, 2003, Stefan Andre Pedicone, son of Edward and Dominique (Michaud) Pedicone was baptized during the service of worship.

Wedding:
On August 30, 3002, Rev. Marks conducted a wedding service for Thomas Lamar Whiddon and Amy Leah Bishop in the church sanctuary.

THIS WEEK

Sunday, Sept. 7: Morning Worship 10:00 A.M., Rev. Marks preaching. Communion will be a part of the service. Plymouth Philharmonic Concert in the sanctuary, 7:00 P.M.

Monday, Sept. 8: Aerobics, 9:00 A.M. in Allerton Hall; Rev. Dan's office hours 10:00 A.M. - Noon; Women's Fellowship Dinner 6:30 P.M. in Allerton Hall (see notes); Room to Grow Orientation, 7:00 P.M. in the Church House.

Tuesday, Sept. 9: Rev. Marks' office hours 9:30-11:30 A.M.; Rev. Dan's office hours 10:00 A.M. - Noon; Aerobics, 6:45 P.M. in Allerton Hall; Joint Meeting of the Advisory Bd. and Bd. of Trustees at 7:00 P.M. in the Mayflower Room.

Wednesday, Sept. 10: 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; Habitat for Humanity meeting, 7:00 P.M. in the Mayflower Room; 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, Sept. 11: 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, 6:45 P.M. in Allerton Hall; Membership and Evangelism Meeting 7:00 P.M. in the Mayflower Room.

Friday, Sept. 12: Rev. Marks' office hours, 9:30 A.M.-11:30 A.M.; The Guild will meet at Noon in Allerton Hall. Rev. Marks will be the speaker; Creative Memories, 6:00 P.M. in Allerton Hall; Wedding Rehearsal in the sanctuary, 6:30.

Saturday, Sept. 13: Wedding 5:30 P.M. in the sanctuary.

PLEASE NOTE

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-On September 21st the first of a services of three membership classes will be held following morning worship. The classes will be led by Rev. Marks and will be one hour in length, 11:30 A.M.-12:30 P.M. A number of people had indicated an interest in church membership last spring when scheduling complications caused a delay in offering the classes until now. If you have spoken to Rev. Marks previously about membership, please do so again or call the church office to indicate your interest. We very much want to welcome you into the Pilgrimage family!

We thank members of the Advisory Board for assisting in the pulpit and during baptisms in August. We also thank all who provided Crib Room services and Craft and Story Hours during August. Your help has been greatly appreciated!

Looking for Adults to assist as advisors and program developers for Youth Fellowship. If interested please call Rev. Dan in the church office.

The Flower Committee announces that there is an opening for pulpit flowers on September 21, 2003. Please call Judy Mitchell at (508) 746-3959 to reserve a date to honor your loved ones with flowers. Thank you.

ATTENTION: The Tuesday Night Knitting Group will be held on Thursday, September 11th this month only, due to a joint meeting of the Advisory Board and Board of Trustees on Tuesday evening. All are welcome. If you would like to learn or are a proficient knitter and would like to share the evening with those of like interest, please join us. It is an opportunity for fellowship and a chance to develop new friendships.

The first meeting of the Guild is September 12, 2003 at noon. It will be a potluck luncheon. Rev. Marks will be the guest speaker.

The Women's Fellowship will kick off the year with an Italian potluck dinner on Monday, September 8 at 6:30 P.M. (Note the time change). 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. Along with a business meeting we will be welcoming Alba Thompson as a guest speaking on ethnic groups in Plymouth. 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.

The Sanctuary Choir will begin rehearsing on Wednesday, September 3rd at 7:30 in the Sanctuary. I hope you can come! Our first "Choir Sunday" will be this Sunday, September 7th. I can't wait to get back into the swing of things! I'm thrilled to report that Chandler Gregg will be with us on many of the Sundays in September and October as our substitute organist until a permanent organist can be found. It is such a pleasure to work with someone with his talent and experience. God bless, and I hope to see you on Wednesday, Bill Richter

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! Due to the demand for tickets, the MACUCC Amistad Celebration Day has changed pavilions and tour times. The celebration will be held at Fleet Boston Pavillion. We will be requesting group tickets for the last tour of the day, which departs at 3:30 p.m. We will leave our Church that day around 1:45 P.m. Tickets are $5.00 for adults and $3.00 for children ages 12 and under. Don't miss this great opportunity to celebrate our history with this ship!

Habitat for Humanity: This is an invitation to join Habitat for Humanity of Greater Plymouth in constructing our first home in Plymouth. A meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 10 at the Church of the Pilgrimage at 7;00 p.m. to begin the process. We need to establish local volunteers to undertake a significant part of the project. We encourage anyone interested in helping to attend this meeting. Some of the volunteer opportunities are on the following committees: Building and construction, fund raising, volunteer coordination, and publicity. We anticipate getting the project underway this Fall, and if all goes well, the work of the local committees would be completed by next Spring or Summer. Join us and learn more about the organization and how it helps local families who need affordable homes, and perhaps become a volunteer. Nancy Morse.

Church Directories have arrived! Please check Allerton Hall for a table to pick up your free directory if you had your photo taken by Olan Mills. Additional directories will be for sale. The price will be posted on Sunday.

Harvest Fair Drawing is about to begin! Although the drawing itself does not take place until Fair day, most of the money is made in advance when all of you who are willing, take tickets to sell and/or buy for yourselves. Please plan on visiting our Drawing Coordination Table downstairs in Allerton Hall during coffee hour starting Sunday, September 7th. The Committee will be distributing tickets 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 for your support, Marna Blomberg and Tom Mudgett (Co-Chairs, Drawing).

Our New Hymnal: Our 32-page supplement to Hymns of Truth and Light is just about finished. The printer has returned proofs of our final corrections to us, and has forwarded the supplement to the publisher for their final review. The publisher will shortly be sending the church a printing contract. We'll have an announcement later in September about how to purchase bookplates and dedicate hymnals.

The Crib Room schedule begins this week, September 7th. Copies of the schedule will be available as well as an updated copy of volunteer responsibilities, new CORI forms, registration forms, and a photo release form. Following the service, there will be a brief meeting for volunteers to go over a few key points related to children's health and safety in the crib room. If you cannot stay or will not be in church that day, please make a point of seeing me or calling me for details. Thank you. Jenny Healy (508) 747-7168.

Coming Events

Sept. 16: The Board of Trustees will meet in the Mayflower Room, 7:00 P.M.
Sept. 21: Habitat for Humanity 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.