Dear Friends,

Last Sunday the focus of the service of worship was the baptism of Jesus. The reading upon which my sermon was based was Luke 3:15-22. In that account, one that differs in interesting details from the other Gospels, Jesus came to the preacher John to the Jordan River with others to be baptized, not alone. Reluctantly John, who was the forerunner of the Messiah (Christ), received Jesus in baptism and later while at prayer the meaning of Jesus' life and ministry began to crystallize.

I ended my sermon last Sunday with a quotation of words used at Lindisfarne (Holy Island) during services when pilgrims renew their own baptismal vows at that holy place. About three years ago I visited Lindisfarne which is off the coast of England and has been a Celtic monastic setting since the sixth century founded by a holy man named Aiden. I was deeply moved to be in that ancient holy place where generations of Christians have made pilgrimage to seek what Jesus sought, among other things, when he was baptized by John: they have sought the power and presence of the Spirit of God to inform themselves of their own holy vocation. They have searched for the purpose and direction of their lives in the context of their own baptismal vows. Contrary to the secular trends of the world of which we are all a part, more people than in recent decades are seeking out sacred places like Holy Island to equip themselves for following Jesus' way as their own.

Several people spoke positively about the words used for the renewal of baptismal vows at Lindisfarne (Holy Island). I've decided to share them here for your own prayerful considerations:

I call all heaven to witness today that I have put on Christ.
I choose no other Lord than the Maker of heaven and earth.
This day I walk with Him and He will walk with me.
I fasten close to me this day that same Jesus who came to us
as flesh and blood and was Himself baptized in the Jordan River.
He died upon a cross to rescue me, broke free from death, its conqueror.
He left us, to return the more certainly. All these truths and their power
I fasten close to me this day. Resisting my own selfishness and sin,
refusing to live as a slave to riches, pleasure or reputation,
rejecting Satan and all his lies, I call on heaven to witness today
that I have put on Christ. (In Celtic Daily Prayer, pp. 210-211)

For growing numbers of people these words are as equipment and gear for life's pilgrimage. They are that for me.

Love,

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

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

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

Greeters: Chuck, Heidi, Kaleigh & Meghan Redington

The Pulpit Flowers are in loving memory of Robert Walters, given by Kathleen.

The Flowers on the Right Side are in loving memory of Hope and Richard S. Cole, given by their daughters, Judith Page and family and Joanne Ball and family.

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

Parent helpers are needed for Grade 1 and Grade 2 &3 Church School classes. Please sign up to volunteer when dropping your child off.

New Member Class in the Pastor's Study, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Childcare will be provided.

Attention Confirmands and Mentors: The trip to Cambridge for the Contemporary Jazz Service has been changed from Jan. 18 to Jan. 25. Please meet at the Church House at 3:30 P.M. to carpool.

Volunteers are needed to sign up for Coffee Hour. Please look for the sign-up sheet on the coffee hour counter.

Greeters are needed for the month of February. Please call the church office to volunteer to greet or look for the sign-up sheet on the coffee hour counter

Office Hours: M-F 8:45 A.M.-3:45 P.M. Thursday's 8:30 A.M.-3:00 P.M. Office Closed on Monday, January 19, Martin Luther King Day.

CHURCH RECORD

Hospitalized: Helen Belcher, Virginia Morgan and John Talcott, Jordan Hospital

In Memoriam:
On January 9, 2004, Rev. Marks conducted a funeral service for Nancy L. Pinto. Our sympathies are extended to Nancy's husband, Michael, and her children Tony and Kathleen.

THIS WEEK

Sunday, Jan. 18: Morning Worship 10:00 A.M., Rev. Gary L. Marks will be preaching. New Members Class in the Pastor's Study, 11:30 A.M.-12:30 P.M. Childcare will be provided.

Monday, Jan. 19: Martin Luther King Day -OFFICE CLOSED. Martin Luther King Breakfast, 7:30-9:30 A.M. at Plymouth South High School.

Tuesday, Jan. 20: Rev. Marks will be in the church office, 9:30-11:30 A.M. Rev. Dan's office hours 10:00 A.M.-Noon; Aerobics, 6:30 P.M. in Allerton Hall; Board of Trustee's Meeting, 7:00 P.M. in the Church House.

Wednesday, Jan. 21: Aerobics, 9:00 A.M. in AH; Rev. Dan's office hours Noon-2:00 P.M.; Staff Meeting, 10:00 A.M; Choir Rehearsal, 7:30 P.M. in the Sanctuary; Troop 47, 7:00 P.M. in the Church House.

Thursday, Jan. 22: Rev. Dan's office hours, 10:00 A.M.-2:00 P.M.; Girl Scout Troop 1227, 6:00 P.M. in the CH; Aerobics, 6:30 P.M. in AH.

Friday, Jan. 23: Aerobics, 9:00 A.M. in AH; Rev. Marks' office hours 9:30-11:30 A.M.

Saturday, Jan. 24

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.

New Members Classes- Beginning on January 18th Rev. Marks will hold the first of three new member classes. The classes will be held on Sundays following morning worship and will last one hour, 11:30 A.M.-12:30 P.M. Childcare will be provided. If you are interested in becoming a church member, please speak to Rev. Marks or call the church office at (508) 746-3026.

Sponsors needed! If you would be interested in being a sponsor for new members of the church, please speak with Rev. Marks or call the church office. Being a sponsor means that a member of the church would be available to welcome new members, answer questions regarding our congregational and church family life, and generally demonstrate how important new members are to the congregation. Rev. Marks will offer his ideas about the role of a sponsor at a date to be announced.

A Reminder: Please remember to schedule all meeting dates and times with the church office. It is best not to assume that dates and times are available, even for those responsible for scheduling regular monthly meetings.

New hearing devices are available to those who need them. The aids to hearing will be available for purchase for those who wish their own. Their price, however, will not be an issue for those who need the aids. Debbie Porter will be available during the Coffee Hour to answer your questions and to distribute the first hearing devices. We are grateful for funds from the Vera Blood Estate for allowing the Board of Trustees to make major improvements to our sound system already in use in the sanctuary. We hope those who have had difficult hearing during worship services are already being helped by the most welcome improvements to our sound system.

If there are those interested in continuing the Wednesday night Prayer/Reflection Service, please speak to Rev. Marks or call the church office. For those who have not attended, the services are made up of Scripture and other readings and prayer. They are a brief time for meditation and prayer which those who have attended in the past have found to be a helpful contrast to the hassled lives we otherwise live. The average attendance at the half-hour sessions has been ten people. If there are ten people interested in enriching their spiritual lives, that is enough to begin the classes anew. The meditation sessions could also lead to other short-term spirituality classes. Let us know what you think.

Please note that Rev. Marks will be out of the office from February 16 through February 23, 2004. In addition, he will be out of the office May 14 through May 17, 2004. Reminders will periodically appear in the Herald of these dates.

Lending Library: There is now a bookcase in Allerton Hall filled with books for anyone to take and read. We hope that you will take advantage of the opportunity to both borrow and lends books as they become available. There is no charge and no obligation to return books if you would like to give them a permanent home. We do have a small collection of books for religious study in this bookcase and there are also many more in the cabinets of the Mayflower Room for anyone interested in serious study to borrow. We hope that many of you will take the opportunity to make use of our lending library and to add to it with books that you have enjoyed. The Board of Trustees.

Monday Evening Bible Study and Tuesday Lunch Bunch will resume on January 26 and January 27th.

The Missions & Outreach Committee has completed their financial commitment for the Habitat for Humanity house in Plymouth in the amount of $2,000.00. Also, the Missions & Outreach Committee will meet in February on the 11th at 7:00 in AH.

Happy 75th Birthday to Geraldine Allen from her family and her friends at The Church of the Pilgrimage. Gerry turns 75 on January 17th. Please remember to stop and wish Gerry a special happy birthday on Sunday, January 18 during coffee hour.

The Board of Trustees would like to thank everyone who has made a donation toward the staff gifts. If you have not had a chance but would still like to make a donation please make your check out to the Church and mark that it is to go towards the staff gifts. You can turn your donation in with your pledge or to Tom Mudgett, Deb Porter or Diana Budge. Thank you.

Beacon Hospice is seeking volunteers to provide supportive care to Hospice patients and their families who together are facing a life limiting illness. Volunteers are invited to participate in a comprehensive training program and are provided with on going support. For further information or to register, please contact Barbara Barry, Volunteer Coordinator, (508) 747-7222

Habitat for Humanity Fundraisers: There will be two opportunities to help raise funds for Habitat for Humanity and support the first house to be built in Plymouth. First, in February during school vacation week, February 15-21, 2004 many people will be needed to run the charity train at Independence Mall. There will be a sign-up sheet in Allerton Hall during coffee hour on the up-coming Sundays. Second, on Saturday, March 13, 2004 there will be an indoor yard sale at The Chiltonville Congregational Church from 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Again, many volunteers are needed. Please look for a sign-up sheet during coffee hour on the upcoming Sunday.

The Pilgrim District Women's Winter Meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 at the United Church of Christ in Abington, beginning at 9:30 a.m. The meeting lasts until 1:00 p.m. and is followed by a luncheon at 1:00. The cost of the lunch is $5.00. For reservations please call Judy Belcher at 1-781-878-7875 by Friday, January 23, 2004.

COMING EVENTS

Jan. 18: New Member Class, 11:30 A.M.-12:30 P.M. in the Church Building.
Jan. 19: Martin Luther King Breakfast (see notes).
Jan. 20: The Board of Trustees will meet in Church House, 7:00 P.M.
Jan. 25: New Member Class, 11:30 A.M.-12:30 P.M. in the Church Building.

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.