Dear Friends,

Winter is cold and long! I think I shall have little argument in making that statement during the winter of 2003-2004. The bitter cold accompanied by brisk winds of a week ago made being outside, even for brief periods, a painful experience, as we all know. The weather this winter had made those T.V. commercials showing warm and sunny places almost objects of longing for me.

A nice thing to recall, however, is that even though the cold has been extreme, the amount of daylight has been increasing steadily. Since the winter solstice on December 21st the sun has been showing more of itself during each twenty-four hour period. This may be a consolation not much noticed nor appreciated during the current winter.

Last summer (oh happy word)! My son Jonathan and I visited an ancient "entry tomb" at New Grange in Ireland. That 5,000 year old Stone Age edifice is so designed that the sun on the solstice reaches the cruciform interior of that ancient temple, and only on that date does the sun fully illuminate the interior. It is an amazing thing to have a fact of antiquity which reveals such a precise understanding of the heavenly movements and such a reverence for the lengthening days which begins on December 21st. The ancient Irish, the Celts, loved the sun!

Jon and I visited other such ancient tombs on our trip, one named Lough Crew where the sun illuminates the inside of that smaller edifice twice a year on the solstice and the equinox. We even had a key to that remote tomb which gave us access to the passage way leading to the holy interior. For a time we were there alone in the presence of 5,000 years of holy pilgrimage of which we were a living part. It was, beyond the meaning given to it in contemporary usage, awesome!

Since Christmas I've been reading a book whose geographical location in Skeilig Michael. (I've mentioned that holy place a few times)! The book is entitled Sun Dancing authored by Geoffrey Moorhouse. The early Celtic Christians (5th-9th centuries, roughly) maintained a reverence for the sun as a divine presence and assimilated a sort of "nature worship" into their own Christian expression of faith. During this cold winter, yet recognizing the lengthening amount of sun during our frigid days, I am including the ancient "sun prayer" recited by our ancient Christian Celtic forebears.

The eye of the great God,
The eye of the God of glory
The eye of the King of hosts,
The eye of the King of living,
Pouring upon us
At each time and season,
Pouring upon us
Gently and generously.
Glory to thee,
Thou glorious sun.
Glory to thee, thou sun,
Face of the God of life."

Be grateful! The day is dawning! Faith warms the soul!

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: Barbara and Sheldon Peavey

The Pulpit Flowers are in loving memory of Gerda and Wadsworth Savery given by the family.

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

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

Confirmands and Mentors: Please meet at the Church House at 3:30 P.M. to carpool to Cambridge for the Contemporary Jazz Service.

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.

CHURCH RECORD

Recuperating: Helen Belcher, Newfield House; Patti Shirley at home following a brief hospitalization.

Baptism:
On January 18, 2004, Abigale Catherine Nutting, daughter of Thomas and Kristen (MacAllister) Nutting, was baptized during the worship service.

In Memoriam:
On January 17, 2004, Rev. Marks conducted a funeral service for John G. Robinson. Our sympathies are extended John's wife, Marie, and to his family.

THIS WEEK

Sunday, Jan. 25: 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. 26: Rev. Dan's office hours 10:30 A.M.-12:30 P.M.; Aerobics, 9:00 A.M. in Allerton Hall; Girl Scout Tr. 1128, 4:00 P.M. in Church House; Adult Bible Study, 7:00 P.M. in Church House.

Tuesday, Jan. 27: Rev. Marks will be in the church office, 9:30-11:30 A.M. Rev. Dan's office hours 10:00 A.M.-Noon; Lunch Bunch, Noon in Allerton Hall; Aerobics, 6:30 P.M. in Allerton Hall; Advisory Board Meeting, 7:00 P.M. in the Church House.

Wednesday, Jan. 28: 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; Christian Ed Committee Meeting, at 6:00 P.M. at Laura Curtin's house.

Thursday, Jan. 29: 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. 30: Aerobics, 9:00 A.M. in AH; Rev. Marks' office hours 9:30-11:30 A.M.

Saturday, Jan. 31

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- The second in a series of three new membership classes will be held on Sunday, January 25th from 11:30 A.M.-12:30 P.M. in the Pastor's Study in the church building. If you were not able to attend the first session, please feel free to attend the second class. Childcare will be provided. If you have questions about the classes, please call the church office and Rev. Marks will be in touch with you.

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.

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.

It was good to see a number of Pilgrimage people in attendance at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast on January 19th. If was a wonderful event held at Plymouth South High School. We are especially proud that Heather Sinn received the Essay Award for the senior high age group. Heather grew up in our church and her essay was wonderful. We thank Ken Heckman for making tickets available during recent coffee hours.

The No Place for Hate Committee in Plymouth is having a fundraiser event in cooperation with Papa Gino's restaurants. No Place for Hate will receive 20% from sales made on Thursday, February 5, 2004 from 4:00 - 9:00 P.M. at the West Plymouth Papa Gino's. A certificate may be received during the Coffee Hour on January 25th from Marylyn Dunlap. You must present a certificate in order for No Place for Hate to receive 20% donation from your purchases. The offer is good only at the West Plymouth Papa Gino's (corner of Rte. 80 in West Plymouth).

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.

The Pilgrimage Women's Fellowship will be meeting Monday, February 2nd at 7:00 P.M. for Movie Night in Allerton Hall. Please feel free to bring a guest! Reminder: If you are in need of a ride or any other special assistance in getting to the meeting, please feel free to call Jenny Healy at 508-747-7168 or Marna Blomberg at 781-826-2543. Thank you.

Stewardship Committee: The new Stewardship campaign is starting to take shape. Please look for our mailing to arrive soon with your pledge card and our letter. Our theme is "What Kind of people do we want to become?"

ATTENTION: Please reserve the evening of Saturday, February 28th for a Brown Bag Auction. We are planning a fun event for all those interested. Come and join us for appetizers, dessert and beverages. We are asking that you bring a paper bag containing an item of your choice. The bag should be sealed and the weight noted on the front. You will need to give a card describing the contents to the auctioneer for the night. (He is allowed to give hints). We will auction off the bags while enjoying each others company. Childcare will be provided and the cost will be minimal. Winter, after the holidays can be long and we need to get together and have some fun. Use your imagination for the bag contents and be creative. Sign ups will begin on the first Sunday in February. Details will be forthcoming.
Monday Evening Bible Study and Tuesday Lunch Bunch will resume on January 26 and January 27th. Please come prepared to discuss Part 4, Psalms of Sacred History.

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.

Our sympathies to Rosa Cook whose mother recently passed away.

Our Congratulations to Ann LaMere on the recent birth of her son, Aidan Louis LaMere. Ann is the niece of Pam and Ed Pawlowski.

COMING EVENTS

Feb. 1: Third New Member Class, 11:30 A.M.-12:30 P.M.
Feb. 3: Stewardship Committee Meeting, 7:00 P.M. in the Church House.
Feb. 8: Stewardship Sunday, Chest of Joash. Please bring your pledge cards to Church on this Sunday to place in the Chest. Reading: 2 Kings 12:1-15.

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.