Dear Friends,

Happy New Year! I am writing this letter while it is still 2003, but by the time you read it 2004 will have been ushered in with all the attendant parties and gaiety. Most of you will have returned gifts which didn't fit and soon will settle into the routines of January, 2004.

I have always had odd feelings about the celebration of the new year. I've never really analyzed why I have ambivalent feelings and I won't start doing so during this letter. I will only say that I feel a bit of sadness as one year comes to a close and another begins. I guess it is nostalgia that I feel combined with a feeling that new things can happen to enhance and enrich one's life and we celebrate those possibilities as the old year rolls into the new year. It is an odd feeling I have at new year.

I do know that I have positive feelings about The Church of the Pilgrimage as I write this missive on the threshold of 2004! We have had a fine year at the church during 2003. There has been a delightful positive attitude which has, in general, pervaded our ministry in 2003. We have grown in numbers and in attendance at worship. But most of all, we seem to be assuming that we are all on a spiritual journey together and, in many ways, we are accepting our role as a vital and dynamic congregation of people growing in the faith and accepting the challenges ahead in the town and world as opportunities for growth and service. We must cling to the positive attitudes and be inspired by them to accept what we can do, not what we cannot do.

Sometimes I think that The Church of the Pilgrimage thinks too little of what it can accomplish. As we begin a new year it is my prayer that we can own our potential and think and act bodly about what we can do and not be thwarted in our enthusiasm by obstacles or negative inheritanced influences which can cause us to be timid about realizing our vast potential. I hope and pray that we become the "little engine that could" and build upon our history as the foundation for ministry today and in the future.

May we in 2004, and beyond, begin to think in spiritual terms. By that I mean that after due consideration of our means that we also trust that we may rely upon God to help us accomplish what God expects from the gift of faith. At times this will mean accepting daring ministries of outreach. At other times it will mean dealing creatively with the inadequacies of our buildings. No matter the issues we face we should remember that we are not merely a group of people making up a sociological entity called a "church," but a community of faithful people who may rely upon the blessings of God when we prayerfully and reasonably decide to undertake new challenges. Let's not leave God out of anything we do!

I have positive, optimistic, rose-colored, cheerful feelings as we embark on the year 2004. Join me in those feelings and there really is no end to what we can accomplish to the glory of God!

 

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. Communion will be a part of the service.

Youth Worship Service-10:00 A.M. in the Church House.

Greeters: Brad, Dawn, Ian and Courtney Willis

The Pulpit Flowers are in "loving memory of Anne, our parents and family given by Jean and Hector Patenaude.

All are invited to join us for Coffee Hour downstairs in Allerton Hall following the worship 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 January. 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 at home: Allen Hoyt, Deb Porter, Marion Whiting.
Note: Helen and Ruth Belcher are temporarily residing at The Newfield House. Helen is to have hip surgery early in January.

Baptism:
On December 28, 2003, Hannah Elizabeth Edwards, daughter of Joanne (Csizmesia) and Robert Shawn Edwards, was baptized during the worship service.

In Memoriam:
On January 31, 2003, Rev. Marks conducted a memorial service for Dorothy Lewis in the church sanctuary.

THIS WEEK

Sunday, Jan. 4: Morning Worship 10:00 A.M., Rev. Gary L. Marks will be preaching.

Monday, Jan. 5: Rev. Dan's office hours 10:00 A.M.-Noon; Aerobics, 9:00 A.M. in Allerton Hall; Girl Scout Tr. 1128, 4:00 P.M. in Church House;PFC Rehearsal in the Sanctuary, 7:30-9:30 P.M.

Tuesday, Jan. 6: 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.

Wednesday, Jan. 7: 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. 8: 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; Membership & Evangalism Meeting, 7:00 P.M. in the CH.

Friday, Jan. 9: Aerobics, 9:00 A.M. in AH; Rev. Marks' office hours 9:30-11:30 A.M.; Women's Guild, "Games and Fun", 1:00 P.M. in Allerton Hall.

Saturday, Jan. 10:

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- Rev. Marks will begin a series of three membership classes beginning on January 18th. If you wish to become a member of The Church of the Pilgrimage, pleas speak with Rev. Marks or call the church office. The classes will be held following Sunday worship from 11:30 A.M.-12:30 P.M. Childcare will be provided.

We thank everyone for all the help provided during the hectic Advent/Christmas seasons. The events which take place at the church require hours and hours of planning and many hands to bring them into reality. Sometimes we assume that things "just happen," but they don't. Therefore we thank all who helped in any way to provide necessary, but unheralded, services. The Flower Committee, the sexton, the people who move furniture, Pam McNicholas, the choir which puts in hours and hours to present us with majestic music, the organist, greeters, deacons/deaconesses, crib room people, the Church School, the ministers. It was a terrific season and we are grateful!

The Church has made major improvements to its sound system! Most notably, you will see new speakers at the side of the sanctuary like the two which have been there. Initial reports are encouraging regarding the quality of the sound, especially for those who have hearing difficulties. Other additions to the system have also been made! There are ten individual hearing devices which will be made available soon. We are devising a system for purchase which is being worked out. Please see Diana Budge or Deb Porter for information on purchasing a hearing device. The Board of Trustees has overseen the project of the sound system update and the funds have been provided through the Vera Blood account. The Memorial Fund has also provided some of the funding of it. Thank you!

The Markses thank all who remembered them with cards, greetings, gifts and support during the Christmas season.

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.

Attention Church School Teachers: The new winter curriculum is in each of your respective classrooms, so be sure to pick it up at your earliest convenience.

Ad In of Plymouth will meet on January 9, 2004 at 7:15 at PCIS in Plymouth, MA. The Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow, which presented a workshop at the MACUCC Annual Meeting in June, will present "Toxic Links to ADD/ADHD: Exploring the Environmental Connections." For more information call Judy Mitchell at 508-746-3959. (Snow date is January 17, 2004.)

I would like to thank the following for acting as Ushers in December: Kelly and Sara Balboni, Jeff and Diane Lindquist, Sarah and Tony, Jr., Vannozzi, Pam, Kayla & Kyle McNicholas, Pat and Peter McLeod, and Tim and Heather Sinn. Thank You! John McNicholas

Monthly Knitting Evening: will take place on Tuesday evening, January 13, 2004 at Diana Budge's house, 15 Oak St., Plymouth at 7:00 P.M. All who are interested are welcome. It is a fun evening!

Thanks to all of our Church family who took the time to visit, write, call and pray for me during my convalescence. It does mean a lot. God Bless you All. Al Hoyt

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

The Board of Trustees would like to thank all who made contributions toward the gifts for the pastors and office staff.

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.