Dear Friends,

Over the last few weeks a great deal of attention has been focused on our Capital Campaign and, especially, the Kick-Off Diner. I hope that you are among those who have signed up for the dinner because it is a pivotal event not only in the campaign, but in the life and history of our beloved congregation. It also promises to be an event which will be both inspiring and challenging.

Perhaps it is providential that our Capital Campaign and the God Is Still Speaking evangelistic emphasis are coming into focus for us at the same time now. I attended a seminar more than a year ago regarding that program which is church-wide. That is, it is an effort on the part of the whole United Church of Christ to reach out to people in our society who have been estranged from the church and to those who may never have had an active church life at all. The God Is Still Speaking campaign also will draw attention to the wide and varied ministries of The United Church of Christ. It will reflect the desire to follow in the footsteps of Jesus to extend the grace and hospitality of God to those whose lives have been primarily defined by the confused values of a culture whose emphasis is fixated upon purely secular and material realities.

Peter Gomes once said that coincidence is what secular people call providence. (I think it was Peter who said that)! Whomever said it, I find it a helpful observation in reflecting upon our simultaneous focus on the Capital Campaign and the God Is Still Speaking ministry of the whole United Church of Christ. I see it as providential. I see it as God's working among us to address the often undefined spiritual needs of people living in the twenty-first century.

It was Gracie Allen who said, "Never put a period where God has put a comma." That idea took a while to sink in when I first heard it, but I have come to appreciate it as a profound observation. God is not finished with the church. God did not stop speaking, but is still speaking a Word of hope and hospitality to all people in 2004-and beyond.

In our Capital Campaign we are attempting to show for all to see that The Church of the Pilgrimage believes that God and the way of Christ are still relevant to a secular world. We are trying to show that faith is the answer to the spiritual longings of people who, for whatever reasons, have not been hearing the transforming message of the gospel of Christ. It could be said that our Capital Campaign is a local effort to proclaim that God Is Still Speaking. Both campaigns are vehicles of evangelism. Both campaigns attest that we are not placing a period where God has placed a comma!

I hope to see many of you at the Kick-Off Dinner. I am excited that The Church of the Pilgrimage is a congregation through whom God Is Still Speaking!

Love,

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

CHURCH RECORD

Hospitalized: Jean Patenaude is now at her home. Hugh Thuerk is also recuperating at home.
Weddings:
On October 8, 2004 Rev. Marks conducted a wedding service for Edward B. Roman and Janine E. Laneau in the sanctuary.
On October 10, 2004 Rev. Marks conducted a wedding service for Scott Madden and Amy Marie King in the sanctuary.
In Memoriam:
On October 12, 2004 Rev. Marks conducted a graveside service for Florence Coffey at the Vine Hills Cemetery in Plymouth.
On October 12, 2004 Phyllis Dunn passed away peacefully. Services for Phyllis were held at Peterson & O'Donnell Funeral Home in Danvers at 11am on Friday, October 15, 2004. We extend our sympathies to her family.

THIS WEEK

Sunday,Oct. 17: Morning Worship 10:00 a.m., Rev. Gary Marks preaching; Capital Campaign Kick-Off Dinner at the Plymouth Radisson Hotel, 1pm.
Monday,Oct .18: Aerobics, 9:15 a.m., Allerton Hall; Girl Scouts #1128, 3:30 p.m., Church House; Tiger Pack 47, 4:00 p.m., Church House (upstairs).
Tuesday,Oct. 19: Rev. Marks will be in the church office , 9:30-11:30 am; Aerobics, 6:30 pm; PFN Scrapbooking Workshop, 6-9 pm, Church House; Board of Trustees Meeting 7pm, Church House (upstairs).
Wednesday,Oct. 20: Aerobics, 9:15 a.m., Allerton Hall; Staff Meeting-10:00 a.m.; Brownies #122, 4:00 p.m., Allerton Hall; Pack 47,6-7:30pm, Church House; Music Committee Meeting, 6:30, Allerton Hall; Troop #47, 7pm, Church House;CCCEB meeting, 7:00 p.m.Allerton Hall; Choir Rehearsal 7:30 p.m.,sanctuary.
Thursday, Oct. 21:
Friday, Oct. 22: Rev. Marks' will not be in the office today; Aerobics, 9:15 a.m., Allerton Hall,. Wedding Rehearsal 6:30 pm, sanctuary
Saturday, Oct. 23: Wedding, 4pm, Sanctuary; Troop #47 Meeting, 7pm Church House.

NOTES:

Harvest Fair Drawing:
This year's Drawing has over 50 prizes, with a total value of over $2,500!!!! Cost for tickets remain at $1 each or 6 for $5. A SPECIAL DRAWING this year will include a chance to win a:

* TWO NIGHT STAY at WILLIAMS INN (Williamstown), with a complete Dinner and Breakfast each morning.
* A QUEEN-SIZE QUILT assembled by Diana Budge. Ticket cost is $10, with a MAXIMUM of 100 tickets to be sold.
AND BOTH WINNERS OF THIS SPECIAL DRAWING WILL RECEIVE AN EXTRA LITTLE SOMETHING AS A SURPRISE!! WONDERFUL PRIZES! . . . . .GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO BE A WINNER!

Tickets will be available during Coffee Hour every Sunday until the Fair!
SUPPORT THE FAIR WITH THIS FABULOUS OPPORTUNITY - SELL TICKETS TO YOUR FRIENDS, CO-WORKERS, NEIGHBORS AND RELATIVES!

Harvest Fair Reminder:
Drawing: If you have not taken tickets for the drawing to sell, please consider doing so. This is an important part of our Fair receipts and everyone should become involved. If you prefer not selling the tickets, please feel free to make a contribution if you would like. We have a great selection of prizes and you could be lucky.

Children's Corner at the Fair: Penny Candy Sale and button design section will be featured this year. We have discontinued the Coffee Corner in favor of putting the children's events downstairs with everything else. We hope that this will provide more interest and parents will be more comfortable with this arrangements.

For Sale: A porch glider. Metal frame is in good condition but foam cushions need to be recovered. If interested, call Helen 508-746-0049 before October 30th. Payment will be donated to the church capital campaign.

New Member Classes: On October 31, 2004 Rev. Marks will teach the first of three new member classes. The classes will meet form 11:30am -12:30pm in the Pastor's church building study. If you are interested in church membership, or if you would like to learn about our church, please speak with Rev. Marks or call the church office. Childcare will be available.

Membership & Evangelism Committee: If you think of someone who has not been in church recently or who you feel would appreciate a phone call, write their name on an index card and place it in the box on the membership desk. There are also cards there for members to send to those we miss in worship. Take one, have others sign it, or not, and mail it to the missed person(s). You are our link to our members. Please help us.

MISSIONS AND OUTREACH--------
Food For Church Pantries: During the month of October, we will be collecting peanut butter, pasta and pasta sauce, cereal, macaroni and cheese and canned tuna for the Central Warehouse in Plymouth. Thank you for all who have been contributing generously.

Neighbors In Need: Thank you for the special offering last Sunday to help support the domestic and global programs and grants dedicated to Neighbors In Need. If you were unable to attend worship last Sunday, you are invited to put your offering in the collection plate on October 17th or future Sundays. Your offering could also be sent to the church office. Please earmark it for "Neighbors in Need."

Unicef: The United nations Children's Emergency Fund, created in 1946, began with aid to all children in desperate need after WWII. Now, Unicef provides education, vaccines, and health emergency supplies to children in 158 countries and territories. The orange trick-or-treat boxes for collecting coins on Halloween for Unicef will be available in Allerton Hall for the next three Sundays.

Crop Walk Sign-Ups: Crop Walks are sponsored by Church World Service to eradicate hunger and reach out to people in need wherever they are. Please see Ken Heckman to sign-up for the Crop Walk this year which will be held on October 31st at 1pm (registration at noon).
Next Meeting: Tuesday, October 26th from 7-8 pm in the Church House.

Need A Ride to Church or a Church Event?: Anyone who needs a ride to church on Sundays may pick up a list of drivers from the membership desk in Allerton Hall. You may call any of these drivers to arrange for a ride. If anyone would like to be added to the list of drivers, please contact Kathy Marks at 508-747-3738.

Sunday Coffee Hour: There is a sign-up sheet in Allerton Hall for you to agree to sponsor a Sunday Coffee Hour. If you have not done that before, there are many people available to fill you in on the procedure.

A Reminder: Our new church secretary, Shellie McCormack, is in the church office Monday-Friday from 10am until 3pm. We are fortunate and pleased to have Shellie on our church staff and as part of our church's ministry.

Pilgrim Association (Massachusetts Conference-United Church of Christ): October 24th 2:30 pm. The First Congregational Church, U.C.C.in Hanover will host the Annual Fall Meeting of The Pilgrim Association of the Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ with the other two associations of the Southeast Area.

COMING EVENTS

Oct. 24 Rev. Marks will be in Pittsburgh to take part in his nephew's wedding. Rev. Spacek will be in the pulpit.
Oct. 26 Advisory Board will meet in the Church House, 7pm.
Oct. 26 The Missions and Outreach Committee will meet in the Church House, 7pm.
Oct. 27 The Capital Campaign Executive Board will meet from 7-9:30 pm in Allerton Hall.
Oct. 29 Dinner/Dance to kick off Harvest Fair Weekend
Oct. 30 Harvest Fair
Oct. 31 Crop Walk (begins at Zion Lutheran Church at noon); DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME ENDS

Clerk - Lois Post; Moderator - Steven Triffletti; Treasurer - David Kegel; Collector - Thomas Mudgett;
Music Director - William B Richter; Organist - Chandler Gregg
Secretary - Shellie McCormack; Sexton - Tony Nightingale; World Mission Emphasis - Heifer Project International;
Church Building Telephone - (508) 747-1341.