Pilgrimage Herald

If you have information concerning people in the hospitals, please call the office or contact Rev. Marks. If you are aware of anyone in need of pastoral care, let one of the ministers know, or call the church office.

Eagle Scout Ceremony: Rev. Marks took part in an Eagle Scout Ceremony for John Feeney on September 25th. The ceremony was held in the sanctuary.

Knitting Circle: The October meeting will be canceled due to so many conflicting meetings during the month. The Harvest Fair and the Capital Campaign have stretched everyone's schedule so that one more night out is just too difficult to attend. The second Tuesday of November we will resume meetings. At that meeting, I would like to present a new challenge for our knitters that will involve knitting "comfort shawls" for members of the congregation in need. The pattern is simple and will require three skeins of worsted yarn (four ply) and size 11 or 13 needles. I will provide the patterns and instruction. This project has been suggested to us by the membership and evangelism committee and is a mission project that many churches and knitting groups are involved in. We plan to knit our prayers into our shawls and hopefully they will be a blessing to those receiving them.

Choir Rehearsal & Music Committee: The choir rehearses every Wednesday at 7:30 in the Sanctuary. The Music Committee meets in Allerton Hall at 6:30 once a month on the second Wednesday of the month.

Cherub Choir: The Cherub choir will be meeting this Sunday, October 3, immediately following the worship service. We will meet by the piano in the Church House.

Advisory Board: The Advisory Board is in the process of appointing a Search Committee for an Associate Pastor. Dan's tenure with us will come to an end next June. The Board is looking to appoint 5-6 individuals who will search for candidates, review their qualifications, interview them, and ultimately select a candidate for the position to be presented to the congregation for consideration. The committee will begin working in October, and is expected to continue working until next summer, or until a candidate is found. If you have a strong interest in serving on this committee, please submit a letter of interest to Trace Sears, Chair of the Advisory Board.

Crop Walk Sign-Up: Please see Ken Heckman or a member of the Mission Committee for information and sign-up for the Crop Walk .

The invitations have been mailed for the October 17th Capital Campaign Kick-off Dinner at the Radisson Hotel at 1pm. All are invited. Keep an eye out for your invitation in the mail! If you do not receive an invitation, there will be an opportunity to R.S.V.P. during coffee hours, and please contact Verna Ross-Hoyt or Marna Blomberg to let them know.
Dinner is on us! Following the meal, there will be a short presentation about the campaign, some entertainment, and activities for the children.

In June, the congregation voted virtually unanimously to proceed with the capital campaign to improve the church house. We estimate that half of the church members will work directly on the campaign in some way. One way for you to participate is as a visitor, meeting church members and friends in their homes to solicit pledges. While this role might seem daunting to some, it is essential. We cannot raise the funds to create the church house we need unless people are willing to do this crucial work. Margery Williams, our campaign consultant, has trained hundreds of fund raising visitors. She reassures us that while people are often nervous at the prospect of visiting other church members to ask for money, as a rule they find doing so a fulfilling way of serving their church and sharing fellowship with others in their church family. If a capital campaign worker asks you to play a part as a visitor, or in another way, please give the matter your fullest consideration. Margery and her associate Jennifer will train you and promise that you will enjoy your visiting experience! Your church needs you.

Membership: If you are interested in becoming a member of The Church of the Pilgrimage, please contact Rev. Marks or call the church office. A series of three membership classes are being planned. If you indicated an interest previously, please remind Rev. Marks. Classes will be held on Sunday's following worship from 11:30 am - 12:30 pm.

Habitat for Humanity News: Please note that fund raising will take place on November 5-7 at Independence Mall during the Snowflake Festival. Anyone interested in making Christmas tree ornaments with a snowflake design to sell for this fundraiser, should call Meg Bross at (508) 830-9745.

From Your Membership & Evangelism Committee: We are called by our faith to be hospitable to our neighbors as well as to the stranger. Though we know most of our church family by name, the newest among us may not know all the long timers. And perhaps the long timers are still learning newer names. It is more comfortable for everyone when we can call each other by name. If you left your nametag at home, please see Judy Mitchell for a sticky tag to wear for the day. Wearing nametags helps all of us to be more welcoming to the stranger and to "recall" the name of the neighbor we already know. Thank you. See you in church on Sunday.


garymarks@8townsquare.org danspacek@8townsquare.org	October 3 , 2004	office@8townsquare.org
Volume LXXVI		No. 40
Dear Friends, On September 25th a training session for The United Church of Christ's "God Is Still Speaking" campaign was held at The Church of the Pilgrimage. It was a terrific meeting attended by about 140 people. God Is Still Speaking is a major emphasis of the national United Church of Christ and it has a focus on evangelism in our still new century. It is an exciting campaign intended to strengthen local churches and to make the ministry and mission of The United Church of Christ known to as many people as is possible throughout the nation. The basic principle of the God Is Still Speaking mission is expressed in a quotation from Gracie Allen. She said, "Never put a period where God has put a comma." God is not finished with the work of God's people in the church. Our mission and ministry is based upon a dynamic God who spoke not only in the past but is speaking still. We are encouraged not to place a period where God has placed a comma. Studies have shown that The United Church of Christ has a great need to establish its identity within the populace. Many people have no idea of who we are and are, therefore, unaware of its vital and dynamic ministry and mission. Studies have also shown that there are massive numbers of people who know little about church life at all, who were not raised in the church, and yet who are in search of spiritual roots in an increasingly rootless society. The God is Still Speaking program seeks to address these issues, and others, in a positive and enthusiastic fashion. The United Church of Christ is uniquely poised to be involved in the work of evangelism for our time with a powerful message of hope and faith for our time. You'll be hearing a great deal about the "Comma" and the God Is Still Speaking mission in upcoming months. The campaign has many features, including national television ads on cable T.V. The commercials are effective and their focus is to proclaim our hospitality and to assure their viewers that we are a welcoming church. We are a church with a positive message for the twenty-first century, a church that continues to seek its strength in the diversity of people which are its members. Our unity, and I believe the hope of the church, is precisely in our rich diversity. People desperately, really need to hear a sacred Word that God loves them and is still speaking a Word of hope and guidance to a troubled and fractured world. I purchased a training kit and banner reflecting our church-wide God Is Still Speaking evangelistic effort. I will be encouraging the Advisory Board, our Missions Committee and our Membership and Evangelism Committee to implement exciting ways to meet the deep spiritual longings of people who may find a still speaking God within the dynamic and inclusive ministry of The Church of the Pilgrimage. Far be it for me, for be it from our congregation, ever to place a period where God has placed a comma! So, I'll meet you at the Comma. Love, © The Church of the Pilgrimage in Plymouth, MA Inc., all rights reserved.
PLEASE NOTE "Save the Date" Please plan to attend the Capital Campaign Kick-Off Dinner on October 17, 1:00-4:00 p.m. at the Radisson Hotel. Capital Campaign Meetings: Capital Campaign Executive Committee meeting, Wednesdays, Allerton Hall, 7:00 pm. The Women's Fellowship: Women's Fellowship will meet October 4, 2004 at 7pm in Allerton Hall. Diana Budge will be leading us through some Harvest Fair Projects. All women of the church are welcome. If you need a ride, don't hesitate to call Jenny (508-747-7168) or Marna (718-826-2543). See you there! On Behalf of Women's Fellowship, we would like to extend a very heartfelt thank you to all who helped with and participated in the housewarming shower for the Burton family. Many hands brought the food to the table and made everything disappear afterwards. And many hearts brought immeasurable love and warmth to the room just being part of the event. Thank you very much to everyone. Jenny & Marna Missions and Outreach: The Missions and Outreach committee thanks all the people who have contributed food supplies in the past for the Plymouth pantries. The baskets will remain in place for collections each Sunday. The food received will go directly to the year old, 1,750 square foot Central Warehouse at 11 Resnik Road in the Glynn Electric building. The Greater Plymouth Food Resource Group distributes food from the warehouse to residents in need in Plymouth and nearby communities. At present the warehouse needs peanut butter, cereal, pasta and pasta sauce, macaroni & cheese and canned tuna. Youth Fellowship Calendar: On Oct 10 from 1-3:30 pm the Jr and Sr High Youth Fellowship groups will meet at the Church House to go to the Belcher's for yard clean-up. (Please note change of location) Pledges for Fiscal Year 2005 F/Y 2005 Total Pledge Receipts received to date: $32,550.75 Needed to date: $39,288.33 ($3,571.71/week) As of 9/12/04: ($6,738) Please keep your pledges up to date, so that we can meet our overall operating needs! Thank you, Jonathan Porter, Assistant Treasurer
CHURCH RECORD Hospitalized last week (9/20-9/26/04): Jean Patenaude, Audrey Shuart - Jordan Hospital. Phyllis Dunn is at Harborside-Cedar Glen, 44 Summer Street, Danvers, MA 01923. Wedding: On September 25, 2004 Rev. Marks conducted a wedding service for David A. Maini and Renee M. Annable in the sanctuary. In Memoriam: On September 25, 2004 Rev. Marks conducted a graveside service for Dorothy Brown. Dorothy was the sister of Betty O'Connel. We extend our sympathies to Betty and her family.
THIS WEEK Sunday,Oct. 3: Morning Worship 10:00 a.m., Rev. Gary Marks preaching; Baptism at 11:30am; Troop 47 Parents Meeting and Pot Luck Supper at 7pm, Church House. Monday,Oct 4: 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; Women's Fellowship 6-9:30 Allerton Hall; Rev. Marks will attend a Library Committee Meeting at Andover Newton Theological Seminary. Tuesday,Oct 5: Rev. Marks will be in the church office, 9:30-11:30 am; Aerobics, 6:30 pm, MLK, Jr. Breakfast planning meeting at The First Baptist Church in Plymouth; Christian Ed Committee 6:30 pm, Sarah Bruffee's house. Wednesday,Oct 6: 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, CCCEB meeting, 7:00 p.m.Allerton Hall; Choir Rehearsal 7:30 p.m., sanctuary Thursday, Oct 7: Aerobics, 6:30 p.m., Wedding Rehearsal 6:30 pm, sanctuary. Friday, Oct 8: Aerobics, 9:15 a.m., Allerton Hall, Rev. Marks' will be in the church office,9:30-11:30 am. Wedding 5pm, sanctuary, Wedding Rehearsal, 7pm sanctuary
PLEASE NOTE If you have information concerning people in the hospitals, please call the office or contact Rev. Marks. If you are aware of anyone in need of pastoral care, let one of the ministers know, or call the church office. Eagle Scout Ceremony: Rev. Marks took part in an Eagle Scout Ceremony for John Feeney on September 25th. The ceremony was held in the sanctuary. Knitting Circle: The October meeting will be canceled due to so many conflicting meetings during the month. The Harvest Fair and the Capital Campaign have stretched everyone's schedule so that one more night out is just too difficult to attend. The second Tuesday of November we will resume meetings. At that meeting, I would like to present a new challenge for our knitters that will involve knitting "comfort shawls" for members of the congregation in need. The pattern is simple and will require three skeins of worsted yarn (four ply) and size 11 or 13 needles. I will provide the patterns and instruction. This project has been suggested to us by the membership and evangelism committee and is a mission project that many churches and knitting groups are involved in. We plan to knit our prayers into our shawls and hopefully they will be a blessing to those receiving them. Choir Rehearsal & Music Committee: The choir rehearses every Wednesday at 7:30 in the Sanctuary. The Music Committee meets in Allerton Hall at 6:30 once a month on the second Wednesday of the month. Cherub Choir: The Cherub choir will be meeting this Sunday, October 3, immediately following the worship service. We will meet by the piano in the Church House. Advisory Board: The Advisory Board is in the process of appointing a Search Committee for an Associate Pastor. Dan's tenure with us will come to an end next June. The Board is looking to appoint 5-6 individuals who will search for candidates, review their qualifications, interview them, and ultimately select a candidate for the position to be presented to the congregation for consideration. The committee will begin working in October, and is expected to continue working until next summer, or until a candidate is found. If you have a strong interest in serving on this committee, please submit a letter of interest to Trace Sears, Chair of the Advisory Board. Crop Walk Sign-Up: Please see Ken Heckman or a member of the Mission Committee for information and sign-up for the Crop Walk . The invitations have been mailed for the October 17th Capital Campaign Kick-off Dinner at the Radisson Hotel at 1pm. All are invited. Keep an eye out for your invitation in the mail! If you do not receive an invitation, there will be an opportunity to R.S.V.P. during coffee hours, and please contact Verna Ross-Hoyt or Marna Blomberg to let them know. Dinner is on us! Following the meal, there will be a short presentation about the campaign, some entertainment, and activities for the children. In June, the congregation voted virtually unanimously to proceed with the capital campaign to improve the church house. We estimate that half of the church members will work directly on the campaign in some way. One way for you to participate is as a visitor, meeting church members and friends in their homes to solicit pledges. While this role might seem daunting to some, it is essential. We cannot raise the funds to create the church house we need unless people are willing to do this crucial work. Margery Williams, our campaign consultant, has trained hundreds of fund raising visitors. She reassures us that while people are often nervous at the prospect of visiting other church members to ask for money, as a rule they find doing so a fulfilling way of serving their church and sharing fellowship with others in their church family. If a capital campaign worker asks you to play a part as a visitor, or in another way, please give the matter your fullest consideration. Margery and her associate Jennifer will train you and promise that you will enjoy your visiting experience! Your church needs you. Membership: If you are interested in becoming a member of The Church of the Pilgrimage, please contact Rev. Marks or call the church office. A series of three membership classes are being planned. If you indicated an interest previously, please remind Rev. Marks. Classes will be held on Sunday's following worship from 11:30 am - 12:30 pm. Habitat for Humanity News: Please note that fund raising will take place on November 5-7 at Independence Mall during the Snowflake Festival. Anyone interested in making Christmas tree ornaments with a snowflake design to sell for this fundraiser, should call Meg Bross at (508) 830-9745. From Your Membership & Evangelism Committee: We are called by our faith to be hospitable to our neighbors as well as to the stranger. Though we know most of our church family by name, the newest among us may not know all the long timers. And perhaps the long timers are still learning newer names. It is more comfortable for everyone when we can call each other by name. If you left your nametag at home, please see Judy Mitchell for a sticky tag to wear for the day. Wearing nametags helps all of us to be more welcoming to the stranger and to "recall" the name of the neighbor we already know. Thank you. See you in church on Sunday.
COMING EVENTS Oct. 10 Wedding in the sanctuary, 3pm Oct. 11 Columbus Day-the church office will be closed. Oct. 12 Family Gift Training session, 7pm, in Allerton Hall Oct.12 Rev. Marks will conduct worship service at The Newfield House at 10:30 am Oct. 13 Plymouth Area Interfaith Clergy Association will meet at Christ Episcopal Church at 9am Oct. 14 Wedding rehearsal in the sanctuary, 6:30pm Oct. 16 Rev. Marks plans to attend the Pilgrim Fellows meeting at Pilgrim Hall at noon. Oct. 17 Capital Campaign Kick-Off Dinner at the Radisson Hotel, 1pm 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)
Harvest Fair Reminder: Keep these theme areas in mind: Second Time Around Books: Do you have some favorites that you would like to share? We will sell them at the fair and any that are left will be added to our congregation library in Allerton Hall. Please call Linda Saunders at 508-746-6495. American Doll Table: We are looking for clothing that fits dolls that are 18 inches in height or the American Girl Baby doll size. We can use as many as possible and if you have any questions, please call Marilyn Colburn at 508-746-8690. Bubbles and Bath: Do you have lotions, fancy soaps, candles or fancy hand towels or other items that might fit this table? Please call Barbara Northrup at 781-582-2050. Critter Corner: New Table!!! If you have any pet related item that would fit this theme, please keep us in mind. We can use birdhouses, dog or cat toys or any decorative item that features animals such as pillows, pictures, figurines etc. Please call Janet Holmes at 508-746-7148. 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 FINAL ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING: Monday, October 18, 2004 at 7pm at 15 Oak Street. Very important meeting for all table leaders. If you cannot attend, please send a representative so that the information we need is present. I need the number of tables that you will require and a list of the helpers that will work on your individual tables. Remember that we will need the silent auction baskets on site the Sunday before the fair in order to have them available for bids after the Sunday Service. If you have any questions, please call Diana Budge at 508-746-4514. I will try to send individual reminders before the meeting. SAVE THE DATE! Friday, October 29th at 6:00 pm. Dinner/Dance to kick off Harvest Fair Weekend. Come in costume! Sign-up will begin Sunday during coffee hours. More details to follow. Pilgrim District Women's Fellowship: Pilgrim District Women's Fellowship has planned its meetings for the 2004-2005 year. The schedule is as follows: * October 26, 2004, Christ Church Brockton Program: Report of Visit to Church World Service Distribution Center * January 25, 2005, East Bridgewater Church Program: The Theology of Dr. Seuz with Rev. Marcia Chan * April 26, 2005, Duxbury Church Program: Report of our Delegations to Chile From Heifer Project International/Northeast Region: Dear Partners in Mission, Thank you for your partnership with Heifer. Your gift of $1,331.32 will provide so many families with the help they need to improve nutrition and income for their families. In May I had the opportunity to visit our Project Partners in Romania. I met families who were living on the equivalent of $100 per month who now supplement this meager income by the sale of milk, cheese, pork and other animal by-products. We met Mr. Stiorobele and his eight year-old son, Constantine in Cozanesti Village, located in the Carpathian Mountains. This region of Romania has a harsh climate year round. One of the few resources is the beautiful cold and clean running waters. In order to develop small scale fish farms to improve family nutrition, Heifer Romania is providing trout fingerlings to the Stirobele Family and other families in their village. Every family I met in Romania wanted me to thank the donors who made their gift a reality. Thank you for your commitment to Heifer International. Yours for a better world, Pat Stanley Northeast Community Relations Coordinator High Point Treatment Center is a non-profit inpatient Psychiatric, Drug and Alcohol Addiction Treatment Facility serving the Plymouth County area and beyond. We are currently looking for creative, artistic adults interested in volunteering some time and talent to design and paint murals on the walls of our recently opened Inpatient Psychiatric Unit on State Road in Manomet. Designs need not be intricate, but should be cheerful, restful and colorful in nature. We would also be grateful for donations of suitable artwork/photography in simple frames and covered with plexiglass for hanging. Anyone who is interested in becoming a High Point Helper, please contact Pat at 508-224-6139 after 5:00pm for further information. Food Pantry Dedication at Christ Church Parish Be our guest as we dedicate and celebrate the new Food Pantry at Christ Church Parish, 149 Court Street, Plymouth, MA on Saturday, October 9, 2004. 5:00 pm Church Service (child friendly) 6:15 pm Blessing of the Food Pantry with the Rt. Rev. M. Thomas Shaw, SSJE 6:30pm Dinner and entertainment by Gray Foxx and his band. Please RSVP to Sash Erskine 508-746-0920
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.