Dear Friends,

Last Sunday was a great day in the life of our congregation. We celebrated our progress in our Capital Campaign so far and the hard work of the Campaign Committee. Of course, it would have been wonderful to have been able to announce during the service that we had reached our goal, but we were able to say that we have reached two-thirds of our Campaign objective. So far, over $400,00 has been pledged and I am sure the $600,000 goal can be reached soon.

This Sunday we celebrate Thanksgiving in the place where our national holiday had its origin. We're not sure exactly where the Thanksgiving feast took place, so I imagine sometimes that it took place in Town Square. We do know that is where Pilgrim life was centered, near the Fort Meeting House where the Plimoth Church worshipped on what is now Burial Hill. The first Thanksgiving lasted for three days and included about ninety Native Americans who were invited to the celebration with their chief, Massasoit.

Thanksgiving is now considered a national secular holiday, but the first harvest celebration was religious in nature. It was a community outpouring of gratitude to God for a modest crop which for the Pilgrims was ample testimony to God's blessings. The fact of their survival was evidence to the Pilgrims that their bold adventure in Covenant faith was in accord with God's will. In fact, there was no such thing as a purely secular holiday for the Scrooby/Leyden congregation. Everything they did was deemed to be a means of keeping the Covenant which, if kept, would be blessed. Their survival was the blessing for which they gave thanksgiving for God's providential care of them and their "holy errand" into the wilderness.

It is appropriate that on this Thanksgiving Sunday that we will receive new members into The Church of Pilgrimage. In its primary meaning church membership is our invitation to all who are willing to "own" the Covenant with us as a means of serving God. The proper attitude toward new members, and of members of long standing, is thanksgiving to God for God's blessings, challenges and for a willing openness toward addressing the issues of the day from the vantage of our holy Covenant faith. We believe that God still needs Covenant partners in order to witness to God's ongoing purposes. A part of the original Covenant made in Scrooby, England in 1606 is still at the center of our congregational life and in general terms defines our mission past, present and future:

"...the Lord's free people joined themselves (by a covenant of the Lord) into a church estate, in the fellowship of the gospel, to walk in all God's ways made known , or to be made known unto them, according to their best endeavors, whatsoever it should cost them, the Lord assisting them." (In of Plimoth Plantation, p.9)

This simple Covenant is profound, as well. In order to "own" and honor it we must put forth our "best endeavors," no matter the cost, in thanksgiving for divine guidance in living. In an ancient, yet contemporary way, our Covenant affirms God as still speaking, still blessing our "best endeavors."

Our Capital Campaign, our Covenant and "owning it" anew with new members, our life together in Covenant community, our survival and hope is why there was and is Thanksgiving.

Praise be to God for the Covenant!

Love,

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

CHURCH RECORD

Baptism: On November 21, 2004 Gerritt Lloyd Bingham-Maas, son of Jennifer and Norman Bingham-Maas , and Lily Grace Rickard , daughter of Carrie and Steven Rickard, were baptized during the worship service.

Hospitalized: Hugh Thuerk, New England Medical, Boston. Recuperating following surgery, Carol Runey. Al Saunders wants to thank all for their prayers and well wishes.

In Memoriam: On November 23, 2004 Rev Marks conducted a graveside service for Barbara Tirabassi in Manomet. Our sympathies are extended to Bob Brown whose father, James Brown passed this life last week.

THIS WEEK

Sunday,Nov. 28: Morning Worship 10:00 a.m., Rev. Gary L. Marks, preaching.The lighting of the first Advent Candle will be a part of the service.

Monday,Nov. 29: 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): Capital Campaign Executive Board Meeting, 8pm, Allerton Hall; Advent Study/Spirituality Group, 7pm, Pastor's Church Study.

Tuesday,Nov. 30: Rev. Marks will be in the church office, 9:30-11:30 am; Aerobics, 6:30 pm.

Wednesday, Dec. 1: Aerobics, 9:15 a.m., Allerton Hall;Brownie Troop #122, Plymouth Area Interfaith Clergy Association, noon, 4-5:30pm, Allerton Hall; Troop 47/Den 4, 6-7:30, Church House (up);Troop #47, 7pm, Church House; Choir Rehearsal 7:30 pm, sanctuary; Plymouth Spiritualist Church; Trustees/Capital Campaign Committee Meeting, 7pm, Allerton Hall.

Thursday, Dec. 2: Aerobics, 6:30pm, Allerton Hall.

Friday, Dec. 3: Aerobics, 9:15 am, Allerton Hall; Rev. Marks will be in the church office, 9:30-11:30am. Christmas on North Street, 6-8:30pm, (see details elsewhere in this Herald).

NOTES:

Christmas on North Street: The 14th annual Christmas on North Street celebration will take place on Friday, December 3rd from 6-8:30 pm. This year's event features a double tree lighting. The DPW will set up a small Christmas tree at the traditional location at Shirley Square and a grand tree with decorations by the Plymouth Garden Club at Town Square. Violinist Laura Sylvia will present a program of holiday music here at The Church of the Pilgrimage, 7-8pm and hot chocolate will be available downstairs in Allerton Hall. The evening will be filled with activities up and down North Street, at Shirley Square, Town Square and the Jenney Grist Mill. It will be the last year that the Plymouth Antiquarian Society will coordinate the community celebration, and the last opportunity for people to visit the Plymouth National Wax Museum, which closes permanently after the event.

We thank Ruth Fry and Nancy Stearns for providing the sanctuary with a fabulous Harvest Table for our Thanksgiving celebration. Ruth and Nancy have decorated the pulpit/Communion Table area for many years and we are thankful to them!

We thank Liisa Budge and all her volunteers for hosting our Open House on Thanksgiving Day. It is greatly appreciated!

Thank you to all the helping hands that made possible the Thanksgiving trays for the shut-ins. You have made a little sunshine in their day.
From Eileen Baker (Guild)

Can you be a driving force at The Church of the Pilgrimage? From time to time there are folks who need a ride to our Sunday service. Would you be willing to assist by giving someone a ride? If so, please contact Lynnette Lancaster at (508)746-7231. She is updating the list of drivers. Thank you.

MISSIONS AND OUTREACH

Missions Dinner: The dinner on December 12th is a gift to all church members from the Mission and Outreach Committee. Please sign up during coffee hour on November 28th or December 5th. The schedule will be: 4:30-5:00-craft for the children; 5-5:10-Christmas for others parade (the children are asked to bring a gift to place under the Christmas tree to be delivered to the Old Colony Memorial for distribution to local families); 5:10-6:00-dinner will be served; 6-6:30-program provided by Barbara and Sheldon Peavey and Terry Runnels; Closing Prayer.

UCC Coffee Project: This Sunday we will be serving fair trade coffee form the Equal Exchange organization which is committed to helping farmers receive fair prices for their products by paying them directly into their cooperatives. People in the middle are eliminated. Partners in this coffee project include: United Church of Christ, Lutheran World Relief, American Friends Service Committee, Brethren Witness, Catholic Relief Services, Mennonite Central Committee, U.S .Presbyterian Church, USA, Unitarian Universalist Service Committee and United Methodist Committee on Relief. Donation during our coffee hour each Sunday will make it possible to serve this coffee in the future. Fair trade coffee, tea, cocoa and chocolate will be on sale on December 12th at the time of the Missions dinner.

Habitat for Humanity: The first house built by Habitat for Humanity in Plymouth, on Braley Lane, will be dedicated on Saturday, December 11th at 1pm. Gary Marks will participate in the ceremony. Everyone is invited to come and tour the home.

Too Busy? Take a needed break and come join us for a fun, relaxed evening. The Pilgrimage Women's Fellowship Annual Christmas Pot-Luck Dinner will be held Monday, December 6th beginning at 6:30pm. All women of the church are invited to attend. Those whose last name begins with the letters A-F please bring a main dish; G-N please bring a dessert; O-Z please bring a side dish. Not only will we break bread together, but we will also enjoy a sing-a-long of Christmas favorites and a Yankee Swap. If you are interested in participating in the Yankee Swap, please bring along a wrapped gift costing no more than $5. As always, if you would like a ride, please contact either Jenny 508-747-7168 or Marna 781-826-2543.

Informer Wanted We are looking for someone who would be willing to get church information on a regular basis to the Old Colony Memorial newspaper. If you are interested, please contact Kathy Marks or Lynnette Lancaster who are member of the Membership and Evangelism Committee.

Advent Class Sign-Ups are available in Allerton Hall after the service. Please see Michael Harrington, who will be standing by the mailboxes. A $10 donation to cover the cost of the resource books is requested, but not required. This weekly, four-part class begins Monday the 29th at 7pm in the Pastor's Study.

Christmas Pageant Sign-Ups will begin this Sunday downstairs in Allerton Hall (on the wall next to the stage). We're doing it a bit differently this year, as there will be several, mostly brief, speaking parts, and so it's very important that participants sign up as early as possible so they have time to practice. Scripts will be available starting Sunday, Dec.5th. Costume fittings is after church on Dec. 12th and will be coordinated by members of the CE Committee. Rehearsal is Dec. 19th from 11:30am to 1pm. Please contact Rev. Dan with any questions!

The Youth Fellowship event scheduled for Dec. 4th has been changed. We will no longer be going to the Live Nativity at Overlook Farm (simply because it is no longer occurring on that day). Instead, both Youth Groups will meet Sunday, Dec. 5th. Junior High bowl at Alley Cat from 3-5pm (meet at Church House first) and Senior High will meet from 6-8:30 pm in Allerton Hall for Popcorn and a Movie (Billy Eliot, PG-13).

COMING EVENTS

Dec. 5 The Second Sunday in Advent. Special Congregational meeting to discuss renovation financing The meeting will be held following morning worship. Please see the meeting Notice elsewhere in this issue of the Herald.

Youth Fellowship Jr High bowling 3-5pm, Senior High "Popcorn and a Movie" 6-8:30 (see notice elsewhere in this Herald).

Dec. 6 Advent/Spirituality Study Group, 7pm, Pastor's Study. Pilgrimage Women's Fellowship Annual Christmas Pot-Luck Dinner, 6:30pm

Dec. 8 Prayer Group in the sanctuary, 7pm (Please note the time change)

Dec. 12 Missions Dinner and Program in Allerton Hall, 5pm

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.