Dear Friends,

Once again I have come to be very proud of the people of our congregation. The Harvest Fair, Dinner Dance and the Luncheon were all terrific events. A tremendous amount of work and talent go into those events and they were very successful and very well organized activities. Dianna Budge and her many workers deserve a great deal of praise for their hard work.

The Harvest Fair events took place this year during our Capital Campaign. Many of the faces active in that campaign were also to be found hard at work in Harvest Fair events. I paused on Saturday during all that was going on to give thanks for the love of the church I found among so many people. People of all generations were making great sacrifices for the church which has become the hub of their lives from which all spokes lives emanate. It is gratifying to see so many people whose faith is at the center of their lives and who are finding spiritual direction and meaning in The Church of the Pilgrimage. The growing faith of dedicated people who make up our congregation is a fact from which I draw a great deal of my own spiritual and pastoral energy. Thank you!

Recently I have received several requests for the resumption of the prayer sessions which were previously held on Wednesday evenings in the sanctuary. I have announced elsewhere in this issue of The Pilgrimage Herald that those meetings will resume on November 10th. The beauty of requests for "spiritual centering" opportunities, as I call them, is that people need and want to deepen spiritual life which gives them energy for mission and strength for life's sometimes perplexing journey.

Dan and I are also planning a seasonal spiritual/learning opportunity during Advent. We hope that many of you will want to join us during that busy season which will focus us on the true reason for the celebration of Christmas in the first place.

I have been deeply touched, and spiritually enriched, by the centering of our Capital Campaign in matters of faith and prayer. We are not simply desirous of having a lovely place for church school and offices. The Capital Campaign is driven to provide much needed church facilities by a desire to serve God and to express our growing faith in ministry and mission. In the campaign slogan "Place for Faces" the emphasis is upon "faces" who reflect in them the joy of discipleship. The motivation for the campaign is spiritual and it is guided by prayer. That's the way it should be!

In January we will also begin a course of study on human sexuality as promised. That course will also be offered as a part of providing us "equipment for the journey."

Very soon Thanksgiving will be upon as you are aware, that celebration has special power and inspiration for me. The true story of Thanksgiving is not centered upon a three-day feast held among Pilgrims and Native Americans. It is a focus for a spiritual pilgrimage that is ongoing, and we are The Church of the Pilgrimage . I am so thankful to God that I am on the journey of life with fellow pilgrims where life is centered in faith and prayer.

Love,

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

CHURCH RECORD

Hospitalized: Recuperating at home, Al Saunders.

Baptism: Brenna Anne Enos, daughter of Daniel and Meghan Enos was baptized during the service on October 31, 2004

THIS WEEK

Sunday,November 7: Morning Worship 10:00 a.m., Rev. Gary L. Marks, preaching; New Member Class, Pastor's Study, 11:30am-12:30pm, Youth Fellowship Activity, Sampson Home, 12:30; Pilgrim Festival Chorus will perform Missa Brevis by Zoltan Kodaly and Nun Danket Alle Gott by J.S. Bach in the sanctuary at 4pm

Monday,Nov. 8: 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,Nov. 9: Rev. Marks will be in the church office, 9:30-11:30 am; Aerobics, 6:30 pm; Stewardship Meeting, 7:15pm, Office Conference Room

Wednesday,Nov. 10: Aerobics, 9:15 a.m., Allerton Hall; Staff Meeting-10:00 a.m.; Brownies #122, 4:00 p.m., Allerton Hall; PFN Free Scrapbooking, 6pm, Allerton Hall; Pack 47,6-7:30pm, Church House; Troop #47, 7pm, Church House; Missions & Outreach Meeting, 7pm, Office Conference Room;Choir Rehearsal 7:30 p.m.,sanctuary.

Thursday, Nov. 11: Veteran's Day-The Church Office will be Closed; Rev. Marks will speak at the Lion's Club in West Bridgewater, 7pm;Aerobics, 6:30 pm Allerton Hall; Membership & Evangelism Meeting, CH, 7pm.

Friday,Nov. 12: Rev. Marks' will be in the church office, 9:30-11:30 am; Aerobics, 9:15 a.m.;Women's Guild, 1pm, Allerton Hall; Wedding Rehearsal, 6:30pm, sanctuary.

Saturday, Nov. 13: Wedding, 4:30 pm, sanctuary.

NOTES:

New Member Classes: It is not too late to join the class. If you were unable to attend the first class on October 31st, please join us on November 7th, 11:30 a, - 12:30 pm in the Pastor's Study in the church building.

Prayer Group: Interest has been shown in resuming a prayer group. The first meeting will be held 6:30pm on Wednesday, November 10th (location TBA). Please join us.

Advent Study Group: Rev. Marks and Rev. Spacek are planning an Advent Study Group to begin on November 29th at 7pm. We hope that a number of people will join us in a spiritual preparation for Christmas.

Who was at church? It was wonderful to see Deacon Emeritus Gil Besse in church on October 31st!

Women's Guild: The Women's Guild meets at 1pm on November 12, 2004 followed by guest speaker, Charlotte Beal. Charlotte will give a talk on Wampum and the jewelry she makes from it. Refreshments will be served.

Women's Fellowship: The Pilgrimage Women's Fellowship will be hosting a cleaning of the sanctuary on Monday, November 15th at 6pm. We would like to open this up to everyone in the church with the idea in mind that "many hands make light work." The advent season is approaching and we want the sanctuary to sparkle; with our help that will be possible. Thank you and if you have any questions, please contact Marna Blomberg at 781-826-2543.

Secretary's Office Hours: Our church office Monday-Friday from 10am until 3pm. Our secretary is Shellie McCormack.

From the Church Secretary: If you would like something to be included in The Pilgrimage Herald, please submit it in writing to the office no later than Tuesday of that week. Anything submitted after the deadline will be included in the next edition of the Herald. Thank you in advance for you cooperation.

The Youth Fellowship activity for November 7th has changed. Now we are doing a joint Junior High and Senior High activity from 1-3:30 helping Cliff and Laura Sampson get their yard cleaned up for winter. Please be at the church house by 12:30 bring gloves and we will go out for pizza afterwards.


Capital Campaign 2004
Announced at the campaign kick-off dinner was the Matching Gift Challenge made by the Dr. and Mrs. Goodwill M. Stewart. Pledges of $5,000 or more made between October 17 and November 14, 2004 will be matched dollar for dollar, by the Stewarts, up to a maximum of $50,000. This gives you an opportunity to double the value of your pledge! Please ask your visitor for complete details.

For those of you who were not able to attend the campaign's kick-off dinner, a copy of the video presentation is available on DVD or VHS tape in Allerton Hall. Please feel free to borrow a copy and return it when you are able.

Harvest Fair Final Report: Fair Day dawned cloudy and rainy but it did not dampen our spirits nor did it reduce the number of people who enjoyed both the fair and the luncheon. We were blessed with a very successful fundraiser exceeding our expectations financially. After all is said and done, we will have raised more than $8500. This figure represents the receipts from the Dinner Dance, the Drawing and the Fair itself. None of this would have been possible without the enthusiasm and hard work of all who worked on the fair committee and all those who contributed in so many ways, both with their talents and their financial support. This is my last year as chair of this event and I plan to pass on the torch to a very able new leader or, perhaps, co-leaders next year. I promise to be whatever help that I can to help make this transition year as seamless as possible. Many thanks to all who have been such a help to me over the past five years. It has been a wonderful opportunity to serve our church and make treasured friends at the same time. What a blessing.
Diana Budge

Halloween Dinner Dance: What a great job Tom Healy and Trace Sears did in planning and putting on a successful night of fellowship for all who attended the Dinner Dance. The meal was super ...especially with the added touches of home baked bread (Jenny Healy) and gingerbread with real whipped cream (it wasn't a box mix either). If you did not attend, please remember to put it on your calendar of "must do" events for next year. It is a great family mixer. Both kids and parents really got into the swing of things with great costumes.

A Note from the Linen & Things Table: Gayle David would like to thank all the nice folks that donated linens and things to make the table such a success! This was the 3rd year for this table. We hope it can continue with all you great support. Yours in Pilgrimage, Gayle

Fair Drawing: Thanks to everyone who bought or sold tickets for the fair drawing. The winners have been stopping by the office all week and are thrilled with the gifts they have won.

Knitting Group: Tuesday, November 9th at 7pm a new challenge will be presented that will involve knitting "comfort shawls" for member 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 pattern and instruction. This project has been suggested to us by the Membership and Evangelism Committee and is a Missions Project that many churches and knitting groups are involved in. We plant to knit our prayers into our shawls and hopefully they will be a blessing to those receiving them.

MISSIONS AND OUTREACH
Food For Church Pantries: During the month of November, 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.

Unicef: Thank you to all who collected for Unicef on Halloween. Please return the boxes to the Missions & Outreach table during the coffee hour in Allerton Hall.

SERRV SALE: The annual SERRV SALE (Sales Exchange for Refugee Rehabilitation Vocations) will take place in Allerton Hall during the coffee hour on November 14th. Hand crafts made by artisans in forty countries will be available for purchasing. Proceeds provide people in developing countries with clothing, housing, and education.

Missions Dinner: Please save the date of December 12th for the Missions Dinner and Program, Allerton Hall 5pm.

Habitat for Humanity Fund Raiser: On November 5th, 6th & 7th in the center of the Independence Mall, from 10am-9:30 pm there will be a snowflake festival to benefit Habitat for Humanity and Plymouth area housing.

CROPWALK News: The preliminary results are in for the CROPWALK. Sixty-five walkers raised over $3000, which was a 50% increase over what was raised last year. Thank you to all who contributed to the effort, whether by walking or through donations.

COMING EVENTS

Nov. 14 Capital Campaign Celebration Sunday
Nov. 14 New Member Class, 11:30am-12:30 pm in the Pastor's Study in the church building
Nov. 16 The Board of Trustees will meet at 7pm in the Church House.
Nov. 17 Rev. Marks will take part in a Thanksgiving Service at The Newfield House.
Nov. 18 Rev. Marks will speak at the Plymouth Kiwanis Club.
Nov. 23 The Advisory Board will meet in the Church House at 7pm.
Nov. 25 Thanksgiving Open House at The Church of the Pilgrimage.
Nov.25 Thanksgiving Day Union Service at First Parish UU Church, 10:30am
Nov. 28 The First Sunday in Advent
Nov. 29 Advent Study Group in the Pastor's Study at 7pm

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.