Dear Friends,

Advent is a season of preparation for the coming of Christ and the realm of God, but it seems a short season to me. Advent is

four weeks long, but it always seems to me that we are almost lighting all four Advent Candles at worship nearly at the same time! Unlike the season of Lent preceding Easter (a season which is, in fact, much longer), Advent occurs during a time when our culture is in its busiest period, as well. It is a four week interval in the year when shopping is carried on at a frenzied pace, when people give and attend parties, are making travel plans, etc., which is unlike any other span of time in any given year. It is a season that seems even a shorter duration to me, at least, than four weeks.

I genuinely like the time before Christmas and always have. I like the festiveness, the decorations, music in the shops and malls, the presence of a spirit of generosity in a measure not displayed at other times of the year. I like all that at one level of my experience of this season.

In recent years, however, I have come to realize that what goes on during the so-called "Holiday Season" has little to do with what we do in the church during Advent. To be sure, the culture's holiday season had its origins in the celebration of God's entry into human life and affairs in the birth of Christ, but it is not gift of unusual insight on my part to observe that the holiday seasonal frenzies has little, if anything, to do with its origins. In some essential ways the cultural celebration of the "holidays" has managed to reverse its origins in Christian spirituality.

In the Advent study Dan and I are sharing with more than 20 people, the author of the Kerygma series observes in the background materials that the renewed emphasis in churches on Advent may actually save Christmas. The focus upon the biblical texts in both Testaments, and upon ritual activities associated with those texts, is allowing many church people to reclaim the spiritual meaning of Christmas. That is an encouraging sign to me. Over my lengthy ministry here in Plymouth, for instance, I have tried to keep the focus on the spiritual benefits of Advent as a period of making us, in some ways, ready for God's realm introduced in the birth of Christ in Bethlehem. I can recall a time when we didn't light Advent Candles, a time when texts for preaching and study were not systematically employed to focus attention on the central spiritual events of faith. I do have hopes that Advent may be saving the meaning of Christmas.

Personally, without making judgment upon the "pre-holiday" season in our culture at large, I am increasingly drawn, like a moth to the light of a candle, to the light born into our human affairs beginning in Bethlehem long ago "when half spent was the night." I am enchanted, beguiled even, by the persistent spiritual themes and transforming power of "keeping" Advent. I hope you'll want to keep Advent with me as together we discover and explore the many spiritually renewing powers of the Word made flesh and dwelling among us full of grace and truth. Advent just may save Christmas!

Love,

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

CHURCH RECORD

Hospitalized: Recuperating at Beverly Manor after hospitalization, Thelma Strassel.

Wedding: On November 27, 2004 Rev. Marks conducted a wedding ceremony for Michael Levy and Brooke Barry in the sanctuary.

In Memoriam: On December 1, 2004 Rev. Marks conducted a memorial service for church member Hugh Thuerk in the sanctuary. Our prayers and sympathy are with Helen and her family.

THIS WEEK

Sunday, Dec. 5: Morning Worship 10:00 a.m., Rev. Gary L. Marks, preaching. Communion will be part of the service;the lighting of the second Advent Candle will be a part of the service; Special Congregational Meeting, following the worship service in the sanctuary. Please see "notice for specific items to be discussed and acted upon.

Monday,Dec 6: 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); Advent Study/Spirituality Group, 7pm.

Tuesday, Dec. 7: Rev. Marks will be in the church office, 9:30-11:30 am; Aerobics, 6:30 pm.

Wednesday, Dec. 8: Aerobics, 9:15 a.m., Allerton Hall;Brownie Troop #122, 4-5:30pm, Allerton Hall; Troop 47/Den 4, 6-7:30, Church House (up);Troop #47, 7pm, Church House; Music Comm. Mtg., 6:30pm, Sanctuary; Evening Prayer Group, 7pm, Sanctuary; Choir Rehearsal 7:30 pm, sanctuary (note time change from previous gatherings).

Thursday, Dec. 9: Aerobics, 6:30pm, Allerton Hall; Membership & Evangelism Mtg, 7pm, Amy Simpson's home.

Friday, Dec. 10: Aerobics, 9:15 am, Allerton Hall; Rev. Marks will be in the church office, 9:30-11:30am; Guild Christmas Party, 1pm, Allerton Hall.

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.

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 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: Last Sunday we served 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.

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).

The Guild's Annual Christmas Party will be held Friday, December 10at 1pm. Bring a $5 gift and have fun with Santa.

The Women's Guild is placing flowers in the sanctuary in memory of former members. Guild members are asked to sit up front together during the service.

I would like to thank the following people for being available to usher in November: Mike Harrington, Dave Kegel, Nancy Medeiros, Betsey Randall, Diane Lindquist, Jeff Lindquist, Rosalee Sinn, Paul Sinn, Trace Sears, Barbara Quinn, Sue Dagesse, Kim Latosek, Sheldon Peavey, Ray Quinn, Tom Mudgett, Kim Saunders, Bethany Sinn and Tim Sinn.

COMING EVENTS

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

Dec. 13 Advent Study Group,7pm.

Dec. 15 Mission and Outreach Meeting, 7pm, Church House

Dec. 15 Plymouth Family Network FREE Scrapbooking Workshop, 6-9pm, Allerton Hall.

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.