Dear Friends,

Last Sunday was an extremely emotional day at The Church of the Pilgrimage! It began with a fabulous and moving service of worship centered on the reception of our Confirmation Class. The service was solemn and was a testimony to the sacred seriousness with which our congregation takes the vows of our Confirmands, as they own for themselves promises made by others at their baptism.

I want to thank Dan Spacek for leading the Confirmation Class so well over the last year. I also want to acknowledge the important role played by mentors whose own witness to our faith was an inspiration to a fine group of young people as they begin their own life pilgrimages.

The service on Sunday concluded with a celebration of Holy Communion and it capped the morning in fitting sacred fashion.

Between the Confirmation Service and the Congregational Meeting which was held later, I conducted a private Service of Baptism for Seth Bennett William Holmes. The Holmes family lives in Colorado and on three occasions now they have made the long journey to Plymouth and The Church of the Pilgrimage for the sole purpose of the baptism of the Holmes children. They have told me that they feel a special sense of sacredness in our church and that is a compliment to all of you who keep the faith here.

The Service of Baptism was followed by the special congregational meeting, which was called by the Church Council. The meeting was very well attended. I was deeply touched by all speakers who spoke eloquently on both sides of the issues of same sex marriage. It is, to say the least, an emotionally charged issue, but I marveled at the respect and dignity which characterized the meeting. I sensed among the vast majority of people a desire to understand one another, and to be sensitive to those who may differ from them on either side of the question. I also sensed an understanding that people of deep faith can have differences of opinion without judging the depth or quality of another's faith pilgrimage. It was a remarkable meeting. In the end the consensus of the meeting was to accept the resolution prepared by the Advisory Board. A report on the content of that resolution appears elsewhere in this issue of The Pilgrimage Herald.

Dan and I agree that it is an honor to be pastors of a gifted congregation of people who are willing to grapple with difficult, even potentially divisive, issues from within the gift of faith which we all share. Congregational church governance at its best seeks, as one speaker put it at the meeting, to "discern the mind of Christ" in the context of issues and questions of the contemporary world. That is a sacred process first articulated for us by our first pastor, John Robinson. I truly believe that The Church of the Pilgrimage is among those churches which represent the best in the long tradition of congregational self-governance.

I end with this thought: we are all members who have freely made a covenant to abide by the decision made by the "major part" of the congregation. This is our gift!

Love,

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

Morning Worship 10:00 A.M. Rev. Gary Marks preaching.

Greeters: Bill and Diane Harting

The Pulpit Flowers are in loving memory of John and Francis Scheid and brother Jack, given by Paul and Nancy Scheid and family.

The Children will attend church school following the Time for Teaching.

All are invited to join us for Coffee Hour downstairs in Allerton Hall following the worship service.

Greeters are needed for June 27 and the month of July. Please call the church office to volunteer to greet or look for the sign-up sheet, which is located on the Membership and Evangelism Bulletin Board.

ATTENTION: Mark your Calendars! Sunday, June 20th, Rain or Shine our Church Family Picnic will be held at Pinewood Lodge Campground beginning at noon. Everyone is invited to bring a picnic lunch and enjoy a wonderful afternoon of fellowship together! Swimming, volleyball, and horseshoes are some of the activities. Canoe and boat rentals are available. This event is sponsored by the Christian Education and the Membership and Evangelism Committees. Sign up during coffee hour or call Pam Pawlowski at (508) 746-2819. What a great way to continue our celebration of Church School Day!

Note change of Office Hours for the summer: M-F, 9:00 A.M.-1:00 P.M.

CHURCH RECORD

Hospitalized: Recently hospitalized at Jordan Hospital: Malinda McKay, Neil Antoniotti; Dennelle Hetwer - Children's Hospital; Boston Meghan Enos - Brighan and Women's Hospital, Boston

Now at the Beverly Manor Nursing Home, Thelma Strassel.

Weddings:
On June 5, 2004, Rev. Marks conducted a wedding service for Jon Adam Bilodeau and Sarah Christine Tissot in the church sanctuary.

Baptisms:
On May 30, 2004, Rebecca Elizabeth LaFrance, the daughter, and Samuel Eliot LaFrance, the son of Heather (Post) and Wayne LaFrance, were baptized during the worship service.
On June 6, 2004, Seth Bennett William Holmes, the son of Wendy (Young) and Bennett William Holmes, was baptized during a private ceremony following the worship service.

In Memoriam:
On June 5, 2004, Rev. Marks conducted a graveside service for Douglas Grey. Our sympathies are with Doug's wife Shirley and his entire family.

Confirmation Class of 2004:
Lindsay Dagesse, Emily Harrington, Danielle Hettwer, Shawn Hettwer, Amanda Singer

THIS WEEK

Sunday, June 13-Morning Worship 10:00 a.m., Rev. Gary Marks, preaching.
Special Congregational Meeting following worship in the sanctuary. The purpose of the meeting: (1) To receive the report of the Feasibility Study Committee, (2) To act on the recommendations of Committee.
Monday, June 14: Aerobics, 9:00 a.m. in AH
Tuesday, June 15: Rev. Marks will speak to the Church Secretaries Conference at the Craigville Conference Center, 8:45 a.m.; Rev. Dan's office hours Noon-2:00 a.m..; Aerobics, 6:30 p.m. in AH; Habitat for Humanity Meeting, 7:00 p.m. in CH
Wednesday, June 16: Aerobics, 9:00 a.m. in AH; Staff Meeting, 10:00 a.m. Rev. Dan's office hours 10:00 a.m.-Noon; Music Committee, 6:30 p.m. in AH; Troop 47, 7:00 P.M. in the Church House; Choir Rehearsal, 7:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary;.
Thursday, June 17: Rev. Dan's office hours 11:00 a.m.-Noon and 1:00 p.m..-2:00 p.m.; Aerobics, 6:30 P.M. in AH.
Friday, June 18: Rev. Marks office hours, 9:30-11:30 a.m..; Aerobics, 9:00 a.m. in AH;

NEXT WEEK

Sunday, June 20-Father's Day/Church School Day-Morning Worship 10:00 A.M., Rev. Gary Marks, preaching. All-Church Picnic at Pinewood Lodge at Noon. Loring Building Dedication, Zion Lutheran Church, 4:00 p.m.
Monday, June 21: Rev. Dan's office hours Noon-2:00 p.m.; Aerobics, 9:00 a.m. in AH;
Tuesday, June 22: Rev. Marks' office hours, 9:30-11:30 a.m.; Rev. Dan's office hours Noon-2:00 p.m.; Aerobics, 6:30 p.m. in AH; Bd. of Trustees Joint Meeting, 7:00 p.m. in the CH.
Wednesday, June 23: Aerobics, 9:00 a.m. in AH; Rev. Dan's office hours 10:00 a.m.-Noon; Withington Piano Recital, 5:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary; Troop 47, 7:00 P.M. in the Church House; Missions Meeting, 7:00 p.m. in AH
Thursday, June 24: Aerobics, 6:30 p.m. in AH
Friday, June 25: Rev. Marks office hours, 9:30-11:30 a.m.; Aerobics, 9:00 a.m. in AH; Wedding Rehearsal, 6:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary; Wedding Rehearsal, 7:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary.
Saturday, June 26 Wedding 2:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary; Wedding, 4:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary

PLEASE NOTE

Please call the church office if you are aware of persons hospitalized or in need of pastoral care. It is especially important to let the ministers know about out-of-town hospitals. Thank you for your help.

If you are interested in becoming a member of The Church of the Pilgrimage please speak to Rev. Marks or phone the church office.

The Pilgrimage Herald will be published only once a monthly basis during July and August. If you have information you would like to be included in the July issue of the Herald, please submit it to the church office by June 25.

At a special business meeting of the Church for Spiritual Affairs on June 6, the members of the congregation passed a resolution and call to action on the issue of same-sex marriage in the Church of the Pilgrimage. The meeting was well attended, and many differing viewpoints were thoughtfully presented and received. A copy of the resolution is attached. Please direct any questions to the Advisory Board. Thank you, Deacon Trace Sears - Chair, Advisory Board

The Fourth Annual Church of the Pilgrimage Golf Tournament will be held on Saturday, June 12 at Squirrel Run Country Club. 8:00 a.m. start time with lunch on the Pavilion to follow.

Work has begun in the crib room. The crib room will be unavailable for use June 20, Children's Sunday, in preparation for the work. The week of June 14-18, we will be looking for volunteers to move everything out of the crib room and tear up the carpet. If you can help, please call Jenny Healy at 508-747-7168

Plant Sale: A great big giant "Thank You" to all who helped in all ways to make the plant sale this year such a success. We appreciate the donations of plants, pots, collecting money, pricing, buying, naming plants, getting plants and tables to Long Pond Road and back to church, and cleaning up, and last but by no means least, the donation of the space to hold the sale each year. I can never thank you all enough. We had a grand total of $1,064.05. You did it! Love to all, Pat Mudgett

The Summer Sale: Donations will be accepted beginning June 21st in the Church House for the Summer Sale. There will be two sorting rooms - one for household goods and toys, one for clothing and linens. Remember that all donations should be in good condition or new. Our indoor sale will start on July 1, and take place Monday-Friday mornings from 10:00 A.M.-1:00 P.M. in July and through the better part of August.

Harvest Fair: If anyone would like to make a contribution to the Holiday Table for the Harvest Fair, please contact Suzanne Anderson at 747-6460 or Laura Curtin at 746-7761 for ideas or suggestions about needed supplies (felt, fabric, ribbon, etc.)

We have some great ideas, and if you have the time or ideas to share and would be interested in joining us for an evening of crafts in July, please join us for an evening of crafts in July.. (Date to be announced.) Thank you!

We extend our best wishes to Rev. Mark Mendes who will be leaving the Second church, U.C.C. at the end of June to assume a pastoral call in Florida.

The Church of the Pilgrimage extends its congratulations to recent graduates from high school and college! It would be nice to have a list of graduates in the church office, so that they may be recognized personally, and so that we may keep in touch with them. If there is a recent graduate of whom you are aware, please notify the church office.

All Herald Notices for the end of June and the month of July should be received no later than Monday, June 21, 2004!

COMING EVENTS

June 11: Guild Annual Meeting, Bobby Hackett's Restaurant, Noon.

June 12: Pilgrimage Golf Tournament, Squirrel Run Country Club, 8:00 A.M. starting time. Pilgrim Festival Chorus Concert presents Songs of Love & Loss in the Sanctuary, 7:30 P.M.
June 13: Special Meeting following Worship.

June 29: First Tuesday evening concert featuring the Pilgrimage Men's Choir, 7:30 p.m.

Clerk - Lois Post; Moderator - Steven Triffletti; Treasurer - David Kegel; Collector - Thomas Mudgett;
Asst. Collector - Debbie Chaskes; Music Director - William B Richter;
Secretary - Pam McNicholas; Sexton - Tony Nightingale; World Mission Emphasis - Heifer Project International;
Church Building Telephone - (508) 747-1341.