Pilgrimage Herald

PLEASE NOTE

The Space Needs Committee presented the report of the feasibility study at a special business meeting on June 13.

After the presentation there were a number of questions regarding the project. It was explained that the fund-raising goal of $600,000.00 (or more) over three years was believed to be achievable.

Following the questions, more than two-thirds of the Congregation voted to accept the report of Margery Williams and begin the Capital Campaign as recommended.

The project to reconstruct the Church House is estimated to cost about 1.1 million dollars. When the Capital Campaign is over, a special meeting of the Congregation will be called to decide how best to fund the remaining needs to complete the project.
The campaign will begin as soon as the campaign committee is in place. It is expected that the capital campaign will conclude in early November.

The Space Needs Committee and Capital Campaign Committee will continue to keep the members informed through progress reports in the Herald, from the Pulpit, and possibly through the Church's web site. ....Al Hoyt

The Ministers' Summer Vacation Schedule:
Rev. Marks will be on vacation during July. Rev. Spacek will be preaching and covering the pastoral duties. He will be on vacation during August.
Greeters are needed for 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.


garymarks@8townsquare.org danspacek@8townsquare.org	July, 2004	office@8townsquare.org
Volume LXXVI		No. 36
Dear Friends, I am writing this letter on the first full day of summer. It is a glorious day, sunny and mild with low humidity. I hope that your summer will be as glorious as is this first day of the season. We really do wait a very long time for the warmth of summer, or so it seems to me. I said to someone recently that New Englanders know how to appreciate beautiful warm days, probably because they are not all that common. I do hope that you find the summer a period in which you are able to relax, enjoy, think and align your spirits with God's peace. It has been a very full year for me personally, and I am looking forward to July. Several people have asked whether I shall be traveling or continuing my Celtic studies. At this late date, I have no travel plans. I shall miss that very much and have already missed the anticipation that goes with making plans for such ventures. I shall also miss the opportunity to study and learn in the context of places where great spiritual guides and thinkers have been. The opportunities I've had in recent years have greatly enriched my own spiritual pilgrimage and have inspired me to dare acts of prayer, service and holiness pursued by those who have taught all who will learn of the love and presence of God in life's ordinariness. This July we shall be getting our own place at Bloody Pond in order. We are having work done there and it has taken far, far longer to complete than we were led to believe it would! Any of you who have built or remodeled a house are likely able to identify completely with the frustration these remarks are intended to convey. Even when the basic work is finished, there is much for us to do. So I'll be painting-inside-outside-you get what I'll be doing this July! We have much to do together as a congregation in the months ahead. We have been through some times during 2004, which I honestly accept as growing times. Following upon recent discussions and study, I hope to offer a study of the Book of Galatians. (I'd like to tackle Romans, but that may be more than I can handle right now or in the immediate future!) During recent hard wrestling with issues, I have been driven to the New Testament, as it deals with questions of law and gospel, faith and righteousness, etc. These are the very same questions which gave rise to the Reformation and are the source of our own tradition as it has evolved into the United Church of Christ. I hope there will be a huge response to a study which has as one of its goals learning what it means to have a living faith which serves a living Christ. We have voted to raise money for long-awaited and needed improvements to the Church House. We'll get to all that soon enough. For now I pray that you'll enjoy the summer. I ask you also to pray for each other and for me. We need each other! I do love you all very much. God bless us all! Love, © The Church of the Pilgrimage in Plymouth, MA Inc., all rights reserved.
PLEASE NOTE The Space Needs Committee presented the report of the feasibility study at a special business meeting on June 13. After the presentation there were a number of questions regarding the project. It was explained that the fund-raising goal of $600,000.00 (or more) over three years was believed to be achievable. Following the questions, more than two-thirds of the Congregation voted to accept the report of Margery Williams and begin the Capital Campaign as recommended. The project to reconstruct the Church House is estimated to cost about 1.1 million dollars. When the Capital Campaign is over, a special meeting of the Congregation will be called to decide how best to fund the remaining needs to complete the project. The campaign will begin as soon as the campaign committee is in place. It is expected that the capital campaign will conclude in early November. The Space Needs Committee and Capital Campaign Committee will continue to keep the members informed through progress reports in the Herald, from the Pulpit, and possibly through the Church's web site. ....Al Hoyt The Ministers' Summer Vacation Schedule: Rev. Marks will be on vacation during July. Rev. Spacek will be preaching and covering the pastoral duties. He will be on vacation during August. Greeters are needed for 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.
SUNDAY WORSHIP All Sunday Worship Services will be held at 10:00 a.m.. The Order of Worship will be listed in the Bulletin, which will be distributed by the ushers. Crib Room care is available for infants and toddlers downstairs in the Mayflower Room during the Worship Hour. There will be no regular Church School classes until fall. Younger children, 3rd grade and under, are invited to attend a Bible Story/Craft Hour downstairs in Allerton Hall following their dismissal from the worship service. Older children are to remain in worship. Sunday, June 27, 2004 The Rev. Gary Marks will be preaching today. Deacon: Dottie Bottomley Special Music: Our choir The pulpit flowers are in loving memory of Derek Colburn, given by the family. Ushers: Sarah and Dan Bruffee, Pat and Tom Mudgett Greeters: Sunday, July 4, 2004 The Rev. Daniel Spacek will be preaching today. Deacon: Linn Peterson Holy Communion will be a part of this morning's service. Special Music: Solo by Trace Sears The pulpit flowers are in memory of Marion and Gibb Van Nest, given by Tony and Susan Cotta. Ushers: Marilyn Colburn, Pat and Chuck Harper, John Peterson Greeters: Sunday, July 11, 2004 The Rev. Daniel Spacek will be preaching today. Deacon: Linn Peterson Special Music: The pulpit flowers are in memory of all our Loved Ones, given by The Flower Committee Memorial Fund. Ushers: Linda and David Kegel, Bobbie and Pete Preston Greeters: Sunday, July 18, 2004 The Rev. Daniel Spacek will be preaching today. Deacon: Linn Peterson Special Music: The pulpit flowers are in memory of all our Loved Ones, given by The Flower Committee Memorial Fund Ushers: Verna and Allen Hoyt, Pat and Tom Mudgett Greeters: Sunday, July 25, 2004 The Rev. Daniel Spacek will be preaching today. Deacon: Linn Peterson Special Music: The pulpit flowers are in loving memory of our parents, Willard and Frances Hatch, and Francis Meserve Hoyt, given by Mr. and Mrs. Allen Hoyt Ushers: Robert McFarland Greeters: All are invited to join us for Coffee Hour downstairs in Allerton Hall following the worship service.
CHURCH RECORD Weddings: On June 12, 2004, Rev. Marks conducted a wedding service for Kelly Savary and Doug Powers in the home of Christine and Jim Powers, Wareham. Baptisms: On June 13, 2004, Juliette Elizabeth Clements, the daughter of Therese Clements and Sean Phillips, was baptized during the worship service. On June 13, 2004, Faith Lynn McCormack, the daughter of Diana (Ayube) and Shawn McCormack, was baptized during the worship service. On June 13, 2004, Zachary Chapman Moss, the son of Susan (Chapman) and Matthew Moss, was baptized during the worship service. In Memoriam: On June 12, 2004, Rev Marks conducted a funeral service for Florence Bradley in Braintree. Florence was an active member of The Church of the Pilgrimage for many years. Our sympathies are with her family.
NOTICES FOR JULY The Pilgrimage Herald will be published only once a month during July and August. If you have information you would like to be included in the August issue of the Herald, please submit it to the church office by Monday, July 19. Note change of Office Hours for the summer: M-F, 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. If you are interested in becoming a member of The Church of the Pilgrimage, please speak to Rev. Marks or phone the church office. There are openings for pulpit flowers on July 11 & July 18. Please call Judy Mitchell at 508-746-3959 if you wish to honor or memorialize someone on those dates with beautiful flowers in the sanctuary. 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. Please inform the church office of recent graduations, weddings, etc. We like to honor and keep track of our young people as they attain significant events in their lives. Let us know! The Fourth Annual Church of the Pilgrimage Golf Tournament was held on Saturday, June 12 at Squirrel Run Country Club. We thank Ed Pawlowski for organizing this event. Over $2,000 was raised for the church and, most importantly, everyone had a good time. Stewardship: The summer is upon us and there is typically a lower attendance during July and August. So it is very important that you keep up with your pledge during these leaner months of the year. Also, with the end of 2003/4 fiscal year approaching (June 30), please take the time now to make up any shortfall in your pledge. For those of us who have not yet pledged for the upcoming year, we ask you to look at all the good work that is happening and to join in and help support all the great things that we are doing in our church, our community and our world. Have a great summer. Sincerely, Thomas Healy The Nominating Committee was reorganized Sunday, June 13, and the following were elected: (Term Expiring) Cliff Sampson, Chairman 06 Louise Brown, Secretary 06 Stephanie Grey 05 Marna Blomberg 05 Brad Willis 07 Paul Scheid 07 The Crib Room renovations have begun! Thank you to all who have helped in so many ways. We will be thinning out the current toys and furniture and replacing them with new items. We currently have a wish list of new, unused toys that Kellyanne's Memorial Fund will not cover at this time, as we have it allocated for larger expenses of carpentry and furniture over the summer. If anyone is out shopping this summer and would like to pick up one of these items, we would truly appreciate it! Cars and trucks Play food for the kitchen Play pots and pans for the kitchen Pretend steering wheel Dress-up clothing Remember to look for toys that are marked as safe for ages 2 years and under. Thank you so much in advance! If you have any questions, you may contact Julie Sears or Jenny Healy. Balloons are NOT permitted in the Church Building. The ceiling fans' motors have burned out TWICE as a result of a balloon interfering with the movement of the fan. Cost to replace a motor is around $450. Any group not adhering to this policy will bear the cost of replacing the fan's motor, AND run the risk of having their building use request denied. If no one takes responsibility, then ALL groups using this building will share in the cost to replace the motors. Debby Porter, Chair, Board of Trustees Monday, July 1 - the Summer Sale opens: Donations are now being accepted in the Church House for the Summer Sale. There will be two sorting rooms - one for household goods and toys and 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. Too hot for you?!: Think Harvest Fair and cool off at a craft night at Suzanne Anderson's house on Thursday, July 15, at 7:00 p.m. Please bring scissors and glue. We will provide the rest of the supplies. Call Laura Curtin at 508-746-7761 or Suzanne Anderson at 508-747-6460 for more information or directions. Date for the Harvest Fair is October 30. Habitat For Humanity Fundraising: Volunteers are needed for the Habitat For Humanity booth at the Plymouth Water-front Festival on Saturday, July 10, and Sunday, July 11. Someone with a truck is also needed on both days. Please call Nancy Morse at 508-746-5213 or Meg Bross at 508-830-9745. Graduate: Benjamin Martin Sampson, grandson of Clifford and Laura Sampson, graduated from Tabor Academy with Honors, and will be attending Dartmouth College in the fall. Student Ambassador to Australia: Holly Richters, daughter of Darryl and Debbie (Mann) has been chosen to be a student ambassador to Australia this summer. The sponsoring program is People to People. Holly's teacher recommended her as an applicant. After many interviews and project evaluations, she was chosen as one of 41 students from Massachusetts to participate in this program. Holly will leave for Australia on July 14, and be gone for 16 days. We wish her our best and are very proud of her selection as an ambassador of good will to Australia. We wish her God speed and looking forward to her sharing her experiences with us upon her return. God Bless you, Holly. The Plymouth Council on Aging is in dire need of people to drive some of our local elderly citizens to doctor appointment. These appointments are made in advance for the convenience of the drivers. Most senior citizens are transported to their appointments by our dial-ride busses; however, we do have clients who have difficulty in getting in and out of the bus, for a number of medical reasons,. Drivers will be given a small mileage stipend. Please consider volunteering a few hours each week or so to help us out. We are also looking for an "early riser" who would be willing to drop off a dialysis patient for treatment in the Industrial Park on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, at 6:00 a.m. This is high priority as this patient has been having to take cabs for each treatment. Letter from MCUCC Minister and President June 8, 2004 Dear Friends at Church of the Pilgrimage, UCC: Greetings, grace and peace. On behalf of your 426 sister UCC congregations in Massachusetts, I would like to publicly thank your Interim Associate Pastor, Mr. Daniel Spacek, for service on the Commission for Educational Ministries. I also want to thank you for lending Dan to the work of the wider church. Dan's efforts on behalf of all the congregations of the Massachusetts Conference are a living embodiment of the covenant among us. When you see Dan, invite him to talk about his work with the wider church! I am sure he would be delighted to do so. Together and as the United Church of Christ, we seek to be a living answer to the prayer of Jesus, "that they may all be one." Blessings Nancy Taylor Minister and President A Poem from a Nursing home At Beverly Manor Gray hair abounds Some wide awake Others sleeping sound. What goes on in all those minds? We may never know. Some recall days of long ago Happy times with Family and friends The joys and memories Just never ends. We sit and wait We hope and pray Someone may visit today And bring us news Of friends, church and town Interesting tidbits Of what's going on. These all mean so very much. It's so good to keep in touch. by Thelma Strassel Summer Music Series at Church of the Pilgrimage Every Tuesday night at 8 p.m., plus one bonus Thursday concert. June 29 Pilgrimage Men's Choir July 6 The Two Nicoles: Nicole Sjolin and Nicole Yeprez, sopranos July 13 North Channel Reel Club: Sally Tucker (flute) and Greg Tucker (guitar) with jigs and reels July 20 Daniel Kennedy (composer and pianist), joined by Nicole O'Toole (flute and Joseph McKinley (piano) July 27 Steven Young (organ) August 3 Chamber Music Festival Concert, with Paul Fried (flute) and Timothy Ehlen (piano) August 10 Chamber Music Festival Concert, with Piotr Janowski (violin), Joanna Kurkowicz (violin) and Samir Golescu (piano) August 17 Highland Light Pipe Band August 24 Katherine Robinson (soprano) August 26 Richard Hill (organ)
COMING EVENTS June 29: First Tuesday evening concert featuring the Pilgrimage Men's Choir, 8:00 p.m. July 1: Summer Sale starts July 10 & 11 Habitat For Humanity booth at Plymouth Waterfront Festival July 15 Craft Night at Sue Anderson's (see notice) October 30 Harvest Fair
Clerk - Lois Post; Moderator - Steven Triffletti; Treasurer - David Kegel; Collector - Thomas Mudgett; Music Director - William B Richter; Organist, Chandler Gregg Secretary - Pam McNicholas; Sexton - Tony Nightingale; World Mission Emphasis - Heifer Project International; Church Building Telephone - (508) 747-1341.