Pilgrimage Herald

Evening Prayer will continue to be held on most Wednesday evenings at 7pm in the sanctuary. If there is no meeting, ample time will be allowed to inform you of any cancellation. Watch the Herald for information or call the church office if you have questions.

Pastor's Pasta Reminder: Our third annual Pasta sale will be held on Sunday, January 30, 2005. As we did last year, it will include a quart of pasta sauce, a pound of spaghetti, a loaf of Jenny's bread and cookies for dessert for a bargain price of $15. Mark you calendar and we will be taking orders during the month of January.

MISSIONS AND OUTREACH
Overnights of Hospitality: The interfaith program to provide emergency housing to the homeless men in Plymouth is now in its sixth successful week. People from The Church of the Pilgrimage provide a laundry service and many will be volunteering for overnights as needed. Lunches are no longer needed, but volunteers for overnights are, as well as teams for cooking and serving the hot meals provided every evening. Please call Meg Bross at 508-830-9745 or Janet Holmes at 508-746-7148 or sign up at the Missions table during the coffee hour if you can help.

TSUNAMI RELIEF: You may wish to make a donation to victims of the horrific Tsunami in Southeast Asia through the Wider Church Ministries of The United Church of Christ. The United Church has already made use of One Great Hour of Sharing gifts to aid victims of the monumental disaster. You may wish to channel your donations through the U.C.C. which has always been a leader in times of human suffering and need.

Donations may be made to the national U.C.C. office at: Wider Church Ministries, United Church of Christ, 700 East Prospect Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44115, or online at www.ucc.org/disaster.

Food Pantries: Volunteers from the Food Warehouse thank the members of The Church of the Pilgrimage for over 500 pounds of donations this past year. Currently, the warehouse needs jam, jelly, mayonnaise, peanut butter and cereal.

Welcome: The Missions and Outreach Committee would welcome new people to be part of the many projects now underway or to help create new ones. Please call Janet Holmes 508-746-7148 or Meg Bross 508-830-9745 if you would like to be involved.
Heifer Announces Tsunami Rebuilding Effort: As relief and aid organizations work to meet the immediate basic human needs of tsunami victims in South and Southeast Asia, Heifer International is preparing programs that will help victims rebuild their lives over the long term. Heifer has committed $1 million for programs to provide training, livestock and related help to victims on the coast of the Indonesian island of Sumatra and elsewhere in the region to rebuild lives and farms over the next few years. Heifer International's Asia field staff is completing an initial assessment of conditions in areas devastated by the tsunami and has recommended that Heifer expand existing sustainable development programs in Northern Sumatra, one of the areas hardest hit in the disaster. The epicenter of the earthquake that spurred the tsunami was just off the Sumatra's northwest coast. Heifer has helped small farmers on the Indonesian island for more than a decade. The existing Heifer projects are inland and not directly affected by the quake and its aftermath. Coastal communities, however, are in dire need of resources. Heifer will reach out to those communities and support families in their efforts to rebuild. Heifer Indonesia staffers and partner organizations already on the ground will work together over the next few years to rebuild agricultural production, increase family incomes and support housing, education and public health efforts. Thank you for your support, Jo Luck, President and CEO


garymarks@8townsquare.org danspacek@8townsquare.org	January 30 , 2005	office@8townsquare.org
Volume LXXVII		No. 5
Dear Friends, There were plenty of empty pews on Sunday, January 25, 2005 at The Church of the Pilgrimage! Where were you? I know where I was and it was not in the pulpit, alas! I did actually consider trying to walk from the parsonage to the church up until 9:00 am, but the storm was near its peak at that time and the wisdom of others finally persuaded me to stay at home. That was a good thing, too, because snow drifted wildly around Town Square and the church building. I did not "officially" cancel the service on January 23rd; I simply told people that the minister was unable to get to the church to lead the service. I did venture out on Monday after the driveway was plowed and I was stunned by the amount of snow, it's drifting into giant mounds. I couldn't get out the Newfield Street door of the parsonage so drifted high against it was the snow. Kathy and I shoveled a passage way to the parked, buried cars on Monday. It is really a tunnel that we made. The snow piles are higher than my head just outside the door. It was, and is, amazing! I cannot recall anything like the amount of snow in Plymouth since I've been here, including the infamous Blizzard of 1978. The news programs have reported that Plymouth received 38" of snow during the storm and I have no reason to doubt that measurement. Clearly, the church's schedule has been interrupted and altered by the epic storm of 2005. Indeed, I'm not even sure you'll get this letter at its usual time. The postal service, of course, has been disrupted and usual office hours have been adapted to the necessities imposed by the storm. I'm sure that you will understand the irregularities since some of you may still be snowed in yourselves! (As of late Monday morning, January 24th, School Street beside the church building was not plowed and was completely drifted in)! There is no school in Plymouth at this writing, either. In fact, school has already been cancelled until Friday as I write this letter! It was a big storm! As I write, too, I've just heard the weather forecast and it includes a mere 4"-6" snow for Wednesday. Normally that may cause some alarm, but after the Blizzard of 2005 that seems only an annoyance. Everything is relative. I realize that I'm proving Mark Twain's observation" "Everyone talks about the weather, but nobody does anything about it." I also recall a remark made by an "old timer" once when I was going on and on about weather conditions. Having heard all he wanted to hear he said to me; "Well, it's the only weather we've got." That shut me up then and is about to do the same now as I conclude this weather-oriented letter! I hope and pray that you are all safe. It was not only a big storm about which to make light. It was a dangerous storm, as well. I hope you're well and dug-out and I hope to see you all at worship on January 30th. Love, © The Church of the Pilgrimage in Plymouth, MA Inc., all rights reserved.
Sunday, January 30, 2005 Morning Worship, 10:00 am , Rev. Gary L. Marks, preaching. Deacon of the Month: Dave Moreland. Altar Flowers: In loving memory of John Robinson given by Marie and the children. Membership Classes: The first of three new member classes will be held on January 30th from 11:30am -12:30pm. If you are interested in becoming a member of the church, please phone the church office or let Rev. Marks know. If you would like to know more about The Church of the Pilgrimage and The United Church of Christ, you are welcome to attend the classes. There will be three classes led by Rev. Marks. Among other things, the class will meet lay leaders of the church. Please let the church know of your interest. If you are aware of someone who is hospitalized, please inform the church office or Rev. Marks. Rev. Marks makes routine visits to Jordan Hospital, but the church has no way of knowing of out-of-town hospitalizations. Also, because of confidentiality regulations there is less information available to clergy regarding patients in hospitals than there was at previous times. Patients now must indicate that they wish a visit from clergy. There are times now that the "Clergy List" may now show a person's name. So, help the ministers by letting them know of hospitalizations. Pilgrimage Women's Fellowship: Are you ready to have a night out after the Blizzard of 2005? Please come join us at the February meeting of the Pilgrimage Women's Fellowship that will be held on Monday evening, February 7th in Allerton Hall at 7:00pm. We will have a guest speaker from the Plymouth Police Department who will give us information about evacuation, home protection, and safety of children. All women of the church are welcome and encouraged to attend this informative event. Nominating Committee: On Sunday, January 30th the Nominating Committee will hold a meeting after church in the small conference room in the Church House. Pledges for Fiscal Year 2005 Needed to date: $103,579.63 ($3,571.71/week) F/Y 2005 Total Pledge Receipts received to date: $83,513.91 As of 1/16/05 -$20,065.72 Please keep your pledges up to date, so that we can meet our overall operating needs! Thank you, Jonathan Porter, Assistant Treasurer
CHURCH RECORD Hospitalized: Nancy MacLeod, Jordan Hospital. In Memoriam: On January 20, 2005 Rev. Marks conducted a graveside service for Howard Livingston. Births: Congratulations are extended to Judy and John Mitchell on the birth of their second grandson! The Mitchell's daughter, Laurie Hanophy, gave birth to an 8lb 1oz baby boy at 11:59pm on January 25th in New York, named John Douglas Hanophy. Welcome John!
THIS WEEK Sunday,Jan. 30.: Morning Worship 10:00 a.m., Rev. Marks, preaching; Pastor's Pasta Sale, following worship, Allerton Hall; New Member Class, 11:30am-12:30pm, in the Pastor's Study in the church building (childcare provided). Monday, Jan 31.: Aerobics, 9:15 a.m., Allerton Hall; Tiger Pack 47, 4-5:30, Church House; Girl Scouts, 3:30-5, Church House; Pilgrim Festival Choir Rehearsal, 7-10pm, Sanctuary. Tuesday, Feb 1: Rev. Marks will in the church office, 9:30-11:30am; Aerobics, 6:30 pm; Allerton Hall; Christian Education Committee Meeting, 6:30pm, Jessica Sherman's home; Advisory Board Meeting, 7pm, Church House; Stewardship Committee Meeting, 7pm, Church House. Wednesday, Feb 2: Aerobics, 9:15 a.m., Allerton Hall; Staff Meeting, 10:00 am; Brownie Troop #122, 4-5:30pm, Allerton Hall; Troop 47/Den 4, 6-7:30, Church House (up);Troop #47, 7pm, Church House; Evening Prayer, 7pm, sanctuary; Choir Rehearsal 7:30 pm, sanctuary Thursday, Feb 3: Aerobics, 6:30pm, Allerton Hall. Friday, Feb. 4: Aerobics, 9:15 am, Allerton Hall; Rev. Marks will be in the church office, 9:30-11:30am.
NOTES: Evening Prayer will continue to be held on most Wednesday evenings at 7pm in the sanctuary. If there is no meeting, ample time will be allowed to inform you of any cancellation. Watch the Herald for information or call the church office if you have questions. Pastor's Pasta Reminder: Our third annual Pasta sale will be held on Sunday, January 30, 2005. As we did last year, it will include a quart of pasta sauce, a pound of spaghetti, a loaf of Jenny's bread and cookies for dessert for a bargain price of $15. Mark you calendar and we will be taking orders during the month of January. MISSIONS AND OUTREACH Overnights of Hospitality: The interfaith program to provide emergency housing to the homeless men in Plymouth is now in its sixth successful week. People from The Church of the Pilgrimage provide a laundry service and many will be volunteering for overnights as needed. Lunches are no longer needed, but volunteers for overnights are, as well as teams for cooking and serving the hot meals provided every evening. Please call Meg Bross at 508-830-9745 or Janet Holmes at 508-746-7148 or sign up at the Missions table during the coffee hour if you can help. TSUNAMI RELIEF: You may wish to make a donation to victims of the horrific Tsunami in Southeast Asia through the Wider Church Ministries of The United Church of Christ. The United Church has already made use of One Great Hour of Sharing gifts to aid victims of the monumental disaster. You may wish to channel your donations through the U.C.C. which has always been a leader in times of human suffering and need. Donations may be made to the national U.C.C. office at: Wider Church Ministries, United Church of Christ, 700 East Prospect Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44115, or online at www.ucc.org/disaster. Food Pantries: Volunteers from the Food Warehouse thank the members of The Church of the Pilgrimage for over 500 pounds of donations this past year. Currently, the warehouse needs jam, jelly, mayonnaise, peanut butter and cereal. Welcome: The Missions and Outreach Committee would welcome new people to be part of the many projects now underway or to help create new ones. Please call Janet Holmes 508-746-7148 or Meg Bross 508-830-9745 if you would like to be involved. Heifer Announces Tsunami Rebuilding Effort: As relief and aid organizations work to meet the immediate basic human needs of tsunami victims in South and Southeast Asia, Heifer International is preparing programs that will help victims rebuild their lives over the long term. Heifer has committed $1 million for programs to provide training, livestock and related help to victims on the coast of the Indonesian island of Sumatra and elsewhere in the region to rebuild lives and farms over the next few years. Heifer International's Asia field staff is completing an initial assessment of conditions in areas devastated by the tsunami and has recommended that Heifer expand existing sustainable development programs in Northern Sumatra, one of the areas hardest hit in the disaster. The epicenter of the earthquake that spurred the tsunami was just off the Sumatra's northwest coast. Heifer has helped small farmers on the Indonesian island for more than a decade. The existing Heifer projects are inland and not directly affected by the quake and its aftermath. Coastal communities, however, are in dire need of resources. Heifer will reach out to those communities and support families in their efforts to rebuild. Heifer Indonesia staffers and partner organizations already on the ground will work together over the next few years to rebuild agricultural production, increase family incomes and support housing, education and public health efforts. Thank you for your support, Jo Luck, President and CEO
Coming Events: Feb. 6 Membership Class, 11:30-12:30, Pastor's Study Feb. 7 Women's Fellowship (guest speaker), 7pm, Allerton Hall Feb. 10 Membership Committee Meeting, 7pm, Amy Simpson's Home Feb. 11 Women's Guild, 1pm, 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.