Dear Friends,

Plymouth, Massachusetts is the place to be on Thanksgiving Day! Sometimes we don't take as seriously as we might just how special Plymouth is. If Bethlehem is a place some of us would like to be on Christmas Eve, Plymouth is where many would like to be on Thanksgiving.

In recent years it has been the fashion to debunk some of the great events in history, especially events that had an important role to play in the formation of the American nation. It is true that the Pilgrim people were not divine, were far from perfect and had flaws and failures just as all human beings have. The people who came to be called the Pilgrims were as ordinary as we are. They were not divine and never thought of themselves as being so. They were ordinary people, highly motivated by an intense ideal, an ideal that lifted them above ordinariness to accomplish extraordinary things.

I find great comfort and challenge, not in a romanticized rendition of the "First Comers," but in the power of faith in God, which was the source of their uncommon achievement. They were a people who were convinced that they were in a covenant relationship to God and with one another. They do not consider the energy of their vision to be their own or even within themselves, but in will of a God who guided them for divine purposes. They found the meaning of life to be tied to a divine vision for life.

The Pilgrim people were at their best when they remembered their sustaining vision conceived in the relationship of their covenant with God and one another. They often failed their vision and forsook their covenant. The pastor at times would call for "fast" days, or days of humiliation, in order to remind the people to trust in and re-own the covenant. Such days were meant to remind people of their limits and to recall to mind that God is the source, sustainer and provider in life.

Pastor John Robinson preached his famed "Farewell Address" on a day called for the purpose of reminding the Pilgrims to be humble before God as they were about to set out upon their epic historic journey which ended here in Plymouth. His text that day was Ezara 8:21.

The pastor, or magistrate, also called for days of thanksgiving when a special blessing was seen to have flowed from God's care. One such day of thanksgiving was called for the meager, but life saving, harvest of 1621. That day has become a national holiday and it is rightly celebrated as a sacred day in the context of the covenant relationship.

I, as the settled pastor of a covenant people, call for us to be thankful unto God for the holy blessings we receive from God's care. Let us be humble as we give thanksgiving for God who is our covenant partner.
Love,

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

CHURCH RECORD

Recuperating: Pat Harper is now at The Life Care Center for rehabilitation following knee surgery.

Baptism: Madelyn Whiting Stearns, daughter of Sarah Whiting Stearns and William Bramhall Stearns was baptized during the worship service on November 13, 2005.

In Memoriam:
On November 17, 2005 Rev. Marks conducted a memorial service for Audrey Coleman in the church sanctuary.
We were saddened to hear of the death of Anne Holmes last week.

Weddings: On November 5, 2005 Kevin Alan Hamill and Krista L. Howe were married in the church sanctuary.

WE NEED YOUR HELP!!! The Pilgrimage Women's Fellowship will hold a Sanctuary Cleaning at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 22nd. We would really appreciate it if any of you who are willing and able, would join us in cleaning the sanctuary that evening. This is an annual event in which we beautify the space as we welcome the season of Advent. If you can't join us until a little later, no problem. We will join together in fellowship for a light soup supper after we have finished cleaning. Please bring any cleaning supplies that you think would be helpful. We hope to see you there! If you have any questions or need a ride, please call Marna at 781-826-2543.

The Advisory Board has appointed a Bylaw Review Committee. Church Members who have suggestions for Bylaw changes should provide them in writing to one of the Committee members: Marna Blomberg, Doug Post, or Paul Scheid.

A hymnal dedication makes a wonderful Christmas gift, and is a unique honor to give and to receive. A dedication in honor of, or in memory of, a loved one is available for the cost of a $25 gift to the church. In addition, there is a small supply of uncirculated hymnals available for purchase, also $25. See Bill Harting or Louise Brown for more information.

A Note of Thanks from Gayle David. I would like to thank all of the wonderful "folks" who helped to make the Linen & Calico tables such a wonderful success this year!! How could we do it without all of you?
Yours in Pilgrimage, Gayle S. David

THIS WEEK

Mon., Nov. 21: Aerobics, Allerton Hall, 9am; Monday Meals, 10:30-1pm, Allerton Hall; Brownie & Girl Scout Troops, 4-7 pm, Allerton Hall; Pilgrim Festival Chorus Rehearsal, Sanctuary, 7-10pm.

Tue., Nov. 22: Rev. Marks will be in the church office, 9:30-11:30am; Service of Celebration of the 1749 Court House in Town Square, 6-7pm (see "notes" for more information); Aerobics, Allerton Hall, 6:30pm.

Wed., Nov. 23: Aerobics, Allerton Hall, 9am; Girl Scouts and Daisy Troops, Allerton Hall, 3:30-6pm; Evening Prayer, Sanctuary 7-7:30pm; Choir Rehearsal, Sanctuary, 7:30pm.

Thurs., Nov. 24: THANKSGIVING DAY EVENTS:
-Ecumenical Service at The First Parish Unitarian Church, 10:30am
-Open House at The Church of the Pilgrimage, 10am-1pm
-Pilgrims Progress, 10am

Fri., Nov. 25: The Church Office will be closed; Aerobics, Allerton Hall, 9am.

MISSIONS AND OUTREACH NEWS--
Monday Meals of Hospitality: The Monday Meals of Hospitality Program, serving people in need in our community, began on November 7th. To serve on a team some Mondays between 12:00-1:00pm, please call coordinator, Diane Flood (508-209-0266).
The Greater Plymouth Food Warehouse: Please contribute cereal and fruit this week.

Notes

Church House Dedication: Come to the dedication of our renovated church house. The Celebration will begin immediately after the service on Sunday, December 11. Soup and sandwiches will be served, there will be multimedia entertainment, and we will take time to thank God and others who have helped to transform our building. People of all ages are welcome. Please plan now to be present for this very important event in the life of our congregation.

Name the new Church House: We would like to give our new church house a new name. Please write your suggestions down and put them in the 'Places for Faces' box in the vestibule. We would like to announce the new name at the church house dedication on December 11.

Items in the Great Hall-Lost & Found: Please claim and store any items that are in the great hall of the Church House. Anything left will be taken to the dump Sunday, November 20.

We thank everyone who helped move salvageable furniture from storage into the church house on November 5th. Slowly but surely we are making progress toward the utilization of our wonderful new facility for Christian Education and of our expanded and lovely offices.

Gary now has a desk and chair in his new office! Soon he will be posting hours when you can make an appointment to see him or just drop by. Please let Gary know if you want to see him. He is willing to find a mutually convenient time for a meeting. Also, let me know of any pastoral needs of which you are aware. He is available most of the time.

Membership Classes: If you are interested in church membership, please speak to Rev. Marks or phone the church office. Rev. Marks is happy to speak with anyone interested in The Church of the Pilgrimage and The United Church of Christ. Please feel free to inquire.

The Reverend Heather Moody: It was wonderful to welcome the Rev. Heather Moody to our ministry at The Church of the Pilgrimage! Heather will be settling in for a while and in due time will post office hours, etc. It is terrific to have her as part of our ministerial team!

Wednesday Evening Prayer: Rev. Marks is resuming the Wednesday Evening Prayer gatherings from 7:00 to 7:30pm. The services usually follow simple contemporary Celtic Order for Evening Prayer. Though contemporary, these services reflect ancient Christian practices. Those attending may pray/reflect in silence or recall persons before God publicly. Those who have regularly attended these services have found them very helpful in their spiritual pilgrimages. Please feel free to join these prayer sessions.

PAC TV:
The airing of The Church of the Pilgrimage Services on PAC TV has been an important part of our ministry and outreach to the community. This is the opinion of your Membership and Evangelism Committee and we hope it is your opinion as well. We now have the Sunday 8am and 10pm time lots on PAC. But we need someone, maybe you, to help tape or edit these Church Services.
Tom Healy needs help! He can't do it himself. Do you want to learn a new skill? PAC will train you. You could tape, edit or both. We need help! If you can spare 2-3 hours on a weekday to edit or 11/2 hours to tape Sunday Services, please see Kathy Marks, chair of Membership and Evangelism. You wouldn't need to do both and probably only 1 or 2 times a month. Thanks for considering this form of ministry to our town.

1749 Court House Service: Rev. Marks will take part in a service at the 1749 Court House. During the Thanksgiving season focus will be given to this Plymouth and American treasure. Many don't know that the Court House is the oldest Court House to be used in the U.S. It also was the office of The Church of the Pilgrimage for a while. The service is from 6-7pm. On Tuesday, November 22nd.

Open House: Once again, The Church of the Pilgrimage will be hosting a public open house in conjunction with Pilgrim's Progress on Thanksgiving morning. Coffee, hot chocolate and snacks will be served. Anyone wishing to help out with this annual event is asked to get in touch with Liisa Budge (508-830-1723) and let her know. You need not stay for the whole morning. In addition, anyone who would like to donate snacks for this event may drop them off Thanksgiving morning or if they would like, they can drop them off the day before Thanksgiving at Plymouth Trophy & Award, 51 Court Street. This event gives townspeople as well as visitors a chance to see our beautiful church and the congregations' help is greatly appreciated. Liisa Budge

Thanks to Missions & Outreach: We thank the Mission and Outreach Committee for sponsoring the SERRV Sale on November 13th. We owe our gratitude to Betty and John Minot who move all the SERRV wares around

New Members:
On November 6, 2005 the following people "owned the covenant" of The Church of the Pilgrimage:
Bradford Besse
Richard Blanchard
Abigail Colwell
Jeff Donn
Judy Donn
Susan Miller
Michael Scagliarini
Beth Sharp
Karen Watson

Coming Events:
-Nov. 27: The First Sunday in Advent
-Nov. 29 The Advisory Board will meet at 7pm in Church House.
-Dec. 2: Christmas on North Street (see notes)
-Dec. 11: A Service of Dedication of a renovated Church House will be held immediately following the Sunday service.

Sunday, November 20th: The Confirmands will deliver Thanksgiving favors made by our Sunday School classes to local nursing homes.

Clerk - Lois Post; Moderator - Steven Triffletti; Treasurer - David Kegel; Collector - Debra Richters
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.