Dear Friends,

As I write this letter I have yet to walk in the Pilgrim's Progress! Yet, it is time to attempt to refocus and direct attention toward the season of Advent.

Advent doesn't mean all that much as a season to our culture. Culturally the populace is intent on shopping, family gatherings, parties, et. al. Not a great deal of attention is given to the religious season of preparation of the spirit as Christians seek to ready themselves to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Indeed, it is increasingly true that outside of churches there is little reference at all to Christmas as one of the central festival days in the Christian year. Nativity scenes, not so long ago prominently displayed in town squares, are rapidly disappearing. I have also noted in recent years that people greet each other with "Happy Holidays," not "Merry Christmas." I could multiply examples of the cultural "de-Christ-ification" of Christmas, as can you. The point is, our culture wants to throw a gigantic party each year, but it has forgotten what it is that is being celebrated! By and large, people are preparing to give a big birthday party without inviting the one who was born!

I've already said that as I write it isn't even Thanksgiving Day yet, I may perhaps be permitted another reference to Pilgrim faith. The first Christian Church in Plymouth didn't celebrate Christmas. I've heard even secular tellers of the Pilgrim story register shock at the Pilgrim's neglect of such a central event in Christian religiosity.

The reason for the Pilgrims shunning of the lavish Christmas celebrations they had know in England is that those observances had become culturally devoid of the content of biblical faith. They were not a commemoration of the birth of God's Word in the flesh of humanity, but excuses for excess, and even displays of behavior inappropriate to biblical faith. Somehow this has a familiar ring to it, don't you agree?

Our Advent preparations at The Church of the Pilgrimage are attempts to keep before the spirit's eye the reason for Christmas in the first place. We don't have to be as austere as the Pilgrims were in their non-celebrations of the birth of Christ. We don't even need to rail against the cultural obsession with commercialism, nor with the general disregard for holiness in the secular world.

What Advent should be for us is a gradual recollection of God's appearance in Jesus of Nazareth, precisely for a world constantly prone to deny that anything is holy and sacred! Cultural forgetfulness of the birth of Christ is not a recent phenomenon! What would be novel, however, is that we learn, taste and celebrate the God who has not given up on a violent and often greedy world, and seeks our hearts as places to give birth to the grace and love of Bethlehem's Child.

Love,

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

CHURCH RECORD

Baptism: On November 20, 2005 Ryan Bunker Coutts, son of Greg Coutts and Courtney (Bunker) Coutts, was baptized during the worship service.

Recuperating: At the Life Care Center, Harriet Bussolari. George Carter is now at Beverly Manor.

Christmas on North Street-December 2nd, Town Square

The town's Christmas tree will be located in Town Square, in front of the church again this year. Plans are underway to open our doors wide in the spirit of hospitality and friendship to all in our town.
* Women's Fellowship will offer hot chocolate and cider, popcorn & cookies in Allerton Hall.
* Membership & Evangelism will host an open sanctuary with candlelight and music for peaceful meditation.
Join us at your church, welcoming all who come to Plymouth center seeking something to celebrate this holiday season. Let us open wide our doors so they can know the true meaning of Christ among us.

Memorial Poinsettias: Christmas is fast approaching. By your loving purchase of poinsettias, we can enhance the beauty of our church for the Christmas services. Sign up in the lower vestibule following the service for the next three Sundays. There will be an insert listing the donors and those memorialized or honored in the Christmas week Herald. The suggested donation for a poinsettia is $15, although a donation of any amount is welcome. The flowers may be given to shut-ins, or picked up after the Christmas Eve services or the following Sunday. Volunteers will be welcomed to take flowers to shut-ins following the Christmas Sunday service.

Living Nativity at Overlook Farm: The Christmas story will be reenacted at Heifer International's Overlook Farm, 216 Wachusett Street in Rutland, Massachusetts, December 10th and December 11th from 1:00 to 5:30pm. A live nativity, complete with the animals will be presented at the beginning of each hour in the barn (dress warmly). There will be an offering taken at the conclusion of each presentation of the nativity to benefit the work of Heifer International. Sleigh or hayrides will be available. Visit our gift shop featuring alternative gifts from Heifer International and free trade crafts from around the world. There is no charge for this event, but we ask everyone to bring a plate of cookies to share. Please call 508-886-2221 for more information.

THIS WEEK

Mon., Nov. 28: 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. 29: Rev. Marks will be in the church office at 9:30am; Aerobics, Allerton Hall, 6:30pm; Advisory Board Meeting, 7pm, Church House.

Wed., Nov.30: Aerobics, Allerton Hall, 9am; Staff Meeting, 10:00am; Girl Scouts and Daisy Troops, Allerton Hall, 3:30-6pm; Evening Prayer, Sanctuary 7-7:30pm; Choir Rehearsal, Sanctuary, 7:30pm.

Thurs., Dec. 1: Aerobics, Allerton Hall, 9am; Christian Education Meeting, Linda Brown's, 6:30pm.

Fri., Dec. 2: Aerobics, Allerton Hall, 9am; Rev. Marks will be in the church office, 9:30-11:30am; Christmas on North Street, Open House at The Church of the Pilgrimage.

MISSIONS AND OUTREACH NEWS--

Unicef: Thank you to all the children who carried Trick-or Treat UNICEF boxes this year. The total amounted to $101.76! Congratulations!

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.

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.
Thank You

We thank Liisa Budge, Lin and Jon Peterson and all the others who volunteered to show our Pilgrimage hospitality during Plymouth's Thanksgiving Day activities.

A "Thank You" to our church was received from John and Betsy Minot who bring the SERRV Sale to us each year. The sale this year made about $2,500 for the mission works of Church World Service.

Membership: If you are interested in becoming a member of The Church of the Pilgrimage, please call the church office or speak to Rev. Marks. You may obtain information about the United Church of Christ and The Church of the Pilgrimage upon request.

Newfield House Thanksgiving Service: On November 15th Rev. Marks participated in an Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service at the Newfield House.

Cribroom Volunteers: We need volunteers to help out inour Crib Room! The Crib Room provides a valuable service to our church. It is a recently renovated space in the church building. It is a pleasing and safe space where parents are invited to leave their children while they attend worship. We are working hard to organize volunteers so that this crucial part of our ministry is continued. There is a Sign-Up Sheet in the Crib Room, or you may phone the church office for information.

Annual Women's Fellowship Christmas Potluck: Monday, December 5 at 6:30pm in Allerton Hall. Join us for dinner, devotions, singing (no experience necessary) and a Yankee Swap (nothing over $5, gag gifts encouraged). All the women of the church are welcome: members, regulars, soon to be members, etc. If you have been thinking about coming but haven't been able to make a meeting this year, don't hesitate, come along, the more the merrier! Be sure to bring something for the banquet table (if your last name begins with A-E dessert, F-R a main dish, S-Z a side dish) and your Yankee Swap gift. Rides are always available so don't let the dark keep you away. Call Jenny 508-747-7168 or Marna 781-826-2543 for a ride or more information. See you there!

Confirmation: This year's Confirmands and Mentors will be recognized in the December 4th worship service. Following the worship service they will be meeting from 11:30-1pm in the Church House. Confirmands-you will need to bring something that you have created.

Coming Events:
-Dec. 4: The Second Sunday in Advent
-Dec. 11: Dedication of our renovated Church House (see notes).

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.