Pilgrimage Herald

December 25 , 2005

Morning Worship: 10:00am, Rev. Gary L. Marks.

Deacon in Charge: Helen Belcher and John McNicholas

Flowers: Christmas poinsettias are in loving memory of relatives, friends, and loved ones. The names are printed on the enclosed sheet. Also, Cathy & Clarence Delano give a poinsettia in memory of loved ones, and Goodwill & Valerie Stewart give two poinsettias in memory of loved ones.

THIS WEEK

Mon., Dec. 26: Aerobics, Allerton Hall, 9am; Monday Meals, 10:30-1pm, Allerton Hall; Church Office Closed.
Tue., Dec. 27: Aerobics, 6:30pm, Allerton Hall; The Advisory Board will meet at 7pm in the Church House.
Wed., Dec. 28: Aerobics, Allerton Hall, 9am; Rev. Marks will be in the church office, 9:30am: Choir Rehearsal, Sanctuary, 7:30pm.
Thurs., Dec. 29:Aerobics, Allerton Hall, 9am.
Fri., Dec. 30 Aerobics, Allerton Hall, 9am.

The Church Office will be closed on Monday, December 26th and Monday, January 2nd.


garymarks@8townsquare.org	December 25 , 2005	office@8townsquare.org
Volume LXXVII		No. 39
Dear Friends, It is my sincere prayer that the grace and peace of God born in Christ may be in your hearts at Christmas, 2005. The message of God's love and peace has been the focus of our faith for more than 2,000 years. Rather than be discouraged by the preponderant evidence that love and peace have made little progress in the world and human hearts in all those centuries, I choose to be encouraged that there is an institution which believes and acts in ways that proclaim them as the final truth of societies and individual hearts. The church has one purpose; to proclaim, in ways spiritual and practical, that God in Christ thinks better of us than we seem to demonstrate ourselves to be, globally, locally, personally. Last Sunday I read a prayer by the current abbot of the ancient Christian monastic Abbey of Lindisfarne. The abbott's name is David Adam. The title of the piece is, "A Prayer Before A Christmas Crib." I repeat it here as an aid in your own spiritual reflections before the birth of Christ. "I open the stable door; I kneel before the infant; I worship with the shepherds; I adore the Christ child. I give my love with Mary and Joseph; I wonder at the 'Word made flesh.' I am aware of the love of God; I sing glory with the angels; I offer my gifts with the wise men. I receive the living Lord; I hold Him in my hands; I go on my way rejoicing, glorifying and praising God." (In Celtic Daily Prayer) Among other things, I am drawn to the way Abbot Adam put the ancient story of the 'Word made flesh' in the present tense. The message of God's love and peace never happened unless it happens in the present, as well. The 'Word made flesh' was not a "once-upon-a-time" event; it is a spiritually recurring event. When the grace of God's Word of peace and love dwell in our hearts, Christ is born. Bethlehem's holy birth is not mere history; it is a "happening" which gives us hope, now and for the future. I spoke Sunday about my own spiritual captivization in the line of prayer, "I hold Him in my hands..." That line makes the birth of Christ contemporary for me. It also reminds me that as God trusted the birth of the Word to Mary, so God trusts us and the church to hold the Word of God in our hands. We are trusted to proclaim God's World of love, peace and justice in our world, in our spiritual lives, and in a blessed community. May God's love and peace dwell in you as God ever seeks a birthing place for God's holy child in us. Love, © The Church of the Pilgrimage in Plymouth, MA Inc., all rights reserved.
Morning Worship: 10:00am, Rev. Gary L. Marks. Deacon in Charge: Helen Belcher and John McNicholas Flowers: Christmas poinsettias are in loving memory of relatives, friends, and loved ones. The names are printed on the enclosed sheet. Also, Cathy & Clarence Delano give a poinsettia in memory of loved ones, and Goodwill & Valerie Stewart give two poinsettias in memory of loved ones.
Sydney Rowland says "Thank You!" Sydney called the church office wanting to be sure that everyone knew how much she appreciated the birthday cards and greetings she received for her 100th birthday. She was especially touched by the yellow roses Gary brought her and the lovely poinsettia plant from the church. It meant a great deal to her to be thought of so fondly on her special day! New England Women's CelebrationVII will be at the Sheraton Hotel and Conference Center in Burlington, VT March 17, 18 & 19. Women's Fellowship and Membership & Evangelism are encouraging a group of Pilgrimage women to attend this special UCC Women's Conference. At the present time 5 to 7 of us plan to attend and would love to see an even larger number travel together to this time of worship, workshops and celebration. A registration deadline is December 31st. Look for registration forms and information at the membership desk in Allerton Hall. If cost is a problem please contact Women's Fellowship co-presidents, Marna Blomberg or Jenny Healy. Attention All Committee Chairs Please remember that you should be submitting 2 copies of your monthly meeting minutes to Shellie in the church office for record keeping purposes. Thank you, The Advisory Board.
THIS WEEK Mon., Dec. 26: Aerobics, Allerton Hall, 9am; Monday Meals, 10:30-1pm, Allerton Hall; Church Office Closed. Tue., Dec. 27: Aerobics, 6:30pm, Allerton Hall; The Advisory Board will meet at 7pm in the Church House. Wed., Dec. 28: Aerobics, Allerton Hall, 9am; Rev. Marks will be in the church office, 9:30am: Choir Rehearsal, Sanctuary, 7:30pm. Thurs., Dec. 29:Aerobics, Allerton Hall, 9am. Fri., Dec. 30 Aerobics, Allerton Hall, 9am. The Church Office will be closed on Monday, December 26th and Monday, January 2nd.
Coming Events: Jan. 1 New Year's Day-Morning worship 10am Jan. 2 The Church office will be closed. Jan. 7 Missions Dinner in Allerton Hall, 5-7pm Jan. 8 Ordination Service for Gloria Carlson, Old South Union Church, So. Weymouth, MA, 2:00pm2nd.
MISSIONS AND OUTREACH NEWS-- Thank you for your generous response to the Christmas toy drive held last Sunday. We were able to deliver a large amount of gifts to the Old Colony Memorial again this year. Missions Dinner and Celebration for Epiphany will be held on Saturday, January 7th. We ask everyone to bring a gift of non-perishable food for the Plymouth Area Food Warehouse and place it in the nursery upon arrival. The events of the evening begin at 5:30pm with a Crown-Making Craft for Children, 6:00 dinner, 6:45 The children will present the Gifts of Non-Perishable Foods and 7:00 is a Carol Sing. All are welcome! Please sign-up in Allerton Hall. 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. Rev. Heather's Office Hours: Rev. Heather will have office hours on Tuesday from 1-3pm, Wed from 10am-12pm and Thursday 10am-12pm. 12th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Prayer Breakfast Monday, January 16, 2006 at Plymouth South High School, Long Pond Road, Plymouth beginning at 7:30am. The guest speaker will be The Reverend Dr. Peter J. Gomes. Tickets purchased prior to the day of the Breakfast will cost $8 for students and $12 for adults. Adult tickets purchased at the door on the day of the event will cost $15. Please see Ken Heckman or call the church office for tickets. New Brouchures: Perhaps you have noticed some super posters, bulletin, brochures, et. al. which have been added as aids to our church's ministry. One of the latest efforts in that regard are attractive brochures for use in the little racks on the back of pews in the sanctuary. They contain "Welcome" information for those visiting our church and are handsomely and expertly done by Megan Verdugo. Megan has made many such informative and charming contributions during our Captial Campaign and in other ways. Along with the latest "Welcome" brochures are "Doodle Cards for Little Pilgrims" which have been a well-used resource by youngsters who are in worship with parents. Thank you, Megan! Bulletin Covers: The lovely bulletin covers during Advent/Christmas have been the gifts of Paul and Rosalee Sinn. Thank you, Paul and Rosalee! The Membership and Evangelism Committee has been trying to find ways of being helpful to new and established members of The Church of the Pilgrimage to become aware of our many ministries. Thank you! Thank You: We thank Doug Post for posting many lovely photographs of our Church House Dedication festivities. They are on display in Allerton Hall. Poinsettia: The beautiful poinsettias in the sanctuary have beautified our Advent/Christmas services. We are grateful to all who donated or loaned the plants in memory or in honor of loved ones. It is a lovely way to remember before God all those who have meant so much to us. We also are grateful to Neil and Dottie Bottomley for providing an eye-catching "poinsettia-tree" placed in the vestibule of Church House for a dedication service o n December 11th. Thank you: A BIG THANK YOU to the bakers of Women's Fellowship and the congregation for it's support. We raised $387.25 at Sunday's bake sale! Good work and thanks again! Jenny & Marna OCM Toy Drive: There were a great many unwrapped gifts brought forward and placed around the sanctuary Christmas tree last Sunday. We thank everyone who participated in this effort to provide toys for kids who otherwise would have little on Christmas. We also thank those volunteered to deliver the toys to The Old Colony Memorial for distribution.


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.