Pilgrimage Herald

MISSIONS AND OUTREACH
Monday Meals of Hospitality: Thank you to Alice Heckman, Janet Holmes, Hildegard Schimpf and Meg Bross for cooking and serving this week.

Overnights of Hospitality: This interfaith program in Plymouth for the winter ended April 9th. Thank you to all who participated as chaperones, evening meal providers or supporters in some other way. The first year has been successful.

Food Warehouse: The volunteers at the Food Warehouse appreciate the on-going support form The Church of the Pilgrimage to help eradicate hunger in the Plymouth area. Currently the pantry is very low on food supplies. Canned fruit, cereal, peanut butter and jelly and ketchup are at the top of the list for this week.

Project for March and April: The Church School and the Missions and Outreach Committee invite everyone to join them in assembling "Gifts of the Heart" kits to be shipped by Church World Service to orphaned and displaced children around the world. Each health kit, sealed in a one-gallon plastic bag with a zipper closure, will contain: One hand towel, One wash cloth, One comb, One metal nail file, One bar of bath-sized soap, One toothbrush, One tube of toothpaste, 4-7 oz, and Six Band-Aids. We welcome donations of these items that may be placed in the baskets next to the red bins for the Food Warehouse. It is not necessary to fill one entire kit. Donations of one or two items are appreciated. We will be collecting for the kits through the months of March and April.

Heifer International: During the month of May, our church family will focus on the work of Heifer International, dedicated to helping millions of people in 125 countries, become self-reliant through livestock, educational and sharing and caring programs. Please read the enclosed information regarding Heifer International.

Evening Prayer: On most Wednesdays Evening Prayer is held in the sanctuary. It is a half-hour service and follows a simple liturgy. Those who attend are finding it to be an aid to their own spiritual formation. Feel free to join the group on a Wednesday Evening.

The Pilgrim Festival Chorus rendition of The Messiah in our sanctuary on April 9th and 10th was stunning! We are blessed to have such quality music in our community. Our Music Director, Bill Richter, is also the director of the Pilgrim Festival Chorus. Thank you!

Lecture given at Pilgrim Hall: On April 13, 2005 Rev. Marks gave a lecture on the difference between Puritans and Separatists at the Pilgrim Hall.

Time and Talent Auction: By now you have all received the talent form that went out in a past Herald. We are asking friends and members to complete the form that was mailed and return it to Pat Mudgett at church or mail it to the office. Please keep the spirit of the auction in mind as you offer donations and bid on items. The service auction will serve as a social event as well as a fund-raiser. The dinner will include ham & beans, home-baked bread, coleslaw and homemade apple pie. Tickets will be $6 for Adults, $3 for children, $16 per family. Please mark you calendar for April 30th at 6:00pm and plan to attend!. Help make this a successful fundraiser! SOME FUN AUCTION IDEAS....mop a floor... paint a door...cook a feast...walk a beast...have a party on your boat...embroider a bird on a coat...repair a crack...massage a back...shop for cars...chart the stars...wash a window 'till it shines...share your cottage in the pines...bake bread...make a bed...share your tickets...whitewash pickets...giggle with babies...gossip with ladies...feed the fish...grant a wish...design a room...build a loom...cater a dinner...photo the winner...teach a dance...or alter pants

The Church of the Pilgrimage on PAC/TV: Sunday Services will appear on cable PAC/TV on Sundays at 8am and 6pm. We thank Tom Healy for taping the Sunday Services which appear on PAC on a one or two week delay.

Pawtucket Red Sox: If you are interested in going on a bus trip to see the Pawtucket Red Sox on Saturday, June 18th, please contact Al Hoyt at 508-224-9507.

Capital Campaign Construction: Soon construction will begin on the Church House! All items must be removed from the Church House before May 13th. Plans are underway to move furniture, files, office equipment, etc. out of the Church House. Watch the Herald for details regarding this milestone in our congregations history!

New Member Classes: A number of people have spoken to Rev. Marks about their desire to become members of The Church of the Pilgrimage. If you are interested in church membership, please speak to Rev. Marks or call the church office. Because of Rev. Markes schedule, the exact dates for these classes are still indefinite. He will contact those who have expressed an interest in membership when dates and times are established. There will be three classes, 11:30am-12:30pm following Sunday worship.

Stewardship: A reminder that the Board of Trustees is working on a budget that will be based on our pledges. So now is the time to act. Return to the office or bring your pledge card to church on Sunday. If you require a new pledge card, please call Tom Healy 508-747-7168 or see him on Sunday.

Pilgrim Association:
Annual Spring Meeting,Thursday, April 28, 2005 at the Central Square Congregational Church, Bridgewater, MA; Registration at 6:15.


garymarks@8townsquare.org danspacek@8townsquare.org	April 17 , 2005	office@8townsquare.org
Volume LXXVII		No. 16
Dear Friends, A monk found a very precious gemstone. He put it in his knapsack and carried it with him. One day he met a traveler who asked the monk to share some of his provisions with him. The monk opened his knapsack to share his food when his fingers found the gem. He lifted the stone out and gave it to the traveler. Overjoyed by this good fortune in the valuable stone, the traveler went on his way. A few days later, however, the traveler caught up with the monk. He begged him again: "Please give me something more precious than this stone," he said. "Please give me that which prompted you to give the stone to me." (The story was told by Stan Copeland). I am always drawn to stories like this one. It is a story of generosity which seems to belie any addiction to material things while demonstrating a genuine concern for others , even if the other is a beggar and a complete stranger. This story is not unlike ones I have found in reading the aphorisms of the fourth-century desert mothers and fathers in Egypt. In fact, I wonder whether this very story isn't a version of one similar to it from those ascetics of the desert. In any case, the story represents an ideal of placing value on spiritual virtues more than upon the things of the world which charm us most. I suppose most people are attracted to stories of generosity and hospitality. Yet, we live in a culture in which values are not generally prompted by such spiritual disciplines or trained disposition. It is a part of who we are to amass as much as we can for ourselves. And, even if we are not able to gain all that we want, we wish we could. We revere (or is it envy?) those who have things, go places, have power and privilege. We are fascinated by tales of the "rich and famous." If we are not rich, we hope to win the lottery or come by some means into a fortune. One of the most stunning judgments which I have ever personally experienced came to me during a group therapy training session way back when I was a seminarian. After listening to me go on about the dangers implicit in materialism etc., the professor said: "Gary, you really don't value money. You just want the things money can buy." That was a moment of realization for me about what I say I value, but what I said was not prompted at all by spiritual motivations. Since that moment of realization I am, at the very least, aware of the disjunction between what I say about money and how I actually act with regard to the things money can buy. I, therefore, have tried, and am trying, to narrow that gap. I really believe that we are happiest when we are spiritually motivated, as the monk in the story was motivated. I also realize that the measure of my spiritual promptings can most accurately be measured by the way I spend money. I invite us all to consider what we say we value and to be honest about our true motivations. Such candor may just become the spur to generosity toward God, one another and toward the church of Jesus Christ. I want to learn from the monk what he learned from Jesus when Jesus taught; "For where your treasure is, there will be your heart also." (Matthew 6:21). Love, © The Church of the Pilgrimage in Plymouth, MA Inc., all rights reserved.
Sunday,April 17, 2005 Morning Worship,10:00am:Rev. Daniel Spacek, preaching. Deacon in-charge: Janice Lee. The Board of Trustees TIMELINE: April 8 Committee reports due in the church office. April 19 Board of Trustees final approval of budget. April 25 Send to printer. May 1 Report available to congregation. May 15 Annual Meeting. Annual Plant Sale- Saturday, June 4, 2005 from 9am-1pm Plants are staring to rise up in the garden. Now is the time to divide and put in pots. If anyone needs help in digging, please call Tom and I at 508-224-7296. We will be happy to dig up any plants you'd like to donate. Thank you! Pat Mudgett The Next Monday Evening Bible Study and the Tuesday Lunch Bunch will be April 18th at 7pm and 19th at noon. Both groups meet in Allerton Hall and we are now switching to bi-weekly meetings. The subject will be the upcoming Sunday's lectionary texts. Readings for these classes are: Acts 7:55-60 and John 14:1-14. All are encouraged to attend. Gift Shop Volunteers Needed: Jordan Hospital Gift Shop is in need of volunteers from 5-7pm on Thursdays. If you have some time to spare, call Eileen Ganem at 508-746-9152. Other times are also available. Thank you in advance.
CHURCH RECORD Baptism: On April 10, 2005 Rev. Marks baptized Connor Andrew Thell, son of Richard Thell and Cynthia Coffey Thell, in a private service in the sanctuary. Hospitalized: George Carter is at Life Care Center of Plymouth; Elizabeth Porter is now at Beverly Manor; Jane Burns is at the Manomet Point home of Put & Kathy Burns.
THIS WEEK Sunday,Apr. 17: Morning worship10:00am, Dan Spacek, preaching; Cherub Choir Rehearsal, 11:15 am, sanctuary; Monday, Apr 18: Aerobics, 9am, Allerton Hall; Monday, Apr. 18: Meals of Hospitality, 12-1pm, Allerton Hall; Girl Scouts, 3:30-5, Church House; Tiger Pack, 4-5:30, Church House; Bible Study, 7pm, Allerton Hall; Tuesday, Apr. 19: Rev. Marks will be in the church office, 9:30-11:30am.; Lunch Bunch, noon, Allerton Hall; Aerobics, 6:30 pm; Allerton Hall; Board of Trustees Meeting, 7pm, Church House Wednesday, Apr.20: Aerobics, 9:15 a.m., Allerton Hall; Staff Meeting, 10am; Choir Rehearsal 7:30 pm, sanctuary; Pack 47 & Troop 47, Church House; Brownie Troop #122 4-5:30, Allerton Hall; PFN Free Scrapbooking, 6-9pm, Allerton Hall. Thursday, Apr. 21: Aerobics, 6:30pm, Allerton Hall. Friday, Apr. 22: Aerobics, 9:15 am, Allerton Hall; Rev. Marks will be in the church office, 9:30-10:00am. Sat. Apr. 23: Bridal Shower, Allerton Hall.
NOTES: MISSIONS AND OUTREACH Monday Meals of Hospitality: Thank you to Alice Heckman, Janet Holmes, Hildegard Schimpf and Meg Bross for cooking and serving this week. Overnights of Hospitality: This interfaith program in Plymouth for the winter ended April 9th. Thank you to all who participated as chaperones, evening meal providers or supporters in some other way. The first year has been successful. Food Warehouse: The volunteers at the Food Warehouse appreciate the on-going support form The Church of the Pilgrimage to help eradicate hunger in the Plymouth area. Currently the pantry is very low on food supplies. Canned fruit, cereal, peanut butter and jelly and ketchup are at the top of the list for this week. Project for March and April: The Church School and the Missions and Outreach Committee invite everyone to join them in assembling "Gifts of the Heart" kits to be shipped by Church World Service to orphaned and displaced children around the world. Each health kit, sealed in a one-gallon plastic bag with a zipper closure, will contain: One hand towel, One wash cloth, One comb, One metal nail file, One bar of bath-sized soap, One toothbrush, One tube of toothpaste, 4-7 oz, and Six Band-Aids. We welcome donations of these items that may be placed in the baskets next to the red bins for the Food Warehouse. It is not necessary to fill one entire kit. Donations of one or two items are appreciated. We will be collecting for the kits through the months of March and April. Heifer International: During the month of May, our church family will focus on the work of Heifer International, dedicated to helping millions of people in 125 countries, become self-reliant through livestock, educational and sharing and caring programs. Please read the enclosed information regarding Heifer International. Evening Prayer: On most Wednesdays Evening Prayer is held in the sanctuary. It is a half-hour service and follows a simple liturgy. Those who attend are finding it to be an aid to their own spiritual formation. Feel free to join the group on a Wednesday Evening. The Pilgrim Festival Chorus rendition of The Messiah in our sanctuary on April 9th and 10th was stunning! We are blessed to have such quality music in our community. Our Music Director, Bill Richter, is also the director of the Pilgrim Festival Chorus. Thank you! Lecture given at Pilgrim Hall: On April 13, 2005 Rev. Marks gave a lecture on the difference between Puritans and Separatists at the Pilgrim Hall. Time and Talent Auction: By now you have all received the talent form that went out in a past Herald. We are asking friends and members to complete the form that was mailed and return it to Pat Mudgett at church or mail it to the office. Please keep the spirit of the auction in mind as you offer donations and bid on items. The service auction will serve as a social event as well as a fund-raiser. The dinner will include ham & beans, home-baked bread, coleslaw and homemade apple pie. Tickets will be $6 for Adults, $3 for children, $16 per family. Please mark you calendar for April 30th at 6:00pm and plan to attend!. Help make this a successful fundraiser! SOME FUN AUCTION IDEAS....mop a floor... paint a door...cook a feast...walk a beast...have a party on your boat...embroider a bird on a coat...repair a crack...massage a back...shop for cars...chart the stars...wash a window 'till it shines...share your cottage in the pines...bake bread...make a bed...share your tickets...whitewash pickets...giggle with babies...gossip with ladies...feed the fish...grant a wish...design a room...build a loom...cater a dinner...photo the winner...teach a dance...or alter pants The Church of the Pilgrimage on PAC/TV: Sunday Services will appear on cable PAC/TV on Sundays at 8am and 6pm. We thank Tom Healy for taping the Sunday Services which appear on PAC on a one or two week delay. Pawtucket Red Sox: If you are interested in going on a bus trip to see the Pawtucket Red Sox on Saturday, June 18th, please contact Al Hoyt at 508-224-9507. Capital Campaign Construction: Soon construction will begin on the Church House! All items must be removed from the Church House before May 13th. Plans are underway to move furniture, files, office equipment, etc. out of the Church House. Watch the Herald for details regarding this milestone in our congregations history! New Member Classes: A number of people have spoken to Rev. Marks about their desire to become members of The Church of the Pilgrimage. If you are interested in church membership, please speak to Rev. Marks or call the church office. Because of Rev. Markes schedule, the exact dates for these classes are still indefinite. He will contact those who have expressed an interest in membership when dates and times are established. There will be three classes, 11:30am-12:30pm following Sunday worship. Stewardship: A reminder that the Board of Trustees is working on a budget that will be based on our pledges. So now is the time to act. Return to the office or bring your pledge card to church on Sunday. If you require a new pledge card, please call Tom Healy 508-747-7168 or see him on Sunday. Pilgrim Association: Annual Spring Meeting,Thursday, April 28, 2005 at the Central Square Congregational Church, Bridgewater, MA; Registration at 6:15.
Coming Events: Apr. 28 Pilgrim Assoc. Spring Mtg, Bridgewater, 6:15pm Apr. 30 Time and Talent Auction in 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.