Pilgrimage Herald

MISSIONS AND OUTREACH
Heifer International: There will be a special offering this Sunday.
The Monday Meals of Hospitality have ended until later in the year when the need is apparent again. Thank you to all the volunteers who cooked delicious dinners at home, served, or helped in other ways to make the program a success.
This month, members of the Missions and Outreach Committee shared a lovely luncheon for Mother's Day with guests from the Plymouth Area Coalition for the Homeless, delivered May gifts to the seventeen homebound church members, and drove to Westport Point, MA with four cartons of Gifts of the Heart Health Kits to be mailed by Church World Service to children around the world. Thank you to everyone who contributed items in recent months to fill a total of fifty-one kits.
Collections for the Plymouth Area Food Warehouse continues. Non-perishables needed at present are: peanut butter, jelly, cereal, canned tuna and meat, and macaroni and cheese.

Evening Prayer: Evening Prayer Services will continue on Wednesdays at 7:00pm at least through May.

Cherub Choir On May 22, May 29 and June 5 the Cherub Choir will meet Mrs. Post by the piano in the Sanctuary following the morning service. Our rehearsals will take place there. Thank you., Lois Post.

Trip to see the Pawtucket Red Sox: If you are interested in going on a bus trip to see the Pawtucket Red Sox on Saturday, June 4th please contact Al Hoyt at 508-224-9507.

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.

The Fifth Annual Church of the Pilgrimage Golf Tournament will tee off at 8:00 Saturday morning, June 18 at Squirrel Run Golf Course. Sign-ups for individuals and foursomes, as well as non-golfers who will join us for a noon cookout have begun. Golf, including the cookout, is $80; cookout only is $25. Everyone will get a chance to win our great raffle prizes. Call Mike Harrington, 508-747-2060 for more information.
Spring Tea Cancellation: Please be advised that the spring tea originally scheduled for May 28th has been cancelled. This is Memorial Day weekend and the Women's Guild and Fellowship are hoping that by rescheduling it for the fall more ladies will be able to attend.

See Yourself Teaching! We are looking for adult volunteers to help our thriving Church School continue to grow. No experience is necessary, support and training are offered. All teachers work in teams and you can fulfill a great need by volunteering even one week per month. Sign-up at the CE information Tri-Fold in Allerton Hall.

Youth Fellowship -Colchester Farm in Plympton: Sunday, May 22nd from 2-5pm. Organic farming; help with planting/and or preparing the soil.

Temporary Office Space: The ministers and secretary will have temporary space in the First Parish' yellow building behind our Church House during construction of our building. Our office phone number (508-746-3026) now rings is that building. There will be little disruption of our services during the construction period. Rev. Marks will do much of his work elsewhere during the rebuilding since space is limited. There is an answering machine for the office and minister now in operation. We repeat our gratitude to our Unitarian neighbor for their hospitality.

If you are aware of someone in the hospital from our church, please call the church office. The lists usually available to ministers at Jordan Hospital are not always there, though the situation has been improving lately. It is important to let Rev. Marks know of out-of-town hospitalization.

Convocation of Congregational Ministers: The Church of the Pilgrimage hosted the Convocation of Congregational Ministers on May 16th. Rev. Marks participated in its worship service and welcomed the ministers to the church.


garymarks@8townsquare.org danspacek@8townsquare.org	May 22 , 2005	office@8townsquare.org
Volume LXXVII		No. 20
Dear Friends, I made note in my sermon last Sunday of how appropriate I think it was that the Annual Meeting of The Church of the Pilgrimage was held on Pentecost Sunday. The Day of Pentecost was the day upon which, the Book of Acts tells us, the Christian Church was born (Acts 2:1-21). The story in that text is powerful, moving and challenging. The story of Pentecost represents what I call a "focusing moment" among the followers of Jesus. In that moment the meaning of many strands of experience and tradition converged in the invigorating realization that the Spirit present in Jesus was to continue to be present in the faith of his followers. Acts also records that those same followers of Jesus were to proclaim the good news that the Spirit of God was not local, regional or national in its presence and work. The gospel (good news) is to be preached and lived in all the grand diversity of the human race. What a terrific story! On the way out of worship a long time member said to me that it would have been wonderful to have been present on the Day of Pentecost as described in Acts. I agree that it would have been wonderful, but added something like, "The Spirit can always create Pentecostal faith, indeed, it does." The Spirit is God's agent of renewal for the church in any time "until the end of the age." The same Spirit rushing like wind through the first formation of the church does, indeed, inspire Christ's Church in focusing its vision, mission and ministry. I think that Spirit is among us as a community of faith called The Church of the Pilgrimage. To focus on the Spirit, or better, to be focused by the Spirit, is the reason we exist and is the energy of our spirituality and mission in the world. In many ways, I think The Church of the Pilgrimage is, by fits and starts, yielding to, and cooperating with, the refreshing wind of the Spirit. In my sermon I quoted the ever quotable 20th century churchman G. K. Chesterton. He said there are two kinds of people in the world. Through the centuries, he noted, people have always believed that when tree branches wave wildly that their movement is caused by the blowing of the wind. In recent times, he joked, there are those who apparently assume that it is the movement of the trees which creates the wind! The first church was formed out of the focused realization that it is the Spirit of God's wind that moves the church in its spirituality and mission. The church working on its own, no matter how sincere, does not create the wind of the Spirit. I sense that The Church of the Pilgrimage is really trying to react and adapt to the Spirit of the living, still speaking, God. May the wind of the Spirit, refreshing and renewing, move through us with God's message of love, hope, mercy and justice. Come, Holy Spirit, come! Love, © The Church of the Pilgrimage in Plymouth, MA Inc., all rights reserved.
Sunday, May 22, 2005 Morning Worship,10:00am: Rev. Gary L. Marks, preaching; Nominating Committee Meeting, Sanctuary following worship. Deacon in-charge: Nancy Scheid. Flowers: In loving memory of Elsie Raymond. Given by her children, Charlotte Cavicchi and Robert Raymond. On the right side: In loving memory of Beatrice M. Quartz. Given by her dear friend, Joyce Blakeslee. The Pilgrimage Women's Fellowship will have its annual banquet this year at Mama Mia's in Plymouth on the Waterfront. The event will be held in the function room upstairs at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, June 6th. Although the dinner is paid for individually, please call Jenny (508) 747-7168 or Marna (781) 826-2543 if cost is an issue. Your meal will be covered, no questions asked. Please do not let cost keep you from attending. There are three different meals from which to choose, so if you plan on attending and have not yet signed up, please call Marna for the details and to make your reservation. The final count is due on Monday, May 30th. Either Marna or Jenny will be available downstairs in Allerton Hall during coffee hour the next two Sundays to take reservations. As always, all women of the church are welcome and we would love to have you join us! Thank you. Marna and Jenny
CHURCH RECORD Hospitalization: Kathleen Walter, recuperating at home after hospitalization. In Memoriam: On May 13, 2005 Rev. Marks conducted a funeral service for David M. Keezer in Manomet.
THIS WEEK Sunday, May 22: Morning worship10:00am, Rev. Gary L. Marks , preaching; Cherub Choir Rehearsal, after worship in the sanctuary; Youth Fellowship to Colchester Farm 2-5pm. Monday, May 23: Aerobics, 9am, Allerton Hall; Pilgrim Festival Chorus Rehearsal, 7-10pm, Sanctuary. Tuesday, May 24: Rev. Marks will be in the office in the First Parish Church in the morning; Aerobics, 6:30 pm, Allerton Hall; Advisory Board Meeting, 7pm, location tba. Wednesday, May 25: Aerobics, 9:15 a.m., Allerton Hall; Staff Meeting, 10:00am; Choir Rehearsal 7:30 pm, sanctuary; Brownie Troop #122 4-5:30, Allerton Hall; Evening Prayer, 7pm, sanctuary. Thursday, May 26: Aerobics, 6:30pm, Allerton Hall. Friday, May 27: Aerobics, 9am, Allerton Hall. Sat. May 28: Wedding in the sanctuary, 4:00 pm.
NOTES: MISSIONS AND OUTREACH Heifer International: There will be a special offering this Sunday. The Monday Meals of Hospitality have ended until later in the year when the need is apparent again. Thank you to all the volunteers who cooked delicious dinners at home, served, or helped in other ways to make the program a success. This month, members of the Missions and Outreach Committee shared a lovely luncheon for Mother's Day with guests from the Plymouth Area Coalition for the Homeless, delivered May gifts to the seventeen homebound church members, and drove to Westport Point, MA with four cartons of Gifts of the Heart Health Kits to be mailed by Church World Service to children around the world. Thank you to everyone who contributed items in recent months to fill a total of fifty-one kits. Collections for the Plymouth Area Food Warehouse continues. Non-perishables needed at present are: peanut butter, jelly, cereal, canned tuna and meat, and macaroni and cheese. Evening Prayer: Evening Prayer Services will continue on Wednesdays at 7:00pm at least through May. Cherub Choir On May 22, May 29 and June 5 the Cherub Choir will meet Mrs. Post by the piano in the Sanctuary following the morning service. Our rehearsals will take place there. Thank you., Lois Post. Trip to see the Pawtucket Red Sox: If you are interested in going on a bus trip to see the Pawtucket Red Sox on Saturday, June 4th please contact Al Hoyt at 508-224-9507. 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. The Fifth Annual Church of the Pilgrimage Golf Tournament will tee off at 8:00 Saturday morning, June 18 at Squirrel Run Golf Course. Sign-ups for individuals and foursomes, as well as non-golfers who will join us for a noon cookout have begun. Golf, including the cookout, is $80; cookout only is $25. Everyone will get a chance to win our great raffle prizes. Call Mike Harrington, 508-747-2060 for more information. Spring Tea Cancellation: Please be advised that the spring tea originally scheduled for May 28th has been cancelled. This is Memorial Day weekend and the Women's Guild and Fellowship are hoping that by rescheduling it for the fall more ladies will be able to attend. See Yourself Teaching! We are looking for adult volunteers to help our thriving Church School continue to grow. No experience is necessary, support and training are offered. All teachers work in teams and you can fulfill a great need by volunteering even one week per month. Sign-up at the CE information Tri-Fold in Allerton Hall. Youth Fellowship -Colchester Farm in Plympton: Sunday, May 22nd from 2-5pm. Organic farming; help with planting/and or preparing the soil. Temporary Office Space: The ministers and secretary will have temporary space in the First Parish' yellow building behind our Church House during construction of our building. Our office phone number (508-746-3026) now rings is that building. There will be little disruption of our services during the construction period. Rev. Marks will do much of his work elsewhere during the rebuilding since space is limited. There is an answering machine for the office and minister now in operation. We repeat our gratitude to our Unitarian neighbor for their hospitality. If you are aware of someone in the hospital from our church, please call the church office. The lists usually available to ministers at Jordan Hospital are not always there, though the situation has been improving lately. It is important to let Rev. Marks know of out-of-town hospitalization. Convocation of Congregational Ministers: The Church of the Pilgrimage hosted the Convocation of Congregational Ministers on May 16th. Rev. Marks participated in its worship service and welcomed the ministers to the church.
Coming Events: June 4 Paw Sox Game; Mass Conference Annual Meeting June 5 Confirmation Sunday June 6 Rev. Marks will attend an American Congregational Library Board Meeting in Boston June 10 Guild Lunch, Noon @ Bobby Hackett's June 18 Pilgrimage Golf Tournament-Squirrel Run Golf Course
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.