Pilgrimage Herald

January 29 , 2006

Deacon in Charge: Dave Moreland

Flowers: In loving memory of John Robinson. Given by Marie and the children.

Bylaw Review Committee: The Bylaw Review Committee, appointed by the Advisory Board, is soliciting suggestions and recommendations for Bylaw revisions. Copies of the current (2003) Bylaws are available on the Church website at http://www.8townsquare.org/index1.html, or from the Church office. All Church Members, Boards, and Committees, are urged to participate in this process. Comment (in writing) can be given to any of the Committee members: Doug Post, Marna Blomberg, or Paul Scheid, or left at the Church Office.

Annual Pastor's Pasta Sale, Sunday, January 29th: Pilgrimage Women's Fellowship is sponsoring it's annual Pastor's Pasta Sale. You may order ahead on the Sundays prior to the 29th to purchase your dinner in a bag which includes a quart of pasta sauce, one pound of pasta, homemade bread and cookies for dessert all for the great price of $15. There will be pints available for a price of $10 as well as some marinara sauce for those who prefer a meatless meal. We are preparing approximately 50 dinners and will have some extra sauce and bread available on the 29th. Take advantage of an easy and inexpensive meal and help the Fellowship raise funds for it's charitable efforts.

Nametags: Please wear your nametags every Sunday. It's a welcoming gesture for us to show others our name. It always feels better to be able to say the person's name when greeting them. Nametags increase our hospitality. Thanks form the Membership and Evangelism Committee

THIS WEEK

Sun, Jan. 29: Morning Worship 10am, Rev. Gary L. Marks preaching; Cherub Choir Rehearsal in the sanctuary following worship.

Mon, Jan. 30: Aerobics, Allerton Hall, 9am; Monday Meals, 10:30-1pm, Allerton Hall; Brownies, 4-5pm & Girl Scouts, 6-7, Church House, Stewart Room; Nominating Committee Meeting, 7pm, Conference Room; Pilgrim Festival Choir Rehearsal, 7-10pm, Sanctuary.

Tue, Jan. 31: Rev. Marks will be in the church office at 9:30am; Aerobics, 6:30pm, Allerton Hall; Board of Trustees, 7:00 pm, Church House Conference Room.

Wed, Feb. 1: Staff Meeting, 10:00am; Aerobics, Allerton Hall, 9am; Boy Scouts, 7-9pm, Great Hall, Church House; Evening Prayer, Sanctuary, 7:00pm; Choir Rehearsal, Sanctuary, 7:30pm.

Thurs, Feb. 2: Aerobics, Allerton Hall, 6:30pm; CE Meeting, 6:30pm, Sam Diego's.

Fri., Feb. 3: Aerobics, Allerton Hall, 9am; Rev. Marks will be in the church office, 9:30pm.

Sat, Feb. 4: Boy Scout Banquet, pm, Allerton Hall.

Coming Events:

Feb. 5 The First in a series of New Member Classes will be held. (see notes)
Feb. 7 Rev. Marks and Rev. Moody will attend a seminar at the MCUCC complex in Framingham. The subject is multi-staff ministries
Feb. 9 The Stewardship Committee will meet in the Church House Conference Room, 7pm..
March 25 Time and Talent Auction (see notes)

CHURCH RECORD

Hospitalized:
* Louise Ritch, Jordan Hospital
* Laura Curtin, Faulkner Hospital
* Jenny Healy, Brigham & Women's Hospital

Wedding:
* On January 21, 2006 Rev. Marks conducted a wedding service for Liisa Budge and Thomas Johnson in the sanctuary.

In Memoriam:
* On January 21, 2006 Rev. Marks conducted a graveside service for Thomas Carnevale.


garymarks@8townsquare.org hmoody@8townsquare.org	January 29 , 2006	office@8townsquare.org
Volume LXXVIII		No. 4
Dear Friends, I suppose I'm off to a slow start in my focus upon the basic idea which formed our congregation into a "church estate." That idea also had far reaching ramifications for political and social orderings as well as for ecclesiastical order. That idea is still the foundation of churches which define themselves as being ordered "congregationally." What is that revolutionary idea? The principle of which I speak is called a "covenant." It was not a new creation out of whole cloth; hardly! It was the reintroduction of the biblical notion of how God and God's creatures are related. Beyond that basic relationship the covenant notion was, and is, to be the context in which we are related to each other in the church and in the conduct of our relationship with others in the world in which we live. In 2006 the covenant upon which churches of our type are "ordered" and organized will be 400 years old. In 1606, it is generally agreed, a small group of dissenters from The Church of England joined themselves "by a covenant of the Lord" into a church estate. That covenant was first made and "owned" by Christians in a tiny bucolic place named Scrooby, England in 1606. Neither that group nor its covenant were unique, but they were to become special to us because those who solemnly entered into that "freely owned" covenant are those posterity has given the name "The Pilgrims." In recognizing and celebrating the 400th anniversary of our particular covenant form of church order, I have no desire to boast that it is the only means by which churches determine their relationships to God and to one another. I only wish to celebrate it as the covenant-idea which created us as a church just as it created other church bodies. It is a focal point until this day in The United Church of Christ which is itself a complex of relationships based upon covenantal consensus. The covenant idea is sacred in a long tradition of which we are direct heirs. It is, though, a much longer tradition than our own 400 year-old expression of it. The covenant has its origin in our biblical stories of creation, in the giving of the law, in the bold preaching of the prophets and, for us, in the new covenant established in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. I plan to ask for time to research and present the covenant first principle which formed and informs us still. I hope to find enthusiasm for the covenant study among other church bodies and historical groups. That will take time. For us the covenant is, or should be, the foundation of seeking God's Word, "known or to be made known unto us." Love, © The Church of the Pilgrimage in Plymouth, MA Inc., all rights reserved.
Deacon in Charge: Dave Moreland Flowers: In loving memory of John Robinson. Given by Marie and the children. Bylaw Review Committee: The Bylaw Review Committee, appointed by the Advisory Board, is soliciting suggestions and recommendations for Bylaw revisions. Copies of the current (2003) Bylaws are available on the Church website at http://www.8townsquare.org/index1.html, or from the Church office. All Church Members, Boards, and Committees, are urged to participate in this process. Comment (in writing) can be given to any of the Committee members: Doug Post, Marna Blomberg, or Paul Scheid, or left at the Church Office. Annual Pastor's Pasta Sale, Sunday, January 29th: Pilgrimage Women's Fellowship is sponsoring it's annual Pastor's Pasta Sale. You may order ahead on the Sundays prior to the 29th to purchase your dinner in a bag which includes a quart of pasta sauce, one pound of pasta, homemade bread and cookies for dessert all for the great price of $15. There will be pints available for a price of $10 as well as some marinara sauce for those who prefer a meatless meal. We are preparing approximately 50 dinners and will have some extra sauce and bread available on the 29th. Take advantage of an easy and inexpensive meal and help the Fellowship raise funds for it's charitable efforts. Nametags: Please wear your nametags every Sunday. It's a welcoming gesture for us to show others our name. It always feels better to be able to say the person's name when greeting them. Nametags increase our hospitality. Thanks form the Membership and Evangelism Committee
THIS WEEK Sun, Jan. 29: Morning Worship 10am, Rev. Gary L. Marks preaching; Cherub Choir Rehearsal in the sanctuary following worship. Mon, Jan. 30: Aerobics, Allerton Hall, 9am; Monday Meals, 10:30-1pm, Allerton Hall; Brownies, 4-5pm & Girl Scouts, 6-7, Church House, Stewart Room; Nominating Committee Meeting, 7pm, Conference Room; Pilgrim Festival Choir Rehearsal, 7-10pm, Sanctuary. Tue, Jan. 31: Rev. Marks will be in the church office at 9:30am; Aerobics, 6:30pm, Allerton Hall; Board of Trustees, 7:00 pm, Church House Conference Room. Wed, Feb. 1: Staff Meeting, 10:00am; Aerobics, Allerton Hall, 9am; Boy Scouts, 7-9pm, Great Hall, Church House; Evening Prayer, Sanctuary, 7:00pm; Choir Rehearsal, Sanctuary, 7:30pm. Thurs, Feb. 2: Aerobics, Allerton Hall, 6:30pm; CE Meeting, 6:30pm, Sam Diego's. Fri., Feb. 3: Aerobics, Allerton Hall, 9am; Rev. Marks will be in the church office, 9:30pm. Sat, Feb. 4: Boy Scout Banquet, pm, Allerton Hall. Coming Events: Feb. 5 The First in a series of New Member Classes will be held. (see notes) Feb. 7 Rev. Marks and Rev. Moody will attend a seminar at the MCUCC complex in Framingham. The subject is multi-staff ministries Feb. 9 The Stewardship Committee will meet in the Church House Conference Room, 7pm.. March 25 Time and Talent Auction (see notes)
CHURCH RECORD Hospitalized: * Louise Ritch, Jordan Hospital * Laura Curtin, Faulkner Hospital * Jenny Healy, Brigham & Women's Hospital Wedding: * On January 21, 2006 Rev. Marks conducted a wedding service for Liisa Budge and Thomas Johnson in the sanctuary. In Memoriam: * On January 21, 2006 Rev. Marks conducted a graveside service for Thomas Carnevale.
MISSIONS AND OUTREACH NEWS- Food Warehouse: We continue to collect non-perishables each week for the Plymouth Area Food Warehouse. The following items are always in short supply: peanut butter, jelly, tuna, canned ham, cereal, macaroni & cheese, canned fruit, beans and rice. Monday Meals of Hospitality: We welcome volunteers to help prepare meals and serve every Monday in Allerton Hall form 10:30-1:30. Please call coordinator, Diane Flood, at 508-209-0266, if you could take a turn some Monday in February, March or April. Next Missions Meeting: Thursday, February 2nd at the home of Meg Bross-6:30 pm. SAVE THE DATE! Saturday, March 25---The Time and Talent Auction (and dinner) is only two months away. Start thinking about what YOU can donate, either time or talent, or both! Signups will begin soon. 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. The next series of membership classes are scheduled for the first three Sunday's in February.You may obtain information about the United Church of Christ and The Church of the Pilgrimage upon request. 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 from Pat Mudgett: I wish to thank everyone for all the cards, calls, concerns and prayers when I had surgery last week. I am doing just ducky and hope to see you all Sunday. God Bless Everyone! Pat Mudgett Evening Prayer: For quite some time now Rev. Marks has been leading Evening Prayer Services in the sanctuary on Wednesday Evenings at 7:00pm. The group is small with an average attendance of ten-twelve people. The service follows a simple Order, usually form the Celtic Daily Prayer resource. The readings from Scripture are the basis of daily guides which are intended to enhance one's prayer and spiritual life. Celtic Daily Prayer is the product of an ecumenical group of Christians associated with the ancient monastic island of Lindisfarne. (it is also known as Holy Island). Please feel free to join the prayer service which is held on most Wednesday evenings. Goodbye to the Cowies: We are sorry that Dave and Diane Cowie are moving from Plymouth to the North Shore. Dave and Diane have been active in just about every phase of the ministry of The Church of the Pilgrimage. They have greatly enriched our congregation and have made many friends in the church. It is difficult to think of their cheerful faces absent form the worship life of the church. God bless you, Dave and Diane! Herald Notices: If you have a notice you'd like placed in The Pilgrimage Herald, please submit it in writing to the church office by Tuesday morning. Ed Greene: We were saddened to learn of Ed Green's death in Florida last week. Our sympathies and prayers are with his wife, Bette, and the family. A memorial service is being planned and a date being determined. Pilgrimage Women's Fellowship: Do you like learning about new places? Do you dream of traveling the world? Have you been to Italy or ever wanted to go there? Come join us as Darlene Bregoli shares her exciting presentation along with a short business meeting and refreshments. If you would like a ride, please contact Marna at 781-826-2543 or Jenny at 508-747-7168. We hope to see you there! Marna and Jenny Thank you from Ginny & Dick Bramhall: Thank you for being so thoughtful to us during the year. Maybe we can see you soon when our daughter visits and can drive us to church. Seasons Greetings, Ginny & Dick Bramhall Congratulations to the Porters: We congratulate Ken and Elizabeth Porter who celebrated their 65th anniversary on January 25, 2006



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.