Pilgrimage Herald

In a Letter to Gary from the Town of Plymouth:
"On behalf of the Board of Selectmen, I would like to thank you for offering the Opening Prayer in our 1st Annual Thanksgiving Ceremonial Meeting on November 22, 2005. Your prayer was both moving and inspirational. The Board admires and recognizes your dedication, commitment and strong spiritual guidance in the Town of Plymouth. Once again, please accept our sincere thanks.
Very Truly Your, Kenneth A. Tavares, Chairman, Board of Selectmen"

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.

Poinsettia Thank You: From Kathryn Stevenson-"Thank you so much for bringing me the gorgeous poinsettia. It is lovely-I love them-and hope some day to meet one of you at the church. Thanking you again. Sincerely, Kathryn" From Ginny and Dick Bramhall- Dick and I want to thank you for the lovely poinsettia delivered by Linda Brown and her little boy last week. We had a nice visit with them. It is always good to be remembered by your and our hope is to be able to see you soon. We are anxious to meet your new Pastor and see the "old" one. Seasons greetings and thank you again. Sincerely, Ginny and Dick Bramhall"

From Diana Budge: "MANY THANKS to my church family for your prayers and practical help during my recent incapacity. My own carelessness resulted in two serious falls resulting in fracture of both my right ankle and right wrist but everyone has been wonderful, helping with meals and company during the last few weeks when I have been unable to get around much at all. As those who know me can imagine, it has not been easy for me to be immobilized but, I think that I got the message that I need to slow down just a little. I hope to see everyone soon and wish all a blessed Christmas season and good fortune in the New Year. Thank you all again, you are a blessing indeed. Diana Budge.

From the Staff of The Church of the Pilgrimage: The staff of The Church of the Pilgrimage is grateful for Christmas gifts extended to them by church members. Thank you!


garymarks@8townsquare.org hmoody@8townsquare.org	January 8 , 2006	office@8townsquare.org
Volume LXXVIII		No. 1
Dear Friends, Happy New Year! It is not ever satisfying to me when people say, "Happy Holidays" during the season just ended. There are several days of celebration during the season and that all-inclusive greeting is not quite what meets my own need for spiritual growth, appreciation, or well being. "Happy Holidays," I assume, includes Chanukah, Kwanza, Christmas, New Year's Day, perhaps even Boxing Day! I applaud the attempt to honor all religious traditions and even those ancient ones which recognize the new year as a significant time of endings and beginnings. When it applies, I say, "Merry Christmas" to people I know to be Christian. If I see the rabbi I say "Happy Chanukah!" (I'm glad, though, I don't have to spell "Chanukah" every time)! I rarely say, "Happy Boxing Day!" for fear that someone will think I'm trying to pick a fight! You get my drift here. I wonder if those who make the smiling greeting, "Happy Holidays!," are at all aware that "holiday" is a shortened form of "holy day." Maybe that's where the rub is for me. Much of what transpires during the season including several religious observances, is not taken to be "holy." Indeed, there appears to be little, if any, wish for genuine "holy" experience in the routine greeting, "Happy Holidays." All my misgivings about "seasonal greetings" aside, I wish to all of you a year ahead which is reflective of the holiness of God and the rich spiritual blessings of trying to be followers of Jesus' Way. The blessings of which I speak include worship, service and mission. They include spiritual practice, Bible study and to be centered by discernments reached in prayer. The blessings of faith will include not just prayers for personal well-being, but prayers for others who may not be like us, for a world in conflict, for the realization of justice and righteousness in places near and far. It is my further hope that there will be many "holy days" in 2006 for you and for The Church of the Pilgrimage. These will be days of thanksgiving for blessings and challenges which require of us special outpourings of our faith to gird us up and keep us on the Way we find redemptive personally and hopeful in a distressed, often unholy, world. Often our forbears in this place, and others, called for "days of fasting" or "days of thanksgiving." In 2006 I will be trying to focus upon the 400th anniversary of the Covenant which created our church. In 1606, it is generally agreed, a group of faithful people with dreams and hopes for the future "made covenant" in Scrooby, England" to walk in the Lord's Way, made known unto them." As I wish you all, "Happy New Year," I call upon us all to review the Covenant and to live in daringly holy ways in 2006! Love, © The Church of the Pilgrimage in Plymouth, MA Inc., all rights reserved.
Morning Worship: 10:00am, Rev. Gary L. Marks. Deacon in Charge: Dave Moreland Flowers: The flowers are in loving memory of Anne Patenaude Vaughn and our parents, Eldred and Peg Stacy and Mrs. & Mrs. Kenneth O. Clarke. Given by Hector and Jean Patenaude.
CHURCH RECORD Hospitalized: Jean Patenaude, Jordan Hospital; Shirley Hoyt, Boston Medical Center. Wedding: On December 24, 2005 Rev. Marks conducted a wedding service for, Brian Brown and Cheryl Nickerson in the house of the bride's aunt. Birth: Nathaniel Oliver Moss, son of Susan Chapman Moss and Mathew David Moss was born on November 2, 2005.
In a Letter to Gary from the Town of Plymouth: "On behalf of the Board of Selectmen, I would like to thank you for offering the Opening Prayer in our 1st Annual Thanksgiving Ceremonial Meeting on November 22, 2005. Your prayer was both moving and inspirational. The Board admires and recognizes your dedication, commitment and strong spiritual guidance in the Town of Plymouth. Once again, please accept our sincere thanks. Very Truly Your, Kenneth A. Tavares, Chairman, Board of Selectmen" 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. Poinsettia Thank You: From Kathryn Stevenson-"Thank you so much for bringing me the gorgeous poinsettia. It is lovely-I love them-and hope some day to meet one of you at the church. Thanking you again. Sincerely, Kathryn" From Ginny and Dick Bramhall- Dick and I want to thank you for the lovely poinsettia delivered by Linda Brown and her little boy last week. We had a nice visit with them. It is always good to be remembered by your and our hope is to be able to see you soon. We are anxious to meet your new Pastor and see the "old" one. Seasons greetings and thank you again. Sincerely, Ginny and Dick Bramhall" From Diana Budge: "MANY THANKS to my church family for your prayers and practical help during my recent incapacity. My own carelessness resulted in two serious falls resulting in fracture of both my right ankle and right wrist but everyone has been wonderful, helping with meals and company during the last few weeks when I have been unable to get around much at all. As those who know me can imagine, it has not been easy for me to be immobilized but, I think that I got the message that I need to slow down just a little. I hope to see everyone soon and wish all a blessed Christmas season and good fortune in the New Year. Thank you all again, you are a blessing indeed. Diana Budge. From the Staff of The Church of the Pilgrimage: The staff of The Church of the Pilgrimage is grateful for Christmas gifts extended to them by church members. Thank you!
THIS WEEK Sun, Jan. 8: Morning Worship 10:00am, Rev. Gary L. Marks preaching; Cherub Choir Rehearsal, following worship, sanctuary. Mon, Jan. 9: Aerobics, Allerton Hall, 9am; Monday Meals, 10:30-1pm, Allerton Hall; Pilgrim Festival Choir Rehearsal, 7-10pm, Sanctuary. Tue, Jan. 10: Aerobics, 6:30pm, Allerton Hall; Rev. Marks will conduct a worship service at The Newfield House at 10:00am. He'll be in the church office following that service. Wed, Jan. 11: Aerobics, Allerton Hall, 9am; Rev. Marks will be in the church office, 9:30am; Choir Music Committee Meeting, Allerton Hall, 6:30pm; Evening Prayer, Sanctuary, 7:00pm; Choir Rehearsal, Sanctuary, 7:30pm. Thurs, Jan. 12: Aerobics, Allerton Hall, 9am; Membership & Evangelism, Simpson Home, 7pm; Stewardship Committee Meeting, Church House, 7pm. Fri., Jan. 13: Aerobics, Allerton Hall, 9am; Guild, Allerton Hall, 9am; Rev. Marks will be in the church office, 9:30pm.
Coming Events: Jan. 15 Nominating Committee after church in the sanctuary. Jan. 16 Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast, Plymouth South High. The Rev. Dr. Peter J. Gomes will be the speaker. (See Ken Heckman or call the church office for tickets).
MISSIONS AND OUTREACH NEWS- 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. 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. Poinsettias: The church in grateful to all those who gave or loaned poinsettias for use during our Christmas services. They were beautiful and they are a poignant way to remember loved ones. The church has already received notes form shut-ins, and others remembered, thanking the church for being remembered. We thank the Flower Committee for organizing, purchasing and seeing to it that the poinsettias are delivered. It is a big job and we are appreciative of the hard work! Christmas Eve Services: Our Christmas Eve Services were very well attended and orchestrated by the Christian Education Committee. A special "Thank You" is extended to Sarah Bruffee who is chair of the committee. She manages our C. E. Committee cheerfully and ably. The Candlelight Service with Holy Communion was exceptional in many ways. It was, at once, solemn and joyful. It was also one of the best attended late Christmas Eve services in recent years. It was beautiful! A Special Thank "Thank You": A special "Thank You" is also extended to our able and cheerful church secretary, Shellie McCormack. Without complaint, she put in many extra house of work in preparing bulletins for two Christmas Eve services and the Christmas Sunday service. She is always available to honor requests made by the boards and committees and the ministers of the church. Say "thank you" to her the next time you see her! Choir Thank You: The minister also want to thank our wonderful Sanctuary Choir for its ministry of music. When people are attracted to our church the choir is one of the top three most important reasons given regarding the quality of our worship services. The choir is a sub-community of our congregation, loyal to the church and one another. The member of the choir were out in great numbers at 11:30pm on Christmas Eve, and were even well represented on New Years Day. We thank our music director, choir master, and friend, Bill Richter for his many years of service to God and our congregation! The Junior Choir is also magnificent and add such joy to worship. That is also true of our charming, smile-making Cherub Choir! Lois Post has led the Cherub Choir for many years and we are grateful! The choirs are greatly aided by organist/pianist Casey Hannan whose gifts are a blessing to us. "When in our music God is glorified, and adoration leaves no room for pride, it is as though the whole creation cried, Alleluia! Alleluia! Nominating Committee Meeting: January 15th the Nominating Committee will meet after church in the sanctuary.

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.