Pilgrimage Herald

February 12, 2006

Dear Friends,

On February 7th Heather and I attended a workshop which had as its theme, "Pastor's Ministering Together." It was held at our Mass Conference Center in Framingham. It was a good opportunity for us to be together with ministerial teams from churches across the conference to share with others the joys and hurts of working together in our U.C.C. churches who have two or more pastors. In fact, Heather and I shared in a group which included Dan Spacek and his new pastoral partner, Bill Geertz. It was nice to be able to spend a day with Dan and others.

Many issues were raised regarding the way pastoral teams worked together. For instance: How do multiple-staff ministries relate to one another? How are needs of ministry shared and where are there areas of ministry for which each minister has primary responsibilities? How do teams handle conflict or disagreements between, or among, themselves? Are there clear distinctions between ministers based on call agreements? Many such questions dealing with the hard work of ministry in teams were profitably discussed.

Common themes seemed present in most of the groups and among pastoral teams during the workshop. Among the most repeated needs for effective team ministry was that each member develop trust for each other. It was important, teams felt, to share a sense of humor in their work. Also crucial for effective team ministry is to care for and share in the spiritual life and growth of one another. It was agreed that the way pastoral teams work together should model, in clear and observable ways, the sacred relationships among God and ourselves, and do so by being able to appreciate the unique gifts which each ministerial partner brings to the congregation. It was also a common theme of the workshop that congregations benefit form a pastoral team which takes time, and are expected to do so, to keep the relationship vital, ie. times spent in planning, enjoying , without competition, the successes of the other, praying for and with each other for the spiritual and missional ministries of the church, etc.

Heather and I agree that the workshop was a good experience for the two of us, but also for our church. Though our pastoral team is relatively young (one of the ministers is also young!) we agreed that we have unusual joy in working as a team to answer our calls to ordained ministry. Heather and I spend a great deal of time together, in very frequent conversations, and in prayer, none of it wasted, all of it because we want to be effective ministers for The Church of the Pilgrimage and in the wider church.

There is a great deal of wisdom in a quotation I have read recently: "Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success." That wise observation applies to your ministers, to all of us covenanted in a church estate, to the work of our various boards and committees. We are all called to be successful disciples of Christ in our work together to proclaim the grace and love of God. We all should appreciate each of our gifts in ministry to that great noble goal and work.

So far as your ministerial team is concerned, Heather and I agree that we truly are blessed to like and value each other. We agree, too, that it is with joy and hope, even in times of pain, that we are together called to lead a congregation which is a partner in our shared call to plod steadily on in the way laid out for us in the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ!

Deacon in Charge: Helen Belcher

Greeters: Barbara and Ray Quinn

Flowers: In loving memory of Mr. and Mrs. Donald Peterson, Mrs. and Mrs. Fred Voght, and Dorothy Strassel. Given by the Family.

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.

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

A Thought from Stewardship: "Like every other facet of serving God, all giving should be done with the right attitude. When giving is viewed as a rule and done out of a sense of duty, it becomes legalism. Giving in the hope that you will receive an abundance is also wrong. Giving beyond the tithe should be an outward material expression of a deeper spiritual commitment and an indication of a willing and obedient heart. Giving is a matter of growth and practice."-Larry Burkett

THIS WEEK

Sun, Feb. 12: Morning Worship 10am, Rev. Gary L. Marks preaching; Cherub Choir performing; Church Membership Class, 11:30am-12:30pm in the Conference Room in Church House.

Mon, Feb. 13: Aerobics, Allerton Hall, 9am; Monday Meals, 10:30-1pm, Allerton Hall; By-Law Review Meeting, 1pm, Church House Conference Room; Brownies, 4-5pm & Girl Scouts, 6-7, Church House, Stewart Room; Nominating Committee Meeting, 7-9pm, Church House Conference Room; Pilgrim Festival Choir Rehearsal, 7-10pm, Sanctuary.

Tue, Feb. 14: Happy Valentine's Day!
Rev. Marks will conduct a worship service at The Newfield House at 10:00am. He will be in the church office following that service. Aerobics, 6:30pm, Allerton Hall.

Wed, Feb. 15: Rev. Marks will be in the church office, 9:30am; Rev. Marks will be having lunch at the Ryder Home; Aerobics, Allerton Hall, 9am; Boy Scouts, 7-9pm, Great Hall; Missions Meeting, 7pm, Church House Conference Room; Evening Prayer, Sanctuary, 7:00pm; Choir Rehearsal, Sanctuary, 7:30pm.

Thurs, Feb.16: Aerobics, Allerton Hall, 6:30pm; Habitat for Humanity Meeting, , 7-10pm, Church House.

Fri., Feb. 17: Aerobics, Allerton Hall, 9am; Rev. Marks will be in the church office, 9:30pm; Guild, 1-3pm, Allerton Hall.

Coming Events:

Feb. 19 Third in a series of three Membership Classes, 11:30am-12:30pm.
Feb.26 New members will be received into the congregation during morning worship.
March 25 Time and Talent Auction

CHURCH RECORD

Births:
* Congratulations to The Rev. W. Scott Axford and Dr. Polly Leonard Axford on the birth of their son William Warren Axford. William was born on January 30th in Providence, Rhode Island and is the grandson of Arlene Axford.

In Memoriam:
* On February 1, 2006 Rev. Marks and the Rev. Rosemary McKay, Cranberry Hospice Chaplain, conducted a memorial service for Alexander Gilcrist in the sanctuary.
* On February 11, 2006 Rev. Marks conducted a memorial service for Ed Greene in the sanctuary. Our prayers are with Bette and her family at this time of loss.

Gary is very grateful to the Pilgrimage Women's Fellowship for its gift to the Pastor's Discretionary Account.

FEBRUARY IS "Gift of the Heart" month for Missions and Outreach. The Committee will be collecting items, all month, for health and school kits. There are baskets provided behind the Missions table for all contributions. Last fall, the 116 school kits we packaged were sent to Louisiana. Please see below for the items needed. Thank you for participating.


garymarks@8townsquare.org hmoody@8townsquare.org	February 12, 2006	office@8townsquare.org
Volume LXXVIII		No. 6
Dear Friends, On February 7th Heather and I attended a workshop which had as its theme, "Pastor's Ministering Together." It was held at our Mass Conference Center in Framingham. It was a good opportunity for us to be together with ministerial teams from churches across the conference to share with others the joys and hurts of working together in our U.C.C. churches who have two or more pastors. In fact, Heather and I shared in a group which included Dan Spacek and his new pastoral partner, Bill Geertz. It was nice to be able to spend a day with Dan and others. Many issues were raised regarding the way pastoral teams worked together. For instance: How do multiple-staff ministries relate to one another? How are needs of ministry shared and where are there areas of ministry for which each minister has primary responsibilities? How do teams handle conflict or disagreements between, or among, themselves? Are there clear distinctions between ministers based on call agreements? Many such questions dealing with the hard work of ministry in teams were profitably discussed. Common themes seemed present in most of the groups and among pastoral teams during the workshop. Among the most repeated needs for effective team ministry was that each member develop trust for each other. It was important, teams felt, to share a sense of humor in their work. Also crucial for effective team ministry is to care for and share in the spiritual life and growth of one another. It was agreed that the way pastoral teams work together should model, in clear and observable ways, the sacred relationships among God and ourselves, and do so by being able to appreciate the unique gifts which each ministerial partner brings to the congregation. It was also a common theme of the workshop that congregations benefit form a pastoral team which takes time, and are expected to do so, to keep the relationship vital, ie. times spent in planning, enjoying , without competition, the successes of the other, praying for and with each other for the spiritual and missional ministries of the church, etc. Heather and I agree that the workshop was a good experience for the two of us, but also for our church. Though our pastoral team is relatively young (one of the ministers is also young!) we agreed that we have unusual joy in working as a team to answer our calls to ordained ministry. Heather and I spend a great deal of time together, in very frequent conversations, and in prayer, none of it wasted, all of it because we want to be effective ministers for The Church of the Pilgrimage and in the wider church. There is a great deal of wisdom in a quotation I have read recently: "Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success." That wise observation applies to your ministers, to all of us covenanted in a church estate, to the work of our various boards and committees. We are all called to be successful disciples of Christ in our work together to proclaim the grace and love of God. We all should appreciate each of our gifts in ministry to that great noble goal and work. So far as your ministerial team is concerned, Heather and I agree that we truly are blessed to like and value each other. We agree, too, that it is with joy and hope, even in times of pain, that we are together called to lead a congregation which is a partner in our shared call to plod steadily on in the way laid out for us in the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ! Love, © The Church of the Pilgrimage in Plymouth, MA Inc., all rights reserved.
Deacon in Charge: Helen Belcher Greeters: Barbara and Ray Quinn Flowers: In loving memory of Mr. and Mrs. Donald Peterson, Mrs. and Mrs. Fred Voght, and Dorothy Strassel. Given by the Family. 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. 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 A Thought from Stewardship: "Like every other facet of serving God, all giving should be done with the right attitude. When giving is viewed as a rule and done out of a sense of duty, it becomes legalism. Giving in the hope that you will receive an abundance is also wrong. Giving beyond the tithe should be an outward material expression of a deeper spiritual commitment and an indication of a willing and obedient heart. Giving is a matter of growth and practice."-Larry Burkett
THIS WEEK Sun, Feb. 12: Morning Worship 10am, Rev. Gary L. Marks preaching; Cherub Choir performing; Church Membership Class, 11:30am-12:30pm in the Conference Room in Church House. Mon, Feb. 13: Aerobics, Allerton Hall, 9am; Monday Meals, 10:30-1pm, Allerton Hall; By-Law Review Meeting, 1pm, Church House Conference Room; Brownies, 4-5pm & Girl Scouts, 6-7, Church House, Stewart Room; Nominating Committee Meeting, 7-9pm, Church House Conference Room; Pilgrim Festival Choir Rehearsal, 7-10pm, Sanctuary. Tue, Feb. 14: Happy Valentine's Day! Rev. Marks will conduct a worship service at The Newfield House at 10:00am. He will be in the church office following that service. Aerobics, 6:30pm, Allerton Hall. Wed, Feb. 15: Rev. Marks will be in the church office, 9:30am; Rev. Marks will be having lunch at the Ryder Home; Aerobics, Allerton Hall, 9am; Boy Scouts, 7-9pm, Great Hall; Missions Meeting, 7pm, Church House Conference Room; Evening Prayer, Sanctuary, 7:00pm; Choir Rehearsal, Sanctuary, 7:30pm. Thurs, Feb.16: Aerobics, Allerton Hall, 6:30pm; Habitat for Humanity Meeting, , 7-10pm, Church House. Fri., Feb. 17: Aerobics, Allerton Hall, 9am; Rev. Marks will be in the church office, 9:30pm; Guild, 1-3pm, Allerton Hall. Coming Events: Feb. 19 Third in a series of three Membership Classes, 11:30am-12:30pm. Feb.26 New members will be received into the congregation during morning worship. March 25 Time and Talent Auction
CHURCH RECORD Births: * Congratulations to The Rev. W. Scott Axford and Dr. Polly Leonard Axford on the birth of their son William Warren Axford. William was born on January 30th in Providence, Rhode Island and is the grandson of Arlene Axford. In Memoriam: * On February 1, 2006 Rev. Marks and the Rev. Rosemary McKay, Cranberry Hospice Chaplain, conducted a memorial service for Alexander Gilcrist in the sanctuary. * On February 11, 2006 Rev. Marks conducted a memorial service for Ed Greene in the sanctuary. Our prayers are with Bette and her family at this time of loss.
Gary is very grateful to the Pilgrimage Women's Fellowship for its gift to the Pastor's Discretionary Account. We apologize for recent microphone malfunctions during worship services. We hope to have the problems resolved very soon! From the Cowies: To Our Friends at The Church of the Pilgrimage: Sincere thanks to all of you who have made us so welcome during our years in Plymouth; the friendships and wonderful new friends have been an added blessing to our lives and we will miss you all very much. As you know, we are moving on February 9th to: Ironwood on the Green 38-113 Village Road Middleton, MA 01949 Tel: 978-777-5530 We have appreciated the dedication of our Pastors, the Choir and Music Directors- they are what brought us to The Church of the Pilgrimage, initially. But, truly, it is the friendships which we have enjoyed-we feel truly blessed to have you all as in integral part of our lives; thanks to all of you who have allowed us to share your lives and homes with us. Blessings to you all! --Diane & Dave Cowie Cranberry Hospice: If you are interested in becoming a hospice volunteer, a 9-week training programs is scheduled to begin Monday, March 20th. If you would like to join our team at Cranberry Hospice, please call Karen Foster at 508-830-2762 to register, fill our an application and make an appointment for an interview. Hospice volunteers are the heart of Hospice, and help provide care and comfort for our patients and their families. MISSIONS AND OUTREACH NEWS- The Food Warehouse: For our weekly collection of non-perishables, we need: canned ham, tuna or chicken, cereal, pasta, canned fruit, peanut butter, jelly, jam, mayonnaise and ketchup. THANK YOU! FEBRUARY IS "Gift of the Heart" month for Missions and Outreach. The Committee will be collecting items, all month, for health and school kits. There are baskets provided behind the Missions table for all contributions. Last fall, the 116 school kits we packaged were sent to Louisiana. Please see below for the items needed. Thank you for participating. Health Kit * 1 hand towel * 1 washcloth * 1 comb (not pocket comb) * 1 metal nail file or nail clipper * 1 bar of soap (bath size) * 1 toothbrush * 1 tube of toothpaste (4-7 oz.) * 6 Band-Aids Seal all items in a one-gallon bag with a zipper closure. School Kit * 1 pair blunt scissors * pads or notebooks of ruled paper 81/2 x 11 containing 150-200 sheets of paper * 1 30cm ruler (12") * 1 pencil sharpener * 6 new pencils with erasers * 1 large eraser * 12 sheets colored construction paper * 1 box of 24 crayons * 1 12" x 14" cloth bag with cloth handles and a closure (Velcro, snap or button) Pack these items in the cloth bag and secure contents with the closure. Attention parents of senior high youth: Over the next several weeks, Rev. Heather will be setting up appointments for pastoral visits with your sons and daughters. The purpose of these visits is to help her get to know our young people and their needs while also providing them the opportunity to share their ideas and insights. This is the first step towards building a strong and vibrant youth ministry. Nominating Committee Meeting: Please note that the Nominating Committee will be meeting on Monday, February 13th from 7-9pm in the Church House Conference Room. Time and Talent Auction/Dinner: Saturday, March 25th at 6pm. Signups begin this Sunday for the delicious beef stew dinner, only $8/adult, $4/child, max. $20/family. Also, please sign up for your donation(s) of time and/or talent. Forms will be available in Allerton Hall after church. Let your imagination and generosity run wild-everything from time shares to sharing time, from wills to willing hands, from cookies to cooking up a storm. Call Judy Mitchell at 508-746-3959 with questions. Knitting Group: All are welcome to join members and friends of The Church of the Pilgrimage at the home of Diana Budge for knitting and fellowship (and you don't have to be an expert knitter). We will meet Tuesday, February 14th in the evening. Call Diana for details 508-746-4514. Daffodil Days: The American Cancer Society is gearing up for its annual Daffodil Days campaign. The daffodil has come to represent a symbol of hope for cancer patients across the country. With your donation of $7 you can enjoy a beautiful bouquet of fresh-cut daffodils while helping the American Cancer Society fund educational programs that teach people about the prevention and early detection of cancer, provide compassionate assistance for people who have been diagnosed and support cutting-edge cancer research. As a result, more people are surviving cancer than ever before. The five-year relative survival rate stands at 65%, up from 41% in the early 1980's. Approximately 10 million people alive today have a history of cancer. The Church of the Pilgrimage will be taking orders for daffodils on Sunday, February 19th and Sunday, February 26th. Please see Jane Burns, Jane Cole, Marge Sears or Alice Dunham during coffee hour. 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. 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. Many of you know that women's fellowship began a program last summer wherein we make and deliver meals to members of our church family who are in need. I wanted to let you know a few things about where the program is currently and how you can help. First, at a recent advisory board meeting we decided that the deacons would take on the responsibility of organizing this program. It seems to fit in with the description of our responsibilities as is written in the bylaws. This will happen beginning in March. Secondly, we have, of late, had many families in need in our congregation. We would like to add your name to the list of people willing to provide a meal for someone in need. For those of you intimidated by the prospect, you would not be asked to make a five-course gourmet meal. A simple pot of soup or casserole fills the belly and warms the heart. The times and dates are very flexible and can be negotiated with the deacon or deaconess who calls you. I had the privilege of being on the receiving end of this program this week and can attest, as others have, of the great spiritual gift that it is, of the healing power of the fellowship and love that are an integral part of both the meal and the visit. Please see me after church or give me a call to volunteer or find out more about the program. And thank you from the very bottom of my heart to all who have been cooking away making this program a reality; you have brought much joy to many people. Jenny Healy (508-747-7168)



Clerk - Lois Post; Moderator - Steven Triffletti; Treasurer - David Kegel; Collector - Debra Richters Music Director - William B Richter; Secretary - Shellie McCormack; Sexton - Tony Nightingale; World Mission Emphasis - Heifer Project International; Church Building Telephone - (508) 747-1341.