Volume LXXXV No. 11 Office Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30am-4pm December 2016

Transcription

1 Volume LXXXV No. 11 Office Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30am-4pm December 2016 From Our Pastor I sometimes wish God made me a person who could sit in silence and meditate. But it seems like my best thinking, even my best praying, comes when I am walking. Recently I headed toward the beach, not far from our home. But it was so cold and windy that day I turned away from the ocean, into Plymouth Plantation. With the leaves now down, I could see so much more of the Plantation itself. A few workers went by me in trucks, but mostly it was quiet. A rooster crowed. How did they do it? How did the Pilgrims keep the faith when winter was so cold, when so little was easy, let alone certain. It is good to mark Thanksgiving and not only gather with family and friends and eat a big meal, but also marvel at the faith of people long ago. I think many of us hung onto Trace Sear s children s message on Thanksgiving Sunday with his number facts and the five kernels of corn and cards of gratitude placed on the Thanksgiving table. In all things give thanks he reminded us. However, Thanksgiving quickly turns to Advent. By the time you get this Herald, we will have marked the First Sunday in Advent with the Hanging of the Greens Service. A short time after that, we will have our annual nativities display, part of the Open House for the Tree Lighting. Then, just days after that, our annual Service of Comfort and Peace. It is a fast moving season, and these events help us pause, take stock, reflect. What does it mean for us to look for hope, peace, joy and love in these particular days? How, in a world that is crass and cruel, can we be a place of hospitality, welcome, and comfort? I know many of us have big questions about where our nation is going and what it means to be the church these days. Those questions will be with us for quite some time. They deserve time and attention. But for now, let us covenant to make the journey of Advent together. God may have new things to teach us about waiting, about hope, about faith and being a faith community, and about the meaning of Jesus birth. So come to worship -- all four Sundays of Advent if you can! See our sanctuary be transformed once again. See who lights the candles on the Service of Comfort and Peace Our annual Service of Comfort and Peace will take place this year on Wednesday December 7 th at 7 pm. It is a brief service, usually about half an hour in length. We offer it to be helpful to those who find the holidays a hard time for all manner of reasons. Please think about inviting a friend who might benefit from a time like this. After the service this year, Gary and Scott Sturgis, each of whom has experience in grief counseling, will offer a time of conversation and support about how to cope with the holidays. This will take place in Allerton Hall and light refreshments will be served.

2 Advent wreath and learn a bit more about them. Ponder the old scriptures, sing the hymns and carols, and expect to encounter something new. In marking Advent, and in the living of these days, may the song we sing at the receiving of new members be what happens for us as a people: Weave, weave, weave us together. Weave us together in unity and love. Grace and peace, Christmas and New Year s Day The calendar this year falls so that both these days are on a Sunday. We will worship on Christmas day, but it will be short and sweet a hymn sing, a simple reflection or reading, communion by intinction. We will worship on New Year s Day in the JRC, with a rather significant time change. At 10 am breakfast will be served. Coffee, tea, juice, bagels, and other breakfast goodies, and we ll have time to simply be together. Then at 11 worship will begin, with a theme of All Things New. This would be an excellent service to invite a friend to different, perhaps a little less formal and more intimate. Hope to see you there! Women s Walking and a Spring Retreat! The next gathering for Women Who Walk is Saturday, December 10, meeting at 9 am at Nelson Park. We will walk the Rail Trail rather than the Grace Trail this time, and people can walk at their own pace. We will once again plan to finish up at Kiskiddee for a coffee (likely arriving there at 10 am) All are welcome to join us! At our first walk and meeting we talked about having a Women s Retreat in the Spring. Well, SAVE the DATE: March 31-April 1st. There will be something of a walking theme yet to be fully developed. Also with it being an April Fool s day retreat, we ll plan to be a little foolish, or perhaps better said, playful. It will be an overnight retreat, but people can just do the Saturday time if that suits them better. Look in the January Herald for more details. Our setting will be Craigville Conference Center, right across the street from the ocean. With a little luck, March will be going out like a lamb and we can have walks along the water! CAROLING at NEWFIELD HOUSE Come join us for Caroling at Newfield House on Dec 11 at 2pm. All levels of singing ability are welcome. We'll have plenty of copies of music for everyone. Come spread Christmas joy and love to the residents of Newfield House, just minutes from church. This is a fun and meaningful Advent activity for all ages. For any questions, contact Barbara Northrop (781) or Marna Blomberg (781)

3 From Your Director of Christian Ed, Jenny Healy Before I get into November or December, I have to step back just briefly into October to say that for the first time, we opened our doors to the community during the Downtown Trick or Treat event that the town sponsors. Cathy Sampson, Stephanie Northrop, Michaela Coombs and I spent the afternoon, in costume of course, handing out candy to a pretty good sized crowd, considering we didn't have what turned to be the universal advertisement for candy- a balloon. Live and learn. It was a twofer-we opened our doors for the fun night and advertised for the puppet show that followed the next weekend. And our attendance easily doubled from last year, due perhaps to our outreach the week before as well as the work of the publicity committee getting it into the paper. We will definitely plan to do the two events piggy backed next year (and we'll be sure to wear our long underwear as well.) Toy Drive The church's annual toy drive will take place on Sunday, December 11. Our church will sponsor 10 children from the Department of Children and Families Family to Family holiday program. We have been provided with a wish list for each of the children. You can find paper ornaments on our tree with an item from a child's wish list written on it. Please take an ornament and donate an item. The gifts should be brought to the church, wrapped and labeled. All gifts will be dropped off to DCF on December 12 to be delivered to the child's family before Christmas. Feel free to contact Wendy Porter at w-porter@live.com with any questions. As always, Advent has plenty to offer families here at church. One of the highlights for many is caroling at a local nursing home on Dec. 11; it is a powerful gift that we give those residents when we come and sing; consider it this year. Here's a quick overview of things so if you haven't already, mark your calendars! Nov. 27 Hanging of the Greens-worship for all ages, the Sunday School helps to decorate the sanctuary. Pageant sign ups go up! Dec. 4 Communion: children gather in sanctuary then go downstairs for Sunday School, returning to join their families for communion. Youth group trip to see Les Miserables at Silver lake-get to Jenny ASAP if you want to go. Dec. 11 Toy Drive collection: teens needed to help load toys onto the sleigh. Pageant rehearsal in sanctuary after church. Coffee & Conversation 2 PM Caroling at Newfield House nursing home, all ages welcome Dec. 18 Christmas Workshop in Allerton Hall during Sunday School time. Pageant rehearsal in sanctuary after church Dec. 24 Christmas Eve pageant. Call time for those in the pageant, 6:30pm. Pageant.at 7pm. Dec. 25 Merry Christmas! Simple worship and carol sing at 10 AM for all ages! Dec Youth group day of service in Boston and lock-in at JRC Jan. 1 Pajama Story time! Wear your PJs and bring your favorite Christmas stories! 3

4 Confirmation Class received into membership The following young people were received into membership on November 6 th : Ryan Anderson, Katrina Bingham-Maas, Sophia Blomberg, Grace Curtin, Stephanie Northrop, James Richards, and Jackie Trask. The service was made so meaningful by each student being introduced by their mentors: Trace Sears, Janet Synnott, Kelly Danner, Dawn Durmis, Cathy Sampson, Lynnette Lancaster, and Linn Peterson. Many of the students said that one of the very best things about confirmation class was doing things with their mentors. And many who attended worship that day felt energized and grateful for the presence of young people in our community. A new confirmation class will begin in the new year for those who are currently in the eighth grade. In the fall of 2017 we will have that year s eighth graders join us so that the class is two years working together for much of the experience. Look for more news about this in future Herald articles. Stewardship: My words mean nothing! As I sat down to write this article, I had no idea what I was going to say. How am I going to get more members and friends to send in pledges for the 2017 operating budget? How am I going to let them know how much this impacts our future? What can I say that will make them realize the importance of pledging? How do I know if anyone even reads these words that I agonize over each time I try to communicate with our congregation? After six years I'm running out of ideas and words. Eventually I realized it's not my words you need to hear. The voices you need to listen to belong to "you" and to your "God." On Stewardship Sunday God asked us "Who shall I send?" Many of us took the "Leap of Faith" our committee asked for and answered "Here we are Lord." I think the Stewardship Committee's work is done. The rest is up to each of you. Are you going to take a "Leap of Faith" this year? I hope so. We really need you. Nancy E Reed, Stewardship Chair Memorial Poinsettias By your loving purchase of poinsettias, we can enhance the beauty of our church for the Christmas services. Sign up in the lower vestibule following the services on December 4 and 11. An insert listing the donors and those memorialized or honored will be included in the December 18th Sunday Bulletin. The suggested donation for a poinsettia is $15, although a donation of any amount is welcome. The flowers may be designated for shut-ins, or picked up after the Christmas Eve services or the following Sunday. Volunteers will be invited to take flowers to shut-ins following the December 18th Sunday service. 4

5 Meet New Members Tina and Matthew Kennedy Tina and Matt, who became members last spring, moved to Plymouth from Mansfield four years ago. Tina s dad lives here so they were frequent visitors, and they were drawn to the town, especially the ocean. With their nine-year-old son John, they enjoy bike rides, the beach and Plymouth s amazing restaurants. Tina is a hair stylist in Taunton and Matt is a plumber. Pilgrimage was the first church they attended here. They describe people here as very friendly and helpful, we feel so welcomed here. Everyone is very supportive of one another. They love the choir, and the way Pastor Helen can take a Bible passage and make it current and relatable so the message has meaning. Tina plans to become involved with youth services and Matt is on the Board of Trustees. John loves the stories he is learning in Sunday School. They look forward to new friendships with church members, and to spreading the word about all that Pilgrimage has to offer. Amy and Christian Carter Amy and Christian Carter joined the church last spring. They live in Plymouth with their young son and daughter, Christian (4) and Cameron (2). Originally from Wakefield (Amy) and Kingston (Christian), they lived in Carver before moving to Plymouth. Amy was a special education teacher in Carver before having children. Christian works in the mortgage industry and has served in the Army Reserves for 11 years. They are both avid runners and they enjoy outdoor activities with the children, especially helping with the cranberry harvest on the Carter family bogs. Their friendship with J.D. Marks (Rev. Gary s son) brought them to Pilgrimage, where they were married five years ago. Amy describes the church as family-friendly and relaxed, with community-oriented activities. A busy mom, she is willing to use her baking skills for church events when needed. Karla and Josh Fries Karla and Josh joined the church in October. Karla is from New Jersey and Josh is from Yarmouth. They met in college in Pennsylvania and have lived in Plymouth for 16 years. Karla is a critical care nurse at BID-Plymouth. Josh is a Massachusetts State Police Officer, and a former member of the Plymouth Police Department. They have two children, Matthew (9) and Sarah (7). Both Karla and Josh were raised in Protestant churches and they were looking for a church where they can live their faith. Pilgrimage is just what we needed, Karla said. She said both Pastor Helen and Jenny have been very kind, open and caring. She finds the messages conveyed during the Sunday services very worthwhile. The Fries encourage the church to continue its outreach to young families. 5

6 From Membership and Evangelism Share the Season and Grow Our Community Invite Someone to Church Many people find a church community through personal invitations from current members. As we prepare for the birth of Christ, let's share our church with others. This Advent, we encourage you to invite someone - a neighbor, a colleague, a family member, or friend - to one of our Advent worship services or special events. Please share this season with others. ******************************************* The Membership and Evangelism Committee is looking for church members who would like to host a Food for Thought dinner in their home this winter - January, February, or March. Everyone who attended the six dinners this past year were enthusiastic about how comfortable and easy it was to get to know each other in a relaxed, home setting. If you d like to host a dinner in your home you need only provide seating around a table for 8 to 12 people, dishes, glasses and napkins and coordinate with your guests about who brings what food. You do not need to do all the cooking! If you would like to attend a dinner, or host one, or have questions about this, please Diane Keller at dianekeller@aol.com. We look forward to giving all members - new and old - this opportunity to expand their friendship with fellow church members. Ellie Reinhardt, Chair Trustees Moment by Don Reinhardt, Chair At Advent the Trustees are encouraged by a faith that is beyond all understanding. A faith that enables all of us to, hopefully, relax a bit this holiday season and reflect on our many blessings. We pause to reflect on the gifts of generosity that provide for this church to continue its mission; the gift of caring people who, at a moment s notice, can mobilize to provide whatever is necessary in a time of stress or anxiety; the gift of music such that our church is able to surround our minds and bodies with an uplifting spirit; and the gift of unequaled pastoral care and guidance that comes packaged with a bright smile and warm understanding - batteries included! Your Trustees are dedicated to ensuring that these gifts continue into 2017 and the years to come. We are dedicated to providing the necessary oversight to enable our church to continue to reach out to others and provide a home away from home throughout the years. Our twelve men and women bring a wealth of individual knowledge and enthusiasm that somehow manages to mesh into a group of one - one committee of folks who can envision a better tomorrow by working diligently today. Do we always agree on every issue? No. But do we understand that careful research and respectful discussion might lead us to better serve you? Yes! We trust that you have been energized by the work of the Trustees in 2016 and especially the work accomplished this past year on our historic building - the front interior and exterior. The restoration project was obviously made possible by your generosity and for that we are grateful. But we trust that you see the restoration continuing to unfold as not just a superficial work project - a bright new package wrapped in fancy paper - but rather a testament to the fact that what s inside the package is what s important. Merry Christmas! Don Reinhardt, Chair 6

7 Tis the Season In the true spirit of giving, the Trustees encourage you to consider a Christmas gift of cash to our well-deserving church staff. We know you d agree that Pastor Helen and all of our staff - both full and part timers - are second to none and go above and beyond in support and service to our congregation. We hope you ll go above and beyond at this special time of year and show your gratitude with a generous Christmas gift. Checks should be made out to The Church of the Pilgrimage and be sure to indicate on the memo line or by note that the check is for staff Christmas gift. You may mail your check to the church office or you can place it in the offering plate or you may give cash. Or you may also find Don Reinhardt at coffee hour and give your gift of cash or check to him. Be sure to include a note in the envelope stating that the cash or check is for the staff Christmas gift. Gifts will be divided among the staff and given just before Christmas. Thank you! Deacon s Notes It s hard to believe that November, with the celebration of Thanksgiving and, thus, our Pilgrim roots, is behind us and we have entered the season of Advent. With all of the preparation we do for the secular components of the holiday we cherish, we should never lose sight of the fact that Christmas is, first and foremost, a beloved religious celebration. We have already experienced the festivity of the first Sunday in Advent with our Hanging of the Greens Service but, the month of December offers a variety of worship opportunities and church activities. On Wednesday, December 7 at 7pm, we will hold our annual service of Comfort and Peace. Christmas is generally envisioned as a time of celebration but, for many, it is also a time of sadness as we remember loved ones no longer with us or experiences associated with the holiday that may not always be pleasant ones for us. This service gently guides us through the Bluer side of the holiday and prepares us for the wonder which is the birth of Jesus Christ. This year, we will also be offering an opportunity for folks to get together in Allerton Hall after the service for those who may find comfort in a continuing conversation based on the service. We will also offer our two traditional services on Christmas Eve. The first one is our annual Christmas pageant featuring the children of the church. It offers a look at Christ s birth through the eyes of our youngest members and, as well as being a warm family tradition, it can offer some unforgettable moments as the children interpret the script with their own personal styles. The 11:00 P.M. candlelight service on Christmas Eve is one of our loveliest ones. The music, scripture, pastor s message, communion, and overall atmosphere in the church remind us of the love God shared with all of us at the birth of His only begotten son. This year, Christmas Day falls on a Sunday and Pastor Helen will be offering a church service filled with Carols and scripture. This also means that New Year s Day falls on a Sunday. We will be moving our church service across the street to the Great Room in the JRC. The Deacons will be serving breakfast at 10:00 A.M. and the service itself will begin at 11:00 A.M. Hopefully, this will give those of you who plan on celebrating the night before a little extra time to roll out of bed and join your church family in celebrating the beginning of a new year. The Deacons continue to support several mini-ministries including the Ministries of Writing, Meals, Rides to Church and Visitation. The number of people on our Visitation committee has 7

8 dwindled during the past year. This committee is a very important part of who we are as a church and we are always grateful when additional volunteers step forward to help with this mini-ministry. Helen offers initial training for those on this committee who then visit the home bound, those recovering from surgery and others for whom a visit would help brighten their day. Please let Helen, a Deacon or the church office know if you would be willing to participate in any of these ministries. The Women s Guild The Women s Guild will meet on December 9 at 1:00pm in Allerton Hall for our annual Christmas tea. This year we have planned time for fellowship in a relaxed atmosphere where we can share personal stories of Christmas memories from our childhood and family holiday traditions. All women of the church are invited and welcome. See you there! (This will be our last opportunity to get together before winter break, as we will not be meeting in January or February.) From Your Missions Committee God is at work enlarging the boundaries of my heart. Howard Thurman November is a busy month for all of us, and The Missions and Outreach Committee is busy on several fronts. We are preparing for the Alternative Christmas Fair, which began Sunday, November 27 and will run for the four weeks of Advent. The fair gives our church members the opportunity to buy hand-made gifts from around the world as an alternative to commercial products. They are meaningful gifts, especially when you are buying for a loved one that has everything. We will have products for sale from the following organizations: Habitat for Humanity, Beautiful Day Granola project, Equal Exchange, St. Rock Haiti, Heifer International, and an organization new to us, AIDS Orphans Educational Trust from Ethiopia. The Overnights of Hospitality God is at work enlarging the boundaries of my heart. Howard Thurman The Plymouth Taskforce to End Homelessness began its interfaith program thirteen years ago, offering shelter, hearty meals and clothing to homeless men during the winter months. Father Bill s and Mainspring, based in Quincy, joined the effort and the two organizations also provide supportive services and seek permanent housing for their clients, year round. The First Baptist Church and Christ Church Episcopal will provide the sites for the shelter again this year, beginning Sunday, November 27th, 2016 and ending Saturday, April 1st, Members of The Church of the Pilgrimage have been part of this program from the beginning. To volunteer this year to make a meal ( or join others making one) or serve as a chaperone for one night, along with a permanent one, please sign up on the Meal Train Plus Website: For further information about this program, contact Norm Bingham-Maas of or Connie Melahoures, president of The Plymouth Taskforce to End 8

9 Capital Campaign Update As you are aware, the Capital Campaign was launched in June 2015 and we exceeded our goal with 148 pledges from our congregation amounting to $1,043,000. At this time we have received $619,000 in contributions from those pledges, which is slightly ahead of our initial expectations. This funding has allowed us to complete the renovation of the front exterior of the church, and we are working with our contractor in planning for the next phase of reconstruction, which includes both the west and east sides of the church. In order to maintain our work schedule we will still require an additional $216,00 from our initial pledges to insure that our financing is in place when we start work in the spring. If you are 70 ½ or older, you can make a tax-free transfer from your IRA directly to the Capital Campaign before the end of December, as part of your 2016 Required Minimum Distribution. This transfer can be in the form of a check or stock certificate. If this option is of interest to you, please contact your IRA administrator or the church office for more details. Frank Roberts, Continuity Chair Nominating Committee News The Nominating Committee has immediate openings on the Board of Christian Ed. Also, the Membership & Evangelism Committee and the Music Committee. If you are interested in being a part of any of these, please contact Steve Triffletti, Geoff Campbell, Alice Hyslop, Marna Blomberg, Joseph Koehler or Rosa Cook. Monday Meals of Hospitality We are especially thankful, as this article goes to press, for a gift of $3,000 just received from the Plymouth Lions Club in support of our Monday Meals Program. We appreciate the club s extensive fundraising efforts each year that make this gift possible, and we particularly thank Diana Budge for continuing to keep the club aware of our meal program. Planning is underway to again serve a dinner on Christmas Day for Monday Meal participants. In past years, fifty or so people have come, and in addition, many volunteers from other towns, as well as our own church members, have traditionally come to help out and enjoy the day. St. Peter s church provided dinner on Thanksgiving and will again on New Year s Day. Participants of an ARC program will be bringing used coats, hats and gloves to a November meal for those in need. We continue to receive requests for warm clothes. Donations of coats and boots in good condition would always be welcome. A hearty THANK YOU to all our volunteers. You keep the program going. Wish List Our church is in need of its own DIGITAL PROJECTOR and LAPTOP COMPUTER to run it. $1,100 is the estimated cost. Contributions are most appreciated. Please send them to our church office. Thank you. 9

10 Flowers for December December 4: December 11: December 18: December 25: In loving memory of deceased Guild members. Given by the Guild. In loving memory of loved ones. Given by Sandi Mann Santos and family. Christmas poinsettias are given in memory of loved ones. Christmas poinsettias are given in memory of loved ones. Anyone wishing to provide flowers for our sanctuary on a Sunday in January, please call Joyce Ashley at Thank you. Church Record & Notes Pastor Helen officiated at the wedding of Dana Scanlon and Katrina Damon on Saturday, November 5, Everett Randall Medeiros, son of Minh and Randall Medeiros and Charlotte Noelle Sylvia, daughter of Kezia and Brett Sylvia were baptized on November 13 during our morning worship service. Pilgrim Association Ordination At the request of Pilgrim Church of Duxbury, you are invited to gather for the ordination of Emily Johnson Kellar on December 10 at 11am, Pilgrim Church of Duxbury, 404 Washington Street. Heifer Holiday Open House & Gift opportunity of Women s Lambing (great Christmas Gift idea) Join us for our Holiday Open House on December 3,4,10 & 11 from 10am-4pm located at 216 Wachusett St, Rutland, MA For the first time at Heifer Farm, children can meet the symbol of giving himself-santa! You can also take your family photo with a goat, decorate gingerbread cookies, roast chestnuts over an open fire, go holiday shopping in our fair trade gift shop, and more. Admission is free with a canned good donation! Our Women s Lambing program makes a great holiday gift for any woman in your life. Your wife, mom, sister, aunt, daughter, or friend will spend three days and nights immersed in farm life. The births of sheep and goats, workshops, delicious farm-to-table meals and plenty of animal time make this a truly unforgettable experience. Sessions are March 30-April 2, April 3-6, and April reservations@heifer.org to get stared. 10

11 December 2: December 4: December 5: December 6: December 7: December 8: December 9: December 10: December 11: December 12: December 13: December 14: December 18: December 19: December 20: December 21: December 23: December 24: December 25: December 26: December 28: December 29: December 30: December 31: December Calendar Events 2016 Town Tree Lighting & Nativity display, 5-7pm, Town Square. Worship with communion at 10am and new members joining. Poinsettia sign-up during coffee hour. Monday Meals of Hospitality, 11am, Allerton Hall. Board of Christian Ed Meeting, 7:15pm, Stewart Room. Bible Study, 10:30am, Amy Simpson s home. Service of Comfort & Peace, 7pm, Sanctuary Choir rehearsal, 7:30pm, Sanctuary Meeting, 7pm, Marks Room. Guild Meeting, 1pm, Allerton Hall. Women s Walking Group, 9am, Nelson St. Park Missions & Outreach Committee Meeting, 11am, Marks Room. Worship with a baptism at 10am. Toy Drive and Good Samaritan offering will be received. Pageant Rehearsal with Jenny and Pastor Helen, after worship. Poinsettia sign up during coffee hour. Caroling at the Newfield House, 2pm. Monday Meals of Hospitality, 11am, Allerton Hall. Church Council Meeting, 7pm, Marks Room. Don Remick speaking 9:30-11am. Allerton Hall (more info to follow). Board of Trustees Meeting, 7pm, Marks Room. Choir Rehearsal, 7:30pm, Sanctuary. Worship10am, Sanctuary. Christmas Workshop for Sunday School children. Pageant rehearsal with Jenny and Pastor Helen, after worship. Monday Meals of Hospitality, 11am, Allerton Hall. Herald Deadline Membership & Evangelism Committee Meeting, 7pm, Marks Room. Choir Rehearsal, 7:30pm, Sanctuary. Church Office Closed for holiday. Christmas Eve Services Pageant, 7pm Candles & Communion, 11pm Worship with Carols, 10am (no coffee hour this morning) Christmas Dinner will be served in Allerton Hall for those in need. Church Office Closed for holiday. Youth Group Lock-In, JRC Great Room. Choir Rehearsal, 7:30pm, Sanctuary. Wedding Rehearsal, 5pm, Sanctuary. Wedding, 5pm, Sanctuary. New Year s Eve 11

12 Harvest Fair 2016 Confirmation Sunday