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The Church of the Pilgrimage

"a beacon for good in the world"

April 30, 2026

From the Pastor:

Friends,

There is a metaphor in chapter 2 of 1 Peter, “The Stone that was Rejected has become the very head of the corner” or “cornerstone” depending on the English translation. This metaphor first appears in Psalm 118 and reappears in the New Testament in Matthew and Acts, as well as 1 Peter 2.

The stone that is rejected by human standards is deemed by God to be the chief cornerstone. The cornerstone is the foundational piece in the construction of any building. The cornerstone that was rejected in 1 Peter is not simply the foundational piece in the construction of a building; it is the foundational stone in the construction of one’s faith and the construction of the Church Universal and local.

I cannot read this text without being transported back to Pilgrim Lodge, the Maine Conference’s summer camp. I went to Pilgrim Lodge every summer for one week from the time I was 10 until I graduated from high school at age 18. After high school, I worked at Pilgrim Lodge for 6 summers. Noel Paul Stookey’s song Building Block has at its center the phrase, “The Stone that was Rejected has become the very head of the corner.” We sang this song every summer I was at Pilgrim Lodge. I knew the chorus and the larger message of song long before I read the biblical passages from which Stookey drew his inspiration.

As Stookey wrote, “The building block that was rejected became the cornerstone of a whole new world.” We are part of that new world that is being created. And we are helping to bring about that new world through our worship, fellowship, and mission.

Building Block

Noel Stookey

Chorus:

The building block that was rejected

Became the cornerstone of a whole new world

The building block that was rejected

Became the cornerstone of a whole new world

When I am down and unsuspected

With a burden that does not show

I think what time has resurrected

And how the sun can make the water flow

(chorus)

There is a man who has collected all the sorrow in our eyes

He gives us love as God directed but is seldom recognized

(chorus)

When all your dreams have been connected

And your vision has been returned

Remember, love, you are protected

By the truth your heart has learned.

(chorus)

Peace,

Rev. Tim

Time & Talent Auction

Church of the Pilgrimage

Time and Talent Auction

May 6, 2026

5 - 10 pm

Plymouth Yacht Club

34 Union Street

Plymouth MA

Dinner is $25 per person

Deadline for Auction Donation is

Sunday, May 3rd

Any questions contact

Catherine Sampson 617-688-0535

Bible Study

Bible study continues with Rev. Tim next week on

Tuesday, May 4^that 10:30am & 5:30pm.

The passage for this coming Tuesday is:

John 17:1-11

Music Notes

The prelude this week is by Louis Vierne (1870-1937). Vierne was a composer of many works. Most of his compositions are for use in the church reflecting his work as titular organist at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. Vierne won the position in 1900 and continued until his death in 1937. His music reflects his exploration of interesting and unusual tonalities that lead the way for composers in the 20^th century..

The composer, William Mathias (1934-1992) of Wales was sought after for choral and organ music. His most famous work, Let the People Praise Thee, O God was commissioned for the royal wedding in 1981. Postlude is an excellent example of Mathias’ great talent of writing for an instrument that he himself did not play. Enjoy!

Enjoy!

--Michael Eaton

Portrait

Generous contributions from congregation members have brought us most of the way toward our goal of $1950 for the professional portrait of Rev. Tim. If you would like to assist in this project, please write “Pastor Portrait” in the memo line of your check, and send it to the Office at 8 Town Square or put It in the Sunday offering plate.

Rev. Tim has brought renewed vitality to our church. We want to show his engaging countenance to friends and visitors.

Rick Dower, Moderator

Our Annual Meeting will be held this Sunday May 3, immediately after our Sunday service (about 11:15 am). Our principal business is to elect Church Officers and Ministry Team members for the coming year.

We need 50 Active Members to constitute a quorum. So, please attend In person or on Zoom to make your voice heard and your vote count.

If you would like to attend on Zoom, contact Moderator Rick Dower (rickdower@gmail.com) for the Zoom Invitation. He will send it to you on Sunday morning.

See you Sunday.

Rick Dower

Click HERE for the 2026 Annual Report

Social Action Committee

COME ONE COME ALL! BUILDING A BETTER SOCIAL ACTION COMMITTEE FOR OUR CHURCH

The NEXT MEETING of our church Social Action Committee (SAC) is CHANGED to Sunday, May 10 at 11:40 in the John Robinson Center to avoid a conflict. I hope you can make it!

We’ll talk about collaborating with other organizations on a Pride Booth for the Pride Festival. Also, are you wondering what Plymouth's Together We Can immigrant support group is doing and how is our church supports it? Would you like to help a family learn English, learn to read, or just how to navigate everyday affairs ? Would you like to know more about an exciting new interfaith Plymouth social action group ? Come to our meeting! Bring your ideas and your energy! Join us and see what you want to do to make the world a better place—or at least Plymouth!

ALL NEW MEMBERS AND INTERESTED PARTIES WELCOME!!

For the the weeks to come we will share activities from Creation Justice Ministries that will educate and equip Christians to protect, restore, and rightly share God's creation.

Where does your Drinking Water come From?

Are you able to drink your tap water? Where does it come from? How is it processed? Does it rain where you live? Are there often droughts? Does everyone in your community have access to clean drinking water? Consider where your water comes from and what is being done to protect your local water source.

We’ve created a small allocation of discounted tickets for your community. This provides 15% off gold tickets (limited to 5 per sitting) Please see instructions on how to enter this code below,

Instructions for entering the discount code here:
Click on the ticket link provided > Click on ‘Enter Promo Code’ > Enter discount code WELCOME15 and click ‘Apply Code’ > A ticket tier will appear under each sitting and state ‘PROMO TICKET’ > Add tickets to your basket and enter your details in to purchase these tickets.

Click HERE for Ticket Information

Looking for Assitance

The Communications Committee is looking for a volunteer to coordinate social media for the church. We currently have a FaceBook page, and we want to explore other platforms to expand our social media presence.

If you are interested, please contact Moderator Rick Dower (rickdower@gmail.com).

Individual – Congregation – Denomination

and Politics

April 29, 2026

Last night at our Church Council meeting. We discussed the question “Are requests for political action appropriate for church publications or announcements?”. Rev. Tim reminded us of the essence of our congregational church. The congregation, not the individual, not the Pastor, not the UCC denomination determines, by vote, the policies of our church. His principal example was our church’s decision in 2010 to be Open and Affirming (Bylaws, Appendix 2). More recently, we adopted a Behavioral Covenant (Bylaws, Appendix 1) to guide our conversations within the church.

Our statement of church Character (Bylaws, Article III) reminds us that “God calls us to live in shalom (in health, wholeness, harmony, peace, justice, and salvation) and exemplify relationships that are respectful and caring” and, at the same time,, “All Members shall have the right to follow the Word of God according to the dictates of their own conscience, under the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit.”

Our church does not endorse political candidates or the policies of political officials. Individual members or small groups within the church may hold strong views on social issues of the day. They are free to advocate for their point of view in church publications and announcements, but it is the congregation, after sufficient conversation, that determines, by vote, policies of our church.

As a church, we must remember that our members have many different backgrounds and points of view. That diversity is a strength. It allows us to learn from one another and be open to change, when appropriate. We must respect those differences while striving to embody the Vision of our church: “We seek to live in God’s ways, made known and to be made known to us in following Jesus Christ, partnering with the Holy Spirit, working for justice, and affirming all people as children of God.” (Bylaws, Article V, B.)

Rick Dower

Moderator

Important Announcement

School Street Parking and School Street building access

Beginning in early May 2026 and continuing for ten months or so, the first two metered parking spaces on School Street will have a large construction dumpster placed there. This dumpster will be used by the construction crew working on the renovation of the Mayflower Meeting House.

The location of this dumpster will impact handicap parking on School Street. Therefore, persons in our congregation who have mobility issues should plan to drop-off in front of the church to use the oceanside door with ramp.

We will keep you updated on the timeline of how long the dumpster will be located in these parking spaces on School Street.

Parking for Newcomers

Reminder that paid parking recommences on April 1

A reminder that on Sundays most of us park on School St., Main St. Extension (3 handicap), Summer St. (4 hours), and in the Market St. and Middle St. lots. Park Plymouth has informally agreed to not start ticketing vehicles near the church until noon on Sundays. One can get parking permits from Park Plymouth at 4 North Street; ph. 508.747.5929; www.parkplymouth.com. If you have questions, please speak with Mike Eaton.