Parson to Persons:

PILGRIM’S PROGRESS

December 2002
Parson to Persons: Part 1: Patient Waiting

The season of Advent, starting this year exactly on the first day of December, is the season of the church year most associated with patient waiting. The Sunday lectionary readings have to do with anticipation, expectation, and hope, a looking forward to the future as we await the coming of the birth of the Messiah. Put in more common language, it’s the time of year when we eagerly look forward to the coming of the joyous Christmas holiday.

Waiting, especially patient waiting, is hard for many of us to do. Children, especially, have a hard time waiting for Santa and all the presents he will bring. But we adults also often grow impatient as we wait for something important. I’ve kidded before that one of my favorite prayers is "God, please give me patience … and give it to me right now!" I have become increasingly impatient with my eye problems this year (see part 2 below). But patient waiting is an important discipline and a good one to practice in this upcoming season. We know that the darker days of late autumn and early winter will be brightened each Sunday morning as we light increasing numbers of Advent candles, until they all burn brightly on Christmas Eve.

The symbolism of the incarnation – God with us in the form of a tiny newborn babe – is a seasonal reminder of God’s saving presence always with us no matter what challenges we may face. As we patiently wait for Christ’s coming may we truly have a blessed and joyous Advent and Christmas season.

Shalom,

Ken

Parson to Persons: Part 2: Round Three

As I write this (on Nov. 13^th) I am impatiently awaiting yet another round of surgery on my right eye tomorrow. The retina has developed another small tear (nothing I caused, says the doctor, just a weakness in the retina itself). After fixing the tear, and any other potentially weak-looking spots, with the laser, they will insert a shorter-term gas bubble than last time. The advantage to this is a quicker recuperation time (hopefully within two weeks), and a resumption of most activities except bending over and heavy lifting (no more carrying baptized babies for awhile). The real good news is I will not have to miss any of the big season now before us (except Thanksgiving Sunday). I trust I will see all of you (out of one eye!) very soon. Thanks for your continued support and prayers – Ken.

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This time of year is undoubtedly, the busiest for all who make music. It is also that time of year for which so much beautiful music has been composed. We all have our favorites and I am confident that you will hear many of them at Pilgrim Church during this holy season. All 3 choirs have been rehearsing each week to prepare for Advent and Christmas. Bell Sunday (December 15th) will be one of the highlights with the Senior and Bell Choirs providing the service music. All attending this service are asked to bring a bell to ring during hymns and service music. A Happy Day!

Christmas Sunday falls on December 22nd this year and we will present special music at both services. The Pilgrim Ringers and the Junior Choir will provide music at the 9 A.M. service. The Senior Choir will provide special music accompanied by Lorrie Hall on Flute at the 11 AM service. On Christmas Eve, the Junior Choir will sing at the 4 P.M. Pageant Service. The 8 P.M. Service of Lessons and Carols will begin with a prelude of music beginning at 7:30 and sung by the Senior Choir, solos by choir members as well as Christmas music played by a string trio. Please try to come early to fully participate in this inspirational observance of the Birth of Christ. A service of Candlelight and Communion will be held at 10:30 with Claudia Landall at the organ. This is a quiet meditative service and a beautiful way to observe Christmas Eve. I wish you all a holy and happy holiday!

Love,
Cathy

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Saturday Evening Worship will continue after our November 30^th Advent Service on December 14^th with a focus on Carols and Advent Hymns. We have some special music planned, which you should enjoy as well as an opportunity to sing some of your favorites. Our prayer time will focus on quieting ourselves in the midst of the preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus. On New Year’s Eve we will carry on the Pilgrim Church tradition of gathering in worship as we acknowledge the past and anticipate our future. All our services are at 5 PM and we look forward to seeing you and hoping you might invite a friend or neighbor.

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To the members of Pilgrim Church – A heartfelt thank you for all your prayers, calls, cards, flowers and especially meals delivered to us following Rebecca’s accident. She is recovering well and we feel truly blessed to be members of such a caring church community. – The Ken Paulson Family

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100 Years of Blessings - The Christmas Fund

Since 1902, there has been an ever-growing remembrance of needful retired clergy in our churches at Christmas time. Now in its hundredth year, the Christmas Fund offering (previously Veterans of the Cross) continues and expands the legacy of "remembering those who serve the church".

The Christmas Fund is able to assist retired clergy and their families with much needed funds for life’s most basic needs, as well as with emergency grants for those unexpected situations that require immediate attention and insurance costs for the disabled. Thanks to your generosity, the cost of health plan premiums is subsidized for many low-income retirees. Your offering to the Christmas Fund also provides emergency grant assistance to actively employed clergy families in times of financial crisis.

There is no better time to remember those who dedicate their lives to God’s work than on Christmas Eve. Look for the special envelopes provided in the pew racks on Christmas Eve. Your gifts are a blessing to those who labored to spread the love of Jesus Christ.

PILGRIM WOMEN’S FELLOWSHIP

PWF Board Meeting

All are welcome! Please join us @ 9:15 AM on Thursday, December 5^th for coffee, goodies and fellowship. Board members, if you can’t attend, please call Deb Bowen.

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Christmas Brunch on Bell Sunday!

It’s that time of year again! You are cordially invited to the Family Holiday Brunch on Sunday, December 15^th, sponsored by the Pilgrim Women’s Fellowship. It will be held in the vestry immediately following the worship service. There will be fun, fellowship and holiday cheer for all ages! A delicious brunch will be served including hot foods, fresh fruit, salad, fresh baked breads and pastries, and assorted desserts! Tickets will be available after church on Sundays in the vestry, or from Tracy Drew in the church office. The ticket price is $6 per person and $20 per family. Children under 4 are free! Please join us!

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Koinonia Christmas Party – December 9^th @ 7:00 PM

It’s nearly time for the best Christmas party around, and YOU are invited! Julia Lizza has graciously opened her home to us again this year for the most wonderful kind of party. All we do is eat, drink, talk and open Christmas presents! Come if you have been to Koinonia meetings before, or come if you have NEVER come before… just don’t think that all our meetings are like this! Plan to arrive @ 7:00 (we always end at 9) and bring a little something to share, be it a snack or a dessert. And don’t forget your gift. Now don’t go out and buy a present, but rather look around your house and find something that you just can’t use or really just don’t like! Wrap it up and bring it along so that you can be part of our Yankee swap.

We don’t usually get violent, but it must be said that some of these sweet Christian women do attempt to hide the gifts that they have opened and wish to keep… an action that is absolutely against the rules! Come on, get up your nerve! Come join us and you may decide to come another time. If you need someone to walk in with, call me and I’ll be glad to come pick you up! See you on the ninth! Lynn DeHart 837-3668

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Christmas Services at Pilgrim Church

December 22^nd – Christmas Sunday

Worship Services at 9:00 and 11:00 AM

December 24^th – Christmas Eve

4:00 PM – Family Service & Christmas Pageant

8:00 PM – Service of Lessons and Carols

10:30 PM – Communion Service

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PROGRESSIVE DINNER ON DECEMBER 14, 2002 – Sign Up Now!

Pilgrim Church’s annual holiday progressive dinner is being held on Saturday, December 14^th. This is a great fellowship event for all church adults – singles and couples! You can sign-up for the dinner and select the role you will play at the sign-up table after church or, at other times, on the sign-up sheet posted on the bulletin board outside the vestry. You must sign-up by December 8^th! Here’s the plan. Hors d’oeuvres are from 6:30PM - 7:30PM, which allows everyone to go to the Saturday evening church service. The two hors d’oeuvres houses will be Deb and Steve Bowen’s home on King Caesar Road and Shawn Dahlen’s home on Long Point Lane, off Washington Street. We will call or send a postcard to you between December 10^th and 12^th to let you know to which home you will go for appetizers. At the hors d’oeuvres house, there will be a note telling you where you will be going for the main course.

The salad and main courses will be served in many different houses from 7:45PM – 9PM. We will assign 8-10 people to each house. While you might not know everyone when you walk into this house, you are sure to know everyone by the time you move on to dessert! Then, at 9:15PM, we all go to Penny and Ron Ramseyer’s home on Sunset Road for dessert. We’ve been ending up at the Ramseyer’s for several years now; it’s becoming part of our progressive dinner tradition! An early highlight of dessert is the singing of the "Twelve Days of Christmas" – which Greg Hunter has agreed to lead. This is silly and lots of fun.

Roles for the Progressive Dinner

When you sign-up for the Progressive Dinner, you are asked to select which role you wish to play. There are five possibilities: you may host 8-10 folks at your house for the main course and provide salad, bread and beverages; you may provide the main course for the folks at one house; you may bring hors d’oeuvres to one of the hors d’oeuvres homes; you may bring dessert to the dessert house or you may help provide beverages.

If you sign up to contribute hors d’oeuvres, you will be expected to contribute 2 different hors d’oeuvres if a couple, 1 if a single. Appetizers should be able to serve 16 people. Suzanne Blanchard (781/934-5669) will be coordinating the hors d’oeuvres – call her if you have any questions. If you sign up to bring dessert, you should bring enough dessert for 16 if you are a couple or for 8 if you are a single. Heidi MacLaren (781/934-7566) is coordinating the desserts.

If you sign up to bring beverages, you will contribute beverages for 16 if a couple, 8 if a single, for either the dessert (excluding coffee and tea) or for the hors d’oeuvres hour. Lynne Devnew Wolfe (781/934-0901) will be coordinating beverages. The main course assignments were noted above (you choose the "make ahead" recipes), and are difficult for us to split in half. If you are a single and would like to host the main course or prepare the entrée, that’s great! You may do the whole task, or find another single to "share" the role. Call Lynne if you have any questions. Colleen Brayer (781/934-6474) and Shirley Dunphy (781/837-5655) are also available to answer questions.

We hope LOTS of you will join us on December 14^th for a great evening of fellowship! It’s a wonderful way to get to know your Pilgrim friends better, and it’s also a fantastic start to your Christmas holiday!

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The flower arrangers for this month are Kiki Houghton and Betts McGill.

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The Board of Christian Outreach would like to thank the entire congregation for it’s generous support of Harvest Sunday. It is a wonderful feeling to know we are able to help so many people with our food donations to the Plymouth Area Coalition for the Homeless.

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Get in the Holiday Spirit

and Lend a Helping Hand!

The Board of Christian Outreach is looking for volunteers to help with the Brittany Lambert Foundation’s 2^nd Annual Christmas Tree Sale, at Fran Doran’s building at 33 Enterprise Street. Specifically, we need volunteers to help with unloading Christmas trees and wreaths and setting up the lot. This will take place late afternoon and early evening on Wednesday, December 4^th & Friday, December 6^th. If you think you can help, sign up on the bulletin boards or contact Tracy (934-6591) in the church office. We will contact those who sign up with exact times. All proceeds from the sale will go to the Foundation, a Duxbury based charity that assists Massachusetts families whose children are battling life-threatening illnesses or injuries. What a great way to kick off the Holiday season and lend a hand in the community at the same time! Donated baked goods and crafts are also needed. Contact Tracy (934-6591) in the church office if you can help.

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TO ALL MEMBERS OF PILGRIM CHURCH: In accordance with Article IV, Sec. 6 of the By-Laws of Pilgrim Church, the Annual Budget meeting will be held on Sunday, December 8^th, immediately following the Closing Hymn in the Sanctuary. This meeting is open to all members for the purpose of approving the budget and the Strategic Planning Staffing Proposal.

Marlene Biffar, Clerk

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Attention: Church School Teachers & Christmas Pageant Participants!

On Sunday, December 8^th Church School may run late due to the Budget Meeting held immediately after worship. Once the Budget meeting is completed we will hold a mandatory pageant rehearsal at which time all costumes will be handed out. Please plan on attending this rehearsal if you wish to be in the pageant. Don’t forget to arrive at church on Christmas Eve @ 3:00 PM with your costume!

Advent Wreath Kits will be available for pick-up after worship on Saturday, November 30^th and Sunday, December 1^st.

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Budget Meeting on December 8, 2002 to Include Staffing Proposal

At our up-coming budget meeting, the congregation will be asked to approve a staffing proposal from the Strategic Planning committee. Consistent with our Vision 2001 goals and more recent discussions of evolving church needs, the proposal also addresses our need to staff areas previously addressed by Geri Holden and currently met by Peggy Files (Peggy’s pastoral training will include new and different internship experiences starting next fall). The Strategic Planning committee, the Board of Trustees, the Board of Christian Education and the Church Council have each unanimously approved this proposal. The proposal has three parts:

Recruit and hire a full-time professional Director of Christian Education and Youth Ministries. This individual will provide nurture and guidance for all aspects of the education program for children, youth and adults. The individual should excel in inspiring, training and coordinating the involvement of members of the congregation rather than focusing on personally being the "doer" who initiates and implements programs. Selecting the best candidate is more important than specific qualifications – a strong Christian with a background in either Theology or Education could be appropriate. Additionally, if an excellent candidate wishes to work less than 40 hours per week and supplement those hours with a part-time Sunday School superintendent, this would be fine.
Recruit and hire a part-time Volunteer Coordinator. This individual’s goal would be to empower as many church members as possible to better serve the ministry, freeing existing administrative and ministerial staff of the time demands of this function. The coordinator would help members of the church identify and assess their God-given gifts and passions and organize and administer the volunteering of time and talent, which would avoid both overburdening a few (the burn-out factor) and the failure to include all who volunteer.
Increase the use of part-time Pastoral Assistance. This includes such things as pulpit assistance, counseling and visitation.

If you have questions which you would like to discuss before the congregational meeting, please see either Ron Masinda, our church moderator, or Lynne Devnew Wolfe, chairwoman of the Strategic Planning committee.

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FROM THE CHURCH OFFICE….

As we count our blessings this holiday season, we wish to thank the following people:

Our Newsletter Bunch – Shirley Dunphy, Suzanne Essley, Carol Fortini, Elaine Guilfoyle, Peg Guise, Betts McGill, Ruth Reckman, & Carol Talanian.

Bruce Tenney, who straightens out our sanctuary every week after services.

Bruce Hadley, our talented Web Master.

Marianne Almeida, who has been caring for our children in the nursery with love and kindness every Sunday for 12 years.

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Annual Youth Christmas Banquet – Dec. 8^th 5:30 – 7:30 PM

Pilgrim Church Vestry

All 5^th-12^th graders are invited and should RSVP on the signup in the vestry or with Mrs. Files. If you would like to participate in a Yankee Swap that evening bring along a wrapped gift valued at no more the $10. All kinds of adult participation and help is needed for this celebration of our youth ministry, so please don’t wait to be asked! Call Peg Files anytime or Diane Bosworth in the Church office (934-6591) on Tuesdays. Thanks!

Third Grade Thanks

Pilgrim’s Third Grade Church School Class would like to send its sincere thanks out to Mr. Frank LeBart. Mr. LeBart was our featured speaker last week, and we greatly enjoyed hearing about his experiences, and about how God has helped him in his life. Thank you for your time and efforts Mr. LeBart!

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PARISH POST

Prayers of Healing: Jonathan Houghton - Larry Anderson - Rebecca Paulson - Rose Tufankjian- Leah Colangelo.- Bev Fisher

Prayers of Joy

For the birth of Trevor Weeks, grandson of Patsy and Skip Schippers.

For the birth of Elizabeth True Ritch, grandchild of Roger and Janet Ritch and great-grandchild of Louise Ritch.

For the birth of Daniel Alexander, son of Dawn and Doug Backlund.

For the baptism of Paige Katherine, daughter of Karen and Douglas Gordon

For the baptism of Fiona Mae, daughter of Traci and Mark Shortt.

For the baptism of Lucas Jack, son of Debbie and Scott Casagrande and godson of Laura and Steve Ruisi.

Prayers of Comfort and Solace

For the family and friends of Elizabeth Barber, mother of Donna Roth

For the family and friends of Johanna Hope, granddaughter of Patsy and Skip Schippers.

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JAM* ON A ROLL!

JAM* is off to a great start this year! We have some new faces joining us this year, as well as a few returning ones. It’s never too late to join, and children are always welcome to bring a friend. Thank you to Kim Flaherty and Jodi Benson for providing wonderful snacks. Our theme this year is: ANIMAL JAM. Our two goals for this learning year are: to learn all the books of the Bible, and to perform church and community servitude. How appropriate it will be for the children to peruse the Bible for its rich references to animals while we embark on projects to raise funds to help the Duxbury Animal Shelter (DAS) build a new facility. The children have already had a field trip to the current, inadequate shelter, and have come up with more than 10(!) very good ideas for raising money. I’m sure you will be hearing of our efforts throughout the year, and hope that you will support the children as they are very excited about making a difference.

We have already learned the names of the first ten books of the Bible as well as memorized the verse:

Have dominion over the fish of the sea and over
the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.
- Genesis:1:28(b)

They love the word, "dominion"! In the coming weeks, we will continue to
increase our knowledge of the books of the Old Testament, and we will be baking dog biscuits and making animal notecards to sell in the future to raise funds for DAS. And typical of the JAM curriculum, there will be fun, sometimes wacky, games to reinforce these points.

We are enjoying our new meeting place in the vestry. The children enjoy the
kitchen and we may have already established a tradition of opening each class
with some wild games of four-square.

JAM* is an acronym for Jesus and Me. It is intended to provide Christian
education and fellowship in a fun, after-school session for children, K-6, who, for a variety of reasons, are not able to attend church school on Sunday mornings. You do not have to attend weekly. Children are welcome anytime throughout the year, whether they come to 1 session or all twenty-one.

Historically, there is no single attendance pattern to typify a JAM* student; some come every week, some come a couple times a month, some come for a month or two and that’s all, some come every now and then. Our motto in the beginning was: "Come Sunday morning when you can, the back-up plan is Thursday JAM*! " This day and age, it’s important to get our children into a weekly one-hour encounter with God, and it’s easier to instill the discipline when they are younger. Please utilize the opportunities for your children to JAM* to suit your individual schedules! To attend JAM*, parents simply need to complete a registration form the first day their child attends.

JAM meetings for the remainder of the year are 4-5:15 in the vestry on December 5 & 12. In the New Year, find us on Jan. 9, 16, 23, & 30. We still need
to have adult assistants in the room for all of the dates! Please notify Joan Barrington @934-8914 or bears59@adelphia.net, if you can help. Also, please call if you are interested in teaching one or more of the lessons or working with us on some of the baking or craft projects for the shelter.

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Brittany Lambert Foundation 2^nd Annual

GIANT Christmas Tree and Wreath Sale

December 6^th 12 PM – 8 PM

December 7^th & 8^th 10 AM – 8 PM

Doran Insurance Building, 33 Enterprise Street, Duxbury

Fresh Cut Balsams and Wreaths, all trees start at $25 and up!

All proceeds benefit the Brittany Lambert Foundation

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The Pilgrim Church Staff and all their families wish you a Merry Christmas and a Healthy and Happy New Year!

Ken, Winifred, Peggy, Pat, Tracy, Cathy, Ruth, Sue,

Marge, Tony, Dottie and Diane.

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Duxbury Interfaith Council

Christmas Food Baskets

That time of year when we join together to provide holiday baskets for over 150 of our neighbors who are in need is quickly approaching. Holy Family Church is hosting the packing, sorting and delivery of baskets and gifts this Christmas, so any help we can provide would be most appreciated. Children are welcome to help with the work as well! Help is needed for sorting and packing of baskets and gifts at the following times: Monday, Dec. 16^th – Thursday, Dec. 19^th 9AM – 2PM, and Friday, December 20^th from 9AM – 5 PM.

Gifts are for children 1 year through adults. Pick up a gift tag from the Giving Tree at Holy Family inside the Route 3A entrance anytime Mon. – Sat. from 9-4 by December 14^th. Gifts should be wrapped and returned with its tag and a brief description to the church by Monday, December 16^th at noon.

Following is a list of items needed which may be dropped off at Holy Family on Monday morning, December 16^th.

Canned Goods: Yellow & green Veggies, cranberry sauce, canned juices, pie fillings.

Packaged Mixes: Cake, Frosting, dessert, stuffing mixes, pie crust mix,etc.

Turkeys: For Information on how to donate a turkey, call Gladys Covino 837-3010.

Home Baked Goods can be dropped off on Wednesday and Thursday from 9-2 and Friday from 9-10.

Whole Baskets: If you would like to prepare & donate a whole basket for a family, call Eric @ 934-2207.

$$ Donations: Checks made payable to the Duxbury Interfaith Council may be sent to P.O. Box 1161, Duxbury, 02331.