July 6^th Rev. Bob Boynton

July 13^th Rev. Bob Boynton

July 20^th Rev. Eloise Parks

July 27^th Bill Farquharson

Aug. 3^rd Rev. Beverly Duncan

Aug. 10^th Rev. Rosemary MacKay

Aug. 17^th Rev. Eloise Parks

Aug. 24^th Rev. Rosemary MacKay

Aug. 31^st Peggy O’Neil Files

Items for the bulletin and newsletter can be submitted by e-mail to Tracy Drew in the church office @ tdrew75@hotmail.com. Due to vacation schedules, the deadline for the September newsletter is one week earlier than normal, on Friday, August 8^th. This is typically one of the largest newsletters of the year, so please try to keep the articles brief!

Thank you,

The Office Staff

The organ project has been moving along. Austin Organs has finalized the design and layout. They are building the organ now, and are on track to deliver it in January, 2004.

After our January presentation to the congregation, we agreed not to change the layout of the chancel area. The choir will remain seated where they are today; the front rail will stay in its current position; and the console will be placed behind the pulpit. The back wall of the chancel will be filled with pipes, with white painted paneling below. The small white wall screening the organ will no longer be needed. The altar table will stay in its current position, with flowers, communion, etc. as they are today.

Based on this decision and the organ design, our architect created construction drawings. Working with Shawn Dahlen from trustees, we have interviewed builders and received several quality bids. We have identified a local builder who can begin work in late July. The first part of the construction will involve building a room over the stairs behind the chancel to hold some of the organ pipes and equipment, removing the existing choir risers, and creating an opening in the wall behind the organ. During this phase, the organ and back half of the chancel area will be tarped off. Church services will continue in the sanctuary using the piano. The pulpit and lectern will still be accessible. The builder anticipates that the work will take 4 weeks to complete. Once done, the tarps will be removed and we can resume using the organ and the chancel for the fall. The opening in the wall behind the organ will be temporarily closed off.

In January, when the organ is delivered, the builder will return to construct the façade wall in front of the pipes and complete any remaining work. We will schedule this to minimize disruption to the sanctuary. Now we need your help!

Now that we have firm bids, we can work toward raising the remaining funds to cover the cost of the organ and construction. The balance in the organ fund today is approximately $250,000. The remaining payments to Austin ($219,000) plus construction costs ($70,000) bring us to a target of $289,000. This means we need to raise an additional $39,000. Contributions are welcome effective immediately. You can make a donation to the organ fund by designating your check "Organ Fund" and dropping it in the plate, the mailbox or at the church office.

We welcome your questions and comments. You can direct them to Diane Conley at 781-934-7873, Conleyfd@aol.com.

Our last Sunday of the season was June 8th. I miss all my choir friends during the summer and many have said they will miss choir but all need the rest and recuperation that summer affords. We will return with renewed enthusiasm on Rally Sunday in September. Some generous singers and musicians will provide lovely music for us during the summer months.

Alto Terri Clarke and her husband and daughter, Kayti welcomed a horde of dripping umbrellas and wet feet to their beautiful home for a choir party. Most of the present choir members as well as some former members were able to attend. Choir mentor for many years, Barbara McClosky was there to the joy of all. Many thanks for your generous hospitality. We had a great time. We also took this opportunity to say goodbye to a long time and much loved member, Maridel Johnson.

We presented her with a few little gifts and, being singers, we had to serenade her with "God Be With You 'Till We Meet Again". We will truly miss her. She will leave a big void at Pilgrim Church but we all wish her and her husband Keith, God Speed on their latest exciting adventure. Happy Days, Maridel and Keith!

Part of the fun of starting a new program is testing approaches to see what works best. I’d love your help!

I am learning the strongest time and talent programs don’t begin with having great time and talent surveys. Instead, they begin with offering ways to help people identify their unique God-given, or spiritual, gifts – the things they love to do and/or do especially well. Examples of spiritual gifts are leadership, teaching and providing comfort. Once these programs help people identify their spiritual gifts, they then help match these gifts with appropriate volunteer activities.

I’d like to try at least three spiritual gifts discernment approaches this summer. I’d like to run a two day (or 4 half-day) workshop focused on identifying spiritual gifts, which would include taking a "spiritual gifts discernment" survey. I’d like to conduct several interviews designed to help people identify their spiritual gifts. I’d like to run at least one hour and a half round-table discussion focused on identifying spiritual gifts.

So, I need guinea pigs. If you are at a turning point in your life you are a perfect guinea pig! (Perhaps you’ve just retired, the kids are finally in school all day, you now have an "empty nest", or you’ve decided you are feeling burned out with your current activities and realize you need to redefine how you spend your time.) Or, if you’d like to spend some time thinking about who you are, why you are here, or what God wants you to do with your life – you are a perfect guinea pig!

If you’d like to help me test these new program options, please contact me! Stop me in church on Sunday, call (781/934-0901) or email (lynne.devnew@verizon.net). I’d really appreciate your help!

Faithfully,

Lynne Devnew Wolfe

The 204^th Annual Meeting of the Mass. Conference of the UCC was held at Mt. Holyoke College on June 6th and 7th. Attending were Rev. Ken Landall, Dan and Lorrie Hall and Dave and Marion Paulson. Workshops were held pertaining to social, economic and environmental issues. Plenary sessions had worship woven throughout. The 2004 Budget, Clergy Compensation Guidelines, and resolutions regarding environmental concerns and Christian Response to War were successfully passed. In closing, there was an inspirational worship/communion service with instrumental music and combined choir.

Soccer Moms
TRYOUTS IN SEPTEMBER

As you sit on the beach this summer, enjoying some free time, please do contemplate the complexity of your school and sports days. Talk to other Pilgrim parents and lets begin to formulate some ways that a Pilgrim Church Soccer Moms group might be able to work for you and your family. Please forward any ideas and expressions of interest in this group to Joan Barrington c/o bears59@adelphia.net or call Eloise Parks in the office @ 934-6591. Have a great summer, and hope to see all eligible parents at the Soccer Moms Tryout in the Fall!

Church School teachers are still needed for the 2003-2004 school year. There is a sign-up sheet in the vestry. Curriculum and support will be provided. We will have special teacher training before Rally Sunday. As always, feel free to call me at the church office if you have any questions.