Our Outreach Board is obtaining a block of 100 tickets for Pilgrim Church members and friends. These will be available after worship in the Vestry early this month (we’re taking sign-ups earlier). Tickets cost $5 for adults and $3 for children. The time slot on these tickets will be for the 3:30 – 5:30pm two-hour worship and celebration in the pavilion. The tickets will also get you aboard the Amistad. We’re hoping to get car-pools organized so that not everyone will have to drive into town.

We’re advised to plan on being there a total of three hours so we can take in everything. Besides the worship (which sounds quite spectacular), there will be a couple of professional storytellers relating the Amistad story,

exhibits, food concession stands, and more. Also suggested is to wear clothing suitable for a Fall football game (layers sound like a good idea).

This should be a truly memorable event, especially with our own church’s connection to the abolitionist movement in its origins. This will also be a celebration of the important role of our congregational forebears in resisting the awful scourge of slavery. Join me in the festive celebration on October 25^th. It sounds like a great time for all the family.

It’s great to be back after my time away and to see so many of you in worship. Pilgrim Church is humming this Fall. Join us!

Shalom,

Ken

The next Pilgrim Women Fellowship Board meeting will be held on Thursday, October 2nd. Join us for coffee at 9:15 and participate in our meeting immediately following.

Please join us on the evening of October 21^st in the vestry from 7:00-8:30. Barbara Kelly, who has worked as a professional floral arranger and has been a Garden Club Flower Show judge, will present an overview and demonstration of the mechanics and design for basic flower arranging for your home. Refreshments will be served.

Bookworms will hold their next meeting on Tuesday, October 21st @ 1:30 PM in the church library/conference room. All are welcome.

The potential circle, entitled "Great Decisions" is a discussion group that encourages members to reach informed decisions about U.S. Foreign Policy. Each member has a book ($15.00) which covers about 8 different topics, pro and con. The book is put out by The Foreign Policy Association in New York and is designed to function best with 12-14 people in the group. The new program would start in January, 2004. For more information, please contact Jean Battis or Leah Cotton.

In regard to the women’s golf circle that we attempted to start last spring, it seems that for some reason we just couldn’t get it off the ground (so to speak). If you would like to lead this circle, please contact Susan Walker.

Please join us for Stewardship Weekend, October 18th and 19th. The theme this year is "What Shall We Bring Before God?" which encourages everyone to "do what you can, with what you have, where you are." Please take a moment to think about this theme and what it means to you. As part of Stewardship Weekend, we are planning a service and pizza party on Saturday night, as well as a brunch in the vestry following the Sunday service. Please check your mailbox in the coming weeks for more information and we hope that you will be a part of this important weekend for our church."

• The builder will finish the room above the stairs shortly by installing trim and painting the new walls and ceilings. The new space will then be complete and ready to receive the pipes for the swell division of the new organ.

• The risers have been removed from the choir area of the chancel and new matching carpet will be installed. After the new organ is in place, a new portable riser system will be installed. The door into the chancel area has been moved and a "real" door is on the way.

• We will continue using the current organ until Christmas. Soon after, it will be removed and the builder will return to install casework for the new great division pipes. We are exploring options for removing the current organ and will keep you posted.

• Once the new casework is in place, Austin will deliver the new organ. Worship will continue in the sanctuary using the piano as the organ is being assembled, and within six weeks, we should be fully operational! Austin has completed the majority of the work on our organ already.

• During the summer, we raised almost $10,000 toward the $39,000 we need to complete the project. The remaining $29,000 will be needed when Austin delivers the organ early in 2004.

Dear SYF members, past and present,

It may seem a long time ago that you received one of those amazing SYF postcards from Bill, yet he has continued to send them out until now. That’s 17 years!

So, in honor of Bill Farquharson, Traci Shortt and Nat Grim, we are putting together books of appreciation, made up of letters from you. Write to us on only one side of the paper, and tell us what being in SYF meant to you. All the leaders you mention will receive your letter in his or her book.

Think now. What experiences have stayed with you? What moved you or made you laugh? You had to have laughed, because Bill was there! How did being in SYF make you a different you? Don’t forget to write down when you attended. And, if you still have some of those famous postcards, we’d love to have you send them along!

We will honor Bill, Traci, and Nat at church on Sunday, October 5^th. We will present the books without the letters, and then take them back to insert your letters as they arrive. If you would like to personally honor Bill at some point, we will be happy to assist with your plans, but we, as a church, need to honor him now, as this is when he is retiring as the leader of SYF.

Bill and Traci and Nat gave us a wonderful gift when they dedicated their time and energy for you. What we are doing here is giving Bill and Tracy and Nat a communal hug and a big thank you! Add your letter to the books!

Please send your letters to Lynn DeHart, 21 King Phillips Path, Duxbury, MA 02332 or e-mail me at: lynndehart@yahoo.com.

Sincerely,

Lynn

Inspire your soul, awaken your senses, and fill your heart.

The atmosphere is casual, but the worship is serious.

The Rally Sunday Kick-Off Cook-Out and Rally Sunday were both wonderful!! Saturday was a fun time for folks to come and have some fun, get to know each other better and eat some good food. Thanks to Mark and Linda Collins for all the work they did and for donating so much of the food.

On Rally Sunday, we had over 90 children attend. We had Junior Church and then spent some time trying to at least hear everyone’s name. We have a great group of children and young people and some wonderful teachers. This is going to be an exciting year for Church School as we learn more about the Bible and what it is to be a follower of Christ in our world.

We have a wonderful group of teachers but we need more. If you are willing to be on our substitute list or to team teach with another teacher, please call me at the church office.

Rod and Terri Clark will be leading SYF this year and we are thrilled that they have volunteered to do this. The first meeting will be on OCTOBER 5TH at 6:00 PM. Pizza and sodas will be provided. Come join us for a time to get acquainted and to look forward to the coming year.

This year, JYF includes 6th-8th graders. John MacLaren and John Przedpelski will be leading this group. Keep a lookout for a postcard telling you about the first activity. We’re delighted that they will be leading JYF and know it will be a great year.

On Friday, October 3rd at 4:00pm, we will have the Blessing of the Animals. Bring your pets to St. John’s parking lot to be blessed.

Peace and Grace,

Eloise

The Pilgrim Child Care & Preschool (PCCP) is doing very well this Fall with a few newer families and the majority of existing families. The classrooms are filled with love and attention each day through the trials and tribulations of toddler-hood and preschool lessons. The Community Partnership program has scholarships available for PCCP and other Duxbury schools for children ages 2 years 9 months and older. The PCCP has one part time opening in the infant classroom and we currently calling those on the waitlist for full time to see if there is any interest. If you have a child and would like a phenomenal early childhood socialization and educational experience for them, please feel free to contact the us or stop by at any time. The Fall apple picking trip to CN Smith Farm was on 9/17 and the preschool and pre-kindergarten truly enjoyed picking their individual apples off of the trees to fill their bag. The hayride and all of the excitement ended with a picnic lunch and early naptime. Our Fall 2004 registration for new families begins January 15^th and we hope to assist all families in acquiring the important addition of early childhood education for their small children.

Best wishes for an enjoyable Fall season,

Michelle L. Manganaro, M.Ed.

PCCP Director