PILGRIM’S PROGRESS

November 2006

 

 

From the Pastor…..

 

Dear Friends,

 

The Reverend Alice Mann, Senior Consultant and author for the Alban Institute makes a clear distinction between ‘change’ and ‘transition.’  Change is an external and single event, whereas transition is an internal path of accruing awareness of all that’s been lost because of change.  For example, the leaving of church staff is an external, single event. But the recognition of all the small things that a staff person did is an internal path of accruing awareness.  For instance, after the pastor leaves you may wonder why the church door is being left unlocked, or the lights in the sanctuary are not being shut off.  Perhaps another long term staff member departs and all of a sudden the Sunday’s offering isn’t ready for the collectors on Monday morning. Even in a congregational polity where ‘all the members are ministers,’ it is still easy for paid staff to over-function in order to get the job done in an efficient and timely manner.

 

That is why one of the tasks of an Intentional Interim is to realign the organizational infrastructures and ask basic questions like: “Who does what?”  and “What’s your committee’s purpose?”  Such questions bring us back to basics particularly when we ask them against the backdrop of the church’s stated mission. Reexamining our job descriptions and revisiting what our By Laws state about the purpose of our committees, boards and programs brings us back to the basics of who we are as a church.  It is from this vantage point of who we are that we can begin to explore who we want to become, and what kind of settled pastor we need to help us fulfill that vision.

 

In the month of November a Transition Team will be formed to assist me in the 5 tasks outlined in the October Pilgrim’s Progress.  Together we will be gathering information, evaluating data, and planning 2 to 3 church-wide events that will occur

over the next 6 months.  Short educational opportunities will also be offered after church services on 3 Sundays in March:  “What is the Church?”, What Does It Mean to Be Congregational?”, and “Who Are We as the United Church of Christ?”  I invite you and urge you to avail yourselves of as many of these opportunities as possible as we walk together to discern God’s way and God’s will for the Pilgrim Church of Duxbury. 

 

In this season of Thanksgiving we are reminded that we have much to be grateful for in our past and much to be excited for in our future.  It is a privilege for me to partner with you during this journey of transition in the life of your congregation.  May we, like Johan Sebastian Bach, undertake our journey with the entreaty: Jesu Juva, “Jesus help us.”  And may we like Bach, offer praise to God at each point on our pathway:  Solo Deo Gloria, “To God Alone Be the Glory.”  For in the words of Franz Joseph Haydn, “It all came from above.”

 

 

Giving Thanks to God and Thanksgiving for All of You,

The Reverend Beverly Weinhold

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you to the many who dropped in during October. It was wonderful to meet so many of you personally in my first weeks here! Open office hours for November and December will be on Mondays 3:00pm through 5:00pm.

                                                                                    --Reverend Beverly Weinhold

 

 

We are already preparing for the wonderful Holy Day of Christmas. This day has long been an inspiration to composers, great and not-so-great, for many, many years. As a result we have a vast library of beautiful and inspiring music available to us. The choir needs additional singers for the Worship services of this season,  especially Christmas Sunday (December 17th) and Christmas Eve at the 8:00 P.M. service. We encourage all who enjoy singing but cannot commit to regular attendance to join us for the few rehearsals when we shall be working this music beginning on November 16th at 7:30 in the choir room. If you let me know that you plan to come, I will schedule Christmas music at the beginning of the rehearsal. Do you need a ride? We can arrange this.   The ability to sing in tune is necessary and reading music is great but not essential.    The three choirs of our church are planning a very special presentation of music at our Thanksgiving Sunday 10:00 service (the Sunday BEFORE Thanksgiving).   All of us are enjoying the preparation for this important service. You are welcome to join us for this as  well

as  Christmas.

 

 

 

 

 

The Outreach Committee reminds you that the missions of the church receive NO funding except what you specifically designate when you make your contributions.  Please consider earmarking a portion of your annual pledge to “missions.”  And if you do, be sure to designate the amount of your missions donation each time you give (on your check or envelope).  Thank you!

 

 

 

 

Saturday Night 5 

 

 

 

The SN5! Worship Team has decided to hold our services this month in the vestry.  This setting will greatly contribute to the nature and feel of these services.  Our service on the 4th will be a time for us to Honor our Saints.  On the 18th, we will have a service that we are calling “A Homecoming Thanksgiving”.  Afterward, please plan to join us for a potluck dinner.  Not just any potluck but one where we will have “Freshovers”!  You know….turkey casserole, turkey tetrazzinni, turkey potpie…Well, you get the picture.  All the turkey, none of wait!  Have Thanksgiving with your Church family.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is a busy church.  Our many committees are meeting, talking, emailing, planning and executing the many programs and plans that are the work of the church.  The monthly newsletter and the weekly bulletin are excellent tools to communicate to the congregation the work that is being done.  Please remember to email, write, or call the church office with your news.  The best and easiest way to get your items in is to submit them by email to:  tlclark@pilgrimchurchofduxbury.org  The deadline for the December newsletter is Wednesday, November 15.  Bulletin items are needed the Wednesday prior to the Sunday you wish your item to appear.  Thank you!

 

 

 

 

Thank you --

 

 

 

At this time of Thanksgiving, we in the Church office extend our special thanks to the many volunteers who help us stuff, fold, label, sort and generally prepare the seemingly endless bulletins, newsletters and mailings that are produced.  A couple of special ladies also help count and balance the weekly offering.  Others come in to arrange a bulletin board , straighten out a closet, or put the sanctuary back in order after Sunday worship.  To all of you – we couldn’t do it without you.  You lighten our load and light up our lives.  Blessings to you!                       

                                                                       

--Cathy and Terri

 

 

 

PILGRIM WOMEN’S FELLOWSHIP

 

 

 

 

Koinonia

 

Koinonia welcomes all who are on the spiritual path to our next meeting on Monday, November 13th at 7:00 PM.  Patsy Schippers will be our hostess.  Elaine Guilfoyle, 781/934-9648, will answer your questions.

 

 

Bookworms

 

Bookworms will be meeting in the Church Library at 1:30 on Tuesday, November 28th. We will be reading Mountains beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder. All are welcome. Hope to see you then.

 

 

Looking for Fellowship Volunteers

 

 

Pilgrim Women’s Fellowship is looking for volunteers to do Sunday coffee hour this winter and beyond.  Spend an hour or so of your time one Sunday and get better acquainted with folks at the church.  Please put your name and phone number on the signup sheet posted in the vestry.  Thanks!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Duxbury Interfaith Council Holiday Food Baskets

 

 

 

The Duxbury Interfaith Council is again preparing for their Thanksgiving Food Basket Drive    This is an annual community effort that asks for our help and contributions to make it successful in providing a much appreciated Thanksgiving dinner to approximately 150 neighboring families in need of assistance.

 

The ways to donate are:

Food: canned goods – yellow and green vegetables, cranberry sauce, canned gravy, 64 oz. 100% juice in plastic bottles, and packaged dessert mixes for quick bread, brownies or cake

Home-baked goods: cookies, brownies, squares, cupcakes, quick breads, pies

Turkeys: can be donated by calling Gladys Covino @ 837-3010.

Donations of  money:  Please make check payable to the Duxbury Interfaith Council and mail it to P.O. Box 1161, Duxbury, MA  02331.  The Interfaith Council is approaching this time of year with a bank account at the lowest it has been in more than twelve years.  They ask you to give what you can, and that every amount helps and is greatly appreciated.

 

Canned and non-perishable donated food should be placed in the marked baskets at the side entrance of Pilgrim Church through Thursday, November 16.  They will then be delivered in bulk to Holy Family Church on Friday, November 17.  Baked goods should be dropped off the the Holy Family church kitchen  no later than Sunday, November 19th.

 

 The baskets will be assembled at Holy Family from 9AM-3PM on Monday, Nov. 20th.  Turkeys and baked goods will be packed Tuesday, Nov. 21st  from 9AM-noon.  Please consider volunteering to help sort and pack the baskets on these two days.

 

Volunteers are needed as well to help with loading the baskets into cars on Tuesday, November 21st. Limited deliveries will begin at 2:00 PM.  Extra hands are always needed, for any amount of time you can give; and parents are welcome to bring children (more hands-more help!).   

       

 

 

 

                         Christian Education Corner

 

 

Church School- We are continuing with our rotation about stewardship.  Our last class for this rotation is on the 12th.  On November 19th, we will have a special Thanksgiving Church School Assembly in the vestry.  November 26th will be our first All in Church Sunday.  Children will attend Church with their families. 

     The 8th graders will attend Church on the first Sunday of every month-Communion Sunday.  They will meet in class the other Sundays of the month.    Their teachers this year are John MacLaren and Cynthia Farquharson.  The 7th grade class will participate in the Creative Cooking class of each rotation but will attend class all other Sundays of the month.   Their teachers this year are Joan Barrington and Mimi Jannetty.

 

Third grade Bibles-  Bibles will be presented during worship on Sunday, November 19.  Please let me know how you want your child’s name engraved on their bibles by November 4.

 

Kid’s Klub*Kid’s Klub*Kid’s Klub, 4th, 5th and 6th graders will meet on November 12th in the vestry from 2:30-4PM.  Come join us and bring a friend.

 

Confirmation-Our classes this month are November 5th and 19th. On Saturday, November the 18th, we will meet in the kitchen at 9AM to make pumpkin pies.   The pies will be sold to raise money for this year’s Mission Trip.  This is a fun activity and you will also earn some service hours.

 

SYF*SYF*SYF-Keep an eye out for those postcards and come when they tell you to.  If you are a high school student or you know one who is not receiving the postcards, please let the Church office know.

 

Mission Trip- If you are a high school student, 9th-12th grades, and are interested in this year’s Mission Trip, please let me know at eloiseparks@hotmail.com.   The first down payment of $125 is due in December.  We will be baking pumpkin pies in the kitchen on Saturday, November 18th starting at 9AM.  We will sell the pies to raise money for the trip.

 

Peace and Grace,

Rev. Eloise

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                          PARISH POST

 Prayers of Healing - Connie Milligan - Bill Poellmitz - Grace Poellmitz -  Ruth Whitcomb - Les Swanson

 Kiki Houghton - Priscilla Sangster

 

Prayers of Joy

For the final adoption of Alizany MacMichael Fiske and Darrius MacMichael Fiske, children of David and Lee Fiske.

For the baptism of Adam Richard Barr, son of Aubrey and James Barr, godchild of Dotty Flynn and Philip Falivene.

 

Prayers of Comfort and Solace

For the family and friends of Betty Baker.

For the family and friends of Louise Ritch.

For the family and friends of Rose Tufankjian.

For the family and friends of Jean Battis.