PILGRIM’S
PROGRESS
June
2007
Why do we “do
Church?” This is an important question
that has been asked by people for centuries.
There are many people who feel that they don’t need Church in order to be
a Christian or to be able to have a relationship with God. Although this is technically true, it is not
true on the deepest level. We need
Church. This is especially true during
this interim time.
The word “Church”
comes from the Greek word “ekklesia.” This means “gathering” or “assembly.” The Church is a gathering together of
believers in and followers of Christ who come together to worship God, learn
from God’s word and enter into fellowship with one another. We are Christ’s “gang of people,” so to
speak. The Church was founded by
Christ. Ephesians 1:22-23, Ephesians
5:23 and Colossians 1:18 tell us that he is our savior as well as the head of
the Church. The Church was integral to
Christ’s mission. In Ephesians 5:25 and
Acts 20:28 we are reminded that Christ gave up his life for the Church. Ephesians 2:20-21 tells us “We are his house,
built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone
is Christ Jesus himself. We who believe
are carefully joined together, becoming a holy temple for the Lord.” The Church is to be the dwelling place for
the Holy. The Church is the temple of
the Holy and Infinite God. We, who are
in Christ, have God living in us. We are
to be in the church as much as we are the church.
During this time
of interim, it is crucial that we remember what Church is. We need each other as fellow believers. There is a reason that we are told to come
together. We are stronger as a whole
than as individuals. We learn from each
other and are strengthened by each other.
We need each other in order to “do Church.” In 1st Corinthians 12, we are told that we
all have different spiritual gifts. The
purpose of these gifts is made clear in verse 7. “A spiritual gift is given to each of us as a
means of helping the entire church.” We
are to share our gifts as a means of building up the Church in order to
accomplish our mission in the world. And
that is to tell others of the good news of Jesus Christ.
I know that we are
tired. I have heard it from many people. I know that we are discouraged. It is hard to deal with change and the
unknown. But we are a people of faith. We are to walk by faith and not by
sight. It gives me great comfort and
assurance that God knows the future even though I do not. I trust that God is going to provide for us
in the future just as God has provided for us in the past. We may not know who our next settled Pastor
is, but God does. We need to stick
together during this time of transition and change. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and
forever (Hebrews 13:8). We may change
and go through changes but Christ is faithful and trustworthy – ALWAYS.
During this time
of transition, let us work together to strengthen each other and make it
through this time together. Think of a
bonfire. There can be a mighty fire
raging, but if you take away one stick and keep it away from the larger fire,
it will go out rather quickly. It is the
same for us. We cannot maintain our
faith on the same level when we remove ourselves from the larger “fire.” As with the bonfire, if we are not “fed,” we
will die.
May the flame keep
burning bright during this interim time.
Peace
and Grace to you,
Rev.
Eloise Parks, Associate Pastor for Christian Education
On May 12, 2007, we welcomed
the following new members into our fellowship by Confirmation of Faith. In addition to attending classes, attending
worship on a regular basis, and two overnight retreats, each of our Confirmands
completed 15 hours of church projects and 15 hours of community projects
outside the church. We thank all the
mentors listed below, Deacons Bill MacLennan and Shawn Dahlen;
and Ed Cheal, Betsey Hunter and Jim Anello who helped
with the retreat.
Confirmand
Christina Grace Auer Joan Edgar Jenna Marie
Bahr Karen Barry
Sam Tyler Beattie Jim Anello Courtney
Natalie Grace Bowen Sarah Beattie Hadley Winslow
Burnham Deb Bowen
Sarah Graham Colangelo Lisa Webber Maggie Jean Cornelius Sue Bradford
Monica Lee Devereaux Linda
Hendren Geoffrey D. DeWolf Tom Brayer
Morgan Evan Dwinell Doug Backlund Duncan James Edgar Mike Barry
Nathan Thomas Files Fred Lizza Sam William Files Dan Hall
Abigail Elizabeth Gibbs Beth Gregg Kim M. Gregg Chris Gill
Matthew John Hickey James Draper Elizabeth Wells
Hunter Gigi
Joseph Pietro
Jannetty
Lou Jannetty Meghan Lynn Johnson Angelique Kania
Kerri Rose MacLennan Jill Bostder Caroline Welch Tucker Sue Horton
Alexandra Marie Violandi Gwynne Zisko
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Don’t Forget!! – starting on
sunday, june 24th, worship services will begin at
Pilgrim Women’s Fellowship
Pilgrim Women's Fellowship is winding up a very busy year and already planning for next fall! Our Annual Luncheon on May 10th was so much fun. Fifty women were greatly entertained by our "Duxbury Thrift Shop Fashion Show.” Many thanks go to all our terrific models who participated. We especially appreciated our youngest - Molly Jewell and Marissa Lizza - who were just home from college. But the top honors went to the indomitable Winnie D'Amelio who walked the runway at 101!! It was a great time for everyone.
Old Board/New Board lunch will be
on Thursday, June 7 at Sarah Beattie's house at
Hold the Date: Women's Fall Retreat will be September 21 & 22.
Finally, we are continually working on keeping our women's email lists updated. If you change addresses (particularly if you had Adelphia) please let us know. Call or write Heidi Hadley (h2hadley@gmail.com) or Deb Bowen (dgrant@mainepointe.com). Thanks!
The next meeting of Koinonia will be on
Monday, June 11,
The latest on the Pictorial Directory* * * *
On June 4 & 5 and July 12-14,
Olan Mills will be here to take our pictures for the new church directory and
personal purchase. The June dates are
nearly full, but there is still room in July.
Please sign up after church in the vestry or call Suzanne Blanchard at
781/934-5669 to schedule your sitting. Come
to the church 5-10 minutes ahead of your scheduled time, and plan on 50 minutes
taking your picture and selecting some to purchase (credit card and checks
accepted). If anyone would like to
purchase a portrait package but would have a financial hardship, the Church
office has a limited number of discount vouchers available. Please see Cathy Doughty for
information. However, if you choose not
to make a purchase, you will still receive an 8x10 and the church pictorial
directory at no charge. Suzanne is happy to answer any questions you might
have; and will not turn down any offers to assist her making reminder phone
calls, hostessing, or signing up people on Sundays. Finally, the directory committee would like
to borrow pictures of church activities from 2006/07. Call Suzanne or Janet Ritch (781/934-0660) if
you have any to lend. Thanks!
Christian
Education Corner
I can't believe that it is June! We have had a good and busy year and are
winding things down a little bit. In
Remember-the Church is OPEN all summer
long! We will have our One Room
Schoolhouse for
JYF*JYF*JYF*JYF- will hold its last gathering before the summer break at
Duxbury Beach on Friday June 8th from 7:00 - 9:00PM. We encourage 7th and 8th graders, their
families and friends to join us. We will
have games and a fire. (Not necessarily
together!) JYF will provide hot dogs,
hamburgers, s’mores and drinks. We will meet in the parking lot to the right
of the guard shack at the beach and then go to the first cross over. Please contact Mrs. Zisko
to confirm your attendance by Wednesday June 6th-781-582-1875. If your parents have a beach sticker and 4WD
and can help with this, please let Mrs. Zisko know.
Mission Trip*
I'll see you this summer!
Peace and Grace,
Rev. Eloise
The Pilgrim Church Council is pleased to announce that a Settled Pastor Search Team has been
formed! The team will be busy for the
next 12-18 months seeking a new Pastor for
The second phase includes all aspects of hiring a new settled pastor,
from research and interview to final selection.
The members of
* * * * * * * * * *
Lynn and Don DeHart are leaving
soon to travel with their son and daughter-in-law who will be bringing home
their two adopted children from
You are invited!
In
the United Church of Christ, ministerial standing is granted and held by the
local association. In my case, the
Pilgrim Association is comprised of thirty-two area churches. Readiness is determined by examination by the
Church and Ministry Committee and by Ecclesiastical Council comprised of all
the churches. Once approved for
ordination a candidate seeks a call to ministry. An ordainable call
specifically must include a ministry, which calls the candidate to “preach and
teach the gospel, to administer the sacraments and rites of the Church, and to
exercise pastoral care and leadership.”
In addition, the candidate must serve a minimum of 20 hours per
week. The Associate Pastor of
Congregational Care which I have been called to is currently only 15 hours a
week; but combined with my call to South Shore Hospital as an Interfaith
Chaplain, the Committee on Church and Ministry has approved my ordination which
will be held on June 17, 2007 at 4pm. A
four-way covenant will be established between Pilgrim Association of the United
Church of Christ, Pilgrim Church of Duxbury,
May peace be with you,
Peggy
Quarterly
contribution statements for the period ending June 30 will not be sent out this
year as part of our effort to contain expenses.
If you would like a second quarter statement (summarizes your
contributions to date relative to your pledge) kindly call the church office
and an individual statement will be mailed to you. Also, a gentle reminder that the church
operates during the summer months, so all efforts to keep your pledge current
are most appreciated.
You will notice several “loose
change jars” strategically placed around the church. These will be here until our Youth Mission Trip June 23 for anyone
who would like to contribute to funds that will be taken to
As we look forward to winding down for the
summer months, the Senior Choir is preparing music for June 3rd and June
17th. We will resume on
Cathy Morrison, Music Director
Junior Choir Notes:
Just two more Sundays for Junior Choir in June: a rehearsal on June 3 and performance during
worship on June 10. I hope as many of
you as possible can be there so we can have a great showing on
Mrs. Cybulska
Congratulations
to the Senior Class of 2007
The members and
friends of
Matthew
Botieri Grant
Bowen Risa Burr
Ben
Cederberg Kaitlin
Clark Matthew
Cornelius
Kehley Davies Samantha
Draper Colin Edgar
Ian
Entrot Braeden Gregg Alex
Hayes
Claire
Hickey Mike
Kennedy Andrea
Looney
Stephen
McKinley David
Troy
Neville Peter
Rogerson Heidi
Soderberg
William
Tucker Nick Violandi Taylor
Williams
Rebecca
Woods
We wish you all the best!
The Duxbury Interfaith Council is
once again sponsoring the annual Baccalaureate Service for this
year’s graduating class on Thursday, June 7th at
A place where children
can explore, try out, and become acquainted with their own interests, skills,
and develop a beginning understanding and respect of their own self worth and
that of other people and their world.
The faculty and staff of PCCP
invite the members of
As we approach a new school year, we are proudly projecting full enrollment of 74 children per day. If you are interested in PCCP and its programs, contact me at any time.
Michelle
L. Manganaro, M. Ed., Director
Interested in learning more about
Attention all knitters! Join the prayer shawl knitter’s group which
meets the 3rd Tuesday of each month from
Youth Mission
Trip **June 23rd-June 30th 2007**
The High School Youth of Pilgrim Church will
be returning to
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * *
YES! I wish to be a stockholder in the
Pilgrim Church Youth Mission Trip.
Name____________________________________________________________________
Address__________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Phone
#__________________________________________________________________
Please check the amount you
are contributing:
___$10 ___$25
___$50 ___$100 ___other
Participant you wish to honor:_______________________________________
Please make your check payable to “Pilgrim
Church Mission Trip”
Mail this form and your check to:
Rev. Eloise Parks
Thanks for
helping make our mission trip possible!
PARISH POST
Prayers of Healing
Bill Poellmitz - Grace Poellmitz - Priscilla Sangster
Prayers of Comfort and
Solace
For the family and friends of Robert Gillette; Karen Barry’s step-father.
Prayers of Joy
For the 23 young men and women confirmed in May.