Home Newsletters Pilgrim's Progress 51(9)

Pilgrim's Progress 51(9)

From Our Minister of Education

AND THEN WHAT?


If you have ever told a story, you have probably encountered the question, "And then what?" Even when it appears the story has an ending, someone is bound to wonder what comes next. Our traditional fairy tales conclude with "The End," but many of us start to think about what could happen next. And woe to one who tells the story that is open-ended. Yet Jesus did it all the time. I suspect it was a storytelling technique that helped his listeners put themselves into the story.


At this time of the year, many of us are living our own stories which seem to include the end of something. Perhaps you have a child getting married, or graduating, or simply moving out. Perhaps you have transitioned your job or your home. Perhaps you are grieving the loss of health or someone dear. Amidst our personal endings, all of us at Pilgrim will be saying goodbye to our beloved pastor.

In these times of loss or transition, we wonder "And then what?" Maybe this is what the disciples were thinking about when Jesus died on the cross. Who could have imagined that the end for Jesus on the cross was a new beginning and we were part of the story?

Like many of you, I am saddened at losing the familiarity of the way things have been at Pilgrim. I have enjoyed Judy as colleague and mentor. I have laughed and cried with her. She has held my deepest joys and sadness. Yet, I am prepared to say goodbye. I have been through many pastoral transitions and know some of the things that emerge from them. Amongst the sadness, what I have witnessed is a rise to leadership for many, and a strength in community for others. This is one of those stories where the ending is just the beginning. And it is a beginning where you are in charge of the story. I am very excited to be with you as we watch this story play out. So perhaps instead of concluding our Pilgrim history of Judy's wonderful leadership with "The End," we can mark it with the acclamation, "The Beginning!"



Debra





WORSHIP IN MAY


WORSHIP EVENTS IN MAY
May 10 Mothers Day
Farewell to Noel Solano Gomez
Mona Roy, Mission Moment "
A Mother's Story" Living with Autism

May 17 Children's Sunday
Children lead worship

May 24 Merrie Allen, Preaching
Baptism - Madeleine Moffitt Clark

May 31 Pentecost ~ Wear red!
New Members received
Baptism - Nicholas Jan Brain

NEW MEMBERS RECEIVED IN MAY

On May 31, we will be receiving new members into the fellowship of Pilgrim Congregational Church, UCC. The process of joining involves two gatherings and a joining ritual on Sunday morning. Here are the events.

SUNDAY, MAY 17, 4:30 - 6:30 PM
PIZZA AT THE CHURCH

A simple family-style supper will be followed by activities for children and a time for adults to share our histories of life and faith.

Preview the membership ritual as it will happen in the worship service on May 31.

SUNDAY, MAY 31 - RITE OF MEMBERSHIP IN THE WORSHIP SERVICE

If you would like to take the step of becoming a member, please chat with me at church, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , or call 781-862-0357.

BIBLE STUDY - JESUS' MIRACLES


The Bible study group is beginning a new topic of conversation. We will be reading the stories of Jesus' miracles-healing, stilling the storms, casting out demons. What do they mean? Can they be explained? Does it matter?


All are welcome. If you can just come for a week or two, you will fit right in. No special knowledge necessary.

Mondays from 11:00 AM - 12:15.

TRANSITION UPDATES


Good News! Rev. Meredith Allen, our current worship coordinator, has agreed to provide Pilgrim's pastoral coverage from June 14 through the end of August, at which time we expect an interim minister will be in place. Rev. Allen will also preach on certain dates during the summer worship in combination with lay preachers from our congregation and maybe a surprise or two as well. On May 24, Merrie will be preaching for the Sunday service. We look forward to hearing her. Since Merrie took on the role of worship coordinator in October '08, she has been an active, key member of Pilgrim's professional team. Her warm, spiritual presence and willingness to help out in many situations makes us very grateful for her service to Pilgrim. It is very reassuring to know that if something arises over the summer that calls for an ordained minister or a trusted friend, she will be there. Thank you Merrie.

FACING CHANGE:

Meet to share support with others facing changes in their lives


Members of our congregation are facing many changes (unexpected, as well as planned) such as career change or job loss, illness, moving, graduation, pregnancy, childbirth, and the like. As a congregation we are all preparing for the departure of our deeply cherished minister Judy Brain. Please take this opportunity to come together to support one another and learn how the process of moving through change can enhance personal and spiritual growth and our connections to each other. Anne Nuss, Licensed Counselor, will facilitate.

Two Friday evenings at 7:30 - May 15 and June 5. Please RSVP to Anne at 781-861-9811 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Parsonage Update


At a congregational meeting convened on Sunday, April 26, the members approved the sale of the parsonage at 25 Hathaway Road and the use of the proceeds to purchase a new parsonage in Lexington. This approach was arrived at following extensive exploration of various options by the Finance and Administration committee and listening sessions held to receive congregational feedback - culminating in a vote in favor of the plan by Church Council.

The existing parsonage requires expensive major repairs to bring it up to a decent standard, and so the goal in selling it and buying another property is to acquire a house in better condition for the same or less money than what the sale of the existing parsonage will bring us. Taking these steps assures that our parsonage will be a positive factor in the deliberations of a prospective minister in choosing Pilgrim as a home.

At the same meeting, the congregation approved the formation of a committee consisting of Derek Gardiner, David McClave and Connie Neville to search for and select the new parsonage. Our Treasurer, David McClave was authorized to negotiate the sale of the existing parsonage and to execute the documents for both the sale of the old and the purchase of the new parsonages.

Over the past months, Dave has identified a number of potential buyers for the parsonage and solicited preliminary indications of interest for them. Now that the sale has been approved, Dave has distributed bidding packets to the potential buyers, with a May 10th deadline to


respond. Once the bids have been received, each bidder will be given the opportunity once to
raise his/her bid, with final bids due May 17th. This approach is designed to maximize the proceeds of the sale. The winning bidder will then be notified, and the sale will be closed in early August (once Judy and Joe have moved.)

When the net proceeds of the sale are known, the parsonage search committee will review available properties. The committee is authorized to purchase the new parsonage whenever the right property is found. The plan is to have the new parsonage ready, including all the necessary improvements, by the time the settled minister is called.

We will be communicating progress along the way as we move through this process, so look for future updates. Please feel free to contact Dave with any questions. His phone number is (781) 861-7466 and his email address is This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .


STRENGTHEN THE CHURCH OFFERING


Four times a year, Pilgrim receives a special offering in support of our denomination's mission efforts. On May 31, Pentecost Sunday, we will be collecting the "Strengthen the Church" offering. This gives resources to help the United Church of Christ prosper - especially in it's outreach efforts. Your contribution will be used in these ways:




Children's Sunday is May 17th. The Church School children and their teachers will participate in the worship service. We will also be recognizing the teachers and volunteers who make our program work. This is a wonderful opportunity for the congregation to support the Children's Ministries.

Playground News

Pilgrim Nursery School is in the midst of a fund raising drive to purchase new equipment. There are plastic crayon banks down in the back lobby so that children may help with this project. Please take some time to check out the plans and talk to your children about contributing.

Now that the warm weather is here, the children and their families have been enjoying the playground. Please remember to cover the sandbox when your children are finished. If I leave before families on the playground, it will remain uncovered until Monday morning. Your help in keeping the sandbox clean and safe is very much appreciated.

MORE VASES NEEDED - again!


A few months ago, we suggested that if you have extra vases - medium or tall - that Care would love to take them off your hands. Several of you responded with many vases, but we are running short again. We use them when taking altar flowers to homebound or sick Pilgrims. Please leave them in marked bags to the left of the hutch.

With thanks from the Care Committee

Card Rack in the Sun Room


After Judy has mentioned the concerns and celebrations of Pilgrims at the beginning of the service on Sunday mornings, do you feel that you'd like to send a card or two to let these folks know that they are remembered by their Pilgrim friends? Did you realize that help is available in the Sun Room? Check the card rack on the end table and help yourself to one or two - or more - birthday, get well, thinking of you, etc.cards. An envelope of stamps is also there as well as a current Pilgrim directory for your convenience. The recipients will be so pleased.

GIFT BAGS FOR WALTHAM SHELTERS


On April 28th a dozen women met in Pilgrim Hall for conversation and to share a pot luck supper of delicious salads, casserole, homemade breads, and desserts. Long time members, newer and prospective ones and a friend who helps at various Pilgrim events enjoyed getting to know one another better while filling gift bags with the items that they and many others had collected during the winter. These are for women and men in Waltham shelters. Ninety-six of these colorful bags were taken to the Bristol Lodge Soup Kitchen where Dick Rogers received them with great appreciation. He'll take the ones for the women to the shelters in time for Mother's Day and hold onto the ones for the men till Father's Day in June. Thanks to all who contributed to this annual event - your help will brighten the day for 96 people!

Care and Mission Committees

DOWN THE AISLE:

wedding fashions Through the Ages sATURDAY, MAY 9 FROM 2-4 PM

We hope you will be joining us for an afternoon of fashion and fun at Pilgrim Church. A perfect outing for mothers, grandmothers, daughters and granddaughters. Come see vintage and contemporary wedding gowns modeled by Pilgrim members, hear delightful organ music. Wedding cake and light refreshments will be served, and there will be an exciting raffle of celebratory items. Tickets are $10. This event is suitable for children 12 and older.


A NOTE FROM

PILGRIM ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP


An average household can compost between 500 and 1,000 pounds of organic material each year in a composting bin. The result is a rich soil supplement for your lawn or garden, and LOWER COSTS for trash pickup for your town. The MA Department of Environmental Protection provides two models of the compost bins and sells them for $30, about half their actual cost. These are available in Lexington and many other towns.

If your yard has lots of deciduous trees, however, you might want to try a different form of composting: passive composting has some advantages. Instead of stuffing all the leaves in bags for the town to pick up, you can rake them onto a sheet and pull them to your compost pile. Come to the PLANT SALE at Pilgrim on May 16 and 17 to learn more about the different ways of composting. You can inspect two types of the compost bins, talk to people who are composting, and pick up some informational brochures. The plant sale is always enjoyable, and this year you can purchase some BIO-BAGS for storing veggies in the refrigerator or lining your compost pail: the place where you collect scraps from the veggies as you prepare meals. These go, as you might guess, into the compost bin or pile!

WELCOME BACK, RICHARD DOOLEY!


Richard Dooley has recently moved back to Lexington after several years absence. He is now living at Douglas House, Apt. #9, 7 Oakland Street, Lexington. What great news for him and his mother Pat!




PILGRIM PLANT SALE

Saturday, May 16 - 9:00 am to Noon
Sunday, May 17 - Noon to 1:00 pm
Rain Date - May 23 and 24th

The fifth annual plant sale at Pilgrim Congregational Church is in full production. Please save the dates above and notice how it is expanding. This year we will be specializing in locally-grown perennials, garden tools, and gardening books. If you can donate any of these items it would be greatly appreciated. You can drop them off in the rear of the church on Friday, May 15th after 1:00 pm. If this is not convenient, you can bring them to the front of the church anytime after 8:00 am Saturday morning. If you need pots to put your plants in you can find them by the kitchen door at the side of the church.
There will also be a compost demonstration by the Pilgrim Environmental Group that will be ongoing all morning. (You can learn how to use kitchen scraps and autumn leaves to create great plant "food"! View a compost bin available at half price from Lexington's DPW. Purchase some biodegradable bags to line your compost pail.)
Thank you in advance for your donations and please do come and enjoy the plant sale.
We are also looking for people to help at the sale. The times that we need help are:
Saturday - 8:00am-9:00am - Set up (We especially need men to help bring out tables and move plants from the back of the church to the front of the church.)
9:00am-Noon - People to help with the sale.
Noon - Clean up (Again men would be helpful to put tables back and to move plants to the back of the church for Sunday's sale.)
Sunday - Noon-1:00pm - People to help with the final sale.
If you can help or you have any questions please contact Carolyn Beckwith 781-275-7537 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
The money from the sale will go to help reduce the church budget deficit.


Pilgrim book sale!!!


We are going to have a book sale at Pilgrim Church. Everyone in the community is welcome! You may browse for your special book after the service on Sunday May 10th (Mother's Day)and Sunday May 17th (Children's Day). Pilgrim Hall will also be open for the Book Sale on Saturday, May 16th from 9am to 1pm, RAIN OR SHINE.

On that same Saturday, May 16th, if it is not raining, The Pilgrim Church Spring Plant Sale will be held out on the lawn. Proceeds from this



sale will go to helping the educational effort in Flores, Honduras.

This is a town with which our church has a very special relationship. Come and browse for the book that you just must have and know that you will be helping others at the same time. Although prices will be low, we have always been very pleased with the results of this yearly sale.

PILGRIM PLANT SALE

Specializing in hardy, locally-grown perennials.

Saturday, May 16 • 9:00 AM to Noon
Sunday, May 17 • Noon to 1:00 PM
Rain dates, weekend of May 23 and 24

ALSO ENJOY A

COMPOSTING DEMONSTRATION

AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO PURCHASE BIO-BAGS

Biodegradable bags for food storage or lining compost buckets.

Contribute plants and tools by dropping them off

at the rear of the church on Friday afternoon.

The book sale to raise money for Spanish language books

for Honduras will be held concurrently.


 

PILGRIM NURSERY SCHOOL

has openings for our

2009-2010 school year

for children aged

2.9-5 years old!

Pilgrim Nursery School encourages children to be inventive, curious & self-confident.



~ WE OFFER ~

~ warm, professional teachers ~ small classroom sizes ~

creative & innovative curriculum including Yoga ~ a large indoor gross motor room ~ a safe, well-equipped playground in a quiet residential neighborhood ~

Come for a visit and see our recently renovated classrooms!

Call Leslie Holmes, our Director, for more information

781-861-8853

www.pilgrimnurseryschool.org

MOVIE NIGHT AT

PILGRIM CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH

May 22, 7:00 p.m.

http://www.missnavajomovie.com/multimedia.html

From World of Wonder Productions and filmmaker Billy Luther, whose own mother was crowned Miss Navajo 1966, the film reveals the inner beauty of the young women who compete in this celebration of womanhood. Not only must contestants exhibit poise and grace as those in typical pageants, they must also answer tough questions in Navajo and demonstrate proficiency in skills essential to daily tribal life: fry-bread making, rug weaving and sheep butchering.

The film follows the path of 21-year-old Crystal Frazier, a not-so-fluent Navajo speaker and self-professed introvert, as she undertakes the challenges of the pageant. It is through Crystal's quiet perseverance that we see the strength and power of Navajo womanhood revealed. No matter who takes the crown, this is a journey that will change her life. Interspersed with pageant activities are interviews with former Miss Navajos, whose cheerful recollections of past pageants break the tension the current contestants are undergoing.

55 Coolidge Ave, Lexington MA 02420 tel. (781-862-0357)

Free of charge. Donations welcome for the Flores Honduras Water Project