Pilgrim's Progress 51(20)

From Our Minister Of Music 

The earth has grown old with its burden of care

But at Christmas it always is young,

The heart of the jewel burns lustrous and fair

And its soul full of music breaks the air

When the song of angels is sung.

-Bishop Phillips Brooks

I hope many of you were able to attend worship this past Sunday to hear the choir's performance of For Us a Child is Born. One of the joys of working at Pilgrim is the church's understanding of the important place of music in the life of a congregation. This is especially true during Advent and Christmas. Music plays a central part in all of our holiday services, and Pilgrims understand and appreciate the ways it touches us on an emotional and spiritual level.

Regrettably, we live in a culture that trivializes Christmas music as much as it trivializes the holiday itself. Holiday music appears on the radio about the time that tinsel and holiday lights deck the shelves of stores. And in those stores, the songs that are blasted over the loudspeakers are chosen not for their message of hope, peace, and joy, but for their perceived ability to drive sales. The true meaning of the music - that expression of joy that Phillips Brooks described - becomes lost to us.

In the next few weeks, I encourage you to rediscover the beauty of Christmas music. Hum familiar carols to yourself or sing them with family members; find a new recording of holiday music; or just enjoy the special musical offerings at Pilgrim on Longest Night and Christmas Eve. Whatever you do, try to make music an antidote for the commercialization of the holiday season, not a part of it.

With all good wishes for a Merry Christmas ands Happy New Year -

David

 

WORSHIP IN DECEMBER

December 20 Worship

Full Cast Pageant RRehearsal

Pizza Lunch following

December 21 Longest Night Service - 7 pm

December 24 Christmas Pageant - 6 pm

As my children marry and begin families, I have been wondering about the holiday traditions they have grown up with. It is interesting to watch them keep, discard or alter the traditions of their childhood. When we take time to ponder our traditions particularly at Christmas, we discover anew why it is those traditions became important to us.

We too, are growing and changing during this transitional time between pastors, we will be reevaluating our traditions in much the same way we did as we left our childhood homes. As the time drew near for Christmas Pageant preparations to begin, I knew that we would discover whether or not the pageant was something we would want to hold on to. For this year anyway, the pageant preparations have gone just as they have in the past several years. And we are almost ready!

 

This Sunday, December 20th, the cast will gather down in Fellowship Hall directly after worship for a pizza lunch before donning costumes for the Full Cast, Full Dress rehearsal in the sanctuary. This rehearsal may go until 1:15 or 1:30pm. If you have not yet been fitted for a costume, please see Sara Carabbio down in Fellowship Hall before worship on December 20th.

CHURCH SCHOOL

It is hard to believe that we are already getting ready for our third term in church school classes. Second term teachers will finish on December 20th and third term teachers will begin on January 3, 2010. More information will go out to teachers in the coming week. We have only one teaching position open for the remainder of the year. The 2/3 grade class is looking for a teacher for the fourth term. If you are interested in joining the children as they learn about Jesus, his ministry, and the early church, please speak to Debra (781-944-8180) or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ).

 

 

Pilgrim's Search Committee Formed

In accordance with Pilgrim's By-Lays and following a process of prayerful discernment by your Church Council, the following members were called and agreed to serve as the Search Committee for our new settled minister: Suzanne Abair; Ed Bond; Elizabeth Chen; Carol Chytil; Christine Emery; Sylvia Ferrell-Jones; Mary Mackie; Dave McClave; Lesley Morrison; Chris Reaske; and Duncan Todd. During our worship service on December 6th these members were presented to the congregation and formally installed by Reverend Sally Thacher. On January 24th, the Search Committee will be meeting with Reverend Sally and Reverend Wendy Vander Hart, our Area Minister, to learn more about and begin the critical tasks of the search process - surveying the congregation to assess its beliefs and needs, creating a congregational profile, reviewing candidate profiles and recommending a candidate to the congregation for your vote to call a new pastor. 

 

Please join with me in offering these members your prayers and your support as they lead us through this next step in Pilgrims journey.

Yours in Christ,

Gregory North

Moderator

2010 Stewardship Drive

The 2010 Stewardship Drive is on the home stretch. Our goal is $205,000 and to date, $192,319 has been pledged. We thank our new pledgers who have committed themselves to Pilgrim's financial health, and our returning pledgers, who as a group have increased their pledges by an impressive 7%. The congregation's support for this year's fundraising effort is greatly appreciated.

But we are not done yet! We need $12,700 in additional pledges to reach our goal. Please let Derek Gardiner know as soon as possible your pledge for the coming year by e-mailing him at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by sending your pledge form to the Church office. If you are a past pledger, please consider an increase this year. If you have never made a pledge, let this be the year that you let your light shine brightly for Pilgrim!

Susan Bennett

for the Stewardship Committee

Looking to the Future

No matter what happens at Copenhagen, there is much that can be done to improve the climate outlook for the Earth.   In each town, state or country it is possible to take steps that will save energy, preserve forests, grasslands and farmland. Stay tuned! Here are some local items to watch as the new year begins:

"The First Millimeter: Healing the Earth" - A film and discussion on January 12^th at 7pm at Cary Library. How can we remove climate-changing carbon gases from our atmosphere? Can we store more carbon in

the soil by changing our farming techniques? This documentary examines how carbon sequestration in topsoil can curb global warming, increase biodiversity and fertility, and reduce the use of fertilizers and pesticides. Can it be that simple, and could our own gardens and perhaps a community farm be a part of it?

Co-sponsored by Lexington Community Farm Coalition, Citizens for Lexington Conservation, and the Lexington Global Warming Action Coalition.

Interfaith Garden

The planning committee has made great progress during the fall. We now have a site near Lexington center which has been gardened for 30 years organically. And happily, the owner of the property has agreed to be our "head gardener". The Garden's progress was announced at the Interfaith Thanksgiving Service last month and the offering that evening was dedicated to the project. Preparations for spring planting have

already begun: members of the committee gathered to spread manure one Saturday not

long ago! Watch for further news of the garden and consider helping out in spring or summer. All produce from the garden will be donated those in need.

TAKE NOTE: December 31, 2009, is the last date for returning SIGG water bottles to Whole Foods in Bedford for a store credit. See Pilgrim's Progress of 11/20/09 for an explanation. Briefly, the water bottles sold at Pilgrim have a gold colored lining inside and they contain trace amounts of the chemical BPA, which can be harmful to our health. Newer bottles with white linings do not contain BPA. You can buy any brand of bottle with your store credit.

 

 

 

2009 MISSION HOLIDAY GIVING

Here are some of the projects that Pilgrim Church is supporting this Holiday Season.

This list might inspire you and your family to find an outreach that touches your hearts.

 

Giving Tree

Our Giving Tree- Gifts must be NEW and not gift-wrapped.

We are dedicating our Giving Tree (located in the Sun Room) to the children at Shiners Hospital in Boston. Shriners is a 30-bed pediatric burn hospital providing acute, reconstructive, and rehabilitative care. Shriners Hospital specializes in pediatric care at no charge for children up to 18 years of age. Gift tags with children's requests will be hanging on the giving tree. Take the tag and return it with your gift and place it under the tree.

NOTE: Stuffed animals are no longer used or collected by hospital. Items will be collected from Sunday December 6 through the 20.

Offerings from the Special Worship Services during the Holidays as follows:

Longest Night, December 21 - VNA Care-Hospice

Christmas Eve, December 24 - Shriners Hospital

Christmas Sunday, December 20 - UCC Christmas Fund

The UCC Christmas Fund - This fund provides support to UCC retired ministers who are without a pension and other pastors whose compensations do not meet pressing needs.

Thank You for your generous support! The Mission Committee

The Advent and Christmas Season at Pilgrim

DECEMBER 20 SUNDAY 10:30 AM CHRISTMAS SERVICE

Carols, poinsettias, celebration

DECEMBER 21 MONDAY 7:00 PM LONGEST NIGHT

A peaceful candlelight service

DECEMBER 24 THURSDAY 6:00 PM CHRISTMAS EVE

Intergenerational Nativity

Tableau

DECEMBER 27 SUNDAY 10:30 AM CAROL SING

Sing your choice of carols

THROUGHOUT THE CHRISTMAS SEASON WE OFFER GIVING OPPORTUNITIES.

During the holiday times, we are often motivated to share with others. Pilgrim makes it easy by connecting you to groups and agencies that do good work in faithful and responsible ways. See the Mission giving memo for great ideas.

We wish you a blessed Advent and Christmas.

Sally ¯ Debra ¯ David ¯ Diane

2009 MISSION HOLIDAY GIVING

Here are some of the projects that Pilgrim Church is supporting this Holiday Season.

This list might inspire you and your family to find an outreach that touches your hearts.

 

Giving Tree

Our Giving Tree- Gifts must be NEW and not gift-wrapped.

We are dedicating our Giving Tree (located in the Sun Room) to the children at Shiners Hospital in Boston. Shriners is a 30-bed pediatric burn hospital providing acute, reconstructive, and rehabilitative care. Shriners Hospital specializes in pediatric care at no charge for children up to 18 years of age. Gift tags with children's requests will be hanging on the giving tree. Take the tag and return it with your gift and place it under the tree.

NOTE: Stuffed animals are no longer used or collected by hospital. Items will be collected from Sunday December 6 through the 20.

Offerings from the Special Worship Services during the Holidays as follows:

Longest Night, December 21 - VNA Care-Hospice

Christmas Eve, December 24 - Shriners Hospital

Christmas Sunday, December 20 - UCC Christmas Fund

The UCC Christmas Fund - This fund provides support to UCC retired ministers who are without a pension and other pastors whose compensations do not meet pressing needs.

Thank You for your generous support! The Mission Committee

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