eNews for Thursday, October 28, 2021
My Bailiwick
One of the frustrations of being new to a church is that I don’t know your stories—decisions that were hard to make, priorities that weren’t universally accepted, celebrations and sorrows—all the things that contribute to the culture of a congregation. I worry sometimes that I’m going to step on a hidden landmine as I suggest one thing or another. But even if there isn’t much of an explosion, it can still feel to you that I just don’t understand some things about Pilgrim Church. That is true. At the same time, we are stepping into a new time—this time coming out of the pandemic. Like you, I am rejoicing at the promise of vaccines for young children. At last! We can do a Christmas pageant again! Or we can go back to having 50 kids in Sunday School! Or we can create a children’s ministry that is perfect!
Here’s what I think: we need to relinquish some of our old ideas about children’s ministry. We need to plan for a children’s ministry that suits who we are and who we aspire to be, not what we once were. We need to think deeply and carefully about what we want our children to know and trust and believe about faith. We need to get going on this as soon as we can, and to that end, I’m reading prior position descriptions for children’s ministry, I’m meeting with a few adults who have given their energy and commitment to children and know what does and doesn’t work, and very soon, I’ll be inviting parents to help me think this through. I want to step out on faith, but I want to be thoughtful at the same time. So, watch for some opportunities to meet with me, and say yes to my invitations to think this through with you, and help me shape some recommendations and plans. Pilgrim is a better church when we’re all at the table—kids and adults alike.
Hogwarts Halloween
Dear Families!
Everyone is invited to the Hogwarts Halloween Party at Pilgrim this Saturday, October 30, between 4:00 and 6:00 pm.
This is an outdoor, walk-through adventure. Starting with Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, meet the sorting hat, make and take your wand, learn about Owls from UMD graduate students, have your picture taken with the flying car or on a quidditch broom, use your wand at potions and the Gringotts bank, and get some treats from Honeydukes sweet shop! It will be fun.
Wear a costume, or come as you are.
Optional donations will be accepted for CHUM food shelf. Canned goods or $ are welcome.
We thank you for wearing a mask. Participants will have a chance to decorate their free mask with Hogwarts stickers as well.
Sincerely,
The Pilgrim Youth Group
Honor Domestic Violence Awareness Month
October is Domestic Violence Awareness month; and one crucial step in helping protect against domestic and sexual violence is passage of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) (H.R. 1620). Originally passed in 1994 VAWA established a framework to coordinate federal and community-based responses for victims of domestic and dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.
The most recent authorization for the Violence Against Women Act expired in 2019 and Congress has yet to pass a new one. Lapses in authorization are harmful because they create uncertainty for grant funding; making it so organizations that rely on funding from VAWA aren’t able to do long term planning. Additionally, each new reauthorization improves on the last version, ensuring that VAWA is more comprehensive and inclusive. The VAWA legislation pending in the Senate would result in expanded protections for Indigenous People and LGBTQ folks including:
- Restoring tribal jurisdiction on crimes of dating violence, sexual assault, sex trafficking, and stalking, and support tribal access to federal criminal databases,
- Closing loopholes in domestic violence-related firearm laws to reduce domestic violence and dating violence homicides,
- Including non-discrimination requirements to ensure access to VAWA protections for all survivors regardless of gender.
We know that during the COVID pandemic there has been an increase in domestic violence—making it even more critical for Congress to take strides to get VAWA passed immediately. We also know that gender-based violence happens all around the world and the International Violence Against Women Act (IVAWA) calls for a commitment from the U.S. to ensure women and girls all over the world can be free from gender-based violence. This legislation needs to be introduced and passed in Congress as well.
Our faith tells us that each person bears the image of God and each person’s life is valuable. We are called to oppose violence and abuse and ensure the protection and safety of others. Our 14th General Synod spoke to this stating, “We must testify that any unnecessary suffering—particularly the physical or sexual abuse of any person—is a blasphemy before God and a grave injustice in our midst.”
Now is the time for us to act by calling on the Senate to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act and for Congress to pass the International Violence Against Women’s Act.
Interfaith Thanksgiving Service
Save the date! There will be an Interfaith Thanksgiving Service on Tuesday, November 23, at 7:00 pm. The service will be held at First Lutheran Church. Watch this space for more details to come!
November Newsletter
The next newsletter issue goes out Thursday, November 4. Please send any items to include to the office no later than Tuesday, November 2. Thank you!
Pilgrim Book Club
Monday, November 8 | 4:00 pm
Pilgrim Book Group meets the second Monday of every month at 4:00 pm. For November 8 we will read 18 Tiny Deaths: The Untold Story of Frances Glessner Lee and the Invention of Modern Forensics. This selection is a “Book Club in a Bag." That means there are 10 copies of the book available to borrow for free. The books are in a blue bag in the church office. All you need do is take a book from the bag, sign your name on the sign-out sheet, read the book, and join us on Zoom on November 8 for discussion of the book.
Whether you are female or male, member of Pilgrim or not, you are welcome to join book group discussions. All that’s required is a commitment to read the book, or at least some of it, and join in the discussion.
For December we will be trying something different. Four current members of book group are published authors who have agreed to share a summary of their work with the rest of us. So during November you can contact Jean Jacobson to get a digital copy of the summaries. And more exciting news! If you are a writer and are willing to share a selection/summary of some of your work with the rest of us, contact Jean who will digitize your selection and make it available to those who request it.
So join us November 8 and December 13 for great book and writing discussions.
Meeting ID: 856 8820 1294
Passcode: 260291
Sunday Worship at Pilgrim
Join us Sunday at 10:00 am for Sunday Worship at Pilgrim, in person or online. You can view the service on Pilgrim's YouTube channel.
You can download a Bulletin here.
This Sunday's scripture reading:
- Acts 17:16-17, 19-28a
In case you missed it, you can view last Sunday's worship service on YouTube.
Attendance: 51
YouTube views: 24
Prayers and Condolences
Keep in your prayers:
- Ted Harwood and family after his sister has been in an accident
- Betty Buchanan and family after the passing of her son, Bob
- Joyce Young and her family after the passing of her son, Michael Rookey
- The Shull family after Gene's passing
- Kay Slack and her family on the passing of her husband, Bill
- Anita and her family as she undergoes medical treatment
- Wanda and her family as she continues to receive treatment
Show Us Your Walks
We're lucky to live in a community with so much beauty and access to nature. Send Patrick your photos to share your walks with us in future emails! It's another way to stay connected in these troubled times.
What Patrick's Listening To
Two choral pieces this week. First a classic, Palestrina's Sicut cervus sung by The Marian Consort. Second, a modern reinterpretation by Italian composer and conductor Lorenzo Donati, sung by the Sofia Vokalensemble