Newsletter and eNews for Thursday, November 4, 2021
My Bailiwick
And I thought OCTOBER was busy at Pilgrim Church! Many, many thanks to all of you who have welcomed me so warmly, and even more thanks to our amazing young people who pulled off a wonderful Hogwart’s Halloween, and to all us oldsters who helped here and there. It was fun and welcoming, and rewarding—the best of what we can be.
Now, November—we begin this month with the solemn and tender recognition of those we have lost. This All Saints Sunday we will remember Clifford Grindy, William Slack, Eugene Shull, and David Weston, but we will also remember other loved ones we’ve lost. Think of this as something of an all-church memorial service—one of my favorite services of the year when we realize that as we live, we also grieve. I hope you’ll be with us. The service concludes with communion.
On November 14th, in the morning worship, Warren, Joe, and I will officially join the church, just in time for me to be installed as your pastor and teacher that afternoon! The installation service will be a grand celebration with some familiar faces and some new friends, lots of great music and a good party following the service. The installation worship begins at 3 but don’t be late. We have some special prelude music planned!
On November 21st, Thanksgiving Sunday, we will celebrate Pilgrim’s 150th anniversary in our morning worship. We will be looking back, but also ahead, thanking God, as we should, for all who have shaped this wonderful church, and recommitting ourselves to shape a hopeful, transformative, loving future. And here’s a treat—the newly reconstituted handbell ringers will be playing! And we will be selling note cards that depict our five Tiffany windows—$12 for a pack of ten cards. And there will be cake!
And then Advent begins on November 28th.
In among those good Sundays, we’re interviewing candidates for the Business Administrator position, working on a position description for a Christian Educator, meeting with parents and youth about plans for celebrating Advent and Christmas, celebrate an inter-faith Thanksgiving service at First Lutheran Church on the 23rd at 7 PM, decorate for Advent with a “Hanging-of-the-Greens” on The 27th.
Please come to Pilgrim for any or all of these events—wear a mask, invite a friend, and be a part of our renewing life.
Love to you all
—Carla
Pilgrim News
Here is the latest edition of Pilgrim's Newsletter.
December Newsletter
The next newsletter issue goes out Thursday, December 2. Please send any items to include to the office no later than Tuesday, November 30. Thank you!
Hogwarts Halloween
A Huge Thank you to every Pilgrim for supporting the Hogwarts Halloween event. Thank you for supplying candy, funds and volunteering. It was truly magical to have so many people play a part and put together a very fun event.
Here is the Fox 21 news story on the event.
Kenna Huot and her friend Tuuli Rova prepare to tell fortunes at the divinity table.
Josie VanAntwerp, Piper Linn and Hannah Willemsen are ready at Honeydukes. The store was created by Hannah Willemsen, Miret Anchamo Grant, Grace Beaster, Alyssa Averill and Camilla Beaster.
The Hughley family poses by the flying car. Pictured is Megan and Henry and Teddy Hughley. The car was created by Gene Shull.
Hogwarts would not be complete without our own Fat Lady AKA Andy Nielsen and Kirsten with the not-so-secret password.
For even more photos, check out the slide show that was shown in church on Sunday.
Carla’s Installation Service
Please join us as we welcome Carla to her call as Pilgrim’s settled minister. Carla’s Installation Service will be held Sunday, November 14, at 3:00 pm. A reception will follow!
Lifehouse Prepares for the Holidays
Dear Friends,
With Thanksgiving right around the corner, we at Life House are turning our attention to the holidays, knowing that it can be a difficult time for many of the young people we serve. Each year we ensure that our community’s young people who are experiencing homelessness and/or poverty know that we are here for them & that they feel loved and cared for.
I am writing to reach out about the annual holiday party we hold for our youth. Each year various faith communities have generously contributed donations that have made this evening a meaningful and heartwarming event for all of our youth. A few of you have already reached out to me to help with this—thank you!
This year we are in need of $10 or $20 gift cards to Super 1, Walgreens, Target or Walmart. Just like in years past, Santa and Mrs. Claus will be paying a visit, and we will give each youth the opportunity to choose a gift card worth $20 from one of these stores. In addition, we will purchase them a Life House branded clothing item or other additional special gift.
(We ask for $10 or $20 gift cards because we can easily make sure each youth get the same amount.)
This year we will provide a delicious holiday meal & celebration, a visit from Santa & Mrs. Claus, gifts (see above) along with sending them on their way with a delicious nonperishable meal in a bag kit.
If your faith community is interested in collaborating with us to provide gifts for our community’s youth in need this Christmas, please reach out to me for more details. We need to collect all gift cards by December 15.
In Community,
Amber Sadowski
You can send gift cards or a check (made out to Pilgrim with "Life House Holidays" in the memo line) to the office. Thank you for your generosity!
Temperatures Rise, and So Do the Faithful
by Hans Holznagel for the United Church of Christ
“It’s simple,” said U.S. President Joe Biden. “Will we act? Will we do what is necessary? Will we seize the enormous opportunity before us? Or will we condemn future generations to suffer?”
He spoke Monday, Nov. 1, on the second day of a world summit on climate change. Faith leaders are speaking out, too. Some are in Glasgow, Scotland, for the “COP 26” climate meeting. Others are back in their home countries. United Church of Christ people are among them.
The current global climate crisis, marked by fire, flood, drought and other disasters, is, to be sure, a policy question for nations … But people of faith say it’s also a moral and ethical issue.
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 readings:
- Revelation 21:1-6a
- John 11:32-44
In case you missed it, you can view last Sunday's worship service on YouTube.
Attendance: 58
YouTube views: 23
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
From the Setterlunds, some birch trees around the Piedmont trails.
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
Some Renaissance goodness. Josquin des Prez's El Grillo.