Reunion Sunday, the First Sunday in May

It's been a long winter in Duluth and we're reveling in the warmth of the sun and longer daylight hours.  Sunday, May 5, is Reunion Sunday--an opportunity for worship, conversation and a meal together.  Snowbirds are beginning to return.   With the ice gone, it's a little easier to get into the building with wheelchairs, walkers and other mobility aids.  We'll celebrate Holy Communion as part of the service and serve it in the pews.  There will be a brunch after worship, with time set aside for conversation and catching up.  And for those who have just gotten out the Sunday morning habit, or who want to give Pilgrim a try for the first time,  May 5th just might be the day.  

50 Great Days to Green Up, Power Down and Shout Out: Mission 4/1 Earth

Pilgrim will celebrate Earth Day, this Sunday, April 28.    Bellissimo Handbell Choir and Sunday School youth are teaming up to present a Suite of Animals during the Time with Children.  Pilgrim Choir is singing John Rutter's composition, All Things Bright and Beautiful.  After the Coffee Hour, parents will gather to talk about Sunday school and children's programming at Pilgrim while children and youth are busy with some special Earth Day activities.

We're half way through the season of Easter and our Mission 4/1 Earth Initiative.  At the moment,  it's hard to see signs of Earth's Greening Up here in Duluth!  The snow is still deep in places and more is in the forecast!!!  But we're making ready--we've ordered bulbs and perennials and more than 250 to be planted when spring finally arrives.

Homeowners in our congregation are taking advantage of opportunities to decrease their energy use at home and this Sunday the Mission 4/1 Earth Table will feature water conservation at home.  Order low flow shower heads and faucet aerators at whole sale prices!

Carpool, bike or walk to Pilgrim this Sunday!  It just might be that the sun will shine.  The same weather forecasters predicting snow on Monday night say we will top 50 degrees come Sunday.  Ah Spring!  You will be so welcome!!!!

Gospel Mass by Robert Ray

On Sunday, April 21, Gospel sounds will reverberate through our Sanctuary as St. Scholastica's Concert Choir sings Robert Ray's setting of the mass.  Texts of the mass are traditional, some of them dating as far back as the 6th century.  Ray surrounds these very old texts with the vibrancy of contemporary African American Gospel sound.  Ray teaches at the University of Missouri in St. Louis and, as part of his own contribution to cultural understandings, has made this musical genre available to choral groups more often used to classical music derived from European traditions.   The Gospel Mass will be presented as part of the worship service at Pilgrim, beginning at 10:00 a.m.  

Tiffany Windows Open House

The public is invited to an Open House at Pilgrim on Sunday afternoon, April 14.  Pilgrim's sanctuary includes five paired windows from the Louis Comfort Tiffany studios.  They have been featured in art publications and reproduced on note cards and stationary.  Jack Salmela, local historian and writer, recently produced a video about the history of Duluth as it relates to the stained glass windows at Pilgrim.  The church building will be open from 2-4 p.m. on Sunday, April 14.  Jack's work will be shown at 2:30 and 3:15 in the church parlor.  The Open House is part of the One Community, One Book project sponsored by the Duluth Public Library.  This year's community read is Clara and Mr. Tiffany, a historical novel about the work of Clara Driscoll, a Tiffany designer and supervisor of the Women's Department at the studio in New York.  Pictures of the windows are on this website:  http://pilgrimduluth.org/windows/index.php

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Easter Season Earth Care: Mission 4/1 Earth

Along with other congregations in the United Church of Christ, Pilgrim will observe the Easter season by caring for the earth.  We are embarking on 50 great days of greening up, powering down, and shouting out for the environment, all part of our Mission 4/1 Earth initiative.

The 4/1 Earth Team supported by the Social Justice Committee will provide Pilgrims with some specific opportunities to reach the following goals together:

Goal #1 – 500 hours of engaged earth care, such as clean up, recycling, and education

Goal #2 – 100 trees planted locally and globally

Goal #3 – 50 letters of environmental advocacy written and sent to elected officials and media

Each Sunday the Mission 4/1 team will staff a table with information related to caring for the earth.  In addition, there are 2nd hour adult education events and activities.  Like us on Facebook for updated details related to each Sunday's activities.