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UMD Faculty Woodwind Quintet

The last Pilgrim Presents Concert of the 2009-2010 season will be THIS Sunday, 2:00 p.m. at Pilgrim Congregational Church. Come hear Jeff Campbell, bassoon; James Pospisil, horn; Ted Schoen, clarinet; Lorie Scott, flute; and Laurie Van Brunt, oboe. Tickets are available at the door, $15/adult; $8/student; youth, free. This concert series has been made possible by a gift in memory of Wally and Hazel Niss.

Opening Our Doors, Opening Our Hearts

The 10th Annual Opening Our Doors Conference will be held this Friday and Saturday, April 16 and 17, in various locations. Keynote Speaker is the Rev. Mel White, author of Stranger at the Gate: To be Gay and Christian in America. Dr. White was recognized by the ACLU for his application of the principles of non-violence resistence to the struggle for justice for sexual minorities. Dr. White will speak at 7:30 at First United Methodist Church. On Saturday he will speak at 10:00 at Marshall School Auditorium. On Saturday afternoon, also at Marshall School, a panel of speakers representing various religious traditions will talk about marriage equality. The Conference will conclude Saturday evening with the musical work Joshua and the Promised Land produced at Peace UCC, 7:00 p.m. Pilgrim Congregational Church is an Open and Affirming congregation of the United Church of Christ and has been a co-sponsor and supporter of the Opening Our Doors Conference throughout its history.

Salvadoran Folk Mass Sunday, April 11

This Sunday, April 11, Pilgrim's worship service will be based on the music and life of the Salvadoran church. Thirty years ago, Oscar Romero, Archbishop of San Salvador and advocate for the rights of indigenous people in El Salvador, was assassinated as he celebrated the mass. United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities sent a delegation to El Salvador in March to participate in an ecumenical remembrance of the assassination.

Diane Light, who traveled to El Salvador with this group, will be the guest speaker at Pilgrim on Sunday. The Pilgrim choir and a group of instrumentalists under the direction of Dr. Jack Bowman, will present music from the Salvadoran Folk Mass as part of the service.

For a narrative of the United Theological Seminary trip, go to http://www.utsglobaltrip.com/.

Holy Week at Pilgrim

Pilgrim's traditional Tenebrae service is one of the most beautiful and solemn services of the year. During the service the sanctuary is darkened as we read the accounts of the last night of Jesus life on earth. This year we'll be reading from the Gospel of Luke. The service begins at 7:00.

On Friday evening, Pilgrim's choir, along with the choirs of Glen Avon Presbyterian Church and Peace United Church of Christ, will present Dubois' The Seven Last Words of Christ. The service begins at 7:00 and will be held in the sanctuary of Glen Avon church, 2105 Woodland Avenue.

Sunday morning Pilgrim celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ with a festive service at 10:00 a.m. There will be a continental breakfast at 9:00, courtesy of Jim and Teresa Peterson and family. Come for great music and a wondeful Easter morning!

Romero Remembered

Today, March 24th is the 30th Anniversary of Oscar Romero's assissination in El Salvador. Romero was Archbishop at the time, and is remembered for his work on behalf of the poor. On Thursday, March 25th, the movie Romero will be shown at Pilgrim Congregational Church in commemoration of his work. The public is invited.

Lynne Davis Concert This Sunday

Lynne Davis, international concert organist will present "A Recital of French Suites" this Sunday afternoon, February 7, at Pilgrim Congregational Church. The recital begins at 2:00 p.m. Tickets ($15, adult; $8, student) are available at the door. Lynne will be playing Pilgrim's Jaeckel organ.