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.  

Holy Week Events at Pilgrim

Monday evening, March 25   6:30 pm  Jesus of Montreal. Award winning film. A group of actors revive a Passion Play and find themselves experiencing contemporary salvation.

Thursday evening, March 28   6:00 pm   Teaching Seder conducted by Neil Glazeman of Temple Israel.  Make a reservation  through the church office no later than Wednesday.  Call 724-8503.

Friday evening, March 29    7:00 pm    Good Friday Tenebrae Service.  Music and Readings for meditation on the meaning of sacrifice.  Held in partnership with Peace United Church of Christ and Glen Avon Presbyterian Church.  Held at Glen Avon, 2105 Woodland Avenue

Saturday, March 30   10:00 am     Community Easter Party. Crafts, Games and a Visit from the Easter Bunny

Sunday, March 31    9:00 am     Easter Continental Breakfast
      10:00 am      Easter Worship with Brass, Choirs, and Handbells

Can't get to worship this weekend?  If you are housebound or caring for someone who is, or working during the usual worship times? Tune in to Channel 7, Duluth's Public Access Television:
       Good Friday Tenebrae will be broadcast on Tuesday, March 26, 2:00 pm and 8:00 pm and Thursday, March 28, 4:00 pm and 8:00 pm
       Passion Sunday Worship will be broadcast on Friday, March 29, 7:30 am and 4:00 pm and Saturday, March 30, 2:00 pm and 6:00 pm
       Easter Worship will be broadcast on Easter Sunday, March 31, and noon, 2:00 pm and 6:00 pm
       

Speaking of Faith

During this Lenten season Pilgrims are reading Krista Tippett's book Speaking of Faith and talking about their own faith questions and experiences.  Sermons on Sunday morning are inspired by our minister's reading of the book and on Monday evenings we are using video and audio clips to hear more from individuals whom Tippett quotes.  Discussion groups and the Monday evening series are open to friends and members of the congregation.

Week of Feb. 13-17        Read Chapter 1
Thursday, Feb. 14            Discussion group at 2:00
Sunday Feb. 17,  10:00    Heresy of Belief, Charlotte Frantz
                                        Discussion groups at 11:20

Week of Feb. 18-24          Read Chapter 2
Monday Feb. 18   6:30      Conversation Partner Reinhold Niebuhr
Sunday, Feb. 24, 10:00     When Darkness Descends,Peter Bagley
                                         Discussion group at 11:20

Week of Feb. 25-March 3  Read Chapter 3        
Monday, Feb. 25, 6:30       Conversation Partner D. Bonhoeffer
Thursday, Feb. 28               Discussion group at 2:00
Sunday, March 3                 Disciplines of Discovery,Charlotte Frantz
                                           Discussion groups at 11:20

Week of March 4-10        Read chapter 4
Monday, March 4 6:30     Conversation Partner, Elie Wiesel
Thursday, March 7            Discussion group at 2:00
Sunday, March 10            Sermon by Charlotte Frantz
                                         Discussion groups at 11:20

Week of March 11-18     Read chapter 5
Monday, Mar. 12 6:30  Conversation Partner, Seyyam  Nasr
Thursday, March 14        Discussion group at 2:00

Please note:  Most of Pilgrim's committees will not meet during March and encourage members of the congregation to participate instead in this Lenten conversation about faith.