In Remembrance of the Saints

Blest are they that dwell within Thy house. They praise Thy name evermore. Psalm 84:4

On Sunday, November 3, Pilgrim will remember members and friends of the congregation who died in the past year.

The Concert Choir from the College of St. Scholastica will join the Pilgrim Choir in singing Requiem by Eliza Gilkyson and How Lovely is Thy Dwelling Place by Johannes Brahms.  The service will include poems and prayers of remembrance as well as the Sacrament of Holy Communion which celebrates our continued connection with those who have departed this life.  The choirs sing under the direction of Dr. Bret Amundson and are accompanied by Pilgrim's Director of Music, Rachael Kresha.

Candles will be lighted in memory of the following members and friends of Pilgrim:

Joan Logan
Pearl Fuller

John Hoff

Phyllis Johnson

Francis Leek

Mary Jane Owens

Patricia Streitz

Billie Marie Johnson

Orvin Hieb

            and others whom we each hold dear in our hearts.

Worship begins at 10:00 a.m.  Children worship with adults for the opening portion of the service and then go to Sunday school classes.  There are classes for children ages 4-1st grade, 2nd-3rd grade and 4th-7th grade.  

Hear Ye, Hear Ye. . .All Witches and Wizards...Party at Hogwarts, Sunday, October 27 5:30-8:00

Pilgrim goes all out to host one of Duluth's best Halloween parties for the younger crowd.  Come visit Diagon Alley, the Joke Shop, and eat at Three Broomsticks Tavern.  Find your way to the Platform 9 and 3/4 and take a carriage ride.  Travel upstairs to visit owls from the Lake Superior Zoo.  This party is for all Harry Potter fans of any age.  

We couldn't do it without a lot of help from Duluth business and volunteers from all sectors of the community.  So check out our sponsor board.  And if you'd like to bring a donation for Kids Closet, we'll deliver your gifts to them.  But mostly, just come for some good Halloween fun.

Enjoy a bit of pumpkin carving on Saturday morning, 9-noon--then pick up your pumpkin at the end of the party Sunday evening.

And if Halloween trick or treating isn't quite your preference on October 31, come to Pilgrim at 7:30 for a Spooktacular Organ Recital.  Rachael Kresha will be playing "spooky" music from some of the world's most beloved classical composers.

Happy Halloween!

World Communion October 6

We live in a global community.  At Pilgrim, we remind ourselves that our lives are intimately connected to, and dependent upon, all who inhabit this planet with us.  We believe the created world is a treasure God has entrusted to us and we are given responsibility to care for it, protect it, and pass it on to our children and our children's children.

We are keenly aware that the lifestyle and conveniences to which we have become accustomed are exacting a horrendous toll upon the planet and upon many who live on it. There are no quick and easy solutions to the planet's pain or our neighbor's plight.  But at Pilgrim, we are working at raising our own awareness, making what changes we can, and encouraging each other to think about earth's sustainability.

Volunteers deliver food waste produced on our premises to WLSSD or a nearby collection point.  We collect and recycle glossy paper to support our music program and ink and toner cartridges.  We are studying the results of a recent energy audit and implementing recommendations as we can.  Twenty households in the congregation took advantage of a home energy audit offered through the congregation and Duluth energy and efficiency program last year.

One of our Sunday school classes is studying food waste as part of a Food Justice unit.  Our Social Justice Ministry is committed to examining climate change as a priority in our understanding of mission.

On October 6, we celebrate Holy Communion, knowing that as we share this sacrament with Christians around the world, we all breath the same air, drink from the same waters, and live under the same sky.  The Social Justice Ministry will show the film Taking Root at 11:20--the film is the story of Kenyan Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Wangari Maathai and her efforts to build a national program of tree planting in Kenya. Children and youth are welcome to view the film with adults.

Our Children's Faith--and Ours

Most people who find meaning in a faith tradition hope that their children will also value that tradition.  It's only natural to want to pass on the things we love and cherish.  At Pilgrim, we will spend the weekend of September 21 and 22 learning about how children's faith is most likely to be formed.

Wade Zick,, who works for the Minnesota Conference of the United Church of Christ, has studied and researched Faith Forming Communities.  Faith (Christian or otherwise) is most often shaped in the intimate community of the home.  That faith can be reinforced and strengthened by a larger community of faith such as a congregation or synagogue or mosque.

On Saturday, September 21, Wade will facilitate a discussion with parents, grandparents and others who are directly involved in raising children.  He will urge parents to think about their own faith and values and to examine the ways in which those values are woven into the fabric of  life at home. "Faith Forming Families" will meet from 9:30-noon.  Child care will be available and there is no charge for participants.

On Sunday, September 22, Wade will address the congregation in the morning worship service.  At 11:20 he will meet with adults for a question and answer session and further discussion about Pilgrim as a "Faith Forming Community."  Both the service and the discussion afterwards are open to the public and those of other faith traditions.

Faith Forming Congregations tend to have five characteristics:
1.  Adults and children participate in worship together.
2.  Parents and grandparents engage in faith practices at home.
3.  The faith community practices intergenerational ministry.
4.  There is conversation and reflection on the meaning of service and mission.
5.  Lay and clergy leadership continually are engaged in leadership development.

Pilgrim is looking forward to learning from and with Wade Zick.  

Financial Planning

Jesus told more than a few parables about money.  At Pilgrim, we understand stewardship ministry to include encouraging families in developing financial health.  In part, that means making responsible plans that provide for children and their care, taking care of one's own health needs and living situations, making plans for the eventual distribution of assets, and using financial resources to help create a better world.  To this end, the stewardship ministry sponsors occasional seminars to acquaint members and friends with the questions they need to consider when talking with their own financial planning professional or adviser.  These seminars do not promote any particular plans or products; they are strictly informational so that families are better equipped to make sound decisions.

Seminars are being offered Wednesday, September 11 and September 18.  Each evening, the seminar from 6:30-7:30 will focus on financial planning for families with children.  The seminar from 7:45-8:45 will focus on financial planning for mature families.  Friends and guests of the Pilgrim are welcome to attend.  There is no charge.  Child care is provided.

Music and Choirs at Pilgrim

Music is an essential part of worship at Pilgrim Congregational Church.  Although we are firmly rooted in classical church traditions, Rachael Kresha, our Director of Music, and Bret Amundson, our Director of Choral Music, provide variety in musical styles and opportunities.  Auditions are not necessary to participate in our choirs--Rachael and Bret willingly help singers and ringers figure out how they can contribute to our music program.  More information about each of our choirs is available on Pilgrim's Music and Arts page.

Rehearsals for the 2013-2014 season are as follows:

Bella Campana--small handbell ensemble for experienced handbell ringers
     Rehearses Wednesdays, 5:30-6:00 pm, beginning September 4
Bellissimo Handbell Ringers--larger handbell choir
     Rehearses Wednesdays, 6:00-7:00, beginning September 4

Pilgrim Choir--vocal choir, no auditions necessary
    Rehearses Wednesdays, 7:15-8:30, beginning September 11
Joyful Voices--an occasional choir which rehearses a few specific weeks for a given Sunday's anthem
    Rehearses occasionally on Wednesdays, 7:15-8:00, beginning September 11
    It is not necessary to read music to sing in Joyful Voices!

Joyful Noise--is an integrative music program for children ages 5-10.  This is part of our music outreach. Children in Joyful Noise are not required to attend Pilgrim or come on Sundays.  Pre-register for the semester .  Classes meet on Thursdays, 6:00 pm, beginning September 26.

Music is an important element in our Sunday School program as well and each Sunday a musician works with our children from 11:00-11:15.

Contact Rachael Kresha or  Bret Amundson for more details about any of our music programs.

September 8 Gathering Sunday

September 8 marks the beginning of the program year at Pilgrim.  Sunday School classes for children and youth resume on Sunday mornings and on September 8th, the whole congregation is invited to brunch in Fellowship Hall following worship and classes.

Sunday School students come to worship with parents or other adults at 10:00 a.m..  After a Time with Children, they recess to their classes for age-appropriate learning and then gather at 11:00 for music.  There are three Sunday school classes: children age 4-1st grade; 2nd and 3rd graders; and 4th-7th graders.  Youth older than 7th grade stay in the worship service and are encouraged to explore the meaning of faith through a confirmation program.

This year, the 4th-7th graders are beginning the year with a six week study of Food Justice.  They are learning about food production and distribution and the Christian call to be sure that everyone has access to food for healthy living.  Students and teachers are excited to share their learning on their own blog: http://kidblog.org/PilgrimKids/

Younger children are learning Bible stories related to the designated texts for each Sunday.

Check this blog each week for further information about Pilgrim's various activities or like us on Facebook for weekly announcements of upcoming events.  We'd love to have you check us out!

"Whoever you are, wherever you are in life's journey, you are welcome here."